The Office management edition
The AI news of that week, in plain language.
This week: AI that helps with your tasks on its own, new rules you need to follow, and a level-headed warning about fake voices.
AI is moving from "ask and answer" to "just do it"
New assistants now carry out multi-step jobs by themselves, exactly the coordinating work that fills your day.
Microsoft and OpenAI are both betting on AI that finishes work on its own. In Microsoft Copilot, the Cowork feature can now prepare a briefing document, a presentation and an Excel overview in one go for a client meeting. OpenAI launched ChatGPT Work, an agent that handles budget analysis, marketing material and meeting prep by itself, plus Presence, which lets AI agents actively help with ongoing projects. This is about exactly the jobs you coordinate.
Background for subscribersFor you, as the person who holds it all together, this matters: preparing a client meeting no longer means building three separate files, but giving one instruction. Start small and with a job that is not sensitive. Always check whether the agent used the right names, times and numbers. The agent does not know the director prefers no external meetings after noon, unless you tell it. You catch the gaps.
EU AI Act: some rules start now, others are delayed
From 2 August 2026, organisations must keep track of which AI systems they use and for what. Anyone using a chatbot must make clear that it is AI. The stricter deadline for high-risk AI, such as recruitment software, has moved to 2 December 2027. Fines can run up to 35 million euros or 7% of worldwide annual turnover.
Background for subscribersThis is a taster.
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