The Know Daily - Wednesday 12 February 2025

_{Read in 4m 41s ∙ Listening to Noname ∙}

Spain is leading the charge in sustainable fuel sources, as an increasing number of Spanish airplanes are now opting to run on used cooking oil. Alternative fuels like this have led to lower soot particle emissions, experts have found.

🏢 Future of work

Research firm Gartner has released the trends shaping work in 2025 and beyond – here are the key takeaways.

What did the report find?
AI is here to stay. As its prevalence increases and technological advances continue to redefine how organisations operate, it’s crucial for workplaces to have clear guidelines for usage, and include employees in shaping regulations. That being said, more organisations are expected to dip their toes into nudgetech – using AI-powered tools to guide people towards a specific goal – which can “bridge communication gaps” and enhance collaboration across cultural and generational lines.

What’s more, technology has “upended the relationship between expert and novice employees”, meaning businesses need to better support their workforces. In fact, a recent survey found that 6 in 10 employees feel like there isn’t enough on-the-job coaching to meet their job requirements. 

What does this mean for employers?
Employers should be looking at how AI can enhance the workforce – whether that be through automating routine tasks or helping to identify skills gaps. However, it’s important for technology insights to be balanced with human oversight to ensure comprehensive evaluations. Plus, employees should be involved in discussions about AI to foster transparency and trust.

What does this mean for me?
The focus on broadening digital access in businesses and integration of new technologies means that the 3 fastest-growing jobs are big data specialists, financial technology engineers and AI and machine learning experts. On the other hand, a fall in clerical roles such as cashiers, administration assistants and accountants is predicted.

Nearly 40% of workers’ key skills are expected to change by 2030, according to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025. Therefore, upskilling – acquiring new skills or enhancing existing ones related to your job – should be a priority for employees.

🍫 Sweet treats: Chocolate prices are on the rise, and likely to continue through 2025.

• The bigger story: The cost of chocolate is up for a few reasons. For one, climate change and poor weather conditions have affected crops in West Africa – a major hub for cocoa production. Manufacturing costs have also increased substantially over the last couple of years. 

💐 Daffodil hunt: The Royal Horticultural Society is asking Brits to track rare daffodil varieties, with the hope to build a map of the spring blooms.

🥕 Plant based: This restaurant has become the first vegan eatery to receive a Michelin star in the UK.

🛒 Wage rise: Supermarket Lidl has raised its entry level pay in the UK, at a rate higher than the new minimum wage in April.

🧑‍🚀 Astronaut chat: NASA is hosting its first-ever livestream on video streaming platform Twitch where viewers can interact with astronauts – here’s how to tune in.

📚 Brilliant books: The Women’s Prize for Nonfiction 2025 longlist is out.

✈️ Two tiers: Aviation giant Airbus is exploring a double-level airplane seat design, but its received a mixed response.

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Trivia answer: C) The Senagalese-Italian influencer Khaby Lame was given the title – here’s what he had to say about it. 

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