Meta releases Muse Wonder and Muse Wonder Full
On 12 October, Meta launched Muse Wonder and Muse Wonder Full, the company's most powerful models to date. Muse Wonder is available to developers via the Meta Model API and Muse Code; Muse Wonder Full is available only to Muse Code subscribers. Meta is aiming the models at agent tasks and at fields such as law, finance, healthcare and programming, featuring 'Active Memory' (context carried across conversations) and 'Active Focus' (working persistently towards a goal).
What does this mean? a serious fourth provider is entering the market for demanding agent work, but Meta has not yet disclosed pricing or EU availability, so test before you put any client data into it.
UWV: vacancies for counter and telephone work nearly halved in three years
According to UWV figures, the number of vacancies for counter, telephone and customer service staff fell over three years from 6,500 to 3,600. The number of jobseekers for this work grew by 42 per cent. Companies are automating simple customer queries or moving work abroad; those who remain are increasingly handling the complex complaints.
What does this mean? If you use AI for simple customer queries, also plan training for your team for the more difficult conversations that remain.
Big Four invest more in human skills
EY, KPMG, PwC and Deloitte are placing more emphasis on communication, collaboration and critical thinking in their training now that AI is taking over routine work. They are focusing on more classroom-based training, on-the-job coaching, and training in giving feedback and handling difficult conversations. KPMG partner Caroline Tervoort stresses that staff must be able to explain AI outcomes in plain language to a client or colleague.
What does this mean? For accountants and advisers, explaining and accounting for AI outcomes becomes a core skill, not just using the tools.
Nebius first customer of AI data centre on the Maasvlakte
Volt Datacenters, which plans to build an AI data centre of up to 800 megawatts on the Maasvlakte in Rotterdam, has signed Nebius as its first paying customer under a multi-year contract. Volt now has 14 megawatts available at Switch. The commitment should make it easier to raise additional financing.
What does this mean? More AI computing capacity in the Netherlands will, over time, make it easier to run AI on data that stays within the EU.
