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H&M to create digital clones of models using AI

Also: Teachers warn AI is impacting students' critical thinking

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AI KATANA
March 31, 2025

Hello!

Today’s edition highlights the dynamic intersection of AI, innovation, and societal impact across multiple sectors. H&M is reshaping fashion marketing by introducing digital clones of real-life models, promising transparency and ethical use while stirring debate over the future of creative jobs. In education, U.S. teachers are voicing concerns about AI’s influence on students’ critical thinking skills, urging a rebalancing of tech integration in the classroom. Japan is pioneering offshore, eco-friendly data centres to address AI’s growing energy demands, while Singapore’s SingHealth and Duke-NUS are pushing boundaries in healthcare with a new AI-focused medical institute. Meanwhile, Kirin Brewery is using AI to help preserve Japan’s iconic cherry trees, blending tradition with technology. These stories reflect how AI is not only driving innovation but also prompting critical reflection on ethics, sustainability, and human impact.

Sliced just for you:

  • 🌐 H&M to create digital clones of models using AI

  • 🎓 Teachers warn AI is impacting students' critical thinking

  • 🏝️ Japan plans offshore floating green data centre to meet AI boom

  • 🧬 SingHealth, Duke-NUS launch new institute to harness AI for medicine

  • 🌸 Kirin Brewery launches world’s first Sakura AI camera to preserve Japan’s aging cherry trees

H&M is set to revolutionise fashion marketing by using AI to create digital clones of 30 real-life models for use in social media campaigns throughout 2025. With full consent and equal compensation for participating models, these hyper-realistic digital twins will be featured in branded content marked with clear disclosures. While the initiative allows models to license their AI likenesses to other brands, including competitors, it has sparked debate within the fashion industry over potential impacts on creative jobs and the authenticity of storytelling. H&M maintains its commitment to a “human-centric approach,” using this technology to explore new creative avenues without replacing real-world artistry and collaboration.

Teachers across the U.S. are raising red flags over the increasing reliance on AI tools among students, warning it is diminishing their ability to think critically. As usage surges—70% of teens now report using generative AI—educators like Gina Parnaby and Alexa Borota observe students outsourcing thinking, risking the erosion of essential reasoning and problem-solving skills. A recent Carnegie Mellon and Microsoft study supports these concerns, showing that improper AI use can impair cognitive development. While some experts, like Stanford’s Denise Pope, highlight AI’s potential as a supportive tool for disadvantaged students, others argue that overuse—especially among younger learners—undermines foundational skills needed for academic assessments and long-term intellectual growth. Teachers are urging a rethink in assignments to reintroduce critical thinking while navigating this evolving technological landscape.

Japan is launching a groundbreaking initiative to address the energy and land challenges posed by the rapid rise of AI and cloud computing by developing an offshore floating green data centre. Spearheaded by a consortium including NYK Line, NTT Facilities, Eurus Energy Holdings, MUFG Bank, and the City of Yokohama, the project will pilot a 25-by-80 metre platform at Yokohama Port in late 2025. This self-sufficient facility will integrate container-based data processing units, solar panels, and battery storage, operating independently of Japan’s overburdened power grids. By leveraging renewable energy at sea, it promises to boost data infrastructure capacity while reducing environmental impact and enhancing resilience. If successful, this could set the stage for a network of offshore data centres powered by nearby wind farms, supporting Japan’s GX2040 Vision to decarbonise and modernise key industries.

The SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre has launched the Artificial Intelligence in Medicine Institute (AIMI) to accelerate the integration of AI into healthcare. AIMI aims to unite clinical and data science expertise to drive research, education, and the commercialisation of AI-driven medical innovations. It will provide healthcare professionals with training, resources, and funding to develop solutions that improve diagnosis, treatment, and patient experiences. Central to its mission is bridging the gap between technical and clinical knowledge while promoting ethical, explainable, and patient-centric AI. Initiatives include an AI101 online training series and the development of governance frameworks to ensure safe, transparent adoption. By fostering global partnerships and cultivating future AI leaders, AIMI is positioning itself as a catalyst for responsible and transformative change in medicine.

Kirin Brewery has unveiled the world’s first Sakura AI camera to combat the decline of Japan’s aging cherry blossom trees, many of which are over 70 years old and at risk of collapse. The initiative, timed with the country’s hanami season, empowers citizens to photograph cherry trees using AI-enabled cameras that analyze tree health and relay data to local governments for proactive maintenance. The campaign enhances public engagement, offering on-site demonstrations and expert interviews at Tokyo’s Meguro River, while intertwining conservation with cultural tradition. By leveraging AI to support environmental stewardship, Kirin aims to preserve an iconic national symbol and ensure the future of sakura viewing for generations.

🛠️ AI tools updates

Chinese startup Zhipu AI has intensified the domestic tech race with the launch of a free AI agent named AutoGLM Rumination, capable of performing complex tasks such as deep research, web searches, and report writing. Powered by its proprietary GLM-Z1-Air and GLM-4-Air-0414 models, the agent claims performance on par with DeepSeek’s R1 but operates significantly faster and with far less computing power. Offered at no cost via Zhipu’s official platforms, this move directly challenges rival Manus, whose general AI agent costs up to $199 per month. Founded in 2019 as a Tsinghua University spinoff, Zhipu AI has gained prominence with its GLM series, even asserting its GLM4 model outperforms GPT-4 on several benchmarks. The launch follows a surge in Chinese AI innovations and comes on the heels of three rounds of government-backed funding in one month, including a major investment from Chengdu, positioning Zhipu at the forefront of China’s escalating AI competition.

💵 Venture Capital updates

South Korean startup WRTN has raised a record-breaking 108 billion won (approximately $73.5 million) in Series B funding, making it the first AI service platform in the country outside the semiconductor and large-language model sectors to surpass 100 billion won in total investments. The funding round, led by Silicon Valley’s Goodwater Capital and supported by notable investors like BRV Capital, Capstone Partners, and Antler, brings WRTN’s cumulative investment to 130 billion won. WRTN's chat-based platform reached over 5 million monthly active users within just 22 months—outpacing local tech giants—and achieved 2 billion won in monthly revenue by December 2023. With this momentum, the company aims to enhance its user-friendly services and solidify its position as a key player in the evolving AI ecosystem.

🫡 Meme of the day

⭐️ Generative AI image of the day