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OpenAI's Sora 2 Launches with Stunning Realism and Controversy

Microsoft's Excel AI agents automate finance whilst Accenture reshapes workforce for AI-first future as video generation reaches new heights.

AuthorAuthor

Yoshi Soornack & James Garner
October 07, 2025

Proudly sponsored by ConstructAI, brought to you by Weston Analytics.

Hello Project AI enthusiasts,

Welcome to another edition of Project Flux. This week OpenAI has launched Sora 2 and set the internet ablaze with its jaw-dropping video generation capabilities, whilst Microsoft is quietly revolutionising finance teams with AI agents that can automate complex Excel workflows.

Meanwhile, Accenture has made headlines with its bold decision to "exit" employees who cannot be retrained for the AI age. These developments signal we're witnessing a fundamental shift in how we work, create, and adapt to an AI-driven future.

In this edition, we explore the breakthroughs, the controversies, and the tools that are reshaping our professional landscape.

In This Edition

Flux check-in

Former Microsoft executives have launched AI agents specifically designed to eliminate Excel-led finance processes, whilst Microsoft itself has introduced "Agent Mode" in Excel. This new capability can plan, execute, and verify multi-step tasks directly in workbooks, powered by OpenAI's latest reasoning models. The technology achieved 57.2% accuracy in Microsoft's SpreadsheetBench tests, meaning it successfully completes 5-6 out of 10 complex requests fully.

What Does This Mean for Me?

For project delivery professionals, this represents a seismic shift in how we handle financial reporting and analysis. The ability to transform raw project data into presentation-ready reports through natural language commands will dramatically reduce the time spent on administrative tasks. Finance teams can now focus on strategic analysis rather than data manipulation, whilst project managers can generate sophisticated financial models without deep Excel expertise.

Key Themes

• Automation of complex financial workflows through AI • Democratisation of advanced spreadsheet capabilities • Shift from manual data processing to strategic analysis • Integration of AI reasoning into everyday business tools

Down the Rabbit Hole

OpenAI has launched Sora 2, its most advanced video generation model yet, alongside a new iOS app. The model offers enhanced realism, better physics simulation, and improved audio-video synchronisation. Available invite-only in the US and Canada, Sora 2 allows users to create, remix, and even cameo in AI-generated videos using text or images. However, the launch has sparked controversy over intellectual property rights, with studios and talent agencies being notified that copyrighted material may appear in generated content unless they explicitly opt out.

What Does This Mean for Me?

This technology will revolutionise how project teams create training materials, stakeholder presentations, and project simulations. The ability to generate realistic video scenarios on-demand will enhance communication effectiveness and accelerate learning cycles. Project managers can now create compelling visual narratives to explain complex concepts, whilst training departments can develop scenario-based learning materials without expensive video production.

Key Themes

• Democratisation of high-quality video production • Ethical and legal challenges of AI-generated content • Transformation of creative workflows and processes • New possibilities for immersive project communication

Down the Rabbit Hole

As AI systems become more sophisticated, understanding why language models hallucinate becomes crucial for professional applications. Recent research reveals the fundamental mechanisms behind AI hallucinations and their implications for business use cases.

What Does This Mean for Me?

Project professionals must develop AI literacy to effectively leverage these tools whilst understanding their limitations. Knowing when and why AI systems produce unreliable outputs is essential for maintaining project quality and stakeholder trust. This knowledge enables better prompt engineering, appropriate verification processes, and informed decision-making about when to rely on AI assistance.

Key Themes

• Understanding AI system limitations and reliability • Developing verification processes for AI outputs • Building AI literacy within project teams • Balancing AI efficiency with accuracy requirements

Accenture has laid off over 11,000 employees as part of an $865 million restructuring programme, with CEO Julie Sweet stating they are "exiting on a compressed timeline people where reskilling is not a viable path." The company is simultaneously investing heavily in AI training and acquiring reskilling specialist Aidemy Inc. Despite the layoffs, Accenture plans workforce growth in AI and digital services areas.

What Does This Mean for Me?

This signals the urgent need for continuous learning and adaptation in the AI era. Project professionals must proactively develop AI-related skills to remain relevant. The message is clear: organisations will invest in reskilling where viable, but those who cannot adapt quickly enough may face difficult decisions. This emphasises the importance of embracing AI tools and methodologies now, rather than waiting.

Key Themes

• Urgent need for AI skill development and adaptation • Organisational transformation accelerating rapidly • Investment in reskilling as competitive advantage • Clear consequences for resistance to technological change

Down the Rabbit Hole

OpenAI's valuation has soared to $500 billion following a $6.6 billion secondary share sale, making it the world's most valuable private company. This follows significant revenue growth, with the company generating $4.3 billion in the first half of 2025. Nvidia is reportedly planning to invest up to $100 billion in OpenAI, further cementing the AI infrastructure partnership.

What Does This Mean for Me?

This massive valuation reflects the market's confidence in AI's transformative potential across all industries. For project professionals, it signals that AI integration is no longer optional but essential for competitive advantage. The scale of investment flowing into AI development means more sophisticated tools will become available rapidly, requiring continuous adaptation of project methodologies and skill sets.

Key Themes

• Massive market confidence in AI transformation • Acceleration of AI tool development and capabilities • Increasing pressure for AI adoption across industries • Strategic importance of AI infrastructure partnerships

Down the Rabbit Hole

The entertainment industry is grappling with the emergence of AI actress Tilly Norwood, who has attracted attention from talent agents. The creator responds to backlash by stating "She is not a replacement for a human being," but the controversy highlights broader questions about AI's role in creative industries and the future of human performers.

What Does This Mean for Me?

This controversy foreshadows similar debates across all professional sectors. Project teams will need to navigate the ethical implications of AI integration whilst maintaining human-centred approaches. The key is understanding AI as an augmentation tool rather than replacement, focusing on how it can enhance human creativity and productivity rather than substitute for human judgment and empathy.

Key Themes

• Ethical considerations of AI in creative work • Balancing AI capabilities with human value • Managing stakeholder concerns about AI adoption • Positioning AI as augmentation rather than replacement

Down the Rabbit Hole

Level Up Your AI Awareness in Project Delivery

If you work in project delivery you need to understand how AI is reshaping it. Renowned industry thinker — and friend of Project Flux — Antony Slumbers has just launched Cohort 14 of his acclaimed Generative AI in Real Estate course (starting 7 November). Over three weeks, you’ll master frontier tools, reconfigure workflows, and reimagine the future of property. Expect real-world case studies, hands-on sessions, and a network of innovators shaping what’s next.

👉 Join the course here and stay ahead of the curve.

The pulse check

Tips of the week

Automate Complex Workflows with Claude Sonnet 4.5 and n8n

This week's tip focuses on leveraging Claude Sonnet 4.5 to generate n8n workflow automations from plain English descriptions. Rather than manually connecting nodes and configuring complex automation sequences, you can describe your desired workflow in natural language and have Claude generate the complete n8n configuration. This dramatically reduces the time needed to build sophisticated automations for project management, data processing, and stakeholder communication workflows.

Governance & Security

California has enacted landmark AI safety legislation with Governor Gavin Newsom signing SB 53, which mandates that major AI companies disclose their safety protocols. This represents one of the strongest sets of AI regulations in the United States, requiring transparency from companies like OpenAI, Anthropic, Meta, and Google. The legislation succeeded where previous attempts like SB 1047 failed, demonstrating a more pragmatic approach to AI governance that balances innovation with safety requirements.

The new law establishes precedent for other states and potentially federal legislation, whilst providing a framework for responsible AI development that doesn't stifle innovation. For businesses, this signals the importance of implementing robust AI governance frameworks and transparency measures before they become mandatory requirements.

  • ChatGPT Shopping Integration: OpenAI has introduced direct purchasing capabilities within ChatGPT, powered by Stripe. Users can now complete transactions with merchants like Etsy and Shopify directly through the chat interface, positioning OpenAI to compete with Google Shopping and Amazon in the e-commerce space.

  • Claude Slack Integration: Anthropic has launched Claude integration with Slack, allowing users to search and reference workspaces directly through the AI assistant. This enhances workplace productivity by bringing AI capabilities directly into team collaboration environments.

  • Google Jules Coding Agent: Google has released Jules Tools, providing a command-line interface and public API for its autonomous coding agent. Developers can now trigger coding tasks and monitor progress from terminals rather than browser windows, streamlining development workflows.

  • Perplexity Comet Browser: Following a high-demand beta phase, Perplexity has officially launched the Comet browser globally. Comet is designed as an AI-native browser with built-in AI capabilities that reshape how users interact with online content.

  • Claude Sonnet 4.5 Launch - Anthropic's latest model with improved coding capabilities

Other things we’re loving

Robotics

Global Robotics Expansion: Reports indicate that China now has more working robots than the rest of the world combined, highlighting the rapid acceleration of automation across manufacturing and service industries.

AI-Powered Chemistry Labs: Advancements in robotics are enabling the creation of automated chemistry laboratories. These "robot armies" can conduct complex chemical experiments autonomously, accelerating research and development in materials science and drug discovery.

Medical Robotics Breakthrough: A new robotic pill has been developed that can navigate the digestive system to perform internal examinations. This represents a significant advancement in non-invasive medical diagnostics and could revolutionise gastroenterology practices.

Community

The Spotlight Podcast

The Future of Quantity Surveying with AI Agents

In this episode of the Project Flux podcast, James and Yoshi welcomes back Tom Haley, managing director of Quantik, to discuss the evolving landscape of AI in construction and project delivery. They explore the challenges of building AI tools, the importance of quantity surveyors, and the future of the industry as it adapts to new technologies. The conversation emphasizes the need for continuous learning and the integration of AI into existing processes while also addressing the potential impact on future generations.

One more thing

That’s it for today!

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See you soon,

James, Yoshi and Aaron—Project Flux 

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