Posts by Mike Knight
Backlash Over New WhatsApp AI Intrusion
WhatsApp users are pushing back against the forced rollout of Meta’s new AI chatbot, which appears in the app without warning and offers no option to disable it. Forced AI Integration Leaves Users Fuming Meta AI, a chatbot integrated into WhatsApp, is being promoted as a virtual assistant that can answer questions and spark ideas,…
Read MoreScientists Make Iron Without Blast Furnaces
Scientists at the University of Oregon have found a cleaner, electrochemical way to create pure iron metal using saltwater and iron oxide, potentially slashing the carbon footprint of one of the world’s dirtiest industries. Why Ironmaking Needs a Rethink Iron is the backbone of global infrastructure. From bridges to buildings and car bodies to cookware,…
Read MoreRobot Dog Parcel Delivery Trialled
UK parcel delivery firm, Evri, has teamed up with a US robotics company to test four-legged autonomous deliveries in real neighbourhoods, starting in Barnsley. The Future at Your Front Door? The initiative, launched in partnership with US robotics firm Boston Dynamics, is testing the use of autonomous robotic dogs to support last-mile delivery operations in…
Read MoreScreens, Sleep & A Decade of Mental Health
New research has revealed a sharp link between using screens in bed and disrupted sleep, while a separate study suggests that switching off mobile internet on smartphones may significantly boost focus and mental health, delivering cognitive benefits equivalent to turning back the clock by a decade! Bed, Phone, No Sleep Concludes Norwegian Study Using your…
Read MoreMass Resignations From Office-Only Jobs
Nearly half of UK professionals would rather leave their jobs than return to the office five days a week, according to new research from recruitment giant Hays. Disconnect The findings of the Hays survey appear to highlight a growing disconnect between employee preferences and employer policies on post-pandemic working models and, it seems, the potential…
Read MoreMicrosoft and Amazon Agentic Agents
Microsoft has upgraded its Copilot assistant into a fully agentic AI tool that can browse the web, complete real-world tasks, and remember personal details — marking a major leap in the AI arms race. Amazon Too Meanwhile, Amazon has joined the push towards ‘agentic’ AI with a new shopping assistant that can browse third-party websites…
Read MoreNew UK Law Could Hit IT Firms With £100K-a-Day Fines
The UK government has unveiled sweeping new cyber legislation that could see organisations hit with fines of up to £100,000 (per day!) if they fail to respond to threats in time – a move that dramatically raises the stakes for IT providers, critical service operators, plus their supply chains. Tough New Rules Aimed at Critical…
Read MoreSolar Panels Made From Molten Moon Dust
In a move towards sustainable space colonisation, scientists at the University of Potsdam (Germany) have created working solar panels from molten Moon dust, hopefully paving the way for lunar bases powered by materials already found on the Moon. Why Haul It Up There If You Don’t Have To? Transporting anything into space is expensive. In…
Read MoreChatGPT Gets Image Upgrade and Fewer Restrictions
ChatGPT’s image generation tools have just received a major upgrade, and while everyone is busy turning politicians into dreamy ‘Studio Ghibli’ characters, OpenAI’s (quiet) policy changes may prove to be the bigger story. A New Visual Brain for ChatGPT At the centre of this update is GPT-4o, OpenAI’s new omnimodal model. Unlike previous tools like…
Read MoreYour Guide to Choosing the Right AI Model in 2025
In this week’s tech insight, here’s a handy guide to the major (and now plentiful) generative AI models available, including what they do best, and how to access them. Which One Is Right For You? The AI boom is showing no signs of slowing. Whether it’s for writing, coding, design, research, or customer support, generative…
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