Posts by Mike Knight
Embarrassment As Meta Unveils New AI-Powered Smart Glasses
Meta has launched a new generation of smart glasses and wearable AI tools, including the first mainstream Ray-Ban smart glasses with an in-lens display and a Neural Band that lets users control digital content with tiny hand gestures. Zuckerberg Reveals the New Line-Up at Meta Connect The announcement was made by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg…
Read MorePlant-Based Sachet Makes Harvest Last Longer
A plant-based sachet developed by two young Ugandan entrepreneurs could dramatically cut post-harvest food loss, improve farmer incomes, and support global sustainability goals. Tackling a Problem Rooted in Waste and Inequality Every year, more than 1.3 billion tonnes of food are wasted worldwide, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation. Much of this loss…
Read MoreEU Data Act : New Rules For UK Companies
New EU rules on who can access and share data from connected products and cloud services are now live, with major implications for UK firms selling into the bloc. What Is the EU Data Act? The EU Data Act is a sweeping piece of digital legislation designed to reshape how data is accessed, shared, and…
Read MoreMore UK Retailers Using Surveillance
In this Tech Insight, we look at how retailers across the UK are deploying new technology to deter shoplifting, reduce abuse of staff plus gather better evidence, whilst retail crime hits record levels. Why Retailers Are Acting Now The British Retail Consortium’s Annual Crime Survey reports losses from customer theft reaching £2.2 billion in 2023/24…
Read MoreStudents Behind Most School Insider Attacks
Over half of all insider cyber attacks in UK schools are now being carried out by students, according to new findings from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). Alert A new alert issued by the UK’s data protection regulator has highlighted a “worrying trend” in school cyber breaches, with children as young as seven found to be responsible…
Read MoreNew DNA “Cassette Tapes” With Petabyte Potential
A research team in Shenzhen has built a working “cassette tape” that stores files as synthetic DNA on a polyester‑nylon tape, with a theoretical capacity that could dwarf today’s magnetic cartridges. Who Built It, And What Is It? Scientists led by Professor Xingyu Jiang at Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), with collaborators including…
Read MoreOpenAI Wins Microsoft’s Backing To Become A Public Benefit Corporation
OpenAI has secured Microsoft’s support to convert its for-profit arm into a Public Benefit Corporation, with the nonprofit parent retaining control and taking a stake worth more than $100 billion. What Has Actually Happened? OpenAI and Microsoft say they’ve signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) for “the next phase” of their partnership. The agreement essentially lays…
Read MoreNew Synthetic Graphite Boost EV Battery Lifespan by 30%
ExxonMobil has unveiled a new form of synthetic graphite designed to extend electric vehicle battery life by up to 30 per cent, in a move that could reshape the EV materials supply chain. A Major Energy Player With a New Direction ExxonMobil is best known as one of the world’s largest oil and gas companies,…
Read MoreSainsbury’s Facial Recognition Combats Shoplifting
Sainsbury’s has begun testing facial recognition technology in selected stores to identify repeat offenders and reduce shoplifting, triggering a wave of privacy concerns from civil liberties groups. Surveillance Trial Rolling Out in London and Bath The supermarket chain confirmed that an eight-week pilot programme is underway at a small number of stores in London and…
Read MoreGovernment Trial Shows No CoPilot Productivity Boost
A three-month evaluation of Microsoft’s M365 Copilot AI assistant in a key UK department found mixed results and few measurable efficiency gains. Mixed Results From Promising Tech The UK Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has published the results of a detailed trial of Microsoft’s M365 Copilot AI assistant, revealing no definitive evidence that the…
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