The first quarter of 2024 has witnessed 1.4% year-on-year (YoY) rise in employment among UK small businesses, the most substantial growth in two years. This is according to the latest data from Xero Small Business Insights (XSBI), which also noted commendable increase in wage growth, reaching 3.3% YoY. However, this achievement was dampened by the sluggish sales noticed in the same quarter, with only a 0.5% YoY increase. This tepid growth was primarily attributed to a 4% YoY decline in March sales, partly influenced by the early Easter bank holiday. Scotland and the North of England emerged as ..read more

In a move towards the ethical development and use of AI, tech giant Cisco Systems has joined  Microsoft and IBM in signing a Vatican-sponsored pledge. The initiative aims to promote the responsible deployment of AI technology for the common good. Chuck Robbins, the CEO of Cisco Systems, officially endorsed the document, dubbed the Rome Call, during a private meeting with Pope Francis, according to Vatican sources. The pledge underscores the importance of designing and regulating AI systems to uphold the dignity of all individuals without discrimination, emphasising principles such as tran ..read more

The latest Connected Nations report published by the UK’s telecommunications regulator, Ofcom, published its report which  provides a snapshot of the country’s digital landscape as of January 2024, based on data collected since the previous report. The interim update is a glimpse of the UK’s effort to enhance digital infrastructure and connectivity, with notable advancements in broadband and mobile coverage. One standout milestone from the report is that eight in ten UK households now have gigabit-capable broadband, with 24 million homes reached. This, up from 23.2 million homes reported ..read more

A fifth (20%) of organisations admit that an employee at their company has exposed company data using AI tools such as ChatGPT, according to new research from cybersecurity provider RiverSafe. A survey of 250 UK CISOs conducted by Censuswide detailed the intersection of AI tools and cybersecurity. RiverSafe found that three quarters (75%) of security leaders believe that insider threats pose a more significant risk than external threats to their organisation’s cybersecurity. On top of this, one in five (20%) identified AI as their biggest cybersecurity threat, pointing to more concerns over AI ..read more

A landmark agreement between Heriot-Watt and the University of Houston aims to become a global force in combating climate change. Representatives from each university met in the US in April to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), underscoring a commitment to work together on cutting-edge research as well as provide opportunities for students and staff to participate in international exchange programmes. With a focus on clean energy, the joint agreement aims to address pressing societal challenges with the climate emergency at the forefront. At the heart of the MoU lies a commitm ..read more

A new study from Cardiff University sheds light on the challenges facing households as they navigate the transition to green energy sources, urging financial assistance and guidance.  The report, published in Nature Energy looks into householder perceptions regarding various low carbon heating technologies, including heat pumps, hydrogen, hybrid heating, and heat networks.  With the UK aiming to phase out new gas boiler installations by 2050 to meet climate change targets, the study highlights the need for substantial grants and incentives to aid households in adopting sustainable he ..read more

According to a new report from The Alan Turing Institute, the UK’s national institute for artificial intelligence and data science, AI must be seen as a valuable tool to support national security decision-making in government and intelligence organisations. Published today (24 April 2024), the report’s findings highlight the potential for AI to make significant improvements in intelligence analysis, by supporting analysts to process data more quickly and accurately. The report’s authors stated that not utilising the technology would be a missed opportunity, and could undermine the value of int ..read more

A leaked report which was obtained by the Wall Street Journal indicates the ICO has found potential shortcomings in the tech giant’s efforts to uphold user privacy.  Google had introduced the Privacy Sandbox as a means to allow users to browse the internet while maintaining their privacy. The technology operates by processing users’ preferences and interests locally to provide tailored advertising experiences, with the goal of rendering current tracking mechanisms obsolete and blocking covert tracking techniques such as fingerprinting. It was touted as a solution as Google phases out thir ..read more

Zumo, the Edinburgh-based B2B digital assets infrastructure company, has announced a new strategic partnership with Crypto Carbon Ratings Institute (CCRI), which provides data on the carbon exposure of investments and business activities related to blockchain. CCRI’s interdisciplinary team has built a multi-year research track record with a specific focus on cryptocurrencies and their environmental impact. The organisation uses the latest data sources as well as methods based on peer-reviewed studies published in leading scientific journals. CCRI will now provide the data and methodologies to ..read more

Ransomware attacks in March continued to break records for 2024, with global levels of ransomware attacks increasing from February. The total cases rose to 421 and 416 in the previous month, an increase of 1%, according to NCC Group‘s March Threat Pulse. Year-on-year ransomware attacks in March have decreased in targeting by 8%, going from 459 to 421 attacks compared to March 2023, which was largely down to the mass exploitation of the GoAnywhere MFT vulnerability, which ransomware gang CL0P claimed responsibility for before going silent until its major MOVEit exploitation in May. Despite the ..read more