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What if we could predict the behaviour of bush and forest fires before they ever break out? Thanks to the bright sparks working away at some of the world’s most exciting startups and research institutions, breakthroughs in space technology could soon be setting the world ablaze – in a good way. As if we didn’t have enough on our plates, recent history has seen angry, ruthless blazes ripping through the natural environment like, well, wildfire. From Australia to the Amazon, Ca

Going to the cinema in the late 20th century would have been a very different experience without the acting talent of Mr. Val Kilmer. With iconic roles in everything from blockbusters like Top Gun (1986), Batman Forever (1995) and Heat (1995), to cult classics like True Romance (1993), Kilmer’s voice was one of the sounds of the 80s and 90s.  Now, after a painful battle with throat cancer, scientists have been able to use a combination of artificial intelligence (AI) and

I utilise language in almost all aspects of my daily life. I rely heavily on my ability to read, understand and interpret, whether that be managing complex development projects at work, creating educational videos for my iluli video channel, or teaching my kids their times tables on an evening.  But not everyone enjoys a straightforward relationship with the written word. According to the British Dyslexia Association, the number of individuals with dyslexia in the UK is aroun

When I think of farming, I picture tractors, wellington boots, hay bales and an awful lot of hard work. A farm would be one of the last places I’d consider to be futuristic. But I’d be wrong. Agritech start-ups around the world are on a mission to reinvent farming. And yes, we’re talking robots. In December 2020, Intelligent Living published an article detailing how a two-acre vertical farm run by artificial intelligence and robots out-produced a 720-acre flat farm. That’s q

In December 2020, the BBC published an article detailing how Japan’s government plans to fund artificial intelligence matchmaking schemes to combat the nation’s tumbling birth rate.  The state taking an active interest in the love lives of inhabitants feels like something from a Black Mirror episode, but with birth rates falling to a record low it's perhaps not surprising. According to the article: “Japan's population is projected to fall from a peak of 128 million in 2017

I’m no make-up aficionado. I can’t tell powder from primer. But I can appreciate the tech trends that are transforming the beauty industry. Not only are they promoting inclusivity through advanced personalisation, they’re fantastically futuristic too. Take the Nudemeter,  a computer vision tool designed by Harvard Business School graduate Atima Lui. Users upload a selfie, complete a short quiz et voilà! An algorithm suggests the product that best matches their skin tone. Acco

Towards the end of October 2020, Forbes published an article detailing a trial in which an artificial intelligence-based diagnostic tool had reduced hospital admissions by more than 50%. Even in “normal times”, such a substantial reduction would be welcome news. But at a time when a global pandemic has pushed many of the world’s health care systems to breaking point, it’s very welcome news indeed. The tool’s manufacturer — Clare Medical — concluded that “predicting which pat

Can you believe it’s been more than six months since that nail-biting US presidential election? For many of us “outsiders”, the choice between the two candidates seemed clear cut, but the incoming results proved anything but.  Onlookers around the globe endured a slow, tortuous few days glued to CNN and the like before the rightful victor was called. For anyone with only a passing interest in US politics, such a complex voting system can be incredibly confusing. The Guardian

When we think about Artificial Intelligence and the opportunities it could unlock, we tend to picture things we can see, hear and touch. But what about taste? Does AI have a role to play in developing and honing flavours?  Geneva-based Firmenich — the world’s largest privately owned perfume and taste company — certainly think so. In October 2020, Firmenich announced the first ever AI-created flavour: a lightly grilled beef taste for use in plant-based meat alternatives. The

When you hear the term “artificial intelligence”, what springs to mind first? For some, it will be the threat of a robot takeover, in part thanks to the “Hollywood” treatment the subject matter has received in recent decades. But what about “life-saving”?  Do you associate AI with improving the quality and longevity of human lives? Perhaps it’s time you did... In August 2020, Forbes published an interesting article detailing “5 Life-Saving Applications of Artificial Intellig

Prior to the pandemic, you’d be forgiven for wondering what on earth “WHO” stood for. Now, not a day goes by without some reference to the World Health Organisation. Corporate companies spend thousands every year measuring brand awareness… Did so-and-so message cut-through? Is our logo instantly recognisable? How did the new colour scheme go down? I expect many in brand marketing would aspire to reach the level of recognition that WHO has accomplished in 2020 but, you know, w

Nowadays, taking photographs is so quick and easy, that the idea of “saving your film” for a few choice shots feels like a lifetime ago. There will be eighteen-year-olds alive today — who can drink, drive and vote — who have never known the rigmarole of taking camera film to the High Street for processing, nor the wait that followed before your holiday snaps were ready for collection. It’s not an experience I’m especially nostalgic about, but it does feel like photos held mor

The term “mind control” may conjure up images of magicians and hypnotherapists, but where prosthetics are concerned, it represents hope.  Researchers have been developing mind-controlled prosthetics for more than a decade with the aim of dramatically improving functionality for the user. An MIT Technology Review article from March 2020 outlines the powerful potential of machine learning for such an endeavour, and the challenges faced by scientists in the process: "Until now

In July 2020, Leicester’s De Montfort University (DMU) published an article outlining the potential of artificial intelligence to improve school attendance. Utilising AI models, experts from DMU’s Institute of AI analysed data from Willen Primary School in Milton Keynes and identified patterns relating to pupils who were frequently absent. No prizes for guessing which day of the week saw the greatest level of absenteeism… yep, that’s right — Monday. The Mamas & The Papas had

You’ve watched David Attenborough shows. You’ve listened to Greta Thunberg speak. You’ve read about international initiatives instigated to combat it. Climate change is all around us. Literally. The highest ever UK temperature was recorded on 25th July 2019 in the Cambridge University Botanic Garden. It’s no coincidence that it’s so recent. Global warming is transforming the environment as we know it and, if we don’t act now, will continue to do so with the direst of conseque

Every now and again a news article crops up that provides the world with a much-needed giggle. In June 2020, The Guardian obliged with such a story . Entitled “Experts call for regulation after latest botched art restoration in Spain”, you’d be forgiven for thinking it sounds like a niche subject area. After all, I can’t say that Spanish artwork — or the art world is general — is something I pay much attention to. But this is no ordinary “art”. As the article title suggests,

One of the few positive side effects of the COVID-19 pandemic is the influx — and wider adoption — of exciting, new innovations. Touchless technology is one such innovation. Due to the omnipresent threat posed by contaminated surfaces, companies have had to reassess how users interact with their devices. In July, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) announced a new contactless touchscreen. Developed in conjunction with the University of Cambridge, their patented “predictive touch” techno

From the creation of Alan Turing’s melody-making machine in 1951 to David Bowie’s digital lyric randomiser, music and artificial intelligence have long been intertwined, but curiosity around untapped potential remains as strong as ever. In June this year, NME published an article that piqued my interest: “YouTuber creates fake Nirvana song using artificial intelligence.” I was curious to hear the results, and I was not disappointed. Funk Turkey, the alias behind the creation

A lot of things that come from the mouth of Elon Musk — or his Twitter account, for that matter — should be taken with a shovel-load of salt. But when he talks about the potential species-ending threat that Artificial Intelligence (AI) poses, perhaps we’d do well to sit up and listen. Quoting the Monty Python line, “Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition”, Musk hasn’t been shy in sharing his fears that one day — in the not-too-distant future — AI will turn on us. Way back in

In 2018, Laura Nolan — a top software engineer — resigned from her role at Google in protest. First thoughts turn to gender pay gaps, poor work / life balance, workplace harassment or similar — but you’d be wrong. She resigned over killer robots. ​ Faced with the prospect of working on a project that would dramatically enhance US military drone technology, Nolan instead called for a ban on autonomous war systems, stating that those not guided by human remote control should be