Huang Warns: UK AI ‘Goldilocks Moment’ Might Slip Away
Source: MSN
Nvidia’s charismatic leader, Jensen Huang, has thrown down the gauntlet: the UK must step up its AI game, or watch its “Goldilocks moment” slip through its fingers. Speaking at London Tech Week alongside PM Keir Starmer, Huang highlighted how crucial it is for the UK to build its own AI infrastructure. Boasting alliances with local tech firms and universities is all well and good, but what the UK really needs, he insists, is serious investment in computing power and a thriving pool of tech talent. Much like dial-up dictated our 90s browsing, it’s infrastructure that’ll shape the AI race.
Edinburgh’s Supercomputer: The UK’s Next Big Bet
Source: MSN
Britain’s breaking out the big guns with a £750 million gamble on Isambard-AI 2 at Edinburgh University. Touted to be 10 times faster than its predecessor, this supercomputer boasts an eye-watering 2 exaflops capacity. Its mission? Advance climate modelling, revolutionise drug discovery, and explore AI safety research. With architecture courtesy of Bristol’s Graphcore, this move places the UK firmly in the supercomputing race, reminiscent of the way ZX Spectrums once symbolised innovation with their then-radical 3.5MHz prowess.
Cementing the Future: AI in Construction
Source: Construction News
In the race for greener innovation, three UK startups are vying for the coveted Manchester Prize, turning to AI for a low-carbon future. Cambridge’s CarbonSight leads with its neural network-enhanced concrete mixtures, while Leeds’ MixMaster AI automates the sourcing of low-emission materials. With a £1 million bounty up for grabs, these pioneers have until 18 months to make their magic mix reality – all in line with the UK’s 2030 net-zero targets. Who’d have thought we’d go from mixing cement for Scalextric tracks to optimising it for sustainable megastructures?
Tech Events and Baby Bans: A Step Backwards?
Source: Metro
In a twist reminiscent of “no girls allowed” playhouses, Humanvantage CEO Davina Schonle found herself turned away from London Tech Week for bringing her baby. Despite holding a valid ticket, event staff cited a strict “no prams” edict, rekindling discussions around inclusivity in the sector. A recent Startups UK survey reporting 73% of female founders hitting childcare walls only fuels this debate. It seems the tech world still has some growing up to do.
AI Policing: From the Beat to the Byte
Source: BBN Times
Step aside, Dixon of Dock Green. The future is all about algorithms. The UK Home Office’s National Policing Capabilities Unit has wrapped up its first phase of a new AI lab, aimed at predicting crime hotspots and automating evidence analysis. With Manchester trials reducing burglary response times by a nifty 37%, the initiative seems promising. But privacy purists are sounding alarms, warning of a return to the 2010s’ missteps with “predictive policing” models. As technology shapes our streets, it seems crime-fighting is coming full circle, albeit with digital beats.
This Day in Tech History
On this day in 2007, torrent indexer Mininova reached a landmark: its two billionth torrent. A feat that many obliviously rolled past, but for those nocturnal Gen-Xers, patiently wrangling early broadband for rare treasures, it was pure gold dust. Born from the demise of Suprnova and outgrowing Napster’s chaos, Mininova became the digital agora for everything from open-source gems to bootleg concerts. For a short, anarchic age, the world’s data felt like it truly belonged to the user.
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