What is causing this issue?

The clue is in the news, “Micron Technology”, who trade as Crucial, has been producing RAM and hard Drives for more than 30 years, announced on Wednesday, 3rd December, 2026 that it would stop selling its RAM in the consumer market.

Their reason is essentially that they have a much more profitable market. The AI-driven market. AI needs specialized RAM and lots of it. The AI boom has led to memory manufacturers switching their manufacturing processes to deliver this type of RAM as demand and value have been driven up.

“The AI-driven growth in the data center has led to a surge in demand for memory and storage,” Sumit Sadana, EVP and chief business officer at Micron Technology, said in a statement. “Micron has made the difficult decision to exit the Crucial consumer business in order to improve supply and support for our larger, strategic customers in faster-growing segments.”

It’s not just Micron Technology’s exit causing it. There are other factors impacting growth.

• Samsung have reported a 60% increase in charges on chips
• Other factors like Trump slapping 100% tariffs on Chinese manufacturers
• SanDisk also announced cost increases

What does this mean for small businesses?

Replacing Desktops, Laptops, Servers, tablets, mobiles, graphics cards are all going to be more expensive, as will consumer electronics.

Lenovo told Bloomberg that it is stockpiling DRAM and NAND components to supply all the machines it intends to manufacture by the end of 2026. We have heard similar media reports from other vendors through the media.

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Vulnerabilities Found in AI Code

The finding comes from cybersecurity company Aikido Security’s State of AI in Security & Development 2026, which features the results of a wide-ranging survey of 450 developers, AppSec engineers and CISOs across Europe and the US.

According to the study, nearly a quarter of all production code (24 per cent) is now written by AI tools, rising to 29 per cent in the US and 21 per cent in Europe. However, it seems that adoption has come at a cost. For example, the report shows that almost seven in ten respondents said they had found vulnerabilities introduced by AI-generated code, while one in five reported serious incidents that caused material business impact. As Aikido’s researchers put it, “AI-generated code is already causing real-world damage.”

Worse In The US

According to the report, the US appears to be hit hardest. For example, 43 per cent of US organisations reported serious incidents linked to AI-generated code, compared with just 20 per cent in Europe. The report says this is due to stronger regulatory oversight and stricter testing practices in Europe, where companies tend to catch problems earlier. European respondents recorded more “near misses”, indicating that vulnerabilities were identified before they could cause harm.

AI Changing The Development Landscape

AI coding assistants such as GitHub Copilot, ChatGPT and other generative tools are now integral to the software pipeline, promising faster output and fewer repetitive tasks, but they also introduce a new layer of risk.

Aikido’s data highlights that productivity gains can be offset by increased complexity and slower remediation. For example, teams now spend an average of 6.1 hours per week triaging alerts from security tools, with most of that time wasted on false positives. In larger environments, the triage burden grows to nearly eight hours a week where teams rely on multiple tools.

Leads To Dangerous Shortcuts

It seems that this problem can lead to dangerous shortcuts. For example, two-thirds of respondents admitted bypassing or delaying security checks due to a kind of alert fatigue. Developers under pressure to deliver have started to “push through” security warnings, creating a cycle where quick fixes outweigh caution.

Natalia Konstantinova, Global Architecture Lead in AI at BP, highlights the issue, saying: “AI-generated code shouldn’t be fully trusted, since it can cause serious damage. This is a reminder to carefully double-check its outputs.”

Accountability Is Becoming A Flashpoint

It seems that as AI-generated code makes its way into production, one of the biggest challenges is determining who is responsible when things go wrong.

Aikido’s survey shows a clear divide. For example, 53 per cent of respondents said security teams would be blamed if AI code caused a breach, 45 per cent blamed the developer who wrote the code, and 42 per cent blamed whoever merged it into production. The result, according to UK insurance and pensions company Rothesay’s CISO Andy Boura, is “a lack of clarity among respondents over where accountability should sit for good risk management.”

In fact, half of developers said they expect to shoulder the blame personally if AI-generated code they produced led to an incident, suggesting a growing culture of uncertainty and mistrust between teams.

The blurred lines are also fuelling tension between developers and security leaders. Many security professionals worry that AI-assisted development is moving too fast for proper oversight, while developers argue that outdated review processes are slowing down innovation.

“Tool Sprawl” Is Making Things Worse

Perhaps surprisingly, Aikido’s research found that organisations with more security tools were actually experiencing more security incidents. For example, companies using six to nine different tools reported incidents 90 per cent of the time, compared with 64 per cent for those using just one or two.

It seems this “tool sprawl” is also linked to slower fixes. Teams with multiple vendor tools took almost eight days on average to remediate a critical vulnerability, compared with just over three days in smaller, more consolidated setups.

The problem, according to Aikido, is not the tools themselves but the overhead they create, i.e., duplicate alerts, inconsistent data and fractured workflows that slow response times.

Walid Mahmoud, DevSecOps Lead at the UK Cabinet Office, notes about this issue: “Giving developers the right security tool that works with existing tools and workflows allows teams to implement security best practices and improve their posture.”

Teams using integrated, all-in-one platforms built for both developers and security professionals were twice as likely to report zero incidents compared with those using tools aimed at one group only.

Regional Differences In Oversight

The study draws a clear contrast between European and American approaches. For example, European teams tend to rely more on human oversight, manual reviews and compliance-based testing frameworks, while US teams are quicker to automate processes and deploy AI-generated code at scale.

Aikido’s figures show that 58 per cent of US teams track AI-generated code line by line, compared with just 35 per cent in Europe. That difference, coupled with the higher level of automation in US pipelines, may explain why more AI-related vulnerabilities are being detected (and exploited) there.

As Aikido puts it, “Europe prevents, the US reacts.” The slower, more regulated approach across Europe appears to be reducing the number of major breaches, even if it creates extra workload for developers.

Independent Findings Support The Trend

It should be noted here that security concerns raised by Aikido are actually consistent with other recent studies. For example, Veracode’s 2025 GenAI Code Security Report found that 45 per cent of AI-generated code samples failed basic security tests. Java was the worst affected, with a 72 per cent failure rate, followed by JavaScript (43 per cent), C# (45 per cent) and Python (38 per cent).

The Veracode team concluded that while AI tools can generate functional code quickly, they often fail to account for secure design or contextual logic. Their analysis showed little improvement in security quality between model generations, even as syntax accuracy improved.

Policy researchers are also warning of deeper structural issues. For example, the Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET) at Georgetown University has outlined three categories of risk from AI-generated code, i.e., insecure outputs, vulnerabilities in the AI models themselves, and wider supply chain exposure.

Also, research from OX Security has pointed to what it calls the “army of juniors” effect, which is where AI tools can produce vast amounts of syntactically correct code, but often lack the architectural understanding of experienced developers, multiplying low-level errors at scale.

Industry Perspectives On A Path Forward

Despite these warnings, it seems that optimism remains widespread. For example, 96 per cent of Aikido’s respondents believe AI will eventually be able to produce secure, reliable code, with nearly half expecting that within three to five years.

However, only one in five think AI will achieve that without human oversight. The consensus is that people will remain essential to guide secure design, architecture and business logic.

AI Can Check AI

There also appears to be growing belief that AI should be used to check AI. For example, nine out of ten organisations expect AI-driven penetration testing to become mainstream within around five and a half years, using autonomous “agentic” systems to identify vulnerabilities faster than human testers could.

“The 79 per cent are the smart ones,” said Lisa Ventura, founder of the UK’s AI and Cyber Security Association. “AI isn’t about replacing human judgment, it’s about amplifying it.”

This sentiment echoes a wider industry move towards what security leaders call “augmented development”, i.e., human-centred workflows supported by automation, not replaced by it.

Why This Matters

For UK organisations, the implications are immediate. For example, the report shows that AI-generated code is not a future risk but a current operational issue already affecting production environments.

As Kevin Curran, Professor of Cybersecurity at Ulster University, says: “This demonstrates the slim thread which at times holds systems together, and highlights the need to properly allocate resources to cybersecurity.”

Aikido’s findings also underline the importance of developer education and clear accountability. Matias Madou, CTO at Secure Code Warrior, wrote that “in the AI era, security starts with developers. They are the first line of defence for the code they write, and for the AI that writes alongside them.”

For businesses already navigating compliance regimes such as the UK NCSC’s Cyber Essentials or ISO 27001, this means treating AI-generated code as a separate risk class requiring its own testing and review procedures.

Criticisms And Challenges

While Aikido’s report is one of the most comprehensive of its kind, it is not without its critics. For example, some security analysts argue that “one in five breaches” may overstate the influence of AI-generated code because correlation does not prove causation. Many breaches involve complex attack chains where AI code may only play a small role.

Others have questioned the representativeness of the sample. For example, the survey focused primarily on organisations already experimenting with AI in production, which may naturally skew toward higher exposure. Small or less digitally mature companies, where AI coding tools are still limited to pilot use, may experience fewer issues.

There are also some methodological challenges. For example, measuring what qualifies as “AI-generated” can be difficult, particularly when developers use AI assistants to autocomplete small code segments rather than entire functions. Attribution of vulnerabilities can therefore be subjective.

That said, even many of the sceptics agree that the report captures a growing and genuine concern. Independent findings from Veracode, OX Security and CSET all point in the same direction, i.e., that AI-generated code introduces new risks that traditional security pipelines were never designed to manage.

The challenge for developers and CISOs alike is, therefore, to close that gap before AI coding becomes the default, not the exception. As the technology matures, the balance between innovation speed and security assurance will define how safely businesses can harness AI’s potential without repeating the mistakes of early adoption.

What Does This Mean For Your Business?

The findings appear to point to an industry racing ahead faster than its safety systems can adapt. AI coding tools have clearly shifted from experimental to mainstream, yet governance and testing practices are still catching up. The evidence suggests that while automation can improve productivity, it cannot yet replicate the depth of human reasoning needed to identify design-level flaws or assess real-world attack paths. That gap between capability and control is where today’s vulnerabilities are being born.

For UK businesses, this raises practical questions about oversight and responsibility. Many already face pressure to adopt AI for competitive reasons, yet the report shows that without strong testing regimes and clear accountability, the risks can outweigh the benefits. In particular, financial services, healthcare and public sector organisations, which handle sensitive data and operate under strict compliance frameworks, will need to ensure that AI-generated code goes through the same, if not stricter, scrutiny as any other form of software.

Developers, too, are being asked to operate within new boundaries. The growing reliance on generative tools means the traditional model of code review and approval is no longer sufficient. UK companies may now need to invest in dedicated AI audit trails, tighter version tracking and security validation that can distinguish between human and machine-written code. The evidence from Aikido’s report also suggests that integrated platforms, where developer and security functions work together, can yield better results than fragmented tool stacks, making collaboration a critical priority.

For other stakeholders, including regulators and insurers, the implications are equally clear. For example, regulators will need to consider whether existing standards, such as Cyber Essentials, adequately address AI-generated components. Insurers may need to begin to factor the presence of AI-written code into risk assessments and premiums, especially if breach attribution becomes more traceable.

There is also a wider social and ethical dimension to consider here. For example, if AI-generated code becomes a leading cause of breaches, the question of accountability will soon reach the boardroom and, potentially, the courts. The current ambiguity over who is at fault, i.e., the developer, the CISO or the AI vendor, will not remain sustainable for long. Policymakers may be forced to define clearer lines of liability, particularly where generative AI is being deployed at scale in safety-critical systems.

The overall picture that emerges here is not one of panic but of adjustment. The technology is here to stay, and most industry leaders still believe it will eventually write secure, reliable code. The challenge lies in getting from here to there without compromising trust or resilience in the process. For now, it seems the safest path forward is not to reject AI in development, but to treat it with the same caution as any powerful, untested colleague: valuable, but never unsupervised.

The post Featured Article : AI-Generated Code Blamed for 1-in-5 Breaches appeared first on Mear Technology.

Agentic Artificial Intelligence (AI)

‘Agentic’ AI refers to a new wave of AI systems that can autonomously plan and execute tasks based on user-defined objectives. Unlike traditional AI systems that rely on pre-programmed instructions, agentic AI operates more like a virtual workforce, making independent decisions to achieve specific outcomes. For example, an agentic AI in a logistics company might autonomously plan the most efficient delivery routes, adjusting in real-time to account for traffic or delays, without needing constant human intervention.

This technology is expected to transform business operations by streamlining workflows, reducing costs, and boosting efficiency. According to Gartner, at least 15 per cent of daily work decisions will be made autonomously through agentic AI by 2028, a substantial increase from none in 2024. While currently being adopted in sectors such as customer service, supply chain management, and financial analysis, smaller businesses can also leverage agentic AI to automate repetitive tasks and improve decision-making processes.

Understanding and preparing for this technology as we go into 2025 will ensure businesses are well-positioned to integrate it effectively as it becomes more mainstream.

Advanced Robotics and Automation

Advanced robotics and automation now appear to be revolutionising many industries by enabling businesses to automate repetitive tasks and improve efficiency. A key example is the rise of collaborative robots, or “co-bots,” designed to work alongside humans.

Unlike traditional industrial robots, co-bots are lightweight, flexible, and cost-effective, making them accessible even to smaller businesses. For example, Universal Robots, a leading manufacturer of co-bots, has worked with companies like Ford Dagenham in the UK. At Ford’s facility, co-bots are being deployed to perform precise tasks, e.g. applying the fasteners to engine blocks.

Amazon is also now using a large number of co-bots in sorting its parcels. The benefit of using them is enhanced efficiency, reduced production costs, and enabling the human workers to focus on more complex and value-driven tasks. However, there will be a need to upskill employees who interact with these advanced systems, ensuring they can maintain and optimise the use of robotics in daily operations.

Biotechnology in Product Development

Advancements in biotechnology are poised to become a defining trend in 2025, driving the development of sustainable, high-performing products across industries such as beauty and healthcare. As consumer demand for environmentally friendly and scientifically backed solutions continues to grow, biotechnology is enabling the synthesis of ingredients and materials that were previously cost-prohibitive or resource-intensive. This combination of innovation and sustainability positions biotechnology as a key driver of future product development.

For example, the biotech company Mother Science has created malassezin, a gentler, more sustainable alternative to vitamin C for skincare products. This breakthrough not only provides effective solutions for improving skin health but also addresses the demand for high-performance, eco-conscious formulations. Such developments highlight the increasing integration of biotechnology into mainstream product design.

As businesses seek to differentiate themselves in competitive markets, adopting biotechnological solutions will likely become essential. The convergence of scientific advancements and shifting consumer priorities makes biotechnology a critical focus for innovation and market leadership in 2025.

Quantum Computing

Quantum computing is emerging as a transformative technology, with the potential to address complex problems far beyond the capabilities of classical systems. Applications range from cryptography and material science to optimisation challenges, offering UK businesses opportunities for innovation and competitive advantage. While quantum computing has often seemed a distant prospect for many organisations, a significant recent breakthrough may accelerate its trajectory.

Google’s unveiling of the Willow quantum chip marks a critical milestone. This chip demonstrated the ability to solve computations in under five minutes that would take traditional supercomputers trillions of years. The Willow chip’s advancements in error correction and scalability represent a step closer to practical, widespread quantum applications. These developments indicate that quantum computing may impact industries like logistics, finance, and pharmaceuticals sooner than expected.

In 2025, quantum computing is likely to gain momentum as a trend, driven by these advancements and the growing potential for real-world applications. For UK businesses, staying informed and understanding the implications of this technology will be essential to preparing for the opportunities it is set to unlock as it continues to mature.

Sustainable Technology Initiatives

Sustainability will remain a driving force in 2025 as businesses focus on renewable energy systems, energy-efficient infrastructure, and sustainable materials. These initiatives not only reduce environmental impact but also align with evolving regulations and consumer preferences. Companies implementing sustainable practices frequently report cost savings, operational efficiencies, and improved brand loyalty which are all key factors that make this trend a priority for businesses across sectors.

Cybersecurity Enhancements

In an increasingly digitised world, the need for robust cybersecurity solutions is critical. Threats, such as ransomware and sophisticated phishing attacks, are driving the adoption of advanced technologies like AI-driven threat detection, blockchain for secure transactions, and zero-trust security models.

Businesses must continue to invest in these areas to protect sensitive data, ensure compliance with stringent regulations, and safeguard their reputations, making cybersecurity enhancements a cornerstone of operational strategy in 2025.

Internet of Things (IoT) Expansion

The expansion of IoT devices is enabling businesses to harness real-time data for improved decision-making and operational efficiency. For example, healthcare providers use IoT devices to monitor patient health, while logistics companies optimise supply chains with real-time tracking.

As IoT adoption continues to rise, businesses that are able to leverage this technology effectively in 2025 will be able to deliver increasingly personalised services, thereby gaining a competitive advantage in increasingly dynamic markets.

Edge Computing

Edge computing is a technology that processes data closer to its source, i.e. on devices or local servers rather than relying on distant centralised data centres. This approach reduces latency, minimises bandwidth usage, and improves system reliability, making it ideal for applications that require real-time responses.

Industries like autonomous vehicles (to process sensor data instantly), manufacturing, and industrial automation are already leveraging edge computing to meet the demands of real-time decision-making and critical operations.

As businesses face growing demands for faster data processing and increased system reliability, edge computing is becoming a necessity. In 2025, its adoption is expected to accelerate, driven by the need for real-time capabilities in sectors where split-second decision-making is crucial. For UK businesses, integrating edge computing will be key to maintaining competitiveness, especially in high-demand and remote environments.

Immersive Technologies

Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are reshaping industries by providing new ways to engage customers and train employees. Retailers are using AR for product visualisations, while VR creates immersive learning environments. As hardware becomes more accessible and software more sophisticated, adoption of immersive technologies is expected to accelerate in 2025, offering businesses innovative ways to connect with audiences.

Generative AI and Synthetic Data

Most of us have now either tried or regularly use generative AI (ChatGPT being one of the most widely known examples). This technology, capable of creating new content such as text, images, and simulations, is proving to be an invaluable tool for businesses.

One particularly impactful application is the generation of synthetic data, i.e. a privacy-compliant alternative to real-world data. This is especially beneficial in highly regulated industries like healthcare and finance, where strict privacy requirements often limit the use of actual data for analysis and innovation.

For example, in the development of self-driving cars, collecting real-world driving data is costly, time-consuming, and limited to specific conditions. To address this, companies like Waymo or Tesla use synthetic data to simulate driving environments. They can generate synthetic data to simulate various traffic conditions, such as heavy rain or fog, pedestrians crossing unexpectedly, or cars swerving into lanes. These scenarios are created in virtual environments using synthetic data rather than collecting data from actual incidents.

Hyper-Personalisation through Advanced Analytics

Hyper-personalisation, driven by AI-powered analytics, enables businesses to refine products and services based on customer behaviour, preferences, and interactions. In retail, for instance, companies use this technology to optimise product recommendations and dynamically adjust pricing.

Businesses adopting hyper-personalisation report increased customer loyalty and revenue, solidifying it as a key competitive strategy for 2025. Again, one need look no further than Amazon as an excellent example in this area.

Climate Tech Innovation

Climate tech refers to a range of technologies aimed at mitigating or adapting to the effects of climate change, including carbon capture systems, advanced recycling technologies, and renewable energy solutions. These innovations are gaining significant traction as businesses work to meet sustainability goals, reduce environmental impact, and comply with increasingly stringent regulations.

Climate tech is expected to emerge as a key trend, driven by growing consumer demand for environmentally responsible practices and the economic opportunities it creates. Adopting climate tech allows businesses to cut operational costs, explore new revenue streams, and align with global sustainability priorities. Companies that invest in these solutions early will, therefore, not only address regulatory pressures but also gain a competitive edge by appealing to eco-conscious customers and future-proofing their operations in an evolving market landscape.

Decentralised Finance (DeFi) and Blockchain

DeFi and blockchain technologies are reshaping finance and supply chain operations. By enabling peer-to-peer transactions, smart contracts, and transparent supply chain management, these tools reduce fraud and build trust in complex systems. As these technologies mature, their potential to streamline business operations will become increasingly evident in 2025.

Just looking at Bitcoin (as one example), it recently surpassed the $100,000 mark.

Digital Twins for Predictive Insights

Digital twins, i.e. virtual replicas of physical systems, are transforming industries by enabling predictive analysis and real-time monitoring.

For example, a wind turbine manufacturer uses a digital twin to monitor and optimise the performance of a turbine installed in a wind farm. Sensors on the physical wind turbine collect real-time data on parameters such as wind speed, rotor speed, temperature, vibration, and energy output. This data is sent to the digital twin in real-time. That digital twin is a detailed virtual model of the turbine, created using the turbine’s design specifications and operational data. This can be used to simulate the turbine’s behavior under different conditions, which engineers can use extensively.

From optimising manufacturing lines to improving building performance, digital twins provide actionable insights that help businesses reduce downtime and boost efficiency. Their adoption is expected to grow significantly in 2025.

Neuromorphic Computing

Although the name sounds a bit of a mouthful, emerging as a promising trend, neuromorphic computing mimics the human brain’s neural architecture to achieve faster, more energy-efficient processing. With applications in AI, robotics, and sensor networks, this technology has the potential to solve challenges where traditional computing falls short. Neuromorphic chips, such as those developed by Intel and IBM, are already being tested in cutting-edge industries.

For example, IBM developed the TrueNorth chip, a neuromorphic computing platform, to replicate the brain’s neural architecture. It was designed to process sensory data, like images or sound, in a manner similar to how the human brain operates.

The chip contains 1 million “neurons” and 256 million “synapses.” It uses a spike-based communication system, where neurons only activate (“spike”) when certain conditions are met, mimicking how biological neurons fire in response to stimuli. TrueNorth excels at tasks such as recognising objects in images or patterns in data with extremely low power consumption compared to traditional computing systems.

What Does This Mean For Your Business?

The trends outlined here, spanning agentic AI, biotechnology, climate tech, and quantum computing, reflect the tangible shifts in how industries are operating, innovating, and connect with consumers.

Technologies such as generative AI, edge computing, and immersive experiences are already making significant inroads into everyday business operations (particularly AI), proving their worth through measurable improvements in efficiency, sustainability, and customer engagement. As these technologies mature, their adoption is set to accelerate, offering a wealth of possibilities for forward-thinking organisations.

However, the road to embracing these innovations is not without hurdles. The integration of advanced robotics, edge computing, and AI-powered analytics, for example, demands investment not only in infrastructure but also in workforce training and upskilling. Also, adopting climate tech and hyper-personalisation requires businesses to align their strategies with evolving consumer expectations and regulatory demands. The organisations that succeed will be those that combine technological foresight with a commitment to adaptability, ensuring they are prepared to pivot as these trends continue to develop.

Perhaps most strikingly, these trends collectively highlight a broader narrative, i.e. technology is becoming increasingly human-centric. From neuromorphic computing inspired by the brain to generative AI mimicking creative processes, these innovations aim to complement, rather than replace, human capabilities. The focus is shifting towards tools that enable faster, smarter decision-making while upholding values such as privacy, sustainability, and inclusivity.

2025 will certainly reward businesses that are proactive rather than reactive. Those willing and able to experiment with digital twins, invest in blockchain-based transparency, or leverage quantum advancements are likely to be better positioned to seize competitive advantages.

Whichever set of technologies a business decides to explore (or not), it’s doubtless that relentless investment in cyber security must remain paramount in their adoption.

The post Featured Article : Tech Trends For 2025 appeared first on Mear Technology.

World – Providing ‘Proof of Personhood’ 

In an age where AI now appears to be blurring the lines between human and machine interaction, the ability to verify your own humanity online has become a pressing concern. To help tackle this issue, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s co-founded ‘World’ project, formerly known as Worldcoin, an initiative that aims to establish a global ‘proof of personhood’ through innovative iris-scanning technology. It’s thought this approach could reshape how we perceive identity, privacy, and trust in an increasingly digital world. 

Why Rebrand from Worldcoin to World? 

The Worldcoin project was founded in 2020 by Sam Altman, entrepreneur Max Novendstern, and physicist and AI researcher Alex Blania. Initially conceived as a way to create a new, universally accessible cryptocurrency, the project sought to distribute wealth equitably through a unique method, i.e. verifying individual human identities via iris-scanning technology. It was thought this method would ensure each person could only claim their share once, preventing fraud and promoting fairness. However, the project’s ambitions soon expanded beyond just cryptocurrency. 

The recent rebranding from Worldcoin to ‘World’ actually reflects a shift in scope. As Alex Blania, CEO of Tools for Humanity, the startup driving the World project, recently explained at a live event: “The old name just doesn’t work anymore. We’ve grown beyond just a cryptocurrency project – this is about creating important infrastructure for the world, for digital identity.” 

World’s mission has, therefore, evolved to focus more on building a universal identity verification system for various aspects of digital life, with a particular emphasis on maintaining privacy and security. 

Also, dropping the “coin” from its name, gives the project the chance to distance itself from the volatile world of cryptocurrency, which has faced increasing regulatory scrutiny. The rebranding may also suggest a desire to appeal to a wider audience, expanding the conversation beyond financial technology to address concerns about identity, AI, and privacy. 

Iris-Scanning Orbs 

At the heart of World’s vision is the Orb, a sleek-looking, spherical device designed to scan and encode the unique patterns of a person’s iris. The Orb hooks up to a local processing unit, which scans the iris and converts the biometric data into an encrypted biometric hash, i.e. a unique digital code that proves the individual’s identity without revealing personal information. This biometric data is then processed and encrypted locally on the Orb and does not require an internet connection for scanning. The encrypted code is then linked to a decentralised blockchain for identity verification, ensuring privacy and security. 

Blania has emphasised the privacy aspect of this system, saying: “We’re very clear about how the data is handled. The Orb does not store any biometric images. It creates an encrypted code that proves your identity without needing to reveal who you are”. 

Unveiled At Recent Event 

The latest version of the Orb, unveiled during a live event in San Francisco, is said to be faster and more efficient than previous versions. For example, it processes iris scans three times quicker and has fewer components, thereby also making it easier and cheaper to mass-produce (which could be a crucial step in scaling the system for global use). With its sleek design and improved interface, the Orb has been designed to make the identity verification process seamless, potentially encouraging widespread adoption. 

Tools for Humanity 

The driving force behind World is Tools for Humanity, a startup co-founded by Sam Altman and Alex Blania. While Altman is primarily known for his leadership at OpenAI, he reportedly now dedicates a significant amount of time to World, thereby signalling his belief that securing digital identity is one of the most pressing issues of our time. Tools for Humanity was created specifically to develop the technology behind the World project and to ensure its scalability and privacy. 

Separate From OpenAI 

Despite Altman’s involvement in both World and OpenAI,  Blania has been keen to emphasise that World operates independently from OpenAI. For example, Blania has been quoted as saying (in a recent interview) that, “These are two very separate missions” and that OpenAI is focused on advancing artificial intelligence, whereas World is centred on creating critical infrastructure for the digital future. 

That said, Blania hasn’t ruled out future collaborations between the two, especially as AI increasingly permeates all aspects of life. 

The Purpose of World –  Navigating A Post-AI Reality 

World’s mission is grounded in the belief that as AI systems become more advanced, distinguishing between human and machine interactions online will become increasingly difficult. This poses significant risks to trust, security, and the integrity of digital platforms. World, therefore, aims to provide a solution by creating a secure, decentralised verification system that proves a person’s humanity while protecting their privacy. 

Sam Altman recently highlighted the growing importance of such infrastructure in a world dominated by AI, saying: “As AI becomes more advanced, proving that you’re human will be increasingly important. World is about building that infrastructure to ensure the digital future remains trustworthy”. 

Thanks to its use of blockchain (a distributed, incorruptible ledger), the technology is also designed to be tamper-proof and decentralised. Using blockchain should mean that the system ensures that no single entity controls the biometric data, thereby aligning with growing trends toward user empowerment and data sovereignty. It’s hoped that this decentralisation will not only strengthen security but also ensure the system is resistant to external manipulation or misuse. 

Benefits and Potential Applications 

The potential benefits of having universal ‘proof of personhood’ are vast. Individuals will be able to verify their identity across various digital platforms with ease, thereby enhancing security and privacy. Consequently, this technology could transform sectors like social media, e-commerce, and online communication, where identity verification is becoming more critical. 

For example, social media platforms could use World’s verification system to reduce spam and prevent the spread of misinformation by ensuring all users are verified individuals, not bots. Similarly, e-commerce sites could implement this technology to enhance trust between buyers and sellers. 

Also, World envisions a redistribution of wealth generated by AI advancements. The idea is that through Worldcoin, the cryptocurrency (still associated with the project), verified individuals could receive tokens, effectively creating a form of universal basic income UBI). This could be particularly beneficial in regions where access to financial services is limited, promoting economic inclusion. 

World’s Sam Altman is a well-known supporter of UBI as a solution to potential job displacement caused by AI and automation. For example, he sees UBI as a financial safety net for a future with fewer traditional jobs, and his work with the World project aligns with this vision by aiming to distribute cryptocurrency to verified individuals. 

Challenges and Criticisms 

Despite its ambitious vision, World has not been without controversy. Privacy advocates have voiced concerns over the collection and use of biometric data. The idea of scanning millions of irises around the world has raised questions about consent, data security, and potential misuse by authoritarian regimes or malicious actors. 

World has responded to these concerns by emphasising its commitment to privacy. For example, the company has highlighted how the Orb does not store raw biometric data or images, but instead converts iris patterns into an irreversible cryptographic hash, which means the original biometric information cannot be reconstructed. Also, all processing occurs locally on the device, ensuring that sensitive data is not transmitted or stored in a centralised location. 

Blania recently addressed the project’s regulatory challenges (at a press conference), particularly in regions such as Kenya and the European Union, saying: “We are working closely with regulators to ensure that our system meets global privacy standards. Our commitment to privacy is absolute, and the technology we use reflects that”. 

However, regulatory scrutiny has continued. In Kenya, for example, Worldcoin’s operations were temporarily suspended in 2023 over concerns about the handling of biometric data, although they have since resumed after engaging with local authorities. In the European Union, investigations are ongoing to determine whether the project complies with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and the outcome of these inquiries will be crucial in shaping the project’s future. 

Enhancing Accessibility 

World has highlighted how its latest Orb has been redesigned to facilitate broader access to the system. The device’s improved speed and efficiency allow for iris verification to be completed in just a few seconds, reducing friction for users. Also, Tools for Humanity has announced partnerships to increase the Orb’s availability. 

For example, in collaboration with Rappi, a leading delivery service in Latin America, users can now schedule at-home iris scans, allowing them to verify their identity without visiting a physical location. Plans are also underway to place Orbs in public venues like coffee shops, further lowering the barriers to participation. 

Plans To Scale-Up 

With over 7 million verified users already, World now appears to be focused on scaling its network rapidly. The hope is that by reaching a critical mass of verified individuals, the World verification system will become a standard across numerous digital platforms, helping to secure the digital landscape against bots and other forms of online fraud. 

Deep Face and World ID Too 

In addition to the Orb, Tools for Humanity is also developing Deep Face, a system aimed at combating deepfakes and online impersonation. By integrating World’s human verification services into platforms like FaceTime, Zoom, or social media networks, Deep Face could provide real-time authentication, ensuring that the person you are interacting with is indeed human. 

The company has also launched a beta version of World ID, a digital credential that could serve as an alternative to traditional government-issued IDs for online use. While World ID isn’t meant to replace national identification systems, it offers a way for users to verify their identity without sharing excessive personal data. This could simplify processes like age verification or access to restricted services, while maintaining user privacy. 

Balancing Innovation with Ethics 

World’s approach to digital identity is undoubtedly bold, but it must also carefully navigate a complex landscape of ethical concerns. For example, the use of biometric data, even in encrypted form, requires strict safeguards to ensure that individuals’ rights are protected. Transparency is likely to be key in building trust, particularly as public awareness of data privacy continues to grow. 

Users need to fully understand how their data is used, what protections are in place, and what recourse they have in the event of a breach. Achieving equitable access to the technology is another major challenge, particularly in less developed regions where infrastructure may be lacking. 

Sam Altman’s Dual Role 

It could be said that Sam Altman’s involvement in both OpenAI and World places him at a unique intersection of AI and digital identity and that while the two ventures remain independent, their missions are intertwined. For example, OpenAI’s advancements in AI are accelerating the need for reliable proof of personhood online, and World is attempting to fill this gap. 

By offering a way to verify humanity, World seeks to counter some of the risks associated with AI, such as fraud, impersonation, and the erosion of trust in online spaces. Altman’s role in both projects positions him as a central figure in shaping how we navigate these emerging challenges. 

World Not The Only One Doing It 

It should be noted, however, that although World is differentiating itself through using blockchain for decentralised identity verification and its potential integration with cryptocurrency, and having Sam Altman at the helm, it’s not the only company using iris recognition technology for secure identity verification. Other notable companies leveraging the uniqueness of the iris for secure and reliable identification, particularly for high-security environments or identity management, include: 

– Global leader in augmented identity, IDEMIA, which has developed OneLook, a non-intrusive iris recognition system capable of capturing iris data even from a distance. IDEMIA’s technology is used for identity verification across various industries, including law enforcement, border control, and elections. IDEMIA’s algorithms have been highly ranked for their accuracy and reliability. 

– CMITech. Known for high-performance iris recognition systems, CMITech created the EF-45 system, which uses deep learning algorithms for iris scanning. This system is used in settings where superior accuracy and performance are critical. 

– Iris ID. Since 1997, Iris ID has been a key player in commercialising iris recognition technology. Their IrisAccess platform is widely deployed for applications like national ID programs and physical access control. 

Looking Ahead 

With World apparently standing at the forefront of a new frontier in digital identity, its success will depend on its ability to balance innovation with responsibility, build trust with users, and navigate the regulatory landscapes of different countries. 

That said, the project’s potential appears to be vast. By creating a universal proof of personhood, World could fundamentally change how we interact online, enhancing security, privacy, and trust. The ability to redistribute wealth through cryptocurrency could also have profound economic implications, particularly in underbanked regions. 

However, significant challenges remain. Addressing privacy concerns, ensuring equitable access, and achieving widespread adoption are all hurdles that World will need to overcome as it moves from concept to reality. The coming years will be critical in determining whether World can truly deliver on its ambitious promises. 

What Does This Mean for Your Business? 

World’s iris-scanning technology, built to create a global ‘proof of personhood,’ could have profound implications for businesses across numerous sectors. In industries where identity verification is critical, such as financial services, e-commerce, healthcare, and social media, the adoption of such biometric-based systems could revolutionise how businesses authenticate users and protect against fraud. With AI increasingly capable of mimicking human behaviour, ensuring that a customer or user is truly human is becoming an essential requirement for maintaining security and trust. 

In the financial sector, for example, banks and payment processors could benefit significantly from World’s technology. Biometric verification systems like the Orb could provide a more secure alternative to traditional passwords or PINs, thereby reducing the risk of identity theft and fraud in transactions. This could also streamline processes for Know Your Customer (KYC) compliance, allowing businesses to verify identities quickly and accurately without relying on physical documents, which can be prone to forgery. 

Similarly, e-commerce platforms could use World’s system to ensure that buyers and sellers are legitimate individuals, increasing trust and reducing scams or bot-driven fraud. As online transactions continue to grow globally, having a decentralised, tamper-proof verification system could give businesses a competitive edge by creating a more secure and reliable shopping experience. 

Healthcare providers may also benefit from such biometric systems, where patient identity verification is crucial for medical records management and safeguarding sensitive health data. World’s secure iris-scanning technology could help prevent medical identity theft, improve the accuracy of patient records, and ensure that treatments and services are delivered to the correct individual. 

In the realm of social media and online communication, the rise of deepfakes and impersonation presents a significant challenge to platform integrity. By integrating World’s iris-scanning system, platforms could drastically reduce the prevalence of bots and fake accounts. Verified users would be more likely to trust the interactions they have online, and platforms could maintain the authenticity of user-generated content. 

Also, as the metaverse and virtual interactions continue to grow, companies involved in these emerging sectors could find enormous value in having a system that ensures users are real individuals. This could be particularly useful for businesses involved in virtual events, digital real estate, and immersive experiences where secure identity verification will be essential for building trust. 

For businesses dealing with AI-generated content or interactions, integrating a human verification system could differentiate them in an increasingly automated world. It could offer a layer of trust that could be pivotal as AI continues to evolve. Verifying the authenticity of users interacting with AI-powered systems is likely to be a key factor in ensuring smooth human-machine collaborations. 

The introduction of Altman’s World iris-scanning technology could, therefore, open up opportunities across a variety of industries that require secure, fast, and private verification systems. By embracing this biometric solution, businesses could not only protect themselves against fraud and misuse but also offer a more streamlined, user-friendly experience to their customers. In the coming years, as AI, automation, and digital interactions continue to grow, these systems could prove to be a cornerstone of trusted business operations, shaping the way we interact in both physical and digital worlds.

The post Featured Article : Prove You’re Human appeared first on Mear Technology.

Why? 

In their report about their research, the two Harvard students, AnhPhu Nguyen and Caine Ardayfio, said their goal was “to demonstrate the current capabilities of smart glasses, face search engines, LLMs, and public databases, raising awareness that extracting someone’s home address and other personal details from just their face on the street is possible today”. 

Turning Glasses Into Facial Recognition Tools 

As part of a project they called I-XRAY, the students developed a program that demonstrates the potential privacy risks of using AI with smart glasses like Meta’s Ray-Ban models.  

Using their experimental system, the students have reported that they can stream live recordings from Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses (which are equipped with camera) to a computer, where AI is then used to spot when the glasses are looking at a face. Next, they are able to use AI and facial recognition tools, notably the PimEyes facial search engine while live streaming video from the glasses to Instagram, to positively identify strangers to whom the faces in the video belong.  

Once the glasses detect a person’s face, the program can pull up images and publicly available personal information, including names, addresses, and more, within minutes. 

The experiment shows how it’s possible to quickly access personal details of random individuals simply by walking past them and capturing their faces on camera, highlighting how invasive and dangerous this technology could become, if misused. 

What Is PimEyes and How Can They Use It? 

PimEyes is a facial recognition search engine that allows users to upload an image of a face and find other images of that person across the web. It scans public databases, websites, and social media platforms to match facial features, making it possible to track someone’s online presence. In their experiment, the Harvard students used PimEyes to identify people in real-time by integrating it with Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses. As the glasses recorded video, PimEyes was used to find additional images and public information about individuals whose faces were captured. 

Leveraged Today’s LLMs 

The students said that what makes their I-XRAY system so unique is that it operates entirely automatically, thanks to the recent progress in AI Large Language Models (LLMs). The system leverages the ability of LLMs to understand, process, and compile huge amounts of information from diverse sources, inferring relationships between online sources, such as linking a name from one article to another, and logically parsing a person’s identity and personal details through text. The students said that is this “synergy between LLMs and reverse face search” that “allows for fully automatic and comprehensive data extraction that was previously not possible with traditional methods alone”.  

Used ‘FastPeopleSearch’ To Get Other Personal Details From Names 

Worryingly, the students reported how their system (once they get an LLM-extracted name) can use a ‘FastPeopleSearch’ lookup to identify the person’s home address, phone number, plus their relatives. FastPeopleSearch is a free online tool that allows users to find personal information about individuals, such as addresses, phone numbers, and even family members or associates. It aggregates publicly available data from various sources to offer these details. 

To use it, you go to the FastPeopleSearch.com website (if access is allowed – the website is using a security service – you may need a VPN), enter a person’s name, phone number, or address, and the tool will search its database to return matching results. It’s often used for background checks, though it raises privacy concerns due to the accessibility of personal information. 

Doesn’t Have To Be Smart Glasses 

The students have highlighted that although Meta’s smart glasses have been used in their experiments, using their system, the same results could be achieved using just a simple phone camera. This means that anyone could use this technology to identify, track, or access personal information about strangers in real time, without their knowledge or consent. This raises serious privacy and security concerns, especially regarding stalking, harassment, or ‘doxxing’. 

Are We Ready For This? 

As one of the student researchers in this experiment, AnhPhu Nguyen, said in an ‘X’ post about their findings, “Are we ready for a world where our data is exposed at a glance?”, with others commenting “Fascinating but Dystopian” and “looks like some govt entity will try and get hold of this”. 

How Can You Protect Yourself? 

Despite demonstrating how easily facial recognition systems can be built using publicly available technologies and data, the Harvard researchers have also provided steps to help individuals protect their privacy – helpful links to do this can be found here. They explained how people can remove their data from major facial recognition and people search engines like PimEyes and FastPeopleSearch. Both PimEyes and Facecheck.id offer free services to opt-out, while major people search engines like FastPeopleSearch, CheckThem, and Instant Checkmate allow users to remove their information. Also, considering the potential financial havoc if a person’s US social security number (SSN) is leaked/part of a data dump, the researchers have recommended freezing credit and using two-factor authentication to prevent identity theft. 

What Has Meta Said? 

Meta has reportedly said that the students’ experiment appears to involve them “simply using publicly-available facial recognition software on a computer that would work with photos taken on any camera, phone or recording device”, and has highlighted that its smart glasses are designed to comply with privacy laws, such as including a visible light to indicate when they are recording. 

What Does This Mean For Your Business? 

This could be an important experiment in that it highlights just how vulnerable personal data can be in the age of advanced AI and facial recognition technology. While Nguyen and Ardayfio’s research shows the remarkable capabilities of current technologies, it also serves as a wake-up call to the broader public. The ease with which private details, such as names and addresses, can be extracted from something as simple as a passing glance on the street is a stark reminder of the privacy risks we face. The fact that these tools can be used not just with specialised smart glasses, but also with everyday devices like smartphones, makes the issue even more pressing. 

For businesses, this raises important questions about the ethical and legal responsibilities of companies developing and deploying similar technologies. As facial recognition becomes more ubiquitous, organisations must navigate the fine line between innovation and privacy, ensuring that they not only comply with existing laws but also proactively address the potential misuse of their products. Meta’s response that their smart glasses are compliant with privacy regulations is likely to do very little to quell the growing concerns about how easily such technologies can be repurposed for invasive uses. 

Looking ahead, as the use of AI and facial recognition continues to expand, so too will the need for stricter regulations and public awareness. Individuals, businesses, and governments alike must engage in a broader conversation about the balance between technological advancement and personal privacy to ensure that such powerful tools are not misused.

The post Featured Article : Face-Recognition & Personal Data Concerns appeared first on Mear Technology.

CES 

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES), which this year took place in Las Vegas (from January 9th to 12th) once again acted as a global stage for tech innovation and a glimpse of things to come. It’s a place where industry leaders, startups, and tech enthusiasts converge to showcase and witness the latest advancements and future trends in technology and which sets the tone for the tech industry each year. Among the more ‘serious’ products, however, the show features many fun/novel and more left-field gadgets and claims. Here’s some standout examples of these from CES 2024. 

LG’s Smart Home AI Agent. This AI device (a kind of robotic home manager) transcends traditional smart home functions. It’s capable of engaging in meaningful conversations, providing reminders for medication, and even contacting emergency services if needed, showcasing a new level of AI integration in home management. The Smart Home AI Agent is an example of a product that fits LG’s vision of a “zero-labour home”, something that many of us can only dream about!

For those who want to keep their conversations secret, how about Skyted’s Mobility Privacy Mask? This innovative gadget is essentially a Bluetooth-enabled face mask yet it’s designed to absorb voice frequencies, thereby ensuring private conversations in public spaces. The potential applications for the device highlighted by the company include conversations in public spaces, while travelling (for frequent travellers or regular commuters), plus those working in aeroplanes, in and in offices or call centres. It’s an interesting idea which highlights a growing demand for privacy in our increasingly connected world. 

GlüxKind’s AI-powered Stroller (Pram), Ella. This gadget is a step forward (or a roll forward) in making the life of modern, connected parents that bit easier. It’s a pram that offers hands-free operation, automatic stopping on inclines, and a gentle rocking feature for the baby. Its built-in white noise machine adds another layer of innovation, showcasing how parenting can be assisted by smart technology. 

The WeHead GPT Edition is an AI-powered head with a face that gives ChatGPT a physical form, providing a unique interactive experience. Some have criticised the face for appearing to be a little emotionless when it talks. It’s been designed for brainstorming and idea generation, and it represents an intriguing (some have said creepy) blend of virtual and physical AI interfaces. 

Rabbit’s R1 Pocket AI Assistant. Developed by Teenage Engineering, this ($200) handheld AI assistant with a 2.88-inch touchscreen navigates smartphone apps on command, simplifying tasks like ordering food or managing apps. It operates on a language action model, pushing the boundaries of how we interact with our digital devices. 

French startup MolluSCAN’s Smart Molluscs is a novel, environmentally-focused technology that uses sensors literally upon molluscs to monitor water quality and pollution. It represents a highly innovative approach to environmental monitoring, combining biology with technology. 

For those who remember how some TVs used to fold into cabinets and be disguised as home furniture, SEED’s N1 Folding TV takes things quite a few steps further. This innovative TV transitions itself from a large 137-inch screen to a sleek sculpture. The seamless MicroLED panels provide an uninterrupted viewing experience, reflecting the fusion of technology and art. 

On the subject of TVs, how about one you can’t see at all? Samsung’s Transparent TV can blend in with the background of your room when not in use, so it looks like a transparent piece of glass in a frame! The design uses Micro LED technology which Samsung says makes “the line between content and reality virtually indistinguishable.”  

In the health industry, ADAM-X by Medical-X is essentially a robot patient that simulates a wide range of medical scenarios and reacts how a live patient would react, providing real-time feedback to trainees. It also has simulated bodily fluids. This advanced CPR dummy is designed for medical training and is a good example of how technology is enhancing medical training with lifelike simulations. 

Again, in the health domain, the BMind AI-Powered Smart Mirror by Baracoda is a smart mirror that acts as a mental wellness health companion. For example, this mirror not only reflects your image but also gauges your mood using AI. It can engage in conversations, provide meditation exercises, and even offers light therapy, marking a new era in personal wellness technology. 

The Clicks Technology’s BlackBerry-style iPhone Keyboard attachment transforms an iPhone into a device reminiscent of the BlackBerry era. It provides a tactile typing experience while liberating screen space, blending nostalgia with modern smartphone functionality. 

Sound Drive’s Dynamic Sound Mixing, created by Will.i.am’s startup, is a system that adjusts your car’s music based on your driving speed and conditions. It dynamically mixes the music, adding or dropping lyrics as needed, to match the energy of your drive. 

How about having a conversation with your bathroom furniture? A step too far? Not in the case of Kohler’s PureWash E930 Bidet Seat which features voice command capabilities. It allows users to control various functions such as activating the spray or dryer, or using its self-cleaning UV feature, all through voice commands with Alexa or Google Assistant. Just be careful not to say the wrong thing at the wrong time! 

One novel piece of tech for pets presented at CES this year was the ‘Flappie,’ the AI-powered cat flap, described as “world’s most intelligent” cat flap.  Flappie uses cameras and AI to prevent unwanted visitors from following your pet indoors. It’s designed to recognise your cat and distinguish it from other animals, ensuring that only your pet has access. This product reflects the increasing use of AI in everyday household items, offering convenience and problem-solving in unexpected areas. 

What Does This Mean For Your Business? 

It seems that CES 2024 has demonstrated how technology is becoming increasingly intertwined with every aspect of our lives. From smart-home advancements to groundbreaking developments in environmental monitoring and healthcare, even the more novel tech innovations offer a glimpse into a future where technology enhances and simplifies our daily experiences.  

For UK businesses, these trends underscore the importance of embracing innovation, focusing on user experience, and exploring eco-friendly technologies. They also highlight how the integration of AI is changing everything and opening up so many more opportunities and avenues for product innovation and enhancement. The gadgets and AI advancements from CES 2024, therefore, not only reflect the current state of technology but also offer a roadmap for future developments. UK businesses can learn from these innovations to identify new opportunities, meet emerging consumer needs, and stay competitive in a rapidly evolving global tech landscape.  

Although this selection focuses on the more novel and unusual gadgets, the key general takeaway from CES 2024 could be that the future is not just about technology for its own sake, but technology that enriches, simplifies, and adds value to our everyday lives.

The post Featured Article : What Was Fun At CES? appeared first on Mear Technology.

France, Fears, Ban, & Update 

France’s National Frequency Agency (ANFR), the watchdog that manages all radio frequencies in France (for all wireless communications) recently ordered an immediate withdrawal of the iPhone 12 from the French market over fears that the phone could be emitting dangerous radiation. 

The fears came from the results of an ANFR test of the iPhone 12, simulating the phone being held in the hand or put in a pocket. Following the test, the ANFR reported that it emits more electromagnetic waves (susceptible to being absorbed by the body) than permitted. 

With ‘SAR’ standing for Specific Absoption Rates, the ANFR’s tests evaluate phones in contact with the body for “limb” SAR (a phone held in the hand or in a trouser pocket), and at a distance of 5 mm for “trunk” SAR (a phone carried in a jacket pocket or a bag). In the EU, phones must comply with the regulatory limit values of 4.0 W/kg for “limb” SAR and 2 W/kg for “trunk” SAR. In the case of the iPhone 12 test, the ANFR said that “measurements have revealed a “limb” SAR value exceeding this limit, specifically 5.74 W/kg. However, the “trunk” SAR values are compliant.” 

In addition to the ban on sales of the iPhone 12, the ANFR said: “Apple must immediately take all measures to prevent the availability of the concerned phones in the supply chain. Regarding the phones that have already been sold, Apple must promptly take corrective measures to bring the concerned phones into compliance. Failing that, it will be the company Apple’s responsibility to recall them.” 

Germany & Belgum Spooked 

Following the results and action in France, it was reported that regulators in Germany and Belgium were investigating the SAR levels of the iPhone 12 which could result in similar action in those countries. Other European countries may follow suit. Spain’s OCU consumers’ group, for example, has urged authorities there to halt the sales of the iPhone 12. 

What Does Apple Say About It? 

Apple has disputed the ANFR’s findings, dismissing them as “a specific testing protocol used by French regulators and not a safety concern.” 

Apple said that its iPhone 12, introduced in 2020, has been certified by multiple international bodies as compliant with global radiation standards, that it has provided several Apple and third-party lab results proving the phone’s compliance to the French agency, and that it was contesting its findings. 

Apple has also said that it will issue a software update to fix any radiation issues. 

Who’s Right? Is It Dangerous? 

Electromagnetic fields are present everywhere, i.e. electromagnetic field radiation occurs naturally and also, we are subject to man-made electromagnetic fields, such as those emitted by electricity that comes out of every power socket. The higher frequency radio waves are used to transmit information, e.g. from TV antennas, radio stations or mobile phone base stations. Arguably, the common lightbulb emits high frequency electromagnetic radiation (i.e. visible light), yet few people are concerned about that. However, fields of different frequencies interact with the body in different ways. 

Radiation, which appears to be the most frightening word due to its links to cancer, refers to the emission of energy as electromagnetic (EM) waves or fast-moving subatomic particles. Both forms of radiation are naturally occurring, and can come from various sources including the sun, cosmic rays, radon gas, radioactive rocks and even common foods such as Brazil nuts. However, “non-ionising” radiation comes from much lower frequency (EM) sources, such as microwaves, cordless-phones, Bluetooth etc. Radiation can also come from, planned (medical, occupational) or accidental situations.  

Where mobile phones are concerned, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, which sets global SAR guidance and levels classed the radiofrequency electromagnetic fields from mobile phone use as “possibly carcinogenic” in 2011. However, as the World Health organisation stated about the radiofrequency waves transmitted by mobile phones in 2014: “Radiofrequency waves are electromagnetic fields, and unlike ionizing radiation such as X-rays or gamma rays, can neither break chemical bonds nor cause ionisation in the human body.” 

It also stated that: “A large number of studies have been performed over the last two decades to assess whether mobile phones pose a potential health risk. To date, no adverse health effects have been established as being caused by mobile phone use.” 

Comments About The iPhone 12’s Safety 

In relation to the iPhone 12’s ban, Professor Rodney Croft, the chair of the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) has been widely quoted across the media, saying: “From a health and safety point of view, it is not as if this is putting anyone at risk”.  

Limits Have Been Set Low 

It is also the case that regulatory limits on SAR have been set well below levels where scientists have found evidence of harm anyway. For example, based on the risk of burns or heatstroke from a phone’s radiation, the SAR levels are already set ten times below the level where scientists have found evidence of harm. 

This suggests that there may be no need for alarm over the French testing of the iPhone 12 which only showed a slightly excessive reading in the “limb” SAR value but was compliant in other tests. 

What Does This Mean For Your Business? 

With an abundance of devices, transmitters, and other sources of electromagnetic waves all around us in the street, home, workplace, and countryside, and with more of us becoming more reliant on our radiofrequency wave-transmitting phones, it’s good that are tests taking place. It’s also good from a consumer protection point of view that enough tolerance has been built into the SAR tests, and that there are regulators in place to force fast action, e.g. from sales bans to recalls. However, from Apple’s point of view, the results of a test in one country, whether fully accurate or not, has damaged sales through a ban (which is spreading internationally) and led to a more damaging wave of fear and bad publicity.

If Apple can’t satisfy the regulators (it has two weeks to respond in France) and quell fears over a phone that’s now three years old, a snowballing effect could bring an even wider ban across the EU and an even more expensive recall (as already threatened) could follow.

Apple has just launched its iPhone 15 and will be hoping that the fears don’t rub off and affect its sales or, even worse, that it doesn’t also come under scrutiny and come out with similar results. That said, as France’s junior minister for the digital economy, Jean-Noel Barrot (who is sceptical of the software update fix) says, the rule is the same for everyone introducing devices in France, including the digital giants.

Outside of the software update, Apple may now need to do some more serious talking and convincing to “stop the rot” in the EU damaging its profits and reputation further. All this is, of course, good news for Apple’s competitors in the EU phone market who may pick up some of Apple’s lost sales. 

The SAR findings top off a bad week for Apple in Europe where it has also been forced to swap its lightning charger for a USB-C charging port for its iPhone 15 in order to comply with EU rules for standardisation in 2024. 

The post Featured Article : iPhone Radiation : What’s It All About? appeared first on Mear Technology.

Green Distributed Compute Network 

Heata, which began as an innovation project with British Gas, describes itself as “a ground-breaking green distributed compute network that uses the waste heat from compute to heat the water in people’s homes.”  

Tackling Two Challenges With One Solution 

The company sees this as a way of tackling two challenges with one solution in that over 4 million UK households live in fuel poverty and data centres require vast amounts of energy and create significant heat. For example, it’s estimated that waste heat from a large data centre could provide hot water for 11,000 homes. Heata says that “moving heat is hard, it requires new infrastructure or a pre-existing heat network” but “moving bits and bytes is easy” so the idea of installing servers on the side of water tanks is a way of taking the servers to where heat is needed, thereby providing free hot water for those that want it. Heata says this turns a computing problem into a “social benefit” and supports the decarbonisation of the rapidly growing cloud computing industry. 

How Does It Work 

The company fits a computer server unit to the side of domestic hot water tanks and the heat generated by the business cloud server heats the hot water. In return, Heata gets to expand its business cloud server network without the cost and complications of having to find/build and run data centres and deal with the heat from them. 

Offer Example  

The Heata unit is reported to be currently only available as part of a government backed scheme in South East England. An example of a recent offer to customers is that (from Toms Hardware) in exchange for Heata installing a water-heating server unit next to the existing hot water cylinder, homeowners can get up to 4.8kWh of free hot water a day, the equivalent of 80 per cent of a UK household’s daily use for a whole year. 

The Server Unit And ‘Thermal Bridge’ 

The computer server is mounted on Heata’s patented thermal bridge which is fitted to 450mm diameter domestic hot water cylinders and provides the attachment point for the server. 

What About Your Router And The Power For The Server? 

Two key aspects of the deal that are less clear, however, are the fact that an extra (business) server will need to connect to the home’s router and network, and the unit will require electricity that the homeowner initially pays for (Heata says it will reimburse owners in the trial). These facts may well give potential customers some concerns such as: 

– The bandwidth the unit will use and the associated costs and connection worries. 

– The fact that it’s a strange computer on the home network that the homeowner has no access to and doesn’t know exactly what it’s doing, leading to possible security concerns. 

That said, Heata has reportedly said that the server will only use a fraction of the bandwidth, it will only be engaged in tasks such as monitoring information and performing speed tests for most of the time, and later versions will be separated from a home’s broadband by fibre connections. 

What Does This Mean For Your Business? 

The huge growth in cloud computing has created the need for many more energy hungry data centres which in turn has created the issues of how to manage the heat they generate and minimise/reduce the environmental impact. Many ideas have been tried, e.g. underwater data centres, but part of the attractiveness of this scheme is both the social element, i.e. homeowners in a cost-of-living crisis with high energy prices getting ‘free’ hot water, plus the fact that the product appears to tackle several issues with one solution. Businesses always need affordable cloud computing which schemes like this may be able to help provide and the computing industry needs to rapidly find ways to decarbonise, which Heata’s offering also shows promise for. It could also have knock-on benefits and opportunities for broadband providers and for other computing-based companies looking to offer similar solutions.

The post Tech News : Want Free Hot Water? Have A Server In Your House! appeared first on Mear Technology.

What Are Quantum Computers? 

Quantum computers can carry out complex calculations at high speed. Whereas traditional computers store data in binary ‘bits’ (ones and zeros) and work by creating and storing long strings of these ‘bits,’ quantum computing’s ‘qubits’ (quantum bits) can do both at once. This is because a qubit can hold a zero, a one, or any proportion of both zero and one at the same time, and an array of qubits can use something called ‘superposition’ to represent all 2^64 possible values at the same time. This means that quantum computers can store more data in fewer bits (i.e. much more information can be stored in fewer qubits), meaning information can be processed much more quickly than with a traditional computer. The power of a quantum computer is stated in its quantum volume number/how many qubits, for example, a 14-qubit system. 

Quantum computers can, therefore, be used to dramatically speed up tasks that have traditionally taken a long time. The results can be astounding, e.g. where crunching numbers that would take a classical computer a week, could take a quantum computer less than a second. 

The Challenges 

Although quantum computers operate on the 100-qubit scale, experts say that millions of qubits are needed to solve important problems that are currently out of reach of today’s most powerful supercomputers. 

Even though quantum computers are developing, they are becoming constrained by the size of their microchip, which limits the number of quantum bits such a chip can accommodate. 

The Breakthrough 

The recent breakthrough, featured in a research paper published in ‘Nature Communications,’ is that a new powerful technique (called ‘UQ Connect’) allows multiple chips to slot together like a jigsaw puzzle to make a more powerful quantum computer. This ‘UQ Connect’ technique uses electric field links to enable qubits to move from one quantum computing microchip module to another with unprecedented speed and precision. 

World Record Numbers 

Using the UQ technique, The University of Sussex and Universal Quantum team have reported being successful in transporting the qubits with a 99.999993 per cent success rate and a connection rate of 2424/s. Both these numbers are believed to be world records and orders of magnitude better than previous solutions. 

Boundless Applications  

Professor Sasha Roseneil, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sussex, highlighted the value of the breakthrough, saying: “It’s fantastic to see that the inspired work of the University of Sussex and Universal Quantum physicists has resulted in this phenomenal breakthrough, taking us a significant step closer to a quantum computer that will be of real societal use. These computers are set to have boundless applications from improving the development of medicines, creating new materials, to maybe even unlocking solutions to the climate crisis.” 

What Does This Mean For Your Business? 

The development of quantum computers has had many engineering, computer science and mathematical challenges to overcome just get it to this point. The recent discovery of how to effectively link multiple chips together in a way that is fast and accurate is the next big step forward in boosting their power and overcoming single chip constraints. This could mean that we are entering the realm of scaled-up, practical quantum computers that are capable of solving some of the biggest challenges faced by many different industries, and some of the biggest challenges facing us all, such as how to successfully treat some of our most serious diseases and tackle the climate crisis.

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Stopping The Smart Updates Limits Lifespan 

Which? says it discovered the risk after analysing smart appliances in six key household product areas – washing machines, dishwashers, televisions, smartphones, printers, and smartwatches/fitness trackers. Following the analysis, it was found that hardly any brands even came close to matching expected lifespans with their smart update policies.  

Also, Which? found that many brands don’t give any guarantees, meaning that consumers don’t know exactly how long an appliance will remain safe to use. 

Survey 

Which? reached is conclusion about the risk to smart appliance lifespans after a survey of 119 product brands behind hundreds of smart devices about their update support policies. Analysis of the November 2022 survey results enabled Which? to estimate the average time a product is expected to last before it breaks down or deteriorates significantly. Which? called this estimate this the “estimated lifetime (ELT)”.   

Key Findings 

The key findings for ELT relating to specific brands include: 

– LG dishwashers, smart TVs and washing machines are all only guaranteed support for two years from when the product is launched, not when it was bought. The ELT for LG televisions is 6.8 years, washing machines may last 11 years and dishwashers 13 years.  

– Sony also only guarantees updates for its TVs two years after launch and Samsung only guarantees updates for its TVs three years. 

– Even though the estimated lifetime for inkjet printers is 13 years, HP only guarantees support for its smart printers for just three years (although it does at least have a policy). 

– Some companies do provide product support for longer. E.g., Hisense supports its smart TVs for 10 years, and Miele supports smart dishwashers and washing machines for 10 years. 

Transparency 

Which? criticised big smart appliance brands for not being transparent about how long their product support will actually last. For example, only half (49 per cent) actually replied with clear information on minimum support periods and some who did reply only gave vague commitments and confusing policies. 

New Legislation Could Help 

The recently passed Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure (PSTI) Act could help because it will require makers of smartphones, washing machines, televisions, and other products to state minimum guarantee periods for updates when someone makes their purchase.  

Manufacturers Should Be Proactive 

Which? believes that rather than waiting for legislation to enforce transparency, manufacturers should proactively extend the minimum lengths of time they support smart products. 

What Does This Mean For Your Business? 

Which?’s own survey of 1,051 members (Oct 2022) showed that 9 out of 10 consumers think that security updates are an important factor when buying a smart product, although many people may simply buy a smart product without giving much or any thought to how long the smart updates will last. In this respect, publishing these Which? results may be helpful in highlighting an important issue and raising awareness among buyers.

It does seem unfair for manufacturers to sell expensive products that buyers would expect to last for many years and then just abandon them. This could mean that a product could lose the features that justified the high price tag, while the lack of updates could create a security risk. Replacing the essentially obsolete smart product could also be bad for the environment because it’s added to the growing e-waste mountain. As highlighted by Which?, smart appliance manufacturers are facing legislation anyway, and could face further intervention such as a minimum number of years that products have to be supported unless they up their game and become more proactive and more transparent about the length of time that products will be supported with updates.

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