Artificial intelligence Archives | Page 3 of 605

VivaCity partners with Nottingham to enhance urban transport using AI

Nottingham City Council has partnered with VivaCity to install over 200 AI-enabled transport sensors across the city. The sensors include ANPR, traffic monitoring, and Smart Signal Control capabilities.

Sensors will collect real-time, anonymous data on vehicle types, pedestrians, and cyclists to inform traffic management decisions. The first Smart Junction at the Ring Road-Aspley Lane will adjust traffic lights according to current conditions.

Funding comes from the Future Transport Zones Fund, for which the Department awarded £16.7 million for Transport. Installation began in February 2023 and will finish by November 2023, with coverage across main routes.

Data from the sensors will feed into a public Data Hub alongside car park and EV charging datasets. Air quality monitors will be added near sensors to help assess correlations between road use and pollution levels.

Sensors will not function as speed cameras and will not record personal information. The technology will be upgraded over time to identify additional vehicle types such as taxis, minibuses, and mobility scooters.

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UK regulator targets misleading online reviews in new crackdown

The Competition and Markets Authority has launched new investigations into five companies as part of a wider crackdown on fake and misleading online reviews, targeting practices that shape consumer decisions rather than reflect genuine customer experiences.

The cases involve Autotrader, Feefo, Dignity, Just Eat and Pasta Evangelists across sectors, including car sales, food delivery and funeral services.

CMA is examining whether negative reviews were suppressed, ratings inflated, or incentives offered in exchange for positive feedback without disclosure.

Concerns also extend to moderation practices and whether review systems provide a complete and accurate picture of customer experiences, rather than favouring reputational or commercial interests. No conclusions have yet been reached on whether consumer law has been breached.

Online reviews play a central role in consumer behaviour, influencing significant levels of spending across the UK economy.

Research indicates that a large majority of consumers rely on reviews when making purchasing decisions, raising concerns that misleading content can distort markets and undermine trust, particularly as AI makes it harder to detect fabricated reviews.

The investigations form part of a broader enforcement effort under the Digital Markets Competition and Consumers Act 2024, which introduced stricter rules on fake and misleading reviews.

Authorities aim to improve transparency and accountability across digital platforms, with potential penalties reaching up to 10% of global turnover for companies found to have breached consumer protection laws.

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EU and Japan strengthen digital partnership in ICT Dialogue

The European Commission and Japan have reinforced their digital cooperation through the 31st the EU–Japan ICT Dialogue held in Tokyo, focusing on advancing shared priorities in emerging technologies instead of pursuing separate national strategies.

A meeting that forms part of the broader EU–Japan Digital Partnership, which aims to deepen collaboration in key areas of the digital economy.

Discussions covered a wide range of topics, including AI, cybersecurity, and secure connectivity infrastructure such as submarine cables and Arctic networks.

Both sides also explored developments in 5G and 6G technologies, alongside emerging solutions like quantum key distribution, highlighting the importance of secure and resilient communication systems in an evolving digital landscape.

The dialogue also emphasised cooperation between the EU AI Office and AI Safety Institute, as well as joint efforts in research, innovation, and international standardisation.

These initiatives aim to align regulatory approaches and technological development rather than create fragmented global frameworks.

By strengthening collaboration across critical digital sectors, the EU and Japan seek to enhance technological resilience and promote secure, interoperable systems.

The ongoing partnership reflects a shared commitment to shaping global digital standards while supporting innovation and economic growth in both regions.

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Barnsley tests AI in healthcare and skills training through the Tech Town programme

Barnsley is advancing its Tech Town programme with new AI pilots aimed to improving healthcare services and supporting local businesses. The initiative aims to demonstrate how AI can deliver practical benefits for communities and public services.

A Healthcare Living Lab will test AI tools within hospital settings to reduce waiting times, missed appointments and administrative workload. The pilot will generate evidence on improving patient care and supporting NHS staff efficiency.

Alongside this, a £800,000 AI Upskilling Challenge Fund will provide targeted training for SMEs and residents. The programme focuses on industries such as manufacturing and aims to equip individuals with the skills needed to adopt AI in their work.

The pilots also prioritise inclusion by supporting groups with limited access to technology or digital confidence. If successful, the approach could offer a scalable model for wider AI adoption across the UK.

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Wikipedia limits generative AI use in article creation

Wikipedia has strengthened its approach to AI use, introducing new restrictions on the use of generative AI in article creation and editing. The changes reflect growing concerns about accuracy, sourcing and editorial standards.

Guidance issued in January 2026 warned contributors against copying and pasting outputs from generative AI into articles. Editors were advised to avoid using such tools to create new entries, as the content often fails verification against reliable sources.

In March 2026, stricter rules were introduced, prohibiting the use of AI to generate or rewrite article content. Limited exceptions allow AI to copyedit one’s own writing or translate material from other Wikipedia language versions.

The updated framework highlights concerns that AI-generated text may include fabricated references, bias and non-encyclopaedic language. Wikipedia continues to allow AI for support tasks such as identifying gaps and locating sources, while maintaining human oversight.

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AI and digital transformation take focus at Eurasian meeting

An expanded meeting of the Eurasian Economic Union Intergovernmental Council was held in Shymkent under Kazakhstan’s chairmanship, bringing together leaders to discuss economic integration, digital transformation and technological development.

Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov said Kazakhstan will prioritise the introduction of AI across the Union’s activities, alongside efforts to strengthen digital ecosystems and regulatory cooperation among member states.

Participants discussed the use of AI in areas including customs administration, logistics, industry and agriculture, as well as a proposal to develop an integrated AI-based platform to coordinate cargo flows and improve transport efficiency.

The meeting also addressed digital governance measures, including transitioning veterinary and phytosanitary certification fully to electronic formats to improve transparency in trade and reduce administrative barriers.

Leaders emphasised the role of digital solutions and AI in supporting industrial cooperation, innovation and market integration, with decisions from the meeting aimed at strengthening economic resilience and advancing digital transformation across the region.

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India strengthens digital economy with AI and media initiatives

India has launched three initiatives to expand AI adoption, digital content creation and access to broadcasting services. The programme focuses on building an AI-skilled workforce and strengthening the country’s digital ecosystem.

A national AI skilling initiative aims to train 15,000 creators and media professionals through partnerships with Google and YouTube. The programme covers generative AI, prompting and advanced tools, supporting future-ready skills in media and creative industries.

The government also introduced MyWAVES, a platform within WAVES OTT that enables users to create, upload and share content. Designed for user-generated content, it supports multiple formats and multilingual participation across India.

Access to broadcasting has been simplified through in-built satellite tuners and an advanced programme guide in television sets. The update removes the need for set-top boxes, improving affordability and expanding reach, particularly in remote areas.

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Lille proposed as EU customs hub

France has submitted a bid to host the future EU Customs Authority in Lille, positioning itself at the centre of efforts to modernise the customs union. The proposal highlights national expertise and a leading role in shaping recent reforms.

Authorities argue the new body will strengthen internal market security, improve oversight of e-commerce and enhance cooperation between member states. France has supported initiatives to tackle illicit trade and improve risk management.

Officials also point to strong operational experience, including international customs networks and the use of AI tools to screen postal shipments. Such capabilities are presented as key to supporting the authority from its launch, but questions are raised concerning the use of AI and its biases.

Lille is promoted as a strategic logistics hub with strong transport links and access to skilled workers. Its location near major European trade routes is expected to support recruitment and coordination across the bloc.

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Digital divide shapes AI job outcomes

A joint study by the International Labour Organization and the World Bank finds that AI will reshape labour markets unevenly across countries. Research covering 135 economies highlights growing risks for workers as automation expands.

Advanced economies show higher exposure to AI, particularly in clerical and professional roles. Lower-income regions face fewer direct impacts but lack the infrastructure and skills needed to capture productivity gains.

The digital divide plays a central role, with many vulnerable jobs already online and therefore exposed to automation. Workers in roles with potential benefits often lack reliable internet access, limiting opportunities.

The ILO’s findings suggest outcomes depend on infrastructure, skills and job design rather than technology alone. Policymakers are urged to improve connectivity, training and social protections to spread benefits more evenly.

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Human creativity outperforms AI in new research findings

New research challenges assumptions about AI creativity, concluding that human imagination remains significantly more advanced than generative systems.

The study, published in Advanced Science, examined how AI models perform in visual creative tasks compared with both professional artists and non-artists.

Researchers developed an experimental method to assess creativity using abstract visual tasks, comparing human and AI outputs under different conditions.

Results showed a clear hierarchy, with visual artists achieving the highest creativity scores, followed by the general population, while AI models ranked lower, especially when operating without human guidance.

These findings indicate that even when trained on human-created material, AI struggles to replicate originality and imaginative depth.

The study argues that creativity should be analysed as a process rather than judged solely by final outputs. By examining stages from idea generation to execution, researchers found that AI systems rely heavily on human input throughout development and use.

Removing human assistance significantly reduced the quality and originality of AI-generated results, reinforcing the limitations of current generative models.

Overall, the research highlights a persistent gap between human and artificial creativity, suggesting that AI operates more as a tool guided by human direction than as an independent creative agent.

The findings contribute to broader debates in cognitive science and AI, emphasising the continued importance of human involvement in creative processes.

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