UK Archives | Page 23 of 45 | Digital Watch Observatory

AI in cardiology: 3D heart scan could cut waiting times

A new AI-powered heart test could significantly improve early detection of cardiovascular disease, especially in high-risk patients without symptoms.

Developed in Germany and evaluated in a UK study led by Dr Simon Rudland, the Cardisio test uses five electrodes—four on the chest, one on the back—to record 3D heart data. Unlike a traditional 2D ECG, this method captures electrical signals in more dimensions and uses AI to analyse rhythm, structure, and blood flow.

The quick 10-minute test returns a colour-coded result: green (normal), amber (borderline), or red (high risk). The study, published in BJGP Open, tested 628 individuals and found a positive predictive accuracy of 80% and a negative accuracy of 90.4%, with fewer than 2% test failures.

Dr Rudland called the findings ‘exciting,’ noting that the technology could streamline referrals, improve diagnosis in primary care, and reduce hospital waiting lists. He added that a pilot rollout may begin soon in Suffolk or north Essex, targeting high-risk women.

AI’s ability to process complex cardiac data far exceeds human capacity, making it a promising tool in preventative medicine. This research supports the NHS’s broader push to integrate AI for faster, smarter healthcare.

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UK cyber agency warns AI will accelerate cyber threats by 2027

The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre has warned that integrating AI into national infrastructure creates a broader attack surface, raising concerns about an increased risk of cyber threats.

Its latest report outlines how AI may amplify the capabilities of threat actors, especially when it comes to exploiting known vulnerabilities more rapidly than ever before.

By 2027, AI-enabled tools are expected to shorten the time between vulnerability disclosure and exploitation significantly. The evolution could pose a serious challenge for defenders, particularly within critical systems.

The NCSC notes that the risk of advanced cyber attacks will likely escalate unless organisations can keep pace with so-called ‘frontier AI’.

The centre also predicts a growing ‘digital divide’ between organisations that adapt to AI-driven threats and those left behind. The divide could further endanger the overall cyber resilience of the UK. As a result, decisive action is being urged to close the gap and reduce future risks.

NCSC operations director Paul Chichester said AI is expanding attack surfaces, increasing the volume of threats, and speeding up malicious activity. He emphasised that while these dangers are real, AI can strengthen the UK’s cyber defences.

Organisations are encouraged to adopt robust security practices using resources like the Cyber Assessment Framework, the 10 Steps to Cyber Security, and the new AI Cyber Security Code of Practice.

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Smart machines, dark intentions: UN urges global action on AI threats

The United Nations has warned that terrorists could seize control of AI-powered vehicles to launch devastating attacks in public spaces. A new report outlines how extremists might exploit autonomous cars and drones to bypass traditional defences.

AI is also feared to be a tool for facial recognition targeting and mass ‘swarm’ assaults using aerial devices. Experts suggest that key parts of modern infrastructure could be turned against the public if hacked.

Britain’s updated counter-terrorism strategy now reflects these growing concerns, including the risk of AI-generated propaganda and detailed attack planning. The UN has called for immediate global cooperation to limit how such technologies can be misused.

Security officials maintain that AI also offers valuable tools in the fight against extremism, enabling quicker intelligence processing and real-time threat identification. Nonetheless, authorities have been urged to prepare for worst-case scenarios involving AI-directed violence.

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UK remote work still a major data security risk

A new survey reveals that 69% of UK companies reported data breaches to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) over the past year, a steep rise from 53% in 2024.

The research conducted by Apricorn highlights that nearly half of remote workers knowingly compromised data security.

Based on responses from 200 UK IT security leaders, the study found that phishing remains the leading cause of breaches, followed by human error. Despite widespread remote work policies, 58% of organisations believe staff lack the proper tools or skills to protect sensitive data.

The use of personal devices for work has climbed to 56%, while only 19% of firms now mandate company-issued hardware. These trends raise ongoing concerns about end point security, data visibility, and maintaining GDPR compliance in hybrid work environments.

Technical support gaps and unclear encryption practices remain pressing issues, with nearly half of respondents finding it increasingly difficult to manage remote work technology. Apricorn’s Jon Fielding called for a stronger link between written policy and practical security measures to reduce breaches.

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UK health sector adopts AI while legacy tech lags

The UK’s healthcare sector has rapidly embraced AI, with adoption rising from 47% in 2024 to 94% in 2025, according to SOTI’s new report ‘Healthcare’s Digital Dilemma’.

AI is no longer confined to administrative tasks, as 52% of healthcare professionals now use it for diagnosis and 57% to personalise treatments. SOTI’s Stefan Spendrup said AI is improving how care is delivered and helping clinicians make more accurate, patient-specific decisions.

However, outdated systems continue to hamper progress. Nearly all UK health IT leaders report challenges from legacy infrastructure, Internet of Things (IoT) tech and telehealth tools.

While connected devices are widely used to support patients remotely, 73% rely on outdated, unintegrated systems, significantly higher than the global average of 65%.

These systems limit interoperability and heighten security risks, with 64% experiencing regular tech failures and 43% citing network vulnerabilities.

The strain on IT teams is evident. Nearly half report being unable to deploy or manage new devices efficiently, and more than half struggle to offer remote support or access detailed diagnostics. Time lost to troubleshooting remains a common frustration.

The UK appears more affected by these challenges than other countries surveyed, indicating a pressing need to modernise infrastructure instead of continuing to patch ageing technology.

While data security remains the top IT concern in UK healthcare, fewer IT teams see it as a priority, falling from 33% in 2024 to 24% in 2025. Despite a sharp increase in data breaches, the number rose from 71% to 84%.

Spendrup warned that innovation risks being undermined unless the sector rebalances priorities, with more focus on securing systems and replacing legacy tools instead of delaying necessary upgrades.

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Turing Institute urges stronger AI research security

The Alan Turing Institute has warned that urgent action is needed to protect the UK’s AI research from espionage, intellectual property theft and risky international collaborations.

Its Centre for Emerging Technology and Security (CETaS) has published a report calling for a culture shift across academia to better recognise and mitigate these risks.

The report highlights inconsistencies in how security risks are understood within universities and a lack of incentives for researchers to follow government guidelines. Sensitive data, the dual-use potential of AI, and the risk of reverse engineering make the field particularly vulnerable to foreign interference.

Lead author Megan Hughes stressed the need for a coordinated response, urging government and academia to find the right balance between academic freedom and security.

The report outlines 13 recommendations, including expanding support for academic due diligence and issuing clearer guidance on high-risk international partnerships.

Further proposals call for compulsory research security training, better threat communication from national agencies, and standardised risk assessments before publishing AI research.

The aim is to build a more resilient research ecosystem as global interest in UK-led AI innovation continues to grow.

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AI tools are not enough without basic cybersecurity

At London Tech Week, Darktrace and UK officials warned that many firms are over-relying on AI tools while failing to implement basic cybersecurity practices.

Despite the hype around AI, essential measures like user access control and system segmentation remain missing in many organisations.

Cybercriminals are already exploiting AI to automate phishing and accelerate intrusions in the UK, while outdated infrastructure and short-term thinking leave companies vulnerable.

Boards often struggle to assess AI tools properly, buying into trends rather than addressing real threats.

Experts stressed that AI is not a silver bullet and must be used alongside human expertise and solid security foundations.

Domain-specific AI models, built with transparency and interpretability, are needed to avoid the dangers of overconfidence and misapplication in high-risk areas.

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UK government backs AI to help teachers and reduce admin

The UK government has unveiled new guidance for schools that promotes the use of AI to reduce teacher workloads and increase face-to-face time with pupils.

The Department for Education (DfE) says AI could take over time-consuming administrative tasks such as lesson planning, report writing, and email drafting—allowing educators to focus more on classroom teaching.

The guidance, aimed at schools and colleges in the UK, highlights how AI can assist with formative assessments like quizzes and low-stakes feedback, while stressing that teachers must verify outputs for accuracy and data safety.

It also recommends using only school-approved tools and limits AI use to tasks that support rather than replace teaching expertise.

Education unions welcomed the move but said investment is needed to make it work. Leaders from the NAHT and ASCL praised AI’s potential to ease pressure on staff and help address recruitment issues, but warned that schools require proper infrastructure and training.

The government has pledged £1 million to support AI tool development for marking and feedback.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the plan will free teachers to deliver more personalised support, adding: ‘We’re putting cutting-edge AI tools into the hands of our brilliant teachers to enhance how our children learn and develop.’

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Apple study finds AI fails on complex tasks

A recent study by Apple researchers exposed significant limitations in the capabilities of advanced AI systems and huge reasoning models (LRMs).

Apple’s team suggested this may point to a fundamental limit in how current AI models scale up to general reasoning.

These models, designed to solve complex problems through step-by-step thinking, experienced what the paper called a ‘complete accuracy collapse’ when faced with high-complexity tasks. Even when given an algorithm that should have ensured success, the models failed to deliver correct solutions.

The study found that LRMs performed well with low- and medium-difficulty tasks but deteriorated sharply as the complexity increased.

Rather than increasing their effort as problems became harder, the models reduced their reasoning paradoxically, leading to complete failure.

Experts, including AI researcher Gary Marcus and University of Surrey’s Andrew Rogoyski in the UK, called the findings alarming and indicative of a potential dead end in current AI development.

The study tested systems from OpenAI, Google, Anthropic and DeepSeek, raising serious questions about how close the industry is to achieving AGI.

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Oxford physicists push qubit precision to new heights

Oxford University physicists have achieved a world-first in quantum computing by setting a new record for single-qubit operation accuracy.

Using a trapped calcium ion as the qubit, the researchers controlled its state using electronic microwave signals instead of lasers.

Their experiment produced an error rate of just 0.000015 percent, or one mistake in 6.7 million operations, nearly ten times better than the previous benchmark set by the same team. The breakthrough brings quantum computers a step closer to becoming viable tools.

This more stable and cost-effective approach was conducted at room temperature and without magnetic shielding, simplifying future hardware requirements.

The precision reduces the number of qubits needed for error correction, making future quantum machines potentially smaller and faster.

Despite the milestone, the researchers emphasised the need to improve two-qubit gate fidelity, where error rates remain significantly higher.

The project is part of the UK Quantum Computing and Simulation Hub, with wider support from the National Quantum Technologies Programme.

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