UK

UK positions itself for leadership in the quantum computing race

Quantum computing is advancing as governments and industry pursue new frontiers beyond AI. The UK benefits from strong research traditions and skilled talent. Policymakers see early planning as vital for long-term competitiveness.

Companies across finance, energy and logistics are testing quantum methods for optimisation and modelling. Early pilots suggest that quantum techniques may offer advantages where classical approaches slow down or fail to scale. Interest in practical applications is rising across Europe.

The UK benefits from strong university spinouts and deep industrial partnerships. Joint programmes are accelerating work on molecular modelling and drug discovery. Many researchers argue that early experimentation helps build a more resilient quantum workforce.

New processors promise higher connectivity and lower error rates as the field moves closer to quantum advantage. Research teams are refining designs for future error-corrected systems. Hardware roadmaps indicate steady progress towards more reliable architectures.

Policy support will shape how quickly the UK can translate research into real-world capability. Long-term investments, open scientific collaboration and predictable regulation will be critical. Momentum suggests a decisive period for the country’s quantum ambitions.

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FCA begins live AI testing with UK financial firms

The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority has started a live testing programme for AI with major financial firms. The initiative aims to explore AI’s benefits and risks in retail financial services while ensuring safe and responsible deployment.

Participating firms, including NatWest, Monzo, Santander and Scottish Widows, receive guidance from FCA regulators and technical partner Advai. Use cases being trialled range from debt resolution and financial advice to customer engagement and smarter spending tools.

Insights from the testing will help the FCA shape future regulations and governance frameworks for AI in financial markets. The programme complements the regulator’s Supercharged Sandbox, with a second cohort of firms due to begin testing in April 2026.

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UK ministers advance energy plans for AI expansion

The final AI Energy Council meeting of 2025 took place in London, led by AI Minister Kanishka Narayan alongside energy ministers Lord Vallance and Michael Shanks.

Regulators and industry representatives reviewed how the UK can expedite grid connections and support the necessary infrastructure for expanding AI activity nationwide.

Council members examined progress on government measures intended to accelerate connections for AI data centres. Plans include support for AI Growth Zones, with discounted electricity available for sites able to draw on excess capacity, which is expected to reduce pressure in the broader network.

Ministers underlined AI’s role in national economic ambitions, noting recent announcements of new AI Growth Zones in North East England and in North and South Wales.

They also discussed how forthcoming reforms are expected to help deliver AI-related infrastructure by easing access to grid capacity.

The meeting concluded with a focus on long-term energy needs for AI development. Participants explored ways to unlock additional capacity and considered innovative options for power generation, including self-build solutions.

The council will reconvene in early 2026 to continue work on sustainable approaches for future AI infrastructure.

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AI police assistant Bobbi launches in the UK

Police in the UK have begun trialling an AI assistant called Bobbi to help manage non-emergency queries online and reduce pressure on overstretched call handlers.

The virtual tool responds to common questions and hands conversations to a human operator if users request it or ask about issues it cannot resolve.

Developers say Bobbi follows the same guidance as trained call handlers and offers recommendations based on official advice, reflecting input from more than 200 testers, including victim support groups.

The system cannot investigate crimes or replace the 999 emergency line, and police emphasise that crime reports must still be made through existing channels.

Senior officers believe the tool will free up staff for emergencies and complex cases as demand for police contact continues to rise each year.

Leaders at Thames Valley Police and Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary, the first forces to deploy the technology, say the assistant will help ensure the public receives timely support.

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London councils activate emergency plans after serious cyber attack

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea has activated emergency response plans after a cyberattack disrupted council systems in west London.

Westminster City Council and Hammersmith and Fulham Council are also affected through joint arrangements, with the National Crime Agency and the National Cyber Security Centre, led by GCHQ, leading the investigation. Staff in some areas have been advised to work from home while parts of the network stay offline as a precaution.

An internal memo shows that sections of the network remain closed and that a full return of affected systems is not expected for several days. Phone lines and online forms may face disruption, although alternative contact numbers are available on the council website.

Cybersecurity specialist Nathan Webb advised residents to be cautious about emails or calls referencing the incident, as attackers frequently exploit public attention surrounding a breach to launch scams.

He added that identifying any external supplier involved is essential so that other clients can secure their own systems. Forescout expert Rik Ferguson said the case demonstrates how shared digital services can allow a breach to spread risk across multiple organisations.

Councils have praised the overnight work by IT teams, but are not disclosing technical details while the investigation continues.

BBC cyber correspondent Joe Tidy said taking servers offline is an extreme step usually used for significant incidents. He pointed to the Co-op case earlier this year, where the company also disconnected systems, but only after hackers had already taken data from 6.5 million people.

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Staffordshire Police trials AI agents on its 101 line

Staffordshire Police will trial AI-powered ‘agents’ on its 101 non-emergency service early next year, according to a recent BBC report.

The technology, known as Agentforce, is designed to resolve simple information requests without human intervention, allowing call handlers to focus on more complex or urgent cases. The force said the system aims to improve contact centre performance after past criticism over long wait times.

Senior officers explained that the AI agent will support queries where callers are seeking information rather than reporting crimes. If keywords indicating risk or vulnerability are detected, the system will automatically route the call to a human operator.

Thames Valley Police is already using the technology and has given ‘very positive reports’, according to acting Chief Constable Becky Riggs.

The force’s current average wait for 101 calls is 3.3 minutes, a marked improvement on the previous 7.1-minute average. Abandonment rates have also fallen from 29.2% to 18.7%. However, Commissioner Ben Adams noted that around eight percent of callers still wait over an hour.

UK officers say they have been calling back those affected, both to apologise and to gather ‘significant intelligence’ that has strengthened public confidence in the system.

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Family warns others after crypto scam costs elderly man £3,000

A South Tyneside family has spoken publicly after an elderly man lost almost £3,000 to a highly persuasive cryptocurrency scam, according to a recent BBC report. The scammer contacted the victim repeatedly over several weeks, initially offering help with online banking before shifting to an ‘investment opportunity’.

According to the family, the caller built trust by using personal details, even fabricating a story about ‘free Bitcoin’ awarded to the man years earlier.

Police said the scam fits a growing trend of crypto-related fraud. The victim, under the scammer’s guidance, opened multiple new bank accounts and was eventually directed to transfer nearly £3,000 into a Coinbase-linked crypto wallet.

Attempts by the family to recover the funds were unsuccessful. Coinbase said it advises users to research any investment carefully and provides guidance on recognising scams.

Northumbria Police and national fraud agencies have been alerted. Officers said crypto scams present particular challenges because, unlike traditional banking fraud, the transferred funds are far harder to trace.

Community groups in Sunderland, such as Pallion Action Group, are now running sessions to educate older residents about online threats, noting that rapid changes in technology can make such scams especially daunting for pensioners.

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Up to 3 million UK jobs at risk from automation by 2035

A new report from NFER warns that up to 3 million low-skilled jobs in the UK could disappear by 2035 due to the growing adoption of automation and AI. Sectors most at risk include trades, machine operations and administrative work, where routine and repetitive tasks dominate.

Economic forecasts remain mixed. The overall UK labour market is expected to grow by 2.3 million jobs by 2035, with gains primarily in professional and managerial roles. Many displaced workers may struggle to find new employment, widening inequality.

The change contrasts with earlier predictions suggesting AI would target higher-skilled jobs such as consultancy or software engineering. Current findings emphasise that manual and lower-skill roles face the most significant short-term disruption from AI.

Policymakers and educators are encouraged to build extensive retraining programmes and foster skills like creativity, communication and digital literacy. Without such efforts, long-term unemployment could become a significant challenge.

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AI may reshape weather and climate modelling

The UK’s Met Office has laid out a strategic plan for integrating AI, specifically machine learning (ML), with traditional physics-based climate and weather models. The aim is to deliver what it calls an ‘optimal blend’ of AI-driven and physics-based forecasting.

To clarify what that blend might look like, the Met Office has defined five distinct approaches. One is the familiar independent physics-based model, which uses physical laws to simulate atmospheric dynamics, trusted but computationally intensive.

At the other end is an independent ML-based model that learns patterns entirely from data, offering far greater speed and scalability.

Between these extremes lie two ‘hybrid’ approaches: hybrid-integrated ML, where ML replaces or enhances parts of the physics model, and hybrid-composite ML, where ML and physics models run separately and feed into each other.

A fifth option is augmented ML, where ML is applied after the model has run to improve its output (for example, downscaling or refining ensemble forecasts).

However, this framework is more than a technical taxonomy; it provides a shared language for scientists, policymakers, and clients to understand how AI and traditional modelling can coexist.

It also helps guide future decisions, for example, allowing gradual adoption of ML in places where it makes sense, while preserving the robustness of well-understood physics methods in critical areas.

The move comes as ML-based weather and climate tools have shown increasing promise. For instance, in 2025, the Met Office published research showing a purely ML-based model achieved seasonal forecasting skill comparable to conventional physics-based methods, but with far lower computing demands.

For digital-policy watchers and climate analysts alike, this signals a shift: forecasting may become more dynamic, scalable and accessible, especially valuable in a changing climate where speed, resolution and adaptability matter as much as theoretical accuracy.

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UK enforces digital travel approval through new ETA system

Visitors from 85 nationalities, including those from the US, Canada, and France, will soon be required to secure an Electronic Travel Authorisation to enter the UK.

The requirement takes effect in February 2026 and forms part of a move towards a fully digital immigration system that aims to deliver a contactless border in the future.

More than thirteen million people in the UK have already used the ETA since its introduction in 2023. However, the government claims that this scale facilitates smoother travel and faster processing for most applicants.

Carriers will be required to confirm that incoming passengers hold either an ETA or an eVisa before departure, a step officials argue strengthens the country’s ability to block individuals who present a security risk.

British and Irish citizens remain exempt; however, dual nationals have been advised to carry a valid British passport to avoid any difficulties when boarding.

The application process takes place through the official ETA app, costs £ 16, and concludes typically within minutes. However, applicants are advised to allow three working days in case additional checks are required.

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