News/Europe
A new AI tool may allow opticians to detect Alzheimer’s through routine eye exams
The development of an AI tool by Scottish researchers could enable high-street opticians to detect early signs of dementia through routine eye examinations. Project overview; The NeurEYE research team has compiled nearly one million eye scans from across Scotland to develop an AI algorithm that analyzes retinal blood vessels for signs of neurodegenerative diseases. The project combines expertise from researchers at the University of Edinburgh and Glasgow Caledonian University The database represents the largest collection of eye scans of its kind globally The technology could be integrated into routine eye examinations by 2026, with a prototype expected later this year...
read Jan 20, 2025Spain to grant $155M in subsidies to boost domestic AI adoption
Key announcement: The Spanish government is implementing a new subsidy program aimed at boosting artificial intelligence adoption among businesses. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced the €150 million ($155 million) funding initiative to help companies integrate and develop AI technologies The subsidies will be distributed as additional funding, suggesting this is an expansion of existing AI support programs Broader context: This investment reflects Spain's commitment to maintaining competitive positioning in the rapidly evolving AI landscape. Spain, like many European nations, is working to ensure its businesses can effectively compete in an increasingly AI-driven global economy The funding demonstrates government recognition of...
read Jan 20, 2025This British supercomputer may yield new vaccines for Alzheimer’s
The UK has launched Isambard-AI, a £225m supercomputer in Bristol designed to accelerate drug and vaccine development through artificial intelligence. Project overview and capabilities: The Isambard-AI supercomputer, set to be fully operational this summer, will rank among the world's top 10 fastest supercomputers and establish the UK as a competitive force in AI research. The system is already being utilized to develop vaccines for Alzheimer's, dementia, heart disease, emphysema, and various cancers Researchers are using the technology to improve melanoma detection across diverse skin tones The supercomputer will be housed at the National Composites Centre in Emersons Green, Bristol Technical...
read Jan 19, 2025How AI detects the hidden diseases doctors aren’t looking for
AI-powered opportunistic screening technology is enabling healthcare providers to detect undiagnosed diseases by analyzing routine CT scans and other medical imaging for conditions beyond their original purpose. The breakthrough case: Will Studholme's emergency room visit for food poisoning led to an unexpected osteoporosis diagnosis after AI technology analyzed his routine abdominal CT scan and identified a collapsed vertebra. The 58-year-old male patient would likely have gone undiagnosed without the AI screening, as he didn't fit the typical osteoporosis patient profile The early detection enabled doctors to begin preventative treatment with annual drug infusions to improve bone density How the technology...
read Jan 18, 2025New AI cameras in the UK are catching speeders in droves
AI-powered traffic cameras deployed by Humberside Police in the UK caught 849 traffic violations during a two-week trial in 2023, primarily focusing on mobile phone use and seat belt violations. Trial results and implementation: The innovative camera system was tested over two separate weeks in March and June 2023, demonstrating significant effectiveness in detecting traffic violations. The cameras identified 533 cases of drivers not wearing seat belts and 2 instances of children under 14 without proper restraints 301 violations involved mobile phone use while driving 13 cases were recorded of drivers not maintaining proper vehicle control Technology capabilities and process:...
read Jan 15, 2025AI traffic cameras in UK city destroyed within hours of installation
An AI traffic camera installed in Southampton was destroyed within hours of its installation on the A3024 Northam Bridge. Installation specifics: The advanced monitoring system was mounted on Tuesday on a central island of the Northam Bridge that previously housed a conventional speed camera. The new system was designed to monitor traffic in both directions across all lanes The installation site already had infrastructure in place from the previous speed camera system Camera capabilities: The AI-powered traffic monitoring system represented a significant upgrade from traditional speed cameras, offering enhanced detection capabilities. The system could identify drivers using mobile phones or...
read Jan 14, 2025EU joins growing backlash against Biden’s AI chip export controls
The Biden administration's new AI chip export control framework has sparked criticism from the European Union and tech industry leaders, as it restricts AI chip sales to numerous EU member states. Policy overview: The Export Control Framework for Artificial Intelligence Diffusion creates a three-tiered system for regulating the sale of advanced AI chips globally. Only 10 of 27 EU member states are designated as "favored countries" with unrestricted access to AI chips Major EU economies including Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Greece, and Poland face new restrictions The framework establishes a licensing requirement for orders exceeding 1,700 advanced GPUs in middle-tier...
read Jan 14, 2025UK invests $17 billion in ambitious AI strategy
The United Kingdom has unveiled a comprehensive £14 billion ($17 billion) artificial intelligence initiative aimed at establishing the nation as a global AI leader, with significant private sector backing and infrastructure development plans. Key investment details: The AI Opportunities Action Plan represents a major government-backed effort to transform the UK's AI capabilities and infrastructure. Private tech companies including Vantage Data Centres, Kyndryl and Nscale have committed £14 billion ($17 billion) to the initiative The investment is expected to create 13,250 new jobs across the country This funding comes in addition to £25 billion ($30 billion) in AI investment announced at...
read Jan 14, 2025AI hub in Liverpool to create 1,000 new tech jobs
Key Development: Global IT infrastructure provider Kyndryl plans to establish a new Artificial Intelligence hub in Liverpool City Region, with projections to create 1,000 jobs over three years. Project Context and Scale: The initiative is part of a broader UK government AI Opportunities Action Plan that has secured £14 billion in commitments from leading tech firms. The plan aims to establish growth zones across the UK, potentially creating over 13,250 jobs Kyndryl, the world's largest IT infrastructure services provider, selected Liverpool City Region after direct negotiations with local leadership The investment represents a significant boost to Merseyside's growing technology sector...
read Jan 12, 2025EU AI investments are just 4% of U.S. spending amid calls for action
The European Union has revealed a significant investment gap in artificial intelligence development, with its AI investments amounting to just 4% of U.S. spending levels. Investment disparity overview: The EU's artificial intelligence funding trails dramatically behind global competitors, with venture capital investments of $8 billion in 2023 compared to $68 billion in the U.S. and $15 billion in China. The EU allocated only €256 million to AI research through its European Innovation Council in 2024, while the U.S. invested $6 billion, including $4.1 billion from DARPA Leading European AI companies like Aleph Alpha and Mistral struggle to secure adequate funding...
read Jan 9, 2025Meta secretly trained its AI models on a Russian ‘shadow library,’ court docs show
Meta's use of pirated books database LibGen to train its AI language models has been revealed through court-ordered document unredaction, marking a significant development in an ongoing copyright lawsuit filed by authors. The core revelation: Meta accessed and utilized Library Genesis (LibGen), a controversial pirated content database, for AI model training, despite internal concerns about the legality and optics of this approach. Internal company discussions about using LibGen data were escalated to CEO Mark Zuckerberg Meta employees expressed hesitation about accessing LibGen data from corporate laptops The company's AI team ultimately received approval to use the pirated materials Legal context...
read Jan 8, 2025AI awarness is growing in Germany, but many workers have no interest in upskilling, study finds
A new Bosch study reveals rising AI awareness in Germany alongside persistent challenges in AI skill adoption and workplace integration, highlighting a significant gap between recognition of AI's importance and willingness to embrace the technology. Key findings: The Bosch Tech Compass 2024 shows that 72% of Germans believe AI will dominate the next decade, a dramatic increase from 42% in 2022. The study surveyed over 11,000 individuals across seven countries, including 1,000 participants each from Germany, France, and the UK, and 2,000 each from Brazil, China, India, and the US AI has surpassed industrial robots, hydrogen fuel cells, and 5G...
read Jan 1, 2025AI predicts health and longevity in groundbreaking study
Study Overview: Scientists at King's College London's Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) conducted a comprehensive evaluation of AI algorithms to determine which ones best predict biological age from blood samples. The research team analyzed 17 different AI algorithms using data from over 225,000 UK Biobank participants The study focused on 168 different metabolites from blood plasma The average age of participants was 56.97 years old Technical Methodology: The research utilized nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to analyze blood plasma samples and evaluate metabolomic markers. NMR spectroscopy is a non-invasive technique that analyzes organic molecules using magnetic fields and...
read Dec 30, 2024Can AI improve fairness in the British justice system?
As the British legal system grapples with overwhelming caseloads and limited accessibility, artificial intelligence is emerging as a promising solution to democratize justice, with pioneering initiatives already demonstrating how AI tools can drastically reduce document analysis time and help legal professionals serve more clients effectively. The current landscape: Access to justice remains out of reach for many British citizens due to prohibitive legal costs and complex documentation requirements. Legal aid is severely limited and means-tested, forcing many to abandon legitimate legal claims Complex cases like benefits appeals can involve analyzing up to 60 pages of documentation Traditional legal processes require...
read Dec 29, 2024Swedish researchers use AI to pinpoint causes of cognitive decline
AI-powered research reveals key factors influencing brain aging through advanced analysis of brain scans and health data from hundreds of 70-year-old individuals. Study methodology and scope: Scientists at Karolinska Institutet employed artificial intelligence to analyze brain MRI scans from 739 Gothenburg residents, using a training dataset of over 18,800 images to establish baseline brain age predictions. The research team developed an AI model to calculate a "brain age gap" score, comparing predicted brain age against actual chronological age This innovative approach allowed researchers to identify specific factors that contribute to accelerated brain aging The study focused on 70-year-old participants to...
read Dec 29, 2024This new AI tool may eventually prevent devastating strokes
A new artificial intelligence tool is being tested in West Yorkshire to identify patients at risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) before symptoms appear by analyzing GP records. The innovation at hand; The AI algorithm, developed by researchers at the University of Leeds and Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, searches through medical records for warning signs of potential AF development. The tool analyzes patient data including age, sex, ethnicity, and existing medical conditions like heart failure, high blood pressure, and diabetes The project, called Find-AF, is being funded by the British Heart Foundation and Leeds Hospitals Charity Initial trials are taking...
read Dec 22, 2024UK government announces initiative to solve AI’s copyright problem
The United Kingdom government has launched a public consultation to address the intersection of copyright law and artificial intelligence, seeking to balance the interests of its creative industries with the growing AI sector. Core objectives of the consultation: The UK government aims to create a legal framework that supports both its creative industries and AI sector while protecting intellectual property rights. The consultation focuses on establishing clear guidelines for AI training using copyrighted materials The process will run for 10 weeks, from December 17, 2024, to February 25, 2025 The initiative is part of the government's broader AI Opportunities Action...
read Dec 20, 2024OpenAI hit with €15M fine by Italy for privacy violations
Italy's data protection authority has imposed a significant fine on OpenAI for privacy violations related to ChatGPT, marking a major regulatory action against the AI company in Europe. Key enforcement action: Italy's data protection agency has fined OpenAI 15 million euros ($15.58 million) following an investigation into ChatGPT's handling of personal data. The regulator found that OpenAI processed users' personal data to train ChatGPT without proper legal basis The company failed to meet transparency requirements and information obligations to users OpenAI lacked adequate age verification systems to protect children under 13 from inappropriate AI-generated content Regulatory requirements: The Italian watchdog...
read Dec 20, 2024Inside CeSIA, the newly established French center for AI safety
The recent establishment of CeSIA (Centre pour la Sécurité de l'IA) in Paris marks a significant development in European efforts to address artificial intelligence safety through education, research, and policy work. The organization's foundation: CeSIA is a new Paris-based center dedicated to reducing AI risks through a comprehensive approach that combines education, technical research, and advocacy work. The center's mission focuses on fostering a culture of AI safety by educating and informing about both AI risks and potential solutions A team of 8 full-time employees, 3 freelancers, and numerous volunteers drives the organization's initiatives The organization has established itself as...
read Dec 20, 2024Ukraine is building a massive dataset of battleground footage to train AI war models
Artificial intelligence applications in modern warfare are taking another leap forward as Ukraine amasses an unprecedented collection of battlefield data from drone operations. Scale of data collection: Ukraine's OCHI system has accumulated over 2 million hours of battlefield footage since 2022, representing one of the largest real-world combat datasets ever assembled. The system processes input from more than 15,000 drone crews operating across various combat zones Daily data collection averages 5-6 terabytes of new footage A parallel system called Avengers analyzes drone and CCTV footage, reportedly identifying approximately 12,000 pieces of Russian military equipment weekly AI applications in current combat:...
read Dec 20, 2024The UK is using AI to detect drunk and high drivers in ‘world-first’ trial
AI technology is being deployed in Devon and Cornwall to detect intoxicated drivers through sophisticated behavioral analysis, marking a world-first trial of this innovative road safety measure. The technology's core capabilities: The Heads-Up camera system, developed by Acusensus, analyzes driving patterns to identify behaviors consistent with alcohol or drug impairment. The AI-powered camera can detect concerning road use and behavioral patterns that may indicate an impaired driver Police officers stationed further along the road can then stop flagged vehicles for roadside testing The system can be rapidly relocated throughout Devon and Cornwall without prior notice Operational strategy and implementation: The...
read Dec 18, 2024EU authorities open door to AI using personal data without consent
The European Data Protection Board's latest guidance explores how companies can develop AI models while adhering to data privacy regulations, particularly focusing on the use of personal data in training processes. Key framework developments: The EDPB's new report outlines potential pathways for using personal data in AI training without explicit consent, marking a significant shift in regulatory thinking. The guidance suggests that personal data could be used for AI training if the final application does not reveal private information about individuals This interpretation acknowledges the technical distinction between training data and the information ultimately delivered to end users The framework...
read Dec 17, 2024AI data centers pose regulatory challenges that jeopardize climate goals, study warns
The expansion of AI infrastructure is creating unprecedented environmental challenges, particularly regarding energy consumption and water usage in data centers. Current regulatory landscape: The European Union and United States have divergent approaches to managing the environmental impact of AI data centers, with the EU taking a more stringent stance. The EU's Energy Efficiency Directive mandates annual reporting of energy and water consumption for data centers exceeding 500 kW capacity Germany has implemented even stricter measures, requiring centers above 300kW to report usage and transition to 100% renewable energy by 2027 The US maintains a more lenient approach, primarily focused on...
read Dec 16, 2024AI regulation in UK may give artists new ‘personality rights’
The United Kingdom is preparing significant regulatory changes to protect artists' intellectual property rights in response to the growing use of their work in AI training datasets, marking a potential shift in how creative content is governed in the AI era. Current developments: The UK government is launching a consultation on updating copyright rules for AI training content, coinciding with OpenAI's release of its Sora text-to-video generation tool. Ministers will begin discussions on Tuesday to evaluate new copyright protections for artists The proposed regulations are expected to be implemented within two years OpenAI's Sora, released December 16, can generate 20-second...
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