Welcome to our latest round-up of news from the technology and hosting world. Here’s what we’ve discovered this month.
AI Scam Tool
A new AI tool, designed to help online shoppers spot fake listings, is being introduced by the UK digital bank Starling. Called Scam Intelligence, it examines marketplace posts, images and messages uploaded by sellers, highlighting signs of suspicious behaviour for users and providing them with personalised advice.
The tool evaluates factors such as unrealistic pricing, the use of stock images, mismatched account information, and pressure tactics, while also analysing screenshots of messages to identify common signs used by scammers.
Developed using Google’s Gemini model and integrated into Starling’s banking app, the tool aims to reduce the number of purchase-related scams seen on platforms like Facebook and eBay. Early tests have already shown that the technology makes users more cautious, with a notable increase in payment cancellations when potential risks are identified.
Fungus Chips
Boffins at Ohio State University have discovered that edible mushrooms can operate as organic memory chips, providing a possible alternative to silicon-based components. When cultivated on certain types of substrate, common fungi, such as shiitake, can be integrated into basic circuits, where they can store and process electrical signals in a similar way to a typical chip. Moreover, they can switch states thousands of times per second while requiring very low power.
Interestingly, the mushroom’s internal structure changes in response to repeated electrical pulses, enabling it to remember patterns over time. This behaviour is similar to neuromorphic hardware, the advanced technology that imitates the human brain to create faster, low-power AI processors.
The research suggests that fungi could potentially be used to build energy-efficient processors where data storage and processing happen in the same place. Furthermore, as the fungi can be grown rather than mined, it avoids the environmental damage caused by the extraction of rare earth minerals and the high energy use of traditional chip manufacturing.
AI Fall Prevention
Norfolk County Council has begun using an AI system that analyses adult care records to detect those at greatest risk of falling. Working through thousands of case notes, it identifies individuals who may need early intervention, enabling social workers to assess care plans and implement practical home modifications, like grab rails and ramps.
The rollout follows a successful trial involving 1,250 individuals, where the system effectively prioritised those in urgent need of support. According to the council, the early intervention enabled by the system has already decreased fall-related injuries, reducing the burden on the NHS and lowering the local authority’s care expenses.
The system highlights how AI tools can improve public services, especially in large, complex settings where manual evaluations are labour-intensive. By analysing care records, the AI can automate triage, risk assessment, and operational planning, while helping councils and NHS partners to allocate resources more effectively and alleviate pressure on hospitals and long-term care facilities.
Data Sprawl Risks
Research from Proofpoint shows that data sprawl in cloud and hybrid environments is becoming a major issue for large companies. Given the significant amount of data companies now store, security teams are finding it increasingly difficult to keep track and maintain control of it. Moreover, the study also found that over 25% of cloud storage is essentially unused, leading to increased costs and leaving data vulnerable.
The security risks of data sprawl are a major worry, with uncontrolled growth providing greater opportunities for cyberattacks and breaches. According to the research, 85% of organisations faced data loss in the last year, with most incidents caused by human error, compromised accounts or malicious insiders. The growing use of generative AI, meanwhile, raises concerns about sensitive data being input into public AI tools and the risk of autonomous agents accessing information without supervision.
To regain control over their sprawling environments, experts advise companies to implement integrated security, better data lifecycle management and improved monitoring tools.
OpenAI Data Residency
Following an agreement with the UK government to enhance trust, privacy and resilience, OpenAI is launching UK data residency for its ChatGPT Enterprise, ChatGPT Edu and API Platform services. The move allows organisations to keep conversations, files, code interpreter outputs and custom GPT data entirely within the UK, ensuring that they can comply with regulations like GDPR.
At the same time, OpenAI has announced that ChatGPT Enterprise and Edu will be made available to 2,500 Ministry of Justice staff. This follows a successful pilot that delivered time savings in areas like compliance work, research tasks and document analysis. The technology is already being utilised in tools such as Humphrey and Consult, which automate tasks for civil servants and speed up the analysis of consultation data.
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