Welcome to our latest round-up of news from the technology and hosting world. Here’s what we’ve discovered this month.
Ford’s AI U-turn
Car manufacturer, Ford, has decided to rehire over 300 experienced quality engineers because its AI systems have been unable to match the judgment and hands-on experience of its long-time staff.
The company had been using AI in various areas, including quality checks, in a bid to improve efficiency and cut costs. However, its automated inspections were not meeting the standards required, especially for quality that depended on lessons learned from past vehicle development.
Ford’s decision highlights a key issue for manufacturers using AI during production. While automated systems can process high levels of data and maintain consistency, their success relies heavily on the quality of their training and the expertise that goes into them. In Ford’s case, rehiring experienced engineers will not only improve its current inspection methods but also help to train AI systems and share knowledge with newer workers.
Met Drone Expansion
As part of its plan to improve technology in street policing, the Metropolitan Police is to increase the number of drones it uses to respond to emergencies. The expansion comes as part of a pilot program in Islington, where a network of drones will be set up across London to assist with 999 calls.
The drones can reach emergency incidents faster than helicopters and can live-stream video to control rooms. They can also help officers assess situations, track suspects, and understand what’s happening before they arrive. To help the Met achieve this, the drones will use facial recognition technology and AI.
The police believe these technologies can cut costs and help officers work more efficiently, especially when they need to do more with fewer resources. However, the use of facial recognition has led to criticism from civil rights groups, who argue that these surveillance tools are being used without enough transparency or legal protection.
London’s AI Skills Gap
A new study commissioned by BusinessLDN has found that half of London’s firms think their workers lack the necessary skills for the AI age. In a survey of over 2,000 business leaders, only 50% of companies feel their employees have the right skills, down from 63% last year.
With 75% of companies in London already using AI, many business leaders are noticing a change in the skills they need. In particular, there’s an increasing demand for advanced digital skills, critical thinking, ethical judgment and decision-making.
In response, a record 81% of businesses said they intend to invest more in training over the next year.
Hidden Hackers
Recent research from ExtraHop has shown that hackers are hiding inside company networks for longer and that many businesses fail to spot intrusions before serious harm occurs.
The study found that cybercriminals now stay connected for an average of two and a half weeks, with some going unnoticed for months or even years. Of the companies affected, nearly half failed to discover a breach until after data was stolen, and 14% only found out when the hackers demanded a ransom.
ExtraHop says that the time hackers can remain undetected highlights a major weakness in business security. The report claims that slow detection is caused by a mix of clever tactics from attackers and overwhelmed security teams. To avoid suspicion, hackers are increasingly using encrypted communications, high-privilege accounts and workflows that look normal.
At the same time, security teams face alert fatigue and struggle with identifying unusual behaviour. This is exacerbated by AI, which creates more noise and false alarms for security teams. Given the growing security threats in 2026, ExtraHop says better visibility, faster detection, and stronger responses are needed as these cyberattacks get harder to spot and manage.
Housing Retrofit AI
Researchers at the University of Cambridge are creating an AI tool to help local councils spot housing issues before they become serious.
Working with Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council, the system will analyse data from a variety of homes and give each one a risk score. This will help identify which buildings are at risk of deterioration and which households are most likely to be affected by poor living conditions, like damp, mould and heat loss.
The researchers plan to use thermal images taken from satellites, standard housing records like Energy Performance Certificates, and anonymised tenant information to get a better understanding of potential risks.
The data will be displayed on a dashboard that shows areas of concern, enabling housing teams to decide which properties need inspections and repairs before problems become more expensive or harmful. Council workers will still make decisions about welfare and housing, but the tool is expected to improve efficiency by allowing for proactive maintenance instead of waiting for issues to arise.
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