Richard MacManus

Some interesting research from the Ada Lovelace Institute indicating that local authorities need clear and comprehensive guidance in procuring AI systems that work for the public good. It's not a big surprise, given that public authorities are still getting to grips with the possibilities and pitfalls for AI, and the market is developing so fast that nobody has a completely clear picture. But the institute has highlighted that, with many public leaders and politicians pressing the case for greater use of AI, local authorities need as clear a view as possible of the pros and cons of systems they procure. There are organisations taking the lead for local government in each country of the UK and hopefully they have this on their agendas. https://lnkd.in/eedNTAeZ #localgovernment #govtech

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❗ Although surprising at first, when you think back to announcements by giants like Salesforce, it's no wonder why the #UK is leading in #GenAI adoption. Want to know what lead a SAS study to position it alongside #China? Read more below 👇

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Misinformation in an #election period comes with a heightened source of caution. With the added influx of #GenAI technology, the ability to disrupt the information ecosystem is inevitable. Really pleased to contribute to Press Gazette on my experience in how to spot #misinformation from #disinformation and #malinformation and how it commonly presents https://lnkd.in/egKkbGQt

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In the latest issue of Capacity Media magazine Nermeen Sobhy from CEQUENS explores the potential of integrating AI into CPaaS platforms to drive innovation. https://t.ly/Y6ep9 #AI #CPaaS #Innovation #Communication #TechTransformation #CEQUENS

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So the writer who breeds more words than he needs, is making a chore for the reader who reads. - Dr. Seuss Contact Siliconchips Services Ltd. to find out why our proof readers & copy editors are second to none 👍 #publishing #journals #stm #openaccess #universities #publishingservices #copyediting #selfpublishing

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I'm quite happy with Labour picking up the pieces after the train wreck the Tories left the economy in with Brexit. Political statement here: I believe in regulation, especially with things like AI, that have such obvious ramifications for the economy. We have seen conservative politicians repeatedly say that industry can police itself, and time and time again, this leads to bubbles, corruption, high debt, and recessions. I realize that this is not a popular position here on Linked In, but I believe that all power should have independent oversight, whether the press, business, banks, or yes, the government itself. The privilege (and it is a privilege) of making money does not extend to ruining the lives of other or destroying the ecosystem that you make your money in. Too much regulation is bad, but too little regulation is often worse, and I think that, globally, we are currently in a very permissive regime that, by all indications, will end in tears for everyone concerned. One other note: AI is not the solution here, unless AI itself is democratized, and even there I'm not sure it's a good solution. The reason? AI is not accountable, at least not yet. Fodder for more conversations down the road.

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How do you separate media spin from newsworthy facts? Jeanette Jones recently posted an excellent article titled 'Media Bias and Misinformation' on the Cottrill Research blog: https://lnkd.in/ezqAxkfd Making decisions is hard enough without having to account for biased information - including cases where the bias means information is missing from news coverage. Procurement and supply chain professionals may not think of themselves as journalists or even researchers, but the ability to analyze information critically is absolutely essential. Jeanette's advice includes checking for bias in the source, author, and - of course, each of us as readers and thinkers. What tips and advice would you share? I always assume a source is biased, looking for the orientation of slant versus the presence of one. Whenever possible, I'll read content that draws opposite conclusions (or holds the opposite bias) to piece together a perspective closer to the middle - but I never assume I'm getting the truth. That concept seems like more of an illusion every day. #misinformation #bias #reporting Buyers Meeting Point Art of Supply Art of Procurement

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Great insights here from Katie Robbert and Paul Roetzer on why #Adobe training #Firefly on unlicensed images is a real problem for enterprise marketers. #AI #GenAI #Digitalmarketing

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The question of what should happen to our data and our digital lives after our physical one end is fundamentally a philosophical and ethical one, as the terrific book I reviewed this week makes clear: https://lnkd.in/euYyyRj3

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Latest in #AIRegulation News Many nations are actively working on legislation to address the risks of #AI technology. Recently, a landmark AI safety treaty was signed by the European Union, the United States, the United Kingdom, and several other countries, including Andorra, Georgia, Iceland, Norway, the Republic of Moldova, San Marino, as well as Israel. This agreement marks the first legally binding international treaty aimed at ensuring that the use of #AI systems is fully consistent with human rights, democracy and the rule of law. The treaty, officially titled the Framework Convention on artificial intelligence and human rights, democracy, and the rule of law (CETS No. 225), was introduced by The Council of Europe (CE) and opened for signature during a conference of CE Ministers of Justice in Vilnius, Lithuania. The Framework Convention was adopted by the CE Committee of Ministers on May 17, 2024. Any country is welcome to join the treaty, provided they adhere to its framework, which was shaped with input from the 46 CE member states, the European Union and 11 non-member states (Argentina, Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, the Holy See, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Peru, the United States of America and Uruguay). Representatives of the private sector, civil society and academia also contributed as observers. The treaty will enter into force on the first day of the month following the expiration of a period of three months after the date on which five signatories, including at least three CE member states, have ratified it. This treaty aims to provide a legal framework covering the entire lifecycle of AI systems. It promotes AI progress and innovation, while managing the risks it may pose to human rights, democracy and the rule of law. To stand the test of time, it is technology-neutral. In a statement, CE Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić emphasized: “We must ensure that the rise of AI upholds our standards, rather than undermining them. The Framework Convention is designed to ensure just that." She added: “It is a strong and balanced text – the result of the open and inclusive approach by which it was drafted and which ensured that it benefits from multiple and expert perspectives. The Framework Convention is an open treaty with a potentially global reach. I hope that these will be the first of many signatures and that they will be followed quickly by ratifications, so that the treaty can enter into force as soon as possible.” Want to learn more about this new legislation and other news on #AI? Continue reading here: [link 🔗 below]. ⬇️

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The UK Government's Incubator for AI (I.AI) has published five assurance principles for the deployment of AI technologies for the public good. They are all familiar - in line with a consensus on what constitutes good practice in the responsible handling of data - but with the organisation expected to play an important role in central government AI initiatives, it is worth setting out what measures are expected. https://lnkd.in/ed6_vQVf #ai #ukgovernment

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What Happens If the UK Government Allows a Copyright Exception for Text and Data Mining (TDM)? In recent discussions, Caroline Dinenage MP, Chair of Parliament’s Culture Committee, raised concerns about reports that the UK government might consider a text and data mining copyright exception. As we’ve seen in the EU, exceptions could potentially allow AI companies to utilise creative works from the internet without permission or compensation to the original creators. While the EU is ahead in these discussions compared to the UK, the TDM exception baked into the EU's Digital Single Market Directive has created muddy waters in which to operate. It remains unclear whether using TDM for AI training would still constitute copyright infringement. With evolving uncertainties surrounding how copyright laws apply to AI training, Dinenage believes that a broad "TDM exception" might go on to discourage tech companies from collaborating with the creative industries. Preventing the establishment of commercial models that essentially reward human creativity. Instead, she advocates for transparency from tech companies regarding the creative works they use in AI training, facilitating more constructive discussions around fair compensation. While this may be wishful thinking, the challenge remains to balance the immense opportunities posed by AI with the need to protect and promote our cultural and creative sectors, which play a significant role in the UK economy and global influence. Dinenage's letter to Lisa Nandy - https://lnkd.in/ewcMyaFc

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"The closure of this once trailblazing publication underscores a crucial lesson for all businesses: adapt swiftly or risk obsolescence." The recent announcement that Reader’s Digest UK will cease its print operations after 86 years is more than just the end of a magazine; it’s a dramatic example of what happens when companies fail to adapt quickly in a world of relentless change. Joining National Geographic Channel in signaling the close of a remarkable era and as we honor their rich legacies, together, we can create new narratives that resonate and inspire reseliency and adaptability. Let's embrace this moment as an opportunity for growth and transformation in our own journeys. #Wow #cultureofinnovation Source:

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This is similar to my own experiences while running the Panorama Project, where some individual publishers — and even more individuals within their organizations — were willing to explore ways to collaborate, but most hid behind trade associations that refuse to seriously engage libraries as valued partners. While CDL has often been misrepresented by publishers and some library-adjacent organizations with their own agendas, it can be a mutually beneficial option in specific instances. That'll never happen as long as publishers' default stance is that libraries are the enemy. Meanwhile, next week, dozens of publishers will be in San Diego declaring their love for libraries, which really just means all the free marketing they provide despite regularly being treated like pirates. #libraries #publishing #ebooks #cmonson

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The Financial Times - Clive Cookson, covers #braincomputer interfaces, highlighting both EU and US #bci companies. A detailed look and deep dive into some key topics for this space. 🧠🧠🧠 Other labs are developing more flexible and less invasive BCIs. Neurosoft Bioelectronics in Geneva is testing ultra-thin, soft electrodes deposited on silicone that wrap over the folds of the brain’s surface. Its technology has been tested successfully on three patients. INBRAIN Neuroelectronics’ graphene interface has similar selling points. It sits “on the cortex like a piece of cellophane without penetrating it,” says Carolina Aguilar, chief executive. Its first human trial is imminent. She sees Parkinson’s disease as InBrain’s first target, aiming to displace the “low density, low resolution” deep brain stimulation devices offered by medtech giants Boston Scientific and Medtronic. Some BCI companies are focusing on medical applications beyond disabled patients. Nicolas Vachicouras, Neurosoft chief executive, estimates that 60mn people worldwide have severe tinnitus, resulting in “severe depression and even suicide attempts, with no effective treatment available today”. The company’s research suggests that the cause is abnormal activity in the auditory cortex, giving the illusion of disturbing noise, which can be corrected with neuromodulation. Among the US companies, Synchron stands a good chance to be the first to get an BCI implant to market. Much like a stent, its device is inserted into a blood vessel and sits above the motor cortex, the part of the brain that controls movement. It has been tested in 10 patients so far and publication of final results is expected soon, followed by a larger clinical study which the company hopes will lead to FDA approval. Although the device is not as sensitive to neural activity as some competitors, Synchron chief executive Thomas Oxley says the company can achieve marketing approval more quickly with technology that does not require open brain surgery. “How can this technology improve people’s ability to live independently? That’ll be the marker of success,” he says. Sharing the article: https://lnkd.in/emTfKZww

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Today Press Gazette publishes the first major research into the impact of AI Overviews on publisher search discoverability. We looked at 3,300 keywords which drive traffic to six leading publishers and the boffins at Authoritas SEO Software led by Laurence O'Toole plugged them into Google in the US to find out what happened. In nearly a quarter of cases publishers (who tend to top organic search results) were pushed off the first page (so below the scroll) by AI-generated answers. This research took place in mid-May, so before Google rolled back AI overviews. But it shows what a dramatic impact they could have on publisher search discoverability. AI Overviews are slowly being reintroduced and are already the default results option for some UK users. In some cases accurate publisher articles were pushed out of search results by AI-generated answers which were highly inaccurate. You can read the full research below. Thank you to Ricky Sutton for collaborating with us on this project and you can read more about this on his Future Media newsletter.

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