Featured Article : Want A .Dad Domain For Father’s Day
Here we look at most of the modern top-level domains and their uses, along with the advantages and disadvantages of choosing a newer, lesser known, or more specific TLD for your website domain name. What Are Top Level Domains? Top-Level Domains (TLDs) are...
Tech Insight: New AI That Generates 3-D Models From Text
The Shap-E AI system from OpenAI (creators of ChatGPT) and available for open-source download, can create 3D models from text. What Is It? According to the Cornell University researchers behind the system, Shap-E is “a conditional generative model for...
Tech News : ChatGPT Banned At Apple
Apple has reportedly banned the internal use of ChatGPT and other chatbots plus AI writers like Bard, Copilot and GitHub to prevent the sharing of sensitive company information. Internal Document Seen The ban came to light following a report by...
Tech News : AI Contributes To 55,000 BT Jobs Cuts
BT has announced that the completion of its fibre roll-out, 5G rollout, adapting to new technologies like AI, plus general cost cutting are key reasons why it will be axing up to 55,000 jobs, primarily in the UK, by the end of the decade. 40 Per Cent Of The...
Tech-Trivia : Did You Know? Next Week in History …
02 June 1966 : Getting Off The Ground Isn’t Always Easy! Chuck Yeager (famous for being the first to break the sound barrier) mentioned in his excellent autobiography that whilst he was training Neil Amstrong in high-altitude flying, he found him a little a bit...
Sustainability : Low-Cost Underground Heating For 4,000 Cornish Homes
£22 million of the UK government’s £91 million Green Heat Network Fund will be used to build a geothermal heating network that could provide low-cost heating for nearly 4,000 homes in Cornwall. Drilling Near Truro The government-funded project by...
Security Stop-Press : Phishing-as-a-Service Warning
Cisco Talos researcher, Tiago Pereira, has warned of the dangers of a new phishing-as-a-service (PaaS) tool called “Greatness.” The Greatness tool has been designed to compromise Microsoft 365 users and can make phishing pages especially convincing and effective...
Tech Tip – How To Delete Your ChatGPT Conversation History
If you’d like to protect your privacy and the privacy of your business in terms of what you share with ChatGPT, here’s how to delete your ChatGPT chat history: - Sign-in to your ChatGPT account and click on the three dots next to your account name (at the foot of the...
Twitter Encryption : More Musk Makeovers
Twitter has recently added a new encrypted messaging service to its repertoire, offering end-to-end encryption for all direct messages sent across its network. This privacy enhancement ensures that only the sender and receiver can view the content of their...
AI Update – Part 2: 20 Helpful ChatGPT Prompts
Using the right prompts is the way to quickly get the best responses from ChatGPT and here are 20 helpful ChatGTP prompts that you may want to try. 20 Productive Prompts Here are 20 top prompts you can copy and paste into ChatGPT, just adding a few details...
AI Update – Part 1: Handy AI Resources For Your Business
In this article, we look at 22 handy AI sites that could help save time, make life easier and boost your business. 1. Pictory – https://pictory.ai/ Pictory offers a way to automatically create short, sharable branded, sales videos from your long...
Tech Insight : Erasing Yourself From Google
In this insight, we look at the steps you can take to erase any details about yourself from Google to protect your privacy. Why Might A Person Want To Erase Their Details From Google? Google collects your personal information when you go online, some (or...
Website Workshop : Site-Speed : Sorted!
Here we look at what website speed means, how important it is for businesses (and why), plus how businesses can test their website speed and keep it up to scratch. What Does ‘Website Speed’ Mean? Website speed, also known as page load time or website...
Tech-Trivia : Did You Know? This Week in History
Let There Be Light On May 16th, 1960, a new kind of light existed that nobody had ever seen before. This kind of light has unique properties and doesn’t exist in nature and as far as we know, it had never existed anywhere in the universe since it began, 13.8 billion...
Sustainability-in-Tech : Solar-Powered Aquatic Drone Purges Plastic In Waterways
The WasteShark solar powered aquatic drone from Dutch company RanMarine removes floating pollution like plastics, algae and biomass from lakes, ponds, waterways, and harbours. The WasteShark The WasteShark is a mini water robot that floats, navigates...
Security Stop-Press : 10 Ways To Keep Your Screen Or Passwords Hidden When In A Public Place (e.g. a train)
1-Use a screen privacy filter. Use a privacy filter that fits over your screen, limiting the viewing angle and making it difficult for others to see your screen from the side. 2-Position your device strategically. Sit or stand in a corner or against a wall to minimize...
Tech Tip – Use the ‘Autocomplete’ Command In ChatGPT
If you need to complete a sentence or get creative when writing some content but don't have the time or are struggling to come up with new ideas, using the "/autocomplete" command in ChatGPT can help. Here's how: "/autocomplete" is a command can be used to generate...
Featured Article : What If AI Goes Bad?
Following “AI Godfather” Dr Geoffrey Hinton’s departure from Google to talk about the dangers of AI, we look at what the threats could be and what this could mean for businesses. Departure From Google Dr Geoffrey Hinton was dubbed as the “AI Godfather” because of his...
Tech News : Passwordless Future : Google ‘Passkeys’
Google has announced the rollout of ‘Passkeys,’ which it describes as “the easiest and most secure way to sign-in to apps and websites” and a major step toward a “passwordless future.” Working Toward A Passwordless Future : FIDO & Passkeys...
Tech News: Gmail To Get Blue Checkmarks For Verification
Google has announced that Gmail has introduced blue checkmarks next to select senders’ names to help users identify messages from legitimate senders. Will Work If You’ve Adopted ‘BIMI’ The new checkmark verification symbols work in accounts where users have adopted...
Tech Insight : The Online Rip-Off Tip-Off
In this insight, we look at the new online form where customers can report online rip-offs that’s been developed as part of the new government campaign “The Online Rip-Off Tip-Off” to help shoppers spot and avoid misleading online practices. The Online Rip-Off Problem...
Tech-Trivia : Did You Know? This Week in History
1954 : Silicon Makes A Splash On 10th May 1954, Gordon Kidd Teal created a sensation at an Institute of Radio Engineers conference when he presented silicon transistors for the first time by announcing they were ready for production and available for sale. Why...
Sustainability-in-Tech : Green Code To Reduce Software Emissions
Cloud-based CRM company Salesforce has announced the launch of its ‘Green Code,’ a new initiative which it says will help reduce carbon emissions associated with the software development lifecycle. The Software Development Lifecycle Carbon Emissions...
Security Stop-Press : Meta Warns Of Rise In ChatGPT-Related Malware Across Its Platforms
Facebook’s parent company Meta has warned of a rise in ChatGPT-related malware across its platforms, designed to lure users into downloading malicious apps and browser extensions. Meta says that since March it has found around 10 malware families and more than 1,000...
Tech Tip – Making ChatGPT Produce Answers In Tabular Format
If you’d like to save time and stay organised by getting outputs from ChatGPT that are already in tabular format, here’s how: - Ask ChatGPT to list the benefits of two or more different ways of delivering a list, and to answer in a table format. For example,...
Featured Article : The UK’s New AI Taskforce
In this article, we look at the reasons for the government’s formation of the Foundation Model Taskforce, and how the DeepMind and Google Brain tie-up could solve some big issues for Alphabet in the AI world. £100 Million Investment In Taskforce Start-Up The UK...
Tech Insight : Should You Make An ‘E-Will’ ?
In the past, people have primarily focused on their physical belongings and financial assets when planning for the future. However, as more and more of our lives move online, digital assets have become just as important to consider. So, do you need to make an...
Tech News : Microsoft Miffed: Monumental Gaming Merger Muzzled By UK’s CMA
The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has blocked Microsoft’s proposed acquisition of US-based video game holding company Activision Blizzard over fears of stifled competition in the cloud gaming market. What Happened? Back in January 2022, Microsoft...
Tech News : WhatsApp Wows: One Account Accessible on Multiple Mobile
WhatsApp has announced that it is introducing the ability to use the same WhatsApp account on multiple phones. Message Seamlessly Across All Devices WhatsApp says that this change gives users globally the ability to message seamlessly across all their devices without...
Tech Trivia : Did You Know?
Computers, Margaret Thatcher & Ice Cream On 6th May 1949, the Electronic Delay Storage Calculator (EDSAC) ran its first set of programs. This historic British computer calculated a table of square numbers and a list of prime numbers. It was developed by...
Security Stop-Press : Vietnamese Hacker Group Compromises Half a Million Devices Through ‘Malverposting’ Techniques
Guardio Labs has warned that a Vietnamese threat actor is behind a ‘malverposting’ campaign which has infected over 500,000 devices worldwide over the last 3 months. ‘Malverposting’ uses promoted social media posts on services like Facebook and Twitter to mass...
Sustainability In Tech: Pioneering Power: Solar Panels Float In The North Sea
Dutch start-up ‘Oceans of Energy’ has been awarded the contract for installing and operating an offshore solar farm inside the Hollandse Kust Noord offshore wind park by CrossWind, a joint venture between Shell and Eneco. World First Oceans of Energy says...
Tech Tip : Using The “Debug” Command To Clarify In ChatGPT
If you are unsure why ChatGPT provided a certain response or want to see how it arrived at a particular conclusion, you can use the “Debug” command. Here’s how: Using the “Debug" command followed by your question will make ChatGPT provide a detailed explanation...
Featured Article : Want to be a ‘Prompt Engineer’?
No – it’s doesn’t mean engineers that are punctual! In this article, we will explore the role of prompt engineers in the AI industry, why the job is necessary, why it’s suddenly a sought-after role, and what the future prospects are for prompt engineers. What is...
Tech News : Microsoft Drops Twitter From Advertising Platform
Following Twitter’s announcement two months ago that it will be charging a minimum of $42,000 per month to enterprise users of its API, Microsoft is dropping Twitter from its advertising platform. What Is The Microsoft Advertising Platform? The...
Tech Insight : What’s ‘Universal Basic Income’?
In this insight, we look at what ‘Universal Basic Income’ is, how it relates to the tech industry, its potential benefits and pitfalls, plus what similar ideas are being discussed and explored. UBI Universal Basic Income (UBI) is a policy proposal in which...
Tech News : Google To Use Generative AI For Ad Campaigns
A report in the Financial Times (drawing upon an internal Google Presentation) claims that Google plans to use AI to generate new advertisements, drawing upon those already created by humans. Creates The Ads For You The use of generative AI will mean that...
Tech Trivia : Did You Know?
The Birth Of The IC Around this time 62 years ago (April 25th, 1961), Robert Noyce (co-founder of Fairchild Semiconductor) patented his invention – a monolithic integrated circuit (IC). Jack Kilby patented a similar invention, but his version was difficult to mass...
Sustainability : UK’s First Co-Owned Solar Park
Ripple Energy has announced that it is creating the UK’s first c-owned solar park, allowing those who buy shares to benefit from green electricity, money off bills, and the feelgood factor of the climate and environmental benefits. Where? Ripple Energy...
Security Stop Press : WordPress Sites Being Hacked Through Old Plugin
Cybersecurity researchers at GoDaddy-owned Sucuri have warned that an old plugin called Eval PHP, last updated a decade ago, is being used to hack WordPress websites. The plugin, which creates a backdoor and can mask its activities as cookies has been described as...
Tech Tip – Ask For Sources In ChatGPT
If you’ve produced some content using ChatGPT and, knowing that it can sometimes generate incorrect information, would quickly like to check that the source data is from reputable sites, here’s how: - In the window below the last response in a chat, simply type...
Sustainability : Quantum Magnetic Material Discovery Could Deliver Ultrafast Sustainable Devices
The discovery of new quantum materials with magnetic properties could bring ultra-fast, more energy efficient, and sustainable computers and mobile devices. Quantum Breakthrough In Sweden A research team at team at Chalmers University of Technology in...
Tech Tip – Changing Your WhatsApp Wallpaper Background
If you'd like to personalise who you're chatting to by using their photo as a background in the chat, or you'd simply like to change and brighten up your WhatsApp experience, you can easily change the default background to chats. Here's how: Within a chat for a...
Security Stop Press : Public USB Charger “Juice Jacking” Warning
The FBI has warned that cyber criminals are hijacking public USB ports to introduce malware and monitoring software onto devices. The FBI says that software installed through a corrupted USB port (known as “juice jacking”) can lock a device or export personal data and...
Tech-Trivia : Did You Know?
This Week in History : April 23, 2005: A Trip to the Zoo and $1.6 Billion Later … On April 23, 2005, at exactly 8:31:52 pm local time, the first ever YouTube video was uploaded. It was titled ‘Me at the Zoo’ and is a 19 second recording of the co-founder of...
Tech News : Quantum Threat Growing
Following large investments in quantum computing followed by the ensuing advancement of this technology in recent years, as well as looking forward to benefits this could bring, there is also the growing threat of ‘quantum hacking.’ Quantum Computers Quantum...
Tech Insight : What Is ‘Jailbreaking’ ChatGPT?
In this insight, we look at the ‘Jailbreaking’ concept in ChatGPT and other LLMs, and at what steps can be taken to mitigate the risks to users. Jailbreaking Jailbreaking, in general, refers to the process of removing restrictions or limitations imposed by...
Featured Article : OpenAI Now Exploring Humanoid Robots
A humanoid robotics company (1X Technologies) has announced that it raised $2.5m Series A2 funding led by ChatGPT’s creators OpenAI to pursue producing androids/humanoid robots at commercial scale. Funding The funding round to develop more androids was led...
Tech News : Amazon Launches AI App-Building Platform
Amazon has announced the launch of ‘Amazon Bedrock,’ a new service which it says is the easiest way for customers to build and scale generative AI-based applications using foundation models (FMs). What Is A Foundation Model (FM)? A foundation model is an...
Sustainability : How ‘ATES’ Could BE The Natural, Green Future For Heating and Cooling Buildings
A new study has shown that using underground water to maintain comfortable temperatures could reduce consumption of natural gas and electricity in this sector by 40 per cent, thereby offering a green heating and cooling solution. The Issue With a massive...
Tech Tip – Save Time By Personalising Auto-Correct In Microsoft Office
If you’d like to save time when using Microsoft Office by personalising the auto-correct options so that auto-correct doesn’t try to correct even the most unnecessary things, here’s how: - For example, in Word, go to File > Options > Proofing. - Use...
Security Stop Press: YouTube’s Phishing Warning
YouTube is warning users of a phishing attempt showing no-reply@youtube.com as the sender. YouTube’s owner Google is, therefore, advising users to be cautious, not to download/access any file received in such an email and, while it investigates, to follow these tips...
April 14th, 111 Years Ago : Radio Helps 706 Survivors
Imagine for a moment that it’s April 14th, 1912 and just moments ago you were having a pleasant evening onboard one of the most luxurious and largest ships of its time. However, you are now sitting in a tiny lifeboat, surrounded by pitch black freezing water waiting...
Tech News : Reduced OneDrive Cloud Storage
Changes to Microsoft 365 could mean less OneDrive cloud storage and could lead to Outlook being disrupted. Change In February, Microsoft announced that cloud storage used across Microsoft 365 apps and services would include Outlook.com attachments data and...
Featured Article : How To Spot Fake Images
With deepfake images recently making the news by fooling many people, we look at the issues around fake images and how to spot them. Recent Examples The emergence of AI has led to an increasing output of highly convincing fake images/manipulated...
Tech Insight : Some Legal Considerations Of Online Writing And Publishing
With ChatGPT’s makers OpenAI facing a possible defamation lawsuit from an Australian mayor, we look at the legal aspects of online writing and publishing. Defamed? Last November, when ChatGPT was first released for public use, Brian Hood, the mayor of...
Tech News : Don’t Get Sued For Using ChatGPT
One recent example of how ChatGPT may be the subject of a defamation lawsuit after it reportedly created completely incorrect (and highly damaging) content is in the case of Brian Hood, the mayor of Hepburn Shire, 120km northwest of Melbourne, Australia. Mr Hood...
Sustainability-in-Tech : Electric Roads Promise 70% Smaller Car Batteries
Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden say that if an electric car charges while driving, the size of the battery can be reduced by up to 70 per cent. Aim Of The Study? The aim of the Chalmers University study was to discover what...
Featured Article : What’s All This Fuss About A National Alarm?
With the UK government’s new ‘Emergency Alerts’ system now live, we take a look at what it is and how it will work. What Are ‘Emergency Alerts’? The UK government’s Emergency Alerts service, managed by the government’s Cabinet Office, enables the...
Tech News : Beware Increasing Deepfake Voice Scams
There have been reports of scammers are using the latest AI deepfake voice clones to sound like family members in distress to swindle relatives out of money. AI Voice Technology The kinds of artificially generated voice technology tools that bad actors...
Tech News : TikTok Fined £12.7m By UK Data Watchdog
Embattled Chinese owned short-video-sharing platform TikTok has received a £12.7m fine from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) for breaching UK data protection law by failing to protect children’s privacy when using the TikTok platform. Notice Of Intent...
Tech Insight : ChatGPT Gets User’s Parking Ticket Revoked
Following the news that a student made a successful appeal against a parking ticket by using a letter written by the ChatGPT chatbot, we look at how it happened, how to get the best results from ChatGPT, and we look at some of the recent concerns about the advances in...
Tech Trivia : Did You Know?
Microsoft Is Founded Bill Gates originally wanted to become a lawyer, like his father, when he was a young child. However, as he grew up he discovered computers and on this week in history (4th April back in 1975) he, along with his school-friend Paul Allen founded...
Security Stop-Press : Attack On 3CX Business Phone System Program Reported
Cyber security firms CrowdStrike and Sophos have reported that the 3CX communications technology supplier’s 3CXDesktopApp has been hit by supply chain attacks from a Korea-linked advanced persistent threat (APT) actor. The attacks, which spread via a compromised...
Tech Tip – Storyline Posts
If you'd like a way to share experiences, celebrate milestones, conduct a poll, propose ideas, and discuss your interests with people across your organisation directly from Microsoft Outlook, try Storyline Posts. Here's how: - In Outlook, go to the 'New Email' button...
Tech News : Intel Founder and Moore’s Law Creator Dies
Gordon Moore, the co-founder of Intel Corp, predictor of home computing, and the creator of ‘Moore’s Law’ has died at the age of 94. Intel Corporation In July 1968, Gordon Moore famously co-founded Intel Corporation with Robert Noyce, who had previously...
Tech Insight : ChatGPT Unleashed To Access The Web Via Plugins
Conversational chatbot ChatGPT’s creators OpenAI have announced that ChatGPT will now be able to use plugins to improve its capabilities and outputs. Plugins Coming To ChatGPT It’s been announced that OpenAI will be “gradually” enabling...
Featured Article : Working Trends And The Effects Of AI
In this article, we look at how generative AI could change work and jobs going forwards, plus how it could help businesses adopt new work trends such as a 4-day week. The Rise Of Artificial Intelligence (AI) – A Timeline AI has been many decades in the...
Tech News : World Backup Day Is An Important Reminder
World Backup Day founder, Ismail Jadun, has said that March 31 will “will make everyone think about their situation, learn about the various options and get their files backed up”. World Backup Day World Backup Day, first celebrated in 2011, is an...
Tech-Trivia : Did You Know? The Eighth Wonder of Moore’s Law
Further to the news that Gordon Moore, co-founder of Intel, died last week, it’s a reminder that also last-week-in-history (22 March 1993), Intel announced it would be shipping its Pentium microprocessor. This was the successor to the Intel 486, and it was a massive...
Security Stop Press: Fake ChatGPT Google Extension Can Hijack Facebook Accounts
Guardio Labs researchers have reported finding a copy of the “ChatGPT for Google” open-source extension that is capable of covert malicious action such as hijacking Facebook accounts. The researchers say that the fake extension, which was downloaded over 9000 times...
Tech Tip: How To Limit Data Usage By WhatsApp
WhatsApp can use up a lot of space and mobile data by automatically downloading some large photos, videos, and voice messages. Here's how to limit the types of media that are automatically download and the amount of mobile data WhatsApp calls use. -...
Tech-News : Microsoft 365 Gets ChatGPT Technology Called ‘Copilot’
Microsoft has announced that it is to help users save time and increase productivity by embedding its AI chatbot ‘Copilot’ into popular Microsoft 365 apps. Embedded In Popular Apps Microsoft says that the Copilot chatbot has been embedded in the popular...
Featured Article : ChatGPT-3 (4…5…?) : What’s Going On?
Following the news that Microsoft will soon be integrating Copilot, an AI large language model (LLM) like the one behind ChatGPT, into Microsoft 365, we look at how this will help businesses, what OpenAI’s GPT-4 will bring, and Google’s response. Copilot ...
Tech News : Dept. Of Health Spent More On iPhones Than Defibrillators
The UK government Department of Health (DOH) is facing criticism over a report that says it spent more on new Apple iPhones than it did on defibrillators last year. £1.5 Million Spent On iPhones For Whitehall Staff The report from the Mirror newspaper...
Tech Insight : What is GPL And How Does It Affect Businesses?
In this insight, we look at what GPL is, how it relates to the right to repair, and how businesses can be affected if other businesses don’t fulfil their obligation under GPL. General Public License (GPL) The General Public License (GPL) is a widely used...
Tech-Trivia : Did You Know?
On 14th March 1950, the first prototype of the silicon transistor was demonstrated by researchers at Bell Labs, the company spawned from its eponymous founder Alexander Graham Bell (i.e. the person widely accredited with inventing the telephone). This incredible...
Security Stop-Press : UK Security Agency Highlights Chatbot Risks Highlighted
The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has warned that entering personal information in chatbots like ChatGPT means that it is stored and is likely to be used for developing the LLM service or model. This means could mean that the LLM provider (or...
Tech Tip – Using The Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool
In addition to Windows Defender, Windows 10 has a Malicious Software Removal Tool (MSRT) that's designed to remove hidden malware from your device, and normally receives regular updates and runs itself in the background. However, if you're worried you have a malware...
Frequently Asked Questions about Stocktaking Solutions
Inventas is a stocktaking solution that can help to improve the efficiency and accuracy of your stock management, whether you run a store or an online one. Here are the most frequently asked questions about Stocktaking Solutions…How Does Inventas Stocktaking Solutions...
Keeping Data Safe in a Small Business
Running a small business? Consider what information you hold and what issues could be caused if that information was to fall into the wrong hands. Cyber criminals, are always on the lookout for ‘sensitive’ information that they can use for fraudulent purposes....
Why Small Businesses Need an IT Support Company
Small businesses are the backbone of the UK economy, and in a digital era they need as much support as possible. Dealing with complex IT systems and services in-house can often be beyond the reach of smaller firms.Many companies may be aware of just how impractical it...
What is IT Support?
Information technology (IT) support, sometimes known simply as technical support, is a service that provides assistance to an individual or company with problems related to computer technology. Businesses can either employ their own IT staff or employ a specific IT...
Tips for Outsourcing Success
Modern businesses can harness outsourcing services for a variety of purposes. So when choosing the right IT outsourcing company for your business, careful planning and preparation is needed to make a successful transition. Saving your business money, enhancing...
5 Tips for Choosing an IT Support Company
IT Support is a major part of modern business, so it is important you find the right one for your business. It’s important to do your research on your potential IT Support Company to make sure they have the right skills and experience. Follow these 5 tips for choosing...