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"The rise of artificial intelligence has sparked a panic about computers gaining power over humankind. But the real threat comes from falling for the hype"

"Some might scoff at this, and point out that news organisations make their own mistakes all the time - more consequential than my physicist/physician howler, if less humiliating. But cases of bad journalism are almost always warped representations of the real world, rather than missives from an imaginary one. Crucially, if an outlet gets big things wrong a lot, its reputation will suffer, and its audience are likely to vote with their feet, or other people will publish stories that air the mistake. And all of it will be out in the open. You may also note that journalists are increasingly likely to use AI in the production of stories - and there is no doubt that it is a phenomenally powerful tool, allowing investigative reporters to find patterns in vast financial datasets that reveal corruption, or analyse satellite imagery for evidence of bombing attacks in areas designated safe for civilians. There is a legitimate debate over the extent of disclosure required in such cases: on the one hand, if the inputs and outputs are being properly vetted, it might be a bit like flagging the use of Excel; on the other, AI is still new enough that readers may expect you to err on the side of caution. Still, the fundamental difference is not in what you're telling your audience, but what degree of supervision you're exercising over the machine."

"Cancer patients in west Norfolk are benefiting from a new surgical robot. The £1m machine called Versius allows surgeons to perform long, complex procedures more comfortably. It has been bought by the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn and is expected to be used to treat 100 patients in its first year. Currently it is used for colorectal surgery, but the plan is to use it for urology and gynaecological procedures as well."

"Google is using romance novels to teach its artificial intelligence (AI) system to better understand how people communicate. Researchers at Google Brain, the company's AI-focused deep learning project, presented a paper earlier this month that detailed techniques they used to teach its AI to write fiction - and the results were unexpectedly haunting."

The ensuing controversy has sparked renewed debates about the ways in which algorithms can perpetuate biases, yielding unintended and often offensive results.

"The possibility of digitally interacting with someone from beyond the grave is no longer the stuff of science fiction. The technology to create convincing digital surrogates of the dead is here, and it's rapidly evolving, with researchers predicting its mainstream viability within a decade. But what about the ethics of bereavement-and the privacy of the deceased? Speaking with a loved one evokes a powerful emotional response. The ability to do so in the wake of their death will inevitably affect the human process of grieving in ways we're only beginning to explore."

"Advances in technology have long been recognised as a threat to manual labour. Now highly skilled, knowledge-based jobs that were once regarded as safe could be at risk. How will they adapt to the digital age?"

An interesting article, could affect alot of people also burn holes in your wallet.

US schools and libraries may be able to tap into unused fibre networks in a bid to boost connection speeds.

Every year at the beginning of January teachers across the country dream up their own New Year wish lists when they visit the BETT Show at Olympia. - Filled with the latest innovative pieces of education technology, the four-day exposition gives those that work in education and the technology industry a taste of what the classroom of the future will be like.

The digital Economy Bill comes under major scrutiny as firms such as Google and Facebook are against it, meaning that ministers have to debate against large technology giants. 

The Consumer Electronics Show revealed the worst technology-based products of the past year. At the top of the list? It's the electronic cigarette!