Catch up on this month’s round-up of the latest hosting and tech news. Here’s what we’ve uncovered since our last edition.
Google Video Search
Google has launched a new feature that allows users to search the internet using video. Available on both Android and iPhone, it enables people to point their camera at an object, ask a question about it and receive search results. To access the new feature, users need to enable ‘AI Overviews’ in the Google app. While available globally, the video search feature currently only supports searches made in English.
This new feature is the latest development in Google’s move to incorporate AI in its search tools. Recently it has also introduced AI-generated responses to search queries made on its search engine and for image-based searches made on Google Lens.
In addition to video search, Google has also made other improvements to its search features. Those looking for products now get integrated reviews and pricing from different retailers and there is a new music-identification tool, similar to Apple’s Shazam, which allows users to identify the songs and artists they are listening to without having to leave their streaming app.
Construction Skills Gap
According to a report for the BBC, one of the biggest issues holding back UK and EU data centre expansion is the significant skills shortage in construction. Although European data centre floor space is expected to exceed 10 million sq. ft this year, the sector is currently struggling to find enough skilled workers to meet growing demand.
One of the chief obstacles is that the unique design of data centres means construction companies require specialised roles that are not traditionally found within the building sector. This makes it incredibly challenging to recruit the skilled labour required. Data centre operators also have specific needs, the construction is highly engineered and structured, and clients require work to be completed quickly, a demand that needs larger workforces to be on-site. Without more people developing these specialised skills, it means that as the growth in data centres continues, labour shortages are expected to intensify even more.
Skills shortages are not the only construction issue for data centres. Their vast size means it is difficult for operators to secure the land needed, especially when there is so much competition from logistics and warehousing companies. At the same time, operators are finding it difficult to power their new facilities.
AI Diabetes Tool
A new AI tool is being used in Bradford in a bid to help diabetes patients avoid severe health complications. Developed by Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust in partnership with the University of York, the tool is designed to help clinicians personalise patients’ treatment plans, such as specifying the best diets or exercise regimes.
Research shows that earlier diagnosis and treatment are critical for improving outcomes. With Bradford having one of the highest diabetes rates in the UK, the AI tool will help doctors provide the right care earlier by identifying those patients at risk of complications, like high blood pressure or heart attacks. The tool is particularly beneficial for patients of South Asian heritage, who are at nearly double the risk of developing diabetes than other groups.
£1.9bn Data Centre
US company, CloudHQ, is to build a £1.9bn data centre campus near the site of the former Didcot A coal-fired power station in Oxfordshire. The huge project is expected to generate around 1,500 construction jobs and lead to 100 permanent positions once the campus is completed.
The new facility will cater for the UK’s growing demand for AI and machine learning infrastructure, as well as increasing cloud computing and streaming capacity. Supported by the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, Peter Kyle, the project continues the government’s push to attract foreign investment to boost technology innovation, following the recent announcements by AWS, Microsoft and Google, as well as the mega £10 billion data centre being built in Blyth by Blackstone.
Hired a Hacker
An important lesson for any business that hires remote IT workers came this month when an unidentified company admitted it had been hacked after unknowingly hiring a North Korean cybercriminal as an online IT technician. The hacker got the job after falsifying his employment history and personal details. Once appointed, he was given access to the firm’s network from where he downloaded sensitive company data. After the worker was fired for poor performance, he used the stolen data to ransom the company, saying he would sell the data if they didn’t pay a six-figure sum in cryptocurrency. The company hasn’t disclosed whether the ransom was paid.
While the firm has reported the incident to raise awareness of the risks, damage limitation (and no doubt a touch of embarrassment) means its name and location remain secret. However, we do know it is based in either the UK, US or Australia.
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