Catch up on this month\u2019s round-up of the latest hosting and tech news. Here\u2019s what we\u2019ve uncovered since our last edition.<\/p>\n
Google\u2019s DeepMind model is helping meteorologists make quicker and more accurate hurricane forecasts. When the tropical storm Melissa formed near Haiti in October, the US National Hurricane Centre used DeepMind\u2019s predictions to identify the high chance of it becoming a category 5 hurricane, enabling earlier warnings to be given before the storm reached Jamaica.<\/p>\n
DeepMind\u2019s machine learning capabilities enable it to find patterns in vast datasets much quicker than traditional physics-based models, which usually rely on supercomputers and take a long time to process. Its ability to create forecasts in minutes, just using standard hardware, offers significant opportunities for tracking severe weather in the future.<\/p>\n
While DeepMind performs better than older systems in predicting a storm’s path, predicting its strength remains challenging, especially as the AI\u2019s decision-making process is still mostly unknown. To make better predictions about a hurricane\u2019s strength, forecasters will need greater insight into DeepMind\u2019s processes.<\/p>\n
According to a study by Flexera, the majority of UK IT leaders are struggling to keep pace with their firm’s sustainability goals. The research shows that the impact of rising cloud costs on budgets and the growing volume of cost and usage data is overwhelming sustainability teams and preventing them from focusing on areas that need the most attention.<\/p>\n
While access to sustainability data is improving, leadership teams often group sustainability aims with regulatory compliance, which is less of a business priority than AI integration, cost reduction and risk mitigation. An additional challenge is that new UK reporting standards will require companies to give more detailed information about the environmental impacts of IT operations, including data centres and cloud infrastructure.<\/p>\n
The research suggests that by using environmental metrics along with financial and operational performance data, IT leaders can make better choices about cloud migration, AI workloads and SaaS adoption. Moreover, collaboration between IT, procurement and sustainability teams can help firms balance performance, costs and carbon impact more effectively.<\/p>\n
The UK has approved new funding for its DragonFire laser weapon system, which is designed to take down fast-moving drones. Developed by European missile and defence systems manufacturer MBDA, the system was recently tested in Scotland, where it successfully destroyed targets moving at the speeds of racing cars.<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Defence\u2019s goal is to have DragonFire working on the UK\u2019s Type 45 destroyers by 2027. One of its main advantages is its cost-effectiveness. While launching even a single traditional missile at a target can cost millions, DragonFire only requires a small amount of electrical energy for each shot. However, for the system to work effectively, ships will need dependable power distribution, real-time targeting data, and secure onboard computing.<\/p>\n
The UK is facing a major gap between the future job needs and the skills of the current workforce, with automation likely to change millions of jobs in the coming decade. According to the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER), jobs in administration, customer service, and routine operations are declining quicker than anticipated, while growth is mainly happening in areas like science, engineering and legal services.<\/p>\n
Where growth is happening, not only do job seekers have to be skilled in communication, teamwork and problem-solving, they also need to be able to handle digital information effectively. The NFER claims that about 3.7 million workers currently lack these skills and that the figure could double by 2035 if no action is taken.<\/p>\n
Eradicating the digital skills gap will require improvements to adult learning programs and early skills development, as well as ensuring that retraining paths align with job growth areas. Moreover, as automation is set to reshape many parts of the job market, digital transformation will not just rely on adopting new technologies, but also on preparing the workforce to adapt.<\/p>\n
Research from the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA) shows that nearly half of UK adults are planning to spend less time on their devices this Christmas, with around a third thinking about taking a break from social media. These findings indicate that more people want to enjoy traditional, offline activities – especially younger individuals who are the keenest to unplug.<\/p>\n
For online businesses, this new trend means a potential shift in how and when users engage with digital content during the seasonal holidays. Though November is the busiest month for shopping, the expected drop in screen time over Christmas might force brands to run campaigns earlier.<\/p>\n
The report also indicates that there is a continued interest in ads that connect emotionally, with consumers reacting more positively to campaigns like those of John Lewis, Sainsbury\u2019s and M&S, which are nostalgic and tell a story. As it gets harder to attract people\u2019s attention, businesses may need to adjust both the creative and technical parts of their holiday messages to meet changing expectations and behaviours.<\/p>\n