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
European companies are increasingly worried that dependence on US cloud services puts them at risk during political tensions. A survey by Proton of 1,500 businesses in the UK, France and Germany found that 74% are concerned that the US government could potentially cut off access to their digital services.<\/p>\n
The impact of such a move would have drastic consequences. More than half of those surveyed said their operations couldn’t last more than a day without cloud and digital services, with employee productivity and customer support the first areas to suffer.<\/p>\n
While two-thirds of businesses said they would find another provider if their access was blocked, less than half of firms have a tested plan in place to handle such disruptions. As a result, more European companies aim to reduce their dependency on foreign technology suppliers while strengthening their independent cloud strategies to ensure they can stay operational during political or technical challenges.<\/p>\n
While UK companies have increased their spending on AI, many are struggling to see the benefits. Research by ServiceNow found that although AI budgets have risen by 102% in the last year, the UK’s overall ability to use AI was rated only 51 out of 100.<\/p>\n
The main problems faced by UK companies are the weak foundations they have for AI adoption, particularly in data quality, management and legacy IT systems. Almost 75% of leaders reported that issues with data accuracy, access and management had slowed down adoption.<\/p>\n
The study also showed that only 20% of organisations had set up proper testing, auditing and risk assessment for AI, and just 17% have upgraded older technology to better integrated systems. While many companies are using basic AI tools, very few have moved to fully automated processes or changed their operations to fit this technology.<\/p>\n
ServiceNow suggests that companies seeing the best benefits are those with solid governance, better data management, and strong risk controls. This indicates that future AI success depends less on increasing budgets and more on improving the systems and discipline needed to use technology effectively.<\/p>\n
Boffins at Harper Adams University in Shropshire are exploring how humanoid robots could improve farming by automating certain tasks. Unlike many current farm robots, which are designed for specific jobs, humanoid robots could be programmed to do a wide range of tasks using the same tools and spaces as human workers.<\/p>\n
The researchers are looking at how these robots could help with activities like harvesting, planting and pruning, offering farmers a more flexible solution compared to using different robots for each task. Moreover, once a task has been successfully programmed, the software can be installed on a large number of robots, enabling farmers to expand their use of automation.<\/p>\n
The aim is not to replace human farm workers, but for the robots to work alongside farmers, taking on suitable tasks while sharing the same work environment. However, they may be able to carry out tasks where farmers currently struggle to recruit enough workers.<\/p>\n
According to IBM’s 2026 Cost of a Data Breach Report, AI is playing a growing role in the cyber incidents affecting UK businesses. More than 20% of companies faced an AI-related security breach in the past year, with AI-driven attacks increasing by 56%.<\/p>\n
Besides just targeting AI systems, cybercriminals are also going after the surrounding technology, such as APIs, plug-ins and poorly configured cloud environments. AI is also being used to improve traditional attack methods, creating threats such as deepfake impersonation, automated phishing scams and AI-enhanced malware.<\/p>\n
As a result, companies are having to strengthen their security. IBM found that 61% of UK businesses plan to increase their cybersecurity budgets after experiencing a breach, focusing on areas such as incident response, data protection and AI management.<\/p>\n
Transport for London (TfL) has given the green light for a fleet of self-driving taxis to operate in the capital. Managed by Uber and using technology from British company Wayve, the electric-powered Ford Mustang Mach-Es will use cameras, radars and AI to navigate journeys.<\/p>\n
While the first rides are expected later this year, a qualified human driver must remain in control of the vehicle to meet current licensing criteria. A fully driverless service will need further permission from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency.<\/p>\n
Uber plans to offer rides to some of the 100,000 people who showed interest in robotaxis before a wider public launch.<\/p>\n
This trial is an important step forward for Cambridge-based Wayve, which is also working with companies like Nissan and Stellantis. If the technology is given fully self-driving permission, it could make London a major site for testing advanced urban transportation.<\/p>\n