How AI Will Impact Our Safety, Jobs, and Healthcare
As we settle into the new year, we look to learn and adapt from what happened in the world of technology in 2023 by taking a moment to update ourselves on the current trending topics in tech.
January’s edition of RecruITing News highlights the imminent threat of AI on the nation’s online security, how Netflix and generational consumer behaviour is moving us further away from traditional television and covers the continued trend of mass layoffs the gaming industry. And of course, shares what the Cathcart team got up to on their return to the office.
The worldwide web
Generative AI is creating an imminent cyber security threat
The National Cyber Security Centre warns the public that AI will make digital scams more convincing and harder to identify as malicious. Advanced technology getting in the wrong hands and causing deliberate harm to others has been an ongoing concern in the digital revolution. However, the widespread use and availability of free AI language models has lowered the barriers for amateur scammers and hackers to commit serious cybercrimes. Generative AI has enhanced the quality of scam emails, omitting spelling and grammatical errors which were a key giveaway that the email/message was ingenuine.
Revolutionising oncological research on our doorstep
Edinburgh based startup, Carcinotech, has developed an innovative method of testing which cancer treatment is best suited to a patient’s condition. The company manufactures 3D-printed tumours based on the patients’ biopsies and blood samples, which then undergo a series of testing to find the most effective cancer treatment. Carcinotech partners with global pharmaceutical enterprises to accelerate the development of non-animal oncological testing, and backed by £4.2 million of funding, they can work to fulfil their goal of creating non-invasive, individually tailored cancer treatment.
How Netflix has become the new TV
Netflix, the streaming platform considered as the new alternative to TV, has grown exponentially in the latter months of 2023 gaining over 13.1 million new subscribers – but how? Their growth is a result of a refined pricing strategy which firstly tightened the rules of password sharing, causing more people to create their own accounts. Then by introducing different subscription packages, with the basic package including advertisements and the more premium package being ad free, they brought in new channels of growth. The ‘king of all streamers' has encouraged a wave of movement in the streaming industry, with many of its competitors following suit. The recent surge in subscribers paired with a generational change in consumer behaviour raises the question, is traditional TV becoming obsolete?
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Trending in tech recruitment
We stress again – your jobs are safe from AI!
AI isn’t going anywhere, and as the technology becomes more advanced, there is natural concern over its ability to replace human labour. Since the widespread use of generative AI, people are worried that their jobs are at threat of automation. However, a recent survey shared on UK Tech News found that 86% of business leaders are looking at how the emerging technology can enhance employee’s skillsets, rather than replace them in the workplace. And 83% of leaders said they plan to retrain their employees to work alongside AI. So, we emphasis again, AI is not, and will unlikely reach the stage that it replaces you in the workplace, but it will in fact be used to enhance your skillset and make you more efficient in your role.
Will selling NHS data create more jobs in tech?
The former Prime Minister and ex political leader, Sir Tony Blair and Lord Hague, recently proclaimed that the NHS should sell anonymised medical records to channel a new biotechnology and AI ‘industrial revolution’. Their impetus to selling NHS data is to achieve higher economic growth and revolutionise the healthcare system. They believe it will give patients more control over how their data is shared and has other life-altering opportunities. But it is clear that the proposed plans will rely heavily on private sector experts. Backed by government funding, the selling of medical data could have the potential to create a whole realm of new jobs in tech.
More mass layoffs in big tech
Whilst most of us get stuck back into the grind after the festive break, the harsh reality for some is coming back to face more rounds of redundancies. Microsoft’s gaming division, Activision- Blizzard, are laying off 1,900 of its staff. The gaming company, recently acquired by tech giant Microsoft, said it was a difficult decision to make and follows the news of several other big gaming contenders making redundancies in the previous year.
The Cathcart Current
Wined and dined at this month’s lunch club
There really is no better way to start the new year than by taking our top performers out for a spot of lunch. On the first lunch club of 2024, the team visited Gaucho for a bite to eat before meeting up with some colleagues for drinks. I don’t know about you, but we could think of worse ways to spend a stormy afternoon in January!
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9moInsightful roundup! AI's impact on cybersecurity is a paramount discussion. Curious if ethical AI use in tech recruitment was highlighted too? #EthicalAI #RecruITIng