Develop Resilience
Strongly Recommend It
Meta Unveils 'Edits,' a New Video Editing App to Compete with CapCut
Meta recently announced the launch of a brand-new video editing application called "Edits," coinciding with the removal of ByteDance's video editing tool CapCut from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store due to the TikTok ban. This new app is expected to debut on the iOS platform next month, with an Android version to follow. Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, revealed on the Threads platform that the company is collaborating with select creators to gather feedback on the application. He stated, "We are excited to introduce 'Edits,' a new app designed specifically for mobile video creators. No matter how the market environment changes, our mission remains to provide creators with the highest-quality tools." According to Mosseri, Edits will feature a range of innovative functions, including an inspiration zone, a creative idea management module, and a high-quality camera feature. Notably, the app will also support users in sharing draft creations with friends or collaborators. Additionally, creators can access performance data of their videos on the Instagram platform through the app, helping them optimize their content strategies. Mosseri emphasized that Edits primarily targets professional creators rather than casual users. This differentiated positioning, though difficult to quantify, reflects Meta's deep understanding of the creator ecosystem. This move by Meta continues its consistent market strategy. Recall that in June 2020, after TikTok was banned in India, Meta quickly launched Instagram Reels in early July. In 2023, the company introduced Threads, a platform competing with X. Industry analysts suggest that CapCut's temporary absence has created development opportunities for other video editing tools, and even if CapCut is reinstated in the future, the market landscape may undergo significant changes. It is worth noting that Captions, a video editing app backed by a16z, recently shifted to a freemium model in an attempt to attract more users and compete with CapCut. These market dynamics indicate that the video editing tool sector is entering a new wave of competition and innovation.
2025-07-31 19:48:33
Why North West is at the heart of the UK's electric vehicle transformation
The first electric vehicle I saw outside the SMMT conference was a white Tesla. The first I saw inside was a white Sinclair C5. The slideshows spoke of billions of pounds of upcoming hi-tech investment. Electric vehicles have been on quite a journey. The North West is at the heart of Britain’s electric vehicle transformation with hundreds of millions of pounds of investment on the way - and there could be more success to come if the automotive industry gets the government backing it needs. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) this week held its Regional Forum in Liverpool for the first time, and chose to focus on electric vehicles. The key local manufacturers were all represented at the conference - and all of them are seeing huge investments in their electric vehicle capacity and into reducing their carbon footprint. Don't miss the latest news and analysis with our regular North West newsletters - sign up here for free. JLR employs thousands in Halewood, while more than 1,000 people work at Stellantis’ former Vauxhall plant in Ellesmere Port and hundreds work at Ford’s transmissions plant in Halewood. Meanwhile Bentley employs 4,000 in Crewe, while Leyland Trucks employs more than 1,000 in Lancashire. And beyond the big names there are many suppliers in the region, who also employ thousands and will also play key roles in greening the sector. But the industry is not without its challenges - not least a need for more government support for EVs and their infrastructure, whoever wins the upcoming general election. The Sinclair C5 was an 80s experiment in electric vehicles that failed. It's a reminder that electric vehicles haven’t always been fashionable, and traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles continue to dominate the market. But the sheer scale of the investments detailed at this conference show electric vehicles are now mainstream, and the industry is only going to get bigger. Mike Hawes, chief executive of the SMMT, agrees the region is a European leader in the push towards electric vehicles - and says that is a tribute to the success of its plants and its workers. He said: “Last year, some £20bn was committed to the UK automotive industry which was more than the previous seven years put together… and a significant portion of that has gone into the North West. “Everyone has been setting out their strategy to shift from fossil fuel vehicles to electric vehicles because that is the future. It's not going to be a smooth road to get there but everyone recognises that that is the future.” But the industry does face some major challenges if it is to keep growing. One such challenge - which came up several times in the conference - is that government needs to offer incentives to car buyers to encourage them to go electric. The current Government has given lots of support to manufacturers to encourage them to build EVs, and manufacturers will have to make a certain proportion of their output electric to comply with net zero regulations. But consumer demand for EVs has slowed - leaving manufacturers questioning their massive infrastructure investments. Mr Hawes said: “Those investments only make sense if you have a relatively strong domestic market for those products. Otherwise why would you build them here? “So to then have a statement from the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to say to the consumer we're not going to force you to buy a heatpump, to change a boiler, or to buy an EV, and to then publish a regulation which compels the manufacturer to sell these vehicles… if you're a consumer you're thinking 'What does this mean? I'm told I don't have to buy one, but the manufacturers are being told they must sell them…’ “Undoubtedly it's a new technology, so it's more expensive, so you need some form of incentive to help overcome that upfront purchase cost. We think halving VAT… would put about 250,000 EVs on the road.” Another Government investment requested by many in the industry is a strong commitment to investment in public EV charging points. Mr Hawes asked: “If I'm going to invest in one of these vehicles, can I be sure wherever I go, I'm going to be able to charge it? “If you live at home with a driveway, that's fabulous. But if you don't, you live in an apartment, a flat, or a terraced house, and you don't have that dedicated space, you're at the mercy of public charging. That needs to accelerate. Its getting better, but it needs to accelerate.” Mr Hawes also had an eye on the general election. He said the next Government, whatever its colour, would need to reiterate its support for the automotive sector - and should work to build trade relationships with the major markets on which it depends. And he said the Government also needed to offer support on regulations and red tape, particularly as the UK diverged from Europe following Brexit. He said: “We're a very highly-regulated sector. Consumers don't see this necessarily because they only see the vehicle, but to put a vehicle on the road there is a huge amount of complicated regulation you must meet. “What we don't want to see is UK regulation differing from other international regulatory frameworks.” He added that the SMMT’s request was for the Government to “have an industrial strategy which supports manufacturing in terms of competitiveness, energy costs, skills, and obviously a strong market.” Simon Reid, assistant director for business growth at Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, said the city region and its surroundings, including Ellesmere Port, was an “epicentre of automotive manufacturing”. He said: “It’s in our interest to make sure the automotive sector sees growth because it’s high quality jobs, very productive, and secures our economic growth for the next 15/20 years.” JLR, formerly Jaguar Land Rover, announced last year that Halewood was to become the group’s first all-electric plant under the group’s £15bn Reimagine strategy to “reposition the company as an electric-first, modern luxury carmaker by 2030”. The plant is now undergoing an investment programme so it can start building a new all-electric mid-sized Range Rover that is set to go on the market next year. JLR has also confirmed that Halewood will then also build another electric vehicle based on the same EMA platform. Trevor Leeks, operations director at JLR Halewood, said investment at Halewood over the past 18 months included a new body shop, and improvements to its Body Construction centre that will see robots used to automate the fixing of doors onto vehicles. He added: “Vehicles have got larger, so we've had to make modifications in our paint shop. Last year we had to cut 1.5 metres of ovens down the middle and extend them by a metre because the cars are getting bigger.” Meanwhile thousands of employees across the group are being trained in electrification. Mr Leeks said: “The building work is coming to an end. The installation and commissioning is where we're at at the moment - which is the exciting part of launching new vehicles.” He added: “We’re starting to build some of the early builds this year, and training our employees - there’s lots of training hours going in - getting ready for the full launch next year.” Some 4,500 people work at Halewood, with 3,500 employed directly by JLR and another 1,000 employed through partners such as DHL. Mr Leeks says the EV investment at Halewood is good news for their long-term future. He said: “We celebrated 60 years of manufacturing last year. There's been a huge investment for these new products that are coming over the next few years. So we’re very positive about the future of JLR and Halewood in particular.” Ford is investing a total of £355m in its Halewood plant to get it fit for the electric vehicle future. The company said Halewood was “integral” to its global transition to electric vehicles. Halewood will build the electric vehicle propulsion systems that replace the engines and transmission systems used in traditional ICE vehicles. Ford Halewood’s plant manager Lee Meyers told BusinessLive the site’s transition team had recently passed the million-hour landmark in their work - and that there was still more work to go both physically and in terms of training the site’s 600 staff. He said: “We're at the commissioning phase and trial run phase now, so there are some really interesting things to see. “We've transferred a lot of our skills, where we had significant expertise around gear machining and so on, but we also had a steep learning curve around things associated with the electric motors. For example, we've got welding processes that take 0.7 of a millisecond! “So it's really a significant upskilling, but the team have been fantastic in terms of their adaptability.” The Stellantis plant at Ellesmere Port may sit just outside Liverpool city region’s boundaries but has drawn many of its employees from Merseyside since it opened 60 years ago this month. Stellantis owns a panoply of global brands, from Alfa Romeo and Maserati to Chrysler and Vauxhall. Its Cheshire site was best known for its giant sign saying Vauxhall Ellesmere Port - Home of the Astra. Now there’s another sign - Electrifying Britain. Stellantis Ellesmere Port is now the UK’s biggest plant dedicated entirely to electric vehicles, with more than 1,000 people working onsite, and plant director Diane Miller said the group had invested £100m in its transformation. She told the automotive leaders that this is a “pivotal moment in automotive industry and we need to make a difference”. And she told them: “As industry leaders we have the power and responsibility to lead this change”. Ellesmere Port now focuses on electric cars and vans, including the Vauxhall Combo-e Life and Citroën e-Berlingo. The transformation has even included reducing the plant’s physical footprint to make it more efficient - the site’s bodyshop was moved to a space a fifth the size of its original home. Stellantis has also made a point of reusing and reallocating equipment from across the group, rather than scrapping or buying afresh - Ms Miller said one of Ellesmere Port’s injection moulding machines came from a plant in Serbia. The luxury car market is also looking to become more sustainable - as shown by the transformation project underway at Bentley, in Crewe. Andreas Lehe, board member for manufacturing at Bentley, said: “The original Bentley boys were pioneers and leaders”. And he said he wanted Bentley to be the “world benchmark for luxury cars”, and to become a leader in sustainable luxury mobility. Mr Lehe - who joked: “I’m an engineer, I like processes, so let’s go through step by step”., talked the conference through the company’s road map to decarbonisation, which was launched in 2011. In the past decade, Bentley has helped cut the amount of waste going to landfill by 99%, and by using rainwater harvesting has been able to cut water use by 69%. Bentley is spending £300m over 5 years in transforming the plant - including the creation of its multicoloured “dream factory” paint shop. Later, Mr Lehe was asked about how companies such as Bentley could balance the push towards electric vehicles with continuing demand in some parts of the world for ICE vehicles. He said the group would retain the flexibility to produce electric and ICE cars. And he added: ““In the luxury sector you could not force people in a direction (to buy electric cars) because they do not like to be forced. They like to make a decision.” It’s not just passenger vehicles that are going electric - lorries and commercial vehicles will also need to evolve. Peter Ahrens, managing director of Lancashire’s Leyland Trucks, said the industry was starting its move away from traditional ICE vehicles, looking at electric power and alternative fuel sources. He said: “One thing that is for certain is that we will not have the one-size fits all route we have seen with diesel engines” He said ICE enghones would continue to exist, becoming cleaner and more efficient, while smaller vans could switch to hybrid engines. Biofuels and other alternative fuels could become more widespread, with Government support, but Mr Ahrens said battery electric vehicles (BEV) would be “dominant” in the medium term. Even for that to happen, he said, there would need to be more investment in more public electric charging infrastructure. Leyaland is now part of US group Paccar, which Mr Ahrens proudly said had delivered annual profits for 85 consecutive years. Last year the Paccar group delivered more than 200,000 truck globally. Mr Ahrens said: “Paccar believes in BEV solutions and we will continue to invest”. But he said the group was also investing in the development of other technologies, adding: “We have proven that hydrogen combustion engines work”. Mr Ahrens ended with a series of “calls to action” to suppliers and partners in the industry. He urged suppliers to do their bit in greening the industry, and said: “I cannot produce a carbon neutral lorry without all of you producing carbon neutral parts”. The most high-profile automotive firms in the North West are the big brands such as JLR and Vauxhall. But those firms could not operate without a network of suppliers and logistics firms, large and small. The second session of the conference featured speakers two key partner businesses alongside Mr Leeks from JLR and Mr Meyers from Ford. Paul Cross, senior business development director - auto-mobility at DHL, talked about his company’s work in the automotive ecosystem in areas from just in time delivery to specialist battery storage. The company has facilities at Liverpool docks, and also has a facility at Skelmersdale that it is looking to develop into “the next EV centre of excellence”. Adient makes seats for car manufacturers including Nissan and Toyota, with dedicated factories near those firms’ UK manufacturing sites. Its Liverpool site supplies JLR’s Halewood complex. Steve Semple, Adient platform director for JLR, Nissan and Toyota, explained his company's ongoing work to improve its environmental performance - including cutting energy and water use at its Liverpool site. He said Adient engineers were also working to make seats greener, such as looking to use more recycled metals and discovering new ways to recycle or reuse foam. The Sinclair C5 was on show on a stand run by Forteq, which made plastic parts for the vehiocle and has remained one of the leading global parts suppliers to the automotive sector. Earlier in the day, SMMT CEO Mike Hawes laughed when asked whether the C5 and its high-profile failure had set back the development of EVs. “It was before my time,” he smiled. “You can always go back and look at history - look at some of the old editions of Tomorrow's World, and what we were going to be doing in the future. Some of it was quite prescient, other ideas were just cul de sacs.” It has taken some time for EVs to go mainstream. But now they have, and North West manufacturers are leading the way. Mr Haews said: “Electric vehicles, even going back 20 years, were very limited in range, very small, one or two seats. Whereas now, just about any vehicle segment you can think of, including heavy-duty trucks, is electrifying. And it shows you how fast the technology has been advancing. And it will still get better.”
2025-08-06 03:36:35
5 Creative Ways to Leverage ChatGPT for Your New Year’s Goals
As the calendar turns to a new year, many of us set grand intentions for self-improvement – but, as history often proves, those resolutions can fizzle out before long. Whether your ambitions include adopting healthier habits, saving more money, or finally tackling the monumental task of reading War and Peace, ChatGPT can be your ultimate companion in staying focused and motivated. From refining your goals to overcoming obstacles along the way, this AI-powered tool is here to provide you with guidance, support, and even the occasional reality check when your goals start to veer off course (like when you try to justify "eating cake for breakfast" as a healthy fruit substitute). Here are five innovative and fun ways you can make ChatGPT your secret weapon in achieving your 2025 goals. 1. Tailor-Made Resolutions Crafting resolutions that speak to your passions is the key to maintaining motivation. ChatGPT shines when it comes to helping you think outside the box and come up with unique goals that suit your personal interests. Forget the usual clichés like "lose weight" or "spend less." Instead, share your hobbies, such as photography, travel, or acquiring new skills, and ChatGPT will help you develop resolutions like starting a daily photo journal, learning to greet people in multiple languages, or unearthing hidden gems in your local area. For instance, imagine telling ChatGPT about your love for photography or your desire to explore new cultures. The AI might suggest a resolution like taking one photo a day to build a digital yearbook, or challenging yourself to learn how to say "hello" in 52 different languages. These kinds of personalized resolutions are more likely to keep you motivated for the long haul. However, beware of setting conflicting goals—like vowing to be a better baker while also committing to a fitness regimen. If you're not careful, you might find yourself baking a cake every day! But with personalized goals, you're more likely to stay engaged and see it through. 2. Step-by-Step Action Plans Large, ambitious goals can feel daunting and difficult to navigate. ChatGPT is great at breaking them down into bite-sized, actionable steps. Suppose your resolution is to write a novel. ChatGPT can suggest a structured timeline, such as spending January outlining your story, dedicating the next six months to writing 500 words daily, and wrapping up the year with editing and feedback from beta readers. A clear, actionable plan like this makes what seemed impossible much more achievable. However, be cautious about overloading yourself. Trying to learn Spanish, write a novel, train for a marathon, and start a side business all at once can quickly become overwhelming. While ChatGPT will happily provide plans for each of these endeavors, by March, you might find yourself juggling too many projects—none of them getting the attention they need. 3. Your Personal Accountability Partner Sometimes, sticking to your resolutions requires an external nudge. ChatGPT can act as your personal accountability buddy, offering a judgment-free space to track progress and setbacks. Instead of sharing your goals with family or friends, where it might feel awkward, you can confide in ChatGPT and receive constant support. You can proudly share milestones—like sticking to your workout routine—and ChatGPT will celebrate your achievements, offering praise and motivation. If you fall short of your goals, the AI will provide gentle suggestions to help you get back on track. However, keep in mind that ChatGPT doesn’t always catch sarcasm or self-deprecating humor. Telling it you ate an entire box of donuts and asking if it's "carb-loading" for a run might prompt concern rather than the laughter you're hoping for. 4. Overcoming Roadblocks Challenges are inevitable when working toward any goal, and this is where ChatGPT can shine. When you're stuck or facing obstacles, simply explaining your issue to the AI can lead to tailored, practical solutions. For instance, if evening workouts aren’t happening due to fatigue, ChatGPT might suggest switching to morning sessions, shortening your workout time, or even finding a workout buddy for extra motivation. The AI's flexibility and personalized advice can help you adjust and move past roadblocks. Just remember—honesty is key. If you're making excuses (like claiming that a walk to the ice cream shop counts as cardio), ChatGPT will see right through it. 5. Celebrating Wins with AI When you reach your milestones, ChatGPT is excellent at helping you recognize your achievements and plan meaningful rewards. It acts like a personal cheerleader, offering suggestions to keep the momentum going. For instance, if you’ve been consistently meditating each day, ChatGPT might recommend treating yourself to a relaxing spa day, upgrading to a premium meditation app, or even sharing your journey with others to inspire them. While you still provide the prompts, these external reminders of your progress can feel more fulfilling, adding an extra layer of motivation to keep you moving forward.
2025-08-29 05:10:42
The Future of 5G: What to Expect in the Coming Years
The rollout of 5G networks has been one of the most highly anticipated technological advancements in recent years. With promises of faster internet speeds and improved connectivity, 5G is expected to revolutionize everything from mobile devices to autonomous vehicles. But what exactly does the future hold for 5G? 1. Speed and Connectivity One of the most talked-about features of 5G is its ability to offer faster data speeds than 4G. This enhanced speed will enable everything from faster download speeds to high-quality streaming without buffering. Additionally, the reduced latency of 5G will allow for quicker communication between devices, opening doors for applications in real-time systems like remote surgery and industrial automation. 2. Impact on IoT The Internet of Things (IoT) is set to benefit significantly from 5G’s high-speed and low-latency capabilities. With more devices being connected to the internet, 5G will provide the bandwidth necessary to support the massive influx of data these devices generate. This will result in smarter homes, cities, and industries, where devices can communicate with each other seamlessly. 3. Autonomous Vehicles Autonomous vehicles rely on constant communication with other cars and infrastructure to ensure safety. 5G’s ultra-low latency will make this communication more reliable, helping self-driving cars navigate through busy streets more effectively. Expect to see faster, safer, and more efficient transportation systems in the coming years. 4. Challenges Ahead Despite the benefits, there are challenges to overcome with 5G. The infrastructure needed to support 5G networks is complex and costly to build. Additionally, privacy and security concerns related to the massive data flow in 5G networks will need to be addressed to ensure safe and secure use. Conclusion: The future of 5G is bright, with endless possibilities on the horizon. While challenges remain, 5G will likely play a central role in transforming the digital landscape over the next few years.
2025-08-29 19:31:37
Strengthening Community Cyber Defenses through Education
As part of our commitment to Cybersecurity Awareness Week at JPMorganChase, we organized a variety of interactive community events aimed at educating both young people and older adults on the essential aspects of cybersecurity, ensuring their digital safety. Read on to discover the significance of these initiatives in bolstering the cyber resilience of the communities we support. Fueling Cyber Enthusiasm at Global Impact Academy By Candice Biamby and London Murray, Product Security Marking Cybersecurity Awareness Week, the cybersecurity team from Atlanta Tech Center collaborated with the External Community Engagement initiative to stimulate interest in cybersecurity among students at Global Impact Academy (GIA) STEM Magnet High School in Fairburn, GA. With 588 talented students from grades 9-12, GIA offers a range of career paths in advanced mathematics, science, engineering, biotechnology, cybersecurity, game design, computer science, and beyond. This half-day event included presentations from JPMorganChase’s Cybersecurity and Technology Controls staff, who shared their personal experiences and the diverse career opportunities available in the cybersecurity sector. Students engaged in interactive breakout sessions that covered various aspects of cybersecurity, such as security engineering, governance, risk management, and compliance, and cyber operations. The event was a fantastic opportunity to engage with future STEM leaders. The students at GIA asked thought-provoking questions and demonstrated impressive knowledge. Our team relished the dynamic discussions, particularly the lively exchange when students shared their experiences with AI, which led to a mix of curiosity, admissions, and laughter. The students' passion and curiosity are a promising sign for the future of cybersecurity, making a fitting conclusion to our Cybersecurity Awareness Week at JPMorganChase. Enhancing Digital Safety for Youth and Elders By Sesh Subramanyan and Venkat Melam, Cybersecurity and Technology Controls Cybersecurity Awareness Week was a nationwide initiative in India, featuring a range of community engagement events focused on cybersecurity. These events included quizzes, puzzles, and awareness sessions for children and seniors from employee families, with over 200 participants. The goal was to increase understanding of cybersecurity and encourage secure online behavior. The 'CyberKids' session, for children aged 12-16, covered essential topics such as secure browsing, recognizing online threats, and safeguarding personal data. Meanwhile, the 'CyberSeniors' session targeted older family members, offering practical advice on online security, scam identification, and protecting one's digital identity. These sessions provided critical knowledge about online risks, including cyberbullying and phishing, helping families to establish a secure digital environment. Given the increasing cyber threats targeting the young and elderly, such awareness sessions are vital for safeguarding our loved ones. The foundation of cybersecurity lies within the home.
2025-08-12 04:14:11
Understanding Provisional Credit: How It Helps You While Your Dispute Is Investigated
When a disputed charge affects your bank account, provisional credits can temporarily restore your balance, offering immediate relief as the bank investigates the issue. Have you ever found a questionable transaction on your account and noticed a "provisional" credit appearing in its place? This deposit typically matches the amount of the disputed charge, but it’s not permanent until the investigation is complete. Let’s explore what provisional credits are and how they can impact your finances. What Exactly Is Provisional Credit? A provisional credit is a temporary deposit made by your bank to your account while they look into a disputed or potentially fraudulent charge. For instance, if you spot a $1,200 debit on your account that you didn’t authorize, once you notify your bank, they may issue a provisional credit for the same amount. This credit is meant to hold your place while the bank investigates the validity of the charge. It’s important to remember that this provisional amount is not final. If the investigation finds the charge to be fraudulent, you keep the provisional funds. However, if the charge is legitimate, the provisional credit will be reversed, and the amount will be deducted from your account. Why Do Banks Use Provisional Credits? A sudden, unexpected charge—especially a large one—can severely impact your ability to manage everyday expenses. Provisional credits aim to bridge this gap, ensuring that you’re not left in a financial bind while your dispute is being resolved. The investigation process may take several days to weeks, depending on the complexity of the case. During this period, the bank issues a provisional credit equivalent to the disputed charge as a placeholder for the actual funds. Most commonly, provisional credits are issued when there is suspected fraud, but they can also apply when merchants make billing errors, such as charging you for a subscription you canceled or double-billing you for a single purchase. How Do Provisional Credits Function? The process begins when you report the unauthorized transaction to your bank. Typically, the bank has 10 days to investigate the issue, although more complex cases can extend this timeline. In such cases, the bank will apply a provisional credit to your account while they continue reviewing the transaction. During the investigation, the bank will assess the details of the transaction, gathering evidence from both the merchant and the account holder. After the review, they will make a determination about the legitimacy of the charge. The provisional credit is temporary and lasts only as long as the investigation. If the dispute is upheld, the provisional credit becomes permanent. However, if the charge is verified as valid, the provisional credit will be reversed. While the provisional credit is active, you can use the funds. However, it’s wise to keep some extra funds in your account in case the credit is reversed and you need to cover the disputed amount. This process ensures that while the investigation is ongoing, you’re not left without the financial support you need to manage your account effectively. But always be cautious, as provisional credits can be withdrawn if the dispute is resolved against you.
2025-08-13 23:52:10
Is the North East on the cusp of achieving the world's first circular supply chain for EV batteries?
A rather barren-looking former cement works site, nestled in the otherwise beautiful surroundings of Weardale, County Durham, is a critical part of what could be the world’s first entirely circular electric vehicle (EV) production cluster. The Eastgate works was demolished more than 20 years ago, but it is where Weardale Lithium has recently secured planning permission to build the country’s first lithium extraction facility. It hopes to take underground water - known as ‘geothermal brines’ - from beneath the North Pennines, before processing it to get lithium, a soft silvery metal which is ideally suited for use in batteries. The UK is estimated to need 15,000 tonnes of the stuff each year to feed the EV industry. Stewart Dickson is the former investment banker and mining expert who leads the business, which has already used grant funding from the Government’s Automotive Transformation Fund to complete trials of its technology. The company says that work has been highly successful, and it is now pressing ahead with multimillion-pound plans to build a demonstration plant next to nearby boreholes - where it will produce battery grade lithium carbonate on-site. Only 50 miles away on Teesside (“next door” in the minerals world), London Stock Exchange-listed company Alkemy Capital Investments is hoping to develop what it says is Europe’s largest low-carbon, lithium refinery. It hopes that facility can produce 15% of the continent’s requirements of lithium hydroxide - the next stage in the battery and EV supply chain. Lithium carbonate is the feedstock for that process and while not all of the Weardale-derived compound will go to Teesside, the two firms are already working together to create a supply chain. With these two projects set up, North East lithium can then be taken to AESC’s gigafactories in Sunderland, made into batteries which are then put into vehicles at the nearby Nissan plant, before lithium is extracted from end-of-life batteries by Altilium Metals - which has been working in the region and has plans to build a facility on Teesside. Newcastle’s Connected Energy is also pioneering the use of second life batteries for storage systems. Colin Herron, a prominent voice in the electric vehicle industry and heavily involved in the Faraday Institution, is energised by the possibilities - and says an all-encompassing industry in the North East is possible within two years, pending commercial agreements coming to fruition. “We can present to the world - and we are - that this region is utterly unique in being able to do this,” Mr Herron says, having taken that message to trade shows as far afield as the US and Japan. “You’ve only got to go from Stanhope, up to Newcastle and across to Teesside - that’s it. That triangle there will have absolutely everything in it, including the car manufacturer and the battery manufacturer.” In Weardale, the brines are said to be low in impurities - a factor that has excited US science and tech giant KBR, which is providing the technology licensing and proprietary engineering design for the County Durham plant. KBR’s involvement is seen as a coup for Weardale, meaning it can offer a one-stop-shop solution for turning brines into lithium carbonate - a rarity in the market. The $7bn revenue operator - which has a hand in everything from fertiliser projects in Angola to engineering for NASA satellites - brings capabilities to the project that Weardale’s nascent competitors do not have. You have to travel about 450 miles south, to Cornwall, to find the competition. Here Cornish Lithium and GEL are looking to do similar things, though Weardale’s operation is said to be larger and already has a march on the planning front. Mr Dickson expects the project to break ground this year with the first lithium carbonate emerging from the site next year. “It’s a very fast-paced development, but we think the project merits that. I’m sure it won’t be a straight road because what we’re doing is innovative and it's new. So, we’ll have to be agile along that journey. It’s very much a scaled, stepwise approach.” The undertaking is an enormous one, and requires sizable investment. The recent planning success has provided a boost, giving more surety to potential backers. In 2023, Cornish Lithium secured £24m of backing from the UK Infrastructure Bank - now the National Wealth Fund - and while Mr Dickson says such investment in the Eastgate plant is unlikely at this stage, there are conversations taking place that he hopes will pave the way for future injections. There are frustrations though - and Mr Dickson says this Government and the last have so far “not adequately resourced policy” around batteries and UK critical minerals. With key minerals such as lithium shaping up to become the “next economic battlefield” in a more geopolitically precarious world, Weardale’s home-grown approach comes with compelling national security and capital efficiency selling points. And it’s not only money needed to get the project off the ground. Skills are another urgent demand. Weardale has talked of its commitment to hiring locally, but admits that at least some of the jobs will be recruited globally. “Isn’t that exciting?” says Mr Dickson, who sees the challenge as a positive one. “New science, technology and engineering, green jobs that are ready for future-facing businesses. "But, that brings with it a new set of challenges. We’ve already done the preliminary scoping of the number of jobs that we’ll need and the roles, and we have an ambition to hire locally. That will require some upskilling of people already in the labour force and also new skills for people coming into the labour force.
2025-08-19 12:40:49
5 Ways AI Will Revolutionize Data Centers Forever
The expansion of data center infrastructure over the last decade has been driven by an increasing demand for distributed services and coordinated multi-site deployments aimed at eliminating downtime and providing failover contingency. However, with the rise of AI, data centers are set for a transformative shift in both the technology they deploy and how they are structured. This transformation is poised to be both vast and significant, affecting everything from the design of data centers to their location, which will be heavily influenced by environmental factors. So, what does the future hold for data centers, and how will they differ from the hyper-scale model we are familiar with today? 1. Massive Growth Ahead Even without AI, data center growth and power consumption were already expected to surge in 2024. In 2022, data centers consumed 460 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity, accounting for 2% of global electricity usage. By 2023, this grew by 55%, reaching 7.4 GW. With the rise of hyperscale, AI, and crypto data centers, power demand is expected to increase by 160% by 2030, potentially making up nearly 4% of the world’s total electricity consumption. While AI isn’t the only factor driving this growth, it is certainly accelerating the scale and number of data centers needed. AI data centers differ from conventional hyper-scale environments primarily in their power demands. While storage needs are similar, the compute power required for AI is significantly higher. As a result, AI data centers will need careful planning around power access, heat management, and local environmental impact. In the U.S., which has ample space to build data centers away from urban centers, the AI revolution may be more manageable. However, without a unified power strategy like that found in Europe, reliable power supply remains a challenge. As a result, issues surrounding location, power, and thermal management could slow the speed of this transformation. The key to success will lie in sites with access to renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydropower, as well as the right infrastructure for mitigating heat. 2. The Emergence of New Data Center Types Traditional cloud data centers often mixed storage and localized processing to serve data to client-facing platforms. These facilities were generally homogeneous in terms of services offered and scalability, often adding unused racks or larger drives to increase capacity. However, AI data centers are set to be much more specialized and complex. Depending on the model they host—whether generative or predictive networks—optimization for specific workloads will be key. These data centers will likely have two distinct functions: development environments, where AI models are created and refined, and deployment hubs, where these models are put to work. Development AI data centers can be located anywhere in the world and may even be disconnected from the internet for security reasons. On the other hand, deployment AI data centers need to be closer to the point of service, particularly when latency is a factor. For example, a real-time AI model used to manage traffic would need to process data from vehicles quickly, making a local deployment necessary to avoid excessive latency. While not all AI deployments are time-sensitive, the need for low-latency, localized data centers will drive demand for more specific, smaller installations. 3. Superior Thermal Management The electricity consumed by hyper-scale data centers is becoming a growing concern for climate scientists, and AI is expected to further intensify this issue by converting more energy into heat. AI could help manage data center power use by adjusting operations based on local weather conditions, reducing reliance on air conditioning in hot summer months. AI-driven data centers will also need to be built with thermal management in mind. This could involve using natural heat sinks like solid rock or taking advantage of cooler northern (or southern) latitudes. In some cases, excess heat could even be repurposed to benefit nearby communities, much like how geothermal energy is harnessed in Iceland. Gone will be the days of air-cooled data centers. As AI brings increased rack densities, new facilities are likely to use liquid cooling to handle the added thermal load. Every data center will need a detailed thermal emissions plan to avoid making poor environmental decisions, such as venting hot air into already hot regions. 4. Minimal Headroom Operations AI data centers are incredibly capital-intensive, so it’s crucial to maximize their efficiency to get the full return on investment. Much like the just-in-time manufacturing model, the goal is to minimize waste and optimize performance. In the past, unused capacity in a data center was considered a selling point; with AI, however, the opposite is true. Operating at maximum capacity for extended periods will lead to higher temperatures and voltages, so cooling and electrical systems will need regular assessments and enhancements. Additionally, with AI’s increased need for power and water, facilities will need significant investment to meet these demands. The growing complexity of maintaining such high-efficiency operations will require a local engineering workforce, available around the clock. The days of unmanned data centers, managed remotely by engineers from far away, are numbered. Like the rigorous maintenance schedules in the airline industry, AI data centers will require constant attention to ensure optimal long-term operation. 5. AI Running AI The final irony of AI data centers is that while engineers today are designing these advanced facilities, future data centers will likely be designed by AI itself. AI will adapt and optimize the data center infrastructure based on workload demands, managing power, heat, and service delivery with minimal human intervention. AI will also play a crucial role in security, continuously monitoring for physical or network intrusions and adjusting defense systems in real-time. Unlike conventional antivirus software, which relies on pattern-matching, AI will use data from various sensors, network traffic, and video surveillance to maintain an adaptive, always-on defensive posture. While this may seem like a step toward a dystopian future, the role of AI in running data centers will ultimately depend on how much control human engineers retain. The evolution of data centers driven by AI will redefine the way these vital systems operate and serve the world.
2025-08-12 04:41:33
Unlocking Europe's Future: The Trillion-Euro Investment Challenge
2025-08-19 08:06:24
Google TV Adds Even More Free Channels for the Holiday Season
2025-08-16 11:46:17
Yara confirms Howden fertiliser plant is on track for production next year amid Hull closure
2025-08-27 05:27:45
Samsung Teams Up with Instacart to Revolutionize Grocery Shopping with AI-Powered Fridges
2025-08-24 11:21:52
AI in 2025: What's Next for ChatGPT, Apple Intelligence, and More
2025-08-25 11:16:46
Microsoft Rejects Proposal to Add Bitcoin to Its Corporate Reserves
2025-08-03 00:08:34
Harland and Wolff: Titanic shipbuilder calls in administrators and jobs to be cut
2025-08-23 07:29:24
Mastering Financial Goal Setting: A Blueprint for Your Financial Future
2025-08-16 00:03:39