Technology

• There's an upgrade to the 70mai Omni dash cam, delivering 4K / 60p video support
• The main camera can rotate 360-degrees for road or cabin views
• It can be paired with a 1080p rear camera for dual channel recording
• Prices start at $279.99 / £268

70mai has unveiled the Omni 4K dash cam, a next-gen upgrade of the world's first 360-degree dash cam, and it delivers a host of meaningful improvements. Chief among them is 4K / 60p video support – that's a big jump from the original Omni's 1080p recording.

There's also a new 1080p rear camera, meaning support for dual-channel recording, although with both cameras in action the front rotating camera's recording capabilities drop to 4K / 30p.

We loved the original model and awarded it 4-stars in our 70mai Omni Dash cam review. That model currently sits in our best dash cams guide, although we fully expect it to be replaced by this latest 4K upgrade when our in-depth review is complete, coming soon.

Price-wise, the 70mai Omni 4K Dash Cam starts at $279.99 / £268 for the front camera alone, while a bundle that also includes the rear cam, hard wiring kit and 256GB micro SD memory card will cost $406 / £389. Sales are set for March, with a specific date TBC. We'll update this page with Australia pricing and availability when we get it.

The main camera can rotate 360-degrees, enabling you to choose between road or cabin recording. It's not a twin camera that sees road and cabin simultaneously. (Image credit: 70mai) A pricier, comprehensive dash cam upgrade

That boost in video resolution and frame rates is the headline new feature in 70mai's new rotating dash cam. At the time of writing, the Viofo A329 is the only other dash cam to offer 4K / 60p video for highly detailed and smooth recording, effectively doubling your chances of clear capture should an incident occur, and we called that dash cam a 'premium performer in our 5-star A329 review back in October. We expect similar performance from the 70mai Omni 4K Dash Cam.

You can now also hard wire it with a 1080p rear camera for dual channel recording, meaning your front and rear views are both covered, although that's a pricier package. The main camera's 360-degree capabilities are its party piece, although it's important to note that it's a single camera that can rotate 360-degrees for road or cabin coverage, not both at the same time. You have to choose whether you want your journey covered, or your in-car karaoke sessions, now with a slightly reduced 130-degree field-of-view to the original's 140-degree FOV!

Still, the rotating camera has some neat features. When in parking mode, it can track nearby objects as they move around the car, such as a person that's taken an interest in your vehicle, and any potential bumps from other vehicles, powered by 70mai's new AI Motion Detection 2.0.

70mai has swapped out the Omnivision OV02K sensor of the original model for the popular Sony Starvis 2 sensor. It's not clear how the sensors compare, though I did a little research to discover they share the same 2.9 µm pixel size and potentially similar low light performance. 70mai has its own Night Owl vision feature to improve night-time clarity, reducing noise and glare, plus Lumi Vision tech for visibility in near-total darkness.

Other shared features include Wi-Fi 6 5GHz and 4G support for mobile app connectivity, streaming and recording downloads, plus built-in GPS and ADAS support for the likes of pedestrian detection, lane departure alerts and forward collision warnings.

Battery life should however be better in the new 4K model thanks to a new supercapacitor unit versus the original 300mAh lith-ion cell. The main camera's screen size has been increased too, from 1.2 to 1.4-inches. You can discover more about the Omni 4K Dash Cam at 70mai's website. All in all, this is a comprehensive if pricier upgrade, and we'll share our full verdict very soon – trust us, this is one to look out for.

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• Leaked pictures of Google Pixel 9a cases show the four colors we'll reportedly see the phone in
• These cases also further suggest the Pixel 9a will have a redesigned camera block
• We should know how accurate these images are soon, as the Pixel 9a will reportedly launch on March 19

There’s just over a month until the rumored March 19 launch date of the Google Pixel 9a comes around, and as is so often the case with phones, most of the details have already leaked. However, while we’d previously heard a list of the colors the Google Pixel 9a might be sold in, we hadn’t actually seen most of those... until today.

Android Authority has shared pictures of what it claims are official Google Pixel 9a cases, which it obtained from “a source inside Google”, and the images show cases in four shades, matching the colors we’re expecting the Pixel 9a itself to be sold in.

The shades in question are Porcelain (white), Obsidian (black), Peony (pink), and Iris (purple), so as well as giving us a look at these colors, this leak is further evidence that these are the colors we’ll see.

(Image credit: Android Authority)

It’s worth noting though that according to a previous rumor, only the 128GB model of the Pixel 9a will be sold in all four of these shades, with the 256GB one apparently only set to be available in Obsidian and Iris – at least in some regions.

No more raised cameras

In any case, colors aside there’s not too much to say about these cases, as the design of the Pixel 9a itself has already leaked numerous times.

Still, these cases match up with what we’ve seen, including a flat cut-out for the camera lenses, suggesting that the raised camera bar from other recent Pixel phones will be absent here.

It’s a design that we’re not entirely sold on, but perhaps it will look better in the flesh. We should find out soon if the rumored March 19 launch date is accurate, but don’t be surprised if there’s a final flurry of leaks and rumors ahead of that.

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• Marvel Rivals Season 1.5 has a release date and will add Human Torch and The Thing
• NetEase Games has reversed its decision to implement a rank reset mid-season
• The U-turn comes after "a wealth of feedback from the community"

NetEase Games has announced Marvel Rivals Season 1.5 will be released on February 21, 2025.

The studio shared the news via the latest Dev Talk blog post, where it also confirmed that the remaining members of The Fantastic Four, Human Torch and The Thing, will be added to the roster in the mid-season update, joining Mister Fantastic and Invisible Woman who were added in the first half of Season 1.

No details were shared about the heroes' abilities in this post, but we do know that "some major balance adjustments" will also be introduced, which are "expected to shake up the battlefield during the second half of Season 1."

The post also announced that competitive ranks will be reset with this update, however, following player feedback online, NetEase has now walked back this decision.

"After the release of Dev Talk 10 regarding the seasonal rank adjustment, we received a wealth of feedback from the community," NetEase said.

"A common concern was the pressure associated with having a rank reset every half-season, which has made participating in competitive mode less enjoyable. In light of the community's input, we have decided to make some changes to optimize the rank system."

Thank you for all your passionate discussions and feedback. There wil be NO RANK RESET when the second half of the season begins! Check out the details here! https://t.co/zM4IWsVRw0 #marvelrivals pic.twitter.com/7Cpn3aiwUxFebruary 11, 2025

Instead of a rank reset, players will retain their ranks and scores from the end of the first half of Season 1. To earn new rewards, players will need to complete 10 matches in Competitive mode and meet the relevant conditions by the end of the season.

In addition, when the first half of Season 1 ends, players at Gold rank will receive costume rewards, along with new Crests of Honor, which will recognize players at Grandmaster, Celestial, Eternity, and One Above All (the top 500), each with its own unique design to showcase the players' skill level.

"We strive to make Marvel Rivals the best game it can be, and the community is the driving force behind this mission," NetEase said, adding that more details about Season 1.5 will arrive soon.

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Microsoft has ditched an online document that was ostensibly about catering for those wanting to uninstall the Edge browser, but in actual fact, was an attempt to dissuade those thinking of removing the app to stick with it.

We reported on the ‘uninstall document’ last week, which came in the form of a web page that, from search results, looked like it pertained to removing Edge from your PC.

However, when actually navigating to the page, it turned out that the document was all about comparing Edge to Google Chrome, and extolling the virtues of the former.

When this hit the headlines, there were a fair few people left unimpressed by this heavy-handed attempt at persuasion – unsurprisingly – and so now Microsoft has canned the web page, as Windows Latest noticed.

When you try to visit this page now, you’re redirected to Microsoft’s Edge portal, which is still all about promoting the benefits of the browser – but without any pretence that this might help you remove Edge (and no mention of Chrome anywhere, either, it should be noted).

(Image credit: Microsoft) Analysis: A misleading tactic that needed to be canned

As you’re likely aware, Microsoft has a long history of prodding folks to use Edge, dating back to, well, the inception of the browser. The Windows operating system has long played host to various nudges, or outright adverts, pushing Edge, so it’s not exactly a surprise to see Microsoft having tried yet another angle on persuasion.

The misleading nature of the search result, compared to the contents of the web page (when it was still active), was the real problem here – and I’m not surprised Microsoft has quickly dropped this one.

What made it worse was the lure of clicking through to ‘uninstall Edge’ when for most folks (outside of Europe), there’s no official way to completely remove the browser from a Windows 11 installation. That’s because other bits of the operating system rely on code within Edge, or this is Microsoft’s stance on the matter, anyway.

You can delete all the shortcuts and so on to the browser, and ignore it, but you can’t actually remove the app as such. It’ll still be sat there lurking in the background. (Furthermore, I should clarify, you can try to ignore it, but it’ll pop up again and again with some regularity in the form of suggestions in various parts of Windows that you should be using Edge, and to make it your default browser).

One of the more frustrating elements about all this is that Edge is a genuinely good product – it tops our list of the best web browsers, in fact – but with constant attempts to promote it, Microsoft is more likely to drive folks away from the app, not into the fold.

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• Elon Musk and other investors offer to buy OpenAI for $97.4 billion
• OpenAI CEO Sam Altman hits back with $9.74 billion X valuation
• Others have criticized OpenAI’s plans

A group of investors led by Elon Musk has offered $97.4 billion to buy OpenAI’s nonprofit arm - but OpenAI CEO Sam Altman to hit back with a sarcastic bid offer to buy X.

Musk’s lawyer, Mac Toberoff, confirmed he submitted the bid to OpenAI’s board yesterday (via Wall Street Journal), further complicating the relationship between Musk and Altman.

The pressure adds to the already ongoing battle between the two, with Musk accusing OpenAI of betraying its nonprofit mission and partnering up with Microsoft.

Musk offers to buy OpenAI

Altman has set out plans to convert the business into a for-profit operation while splitting a $500 billion investment with the likes of Oracle and Softbank to improve AI infrastructure – something that Musk says neither OpenAI or Project Stargate’s backers can afford to do.

Meta has also complained, in the form of a letter to California’s attorney general, about the for-profit business plans.

“It’s time for OpenAI to return to the open-source, safety-focused force for good it once was,” Musk said in a statement provided by Toberoff.

Altman hastened to share with colleagues on an internal Slack channel: “Our structure ensures that no individual can take control of OpenAI…These are tactics to try and weaken us because we are making great progress.”

The OpenAI CEO also took to X, the Musk-owned social media platform, to post: “no thank you but we will buy twitter for $9.74 billion if you want.” Must replied with “Swindler,” and called his rival “Scam Altman” in another post.

It’s yet to be observed how the negotiations play out, but a possible OpenAI-xAI merger could be on the cards if the bid succeeds – an event that Altman deems highly unlikely.

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• A new study from the BBC says AI chatbots are unable to accurately summarize news
• The study asked ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot, and Perplexity to summarize BBC news articles
• 51% of responses had 'significant issues' and 19% introduced factual errors

A new study from the BBC has found that four of the world's most popular AI chatbots including ChatGPT are inaccurately summarizing news stories.

The BBC asked ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini, and Perplexity to summarize 100 news stories from the news outlet and then rated each answer to determine just how accurate the AI responses were.

The study found that "51% of all AI answers to questions about the news were judged to have significant issues of some form." and "19% of AI answers which cited BBC content introduced factual errors, such as incorrect factual statements, numbers and dates."

The study showcases multiple examples of inaccuracies that showcased differing information to the news it was summarizing. The examples note that "Gemini incorrectly said the NHS did not recommend vaping as an aid to quit smoking" and "ChatGPT and Copilot said Rishi Sunak and Nicola Sturgeon were still in office even after they had left."

Inaccuracies aside, there's another crucial finding. The report found that AI "struggled to differentiate between opinion and fact, editorialised, and often failed to include essential context."

While these results are unsurprising considering how often we see issues with news summarization tools at the moment, including Apple Intelligence's mix-ups that have led Apple to temporarily remove the feature in iOS 18.3, it's a good reminder not to believe everything you read from AI.

Are you surprised?

From the study, the BBC concludes that "Microsoft's Copilot and Google's Gemini had more significant issues than OpenAI's ChatGPT and Perplexity,"

While this research doesn't necessarily give us much more info, it validates the skepticism towards AI summary tools and emphasizes just how important it is to take information from AI chatbots with a pinch of salt. AI is developing rapidly and large language models (LLMs) are released almost weekly at the moment, so it's to be expected that mistakes will happen. That said, from my personal testing I've found inaccuracies and hallucinations to be less frequent now in software like ChatGPT than it was just a few months ago.

Sam Altman said in a blog post yesterday that AI is progressing faster than Moore’s law and that means we'll continue to see constant improvements to software and how it interacts with the world around it. For now, however, it's probably best not to trust AI for your daily news, and if it's tech-based you may as well stick with TechRadar instead.

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• A source has apparently revealed the next MacBook Air’s chip identifier
• This identifier corresponds to Apple’s M4 chip
• The M4 MacBook Air is expected to launch within weeks

All the signs are pointing towards the imminent launch of a new MacBook Air M4 with Apple’s latest M4 chip, and a new clue has just emerged that further cements that idea.

According to MacRumors, a mysterious private account on X (formerly Twitter) recently shared model identifiers for the upcoming MacBook Air. These are the codes that Apple uses to classify its devices and components. In this instance, the source claimed that upcoming models of both the 13-inch MacBook Air and its 15-inch sibling would be equipped with the T8132 chip, which MacRumors believes corresponds to the M4.

MacRumors didn’t share the source, so we’re not able to independently verify what they’ve said. However, there’s been a steady stream of MacBook Air leaks over the past few weeks, with many sources claiming that the laptop will launch soon.

Apple often releases new products in March or April, which could be when we’ll see the M4 MacBook Air.

A modest update?

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

Before you get too excited, this MacBook Air refresh is not expected to be particularly groundbreaking. It’ll get the M4 chip for sure, but there’s precious little else expected. Based on what we’ve seen in the MacBook Pro, the M4 chip will likely bring modest performance improvements rather than anything truly eye-opening.

Apple will almost certainly stick with the same design as the M3 MacBook Air, with its flat edges and slimline chassis. We wouldn’t expect many features from the MacBook Pro to make it across to the MacBook Air either, ruling out new features like the ProMotion dynamic refresh rate and the nano-texture glass option that cuts down on glare and reflections.

However, there could be increased memory bandwidth, which might allow you to connect two external displays without needing to close the laptop’s lid. We also wouldn’t be surprised to see a more efficient Neural Engine to improve artificial intelligence workloads.

If you’ve been considering buying a new MacBook Air, it would be worth holding off just a little longer until the M4 model sees the light of day. Based on the latest news, it looks like that could potentially happen within the next few weeks.

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• Picus Security says the number of attacks against password managers skyrocketed in 2024
• The malware is growing more sophisticated
• Users should deploy MFA with password managers, research suggests

Cybercriminals are increasingly targeting password managers in an attempt to break into various important digital accounts.

Picus Security detailed its findings in the newly-released Red Report 2025, based on an in-depth analysis of more than a million malware variants collected last year, finding a quarter of all malware (25%) targeted credentials in password stores. This, the researchers claim, represents a three-fold increase compared to the year before.

“For the first time ever, stealing credentials from password stores is in the top 10 techniques listed in the MITRE ATT&CK Framework,” they said. “The report reveals that these top 10 techniques accounted for 93% of all malicious actions in 2024.”

Multi-factor authentication

The attackers are using all sorts of sophisticated extraction methods in their attacks, Picus Security co-founder and VP of Picus Labs, Dr. Suleyman Ozarslan said, including memory scraping, registry harvesting, and compromising local and cloud-based password stores.

To tackle the threat, Ozarslan added, it is pivotal people use password managers together with multi-factor authentication (MFA). Furthermore, they should never reuse a password, especially for their password manager.

The attacks are not just growing in volume, but in sophistication, as well. Picus said it’s seen threat actors prioritizing “complex, prolonged, multi-stage attacks” that require a new generation of malware. That malware, infostealers included, comes with increased stealth, persistence, and even automation. The researchers likened this increasing sophistication to “the perfect heist”, since most malware samples come with “more than a dozen malicious actions designed to help attackers evade defenses, increase permissions and exfiltrate data.”

A password manager is a tool that securely stores, generates, and autofills passwords for websites and apps. It helps users create and manage strong, unique passwords without needing to remember them all. It is considered one of the key pillars of good cybersecurity hygiene.

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SwitchBot attracted plenty of attention and praise with the launch of the K10+, a pint-sized robot vacuum for people who don't have a ton of space at home – but while the dinky bot can get into a lot of nooks and crannies, it can't clean your stairs or your sofa.

To get around this, SwitchBot has now unveiled the K10+ Pro Combo, which takes the latest model of the mini robovac and bundles in a lightweight stick vacuum that attaches to, and auto-empties into, the same dock. Said dock has gained a long chimney-like extension for the purpose, and now looks a little like a futuristic pizza oven.

This robovac scored highly in our SwitchBot K10+ Pro review, and the manual vacuum looks decent too. It promises many of the same features I'd look for in today's best cordless vacuums, including an advanced filtration system, a roller designed not to get tangled with hair, a lie-flat design, and detailing tools for handling different cleaning tasks.

(Image credit: SwitchBot)

However, I'm not entirely sold on the new configuration. First, the stick vacuum attaches to the back of the dock, which means you can't position the dock flush to the wall. This is perhaps to ensure that the bot can find its way back (you need to position the dock with clear space to the front and sides), but it does mean that you now have to have your dock sitting away from the wall and taking up more space in the room, if you want to avoid accidentally scraping the stick vacuum down the wall as you dock it.

I'm also not convinced that you'd be saving space compared to having a separate wall-mounted cordless vacuum dock – the kind you get with most Dyson vacuums. Sure, the two docks would be in separate spots, but cumulatively they wouldn't take up much more space than this combination effort.

(Image credit: SwitchBot)

If you're wondering why I'm fixating on space here, remember that the SwitchBot robovac's whole USP is that it's small. If you have space for a bigger dock, you'd just buy a regular-sized robot vacuum, and open up a world of other options (here are TechRadar's best robot vacuum picks if you're looking for inspiration).

With a capacity of three liters, the dust cup hidden in the dock is at least large enough to cope with a decent volume of dust, although it has lost a chunk of capacity compared to the standard K10+ Pro dock, which holds four liters.

If you are sold on this idea, now's the time to buy, as there are discounts on the SwitchBot K10+ Pro Combo in both the US and the UK.

Head to Amazon right now and you can get $200 off this new combo cleaner – just check the coupon box to apply the discount. This all-in-one solution combines a pint-sized robot vacuum and a manual stick vacuum, both of which attach to the same streamlined dock, where their dust cups automatically empty. This deal is also available direct from SwitchBot.View Deal

Click the voucher checkbox to apply a £160 discount on the new SwitchBot Combo at Amazon. For £639.99 you get the latest version of the brand's shrunk-down robovac, a stick vacuum with useful detail heads, and a dock that houses both. This offer is also available direct from SwitchBot.View Deal

Analysis: a self-emptying invasion?

SwitchBot is not the only vacuum brand to be offering such a setup. Take the Yeedi C12 Combo, for instance, which also combines a stick vacuum (with additional mopping head) and full-sized robovac, and comes with an absolute beast of a dock.

It's also part of an interesting trend for self-emptying manual vacuums. Both of the newest and best Shark vacuums have optional auto-empty docks, for example. I see the appeal with robot vacuums, because the onboard bins are necessarily tiny, and the whole point is to be a hands-off solution. But if you're manually vacuuming in the first place, it's not a whole lot more effort to empty the dust cup yourself.

I've tested out the Shark PowerDetect, and while the auto-empty dock works well, it's bulky and not terribly attractive. Personally, I would choose to empty my own bin over having the dock out in my home, so I'm interested to see if this growing trend takes off.

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• Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick has referenced a Grand Theft Auto 6 PC port
• He drew attention to the release of previous Rockstar Games titles, which have come to PC a year or two after consoles
• This indicates that GTA 6 will also follow this pattern

Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick has teased a Grand Theft Auto 6 PC port.

The company has previously confirmed that the highly anticipated open-world game is currently on the way for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S sometime in fall 2025. In an interview with IGN ahead of the company's recent financial results, Zelnick was asked whether the lack of a PC release is a mistake given the platform's prevalence.

"With Civ 7 it's available on console and PC and Switch right away,” he replied, referencing the recent multi-platform release of Sid Meier's Civilization 7. “With regard to others in our lineup, we don't always go across all platforms simultaneously. Historically, Rockstar [Games] has started with some platforms and then historically moved to other platforms.”

In the past, it has taken some time for Rockstar titles to make their way to PC. Grand Theft Auto 5, for example, launched for consoles back in 2013 - two years before it arrived on PC. 2018's Red Dead Redemption 2 was a similar story, staying exclusive to consoles for over a year.

Zelnick's words suggest that GTA 6 will follow this pattern. It's reasonable to assume that it will be available on PC a year or so after its release, so sometime in late 2026.

Of course, this is only a hint and we'll have to wait and see what Take-Two has in store.

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Marvel Rivals is set to add The Thing and Human Torch, bringing the total number of Heroes up to 37. They join their other Fantastic Four cohorts, rounding out Season One in style. So far, the new characters have yet to be fully detailed, but we do know their release dates.

Alongside the arrival of these two new Heroes, there will also be new rewards to earn in Marvel Rivals ranked mode. The game's high quality of competitive modes definitely makes it stand out from its competitors and is one of the main reasons it's already landed on our best crossplay games list.

Here's when The Thing and Human Torch are being added to Marvel Rivals. As we're waiting for each to be fully revealed, you'll find our predictions for how each one will play below.

Marvel Rivals The Thing and Human Torch release date

(Image credit: NetEase)

The Thing and Human Torch will be added to Marvel Rivals on February 21, 2025. This is when the game will receive its midseason update, which promises to shake up the battlefield. We're still waiting on precise timings, so stay tuned for updates to this page.

Marvel Rivals The Thing and Human Torch predictions

Marvel Rivals will receive a brand new update this month (February 2025), adding two new Heroes: The Thing and Human Torch. Of course, these two are members of The Fantastic Four and have some pretty unique powers and abilities. The game's developer NetEase has yet to show off the two characters, besides some character art that you can see elsewhere in this article. So until we hear more, here are our predictions for The Thing and Human Torch.

Let's start with The Thing. In terms of class, we expect The Thing to serve as a Vanguard. This is largely because of the fact that he's a giant, rock man. There's also the fact that there are only eight Vanguards currently in the game, compared to 23 Duelists. Interestingly, there are only eight Strategists, so it could be a nice twist to go against what's expected and place The Thing as a Support character.

As a Vanguard, The Thing's primary goal will be to tank damage and position themselves near the objective. We don't think The Thing will be a dive tank, so will probably be closer to someone like Magneto, rather than Venom or Captain America. A rock shield wall could be great, similar to how Groot's works. The Ultimate? It's Clobberin' Time.

Over to Human Torch, who we hope will be able to fly, at least sometimes. As a living supernova, it'd be cool to have Human Torch equipped with a heat meter, which would climb over time. At a certain point, the character should have access to new abilities and an Ultimate that damages every player in its proximity, via heat damage. This would suit a Duelist or Vanguard role. Given that Mr. Fantastic is a Duelist, and Invisible Woman is a strategist, this would fit nicely.

Marvel Rivals The Thing and Human Torch FAQs

(Image credit: Marvel Games) Is the Human Torch in Marvel Rivals yet?

Human Torch is not currently available in Marvel Rivals. This is set to change on February 21, 2025, with the arrival of the midseason update.

Will The Thing and Human Torch be free?

So far, every Hero in Marvel Rivals has been free to play. We don't expect this to change for The Things and Human Torch. It's also worth noting that at the beginning of Season One, Mr Fantastic, and Invisible Woman were added immediately for all players. If this pattern continues, expect to load up the game after the midseason update on February 21, 2025, and be able to select The Thing and Human Torch.

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It's easy to miss this feature, but here's where to find it.

Fandom revolutionized sex work and remapped the parameters of connection across social media. The question now is, how real are you willing to get?

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• Anthropic report finds only 4% of workers use AI for 75% of their tasks
• Software engineers use AI more than other types of workers
• AI is best described as a tech that augments human capabilites

Even though investments in AI continue to grow, only 4% of occupations use AI for 75% or more of their tasks, highlighting just how far there is to go to fully engrain the tech within our workflows, new reports have claimed.

It might not be heavily relied upon, but plenty of workers have tried AI, with more than a third (36%) of occupations incorporating the technology for at least 25% of their tasks.

The figures come from a paper published by Anthropic’s researchers, who ​​analyze over four million Claude.ai conversations.

Not many workers use AI too much

More specifically, Anthropic’s researchers break down exactly how AI tools are currently being used, revealing that nearly two in five (37%) AI users work in software engineering roles.

Two in five (43%) use cases proved to be for automation, but the researchers observed the remaining three-fifths (57%) of AI requests augmenting human capabilities, or in other words, boosting efficiency. This finding directly challenges earlier concerns that AI might replace human workers, and is just one of a growing number of studies supporting the pro-human argument for AI.

Artificial intelligence usage is also more prevalent in mid- and high-paying jobs, where many knowledge workers find themselves. Both salary extremes, such as manual and physical labor, and highly skilled workers like physicians, used AI less.

A separate Microsoft study added that workers who are more confident with a task are among the most likely to apply critical thinking to GenAI’s output, compared with workers who might be less familiar with the task, confirming AI’s power as a human aid and not a replacer.

However, we could be on the cusp of major change. The researchers concluded: “As AI systems expand beyond text to handle video, speech, and physical actions through robotics, and as AI agents become more capable of carrying out extended tasks autonomously, the nature of human-AI collaboration is poised to transform dramatically.”

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When I joined the newly formed Police Service of Scotland in 2014, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) - the United Kingdom (UK) cybersecurity authority - did not yet exist. By the end of my policing career in 2023, I was working as a Detective in Police Scotland’s newly established national Cybercrime Investigations Unit.

Here, we regularly engaged with the NCSC and other international agencies to investigate the increasingly complex cybercrime landscape. The technological changes I witnessed during that decade was significant, with individuals and businesses becoming increasingly reliant on technology to improve their lives and productivity.

Technology is now integrated into everyday life and is essential to many of the services we use daily. This includes technology’s critical role in:

• The National Health Service (NHS)
• The economy and financial transactions
• Our critical national infrastructure (CNI) such as the electricity and gas power supply, and data centres (now categorised as CNI by the UK government)
• Our communication for social, employment and national security purposes

With this increased reliance on technology and 50% of UK businesses reporting they experienced some form of cybersecurity breach or attack in the last year, it is no surprise that cybersecurity and the closing of the current skills gap, are priorities for the UK government.

The Widening Gap

Studies by the International Information System Security Certification Consortium (ISC2), an international non-profit cybersecurity organization, have found that while the demand for cybersecurity professionals to secure organizations globally is increasing, the supply of qualified cybersecurity professionals is not. This disparity has resulted in a skills gap, which has been widening year on year since at least 2022 when the study began.

The UK is also impacted by this skills gap. Research by the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology estimates that approximately 637,000 (44%) of businesses have basic cybersecurity skills gaps, where employees responsible for cybersecurity lack the confidence to carry out basic tasks, and do not outsource these tasks. Furthermore, approximately 390,000 (23%) of UK businesses have gaps in advanced cybersecurity skills such as penetration testing and incident response, skills essential for organizations with more complex cybersecurity needs.

The Impact of the Skills Gap

Why does the skills gap matter? As we become increasingly reliant on technology in our everyday lives, the severity of the impact caused by a cybersecurity incident grows as well. In recent years, we have seen the disruption that cyberattacks can cause. Notable examples include:

• Royal Mail (2023): Disrupting international deliveries and costing £10 million.
• The British Library (2023): Costing an estimated £7 million and impacted services are still not yet fully restored.

Whilst the internet has revolutionized global communications, it has also allowed cybercriminals to launch attacks from almost anywhere in the world. Cybercrime has no borders, and a few lines of code sent across the world to a system with cybersecurity vulnerabilities can have significant consequences: a digital butterfly effect.

As technology is constantly evolving, so too are cybersecurity threats. Consider some technologies that have risen in popularity in the last decade:

• Cloud computing
• Cryptocurrency
• Artificial Intelligence (AI)
• Internet of Things (IoT) devices

All these technologies have been, and continue to be, exploited by cybercriminals.

Cybersecurity is a technological arms race between those seeking to breach networks and those seeking to defend them. With cybercriminals consistently learning new skills, it is essential for cybersecurity professionals to continually upskill in order to thwart attacks and protect data and IT infrastructure.

Strategies for Closing the Gap

Now that you know about the cybersecurity skills gap and the impact it will have, you might be asking how we can close the gap and secure the future of cybersecurity in the UK? Whilst there is no one-size-fits-all solution, several strategies can help:

Invest in People: One of the most important skills in cybersecurity is the ability to learn. Hiring and developing staff who are passionate about learning, and investing in training them, will help embed essential cybersecurity skills into your organization.

Education and Awareness: Ensuring that all staff understand basic cybersecurity concepts relevant to their role is essential to defending against threats. With 98% of cyberattacks relying on social engineering (exploiting the human element) employees must have at least a basic understanding of the risks and how to react.

Culture: Foster a culture where employees are encouraged and have opportunities to upskill and continuously learn. Employers that fail to prioritize upskilling their staff will risk leaving themselves vulnerable to emerging technologies and threats.

Upskilling Schemes: Identify and leverage cybersecurity upskilling schemes and grants offered by government and non-profit organizations. Examples include ISC2’s 1 Million Certified in Cybersecurity scheme and The Scottish Government’s Cybersecurity Graduate Apprenticeships scheme.

Look to the Future: Anticipate emerging technologies and threats and upskill your staff to meet the challenges presented. With new threats emerging daily, cybersecurity must be proactive rather than solely reactive.

Consider Outsourcing: It may be the case that your organization does not have sufficient internal cybersecurity skills at present. In this case, it may be practical to outsource cybersecurity tasks (even temporarily) as a cost-effective solution to provide the required skills into your organization.

Balancing Innovation and Security

New technologies present new opportunities for organizations to increase productivity and improve customer and employee experiences. However, whilst innovative technologies can have significant benefits, they also present new cybersecurity risks, and ignoring these risks can have devastating consequences.

When considering implementing new technologies, critically assess the risks they introduce, particularly regarding data and cybersecurity, and implement controls to mitigate them. Taking a holistic approach to considering security implications at an early stage will help prevent cybersecurity complacency and enhance your organizational resiliency against the evolving cyber threat landscape.

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