30 June 2025

James Clark, Data Protection, AI and Digital Regulation, partner at Spencer West LLP

Artificial intelligence (AI) has captured the world’s attention in recent years, and the IT network sector is no exception. With transformative potential for automation, predictive maintenance, network security, and more, AI promises much. As such, it has become a beacon for investment, and a watchword for companies when procuring all forms of technology services.

However, an emerging trend — often labeled as ‘AI-washing’ - has seen companies embellish or outright misrepresent their products as ‘AI-enabled’ or ‘featuring AI’ when, in reality, the underlying technology may not be all that smart - and something that, until very recently, would not have been badged as AI. This practice, reminiscent of greenwashing in an environmental context, is not harmless, and can have significant legal, reputational, and commercial consequences for companies operating in an increasingly competitive marketplace.

30 June 2025

The Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) in North East England has announced a new initiative to map local mobile network coverage by equipping refuse collection trucks with monitoring technology.

The project, funded by £32,490 from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), aims to create the most detailed and accurate picture yet of 4G and 5G signal strength across the region, including Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, and Stockton-on-Tees.