Professor David Hughes, associate dean for research and innovation at Teesside University, has been fielding questions about the AI boom sweeping the North‑East of England and Cumbria. He tells regional leaders that the technology is exciting, not terrifying, and that people don’t need to fear it.
When Telmo from Newcastle asked whether AI poses security risks, Hughes gave a concise answer: yes, especially when it fuels fraud and misinformation. His advice? Stick to trusted sources. “Agencies like the BBC and social‑media platforms have a responsibility to pull down false content,” he said.
Pete wondered how to spot artificial content, noting the old “six‑finger” test is obsolete. Hughes agreed, explaining that image quality no longer reveals AI. Instead, he urges people to interrogate the source and the motive behind a piece of media. “If something is trying to spark a big reaction just to get you to click, that’s never healthy,” he warned. He adds a simple sanity check: ask yourself how the material makes you feel.
The region’s AI footprint is expanding fast. A £10 billion data centre near Blyth has already been confirmed, and new AI growth zones are blooming in Blyth and Cobalt Park, North Tyneside. In Cumbria, the nuclear sector is deploying AI‑trained robots for hazardous jobs, while Nissan in Sunderland is using AI to improve vehicle safety.
Lauren’s concern about the environmental cost of AI sparked another practical answer. “Data uses energy, there’s no question about it,” Hughes said, noting that the industry constantly pushes toward greener power and heat‑recovery methods. He stresses that responsible use is essential.
Hot take: The biggest mistake firms make is treating AI like a buzzword instead of a disciplined tool, because that approach blinds them to the real work of building safe, sustainable systems.
Overall, Hughes paints a picture of a region poised to lead in AI, provided its people stay curious, critical, and conscious of the energy behind the algorithms.
Via ‘The days of spotting AI by six fingers are over’
Gladstone is a tech virtuoso, boasting a dynamic 25-year journey through the digital landscape. A maestro of code, he has engineered cutting-edge software, orchestrated high-performing teams, and masterminded robust system architectures. His experience covers large-scale systems, as well as the intricacies of embedded systems and microcontrollers. A proud alumnus of a prestigious British institution, he wields a computer-science-related honours degree.