An Article From Deidre Brock MP

From the steam engine to the bicycle, from the refrigerator to the telephone, from television to penicillin, Scots are renowned for pioneering some of the world’s most life-changing inventions and technological innovations of the last few centuries.

What’s perhaps less widely known is Scotland’s more recent influence – and that of Edinburgh specifically - on the development of artificial intelligence (AI). The origins of AI science in the UK can be traced to a small research group at Edinburgh University, established in 1963 by Donald Michie, then Reader in Surgical Science.

During the Second World War, as a member of the renowned group of codebreakers alongside Alan Turing at Bletchley Park, Michie was introduced to computers and imagined the possibility of building machines that could think and learn. By the mid1960s, with Michie as a driving force, AI was established at the university with the creation of the Department of Machine Intelligence and Perception.

Nearly 60 years later, the capital’s reputation for pioneering AI research is stronger than ever. The university’s School of Informatics is one of the largest in Europe, while the Bayes Centre on campus is partnering with the Scottish Government and others to bring 50,000 jobs to the city. Named after Enlightenment statistician and university alumni Thomas Bayes, the centre is home to an assortment of organisations, businesses, academics and supercomputers. It also hosts a ‘humanoid robot’ called Valkyrie, one of only three prototypes in the world, which NASA plans to send on a manned mission to Mars in the 2030s.

Of course, the relevance of AI is not limited to the stuff of sci-fi movies and space exploration. It already plays a key role in many aspects of our daily lives, whether it's our social media feeds, financial services or security and surveillance, bringing with it a host of ethical challenges.

In Scotland today, AI is being used in many positive ways, improving accuracy and efficiency in breast screening, reversing biodiversity loss through satellite analysis, and identifying new life-saving drugs, to name just a few examples. At the same time, its deployment poses significant threats, including political disinformation campaigns, the spreading of “deepfake” images, and use in conflict zones through drone warfare. Moral and philosophical dilemmas have always gone hand in hand with AI and Edinburgh University runs an interdisciplinary ethics programme committed to addressing these.

At Westminster I recently raised concerns about the UK government’s plans to change copyright law for online images. This would allow AI developers and others free access to scan images by photographers that they currently have to license and pay for. Photographers have always embraced new technologies, including using AI tools where needed. But this proposal is an example of how, without proper protections, AI might offer a further boon to Big Tech at the expense of individual artists and creatives.

AI has huge potential in helping us meet the challenges of the 21st century, but how is it harnessed, and whose interests does it serve? That's the crux of the matter. Used responsibly, AI can help make our lives better and our societies fairer, and with our worldclass expertise and distinguished history in the field, Edinburgh is well placed to help shape this future. The Scottish government’s AI Strategy, subtitled “Trustworthy, Ethical and Inclusive”, is guided by what I think are appropriate principles; that AI should have transparency, data protection and human rights at its heart.

Selling your home in winter

Selling your home at this time of year has some benefits. There is less competition with fewer properties on the market and there are only usually serious buyers at this time of year.

We find that there can be an influx of enquiries just after new year, as this is a popular time to make plans for the year ahead. If you are considering selling in the winter months, here are some helpful tips on getting your home sale ready.

First impressions count

Stand back and look at your property from a buyer’s perspective. Do you need to have the guttering cleared? If it rains at viewings, you don’t want a leaking guttering putting people off. Does your front door need a fresh coat of paint? Maybe something eye catching to compensate for the lack of greenery/planting in the garden due to the time of year. That said some winter flowering plants or ever green shrubs strategically positioned at the door will transform your entrance, as well as having good outside lighting for evening appointments. Make sure other maintenance is up to date such as clearing leaves away, cleaning pathways which will neaten the area immediately. If it is icy outside remember to make sure pathways are safe for guests. x On a cold and dull winter’s day, one of the most important things you can do to ensure you capture the attention of potential buyers is to have an inviting atmosphere in your home. To step into a cosy, well-lit home is very welcoming and uplifting. Having all internal doors open with room lights on, allows viewers to see the flow of the property. Remember that viewers first impressions are made within a few seconds, so it is important to make them count. It is more difficult to have our windows open in winter, bringing in fresh air, so a few diffusers or candles around the property is ideal. If you have an open fire or wood burning stove, it is always a good idea to have this on for the viewing because it is so welcoming and we are usually drawn to a warm fire. x

It’s the small touches that make the difference

As with any time of year it is important to dress your home to show it at its best, so that buyers can visualise themselves living there. Keep your rooms clear from clutter, this will allow your viewers to concentrate on the space and how you have presented the room. To achieve this, try and find a balance between accessorising the room but not too personalised. .X

To summarise, the easiest way to test your home’s flow is to put yourself in the shoes of your buyers. Take yourself outside of the property and enter it as if for the first time. How does it feel? The attention to detail will make such an impression on your potential buyers, so be sure to do all you can to make your property memorable.