UK Transport Secretary, Mark Harper, said in a recent radio interview that driverless cars could be on some UK roads by the end of 2026.

2026 

Following the November announcement of the new Automated Vehicles (AV) Bill, in an interview on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Mr Harper said: “Probably by as early as 2026 people will start seeing some elements of these cars that have full self-driving capabilities being rolled out.” 

Safety 

Although the first thing that may come to mind at the thought of driverless cars being on the road is the potential risk, the narrative around driverless vehicles is that they could, in fact, improve safety on the roads. This is because they remove the possibility of driver error which Mr Harper says is currently responsible for 88 per cent of road traffic collisions.

Automated Vehicles Bill  

The Automated Vehicles Bill, announced in November 2023 as part of the King’s speech, will provide the legal frameworks for self-driving vehicles in the UK, and has “safety at its core.” 

The government says that before self-driving vehicles (AVs) are allowed on UK roads, they will, for example, have to meet or exceed the rigorous new safety requirements set out in the law that the bill will eventually become.

Why Self-Driving Vehicles?  

In addition to potentially bringing a significant reduction in the number of driver-error road collisions, the UK government says that the many advantages that AVs could bring include:

– The technology will also help make travel more convenient and accessible, improving the lives of millions of people who can’t drive.

– Better connecting rural communities, improving access to essential services, and reducing isolation.

– Making last-mile delivery and long-haul freight services more efficient, reducing congestion, and providing on-demand transport services.

– Boosting the economy by creating up to 38,000 jobs.

Other advantages to UK businesses of allowing the (regulated) use of AVs on UK roads in the near future include:

– Lower labour costs as driver expenses are eliminated.

– Increased efficiency through allowing continuous operation and optimised routes and delivery times.

– Fuel efficiency through better fuel economy, resulting from optimised driving patterns.

– Providing valuable operational and traffic data for business insights.

– Supply chain optimisation, i.e. timely and predictable deliveries improving logistics.

– Environmental benefits (from electric or hybrid power), thereby reducing emissions.

– Opening up innovative service and delivery models.

– Helping businesses to meet evolving safety and environmental standards.

What Could Possibly Go Wrong? 

Early tests of AVs going awry have already highlighted the risks posed by (and associated with) having AVs on normal roads. For example:

– Back in 2018, in Tempe, Arizona (the US), a self-driving Uber vehicle hit and killed a pedestrian. This was one of the first fatal accidents involving a pedestrian and an autonomous vehicle. The incident raised significant questions about the safety of self-driving technology and its ability to handle unpredictable situations.

– Also in 2018, in Chandler, Arizona, a Waymo self-driving minivan was involved in a crash when a human-driven car swerved and collided with it. While the Waymo vehicle was operating in autonomous mode, it was not at fault. This incident, however, underscored the complexities of integrating autonomous vehicles into current traffic systems dominated by human drivers.

– There have been several reported accidents involving Tesla’s Autopilot system, where drivers misused the system or over-relied on its capabilities. These incidents, including fatal crashes, highlighted the challenges in ensuring drivers remain engaged and ready to take control even in semi-autonomous modes.

What Does This Mean For Your Business? 

The introduction of Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) to UK roads as soon as 2026 may seem a little ambitious, yet it highlights the government’s commitment to the idea of being able to create new jobs, help establish the UK as a new technology leader, plus stimulate the growth of a £42 billion industry here.

For UK businesses, provided the AVs are affordable, easy enough to operate and safe enough, AVs promise operational efficiency, cost management benefits and productivity enhancements, particularly in sectors like logistics and transportation, boosting levels of efficiency in supply chain management.

However, embracing this new technology will come with its challenges. Safety concerns (highlighted by incidents involving AVs in recent years) are reminders of the need for stringent safety standards and robust legal frameworks (such as the AV Bill is designed to provide). Also, building public trust in this new technology is likely to be vital so and concerns about safety, privacy, and the broader societal impact (including job displacement) need to be addressed to ensure smooth integration into society.

The prospect of driverless cars on UK roads within two years, therefore, presents a blend of exciting opportunities and formidable challenges for businesses. While the benefits of improved efficiency, cost savings, and environmental impacts are clear, navigating the safety, regulatory, and societal aspects are less clear at the moment. For businesses looking forward, adaptability and readiness to embrace change will be crucial in capitalising on the advantages that AVs bring.

Amazon has announced that from 5 February 2024, its Amazon Prime Video customers in the UK and Germany will see “limited” ads unless they pay £2.99 per month to remove them.

Why? 

Amazon says that in view of the fact it won’t be making changes in 2024 to the current price of Prime membership, and that it will continue investing in content and keep increasing that investment over a long period of time, it will be adding the “limited” adverts that customers must pay to remove.

In the announcement about the pay-to-remove ads, Amazon listed the many benefits of the Prime Service, and its heavy investment in the service. More specifically, it’s also likely that its renewals of hit series like Redemption and The Boys, its deal with Games Workshop (bringing Warhammer 40,000 to cinema screens) and its plans for other popular content like a series based on the video game Fallout, may also be used to balance out the cost/value analysis in the minds of customers.

The online retail and tech giant and streamer is also keen to stress that it will “have meaningfully fewer ads than linear TV and other streaming TV providers.” 

That said, live content such as sports will continue to include advertising whether customers pay for Prime ad removal or not.

Ad-Free Option Later 

Amazon has also said that it will be adding a new ad-free option but will share the price of that option at a later date.

How And When? 

Amazon says no action is required for Prime members as the “gradual” rollout of the ads takes place and that it will email Prime members several weeks before ads are introduced into Prime Video. The email will also contain information on how users can sign up for the ad-free option and will, presumably, give the price of the ad-free service.

More Expensive Than The US And Germany

Although customers in the US and Canada will see ads rolled out earlier than in the UK (from 29 January), at US $2.99 (£2.35) to stop the ads, this works out cheaper than for UK customers.  It is also understood that customers in Germany will have a better deal by only having to pay the equivalent of Germany will pay £2.60.

Competitors  

Amazon Prime’s competitors, Disney+ and Netflix, have also introduced their own cheaper ad-supported memberships (and price rises). For example, back in August 2023, Disney+ announced its plan to introduce a cheaper streaming option with adverts in the UK in November (due to falling profits). Also, it was back in November 2022 when Netflix launched its ‘Basic with Ads’ streaming plan.

What Does This Mean For Your Business? 

For Amazon Prime, adopting the limited ads that require payment to remove them idea provides an extra revenue stream which could be used to contribute to its investment in content creation thus enhancing the platform’s offerings and competitiveness.

The email to be sent to customers about the ads also provides Amazon Prime with an opportunity to get customers’ attention and highlight its ad-free option in a more ‘under-the-radar’ way in what is a highly competitive streaming market.

Since the boom-time of the pandemic when streaming services were prioritised and multiple users per account tolerated, the post-pandemic saw user numbers drop, e.g. for Netflix. This led to the leading streaming platforms having to increasingly explore varied revenue models, including ad-supported tiers in order to offer more attractive and diversified subscription options to retain and attract a broader subscriber base in this highly competitive space. Amazon Prime, therefore, like Netflix and Disney+, is now offering ad-free options to increase user numbers and attract this broader range of customers (more price-sensitive viewers) thereby intensifying the competition among streaming services.

However, although Amazon Prime’s move could provide new revenue opportunities, it also presents challenges and choices for customers, who now must weigh the trade-off between tolerating ads or paying more for uninterrupted viewing, thereby potentially unsettling them and lowering barriers to exit. As Amazon’s announcement about the change shows, it’s hoping that its commitment to a lower ad volume compared to other platforms could mitigate some potential viewer dissatisfaction and that reminding customers of the many benefits of its services may soften the blow.

Amazon’s business-changing model for streaming is, therefore, an expected reflection of the changing landscape of the highly competitive streaming services market, as providers continuously adapt their strategies.

The latest version of the Apple Watch has gone back on sale in the US after being removed from sale by the US Government from 26 December 2023.

Its removal from sale followed claims by medical technology company Masimo that the watch’s pulse oximetry sensors (used to measure how much oxygen is in the blood) violated its patents.

The ban, which applied to the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2, has now been halted and the watch has gone back on sale while a court considers Apple’s motion for a longer-term pause during the appeals process. The court has given the US International Trade Commission (ITC) until 10 January to respond to Apple’s request.

Cyber Security News has compiled a top 10 most notable cyber-attacks of 2023 list, serving as a reminder to businesses that advancements in technology, increased connectivity, and the more sophisticated tactics used by threat actors mean that cyber-attacks are evolving at a rapid pace.

Top of its list is the MOVEit Mass Attack launched by a Russian hacking group which used the MOVEit file transfer software to extort an estimated $75-100 million from 2,667 organisations. The others in the list include Cisco IOS XE attacks, the US government hacked via Microsoft 365, the Citrix Bleed attack, Okta’s customer support data breach, the Western Digital cyber-attack, and the MGM Resorts breach. The list also includes the Royal Ransomware attack over the city of Dallas, the GoAnywhere attacks, and the 3CX software supply chain attack.

Businesses should, therefore, make sure that they are well protected for 2024 from a wide range of common cyber-attack methods, including malware, phishing, distributed denial of Service (DDoS), man-in-the-Middle (MitM), and many more.

Austria’s Repair Bonus voucher scheme sees the government pay citizens up to €200 (£173) towards getting old electrical appliances, devices and tech gadgets fixed.

Why?  

The Austrian government scheme, financed through the Covid Recovery Fund, is designed to motivate people to repair rather than throw away old electrical appliances (and add to a growing pile of e-waste). Austria’s Climate Minister Leonore Gewessler launched the scheme with the intention of “making repair attractive again.” 

The E-Waste Problem 

A 2019 UN report showed that the world produces as much as 50 million tonnes annually of electronic and electrical waste, also known as e-waste, but that only 20 per cent of this is formally recycled. Put in context, the current worldwide pile of electronic waste weighs more than all the commercial airliners ever made. The UK, for example, currently produces 24.9kg of e-waste per person, which is nearly 10kg more than the European Union (EU) average.

Some of the main problems associated with e-waste are:

– Environmental pollution. E-waste contains harmful toxins like Lead, Mercury, Cadmium (and others), posing significant health and environmental risks.

– Loss of valuable materials. E-waste is a source of scarce and valuable materials such as gold and platinum, which are often lost due to improper disposal.

– The current recycling rates are too low. Only about 20 per cent of e-waste is formally recycled worldwide, leading to environmental harm and material loss.

– Health risks in informal recycling. In countries with a predominantly informal e-waste sector, such as India, workers face severe health risks due to exposure to dangerous chemicals.

– Asset wastage. Companies often prematurely dispose of electronic assets, resulting in the loss of potentially useful resources.

– Data security concerns. Fears over data security leads some companies to destroy electronic assets rather than recycle or reuse them.

– E-waste export to developing countries. Despite the Basel Convention’s limitations, developed countries have been exporting a significant portion of their e-waste to developing countries, contributing to improper recycling practices. However, the upcoming “Swiss-Ghana Amendments” to the Basel Convention, effective from 2025, aim to redefine the trade rules for hazardous and non-hazardous e-waste, potentially reducing this issue.

– Cheap electrical goods preventing recycling. For example, if the costs of repairing an electrical item / device are more than 20-30 per cent of the cost of the new product, people are more likely to buy new and not repair the old item. The Repair Bonus scheme may, therefore, be a way to lower those costs, and act as an incentive to repair more.

Which Items Does The Austrian Repair Scheme Apply To? 

Austria’s Repair Bonus voucher scheme applies to almost all electrical and electronic equipment commonly used in private households, including those with a power cord, rechargeable battery, and battery or solar modules.

How Does The Scheme Work? 

The scheme works by issuing vouchers that can be redeemed at third party partner companies who carry out the repairs. The customer downloads the voucher from the government website, pays the partner company upfront, and then receives a direct payment (into their bank account) of half the costs of the repair back after three to four weeks.

A Win-Win 

The scheme is being described as a win-win because customers benefit from cost savings on the repair, local businesses (the partner repair businesses) benefit from additional revenues, and the environment benefits from a reduction in the amount of e-waste.

Challenges 

Although the Austrian scheme has led to more repairs it hasn’t been without its challenges. For example:

– There is a shortage of technicians and craftspeople to carry out the repairs.

– Some of the spare parts needed for some repairs are no longer available, so replacements need to be found.

– The scheme needs to work well enough to change quite an entrenched mindset in what has become a ‘throwaway society.’

What Else Could Encourage Repair and Recycling? 

In addition to voucher schemes, like the one in Austria, other measures that could encourage the repair and recycling of electrical goods and a circular and more sustainable economy could include:

– Educational campaigns, i.e. increasing public awareness about the environmental and economic benefits of repairing and recycling electronics and educating consumers about their rights to repair their own devices or to have them repaired by a third party.

– Extended producer responsibility (EPR), i.e. implementing policies requiring manufacturers to take back used products for recycling or proper disposal.

– Repair-friendly design regulations. Encouraging or mandating manufacturers to design products that are easier to repair and upgrade.

– Tax breaks or incentives for companies and consumers who repair, recycle, or buy refurbished electronics.

– Community repair events such as organising local repair cafes or workshops / pop-up workshops where people can bring their electronics for free or low-cost repairs.

– Providing financial and technical support to small businesses specialising in repairing electronics.

– Recycling infrastructure development. Investing in more accessible and efficient recycling facilities and collection points.

– More laws and regulations for waste reduction including enforcing stricter regulations on electronic waste disposal and promoting recycling.

Is There A Similar Scheme In The UK? 

Unfortunately, here in the UK, there isn’t a direct counterpart to Austria’s Repair Bonus voucher scheme for electrical devices. However, the UK government did introduce new ‘Right to Repair’ laws in 2021, and has initiated a consultation to enhance electrical waste recycling, making it easier for people to recycle through manufacturer and retailer responsibility. Also, The Restart Project advocates for the Right to Repair and promotes repair and reuse through various initiatives and community activities.

What Does This Mean For Your Organisation? 

Austria’s Repair Bonus voucher scheme could represent one way to move forward in addressing the escalating global problem of e-waste and promoting a more sustainable approach to technology usage and the use of all household appliances and gadgets. For organisations, this kind of initiative is not just about environmental stewardship but also presents an opportunity for economic and societal benefits.

The scheme does appear to provide a win-win in terms of providing cost savings to consumers, boosting local businesses, and reducing the volume of e-waste making the option of fixing old devices more attractive compared to buying new ones.

However, the Austrian scheme does face challenges, particularly in the areas of technical workforce and spare parts availability. Finding a way to ensure a steady supply of skilled technicians through training and education programs may be essential going forward. Also, making spare parts more accessible, possibly through collaborations with manufacturers, might be a way to ensure that more repairs are feasible and cost-effective.

If similar initiatives are adopted in many other countries too, this could have a positive impact on global e-waste reduction and tailoring these programs to suit specific national contexts could maximise their effectiveness. Also, incentivising businesses (who are large buyers of electrical devices) to engage more actively in repair and recycling efforts could be achieved through a variety of measures, such as tax incentives, subsidies, or recognition programs.

In terms of environmental impact, such initiatives could contribute to the conservation of valuable resources and reduce the need for extracting new raw materials. From an economic standpoint, developing a robust repair industry could also open up new job opportunities and foster local economies. Promoting repair and recycling also aligns with the broader goals of sustainability and responsible consumption.

The apparent success of Austria’s Repair Bonus scheme, therefore, offers valuable insights and food for thought into how similar strategies could be implemented globally. For organisations, embracing these principles could mean not only contributing to environmental sustainability but also potentially tapping into new economic opportunities. As awareness of the e-waste challenge grows, initiatives like these could provide a roadmap for responsible electronic waste management and a more sustainable future.

If there are websites that you use regularly, pinning tabs is a way to save time, stay organised, and get right to the websites you need every time you open your Google Chrome browser. Here’s how it works:

– Open Chrome and type in the domain of the required website.

– Right-click on the tab the website is open in and select ‘Pin’.

– You’ll see your pinned tab appear at the top of the browser on the left. Pinned tabs are stored on the left of the window and only show the site’s icon, saving space.

– Pinned tabs stay in place, even when you close and reopen Chrome, so it’s just a case of clicking on the pinned tab (top left) to quickly go to the required website.