Hello ODI Supporter,
As the war in Iran approaches its sixth week, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz is being increasingly felt in the AI sector, choking the global supply of helium. The gas is used in computer chip production, as its heat-conducting properties help maintain a stable temperature in the manufacturing process. It’s also used in MRI scanners, the fuel tanks of space rockets, and weather balloons. And let’s not forget party balloons. About a third of global supply comes from Qatar, and is a natural gas byproduct. Suppliers are now telling customers to expect cuts and surcharges. Meanwhile, data released by Barclays revealed that British motorists flocked to the petrol pumps at the outbreak of the war, spending almost 11% more on fuel as petrol prices spiked. The data also revealed an almost 8% drop in holiday bookings.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge have found that data centres can create ‘heat islands’ that significantly increase the temperature of their surrounding environment. The demand for AI has led to a rapid global expansion of data centres, with the research finding that they can increase average temperatures by an average of 2 degrees Celsius, and up to 9 degrees Celsius in extreme examples. Temperature increases were felt more than six miles away from a data centre, and could potentially affect more than 340 million people across the globe. Other experts have warned that the carbon emissions from power generation are a more pressing matter for the climate than heat from data centres. But let’s face it, it’s not a game of climate Top Trumps, neither is great.
Are you interested in building a new generation of personal AI agents, apps, and websites that give people real control over their own data? We’re hosting a two-day tournament (April 28–29) to coincide with the launch of Solid26 - the first annual release of the Solid specification. If you are interested, sign up now! And there’s still time to get early bird tickets for the Solid Symposium, happening on 30 April - 1 May, where we’ll bring together people from science, business, the public sector and academia to discuss and learn about the latest developments in Solid. Book now.
Join us on Tuesday 14 April 09:30-11:00 BST for a focused virtual roundtable on Digital ID – shaping responses to the UK Government consultation. If you are working at the intersection of data infrastructure, identity systems, privacy, or digital public services, this is an opportunity to contribute directly to an important policy conversation, so book now. We’re joined by Police Scotland on Wednesday 29 April, 12:00-13:00 BST to learn how they prioritise ethics and public confidence in their use of technology, and tickets are available now. And we also have a webinar exploring how smart data can transform transport on Tuesday 12 May, 16:00-17:00, so check that out.
And finally… new data has revealed that the Cadbury hollow eggs have almost doubled in price over the last couple of Easters, even though cocoa prices have fallen dramatically in the last year. Elsewhere, the Moo Freesas Choccy Egg is 38% packaging, according to waste experts. In their analysis of ten popular high street Easter Eggs, the Terry’s Chocolate Orange Egg took the top spot, and rightly so. It’s my favourite. And only has 17.7% packaging. Enjoy the long weekend…if you have one.
Until next time.
David and Jo
