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Artificial Intelligence (AI) – What is it, and should we be concerned about it ?

AI development has continued apace since this blog was first published in June 2024, with little sign of a slowdown. Herewith an update for 2026.....   Introduction There has been much discussion, and not a little concern, voiced in the press and on social media recently about Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the dangers it might pose for humanity.. How dangerous is it really, and what if anything can, or indeed should, we do about it ? First, let’s try to pin down what we mean by the term ‘AI’. The OED dictionary definition is: “.. the theory and development of computer systems able to perform tasks normally requiring human intelligence, such as visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making, and translation between languages. ” This rather narrow definition focuses on the use of AI as a tool, to be used to enhance what we as humans already accomplish, rather than considering what a new ‘cohort of intelligent machines’ might do themselves in the future. Apocal...
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Seasonal Flu Epidemics: Why Do They Happen and Could this One Turn Into a Killer ?

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  The UK's 2025-26 influenza epidemic is now well underway and is taxing the NHS to its limits as predicted. One additional ‘wild-card’ for this year comes courtesy of the Junior Doctors (or ‘Residents’ as they now like to call themselves), who decided to strike for yet more pay over what will probably be one of the busiest periods in the run-up to Christmas, and have just voted for an extension to their strike mandate till July 2026. A bold move by the membership who voted for it, you might say, but not one which will earn them many ‘brownie points’ with the rest of us, or with the government. Perhaps more seriously for them, there is strong possibility that they, and they alone, will be blamed for any excess deaths that result of past and any future strikes. Whether a particularly ‘gung ho’ BMA leadership will be able, or even prepared, to defend them from the consequences of their actions is another matter…. Adverse circumstances aside, this would be a good time to ask the...
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