Britain's intelligence services want to boost the number of female coders in their ranks warning they need to improve diversity to tackle threats ranging from foreign states to child online safety. GCHQ, the UK's intelligence, security and cyber agency, is funding 14-week "nano-degrees" in data and software to help women who might have previously been put off coding to make a career change. The agency celebrates the birthday of Ada Lovelace, the daughter of the poet Lord Byron credited by some as writing the first computer programme in the early 1840s. But in 2022 only a third of staff at the agency are women, and fewer are in technology roles. "We have been working hard to increase that number so we have more diverse teams and better get across the threats we need to today," said Jo Cavan, director of strategy policy and engagement at the agency, which has bases in Cheltenham, London and Manchester.

A rtificial intelligence (AI) has been used by the Royal Navy at sea for the first time – testing against supersonic missile threats. The research is being led by Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) scientists – with the AI being tested on destroyer HMS Dragon and frigate HMS Lancaster. The MoD said the AI improves the early detection of lethal threat, accelerates engagement timelines and provides Royal Navy Commanders with a rapid hazard assessment to select the optimum weapon or measure to counter and destroy the target. "The Royal Navy's use of AI for the first time at sea is an important development in ensuring readiness to tackle threats we may face. The Royal Navy's use of AI for the first time at sea is an important development in ensuring readiness to tackle threats we may face. A rtificial intelligence (AI) has been used by the Royal Navy at sea for the first time – testing against supersonic missile threats. The research is being led by Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) scientists – with the AI being tested on destroyer HMS Dragon and frigate HMS Lancaster. The MoD said the AI improves the early detection of lethal threat, accelerates engagement timelines and provides Royal Navy Commanders with a rapid hazard assessment to select the optimum weapon or measure to counter and destroy the target. "The Royal Navy's use of AI for the first time at sea is an important development in ensuring readiness to tackle threats we may face.

Two-thirds of large UK firms were targeted by cybercriminals in 2016. As the number of attacks continues to rise, what skills will the next generation of professionals need to protect us from AI hackers, rogue self-driving cars and financial ruin? The global cost of cybercrime is predicted to reach £4.9 trillion annually by 2021 and new cybersecurity trends are emerging. To fight future threats, society must develop the next generation of cyber skills. But how do businesses identify weaknesses in their cybersecurity before they're hacked?