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Who trusts AI?

AI tools like ChatGPT and Google Gemini have exploded in popularity over the last couple years. But while their adoption has undoubtably grown at a staggering speed, less is known about public attitudes towards the trustworthiness of these systems.

Playfair prize

Student data journalism
Crime, policing & justice

Trust and technology: what went wrong with the Post Office?

The Post Office scandal brought into sharp focus the risks associated with placing blind faith in technology. To learn from this troubling episode and start rebuilding public trust, policy-makers must challenge the idea of the infallibility of machines within the legal system.

DATA HUB

Greenland Ice Sheet: mass loss & sea level rise

Since 1972, Greenland's Ice Sheet has shrunk by approximately 6,200 gigatonnes, a trend which accelerated markedly in the 1990s, and corresponds to an almost 18 mm rise in global mean sea level.

As well as the direct environmental impact, less ice means longer Arctic shipping seasons. For example, navigable days for ice-capable ships along the Northern Sea Route have grown by around 18 days since 2008.

Longer seasons and new routes are likely to reshape Arctic shipping and intensify strategic competition over its waterways.

Science, technology & innovation

The rise of artificial intelligence: What next for the UK economy?

Over the past few years, artificial intelligence has exploded in popularity, power and potential. How this continuing trend affects the UK economy will depend on how both policy-makers and domestic firms respond to the development of new digital technologies.

Productivity & growth

Have the UK’s northern cities really experienced a productivity miracle?

While official data points to a ‘productivity miracle’ in several large northern cities since 2019, a closer look suggests otherwise. This serves as a reminder to sense-check any data before using it, regardless of the source.

Nations, regions & cities

Why did Venezuela’s economy collapse?

The Venezuelan economy has suffered from decades of disastrous economic policies – and more recently, from economic sanctions. The country has seen the largest ever decline in living standards outside war, revolution or the collapse of the state.

Nations, regions & cities

What role could migration play in the reconstruction of Ukraine?

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has triggered the largest refugee crisis in Europe since World War II, with nearly six million Ukrainians displaced worldwide. This creates a critical challenge looking ahead to post-war reconstruction. With over 200,000 Ukrainians currently here in the UK, policy-makers must consider both the current needs of refugees and how the diaspora can help to support economic recovery in Ukraine.

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