How Retrieval-Augmented Generation helps organisations protect sensitive information while harnessing AI’s full potential. When you ask ChatGPT or another AI tool a question, it answers based on what it knows from its training data — typically a massive blend of public information from the internet and available literature up to a certain point in time. While this is powerful, it misses something vital: your own institutional knowledge. Your company’s proprietary policies, control frameworks, audit reports and lessons learned — they aren’t part of the public training set (and you don’t want them to be). But imagine if you could blend the vast “hive mind” of general AI with the unique knowledge sitting inside your own documents - all the while keeping it private, local and secure. That’s exactly what RAG — Retrieval-Augmented Generation — allows you to do. ...

As AI systems increasingly claim to “know” their users, the risks around trust, manipulation, and decision-making are growing just as fast. In this post, I explore whether AI truly understands individuals—or whether we are mistaking prediction for insight. For anyone working in governance, risk, or cybersecurity, the distinction isn’t just academic; it’s a critical emerging threat. Link to Substack post Can AI really get to know you? How well could an AI ever really know you? This week, I’ve been experimenting with using AI as a kind of coach — a patient, curious thought partner — and exploring what it seems to understand about me ...

Before an AI system can answer a query, write a paragraph of text, recommend a movie, or drive a car, it must first learn - and that process is called AI training. AI training involves teaching an artificial intelligence model to make accurate predictions or decisions. It learns by analysing large volumes of training data, identifying patterns, and adjusting its internal settings like numerical weights to improve its predictions. Throughout training the AI compares its predictions to known correct answers, refining itself over millions of cycles to reduce errors. However it’s important to remember: AI doesn’t understand its tasks the way a human would. It is simply refining its pattern recognition. ...

Authors: Daniel Kokotajlo, Scott Alexander, Thomas Larsen, Eli Lifland, Romeo Dean Published 3 April 2025 AI 2027 report We predict that the impact of superhuman AI over the next decade will be enormous, exceeding that of the Industrial Revolution. https://ai-2027.com/ Topics covered AI Agents (Unimpressive and error-prone at first, but starting to replace some employee tasks and companies inserting into workflows regardless. And getting better) Autonomous Coding AI Research (AIs creating better AIs) After being trained to predict internet text, the model is trained to produce text in response to instructions. This bakes in a basic personality and “drives.” For example, an agent that understands a task clearly is more likely to complete it successfully; over the course of training the model “learns” a “drive” to get a clear understanding of its tasks. Other drives in this category might be effectiveness, knowledge, and self-presentation (i.e. the tendency to frame its results in the best possible light). ...

Prompt engineering is a term coined in the 2020s to describe the practice of creating and crafting effective prompts to guide the behaviour and output of large language models (LLMs). Most people ask simple questions and can get simple answers. Somewhat like in the real world, the art of asking questions will bring the best results. Effective prompt engineering involves understanding the model’s capabilities - as well as its limitations - to achieve the most optimal results. ...

(4 hour) March 2025 interview with William MacAskill, author of What We Owe the Future. Introducing his new paper - Preparing for the Intelligence Explosion - 11 March 2025 Summary takeaway - if we’re about to have 100 years of progress happening in the space of 10 years, how do we prepare? Topics Software intelligence explosion (43m) Hardware intelligence explosion (45m), e.g. AI robots doing everything Space governance (1h21m50s) Very optimised education and training (2h7m45s) Training for politicians AI as a coach, career, productivity, life, health coach (2h11m53s) Dealmaking AI (2h12m48s) Further reading Moorhouse, F., MacAskill, W. (2025). Preparing for the Intelligence Explosion. Available at: Forethought.org Related pages Book summary - What We Owe The Future, by Will MacAskill Discuss on X Interview with Will MacAskill (March 2025) on AGI preparedness https://t.co/hiGmQ9hp4S #agipreparedness ...

Tyler Cowen is one of those great minds that whenever an interview is released, I’ll take a listen. An Economics professor at George Mason University, Tyler could be better described as a polymath, and he is most prolific as a writer on his blog Marginal Revolution. The world I’ve lived in has not changed that much since I was born but that’s about to change. You could say its changed already but it’s not fully instantiated in most of the things we do ...

With AI advancements, many wonder what will set workers apart in the future, particularly those involved in knowledge work and the professions. When AI has all the knowledge and all the intelligence, what value does the human worker bring? The answer is agency - high agency. High-agency individuals - those who take ownership of their actions, shape circumstances rather than react to them, and turn obstacles into opportunities - are the ones that will thrive. ...

Passkeys are a modern authentication method designed to replace traditional passwords. Passkeys use cryptographic key pairs — public and private keys — to provide a more secure way to log in to websites and applications. The private key is securely stored on the user’s device, typically within a hardware security module (HSM), trusted platform module (TSM), or a secure enclave, while the corresponding public key is stored on the service’s server. By eliminating the need for passwords, passkeys help reduce the risk of phishing attacks, credential theft, and exposure of user credentials through password dumps. Passkeys often rely on the FIDO2 authentication standards, which provide a secure, passwordless login experience. ...

What the playbook covers The UK Government published their Artificial Intelligence (AI) Playbook on 10 February 2025, setting out 10 Principles for using AI in government organisations. The playbook updates previous UK government publications, providing an expanded guide designed to help public sector organisations harness AI technologies safely, effectively, and responsibly. It is a must-read for risk managers, cyber-security professionals, and compliance experts working with or within the UK public sector. The playbook provides guidance and principles to navigate the unique challenges and opportunities presented by AI. ...

A One-to-One meeting, or 1:1 meeting, is a management and career development technique designed to foster open communication, strengthen relationships, and support professional growth in a team environment. At their core, 1:1 meetings (1:1s) are regular, private discussions between a manager and a team member designed to build trust, provide feedback, and encourage development. 1:1s create a dedicated space for meaningful dialogue, allowing team members to share concerns, discuss challenges, and celebrate accomplishments. They help managers stay informed about individual progress, offer timely guidance, and proactively address potential roadblocks before they become larger issues. ...

Online financial fraud has evolved into a sophisticated industry, and one of the most alarming new threats is known as pig butchering. This is not a niche cybercrime — it is a global, highly organised yet decentralised, and rapidly growing scam that preys on victims through social engineering and deception, and takes place entirely online. The scam will successfully target and exploit victims, often the elderly or emotionally vulnerable, and friends and family members will be entirely unaware until after the scammer has finished their work. ...

Logical fallacies are errors in reasoning that undermine the validity of an argument. Recognising logical fallacies is essential for developing critical thinking, empowering you to objectively evaluate arguments and avoid being misled. A July 2024 article in the BBC’s Future series sets out 7 logical fallacies you can train yourself to spot whenever you hear an argument being made. When people are trying to persuade you, they sometimes reach for underhand tricks like the ‘appeal to ignorance’ or ‘whataboutism’ to seem more convincing. BBC Future ...

Effective communication and preparation are key to successful meetings and decision-making processes. One powerful technique that can significantly enhance the outcome of your meetings is the "pre-wire." This concept, which involves holding preliminary discussions before the main meeting, ensures that all participants are on the same page and any potential concerns are addressed in advance. When I was with APM I learned the phrase “pre-wire.” A pre-wire is simply the meeting before the meeting. As consultants it was important to share the meeting agenda with the customer and be aware of any concerns that they may have. As a manager I still find pre-wires important. For example, we always review the IT Steering Committee agenda with the chairperson a few days in advance of the meeting. The better prepared I am for the pre-wire the better the Steering Committee meeting will go. ...