Softwire March Newsletter 2025
Human-centered tech in the Age of AI
Is the AI honeymoon period over? Not exactly. But it is time for humans to shine once more.?
After an endless fireworks display of excitement, cool use cases, and futuristic hot takes, it feels like we're reaching a new stage of maturity—at least in terms of strategic enterprise planning.
Recent technological developments—in particular, the rise of LLMs that can write code—will see humans take an even bigger role in coordinating and directing technology.?
?This is a reminder that AI, like most technologies, needs a human hand at the wheel. For all its efficiency gains, AI still cannot match human intelligence in abstract thinking, creativity and contextual understanding.
And that's not a bad thing. New research from Carnegie Mellon and Microsoft(!) suggests that the more people use AI, the less critical thinking they do. Protecting human intelligence and its critical role in decision-making is vital. But what about protecting your business?
As my colleague Ian Cartwright asks in his fantastic new article, if your GenAI solution were a member of staff, which level of security clearance should they have? You wouldn't give all your information to a human, so why would you give it all to a tool?
These security concerns are very real. Gartner predicts that by 2027, more than 40% of AI-related data breaches will result from improper cross-border GenAI use.? As I wrote in my recent article, this vulnerability is driving a rising demand for "tech decoders" to bridge AI's capabilities and business needs (and ensure it is used responsibly).
As the dust begins to settle (for now), the time is ripe for big, very human, very real discussions around how to use AI to augment and support the workforce - who are, as ever, the heart of everything we do.
Director
Softwire
Did you just give GenAI top-secret security clearance?
With AI embedding itself into workflows, organizations must ask: are we granting it too much access? Find out how to mitigate security risks.
2025 is the year of people over AI
From ethical AI to digital wellbeing, four human-centered tech trends are set to shape this year.
The 'Search Engine' parallel
Is the AI's hype cycle similar to the rise of search engines? Yemi Olagbaiye explores the parallels between today's AI boom and Google's ascent.?
Inclusive workplaces for disabilities
The challenges of disclosing disabilities in the workplace, practice workplace adjustments, the role of psychological safety and more.
Recent events
Transforming legacy systems | TINtech London Market?
Ian Cartwright (Principal Technical Consultant, Softwire), Peter Howard , Head of Change at WTW and Rachel Dickson , Group Chief Information Officer at Lancashire Insurance Group shared their experiences, including the perils of not modernising and the realistic options to consider.
AWS Cloud Women: scaling happiness, building a career you love
In Softwire’s first collaboration with AWS Cloud Women Manchester, a host of industry professionals—including Cally Clifft (Delivery Principal, Softwire) and Leanne Kim Fitzpatrick (Director of Data Science, Financial Times)—delved into their career paths and explored how to find a fulfilling career in tech.
Upcoming events
Softwire X HuddleHive: Women in Tech Hackathon (8th March)
For International Women's Day, Softwire is sponsoring the two-day event in London, where women in tech get a chance to work on real-world challenges in a collaborative and supportive environment
AI and energy | Energy Transition Summit?(10th March)
Can we have our code and compute it too? Join this important discussion on AI's sustainability challenges, energy-efficient computing, and what businesses can do to mitigate the environmental impact.??
Tech innovation and operational excellence | CTO Craft Con 2025 (10th March)
Can tech leaders have it all? Join this panel discussion on balancing innovation and operational excellence.
Agentic AI | Business Innovation Summit (26th March)
In the rise of autonomous AI, Yemi O. offers a practical look at the implications of AI-driven decision-making in modern business.
Study find people who entrust tasks to AI are losing critical thinking skills: new Carnegie Mellon and Microsoft research flags negative cognitive impact of AI overuse. Read
GenAI Gartner security: New research reveals the security and data governance implications of rapid GenAI adoption. Read?
The top ten habits of high-performing IT development teams: Top-tier development teams are highly productive and efficient. They also share several common attributes. Read
Mega council officers had no idea what they were buying ahead of Oracle fiasco: Lack of skills left Birmingham officials unable to challenge suppliers and with a system incapable of managing finances. Read?