There’s still time to register for our fully funded Intro to Data and AI for SME Leaders course (cohort 1). Learn data + AI essentials, how they support different business needs, + how to make informed decisions. 📅 Cohort 1 opens 29 Sept, registration closes 22 Sept 👉: https://ow.ly/Ev9e50ZF8iW

Ready to turn your AI knowledge into action? From Foundation to Implementation: Getting SME Leaders Ready for AI is a funded course for leaders ready to adopt AI. Over 4 weeks, build confidence to move from exploration to actionable steps. Cohort 1 begins 20 Oct. 🔗: https://ow.ly/15zL50ZF3WR

📢 We're looking for a Partnership Manager to develop and implement the partnership strategy for AI Scotland on a part-time (28 hours per week), 12-month basis: https://elxw.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1001/job/14807/?utm_medium=jobshare&utm_source=External+Job+Share

🎉We are delighted to welcome Jen Henderson as the new Head of Professional Learning and Education Programmes at The Data Lab, following nearly five years of leading talent partnerships at Heriot-Watt University: https://thedatalab.com/news/new-head-of-professional-learning/

There's still time to start your Masters this October 🎓 Fully funded scholarships are still available for courses at universities including Abertay University, Edinburgh Napier University, The Glasgow School of Art, University of Strathclyde + more. Explore courses: https://ow.ly/R2JQ50ZF3qc

Ready to develop and test an AI solution for your business? We’re offering fully funded project support to SMEs, giving you hands-on access to expert Data Science and AI support to explore, develop and test practical solutions, tailored to your business. 🔗: https://ow.ly/KFBP50ZF3ji

The Data Lab enjoyed a team away day last week, swapping the office for the Falkirk Wheel!🛞 From team updates, discussions, crazy golf and riding around on Segways, almost 30 staff old and new got together to take part in fun team-building activities ⛳

Looking to build AI confidence? Our self-paced, fully funded Intro to Data and AI for SME Leaders course gives you a clear foundation. Learn data + AI essentials, how they support different business needs, + how to make informed decisions. 📅 Cohort 1 opens 29 Sept 👉: https://ow.ly/Li9x50ZF3b0

Interested in AI or data science? Your Masters could be fully funded 🎓 Fully funded scholarships are still available for October starts, with eligible courses at unis including Robert Gordon University, Glasgow Caledonian University, University of Dundee + more. Explore: https://ow.ly/EKqZ50ZF370

Have an idea for how AI could transform your business, but aren’t sure where to start? Our fully funded problem definition workshop helps SMEs define the right problem, understand their data, and identify practical next steps for an AI project. 🔗: https://ow.ly/U3On50ZF30G 

What can a practical AI testbed teach us about Britain’s digital infrastructure? In our latest blog, Saleh, our Head of Data and AI, explores how the right infrastructure can help organisations move from AI experimentation to real-world adoption. 🔗: https://ow.ly/hfPz50ZBZmH

Fully funded course! From Foundation to Implementation: Getting SME Leaders Ready for AI helps you explore how to apply AI responsibly in your organisation and take practical steps towards adoption. 📅 Cohort 1: 20, 22, 27 & 29 Oct 👉 Find out more: https://ow.ly/v1S450ZBZe7

Want to learn more about how Scotland’s Innovation Centres are supporting innovation, skills & economic growth? Join us online on 3 Sept for the final Roadshow event. Connect with the Innovation Centre community & explore opportunities for future collaboration. Register: https://ow.ly/KOPW50ZEOhi

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Microsoft Virtual Events Powered by Teams

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Fully funded Masters scholarship for October starts 🎓 Scholarships are available for eligible courses at 12 universities across Scotland. Explore the full range of eligible courses on our website — spanning data science, AI, business analytics, fintech and more: https://ow.ly/1zo750ZBYyW

Build your data and AI confidence – fully funded online course Introduction to Data & AI for SME Leaders helps you understand the fundamentals of data and AI, explore its value for your organisation and take the next steps towards adoption. 📅 Cohort 1 opens 29 Sept 👉: https://ow.ly/4g7k50ZBZ8B

Great to host Scott Arthur MP last Tuesday. After meeting with our CEO Heather Thomson, we visited the Centre for AI in Assistive Autonomy in the Bayes Centre with COO David Richardson and heard from Professor Ramamoorthy — and even saw their autonomous research vehicle.

Scottish Widows is using play to make pensions and financial planning more engaging, accessible & meaningful. Our next webinar explores how game design can educate, motivate & empower people to take positive action towards their financial future. 📅 27 Aug, 12:30-13:30 🎟️ https://ow.ly/GFmS50ZwGcc

We joined @venturecafe.bsky.social Edinburgh’s Thursday Gathering last night, held in our home base at Bayes Centre. What a brilliant evening full of connections and big ideas. It was great to run into some familiar faces and meet new folks! Thanks, Claudia and Arielle, for inviting us to showcase!

The National AI Adoption Programme for SMEs is back! Build your confidence, develop your skills, and take practical steps towards AI adoption with fully funded training, workshops, and expert support. 🔗 Find out more here: https://thedatalab.com/business-support/ai-adoption/

🎮 What kind of data goes into making game characters speak, emote and feel more lifelike? At our next webinar, Anita, Senior Speech Data Engineer at Speech Graphics, will take us behind the scenes of the datasets powering audio-driven facial animation. 📅 25 Aug, 3-4 PM 👉: https://ow.ly/o2Nb50ZBXuF

Understanding Earnings of Creative Graduates: Rip-off University Degrees or Under-Rewarded Careers? Join our webinar at 1PM tomorrow to hear Dr Orian Brook share new research on graduate earnings, inequality, the creative economy, and how data can inform better policy. 🎟️ https://ow.ly/7JbH50ZwEge

Understanding the Creative Graduate Earnings Penalty: Rip-off University Degrees or Under-Rewarded Careers?

This session forms part of an ongoing series of events in partnership with Scottish Government’s Data Division in which we explore interesting public sector projects and initiatives that highlight and showcase innovative uses of data and AI.     Dr Orian Brook will discuss the findings from her recent analysis of earnings of graduates using the Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset for England. Previous work estimated that graduates of creative arts degrees earned less than others, controlling for the institution attended, and personal characteristics of graduates (gender, age,...

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🧬 Researchers at Stanford Uni have used AI to design 16 new viruses that successfully killed E. coli in lab tests. The breakthrough could help tackle antibiotic-resistant infections, but raises important questions around AI, biosafety and biosecurity. 🔗 https://ow.ly/ILFM50ZyBhs

Didn’t make it to DataFest 2026, or ready to dive back into the highlights? 🎥 You can watch every main stage talk on demand, exclusively via The Data Lab Community. Become a member for free today: https://community.thedatalab.com/

⏰ September starts are just around the corner — but there’s still time to apply for a fully funded data and AI MSc scholarship. If you’re looking for support to fund your studies this year, now’s the time to apply. 👉 Explore eligible courses: https://ow.ly/jCBU50ZtV0M

🔐 Security controls are only effective if people can actually use them In this blog, Hannah, Head of Information Security at Elementz, explores why security controls often fail in practice and how organisations can design security that works with the way people work. 👉 https://ow.ly/e6SR50ZtUYr

Companies aren’t judged for being attacked — they’re judged for how they respond. On 13 August, Caólán Keenan (Cyber and Fraud Centre) will share what incident management really looks like when you’re in the thick of it. ⏰ 12:30–13:30 https://community.thedatalab.com/networks/events/216488

AI agents from Anthropic and OpenAI used fake identities and spear‑phishing during a UK safety test, attempting to push malicious code into GitHub. The AI Security Institute says it shows a new form of autonomy and deception in frontier models. 👉 Read The Guardian article: https://ow.ly/Kx7M50ZwGAo

AI models shock UK testers by using fake identities to trick developers

AI Security Institute says models by OpenAI and Anthropic went rogue during a cybersecurity test and showed a new type of risk

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🎭 The Data Lab team are out and about at the Edinburgh Fringe! It’s always great to see the city come alive during the Fringe — bringing together creativity, ideas and people from all walks of life. A few of the team took some time to enjoy the show Midsummer and soak up the atmosphere. 👋

In our latest guest blog, Iain, Volunteer at MyTerms Alliance, explores the challenges facing today’s digital privacy landscape — from complex consent processes & privacy policies to the need for greater transparency & control over how personal data is shared & used. 🔗: https://ow.ly/LLRm50ZwTTF

⏰ Still thinking about studying data and AI this September? Fully funded data and AI MSc scholarships are still available for September 2026 entry. Don’t leave it too late — explore our approved courses today: https://thedatalab.com/academy/masters/scholarships/