From the Editor’s Desk

Welcome to the first ever edition of Cirkit!

Every month (or slightly more often if we get overexcited), we’ll plug you directly into the latest trends in tech, business innovation, and digital culture. No endless clickbait, no “Top 10 AI Tools That Will Change Your Life” filler - just considered, relevant insights with a dash of humour to keep your eyes from glazing over.

Why “Cirkit”? Because technology is nothing without connection. Whether you’re an engineer, a curious enthusiast, or the person everyone calls when the printer stops working (“have you tried turning it off and on again?”), you’re part of a network.

Today we flick the switch.

Main Current - This Month’s Spotlight

AI Beyond the Hype: Where the Real Work Begins

Artificial Intelligence has now moved from “interesting experiment” to “can’t escape it even if you try.” It’s inside your email filters, it decides what you see on social media, heck - it might’ve even brought you to this newsletter! But in some companies, it’s quietly deciding who get hired.

The real change isn’t the flashy AI demos - it’s in the invisible improvements that make existing processes better. Logistics firms are optimising delivery routes in real-time. Hospitals are analysing scans faster than a doctor can scroll through them. Even the local council’s pothole reporting app is starting to feel like it was made this century (although very buggy)…

The challenge for 2025 is less about “what AI can do” and more about “what we should let it do.” Governments are scrambling to regulate, companies are frantically upskilling their staff, and yes - somewhere, someone is still trying to make an AI model that can perfectly toast bread.

Takeaway: The winners of the next decade will be those who blend human oversight with machine precision. Trust the AI to do the boring stuff; trust humans to do the thinking.

Quick Sparks - News in 60 Seconds

1. Quantum Leap: Researchers have achieved 256 qubits with improved error correction. That’s edging us closer to quantum computing that can outpace classical systems in practical applications - and possibly make every password you’ve ever used obsolete.

2. The EU AI Act Arrives: Sweeping rules mean any business using AI in Europe will need to document, explain, and justify automated decision-making. Expect compliance officers to become very popular.

3. Solid-State Batteries Coming Soon: Prototype production lines are finally being tooled for next-gen batteries - meaning longer laptop life, faster charging, and fewer “low battery” emergencies mid-presentation.

4. Cloud Pricing Sneak Increase: Several major providers have quietly nudged their storage costs up. If your finance department hasn’t noticed yet… they will.

Circuit Theory - Deep Dive

The Age of Edge Computing

Not long ago, “put it in the cloud” was the answer to everything. But now, the pendulum is swinging back - and it’s heading for the edge.

Edge computing processes data where it’s generated, instead of sending it halfway around the world to a data centre. That means faster responses, lower latency, and better security.

Where you’ll see it:

• Smart factories analysing production line data instantly.

• Retail analytics running AI on in-store devices to track footfall without sending identifiable data to the cloud.

• Transport systems predicting failures before they happen, based on sensors running onboard rather than in a distant server farm.

The trade-offs:

• Local devices need more computing power (more cost and more maintenance).

• Security shifts from one giant castle (the cloud) to a thousand smaller fortresses (edge devices).

• Firmware updates will haunt your dreams!

Bottom line: Edge computing is not replacing the cloud; it’s complementing it. The future will be hybrid - and hopefully, less of a bandwidth hog.

Data Pulse - This Month’s Metrics

Power-Up Picks - Recommended Tools

• Raycast - For Mac users, a launcher that eliminates half your mouse clicks.

• Obsidian - Turns your notes into an interconnected knowledge web.

• Uptime Kuma - Free, self-hosted uptime monitor that lets you keep an eye on your systems without handing data to a third party.

• Zed - A new collaborative code editor with less lag than your morning brain.

Feature Article - Cirkit Lab Build #1

The Overengineered Desk Sensor

For our first in-house experiment, we built a desk sensor that tells us whether we’ve been sitting for too long. It uses:

• A mm-wave presence sensor

• A Raspberry Pi (to log activity)

• A small e-ink display to show time at desk

• A passive-aggressive on-screen message when you pass the “you’ve been here for too long” threshold.

Lessons learned:

• E-ink displays are surprisingly easy to integrate… if you like libraries with docs from 2017.

• The “motivational message” feature made one tester nearly destroy the setup.

• But more importantly - it works (and so does standing up every once in a while)!

On the Horizon

Over the coming weeks, we will be organising a mini-event for you to join in with at home, plus a discussion on AI, Regulation, and the Myth of the Fully Automated Office.

Also in September will be our second edition of Cirkit, featuring a self-watering plant pot that sends you an email when it’s bored.

Final Surge

Well, that’s our first Cirkit. In the coming months, we’ll refine, expand, and electrify this space, but for now, we would like to thank you for joining us for this shockingly witty (personally, I would say comedic) newsletter.

Until next time: stay connected, stay curious, and don’t let your smart fridge sass you.