Your Artificial Intelligence (AI) questions answered

From growth zones to data centres, the north-east of England and Cumbria are fast becoming a hub for artificial intelligence (AI) development and use. But people across the region have been wondering how to spot the ever-evolving technology in content, and how to use it without the "environmental guilt". We put your questions to an expert. Professor David Hughes, associate dean in research and innovation at Teesside University, advises the government on AI. His top takeaway is that the technology is exciting and people did not need to be afraid. Telmo in Newcastle asked if there were any security risks, or if there would be a security risk in the future? "The short answer is, yes," Hughes said, particularly when it comes to fraud and misinformation. He advised people to look for trusted sources. "Agencies like the BBC are accountable, social media platforms as well," he said. "If misinformation goes on there, they're responsible to take it down." Pete wanted to know how to check if what he was viewing or reading was artificial. Hughes said you could no longer tell by the quality of the image. "Increasingly, the days of 'it's got six fingers' are going," he said. Instead, people nee

Mar 6, 2026 → Mar 25, 2026