Nesta

Testing AI-powered interviewers with vulnerable groups Given there is rigorous quality assurance, we believe AI can be used in ways that empower research participants and that extend reach without compromising ethical research practices

Can AI make research more inclusive and can it do so safely? 🤖

AI-powered interviewers could help us reach larger, more diverse groups. But urgent questions remain around ethics and safety, especially with vulnerable groups.

We recently trialled AI interviews - here are our learnings ⤵️

Join us next week 📣 What does it really take to deliver the UK’s Best Start in Life ambition?

On 3 March, hear from Olivia Bailey MP on how we can reach the government's 75% development goal by 2028.

📍 Hybrid | ⏰ 17:45–18:45 | 🎟️ Final spaces available ➡️ https://bit.ly/4aZxtEn

Four things to know about the updated nutrient profile model Updating the NPM is an important step in improving our nation's health, but applying the new NPM to policy must not delay the implementation of the healthy food standard.

Harnessing policy is key to tackling obesity. 🍏

New updates to the Nutrient Profile Model help policymakers target unhealthy foods with the latest science.

Nesta's Hugo Harper outlines 4 things policymakers need to know 👇

Next week 📣 How can we fix the British economy?

The UK faces steep challenges: stagnant wages, a fraying public realm and fractious politics. But these problems are all fixable with the right policy action.

Join us to explore solutions with our expert panel. Register: https://bit.ly/3LUFIsC

New: 10 policy changes to make getting a heat pump easier
www.nesta.org.uk/blog/10-thin...

@acjsissons.bsky.social @chrisbaraniuk.com @helenczerski.bsky.social @drsimevans.carbonbrief.org @janrosenow.bsky.social @duncanrobinson.bsky.social @dharavyas.bsky.social @betatalk.bsky.social

Hackathon to habit: embedding AI at Nesta and BIT AI adoption isn't binary, but rather a continuum from non-use to deep integration within organisations

AI could add £400B to the UK economy by 2030 - if the workforce adopts it. 🚀

At Nesta & @bitglobal.bsky.social, 9 in 10 staff now use AI weekly. We’re sharing lessons from our journey to help other organisations ⤵️

Are student loans a stealth tax? 🗞️

In the latest edition of the economics edit, chief economist @timleunig.bsky.social unpacks recent changes, their impact on repayments, and why the system needs reform.

Subscribe to our fortnightly bulletin: https://bit.ly/4oYrHaN

Join us tomorrow - online and in person spaces still available 📣

The economic and productivity costs of obesity and excess weight in the UK Nesta commissioned Frontier Economics to quantify the economic cost of these conditions and the potential economic gains from addressing them

Hi there, the figure on the cost of obesity and excess weight to the UK economy comes from a report we published last year, which you can read here: www.nesta.org.uk/report/the-e...

How we’re bringing new stories about the future of home heating to the screen 📺

We’ve partnered with North One TV & Channel 4 on Guy Martin’s House Without Bills, to share with viewers how the way we heat our homes is changing, through the small screen.

📺 Tune in tonight at 21:00 on Channel 4

What should the UK government do if they truly want to harness AI for policymaking? How AI is the trojan horse for investing in the foundations of digital government

AI could be the Trojan Horse for investing in the foundations of digital government.

We share our five recommendations for what the government should do if they truly want to harness AI to reimagine the entire policymaking process ⤵️

Obesity and excess weight cost the UK economy ~£31bn a year in lost productivity.

Over a third comes from people leaving the labour market. New data show this burden isn’t evenly spread, with higher long-term sickness in the North West and North East. https://bit.ly/3M3U4XJ

Getting a policy announced is hard, but getting it 'done' is even harder!

It's been 6 months since the Government announced the Healthy Food Standard - inspired by a @nestauk.bsky.social policy. And we haven't heard much on their plans to implement.

Read more👉 www.nesta.org.uk/blog/six-thi...

The UK faces steep challenges: stagnant wages, a fraying public realm, and fractious politics. But these problems are all fixable with the right policy action.

Join us to explore solutions with Nesta’s @acjsissons.bsky.social and economist John Springford. Register: https://bit.ly/3LUFIsC

Join us for our next event exploring policy success stories and lessons for policymakers.

This time, we're looking at what’s driving the rise in employment among prison leavers in England and Wales, with experts in prison reform and education.

Register: https://bit.ly/4pSyXp6

How should we define healthy food in policy? To reshape the UK food environment, we need to measure how healthy food actually is. Nesta explains why the Nutrient Profile Model is the evidence-backed, legally robust tool to drive future food poli...

Most people want to eat healthier, but our food environment makes it hard. Policies can help, but we need a clear measure of ‘healthy food’.

The Nutrient Profile Model (NPM) is evidence-backed, legally robust, and a valuable tool for shaping future policy.

How will the Warm Homes Plan change home heating? Prioritising electric technologies like heat pumps and solar, and backed by £15 billion investment, the plan will mandate minimum energy efficiency standards for rented homes and create the new Warm H...

Happy Warm Homes Plan day (for those who celebrate).

We have been working through the plan here at @nestauk.bsky.social, and we have some thoughts.

More numbers and analysis will follow!

www.nesta.org.uk/blog/how-wil...

What can we expect from the UK’s Warm Homes Plan?

Join sector experts for a free lunchtime online event tomorrow to unpack the plan’s priorities on clean heating, energy efficiency & tackling fuel poverty.

Sign up to receive the webinar link straight to your inbox ➡️ https://bit.ly/4a2Eq8e

We’re in the middle of an electric revolution ⚡

Our CEO Ravi Gurumurthy explains how switching to electric heating can make homes more comfortable and sustainable while strengthening the UK’s energy independence.

At Nesta, we’re working to make this transition easier & more affordable for all.

The UK’s early years system can feel like a maze. At our upcoming online event, we're looking to the USA to explore a digital solution to the problem: First Five South Carolina.

Join us at lunchtime on 20 Jan to hear about its impact and the lessons the UK can learn https://bit.ly/3ZhNb8c

New life on Mars: babies in space Is 2026 the year we start to think seriously about having babies away from earth?

🚀 2025 was the year space exploration ramped up. But what are the practical and ethical considerations for life in space - and even having babies away from Earth?

Read our Future Signal, part of our annual collection on the technology and trends that could shape 2026. https://bit.ly/49kWBV3

📺 Smart appliances are bringing adverts into the heart of the home. As screens appear on fridges and washing machines, is 2026 the year our kitchens become the new commercial frontier?

Read our Future Signal, part of our annual collection on the trends and tech that could shape 2026 ⤵️

Colleagues and I at @nestauk.bsky.social have launched a microsite to support local authorities as they develop their Best Start in Life local plans. Includes data profiles, guidance and sign up forms for free coaching and events
products.nesta.org.uk/bsil

The machinery of government: AI’s promotion to the executive level Is 2026 the year machines start to take the top roles in government?

🤖 From virtual cabinet members in Albania to AI-governed islands, machines are moving into executive office. Is 2026 the year machines start to take the top roles in govt?

Read our Future Signal, part of our annual collection on the trends and tech that could shape 2026 ⤵️ https://bit.ly/49ldqzn

Quantum turn: into the next era of navigation As GPS navigation becomes less reliable, is 2026 the year quantum technology takes us to a safer destination?

🧭 Imagine a world without GPS: our phones, computers & cars all rely on it. But it can leave us vulnerable to shocks: is this the year quantum sensors help plot a safer course?

Read our Future Signal, part of our annual collection on the trends and tech that could shape 2026 ⤵️

Crowd-sourced bus routes: a new era of adaptive public infrastructure Is 2026 the year the UK adopts flexible demand-led design enabled by digital technologies to provide better public services?

🚌 Is 2026 the year public-led design is put in the driving seat?

In Shanghai, a customised bus system allows passengers to propose new routes, launching them within days once demand is met. Could the UK follow suit?

Read our Future Signal, part of our annual collection on emerging trends ⤵️

Against the grain: building a future safe from sand crime Sand is a critical global resource, the foundation of every modern city - but it’s also fuelling organised crime. Is 2026 the year we find a way to protect the world’s second-most used resource?

⏳ Sand is the foundation of every modern city, but it’s fuelling multi-million-pound organised crime.

In 2026, we need better governance and innovation to protect this critical resource. Will we find a way?

Read our Future Signal, part of our collection on the trends & tech that could shape 2026 ⤵️

Pothole tech: Britain’s most boring problem just got interesting Is 2026 the year where we see one of Britain’s most ordinary frustrations driving innovation?

🕳️ Britain’s roads are deteriorating faster than they can be patched: is 2026 the year when we see one of Britain’s most ordinary frustrations driving innovation?

Read our Future Signal, part of our annual collection on the trends and tech that could shape the year ahead ⤵️

🤖 Is 2026 the year that data collectives - unions, trusts, mutuals and clubs - tilt the balance of power in cyberspace away from mega-platforms and towards the citizen?

🔮 Read our Future Signal, part of our annual collection on the trends and tech that could shape 2026: https://bit.ly/3YXtySG

New year, same ads? Four reasons why the new unhealthy food advertising ban falls short We need ambitious, innovative policy that matches the pace of the fast-evolving advertising environment to support people to make healthier choices.

The UK's ban on unhealthy food ads starts this week, but it’s full of holes 🍫🍟

Loopholes allow brand-wide ads, while billboards and social media are exempt. Our research shows stronger rules could cut obesity by 16%.

Read Nesta’s new blog on why the ban falls short: