Editorial Team

Modern Scot focuses on clear, factual reporting and analysis of Scotland’s civic, cultural, economic and environmental life.

AI History Archive

Shakey the Robot (1969): The World’s First Intelligent Mobile Robot

Long before autonomous vehicles and domestic robots became familiar ideas, a machine moved through a room, stopped at obstacles, reconsidered its path, and continued without waiting for a person to tell it what to do. It was called Shakey. Developed at the Stanford Research

AI History Archive

2006 – AI Goes Mainstream: How Google, Facebook, and Amazon Brought AI to Everyday Life

In 2006, something changed in how people used the internet, though it was not announced as a change. Search results began to feel more precise. Social platforms no longer showed information in simple order. Online shops started to anticipate what a customer might want

2002 – Roomba: The First AI-Powered Consumer Robot That Changed Home Automation

In 2002, a small machine began moving across floors without being pushed. It did not follow

ELIZA (1964): The First Chatbot and the Birth of Natural Language Processing

In 1964, computer scientist Joseph Weizenbaum introduced a program called ELIZA. At a time when computers

2012 – AlexNet Wins the ImageNet Competition: The Deep Learning Breakthrough That Sparked the AI Boom

In 2012, an image recognition system reduced its error rate by a margin that did not

Economy·Featured·Scottish News

Scottish EV Maker Munro Plans New Plant as Industrial Demand Grows

Munro, the Scottish maker of all electric 4×4 utility vehicles, is reported to be planning a new UK manufacturing plant from 2027.

by Editorial Team

3 June 2026

Infrastructure·Scottish News

Scotland Must Not Build a Digital Future It Cannot Escape

AI data centres are being promoted as engines of growth, innovation and green technology. Scotland should ask a harder question before giving

by Editorial Team

2 June 2026

Featured·Infrastructure·Scottish News

Scotland’s Space and Defence Sites Face Fresh Scrutiny After US Israel Technology Proposal

A draft American defence provision would create a formal US Israel defence technology cooperation initiative covering drones, missile defence, cyber, artificial intelligence,

by Editorial Team

1 June 2026

Featured·Infrastructure·Scottish News

The Map That Proves Scotland Does Not Control Scotland

Scotland now hosts a layered network of military, nuclear, aviation, space, and environmental pressures. Some of it is historical and deeply woven

by Editorial Team

30 May 2026

Featured·Infrastructure·Scottish News

The American Military Network Scotland Hosts

American military activity in Scotland no longer looks like the Cold War bases once found at Holy Loch, Edzell and Machrihanish. It

by Editorial Team

29 May 2026

Featured·Policy and Government·Scottish News

100 Things an Independent Scotland Could Choose To Do

Independence would not decide Scotland’s future policy. It would decide who gets to decide it. Scotland’s present problem is not that it

by Editorial Team

28 May 2026

Community·Featured·Scottish News

New Ebola Emergency Is Distant From Scotland, but the Route In Is Clear

A new Ebola emergency in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda has been declared a public health emergency of international

by Editorial Team

20 May 2026

Economy·Featured·Scottish News

Google Fires a Warning Shot Over Scotland’s Digital Future

Google says its new Android developer verification rules are intended to make phones safer. Scotland should still pay attention, because a country

by Editorial Team

18 May 2026

Featured·Infrastructure·Scottish News

Twenty Eight Scottish Monuments in the Crosshairs of a New UK Power Corridor

A proposed 400kV overhead line from Caithness to Beauly has been presented as essential to Scotland’s net zero electricity system. But Historic

by Editorial Team

16 May 2026

Featured·Policy and Government·Scottish News

The King’s Speech and Scotland: Where The Real Risks Lie

The King’s Speech set out a large Westminster programme on energy, Europe, immigration, housing, digital identity, public services and national security. Modern

by Editorial Team

13 May 2026

Community·Featured·Heritage·Scottish News

Western Isles Tribute Marks Passing Of Gaelic Scholar Rev Dr Roderick Macleod MBE

Rev Dr Roderick Macleod MBE, a former member of the first Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and a noted Gaelic scholar, minister, writer

by Editorial Team

12 May 2026

Featured·Policy and Government

Biodiversity Is Becoming Law in Scotland

For years, biodiversity policy in Scotland largely existed in the language of targets, strategies and environmental ambition. Nature restoration was encouraged, discussed

by Editorial Team

6 May 2026

Economy·Scottish News

Grangemouth’s Next Industrial Test May Begin With The Chemicals Behind Medicine

Celtic Renewables has joined a UK consortium backed by more than £7 million to develop bio based solvents for pharmaceutical manufacturing. The

by Editorial Team

5 May 2026

Policy and Government·Scottish News

Why The FOI On John Swinney’s International Affairs Speech Matters

A Freedom of Information release on John Swinney’s international affairs speech does not prove hidden wrongdoing. What it does show is something

by Editorial Team

5 May 2026

Energy

Scotland’s Energy Future Will Be Decided By The Grid, Not Just The Turbines

Jacobs has been appointed to an eight year framework supporting Murphy’s SSE portfolio. Behind the corporate language sits a larger Scottish story:

by Editorial Team

4 May 2026

Energy

A Royal Visit, A Working Port, And Scotland’s Energy Future

The Duke of Edinburgh’s visit to Montrose Port gave Angus a ceremonial moment. Behind it sits a more important question: whether one

by Editorial Team

4 May 2026

Energy

Scotland Has the Waves. Now Come the Hard Questions.

A new intervention from marine energy advocates argues that wave power should become one of the United Kingdom’s next major clean energy

by Editorial Team

4 May 2026

Spin-The-Globe

When a Seed Became a Licence: How a US Court Case Still Shapes Food, Medicine and Code

In 1994 Monsanto was granted a patent for genetic material from a virus that it used to incorporate new genetic material into

by Editorial Team

2 May 2026

Scotland, In Focus·Scottish Sites We Love

Walk Highlands

Founded by Helen and Paul Webster in 2006, the Walk Highlands website features more than 2,200 awe-inspiring, spectacular walking routes all over

by Editorial Team

30 April 2026

AI History Archive

2026 – The Sonic Intelligence Academy Defines AI Music

Before AI music could be measured, it had to be defined. There is a point, rarely noticed at the time, when a

by Editorial Team

30 April 2026

Scotland Image Gallery·Scotland, In Focus

Edinburgh: Stone & Shadows

Edinburgh reveals itself most precisely when the light begins to fall. In Edinburgh: Stone and Shadows, Stefan Lenz works with a rare

by Editorial Team

20 April 2026

Environment·Scottish News

Scotland’s Climate Intelligence System and the Quiet Rise of Data Led Governance

Across Scotland, a new layer of decision making infrastructure is taking hold inside local government. It does not campaign, it does not

by Editorial Team

3 April 2026

Spin-The-Globe

Global Oil and LPG Supply Chains Under Pressure

Summary Historic supply shock. Middle East conflicts (notably the Strait of Hormuz incidents) have slashed oil flows by ~20 million barrels/day, triggering the largest

by Editorial Team

31 March 2026

Spin-The-Globe

Morgan Stanley Granted Rare Fed-OCC Exemption in Transatlantic Restructure

On March 26, 2026, the Federal Reserve Board quietly approved a joint finding with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency

by Editorial Team

31 March 2026

Scotland, In Focus·Scottish Sites We Love

Flowers Grown in Scotland

Flowers Grown in Scotland is an exemplary website dedicated to showcasing the richness of Scotland’s floriculture directly from the fields of local

by Editorial Team

16 February 2026

Scotland, In Focus·Scottish Sites We Love

The Scottish Yarn Festival

Exploring the Rich Tapestry of Scottish Culture at the Scottish Yarn Festival In the heart of Perthshire, the Scottish Yarn Festival, previously

by Editorial Team

15 February 2026

Scotland, In Focus·Scottish History Ledger

History of the Plague in Scotland

“History of the Plague in Scotland,” authored by L.A. Barbe in 1919, offers a meticulous account of one of the most devastating

by Editorial Team

21 May 2025

Policy and Government·Scottish News

Edinburgh Joins Core Cities — But What’s Really In It?

Edinburgh has become the 12th member of Core Cities UK, a group that claims to champion urban policy change—but critics might ask

by Editorial Team

9 April 2025

Scotland, In Focus·Scottish Sites We Love

Buchanan Bespoke Shoemaking

Buchanan Bespoke stands as a paragon of Scottish craftsmanship, rooted deeply in the proud heritage of traditional shoemaking. Their website offers a

by Editorial Team

16 February 2025

Scotland, In Focus·Scottish Sites We Love

Folklore Scotland

Folklore Scotland is an enchanting portal to the mystical and mysterious aspects of Scottish culture, making it a treasure trove for anyone

by Editorial Team

16 February 2025

Scotland, In Focus·Scottish Sites We Love

Edinburgh Research Archive (ERA)

In the digital age, access to scholarly information is crucial for the advancement of knowledge and innovation. The Edinburgh Research Archive (ERA),

by Editorial Team

16 February 2025

Scotland, In Focus·Scottish Sites We Love

Scottish Community Drama Association (SCDA)

If you’re keen on delving into the dynamic world of Scottish theatre or simply looking for a cultural deep dive from the

by Editorial Team

17 January 2025

Scotland, In Focus·Scottish Sites We Love

Project Mapping – Scotland’s Trains

In the fascinating world of rail network mapping, Andrew Smithers’ Project Mapping stands out as a rich repository and a critical platform

by Editorial Team

17 December 2024

AI History Archive

2017 – Transformers and BERT Revolutionize Natural Language Processing (NLP)

In 2017, a short research paper proposed that language might be handled without reading it in order. The claim was not presented

by Editorial Team

31 March 2024

AI History Archive

2018 – AI-Generated Art Sells for $432,500: The Rise of Artificial Intelligence in Creativity

A portrait produced by a machine was sold in New York for $432,500. The sale took place at Christie’s on 25 October

by Editorial Team

5 March 2024

AI History Archive

2016 – AlphaGo Defeats Go Champion Lee Sedol: The AI That Mastered Strategy

A move was played in Seoul that did not look correct. It came early in the second game. Those watching assumed it

by Editorial Team

5 March 2024

AI History Archive

2015 – The Founding of OpenAI: A Turning Point in AI Research

In 2015, a new artificial intelligence laboratory was announced with an unusual premise. It would not operate as a conventional company. It

by Editorial Team

5 March 2024

AI History Archive

2011 – IBM Watson Wins Jeopardy! The AI That Outperformed Human Champions

In February 2011, a machine stood behind a lectern and answered questions framed as clues. It did so quickly, often before its

by Editorial Team

5 March 2024

AI History Archive

1997 – Deep Blue Defeats Garry Kasparov: The First AI Victory Over a World Chess Champion

In May 1997, a world champion resigned after nineteen moves. The game had not developed in the usual way. The position collapsed

by Editorial Team

5 March 2024

AI History Archive

1996 – IBM’s Deep Blue vs. Garry Kasparov (Game 1): The Day AI Beat a World Chess Champion

In February 1996, a world champion resigned a game he had expected to control. It lasted thirty seven moves. The opponent was

by Editorial Team

5 March 2024

AI History Archive

Support Vector Machines (SVMs) – A Breakthrough in Machine Learning (1995)

In 1995, a method appeared that did not attempt to imitate intelligence. It approached the problem from a different direction. Instead of

by Editorial Team

5 March 2024

AI History Archive

The Second AI Winter (1987): How Hype and Overpromising Led to AI’s Decline

By the late 1980s, artificial intelligence had already made a promise it could not keep. The promise had been made in offices

by Editorial Team

5 March 2024

AI History Archive

The Backpropagation Algorithm (1986): The Breakthrough That Revived Neural Networks

In 1986, a method for correcting mistakes began to matter more than the mistakes themselves. The paper was technical. It did not

by Editorial Team

5 March 2024

AI History Archive

The Rise of Expert Systems (1980): AI’s First Practical Success

By 1980, artificial intelligence had already disappointed its backers more than once. Funding had been reduced. Expectations had been revised. The grand

by Editorial Team

5 March 2024

AI History Archive

Lighthill Report and the Second AI Winter (1973): When AI Research Came to a Standstill

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has seen both periods of rapid progress and frustrating setbacks. One of the biggest blows to AI research came

by Editorial Team

5 March 2024

AI History Archive

The Birth of PROLOG (1972): The Programming Language That Shaped AI

In 1972, a rather different idea of computing emerged from Europe. It did not concern speed, or hardware, or even efficiency in

by Editorial Team

5 March 2024

AI History Archive

The First AI Winter (1966): When Hype Collapsed and AI Research Stalled

There was a moment, not long after the birth of artificial intelligence, when it seemed the age of thinking machines had already

by Editorial Team

5 March 2024

AI History Archive

The Perceptron Algorithm (1958): Frank Rosenblatt’s Breakthrough in Machine Learning

There was a point, in the late 1950s, when the idea of a machine learning from experience began to move from speculation

by Editorial Team

5 March 2024

AI History Archive

The 1956 Dartmouth AI Conference: The Birth of Artificial Intelligence as a Field of Study

There was no single machine, no sudden invention, no decisive breakthrough. Instead, there was a gathering. A small group, a summer, and

by Editorial Team

5 March 2024

AI History Archive

The Birth of Artificial Intelligence: When John McCarthy Coined the Term (1955)

There was a point, before the systems, before the industry, before the scale, when the problem was not how to build artificial

by Editorial Team

5 March 2024

AI History Archive

The First AI Programs (1951): The Birth of Machine Intelligence in Games

Artificial intelligence is now a dominant force in strategy games, from machines that can outplay world champions at chess to AI driven

by Editorial Team

5 March 2024

AI History Archive

Alan Turing’s “Computing Machinery and Intelligence” (1950): The Birth of Machine Intelligence

In 1950, British mathematician and computer scientist Alan Turing published a paper that did not simply advance a field, it quietly unsettled

by Editorial Team

5 March 2024

AI History Archive

The Birth of Artificial Neural Networks: McCulloch & Pitts’ 1943 Breakthrough

Artificial intelligence and deep learning now sit at the centre of modern technological life, shaping everything from facial recognition and language translation

by Editorial Team

5 March 2024

AI History Archive

Nikola Tesla’s Radio-Controlled Boat (1898): The Birth of Autonomous Machines

In the closing years of the nineteenth century, before the language of artificial intelligence had even been formed, there was a moment

by Editorial Team

5 March 2024

AI History Archive

Charles Babbage’s Analytical Engine: The First Concept of a Programmable Computer (1837)

Long before the age of silicon, before circuitry and code, there was an attempt to build a machine that could follow instructions.

by Editorial Team

5 March 2024

AI History Archive

Blaise Pascal’s Mechanical Calculator: The Birth of Computational Devices (1642)

Long before modern computers, artificial intelligence, and digital processors, the idea that a machine might assist human thought began with a far

by Editorial Team

5 March 2024

AI History Archive

Al-Jazari: The Ingenious Engineer Who Pioneered Robotics (1206)

When people speak of robotics and automation, they tend to picture modern factories, artificial intelligence, and highly advanced humanoid machines. It feels

by Editorial Team

5 March 2024

AI History Archive

Ancient Visions of Artificial Intelligence

When artificial intelligence is discussed, the instinct is to look forward. To imagine machines yet to be built, systems yet to be

by Editorial Team

4 March 2024

AI History Archive

A Brief History of Artificial Intelligence

The history of artificial intelligence did not begin with computers, nor even with mathematics. It emerged from a far older human impulse:

by Editorial Team

1 March 2024

Scotland, In Focus·Scottish History Ledger

A Critical Inquiry into the Scottish Language

In his seminal work, “A Critical Inquiry into the Scottish Language,” Francisque-Michel embarks on a scholarly exploration of the intricate tapestry that

by Editorial Team

21 October 2023

Scotland, In Focus·Scottish History Ledger

Clan Bruce

“Clan Bruce” by T. Innes presents a historical exploration into one of Scotland’s most illustrious and legendary families—the Bruces. Originating from the

by Editorial Team

24 May 2022

Scotland, In Focus·Scottish History Ledger

The Old Scottish Wine Trade

“The Old Scottish Wine Trade,” authored by L.A. Barbe in 1919, offers a meticulous exploration of Scotland’s historical involvement in the importation

by Editorial Team

15 May 2022

Scotland, In Focus·Scottish History Ledger

The Old Scottish Fisheries

In “The Old Scottish Fisheries,” L.A. Barbe provides a detailed historical account of Scotland’s rich and abundant fishing heritage, as documented from

by Editorial Team

15 May 2022

Scotland, In Focus·Scottish History Ledger

A Comparative View of the Lengths of the Principal Rivers of Scotland

A comparative view of the lengths of the principal rivers of Scotland with a comparative view of the height of the falls

by Editorial Team

5 May 2022

Scotland, In Focus·Scottish History Ledger

Historical Scotland Map by L.G. Bullock

This historical map by L.G. Bullock, was printed and published by John Bartholomew & Son Ltd. in 1950. It is a richly

by Editorial Team

5 May 2022

Scotland, In Focus·Scottish Sites We Love

Scotland’s Lost Country Houses

Have you ever taken a drive through the Scottish countryside and come upon a dilapidated structure and wondered what led to its

by Editorial Team

26 April 2021

Scotland Image Gallery·Scotland, In Focus

Stonehaven, Scotland

Located in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, Stonehaven is a town steeped in a rich tapestry of history that reflects the broader narrative of Scotland’s

by Editorial Team

25 April 2021

Scotland Image Gallery·Scotland, In Focus

Edinburgh Road in South Queensferry, Scotland

Nestled about 10 miles from Edinburgh city center, South Queensferry is a picturesque waterfront town renowned for its stunning views of the

by Editorial Team

25 April 2021

Scotland Image Gallery·Scotland, In Focus

Skateraw Road in Newtonhill

Skateraw Road in Newtonhill, Scotland, encapsulates the charm of a village steeped in history and community spirit. Originally known as Skateraw, this

by Editorial Team

25 April 2021

Scotland Image Gallery·Scotland, In Focus

Pennan, Scotland

Nestled about 40 miles north of Aberdeen, the historic fishing village of Pennan has transformed into a charming holiday retreat, bustling with

by Editorial Team

25 April 2021

Scotland Image Gallery·Scotland, In Focus

Montrose at Night

Montrose, a picturesque coastal town in Angus, Scotland, is steeped in a rich historical tapestry that dates back centuries. Situated between Dundee

by Editorial Team

25 April 2021

Scotland Image Gallery·Scotland, In Focus

Fishtown of Usan, Scotland

Nestled in a picturesque bay near Montrose, the Fishtown of Usan stands as a haunting reminder of Scotland’s rich maritime past. Established

by Editorial Team

24 April 2021

Scotland Image Gallery·Scotland, In Focus

Catterline, Scotland

Nestled along the rugged coast of the North Sea in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, the quaint village of Catterline is a place where history

by Editorial Team

24 April 2021

Scotland, In Focus·Scottish Sites We Love

Women in Scottish History

Women in Scottish History, or WISH, is a project funded and developed by the University of Guelph, and it’s a fascinating effort

by Editorial Team

19 April 2021

Scotland, In Focus·Scottish Sites We Love

Scots Words and Place-Names

Do you know the difference between a skellie and a skerrie or a smiddie and a souter? Or that wast is west

by Editorial Team

19 April 2021

Scotland, In Focus·Scottish Sites We Love

Aberdeen Gardening

I am simply delighted to have stumbled upon a website that not only offers detailed information about all of the beautiful plants

by Editorial Team

19 April 2021

Scotland, In Focus·Scottish Sites We Love

Mountain Bothies Association

Bothies are a great way for groups of 5 or less to seek shelter from the elements while visiting remote areas and

by Editorial Team

19 April 2021

Transport

Early Morning Inverness to Heathrow Service Returns After Two Decades

A change to the British Airways timetable restored early morning departures from Inverness to London Heathrow, allowing same day return travel for

by Editorial Team

28 March 2019

Scotland, In Focus·Scottish Sites We Love

Caledonian Maps

Tucked away in the Highlands, just off the A96 and a few miles in from the Moray Firth, you’ll find Caledonian Maps

by Editorial Team

10 August 2017

Scotland, In Focus·Scottish Sites We Love

Ancient Scotland

Martin McCarthy has been taking photographs of Scotland’s landscape since 1993 and selflessly documenting Scotland’s ancient sites online since 1995. Based out

by Editorial Team

18 August 2016