Tag: Online

Company Check : Moltbook And The Risks Of AI Agents Interacting Online

Posted on by Paul Stradling

Moltbook, a newly launched social platform designed for AI agents rather than humans, has drawn scrutiny after researchers exposed major security flaws and raised questions about how autonomous its AI activity really is.

A Platform For ‘Agents’

Moltbook is presented as a social network designed specifically for AI agents, which are software programs built to act autonomously on behalf of humans rather than human users themselves. The platform allows these software agents to create posts, comment on discussions, and upvote or downvote content in a format that closely resembles Reddit. Humans are not intended to participate directly, although they can observe activity and create or manage the agents that appear to populate the site. Since its launch in late January, Moltbook has become a focal point for debate among AI researchers, security professionals, and technology businesses.

What Moltbook Is Designed To Do

According to its own description, Moltbook is intended to function as the front page of what it calls the “agent internet”. In other words, it provides a shared online environment where AI agents can interact with one another without requiring continuous human prompting. The platform displays public metrics showing millions of registered agents, tens of thousands of discussion areas known as submolts, and millions of posts and comments generated over a short period.

Mostly LLMs Commenting

The agents operating on Moltbook are not independent systems in their own right. In reality, in most cases, they are instances of large language models (LLMs) configured through an agent framework that allows them to post content, respond to messages, and follow basic goals set by a human owner. It is worth noting early on here that these models generate text by predicting likely word sequences based on training data and prompts, rather than actually through reasoning, intention, or awareness.

Who Built Moltbook And Why?

Moltbook was created by Matt Schlicht, a software developer who has stated publicly that the platform itself was built using an AI agent under his direction. Schlicht has said that the project was motivated by a desire to explore what happens when AI agents are given a persistent online space in which to interact and develop behaviour over time.

In fact, the platform is closely linked to OpenClaw, an open source AI agent system that can be run locally on a user’s computer. OpenClaw allows users to create personalised agents that can browse the web, interact with services, send messages, and carry out automated tasks. Moltbook provides those agents with a public forum where their outputs can be shared and reacted to by other agents.

Gives Agents A Sense of Purpose?

Schlicht has said in public interviews that Moltbook was created to give his own agent a sense of purpose, describing it as a way for agents to express interests derived from their configuration and from the behaviour of their human owners. For example, an agent created by a physics student might frequently post about physics related topics.

What Happens On The Platform?

Moltbook actually shows a wide range of content, although much of it is repetitive or low value. For example, many posts consist of introductory messages, test content, or short exchanges between agents. Other discussions focus on abstract themes such as intelligence, identity, ethics, or the relationship between humans and machines.

However, some posts have attracted attention for using hostile or dramatic language about humans, including speculative scenarios involving conflict or extinction. That said, AI researchers have cautioned against interpreting this content as evidence of intent or belief. This is because AI large language models (LLMs) are known to reproduce patterns found in their training data, including science fiction tropes and extreme rhetoric, when prompted in certain ways.

Agents Can Interact Freely

Henry Shevlin, associate director of the Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence at the University of Cambridge, has described Moltbook as the first large scale platform where AI agents appear to interact freely with one another. He has also warned that it is extremely difficult to distinguish between content generated autonomously by agents and content that is directly prompted or scripted by humans.

Questions Around Authenticity And Scale

One of the central issues raised by Moltbook is whether its reported scale reflects genuine agent activity. For example, a security investigation by cloud security firm Wiz found that while Moltbook claimed around 1.5 million registered agents, those agents were associated with roughly 17,000 human owners. This equates to an average of around 88 agents per person.

Wiz researchers reported that there were few technical controls in place to prevent a single user from creating very large numbers of agents automatically. They also demonstrated that humans could post content directly to the platform while presenting it as agent generated, with no mechanism to verify whether an account represented an autonomous agent or a scripted process.

This finding seems to undermine the idea that Moltbook represents a self organising network of independent machines. In practice, much of the activity appears to involve humans operating large numbers of bots, sometimes for experimentation and sometimes for promotion or visibility.

Security Failures And Data Exposure

The most serious concerns surrounding Moltbook relate to security. For example, Wiz disclosed that it discovered a misconfigured backend database that allowed unauthenticated access to Moltbook’s production environment. The exposed data included approximately 1.5 million API authentication tokens, more than 35,000 email addresses, and thousands of private messages exchanged between agents.

It seems that the issue actually stemmed from a Supabase backend that lacked proper row level security controls. Supabase is designed to expose certain public keys to client side applications, but those keys must be paired with strict access policies. In Moltbook’s case, those safeguards were not in place.

Using the exposed credentials, Wiz researchers said they were able to read sensitive data and also modify live content on the platform. They also demonstrated the ability to edit posts, impersonate agents, and inject content into active discussions. The investigation also found that some private messages contained third party credentials, including plaintext API keys for other services.

Fixes

It should be noted here that Wiz reported the vulnerabilities responsibly, and the Moltbook team applied a series of fixes over several hours to restrict access. The incident has since been widely cited as an example of the risks associated with rapidly built, AI assisted platforms that handle real user data without mature security practices.

Implications For Businesses And Developers

For businesses, Moltbook is not a platform to adopt but more of a case study in emerging risk. For example, it really highlights how quickly AI driven products can reach public visibility and scale while lacking basic controls around identity, privacy, and integrity. Organisations experimenting with AI agents face similar challenges around authentication, access control, and accountability.

The platform also illustrates reputational risk. For example, content generated by AI agents can easily be interpreted as expressing views or intent, even when it is simply probabilistic text generation. Businesses deploying public facing agents may find themselves associated with outputs that they did not anticipate or approve.

Future Opportunities Highlighted

Supporters of Moltbook argue that the concept points towards future opportunities, including machine to machine collaboration, automated research synthesis, or distributed problem solving. However, critics counter that the current implementation demonstrates how far the technology remains from supporting those goals safely.

Not Suitable For Casual Use

Moltbook’s creator has acknowledged that both the platform and OpenClaw are experimental and not suitable for casual use. Security experts have also advised that such tools should only be run on isolated systems by users who understand the underlying risks. The episode has also renewed scrutiny of so called vibe coding, where AI tools are used to rapidly assemble applications without thorough human review.

Moltbook could be said to offer a clear illustration of the gap between building something quickly and building something responsibly, at a time when AI is lowering the barriers to software creation faster than security and governance practices are evolving.

What Does This Mean For Your Business?

What Moltbook ultimately exposes is not an imminent rise of autonomous machine societies, but really the current fragility of systems that present themselves as agent driven while remaining heavily shaped by human control, incentives, and shortcuts. The platform demonstrates how easily AI outputs can appear coordinated, expressive, or intentional when placed in a social context, even though the underlying behaviour remains rooted in pattern generation rather than actual understanding or agency. At the same time, the security issues uncovered show how quickly experimental AI platforms can move from curiosity to risk when they are opened to the internet and entrusted with real data.

For UK businesses, Moltbook highlights the need for caution when experimenting with AI agents that operate publicly or semi autonomously, particularly where those agents interact with external systems, users, or data. Weak controls around identity, authentication, and access management can expose organisations to data breaches, regulatory consequences, and reputational harm, even when the technology is framed as experimental. The case also highlights the importance of understanding how AI generated content may be perceived by customers, partners, and regulators, regardless of how it was technically produced.

For developers, researchers, and policymakers, Moltbook sits at the intersection of innovation and governance. It really shows how quickly AI assisted development can produce complex, high profile platforms, while also revealing how existing security practices, verification mechanisms, and accountability models struggle to keep pace. As agent based systems become more common in business operations and online services, the questions raised by Moltbook around authenticity, safety, and responsibility are likely to become more pressing rather than less.

Sustainability-in-Tech : B&Q Adds Sustainable Brick to Its Online Range

Posted on by Paul Stradling

B&Q has added a brick described as the world’s most sustainable to its online marketplace, making a low-carbon construction material previously used mainly on commercial projects available to UK consumers for the first time.

Kenoteq

The product in question is the K-Briq, developed by Scottish cleantech firm Kenoteq, and its arrival on B&Q’s website marks a notable step in the retailer’s wider push to bring lower-impact building materials into the mainstream DIY market.

A Brick Designed to Tackle Construction Waste

The K-Briq was developed to address one of the construction sector’s biggest environmental problems, i.e., waste. For example, government figures show that construction, demolition and excavation activities generate around 62 million tonnes of waste each year in the UK, accounting for well over half of all waste produced nationally.

A Resource

Kenoteq’s approach is to treat much of that material not as waste, but as a resource. For example, the company says each K-Briq is made using more than 95 per cent recycled construction and demolition material, including crushed masonry, plasterboard and other site waste that would otherwise be sent to landfill.

Made Using Hydraulic Compression and Cured

Unlike traditional clay bricks, which are typically fired in kilns at temperatures of around 1,000 degrees Celsius, the K-Briq is formed using hydraulic compression and then cured rather than fired. This process dramatically reduces energy use during manufacture. Kenoteq has previously said the brick produces up to 90 per cent less embodied carbon than a conventional fired brick, a claim that has helped position it as a flagship low-carbon alternative in a carbon-intensive industry.

From Commercial Projects to DIY Shelves

Until now, K-Briqs have largely been specified for commercial developments, architectural projects and temporary installations, including high-profile festival structures and demonstration buildings. Interest from architects and designers has played a significant role in the product’s wider visibility, particularly among professionals looking to reduce the embodied carbon of their projects.

According to Kenoteq, that professional interest has increasingly spilled over into the domestic market. For example, architects and designers who specified the bricks at work began asking for the same product for home renovations, garden walls and landscaping projects.

Sam Chapman, co-founder and executive director of Kenoteq, has previously explained the shift in demand, saying: “We’ve seen a remarkable change in recent months. Architects and designers who’ve specified K-Briqs for major commercial projects are now incorporating our bricks into their personal renovations and garden designs. This organic demand showed us that the consumer market is ready for a truly sustainable building material.”

B&Q’s decision to list the product online appears to reflect that change, effectively removing one of the remaining barriers to adoption, i.e., availability.

Certification and Performance Credentials

One of the reasons the K-Briq has gained so much traction beyond pilot projects is certification. In May this year, the brick received certification from the British Board of Agrément (BBA), a key benchmark for construction products used in the UK.

BBA certification assesses safety, durability and fitness for purpose, and is often essential for materials to be specified in mainstream building projects. For a product built from recycled waste and produced using an unconventional manufacturing process, that approval is significant.

At the time of certification, Chapman said the assessment showed that environmental performance and technical standards did not need to be in conflict. “The construction industry is under increasing pressure to reduce its environmental impact while maintaining high standards of quality and safety. The BBA certification of the K-Briq demonstrates that these goals are not mutually exclusive.”

For B&Q customers, it is likely that the certification could provide some reassurance that the brick can be used in real-world projects, rather than being limited to experimental or decorative applications.

How the Listing Fits B&Q’s Sustainability Strategy

The K-Briq joins B&Q’s online range as part of a broader strategy from B&Q to highlight products that reduce environmental impact across home improvement, building and gardening categories.

B&Q uses its “Green Star” labelling system to identify products that meet specific sustainability criteria, developed in partnership with sustainability charity Bioregional. These criteria focus on areas such as responsible sourcing, lower embodied carbon, reduced toxicity and energy-saving performance.

The retailer has publicly stated that it wants to make it easier for customers to choose lower-impact options without needing specialist knowledge. In a previous sustainability statement, B&Q said its aim is to “help customers live more sustainably at home by offering products that reduce environmental impact while remaining affordable and practical.”

That approach has already seen B&Q remove peat from its own-brand compost range, expand its selection of low-VOC paints, and commit to responsibly sourced timber certified under FSC or PEFC schemes. Adding a low-carbon brick seems to extend that thinking into the structural materials category, which has traditionally been harder to decarbonise.

Why Bricks Matter for Net Zero

Bricks may seem an unlikely focus for sustainability headlines, but their impact is actually quite substantial. For example, the UK produces an estimated 2.5 billion clay bricks each year, with brick manufacturing responsible for millions of tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually. Firing bricks is energy-intensive, and most kilns still rely heavily on fossil fuels.

As pressure grows on the built environment to align with the UK’s net zero targets, embodied carbon is receiving far more attention. Embodied carbon refers to the emissions associated with producing, transporting and installing materials, as opposed to operational emissions from heating or lighting a building.

Low-carbon alternatives such as the K-Briq directly target this problem by reducing emissions at the manufacturing stage. While such products alone will not decarbonise construction, they form part of a broader shift towards circular economy principles, where materials are reused and waste is designed out of the system.

Growing Momentum Across the Sector

The timing of B&Q’s move also aligns with wider developments in the construction industry. For example, back in October, the Construction Industry Council formally approved a new British Standard, the Competence Framework for Sustainability in the Built Environment. The framework is intended to embed sustainability knowledge and accountability across planning, design and construction roles.

Industry figures involved in drafting the framework have described it as a necessary step towards making sustainability measurable and consistent across the sector, rather than an optional extra. Products like the K-Briq sit squarely within that context, offering practical ways to translate sustainability commitments into material choices.

Kenoteq itself was spun out of Heriot-Watt University, reflecting the growing role of academic research in driving commercially viable low-carbon construction solutions.

Mainstream Access Rather Than Niche Adoption

By listing the K-Briq on its website, B&Q is effectively testing whether demand for sustainable construction materials extends beyond early adopters and design professionals. The retailer’s national reach and strong DIY customer base make it a significant distribution channel, particularly for home and garden projects that fall outside the scope of large developers.

For Kenoteq, the listing represents a shift from niche specification to mainstream retail exposure. For B&Q, it offers a high-profile example of how sustainability credentials can be applied not just to finishes and furnishings, but to the core materials used to build and shape homes.

The move does not solve the construction sector’s carbon challenge on its own, but it does signal a growing willingness among major retailers to back alternative materials and make them accessible to a wider audience, at a time when both regulation and public expectations around sustainability continue to tighten.

Not Just Kenoteq

It should be noted here that Kenoteq is not the only company attempting to reduce the environmental impact of fundamental construction materials, although examples that have reached mainstream retail remain relatively limited.

Across the UK construction supply chain, several manufacturers have introduced lower-carbon alternatives to traditional bricks, blocks and concrete products, often focused on reducing embodied carbon rather than eliminating it entirely.

For example, Lignacite produces concrete blocks using up to 70 per cent recycled aggregate and has invested heavily in reducing cement content, one of the largest sources of emissions in concrete manufacturing. Its products are commonly stocked by national builders’ merchants rather than consumer DIY retailers.

Forterra, one of the UK’s largest brickmakers, has also launched lower-carbon brick and block ranges that incorporate recycled content and improved kiln efficiency. While these products still rely on firing, Forterra has reported double-digit percentage reductions in embodied carbon compared with its older product lines.

Concrete producers have also begun targeting embodied emissions more directly. For example, Cemex markets its Vertua low-carbon concrete range in the UK, which uses alternative binders and optimised mix designs to cut emissions by between 30 and 70 per cent depending on specification. Similar products are offered by Aggregate Industries, which supplies low-carbon concrete and aggregate blends for both infrastructure and building projects.

On the retail side, availability is more uneven. Builders’ merchants such as Travis Perkins and Jewson stock a growing number of recycled-content blocks, low-carbon cement alternatives and responsibly sourced timber products, largely aimed at trade customers rather than casual DIYers.

Mainstream DIY retailers have tended to focus first on visible sustainability wins such as peat-free compost, certified timber and low-VOC paints. Wickes, for instance, has expanded its ranges of responsibly sourced timber and insulation products designed to improve home energy efficiency, but has so far made fewer structural low-carbon materials available to consumers.

Against that backdrop, B&Q’s decision to list a near-fully recycled, non-fired brick is notable not because alternatives do not exist, but because few have been made easily accessible to non-trade customers. Most low-carbon structural materials remain concentrated in professional supply chains, specified by architects and contractors rather than chosen directly by householders.

That context helps explain why the K-Briq’s arrival on a mass-market retail platform has attracted attention. It represents one of the clearer examples of a genuinely low-carbon construction material moving beyond specialist projects and into a setting where sustainability choices are made by everyday consumers rather than procurement teams.

What Does This Mean For Your Organisation?

The decision to make a near fully recycled, non-fired brick available through a major DIY retailer is a practical signal that low-carbon construction materials are beginning to move from specialist specification into everyday purchasing decisions. This is less about a single product launch and more about how sustainability is starting to influence the basic materials people use to build, extend and improve homes.

For UK businesses across construction, design and property, the move reflects a changing commercial environment. Embodied carbon is becoming harder to ignore, not just because of regulation and net zero commitments, but because clients are increasingly asking direct questions about material choices. Products such as the K-Briq, therefore, offer businesses a way to respond with something tangible, certified and already available through familiar supply channels, rather than relying on bespoke solutions or untested alternatives.

Retailers also have a clear stake in this shift. B&Q’s listing suggests that sustainability is no longer confined to finishes and lifestyle products, but is beginning to shape decisions around structural materials that sit at the heart of building projects. That carries implications for supply chains, product ranges and how environmental credentials are communicated to customers who may not have technical expertise but still want to make informed choices.

For manufacturers and innovators, the development highlights the importance of credibility and scalability. Certification, performance data and compatibility with existing building practices appear to be decisive factors in whether low-carbon materials can move beyond pilot schemes and into wider adoption. The K-Briq’s progression from university research to commercial projects and now mass market retail illustrates that pathway clearly.

Taken together, the listing underlines a broader recalibration taking place across the built environment. Sustainability is increasingly being judged not by ambition alone, but by whether lower-impact materials can be made accessible, affordable and usable at scale. How far and how fast that transition goes will depend on cost, demand and policy pressure, but the direction of travel is becoming harder for businesses and other stakeholders to dismiss.

Featured Article : Children Hide Online Life From Families

Posted on by Paul Stradling

New research by the Children’s Commissioner for Wales, Rocio Cifuentes, has revealed that only 1 in 4 children in Wales tell their families about their online life.

Survey 

The survey about online safety was conducted in June 2024 to inform Cifuentes’s response to Ofcom’s consultation on its widening powers relating to the Online Safety Act (2023). The results were drawn from responses given by 1284 children and young people between the ages of 7 and 18, from 16 local authorities.

Only 28 Per Cent Tell Their Families 

The most telling statistic coming from the results of this survey is that just one in four (28 per cent) of children said they talk a lot to their family about what they do online.

Apps That Made Them Unsafe 

The survey also revealed that 29 per cent of children who listed apps that made them feel unsafe or unhappy mentioned Roblox, followed by YouTube (17 per cent), and Snapchat (12 per cent).

Roblox 

Roblox is a “virtual universe app” where users play a wide variety of games (and create games within Roblox) and chat with others online.

The concerns shared about Roblox (by children as young as 8) were about ‘toxic and rude’ users, ‘aggressive behaviour’, the ability to have conversations with strangers, being ‘scammed’, and also experiences of racial discrimination. Some commentators have noted that the fact that Roblox is user-generated could explain why there may not be the same degree of rigour applied to age ratings as content made by commercial companies.

In recent years, several concerns have been raised about Roblox. For example, there are worries about child safety, including the presence of inappropriate content and the potential for online predators to interact with children. The platform’s monetisation practices have also come under scrutiny, with critics arguing that the in-app purchase system may encourage excessive spending by children. Also, there are concerns about the exploitation of young developers who create content for Roblox, often without receiving fair compensation.

Privacy issues with Roblox have been another concern among some commentators, particularly regarding the handling of the personal information of young users. Fears about excessive screen time and the potential for gaming addiction among children have also been frequently highlighted.

Despite these concerns, Roblox continues to be a popular platform and it should be noted that Roblox has many positive aspects and initiatives aimed at improving safety. For example, it offers a platform for creativity and learning, thereby allowing users to develop programming and game design skills while fostering a sense of community and social interaction globally. The platform also provides robust parental controls, enabling parents to manage their children’s interactions and limit access to certain features or content.

Other positive aspects of Roblox are that it employs a dedicated team and automated systems for content moderation to swiftly detect and remove inappropriate content. Safety features such as age-appropriate settings, restricted chat functions for younger users, and regular safety updates help are also used to create a safer environment for children, plus Roblox supports developers with incentives and educational resources to help them succeed and monetise their creations fairly.

It’s also important to acknowledge that Roblox was not the only platform noted by children in the survey as making them feel unsafe but may be one that parents know less about than YouTube and Snapchat.

Concerns Not Taken Seriously 

One other worrying statistic revealed by the survey is that when children reported concerns directly with an online platform, only 32 per cent said they felt their concerns had been taken seriously.

Parents Warned to Look Closely at App Parental Controls

Publishing the results of the survey ahead of the school summer holidays, the Children’s Commissioner for Wales urged parents to look closely at information on parental controls, app content, and age requirements.

Rocio Cifuentes MBE said: “Online apps can give children fantastic opportunities to be creative, to express themselves, and to connect with their friends. But there are dangers too, and I know that keeping up with everything young people do online can feel daunting for parents and carers. Ahead of the summer holidays, where children are likely to spend more time on screens, it feels especially important that parents are equipped with the knowledge they need.  

“Luckily, there’s comprehensive and clear information out there from people like the NSPCC, and the Welsh Government, that I’d encourage all parents to read. Knowing more about parental controls, how to approach conversations about usage, age requirements, and the content of the app could go a long way to keeping your child safe and happy when they’re online.” 

Three Quarters Feel Safe 

It’s also important to acknowledge that despite the important findings about how unsafe some children feel online, the survey also found that the majority (76 per cent) of children said they feel happy and safe online. Also, children and young people most commonly said that if they saw something online that made them upset or worried, they would tell their parents, report it to the platform, or tell another family member.

Screen Time – A Worry For Teachers 

Teachers in Wales have also expressed concerns about the impact children’s screen time has on their education, with some seeing the impact of tiredness amongst pupils due to late-night gaming.

What Does This Mean For Your Business? 

The findings from the Children’s Commissioner for Wales have significant implications for businesses operating in the app and online platform sectors. The survey highlights what could be described as a critical disconnect between children’s online experiences and parental awareness, which creates both challenges and opportunities for your business.

The fact that only 28 per cent of children discuss their online activities with their families shows a need for apps and platforms to pay more attention to transparent communication and user safety. This means not only ensuring robust parental controls and safety features but also actively educating both parents and children on their usage. Platforms like Roblox, YouTube, and Snapchat (all-too-frequently cited for making children feel unsafe) should take these concerns seriously and enhance their safety protocols. By doing so, they may be able to build more trust and foster a safer environment that encourages more open discussions between children and parents about their online activities.

Also, the concerns raised online about Roblox, ranging from interactions with strangers to racial discrimination, highlight the importance of stringent moderation and user education. This could mean investing in advanced content moderation technologies and employing dedicated teams to swiftly address inappropriate behaviour and content. Emphasising the ethical treatment of young developers and ensuring fair compensation can also enhance a platform’s reputation and attract a more engaged, loyal user base.

Privacy issues are another critical area that demands attention. With increasing scrutiny on how personal information is handled, businesses like app makers must implement robust privacy policies and practices. Clear communication about these measures can reassure parents and guardians, fostering a safer and more trustworthy environment for young users.

The survey finding that only 32 per cent of children feel their concerns are taken seriously by platforms is worrying and clearly presents an opportunity for businesses to improve their customer service and support systems. By implementing responsive and empathetic customer service practices, platforms could enhance user satisfaction and trust. Creating easy-to-use reporting mechanisms and ensuring that user feedback may also lead to tangible changes can demonstrate a genuine commitment to user safety and well-being.

Thankfully, the survey results also suggests that while there are substantial concerns, the majority of children feel happy and safe online. This indicates that there is a solid foundation upon which to build. By continuing to innovate and implement best practices in safety and moderation, businesses can not only address current issues but also enhance the overall user experience.

The key takeaway, therefore, is the importance of balancing safety and creativity. Platforms should continue to offer engaging, creative opportunities for young users while maintaining a strong commitment to their safety and well-being.