50 Not Out: A Blog Milestone for Mercia AI
- Chris Howell
- Jul 20
- 4 min read
Where does the time go?
Mercia AI quietly launched just five months ago—and somehow, we’ve already passed 50 blogs. 52, to be precise.
So I thought it was time for a little reflection. A short innings break, if you like. Let’s take a walk down memory lane and highlight some of the blogs that helped shape Mercia AI’s first few months.
The Early Days
Before Mercia AI officially opened for business, I published seven early blogs to get the ball rolling. I wanted useful content live from day one. Why? Because it seemed like a good idea—and, let’s be honest, I’m nice like that.
Blog 1 set the tone: Unlocking Business Potential with Tailored AI Solutions explored how businesses that harness AI effectively can unlock insights, drive innovation, and make smarter decisions. Still true today. Mercia AI was built to help make that happen.
Blog 3 tackled policy: The UK's AI Action Plan laid out a national vision for AI that’s inclusive, accessible, and transformative—a vision Mercia AI embraces wholeheartedly.
Going Deeper: AI & the Real World
One of our most-read posts was Thirsty Machines: How AI’s Water Consumption is Reshaping Data Centres—a look at how keeping AI models cool is creating water demand most people don’t think about.
We compared the water needs of humans vs. data centres and asked how AI could be part of the solution, not just the problem:
“AI is undoubtedly shaping the future, but its growth must be sustainable. The good news? AI can play a role in solving the water crisis.”
We then zoomed out to Europe, looking at how it stacks up in the AI arms race vs. the US and China, followed by coverage of AI Summit Paris 2025. That led to our first multi-part blog series: Will Europe’s AI Ambitions Succeed?
More multi-part series are coming—including one we’re calling The [REDACTED], which I’ve been planning for weeks. It’ll be fun to write and hopefully even more fun to read.
AI in Sport: The Beautiful Game and Beyond
We’re big sports fans here at Mercia AI (#PUSB), so it’s no surprise that AI in sport became one of our most popular themes.
One highlight was our Deep Research F1 Challenge, where we asked four AI chatbots who would win the 2025 Drivers’ Championship. It was a great way to compare how each handles data, prediction, and nuance:
“This comparison shows how Deep Research tools can help anyone—from business owners to sports fans—make informed decisions and better understand complex topics.”
We returned to football for The Rise of AI in Football, exploring how AI now influences everything from recruitment to tactics to fan engagement:
“AI isn’t just part of football’s future—it’s shaping it right now.”
We served up Game, Set, AI to look at how tennis is embracing AI in coaching, fairness, and performance. And we analysed the impact of Microsoft’s AI megadeal with the Premier League and how the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 served as an AI testing ground.
Most recently, How Formula 1 Uses AI: We Are Checking looked under the hood:
“Formula 1 has always pushed the limits—first with engines, then with aerodynamics, and now with data.”
Adapting to a Changing World
Not everything’s been sport. We responded to the US Liberation Day Tariffs by showing how AI can help UK businesses adapt:
“When margins are tight and traditional strategies are under strain, AI offers new ways to adapt and thrive.”
In Rise of the Frontier Firm, we looked at the next wave of businesses that will operate with AI agents built-in—firms that treat AI like infrastructure.
Local Impact: Mercia Minds
In early May, we launched Mercia Minds—our community initiative to make AI more accessible at a local level.
The first Mercia Minds Live event didn’t quite go to plan, but the local Facebook
response was brilliant. Thank you for the support—it meant a lot.
We followed up with Living with AI, a reminder that AI isn’t just something “over there”:
“It’s in your pocket, your home, your car—and increasingly, your workplace and social life.”
The Big Questions
Mercia AI has never shied away from the deep stuff.
In Is AI the New Anti-Christ? we addressed fear, misinformation, and mistrust directly:
“AI isn’t the Anti-Christ. It’s not good or evil. It’s a tool. One that reflects the people building it, training it, and using it.”
If you love us asking more big questions, then you're going to love The [REDACTED].
Building a Community takes Time
This month, we launched our own Reddit space: r/EverydayAIUK. A place where real people can talk about how AI is actually used—no hype, no jargon, no spam. Just everyday AI for everyday life.
Final Thoughts: Raising the Bat
So here we are: 50+ not out.
Still early in the innings, but already proud of how far we’ve come. The ideas, the feedback, the clients, the community—thank you for being part of it.
Mercia AI isn’t slowing down. The next 50 blogs are coming. Until then, you can access all of our current blogs for your enjoyment. And if you want to be informed of our fresh blog content, then sign up for the Mercia AI Newsletter, which contains blog updates and other goodies. The sign-up form can be found at the bottom of this and every other page on the site.
