https://www.theguardian.com/technology/artificialintelligenceai Latest news and features from theguardian.com, the world's leading liberal voice en-gb Guardian News &amp; Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. 2026 Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:16:26 GMT 2026-10-12T00:16:26Z en-gb Guardian News &amp; Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. 2026 https://assets.guim.co.uk/images/guardian-logo-rss.c45beb1bafa34b347ac333af2e6fe23f.png https://www.theguardian.com https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/oct/12/uk-strengthen-cyber-defences-minister-ai-firms-safety <p>Kanishka Narayan to say Britain cannot rely entirely on tech companies amid rising global concern over AI dangers</p><p>Companies building the most advanced AI systems must increase safety efforts, the UK’s AI minister will say, as he announces a strengthening of Britain’s cyber defences.</p><p>Kanishka Narayan will call on companies developing frontier AI to do more to make sure it is safe. He will say Britain cannot rely entirely on technology companies to police their own models and will argue the UK needs to build more of its own AI infrastructure.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/oct/12/uk-strengthen-cyber-defences-minister-ai-firms-safety">Continue reading...</a> AI (artificial intelligence) Kanishka Narayan Technology Politics Computing UK news Sun, 11 Oct 2026 23:01:39 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/oct/12/uk-strengthen-cyber-defences-minister-ai-firms-safety Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty Images Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty Images Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty Images Robert Booth and Dan Milmo 2026-10-11T23:01:39Z https://www.theguardian.com/science/2026/oct/11/feelgood-factor-of-human-interaction <p>Happy hormones | Fuel costs | Drive-in parking | Guys and girls | Young or old? | Singapore pollution</p><p>Re your report (<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/oct/06/pull-the-plug-protesters-resort-to-direct-action-against-ai-firms">‘Pull the plug’: protesters resort to direct action against AI firms, 6 October</a>), the US neuroscientist Ben Rein has shown that there is a fundamental difference in our cognitive response according to the type of interaction we have. In-person meetings and conversations show a dramatic increase in serotonin, oxytocin and dopamine – “feelgood” hormones – compared with online interactions. I have been encouraged to speak to&nbsp;people at bus stops.<br><strong>Judith Furner</strong><br><em>Eastbourne, East Sussex</em></p><p>• Re easing winter fuel costs (<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/money/2026/oct/06/chancellor-plans-major-intervention-to-help-poorer-uk-households-with-rising-energy-bills">Report, 6 October</a>), it would benefit everyone if the outrageous daily standing charges were reduced or on a sliding scale based on usage. I can’t be the only person whose standing charges each month are half or more than the energy used.<br><strong>Judith Pearson</strong> <br><em>Sheffield</em></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2026/oct/11/feelgood-factor-of-human-interaction">Continue reading...</a> Psychology Happiness AI (artificial intelligence) Technology Society Household bills Money Energy bills Formula One Singapore Pollution Sun, 11 Oct 2026 15:52:20 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/science/2026/oct/11/feelgood-factor-of-human-interaction Illustration: Jitendra Jadhav/Getty Images Illustration: Jitendra Jadhav/Getty Images Illustration: Jitendra Jadhav/Getty Images Guardian Staff 2026-10-11T15:52:20Z https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/oct/11/trump-ai-economy-reagan <p>‘Even if AI supercharged the economy, its impact on the government’s finances would be muted’</p><p>Back through political history to the age of <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ronald-reagan">Ronald Reagan</a>, Republicans have repeatedly promised the US public that tax cuts would pay for themselves, firing up economic growth and filling the government’s coffers.</p><p>The promise never really panned out. From the Gipper’s day on, the Republicans’ tax cuts inevitably increased the budget deficit. Despite its failure, though, the promise is back, coated in a fine new layer of <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/artificialintelligenceai">artificial intelligence</a> pixie dust. It will fail again.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/oct/11/trump-ai-economy-reagan">Continue reading...</a> US economy Economics Business AI (artificial intelligence) US politics Sun, 11 Oct 2026 11:00:25 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/oct/11/trump-ai-economy-reagan Photograph: Alex Brandon/AP Photograph: Alex Brandon/AP Photograph: Alex Brandon/AP Eduardo Porter 2026-10-11T11:00:25Z https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/oct/11/ai-annihilation-advanced-nuclear-weapons <p>This is no scoffing matter. The accelerating proliferation of advanced nuclear weapons is bringing ‘end times’ closer by the day</p><p>Humankind has fearfully and sometimes joyfully anticipated the end of the world ever since it began. The Bible’s Book of Revelation speaks of “end times”, a period of tribulation, war, famine, plague, floods and environmental catastrophe that may seem a less absurd prospect today than perhaps it once did. Islam, too, posits a fateful day of judgment or day of reckoning. Christian evangelicals believe that, in the final rapture, a chosen few – the righteous or the “elect” – will be saved while sinners burn. It’s a minority view. Matthew’s gospel predicts most people will defy, ignore or ridicule warnings of imminent Armageddon. Peter, another of Jesus’s disciples, agreed: “In the last days, scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.” Yet such worldly scepticism does not mean a universal cataclysm is less likely. It may make it more probable.</p><p>Donald Trump’s <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/14/us/politics/trump-ai-regulation-anthropic-dario-amodei.html">blanket denials</a> of the dangers ostensibly posed by artificial intelligence, whose uncontrolled development is seen by some as <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/sep/09/ai-superintelligence-risks-warnings-scientists-politicians/">the latest harbinger of apocalypse</a>, could be interpreted as fulfilling Peter’s prophecy. This US president, the nearest thing the world has to a one-man doomsday machine, is a great one for scoffing and evil desires. In Robert Harris’s 2019 novel, The Second Sleep, a worried scientist lists half a dozen ways the world might end. They include devastating climate change, pandemic disease, a giant asteroid collision with Earth, or some other overwhelming calamity. Few heed the fictional scientist’s fears. In the event, what destroys him and almost everybody else is a disturbingly plausible cyber crash – a global digital and internet meltdown.</p><p>Simon Tisdall is a Guardian foreign affairs commentator</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/oct/11/ai-annihilation-advanced-nuclear-weapons">Continue reading...</a> Nuclear weapons AI (artificial intelligence) World news Technology Donald Trump US news Iran US foreign policy Middle East and north Africa Sun, 11 Oct 2026 09:00:22 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/oct/11/ai-annihilation-advanced-nuclear-weapons Photograph: KCNA VIA KNS/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: KCNA VIA KNS/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: KCNA VIA KNS/AFP/Getty Images Simon Tisdall 2026-10-11T09:00:22Z https://www.theguardian.com/news/audio/2026/oct/11/gaza-is-a-moral-tear-in-the-universe-naomi-klein-and-astra-taylor-radical-thinking-with-aditya-chakrabortty-podcast <p>Are we really living through ‘end-times fascism’? Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor think so.</p><p>In a new series from the Guardian, the pair speak to Radical Thinking with Aditya Chakrabortty in an extended interview. From Trump 2.0 and the rise of the tech billionaires to Gaza and the climate emergency, Klein and Taylor argue we are not just lurching from crisis to crisis but are in a new and dangerous moment in history. But they haven’t given up hope of a fightback</p><p>You can watch the full interview with Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor <a href="https://youtu.be/ZlKyyIKLeDc">here</a>.</p><p>Aditya’s suggested reading:</p><p>Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor’s End Times Fascism is out now and available <a href="https://guardianbookshop.com/end-times-fascism-9780241816288/">here</a>. It began life as a special essay in the Guardian, which you can read <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2025/apr/13/end-times-fascism-far-right-trump-musk">here</a>.</p><p>A different take on whether Trump 2.0 is fascist comes from the economist Branko Milanović on his brilliant <a href="https://branko2f7.substack.com/p/the-ideology-of-donald-j-trump">Substack</a>.</p><p>Elon Musk gives Donald Trump millions, and Trump gives Musk vast access to power. To read more, look at Quinn Slobodian and Ben Tarnoff’s <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/ng-interactive/2026/mar/17/elon-musk-gamify-government">long read for the Guardian</a> and their recent book <a href="https://guardianbookshop.com/muskism-9780241805114/">Muskism: A Guide for the Perplexed</a>.</p><p>For some phenomenal reporting on Trump’s second term, look at <a href="https://guardianbookshop.com/regime-change-9781398567597/">Regime Change by Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan</a>.</p><p>How did the business class learn to love Trump and embrace chaos? Paul Heideman gives a lucid analysis in his recent book <a href="https://guardianbookshop.com/rogue-elephant-9781804294086/">Rogue Elephant</a>.</p><p>Klein and Taylor’s book regularly cites Karen Hao’s <a href="https://guardianbookshop.com/empire-of-ai-9781802064650/">Empire of AI</a>.</p><p>There’s also <a href="https://guardianbookshop.com/the-nerd-reich-9781398555921/">The Nerd Reich</a>, just out from Gil Durán.</p><p>If you enjoyed <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJ725uqMC3o">Yanis Varoufakis in our last episode of Radical Thinking</a>, check out his book <a href="https://guardianbookshop.com/technofeudalism-9781529926095/">Technofeudalism</a>.</p><p>As for how AI is imposing a new age of total corporate control, <a href="https://guardianbookshop.com/the-rulers-9781804297346/">The Rulers</a> by Cecilia Rikap is a must.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/audio/2026/oct/11/gaza-is-a-moral-tear-in-the-universe-naomi-klein-and-astra-taylor-radical-thinking-with-aditya-chakrabortty-podcast">Continue reading...</a> Politics Trump administration Donald Trump Climate crisis AI (artificial intelligence) Elon Musk Gaza US politics UK news US news World news Sun, 11 Oct 2026 07:00:20 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/news/audio/2026/oct/11/gaza-is-a-moral-tear-in-the-universe-naomi-klein-and-astra-taylor-radical-thinking-with-aditya-chakrabortty-podcast Photograph: The Guardian Photograph: The Guardian Photograph: The Guardian Presented by Aditya Chakrabortty with Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor; produced by Frankie Tobi and Luke Smith; executive producers Maz Ebtehaj, Kirsty Major and James Tindale 2026-10-11T07:00:20Z https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2026/oct/11/nuclear-war-and-malicious-use-of-ai-threaten-end-of-humanity-by-2100-says-lancet-assessment <p>Newly established commission identifies 17 catastrophic threats to human health but says ‘realistic route to act’ on each exists</p><p>Humans could become extinct by the year 2100 due to malicious use of AI or nuclear conflict, according to a new global risk assessment.</p><p>They top a list of 17 major threats to human health over the next 75 years, which also includes cuts to aid spending by wealthy countries, the climate crisis and childhood malnutrition.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2026/oct/11/nuclear-war-and-malicious-use-of-ai-threaten-end-of-humanity-by-2100-says-lancet-assessment">Continue reading...</a> Global health Global development AI (artificial intelligence) Nuclear weapons Climate crisis World news Sat, 10 Oct 2026 23:01:09 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2026/oct/11/nuclear-war-and-malicious-use-of-ai-threaten-end-of-humanity-by-2100-says-lancet-assessment Photograph: Karim Sahib/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Karim Sahib/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Karim Sahib/AFP/Getty Images Kat Lay 2026-10-10T23:01:09Z https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/audio/2026/oct/11/black-box-the-chatbots-the-line-ep-5-full-story-podcast <p>Five stories that feel like five answers to one important question: in a world where AI chatbots can help us through a breakup, listen like a friend, be a life coach, draft a difficult text message and do our work, where do we draw the line?</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/audio/2026/oct/11/black-box-the-chatbots-the-line-ep-5-full-story-podcast">Continue reading...</a> AI (artificial intelligence) Sat, 10 Oct 2026 19:00:08 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/audio/2026/oct/11/black-box-the-chatbots-the-line-ep-5-full-story-podcast Illustration: Eleanor Shakespeare Illustration: Eleanor Shakespeare Illustration: Eleanor Shakespeare Presented by Michael Safi; produced by George McDonagh and Alex Atack; music and sound design by Rudi Zygadlo; executive producer Joshua Kelly 2026-10-10T19:00:08Z https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/oct/10/uk-foreign-ai-head-alan-turing-institute-george-williamson <p>George Williamson says ‘national resilience’ is key focus of ATI amid US and China’s runaway leadership in field</p><p>The UK must not become dependent on foreign AI systems that can be switched off at short notice and must develop its own versions of the technology, according to the head of the Alan Turing Institute.</p><p>The country needs a stronger domestic position in AI in response to the US and China’s runaway leadership in the field, with “national resilience” a key focus for ATI said George Williamson.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/oct/10/uk-foreign-ai-head-alan-turing-institute-george-williamson">Continue reading...</a> AI (artificial intelligence) UK news Defence policy UK security and counter-terrorism Politics Technology Computing Sat, 10 Oct 2026 10:00:55 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/oct/10/uk-foreign-ai-head-alan-turing-institute-george-williamson Photograph: Martin Godwin/The Guardian Photograph: Martin Godwin/The Guardian Photograph: Martin Godwin/The Guardian Dan Milmo Global technology editor 2026-10-10T10:00:55Z https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/picture/2026/oct/10/jon-davis-job-titles-ai-cartoon <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/picture/2026/oct/10/jon-davis-job-titles-ai-cartoon">Continue reading...</a> Work & careers AI (artificial intelligence) World news Computing Sat, 10 Oct 2026 10:00:54 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/picture/2026/oct/10/jon-davis-job-titles-ai-cartoon Illustration: Jon Davis/The Guardian Illustration: Jon Davis/The Guardian Illustration: Jon Davis/The Guardian Jon Davis 2026-10-10T10:00:54Z https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/oct/10/recruitment-boss-accused-of-being-behind-doxxing-campaign-against-rnli-and-anti-racism-activists <p>Tom Watson, of Worcester, alleged to be behind Big Time Charlie X account that created so-called Traitorbase</p><p>The owner of a recruitment firm has been accused of being at the centre of a so-called “doxxing” campaign against the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), anti-racism activists and business executives who recruit black, Asian and minority ethnic workers.</p><p>Tom Watson, from Worcester, is alleged to be behind an X account calling itself “Big Time Charlie”, which was deactivated shortly after he was named by the campaign group Hope Not Hate.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/oct/10/recruitment-boss-accused-of-being-behind-doxxing-campaign-against-rnli-and-anti-racism-activists">Continue reading...</a> RNLI UK news Rupert Lowe Restore Britain AI (artificial intelligence) X Social media Sat, 10 Oct 2026 07:00:50 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/oct/10/recruitment-boss-accused-of-being-behind-doxxing-campaign-against-rnli-and-anti-racism-activists Photograph: Facebook Photograph: Facebook Photograph: Facebook Ben Quinn Political correspondent 2026-10-10T07:00:50Z https://www.theguardian.com/politics/audio/2026/oct/10/gaza-is-a-moral-tear-in-the-universe-naomi-klein-and-astra-taylor-radical-thinking-with-aditya-chakrabortty-podcast <p>Are we really living through ‘end times fascism’? Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor think so.</p><p>In a new series from the Guardian, the pair speak to Radical Thinking with Aditya Chakrabortty in an extended interview. From Trump 2.0 and the rise of the tech billionaire to Gaza and the climate emergency, Klein and Taylor argue we are not just lurching from crisis to crisis but are in a new and dangerous moment in history. But they haven’t given up hope of a fightback</p><p><strong>Radical Thinking will be published every Saturday in the Politics Weekly feed</strong></p><p>You can watch the full interview with Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor <a href="https://youtu.be/ZlKyyIKLeDc">here</a>.<br><br> Aditya’s suggested reading:</p><p>Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor’s End Times Fascism is out now and available <a href="https://guardianbookshop.com/end-times-fascism-9780241816288/">here</a>. It began life as a special essay in the Guardian, which you can read <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2025/apr/13/end-times-fascism-far-right-trump-musk">here</a>.</p><p>A different take on whether Trump 2.0 is fascist comes from the economist Branko Milanović on his brilliant <a href="https://branko2f7.substack.com/p/the-ideology-of-donald-j-trump">Substack</a>.</p><p>Elon Musk gives Donald Trump millions, and Trump gives Musk vast access to power. To read more, look at Quinn Slobodian and Ben Tarnoff’s <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/ng-interactive/2026/mar/17/elon-musk-gamify-government">Long Read for the Guardian</a> and their recent book <a href="https://guardianbookshop.com/muskism-9780241805114/">Muskism: a Guide for the Perplexed</a>.</p><p>For some sensational reporting on Trump’s second term, look at <a href="https://guardianbookshop.com/regime-change-9781398567597/">Regime Change by Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan</a>.</p><p>How did the business class learn to love Trump and embrace chaos? Paul Heideman gives a lucid analysis in his recent book <a href="https://guardianbookshop.com/rogue-elephant-9781804294086/">Rogue Elephant</a>.</p><p>If you want more on the new tech bros of Silicon Valley, here are four recommendations:</p><p>- In their book, Klein and Taylor regularly cite Karen Hao’s <a href="https://guardianbookshop.com/empire-of-ai-9781802064650/">Empire of AI</a>.</p><p>- There’s also <a href="https://guardianbookshop.com/the-nerd-reich-9781398555921/">The Nerd Reich</a>, just out from Gil Durán.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/audio/2026/oct/10/gaza-is-a-moral-tear-in-the-universe-naomi-klein-and-astra-taylor-radical-thinking-with-aditya-chakrabortty-podcast">Continue reading...</a> Politics Trump administration Donald Trump Climate crisis AI (artificial intelligence) Elon Musk Gaza US politics US news UK news World news Sat, 10 Oct 2026 06:45:50 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/politics/audio/2026/oct/10/gaza-is-a-moral-tear-in-the-universe-naomi-klein-and-astra-taylor-radical-thinking-with-aditya-chakrabortty-podcast Photograph: The Guardian Photograph: The Guardian Photograph: The Guardian Presented by Aditya Chakrabortty with Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor, produced by Frankie Tobi and Luke Smith; the executive producers were Maz Ebtehaj, Kirsty Major and James Tindale 2026-10-10T06:45:50Z https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/09/flock-job-cuts <p>Company, which grown rapidly in recent years, has been under scrutiny as privacy concerns grow</p><p>Flock Safety plans to shed about 18% of its employees, people with direct ⁠knowledge of the plans said on Thursday, as the maker of <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/artificialintelligenceai">AI</a>-powered <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/surveillance">surveillance</a> cameras and license-plate readers faces <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/25/florida-warrants-flock-camera-greg-steube">mounting opposition</a> to its products from communities and ⁠lawmakers.</p><p>The people said the job ⁠cuts came after ​a voluntary buyout program and were expected to affect roughly 270 employees at Flock, a surveillance technology startup that has seen rapid growth in recent ⁠years. Employees will leave the company at the end of the month.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/09/flock-job-cuts">Continue reading...</a> Surveillance AI (artificial intelligence) Technology Business US news Fri, 09 Oct 2026 19:46:53 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/09/flock-job-cuts Photograph: Albany Times Union/Hearst Newspapers/Getty Images Photograph: Albany Times Union/Hearst Newspapers/Getty Images Photograph: Albany Times Union/Hearst Newspapers/Getty Images Reuters 2026-10-09T19:46:53Z https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/oct/09/ai-threat-britain-directors-ridley-scott-guy-ritchie <p>Commercials once launched careers from Ridley Scott to Guy Ritchie, now automated production is cutting costs – and the chance to learn by doing</p><p>When Ridley Scott was awarded the UK’s highest accolade for a glittering career directing films from <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2008/may/31/1">Alien and Blade Runner to Gladiator and The Martian</a>, he reminded those attending the Bafta event eight years ago that making commercials had been his <a href="https://www.bafta.org/media-centre/press-releases/sir-ridley-scott-winners-acceptance-speech-bafta-fellowship-ee-british/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">“film school”</a>.</p><p>The advertising industry has long been a breeding ground for British film and TV talent who have <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2007/aug/24/1">gone on to make the jump to Hollywood productions</a>, including Guy Ritchie, who started out making music videos and commercials, and Paddington in Peru director Dougal Wilson, whose credits include a number of John Lewis’s famous Christmas ads.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/oct/09/ai-threat-britain-directors-ridley-scott-guy-ritchie">Continue reading...</a> Film industry Advertising Media business Business Film Media AI (artificial intelligence) Fri, 09 Oct 2026 15:00:31 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/oct/09/ai-threat-britain-directors-ridley-scott-guy-ritchie Photograph: Aidan Monaghan/AP Photograph: Aidan Monaghan/AP Photograph: Aidan Monaghan/AP Mark Sweney 2026-10-09T15:00:31Z https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/oct/09/ai-climate-change-liability-lawsuits <p>Liability lawsuits have held tobacco, oil and pharma companies to account in the past. AI investors won’t ignore this threat</p><p>The most basic function of government is to protect people from harm. Two growing phenomena – the climate crisis and AI – pose escalating risks of <em>extraordinary</em> harm.</p><p>The climate crisis is already causing floods, wildfires, drought and record heat. AI agents are already escaping super-secure environments to hack into systems they’re supposed to avoid.</p><p>Robert Reich, a former US secretary of labor, is a professor of public policy emeritus at the University of California, Berkeley. He is a Guardian US columnist and his newsletter is at <a href="http://robertreich.substack.com/">robertreich.substack.com</a>. His new book, Coming Up Short: A Memoir of My America, is <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/763803/coming-up-short-by-robert-b-reich/">out now in the US</a> and <a href="https://www.guardianbookshop.com/coming-up-short-9781917189606/?utm_source=editoriallink&amp;utm_medium=merch&amp;utm_campaign=article">in the UK</a></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/oct/09/ai-climate-change-liability-lawsuits">Continue reading...</a> AI (artificial intelligence) Climate crisis Law (US) Law Technology Environment Fri, 09 Oct 2026 11:00:26 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/oct/09/ai-climate-change-liability-lawsuits Photograph: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images Robert Reich 2026-10-09T11:00:26Z https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/oct/09/openai-forecast-revenue-gap <p>Questions raised over AI growth as ChatGPT maker forecasts this year’s revenue at $50bn, way below the $70bn signalled before</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/live/2026/oct/09/oil-prices-crude-brent-trump-iran-us-war-midterm-elections-stocks-bonds-business-live">Business live – latest updates</a></p></li></ul><p>OpenAI has revealed that it is making about $20bn less in projected revenue than it had recently indicated to investors, raising questions about the break-neck growth rate in demand for AI.</p><p>The ChatGPT-maker company has told investors that its revenues for this year would reach $50bn (£37bn), a projection based on sales up to the end of September.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/oct/09/openai-forecast-revenue-gap">Continue reading...</a> OpenAI ChatGPT Technology AI (artificial intelligence) Technology sector Business Anthropic Computing US news Annual results Fri, 09 Oct 2026 08:06:09 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/oct/09/openai-forecast-revenue-gap Photograph: Jeff Chiu/AP Photograph: Jeff Chiu/AP Photograph: Jeff Chiu/AP Mark Sweney 2026-10-09T08:06:09Z https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/oct/09/palantir-tom-watson-mob-rule-government-contracts <p>Former Labour deputy leader says tech firm would work with a Reform UK government on immigration crackdowns</p><p>Tom Watson, the former Labour deputy leader who recently joined Palantir, has warned against “mob rule” when it comes to awarding public contracts.</p><p>Lord Watson, now a senior vice-president at the US tech corporation, said UK ministers could get themselves “in a lot of trouble” as he was questioned about concerns raised about the government working with his new employer.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/oct/09/palantir-tom-watson-mob-rule-government-contracts">Continue reading...</a> Palantir Tom Watson Public services policy NHS Metropolitan police Sadiq Khan Andy Burnham UK news Technology Society Politics Police London Health AI (artificial intelligence) Fri, 09 Oct 2026 07:20:33 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/oct/09/palantir-tom-watson-mob-rule-government-contracts Photograph: Oli Scarff/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Oli Scarff/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Oli Scarff/AFP/Getty Images Jamie Grierson 2026-10-09T07:20:33Z https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/oct/09/gordon-brown-british-households-5000-richer-innovation <p>We have a deep reservoir of assets, but struggle to turn small companies into global success stories. Innovation needs to be at the heart of government policy</p><ul><li><p>Gordon Brown was UK prime minister from 2007 to 2010</p></li></ul><p>The coming 10 years are almost certain to be the decade that sees the greatest scientific breakthroughs in a century. The question is whether advances now under way in AI, quantum computing and biology can address cancer, find ways to treat or prevent dementia, and overcome the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/oct/13/sharp-global-rise-in-antibiotic-resistant-infections-in-hospitals-who-finds">growing resistance</a> to antibiotics. Can we find sustainable ways to address our energy needs and protect the environment at the same time? Can AI transform the way we deliver education, health and social care to the benefit of millions, as well as advance modern manufacturing strength? And what role can Britain’s inventors, investors and industrialists play in developing these transformative technologies?</p><p>While the US and China are the world’s obvious innovation powerhouses, the UK also has enormous assets, as the Innovation Nation Conference in Manchester addressed by the prime minister, Andy Burnham, will hear today. We are home to <a href="https://www.topuniversities.com/world-university-rankings">four of the world’s</a> top 10 universities and 16 of the top 100, five of which are in Europe’s top 10 for spin-outs, startups based on intellectual property produced through a university’s research. With less than 1% of the world’s population, the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/international-comparison-of-the-uk-research-base-2025/international-comparison-of-the-uk-research-base-2025">UK produces</a> 6% of the world’s research papers, nearly 9% of citations and 12% of the most highly cited research.</p><p>Gordon Brown was UK prime minister from 2007 to 2010</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/oct/09/gordon-brown-british-households-5000-richer-innovation">Continue reading...</a> Science Technology sector Technology policy Politics UK news Technology Business Universities AI (artificial intelligence) Medical research Fri, 09 Oct 2026 05:00:39 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/oct/09/gordon-brown-british-households-5000-richer-innovation Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA Pool/AP Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA Pool/AP Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA Pool/AP Gordon Brown 2026-10-09T05:00:39Z https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/oct/09/firmus-pulls-asx-float-datacentre-investor-doubt-australia <p>The $11-a-share offer would have been the biggest debut on the stock market since the telecommunication giant in 1997</p><ul><li><p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p></li></ul><p>Firmus Technologies has scrapped what was set to be Australia’s biggest company listing in decades after investor demand for its much-hyped AI datacentre business failed to materialise.</p><p>A Firmus spokesperson said the board decided that proceeding with the offer was no longer in the best interests of the company and its shareholders.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/oct/09/firmus-pulls-asx-float-datacentre-investor-doubt-australia">Continue reading...</a> Datacentres - Australia Australia news Business AI (artificial intelligence) Fri, 09 Oct 2026 04:37:55 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/oct/09/firmus-pulls-asx-float-datacentre-investor-doubt-australia Photograph: Firmus Technologies Photograph: Firmus Technologies Photograph: Firmus Technologies Jonathan Barrett and Josh Taylor 2026-10-09T04:37:55Z https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/oct/08/anthropic-bans-abusive-behavior-claude <p>A spokesperson for the tech company did not specify what kind of behavior would be considered abusive</p><p>Anthropic has <a href="https://www.anthropic.com/news/2026-usage-policy-update">barred users</a> from exhibiting “sustained and needless abusive or cruel behavior” toward its models, as the company’s leaders continue to ponder machine consciousness.</p><p>The Verge <a href="https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/1008100/anthropic-new-usage-policy-abuse-claude">first</a> reported the change in policy.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/oct/08/anthropic-bans-abusive-behavior-claude">Continue reading...</a> Anthropic AI (artificial intelligence) Dario Amodei Consciousness Chatbots Technology US news Fri, 09 Oct 2026 01:25:42 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/oct/08/anthropic-bans-abusive-behavior-claude Photograph: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images Photograph: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images Photograph: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images Uwa Ede-Osifo 2026-10-09T01:25:42Z https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/08/trump-awards-party-tech-billionaires <p>Amid a cost-of-living crisis, with US midterms a month away, the president held a ceremony to celebrate our tech overlords – again</p><p>He stands accused of being <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/2026/08/trump-out-of-touch-public-data-centers/688402/">out of touch</a>, enriching himself and his family, building a lavish White House ballroom and, with elections looming, neglecting the hardships of the voters who brought him to power.</p><p>Time for <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/donaldtrump">Donald Trump</a> to show he still has the common touch? Nope.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/08/trump-awards-party-tech-billionaires">Continue reading...</a> Donald Trump US midterm elections 2026 US news US politics AI (artificial intelligence) Technology Thu, 08 Oct 2026 22:28:48 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/08/trump-awards-party-tech-billionaires Photograph: Evan Vucci/Reuters Photograph: Evan Vucci/Reuters Photograph: Evan Vucci/Reuters David Smith in Washington 2026-10-08T22:28:48Z