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Latest Technology news, comment and analysis from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice
Site URL: www.theguardian.com/uk/technology
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Can AI do 40% of your job? Block’s Jack Dorsey thinks so
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/mar/03/jack-dorsey-block-ai-worker-jobs
Published: March 3, 2026 16:00
Jack Dorsey to cut 4,000 workers at Block amid AI advances – but specters such as weak crypto market haunt companyJack Dorsey cited AI as the driving force behind cutting 40% of his company’s employees, but other factors such as a weak crypto market,…
Five of the most interesting upcoming indie games
https://www.theguardian.com/games/2026/mar/03/five-of-the-most-interesting-upcoming-indie-games
Published: March 3, 2026 13:00
From the ghostly Shutter Story to road trip adventure Outbound and strategy puzzler Titanium Court, here are the titles we enjoyed the most from this year’s Steam Next Fest showcaseThese days, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that every new…
Showdown over datacenter politics at heart of North Carolina primary
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/03/datacenter-politics-north-carolina-primary
Published: March 3, 2026 12:00
Democratic rematch in Durham-area district draws focus to fight over AI datacenters increasingly shaping US electionsA North Carolina congressional primary on Tuesday is an early test of datacenter politics – a fight increasingly shaping elections…
OpenAI amends Pentagon deal as Sam Altman admits it looks ‘sloppy’
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/mar/03/openai-pentagon-ceo-sam-altman-chatgpt
Published: March 3, 2026 11:35
ChatGPT owner’s CEO says it will bar its technology being used for mass surveillance or by intelligence servicesBusiness live – latest updatesOpenAI is amending its hastily arranged deal to supply artificial intelligence to the US Department of War (DoW)…
Iran war heralds era of AI-powered bombing quicker than ‘speed of thought’
Published: March 3, 2026 06:00
Speed and scale of US military’s AI war planning raises fears human decision-making may be sidelinedThe use of AI tools to enable attacks on Iran heralds a new era of bombing quicker than “the speed of thought”, experts have said, amid fears human…
Cheating machine or powerful assistant? The AI anxieties of a trainee teacher
Published: March 3, 2026 05:00
I was a newcomer, negotiating all of usual classroom difficulties for the first time. Throwing AI into the mix felt like downing a coffee in the middle of a panic attackTwo years ago, at the age of 39, I began training to be a school teacher. I wanted to…
Anthropic’s AI model Claude gets popularity boost after US military feud
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/mar/02/claude-anthropic-ai-pentagon
Published: March 2, 2026 20:31
Claude climbs to top of app store charts in US and UK after being blacklisted by Pentagon over ethics concernsThe AI model Claude has surged in popularity after being blacklisted by the Pentagon last week over ethics concerns.Claude climbed to the No 1…
‘The digital colonization of flyover states’: how datacenters are tearing small-town America apart
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/02/amazon-data-centers-small-towns
Published: March 2, 2026 15:00
The rapid rollout of datacenters across the US is creating a divide between municipal governments and residentsWilmington, Ohio, resident Quintin Koger Kidd was so concerned last June with his local public officials’ alleged misdoings – open meeting…
Stardew Valley at 10: the anticapitalist game that cures burnout and inspires queer art
Published: March 2, 2026 13:36
Since 2016, the cosy, inclusive, non-heteronormative escapism of the beloved farming sim has inspired a community of devoted fans, and helped it shift 50m unitsWhen farming sim Stardew Valley first came out back in 2016, most of us saw it as a modest indie…
I’m on the Meta Oversight Board. We need AI protections now | Suzanne Nossel
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/mar/02/meta-oversight-board-ai
Published: March 2, 2026 11:00
AI is transforming our world. Accepting independent oversight is the least companies can do to protect our rightsThe speed with which AI is transforming our lives is head-spinning. Unlike previous technological revolutions – radio, nuclear fission or the…
There’s a lot to hate about AI. But what if there was a mindful way to use it?
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/ng-interactive/2026/mar/02/how-to-use-ai-practically
Published: March 2, 2026 11:00
Our new free course AI for the People will show you practical ways to work with AI –without giving up judgment, privacy or your humanitySign up for AI for the People, a six-week newsletter course, here Continue reading...
Hundreds of UK teenagers to pilot social media bans and restrictions
Published: March 1, 2026 22:30
Trials to form part of three-month consultation on Keir Starmer’s plans to tackle negative effects of smartphone useHundreds of teenagers will be enlisted to trial social media bans in the coming months with overnight digital curfews and daily screen time…
Datacentre developers face calls to disclose effect on UK’s net emissions
Published: March 1, 2026 16:00
Campaign groups write to technology secretary amid concerns that sites could double overall electricity demandDatacentre developers are facing pressure to reveal whether their projects will increase the UK’s net greenhouse gas emissions, amid concerns the…
Readers reply: what would happen to the world if computer said yes?
Published: March 1, 2026 14:00
The long-running series in which readers answer other readers’ questions asks whether we could cope with a world where computer gave up saying no …This week’s question: what if Shakespeare were dropped in modern-day London?After years of computer saying…
£12m for a Pokémon card? If you’re not in the game you’re missing a trick
https://www.theguardian.com/games/2026/mar/01/12m-pokemon-card-sold-auction-trading
Published: March 1, 2026 12:00
The record sum paid at auction for a rare example is part of a boom in trading cards – and the prices can be staggeringFor £12m, you could buy a seven-bedroom mansion in Hampstead, north London, or a Bugatti La Voiture Noire, one of the world’s most…
OpenAI to work with Pentagon after Anthropic dropped by Trump over company’s ethics concerns
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/feb/28/openai-us-military-anthropic
Published: February 28, 2026 17:06
CEO Sam Altman claims military will not use AI product for autonomous killing systems or mass surveillanceOpenAI said it had struck a deal with the Pentagon to supply AI to classified US military networks, hours after Donald Trump ordered the government to…
Her husband wanted to use ChatGPT to create sustainable housing. Then it took over his life.
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/ng-interactive/2026/feb/28/chatgpt-ai-chatbot-mental-health
Published: February 28, 2026 10:00
Kate Fox says Joe Ceccanti was the ‘most hopeful person’ before he started spending 12 hours a day with a chatbotOn 7 August, Kate Fox received a phone call that upended her life. A medical examiner said that her husband, Joe Ceccanti – who had been…
Tell us what Pokémon means to you
https://www.theguardian.com/games/2026/feb/27/tell-us-what-pokemon-means-to-you
Published: February 27, 2026 15:37
As Pokémon turns 30, we would like to hear what the franchise means to youIt is 30 years since the game Pocket Monsters was released for the Nintendo Game Boy in Japan. Many more video games, trading cards, toys, an animated series and films followed as…
Speed Dates is no feeble full-motion video game – it’s a bold art film | Dominik Diamond
Published: February 27, 2026 10:00
With original dialogue in Turkish, this shuffling of potential partners in a sequence of meaningless encounters ranks with the finest auteur moviesI spent Valentine’s Day not with my wife but with 18 Turkish women. No, wait, I can explain. It’s a new game…
Burger King cooks up AI chatbot to spot if employees say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/26/burger-king-ai-chatbot-employees-please-thank-you
Published: February 27, 2026 00:23
OpenAI-powered assistant will help to ‘understand overall service patterns’, company says, as move sparks backlashFrom hospitality workers to retail employees, the exaggerated “customer service voice”, often mocked in internet memes as wildly different…
Anthropic says it ‘cannot in good conscience’ allow Pentagon to remove AI checks
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/26/anthropic-pentagon-claude
Published: February 26, 2026 23:28
Pete Hegseth has threatened to cancel $200m contract unless it is given unfettered access to Claude modelAnthropic said Thursday it “cannot in good conscience” comply with a demand from the Pentagon to remove safety precautions from its artificial…
Tell us: how will the UK’s landline switch-off affect you or your family?
Published: February 26, 2026 14:43
The UK will phase out traditional home phones by 2027, but the switchover has been stressful for some. How do you feel about the change?UK telecoms companies are retiring traditional landline services and replacing them with internet-based home phone…
‘Unbelievably dangerous’: experts sound alarm after ChatGPT Health fails to recognise medical emergencies
Published: February 26, 2026 14:00
Study finds ChatGPT Health did not recommend a hospital visit when medically necessary in more than half of casesFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastChatGPT Health regularly…
Resident Evil Requiem review - there’s plenty of life in the undead yet
Published: February 26, 2026 13:46
Fear, fights and feverish fanservice collide in this celebration of Resident Evil’s recent and retro legacyPC, PlayStation 5, Xbox, Nintendo Switch 2; CapcomThere’s often an undercurrent of existential fatigue in games that look back at their legacy. Dark…
Leave big tech behind! How to replace Amazon, Google, X, Meta, Apple – and more
Published: February 26, 2026 10:00
A handful of companies monopolise the web, with unprecedented access to our data. But there are many more ethical – and often distinctively European – alternativesThere’s not much to love about big tech these days. So many ills can be laid at its door:…
Keen bosses, strange mistakes and a looming threat: workers on training AI to do their jobs
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/feb/26/workers-training-ai-to-do-their-jobs
Published: February 26, 2026 10:00
Some say the technology is devaluing their work, while others reckon it is not yet – and might never be – good enough to replace them entirelyWorkers grappling with the rapid growth of artificial intelligence have said they feel “devalued” by the…
Mumsnet calls for under-16s social media ban with cigarette-style health warnings
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/feb/26/mumsnet-campaign-demands-ban-social-media-under-16s
Published: February 26, 2026 07:28
Resembling cigarette packet warnings, the ads highlight dangers and urge people to email MPs Mumsnet has launched a campaign to introduce a ban on social media for under-16s featuring health warnings in the style of those on cigarette packets.The…
Nvidia quarterly earnings show immunity to AI bubble fears as it cashes in on data center boom
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/feb/25/nvidia-quarterly-earnings-report-ai
Published: February 25, 2026 22:09
Chipmaker’s quarterly earnings surpassed Wall Street’s expectations every quarter for multiple years nowNvidia released its quarterly earnings on Wednesday, with the chipmaker revealing higher than expected revenues and extending its yearslong streak of…
Meta’s AI sending ‘junk’ tips to DoJ, US child abuse investigators say
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/feb/25/meta-ai-junk-child-abuse-tips-doj
Published: February 25, 2026 17:39
Officers say flood of low-quality reports is draining resources and slowing cases amid New Mexico lawsuitMeta’s use of artificial intelligence software to moderate its social media platforms is generating large volumes of useless reports about cases of…
Facial recognition error prompts police to arrest Asian man for burglary 100 miles away
Published: February 25, 2026 13:36
Exclusive: Alvi Choudhury claiming damages against Thames Valley police after biased technology confused him with man looking ‘10 years younger’Police arrested a man for a burglary in a city he had never visited after face scanning software deployed across…
Why Xbox’s corporate shake-up matters for everyone who plays games
Published: February 25, 2026 12:30
With its longtime figureheads stepping aside, Microsoft’s gaming division faces a pivotal moment, raising questions about whether it can still balance creative ambition with corporate strategy in the age of AI• Don’t get Pushing Buttons delivered to…
Tech legend Stewart Brand on Musk, Bezos and his extraordinary life: ‘We don’t need to passively accept our fate’
Published: February 25, 2026 12:00
He was at the heart of 1960s counterculture, then paved the way for the libertarian mindset of Silicon Valley. At 87, Brand is still keen to ensure the world is maintained properly – not just today, but for the next 10,000 yearsStewart Brand thinks big and…
Pieced Together review – poignant narrative game gathers bittersweet fragments of a friendship
Published: February 25, 2026 11:00
Glowfrog Games; PC Short but very sweet tale asks the player to compile a scrapbook of mementoes telling the story of a heartfelt bond that frays over timeThere are few things sadder than the end of a close friendship.…
Reddit fined £14.5m in UK over use of under-13s’ data
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/feb/24/reddit-fined-uk-children-under-13-data
Published: February 24, 2026 15:57
Information Commissioner’s Office imposes largest fine yet for a breach of children’s privacy The UK information regulator has fined the social news service Reddit £14.5m for using the data of children under the age of 13 unlawfully and potentially…
‘A feedback loop with no brake’: how an AI doomsday report shook US markets
Published: February 24, 2026 15:17
Shares in Uber, Mastercard and American Express fall on back of apocalypse scenario posted on Substack US stock markets have been hit by a further wave of AI jitters, this time from yet another viral – and completely speculative – warning about the impact…
Meta agrees $60bn deal with chipmaker AMD despite AI bubble fears
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/feb/24/meta-amd-deal-chipmaker-ai-bubble-facebook
Published: February 24, 2026 13:18
Facebook owner’s investment described by semiconductor company as ‘big bet’ on artificial intelligenceBusiness live – latest updatesThe owner of Facebook has agreed to buy $60bn (£44.5bn) of artificial intelligence chips from the US semiconductor company…
The best massage guns in the UK to relieve sore, tired muscles
https://www.theguardian.com/thefilter/2025/jan/24/best-massage-guns
Published: February 24, 2026 10:44
Add percussive therapy to your post-workout routine with our expert picks, including mini and deep-tissue models. Plus, a brand new frontrunner now in top spot• The best running shoes, testedMassage guns are often pitched at the highly active. They can…
Anlife: what does an unusual evolution simulator have to say about AI?
Published: February 24, 2026 10:00
We explore the strange food-obsessed world of a new game whose tech was once called ‘an insult to life itself’ by Hayao Miyazaki, the film-maker behind Spirited AwayA strange piece of software has recently landed on the PC gaming store Steam. And…
Police AI chief admits crime-fighting tech will have bias but vows to tackle it
Published: February 24, 2026 07:00
Exclusive: NCA’s Alex Murray says he hopes new £115m police AI centre can limit unfairness found in tools‘It’s not Robocop’: UK police embrace AI ‘efficiency’ in complex investigationsA police chief has admitted artificial intelligence used to boost crime…
As we enter the age of the AI-rranged marriage, here’s why I hate Fate | Van Badham
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/feb/24/fate-ai-dating-sites-apps-marriage-dystopia
Published: February 23, 2026 23:16
When the most profound human emotion becomes an automated transaction in an online shop, the techlords have wonThe Guardian reported on the arrival of “Fate” and, friends, I laughed. Or maybe I cried.It’s apparently the first “agentic AI dating app”. An AI…
US AI giant accuses Chinese rivals of mass data theft
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/feb/23/us-ai-anthropic-china
Published: February 23, 2026 23:15
Anthropic says three Chinese firms used ‘distillation’ technique to extract information from its Claude chatbotUS artificial intelligence company Anthropic said on Monday it had uncovered campaigns by three Chinese AI firms to illicitly extract…
New datacentres risk doubling Great Britain’s electricity use, regulator says
Published: February 23, 2026 18:17
Ofgem says about 140 proposed projects, driven by AI use, could require more power than current peak demandThe amount of power being sought by new datacentre projects in Great Britain would exceed the national current peak electricity consumption,…
John Oliver on Elon Musk’s X: ‘Now worse than useless’
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2026/feb/23/john-oliver-elon-musk-twitter-x
Published: February 23, 2026 16:53
Last Week Tonight host delved into the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor in relation to the Epstein files and Musk’s poisonous ownership of XOn his new episode of Last Week Tonight, John Oliver wasted no time digging into the files related to late…
If AI makes human labor obsolete, who decides who gets to eat?
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/feb/23/ai-how-will-we-be-fed
Published: February 23, 2026 11:00
Amid talk of artificial intelligence taking our jobs, the big unasked question is: how will we be fed?How will we be fed? That’s the biggest question not seriously being addressed amid all this talk about whether or not artificial intelligence will end up…
These are the nine best US laptop backpacks for hauling tech gear on the go – tested
https://www.theguardian.com/thefilter-us/2026/feb/22/best-laptop-backpacks-bags
Published: February 22, 2026 18:15
Your $1,000 laptop deserves a protective home on the road. A tech journalist and frequent traveler recommends his nine favoritesThe four best personal-item backpacks that fit under US airline seatsSign up for the Filter US newsletter, your weekly guide to…
What would happen to the world if computer said yes?
Published: February 22, 2026 14:00
The long-running series in which readers answer other readers’ questions asks whether we could cope with a world where computer gave up saying no …Readers reply: what would be the most socially useful way to spend a billion dollars?After years of computer…
Can a hair dryer really save your scalp from heat damage? I put Dyson’s Supersonic Nural to the test
https://www.theguardian.com/thefilter/2026/feb/22/dyson-supersonic-nural-hair-dryer-review
Published: February 22, 2026 07:00
With sensors that cool the air as it nears your head, this high-end tool promises gentler styling for sensitive scalps• The best hair dryers for smooth, speedy styling at homeTell most hair-care enthusiasts you want to upgrade your hair dryer, and I’d bet…
I’m worried my boyfriend’s use of AI is affecting his ability to think for himself | Annalisa Barbieri
Published: February 22, 2026 06:00
Overdependence on chatbots is a growing problem, and though your boyfriend’s ADHD may be a factor, he needs to find the root of his anxietyMy boyfriend of eight years, who is 44, has ADHD and runs his own business. He’s always struggled with admin and…
US farmers are rejecting multimillion-dollar datacenter bids for their land: ‘I’m not for sale’
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/feb/21/us-farmers-datacenters
Published: February 21, 2026 14:00
Families are navigating the tough choice between unimaginable riches and the identity that comes with landWhen two men knocked on Ida Huddleston’s door last May, they carried a contract worth more than $33m in exchange for the Kentucky farm that had fed…
Relooted: the South African video game where players take back artefacts from western museums
https://www.theguardian.com/games/2026/feb/21/south-african-video-game-artefacts-western-museums
Published: February 21, 2026 06:00
Creators say they’re offering Africans a ‘hopeful, utopian feeling’ of retrieving objects looted by colonial armiesA new South African video game lets players take back African artefacts held in western museums in a series of heists, amid a growing…
AI hit: India hungry to harness US tech giants’ technology at Delhi summit
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/20/india-delhi-summit-ai-technology-us-economic-growth
Published: February 20, 2026 17:25
Narendra Modi’s thirst to supercharge economic growth is matched by US desire to inject AI into world’s biggest democracyIndia celebrates 80 years of independence from the UK in August 2027. At about that same moment, “early versions of true super…
Amazon’s cloud ‘hit by two outages caused by AI tools last year’
Published: February 20, 2026 17:24
Reported issues at Amazon Web Services raise questions about firm’s use of artificial intelligence as it cuts staffAmazon’s huge cloud computing arm reportedly experienced at least two outages caused by its own artificial intelligence tools, raising…
‘It’s survival of the fittest’: the UK kebab chain seeking an edge with robot slicers
Published: February 20, 2026 16:00
German Doner Kebab aims to open at 25 new sites this year with self-service screens and healthy options aimed at gen Z They are already packing our groceries and delivering shopping. Now robots are coming to the kebab shop, alongside self-service screens…
The best electric blankets and heated throws in the UK, tried and tested to keep you toasty for less
https://www.theguardian.com/thefilter/2024/dec/27/best-electric-blankets-heated-throws
Published: February 20, 2026 15:01
If you’re aiming to heat the human, not the home – or just love snuggling under something cosy – these are our best buys from our test of 24• The best heated clothes airers to save time and money when drying your laundryAside from hugging a fluffy…
Nascent tech, real fear: how AI anxiety is upending career ambitions
Published: February 20, 2026 14:00
AI has convinced computer science students to shift majors and white-collar workers to change careers, while some are embracing itMatthew Ramirez started at Western Governors University as a computer science major in 2025, drawn by the promise of a…
How to win friends and influencers: Labour’s new social media strategy is a step into the future | Kirsty Major
Published: February 20, 2026 12:15
There was a backlash when No 10 invited online content creators inside its doors. But in a fast-changing media landscape, this solves two problems at onceLast year, No 10 took an unprecedented step: it invited content creators to cross the threshold of…
The QuickShot II joystick review – 80s clicks and waggles lovingly recreated
Published: February 20, 2026 11:30
The updated QuickShot II brings retro gameplay into the modern era while preserving the no-frills button smashing and endearing flaws that fans lovedNostalgia is big in the modern games industry. It’s ironic that the most technologically obsessed art form…
Mind launches inquiry into AI and mental health after Guardian investigation
Published: February 20, 2026 06:00
Exclusive: England and Wales charity to examine safeguards after Guardian exposed ‘very dangerous’ advice on Google AI Overviews‘Very dangerous’: a Mind mental health expert on Google’s AI summariesMind is launching a significant inquiry into artificial…
Roblox sued by Los Angeles over claims platform ‘makes children easy prey for pedophiles’
https://www.theguardian.com/games/2026/feb/20/los-angeles-sues-roblox-la-county
Published: February 20, 2026 00:31
LA County says the gaming company does not carry out adequate moderation and its age-verification systems are not fit for purpose, which Roblox deniesOfficials in Los Angeles have said they are suing Roblox, alleging the popular online platform exposes…
US builds website that will allow Europeans to view blocked content
Published: February 19, 2026 19:15
Freedom.gov appears to be administered by a branch of the Department of Homeland SecurityThe US has built a portal that will allow Europeans to view blocked content including alleged hate speech and terrorism, according to Reuters.The portal,…
Digital blackface flourishes under Trump and AI: ‘The state is bending reality’
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/ng-interactive/2026/feb/19/ai-digital-blackface
Published: February 19, 2026 15:35
From TikTok deepfakes to smears put out by the White House, fake videos modeled on Black archetypes are running rampant - putting Black users at riskLate last year, as a US government shutdown cut off the Snap benefits that low-income families rely on for…
How the anxiety over AI could fuel a new workers’ movement
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/ng-interactive/2026/feb/19/ai-work-future
Published: February 19, 2026 13:00
New technology has workers spooked, but experts say it’s creating an opening for a resurgence in worker powerIn 2026, it’s a scary time to work for a living.Gone are the days of quiet quitting, the Great Resignation, and the highly visible union-organizing…
Mario Tennis Fever review – serving up banana peel-laced multiplayer chaos
Published: February 19, 2026 10:00
Nintendo Switch 2; NintendoThis ruthlessly competitive game will have everyone from your granny to semi-pros trying to set fire to their opponent’s side of the court with powered-up ‘fever rackets’Tennis has been a regular hobby of Mario’s for the past 30…
Macron defends EU AI rules and vows crackdown on child ‘digital abuse’
Published: February 19, 2026 08:26
French president rejects US criticism as António Guterres and Narendra Modi warn on child safety and AI monopoliesBusiness live – latest updatesEurope live – latest updatesEmmanuel Macron has hit back at US criticism of Europe’s efforts to regulate AI,…
TV set is most popular way to watch YouTube in UK, study finds
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/feb/19/youtube-uk-tv-set-most-popular
Published: February 19, 2026 06:00
Television outranks laptops, tablets and smartphones across all age groups, according to audience reviewThe television has replaced laptops, tablets and smartphones as the most common device for UK viewers to watch YouTube at home, according to data…
US funding for global internet freedom ‘effectively gutted’
Published: February 19, 2026 05:00
Programme that funds groups building tech to evade oppressive government controls under serious threatFor nearly two decades, the US quietly funded a global effort to keep the internet from splintering into fiefdoms run by authoritarian governments. Now…
Tech firms must remove ‘revenge porn’ in 48 hours or risk being blocked, says Starmer
Published: February 18, 2026 22:30
PM says measure, also applied to deepfake nudes, is needed owing to a ‘national emergency’ of online misogynyDeepfake nudes and “revenge porn” must be removed from the internet within 48 hours or technology firms risk being blocked in the UK, Keir Starmer…
Illinois governor proposes cancelling tax breaks for datacenters
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/feb/18/illinois-pritzker-tax-breaks-data-centers
Published: February 18, 2026 20:16
Pritzker’s move reflects increasing public pushback against resource-hungry facilities used to power the AI boomThe Illinois governor JB Pritzker proposed a two-year break from offering tax incentives for datacenters, a reflection of increasing public…
Tesla avoids California sales ban by removing ‘autopilot’ from marketing
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/feb/18/tesla-california-autopilot-marketing
Published: February 18, 2026 20:05
State regulators walk back suspension threat and say Tesla has stopped misleading drivers about the safety of its carsTesla will avoid a 30-day suspension of its dealer and manufacturer licenses in California, its biggest market, after the US electric…
Zuckerberg grilled in landmark social media trial over teen mental health
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/feb/18/mark-zuckerberg-meta-trial-testimony
Published: February 18, 2026 19:37
Meta chief says it has improved identifying underage users but adds ‘I always wish we could have gotten there sooner’The Meta CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, testified at a landmark trial of social media companies on Wednesday. Plaintiffs’ lawyers grilled Zuckerberg…
Finger princesses: are these the biggest villains of the chat group?
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/feb/18/finger-princesses-whatsapp-annoying-group-chat
Published: February 18, 2026 15:50
We all know one – and there’s a good chance you fall into the category yourself. Here’s how to recognise if you’re a ‘walking, talking red flag’ …Name: Finger princess.Age: The term circulated this month, but the behaviour has been escalating across…
The best kettles in the UK to save energy and speed up your cuppa, tested
https://www.theguardian.com/thefilter/2025/jul/22/best-electric-kettles-uk
Published: February 18, 2026 15:00
We boiled litres of water to find the best electric kettles, from hard-water heroes to vintage-style, repairable and wifi-connected models• The best air fryers, tried and tested for crisp and crunchDespite the march of progress, the humble kettle remains a…
Is it smarter to have a dumb home? ‘We’ve seen clients unable to flush toilets’
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/feb/18/smart-home-v-dumb-home-technology-system
Published: February 18, 2026 14:00
Australia experienced a boom in smart-home technology at the start of the 2020s. Years on, some early adopters are experiencing buyer’s remorseGet our weekend culture and lifestyle emailWhen the smart home devices Elly Bailey was expecting in the post…
The bogus four-day workweek that AI supposedly ‘frees up’
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/ng-interactive/2026/feb/18/ai-four-day-workweek
Published: February 18, 2026 13:00
Business leaders tout AI as a path to shorter weeks and better balance. But without power, workers are unlikely to share the gainsThe front-page headline in a recent Washington Post was breathless: “These companies say AI is key to their four-day…
The Winter Olympics feel like a 90s snowboarding game, and I’m here for it
Published: February 18, 2026 12:40
Milano Cortina has cutting‑edge replays, chase‑cam drones and exuberant commentary bringing a wave of unexpected nostalgia for anyone who grew up on 90s extreme‑sports games• Don’t get Pushing Buttons delivered to your inbox? Sign up hereAs someone whose…
Hazardous substances found in all headphones tested by ToxFREE project
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/feb/18/hazardous-substances-headphones
Published: February 18, 2026 07:00
Substances include chemicals that can cause cancer, neurodevelopmental problems and the feminisation of malesYou wear them at work, you wear them at play, you wear them to relax. You may even get sweaty in them at the gym.But an investigation into…
China’s dancing robots: how worried should we be?
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/18/china-dancing-humanoid-robots-festival-show
Published: February 18, 2026 05:19
Eye-catching martial arts performance at China gala had viewers and experts wondering what else humanoids can doDancing humanoid robots took centre stage on Monday during the annual China Media Group’s Spring Festival Gala, China’s most-watched official…
Tech billionaires fly in for Delhi AI expo as Modi jostles to lead in south
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/feb/18/delhi-ai-expo-modi-jostles-lead-south
Published: February 18, 2026 05:00
Google, Anthropic and OpenAI bosses to mingle with global south leaders wrestling for control over technologySilicon Valley tech billionaires will land in Delhi this week for an AI summit hosted by India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, where leaders of…
Palantir moves headquarters to Miami amid tech’s growing retreat to Florida
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/feb/17/palantir-moves-headquarters-miami
Published: February 17, 2026 20:20
Data analytics firm moves from Denver after about six years and joins host of businesses relocating to south Florida Palantir announced on Tuesday that it has moved its headquarters to Miami from Denver. The data analytics company, criticized for its role…
ICE reliance on Microsoft technology surged amid immigration crackdown, documents show
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/17/ice-microsoft-technology-immigration-crackdown
Published: February 17, 2026 18:06
Exclusive: ICE more than tripled the amount of data stored in Microsoft’s cloud at the same time that its arsenal of surveillance technology balloonedImmigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deepened its reliance on Microsoft’s cloud technology last year…
Race for AI is making Hindenburg-style disaster ‘a real risk’, says leading expert
Published: February 17, 2026 18:01
Prof Michael Wooldridge says scenario such as deadly self-driving car update or AI hack could destroy global interestThe race to get artificial intelligence to market has raised the risk of a Hindenburg-style disaster that shatters global confidence in the…