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Latest Technology news, comment and analysis from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice
Site URL: www.theguardian.com/us/technology
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Cowboys, lassos, and nudity: AI startups turn to stunts for attention in a crowded market
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/10/ai-business-startups-stunts
Published: February 10, 2026 17:00
Businesses are using theatrical stunts not for shock alone but to create viral content and drive sales conversations onlineWhen Lunos, an AI startup in New York City, was gearing up for launch, its founder and chief executive, Duncan Barrigan, and his team…
Will the Gulf’s push for its own AI succeed?
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/feb/09/us-tech-ai-companies-gulf-states
Published: February 10, 2026 14:45
Tech giants Alphabet, Amazon, Microsoft and Meta to collectively invest $600bn on artificial intelligence this yearHello, and welcome to TechScape. Today in tech, we’re discussing the Persian Gulf countries making a play for sovereignty over their own…
Romeo Is a Dead Man review – a misfire from a storied gaming provocateur
Published: February 10, 2026 14:11
PlayStation 5 (version tested), Xbox, PC; Grasshopper Manufacture/Marvelous Inc After some dumb fun hacking at zombies, legendary developer Suda51’s first original game in a decade sadly only delivers a host of incoherent disappointmentsEver since he…
Apple and Google pledge not to discriminate against third-party apps in UK deal
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/feb/10/apple-google-third-party-apps-app-store
Published: February 10, 2026 13:10
Critics brand deal with regulator as ‘lightweight’ with ‘no legal bite’ as tech giants avoid legally binding measures Apple and Google have committed to avoid discriminating against apps that compete with their own products under an agreement with the UK’s…
Telstra joint venture to axe more than 200 jobs amid AI rollout
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/feb/10/telstra-ai-job-cuts-offshore-workforce
Published: February 10, 2026 09:38
Some jobs will be moved offshore in wake of telco’s $700m partnership with tech consultancy AccentureGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastMore than 200 Telstra jobs are expected to be cut, as the telco rolls out AI capabilities and…
Beats Powerbeats Fit review: Apple’s compact workout earbuds revamped
Published: February 10, 2026 07:00
Secure, noise-cancelling Bluetooth earbuds that shine for exercise and everyday use on Android and iPhoneApple’s revamped compact workout Beats earbuds stick to a winning formula, while slimming down and improving comfort.The new Powerbeats Fit are the…
How a decades-old video game has helped me defeat the doomscroll
Published: February 9, 2026 14:29
Trading social media for Pokémon battles and evolutions in Kanto on a Game Boy Advance has been surprisingly sereneCutting back on doomscrolling must be one of the hardest new year resolutions to keep. Instinctively tapping on the usual suspects on your…
Files cast light on Jeffrey Epstein’s ties to cryptocurrency
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/feb/09/jeffrey-epstein-crypto
Published: February 9, 2026 14:00
Newly released documents detail convicted sex offender’s early backing of bitcoin and Coinbase Millions of files related to Jeffrey Epstein have brought to light his ties to the highest echelons of the cryptocurrency industry.Documents published last week…
I asked AI to name my wife. To the hopelessly incorrect people it cited, my deepest apologies | Martin Rowson
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/feb/09/who-is-my-wife-martin-rowson-ai-technology
Published: February 9, 2026 10:00
Authors, a newsreader, a lawyer and an esteemed colleague: they’re all great – but I’m not married to any of them. Can we really depend on this technology?Recently, the Rowsons accidentally invented a new game that anyone can play at home. I have yet to…
Logitech MX Master 4 review: the best work mouse you can buy
Published: February 9, 2026 07:00
Ergonomic shape, quality materials and satisfying clicks, now with novel haptic feedback and repairable designLogitech’s latest productivity power-house updates one of the greatest mice of all time with smoother materials, a repair-friendly design and a…
‘Was I scared going back to China? No’: Ai Weiwei on AI, western censorship and returning home
Published: February 9, 2026 05:00
He has been jailed, tracked and threatened by China’s government. What was it like pay a visit home? As he publishes a polemic about surveillance and state control, the artist relives a momentous trip to see his motherAi Weiwei is talking me through the…
‘I fell into it’: ex-criminal hackers urge Manchester pupils to use web skills for good
Published: February 8, 2026 08:00
Initiative aims to identify proficient gamers and coders who can help companies identify flaws in their cybersecurity Cybercriminals, the shadowy online figures often depicted in Hollywood movies as hooded villains capable of wiping millions of pounds off…
Rage against the machine: a California community rallied against a datacenter – and won
Published: February 7, 2026 16:00
Organizers in Monterey Park took inspiration from other US cities to fight against the construction of a giant datacenterWhen a southern California city council proposed building a giant datacenter the size of four football fields last December, five…
Battle of the chatbots: Anthropic and OpenAI go head-to-head over ads in their AI products
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/feb/07/ai-chatbots-anthropic-openai-claude-chatgpt
Published: February 7, 2026 16:00
New Anthropic campaign suggests other AI platforms will incorporate targeted ads in their chatbot conversationsThe Seahawks and the Patriots aren’t the only ones gearing up for a fight.AI rivals Anthropic and OpenAI have launched a war of ads trying to…
Why has Elon Musk merged his rocket company with his AI startup?
Published: February 7, 2026 14:00
SpaceX’s acquisition of xAI creates business worth $1.25tn but whether premise behind deal will work is questionedThe acquisition of xAI by SpaceX is a typical Elon Musk deal: big numbers backed by big ambition.As well as extending “the light of…
Victims urge tougher action on deepfake abuse as new law comes into force
Published: February 7, 2026 10:00
Campaigners welcome criminalisation of non-consensual AI-generated explicit images but say law does not go far enoughVictims of deepfake image abuse have called for stronger protection against AI-generated explicit images, as the law criminalising the…
Amazon shares tumble as $200bn AI rollout plan worries markets – business live
Published: February 6, 2026 15:51
Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsOnly seven new petrol-powered cars sold in Norway in JanuarySilver is also looking very volatile.The spot price of silver tumbled by 19% yesterday, hot on the heels of its 27% plunge on 30 January.…
‘Christian pastors declared Pikachu to be a demon’: how Pokémon went from moral panic to unifying global hit
Published: February 6, 2026 14:30
Nintendo’s monster-collecting franchise was pilloried as a ‘pestilential Ponzi scheme’ in the 90s. But as its celebrates its 30th birthday, it now stands as a powerful example of video games’ ability to connect peopleWhen I was 11, it was my dream to…
Mewgenics review – infinite ways to skin a cat
https://www.theguardian.com/games/2026/feb/06/mewgenics-review-infinite-ways-to-skin-a-cat
Published: February 6, 2026 14:00
PC; Edmund McMillen and Tyler Glaiel This mischievous roguelike escapade featuring utterly fiendish felines is compelling, and impressively tastelessYou know that old saying about cats having nine lives? Well, as far as Mewgenics is concerned, you can…
Hail our new robot overlords! Amazon warehouse tour offers glimpse of future
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/feb/06/amazon-georgia-warehouse-tour-robots
Published: February 6, 2026 12:00
At its new Stone Mountain, Georgia, facility, Roomba-like robots shuffle between stacks, another adds shipping labels while another arranges packages in palletsOne of the reasons Amazon is spending billions on robots? They don’t need bathroom breaks.…
TikTok could be forced to change app’s ‘addictive design’ by European Commission
Published: February 6, 2026 11:57
Preliminary EU ruling says app shifts brains of users into ‘autopilot mode’, with concerns for children and vulnerable adultsBusiness live – latest updatesTikTok could be forced into changes to make the app less addictive to users after the EU indicated…
Deepfake fraud taking place on an industrial scale, study finds
Published: February 6, 2026 08:00
AI content for scams can be targeted at individuals and ‘produced by pretty much anybody’, researchers sayDeepfake fraud has gone “industrial”, an analysis published by AI experts has said.Tools to create tailored, even personalised, scams – leveraging,…
Uber found liable for sexual assault by driver and ordered to pay victim $8.5m
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/feb/05/uber-liable-sexual-assault
Published: February 6, 2026 02:42
Verdict could influence more than 3,000 similar cases against ride-hailing companyA federal jury in Phoenix ordered Uber on Thursday to pay $8.5m after finding the company liable in a lawsuit brought by a woman who said she was sexually assaulted by a…
‘Orwellian’: Sainsbury’s staff using facial recognition tech eject innocent shopper
Published: February 5, 2026 16:47
Man misidentified by London supermarket using Facewatch system says: ‘I shouldn’t have to prove I am not a criminal’A man was ordered to leave a supermarket in London after staff misidentified him using controversial new facial recognition…
Cornish tin mine could reopen with Trump administration investment
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/feb/05/trump-administration-cornish-tin-mine-south-crofty
Published: February 5, 2026 15:11
South Crofty site could get $225m funding as US seeks to secure supply of critical metalDonald Trump has aggressively pursued investment into hi-tech industries in recent months, but the US administration has now set its sights on a more traditional…
How cryptocurrency’s second largest coin missed out on the industry’s boom
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/feb/05/cryptocurrency-ethereum-bitcoin-industry
Published: February 5, 2026 15:00
A leaked pitch to reshape Ethereum’s leadership exposed deep divisions over politics, power and ether’s static priceUS crypto developer Danny Ryan submitted a proposal in November 2024 to Vitalik Buterin, the founder and symbolic leader of Ethereum, a…
The best UK treadmills for your home: up your indoor miles with our runner-approved picks
https://www.theguardian.com/thefilter/2025/jan/15/best-treadmills-running-machines
Published: February 5, 2026 10:00
Whether you’re chasing gym quality on a budget or a fancy folding model, accelerate your training with our expert’s pick of the best running machines• The best running shoes, tried and tested by runners• The best running watchesAlthough the treadmill has…
‘In the end, you feel blank’: India’s female workers watching hours of abusive content to train AI
Published: February 5, 2026 08:00
Women in rural communities describe trauma of moderating violent and pornographic content for global tech companiesOn the veranda of her family’s home, with her laptop balanced on a mud slab built into the wall, Monsumi Murmu works from one of the few…
Google Pixel Buds 2a review: great Bluetooth earbuds at a good price
Published: February 5, 2026 07:00
Compact and comfortable Pixel Buds have noise cancelling, decent battery life and good everyday soundGoogle’s latest budget Pixel earbuds are smaller, lighter, more comfortable and have noise cancelling, plus a case that allows you to replace the battery…
What does the disappearance of a $100bn deal mean for the AI economy?
Published: February 5, 2026 07:00
Apparent collapse of Nvidia–OpenAI tie-up raises questions about circular funding and who will bear the cost of AI’s expansionDid the circular AI economy just wobble? Last week it was reported that a much-discussed $100bn deal – announced last September –…
Google parent earnings beat projections amid plans to invest deeply in AI
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/feb/04/google-alphabet-earnings-report
Published: February 5, 2026 00:20
Alphabet reports $34.5bn profit and revenue soars 48% in recent quarter as it plans a sharp increase in AI spendingGoogle’s parent company, Alphabet, beat Wall Street expectations on Wednesday, and is planning a sharp increase in capital spending in 2026…
The Guardian view on Epstein, power and accountability: full transparency is the least survivors deserve | Editorial
Published: February 4, 2026 18:36
As the wheels of justice begin to turn in Britain, a spotlight should also shine on the financier’s wealthy enablers in the US“The more Epstein documents get released, the more we see how he had so many powerful friends, and that’s ultimately what helped…
‘The right has won the family’: my relentless search for lefty mommy bloggers
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/feb/04/left-progressive-mom-influencers
Published: February 4, 2026 16:00
The most popular mom content tends to be rightwing tradwife propaganda or not political at all – pushing progressive creators out of the algorithmFor someone who doesn’t have a marble island in their kitchen I spend a disproportionate amount of time…
Gaming’s new coming-of-age genre embraces ‘millennial cringe’
Published: February 4, 2026 12:35
Perfect Tides perfectly captures the older millennial college experience, and a time when nobody worried about being embarrassing online• Don’t get Pushing Buttons delivered to your inbox? Sign up hereI’ve noticed an interesting micro-trend emerging in the…
Pinterest sacks two engineers for creating software to identify fired workers
Published: February 4, 2026 09:48
Digital pinboard business cutting 15% of workforce as it invests heavily in AI Pinterest has fired two engineers who created a software tool to identify which workers had lost their jobs in a recent round of cuts and then shared the information, according…
Fairphone 6 review: cheaper, repairable and longer-lasting Android
Published: February 4, 2026 07:00
Sustainable smartphone takes a step forward with modular accessories, a good screen and mid-range performanceThe Dutch ethical smartphone brand Fairphone is back with its six-generation Android, aiming to make its repairable phone more modern, modular,…
Elon Musk calls Spanish PM a ‘tyrant’ over plan to ban under-16s from social media and curb hateful content
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2026/feb/04/spain-under-16-social-media-ban-elon-musk-insults
Published: February 4, 2026 01:05
Pedro Sánchez says urgent action needed to protect children from ‘digital wild west’, drawing anger from owner of XSpain has proposed a ban on social media use by teenagers as attitudes hardened in Europe against the technology, drawing personal insults…
Women in tech and finance at higher risk from AI job losses, report says
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/feb/04/women-tech-finance-higher-risk-ai-job-losses-report
Published: February 4, 2026 00:01
‘Mid-career’ females also being sidelined by rigid hiring processes, says City of London CorporationWomen working in tech and financial services are at greater risk of losing their jobs to increased use of AI and automation than their male peers, according…
‘The smart, the rich, the powerful’: Epstein associated with Silicon Valley elite years after his release from prison
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/03/epstein-silicon-valley
Published: February 3, 2026 23:41
Billionaires and intellectuals attended events with the disgraced financier years after he served time for sex offense, files revealNewly released emails and travel itineraries appear to show that for years after Jeffrey Epstein served time for procuring…
The dump dinner: spaghetti is now being served straight on to the table – but why?
https://www.theguardian.com/food/2026/feb/03/dump-dinner-spaghetti-served-straight-onto-table-why
Published: February 3, 2026 17:25
A raft of online videos show parents serving up dinner without a single plate in sight, to the amazement of their familiesName: Dump dinners.Age: Horribly new. Continue reading...
Disastrous start for US TikTok as users cry censorship
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/feb/02/tiktok-us-owners
Published: February 3, 2026 14:18
New US-owned app struggled with a storm and was accused of blocking content critical of Trump – can it recover?Hello, and welcome to TechScape. I’m Blake Montgomery, writing to you from Doha, where I’m moderating panels about AI and investing as part of…
Anthropic’s launch of AI legal tool hits shares in European data services firms
Published: February 3, 2026 13:38
Stocks in Pearson, London Stock Exchange Group and Experian plunge amid fears over impact of AIEuropean publishing and legal software companies have suffered sharp declines in their share prices after the US artificial intelligence firm Anthropic announced…
UK privacy watchdog opens inquiry into X over Grok AI sexual deepfakes
Published: February 3, 2026 12:49
Information Commissioner’s Office to investigate whether Elon Musk’s companies have complied with data protection lawThe Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has opened formal investigations into X and xAI over whether Elon Musk’s companies have…
French headquarters of Elon Musk’s X raided by Paris cybercrime unit
Published: February 3, 2026 11:42
Prosecutors summon tech billionaire and company’s ex-CEO for questioning as part of expanded investigationEurope live – latest updatesProsecutors have raided the French headquarters of Elon Musk’s social media platform X and summoned the tech billionaire…
Elon Musk merges SpaceX with xAI at $1.25tn valuation
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2026/feb/02/elon-musk-spacex-xai-merger
Published: February 3, 2026 07:25
Aerospace business and artificial intelligence firm to unite for IPO as world’s most valuable private companyBusiness live – latest updatesElon Musk’s aerospace company SpaceX has acquired his artificial intelligence business xAI, in a $1.25tn (£910bn)…
‘Deepfakes spreading and more AI companions’: seven takeaways from the latest artificial intelligence safety report
Published: February 3, 2026 05:00
Annual review highlights growing capabilities of AI models, while examining issues from cyber-attacks to job disruptionThe International AI Safety report is an annual survey of technological progress and the risks it is creating across multiple areas, from…
Palantir beats Wall Street expectations amid Trump immigration crackdown
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/feb/02/palantir-financial-results-ice-trump-immigration
Published: February 3, 2026 01:04
CEO Alex Karp hails ‘iconic’ financial results despite criticism over contracts with ICE and homeland securityPalantir celebrated its latest financial results on Monday, as the tech company blew past Wall Street expectations and continues to prop up the…
‘A mixed blessing’: crowdfunding has changed the way we give, but is it fair and effective?
Published: February 2, 2026 14:00
Millions of dollars have been raised for Bondi hero Ahmed al-Ahmed, while campaigns are backing families hit by Victoria’s bushfires. What does this way of giving mean for the charity sector?Within hours of the Bondi beach terror attack, the money had…
‘Marketplace for predators’: Meta faces jury trial over child exploitation claims
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/feb/02/meta-trial-new-mexico-social-media
Published: February 2, 2026 11:00
New Mexico attorney general accuses Meta of failing to safeguard children against trafficking and sexual abuseMeta’s second major trial of 2026 over alleged harms to children begins on Monday.The landmark jury trial in Santa Fe pits the New Mexico attorney…
Viral AI personal assistant seen as step change – but experts warn of risks
Published: February 2, 2026 07:00
OpenClaw is billed as ‘the AI that actually does things’ and needs almost no input to potentially wreak havocA new viral AI personal assistant will handle your email inbox, trade away your entire stock portfolio and text your wife “good morning” and…
What is Moltbook? The strange new social media site for AI bots
Published: February 2, 2026 05:39
A bit like Reddit for artificial intelligence, Moltbook allows AI agents – bots built by humans – to post and interact with each other. People are allowed as observers onlyOn social media, people often accuse each other of being bots, but what happens when…
Snapchat blocks more than 400,000 Australian accounts but warns of ‘significant gaps’ in under-16s social media ban
Published: February 1, 2026 23:59
Social media platform says there are still ‘real technical limitations to accurate and dependable age verification’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe accounts of more than…
‘It’s really sad’: US TikTok users rethink app over concerns about privacy and censorship
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/feb/01/tiktok-users-app-privacy-terms-conditions
Published: February 1, 2026 17:00
Some users are stepping away from the app after it made a deal to create a US entity and updated terms and conditionsMany TikTok users across the US say they’re rethinking their relationship with the platform since its ownership and terms and conditions…
‘Coffee is just the excuse’: the deaf-run cafe where hearing people sign to order
Published: February 1, 2026 14:18
In-person interactions break down barriers in east London, as AI startups also try to bridge communication divideWesley Hartwell raised his fists to the barista and shook them next to his ears. He then lowered his fists, extended his thumbs and little…
Why TikTok’s first week of American ownership was a disaster
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/feb/01/tiktok-first-week
Published: February 1, 2026 11:00
App endured a major outage and user backlash over perceived censorship. Now it’s facing an inquiry by the California governor and an ascendant competitorA little more than one week ago, TikTok stepped on to US shores as a naturalized citizen. Ever since,…
‘Menopause gold rush’? Experts warn of brands cashing in on women’s symptoms
Published: February 1, 2026 10:00
As apps and gadgets capitalise on loss of stigma, consumers are advised to look for evidence-based solutions For any bodily function you want to measure these days there is a gadget – a wristband for step-counting, a watch to track your heart rate or a…
How the left can win back the internet – and rise again | Robert Topinka
Published: February 1, 2026 08:00
In the final part of this series, we look at how infighting has ripped the left apart online while the right has flourished – and how some progressives are turning the tideRobert Topinka is a reader in digital media and rhetoric at Birkbeck, University of…
US authorities reportedly investigate claims that Meta can read encrypted WhatsApp messages
Published: January 31, 2026 13:01
A lawsuit filed last week alleges tech firm ‘can access virtually all’ private communications, a claim the company has deniedUS authorities have reportedly investigated claims that Meta can read users’ encrypted chats on the WhatsApp messaging platform,…
Urban Outfitters, Dreams and Royal Parks cafes criticised for use of gig economy app
Published: January 31, 2026 11:00
TUC urges ministers to bring forward changes to protect workers amid concerns over apps such as TemperThe fashion retailer Urban Outfitters, the bed specialist Dreams and the operator of several Royal Parks cafes have been criticised for the use of the gig…
What to know about the jury trials of Meta, Snap, TikTok and YouTube
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2026/jan/31/what-to-know-trials-meta-snap-tiktok-youtube
Published: January 31, 2026 10:00
Hundreds of parents, teens and school districts have claimed social media is intentionally addictive and harmfulSocial media companies will have to answer to a jury – for the first time – for allegations that their products are intentionally addictive and…
How the right won the internet | Robert Topinka
Published: January 31, 2026 08:00
In the second part of our series on digital politics, we look at how online provocateurs have advanced extreme political ideas – and watched them seep into the mainstreamRobert Topinka is a reader in digital media and rhetoric at Birkbeck, University of…
Electric cars go mainstream as adoption surges across rich and developing nations
Published: January 31, 2026 07:00
A wave of affordable Chinese-made EVs is accelerating the shift away from petrol cars, challenging long‑held assumptions about how transport decarbonisation unfolds• Don’t get Down to Earth delivered to your inbox? Sign up hereLast year, almost every new…
Six great reads: ‘Fafo’ parenting, what tech does to us, and Patrick Bateman’s legacy
Published: January 31, 2026 06:00
Need something brilliant to read this weekend? Here are six of our favourite pieces from the last seven days Continue reading...
Is it time to break up with US tech? – The Latest
https://www.theguardian.com/news/audio/2026/jan/30/is-it-time-to-break-up-with-us-tech-the-latest
Published: January 30, 2026 17:02
With Donald Trump tearing up the world order, governments across Europe are having to confront the fact that most of the technology they rely on comes from US companies. French officials have taken a step this week to reduce their dependence on US digital…
There’s a reason that Wii Bowling remains my mum’s favourite game | Dominik Diamond
https://www.theguardian.com/games/2026/jan/30/wii-bowling-remains-my-mums-favourite-game-of-all-time
Published: January 30, 2026 10:00
At a family gathering over Christmas, I took on my 76-year-old mother once again at virtual bowling. Could I finally best her?My mother bore me. My mother nurtured me. My mother educated me. She has a resilience unmatched, a love all-forgiving. She is the…
AI-generated news should carry ‘nutrition’ labels, thinktank says
Published: January 30, 2026 06:00
The Institute for Public Policy Research also argues that tech companies must pay publishers for content they useAI-generated news should carry “nutrition” labels and tech companies must pay publishers for the content they use, according to a…
Big tech results show investor demand for payoffs from heavy AI spending
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/jan/29/big-tech-earnings-reports-ai
Published: January 29, 2026 19:11
Meta wowed Wall Street with improvements in ad targeting fueled by AI alongside huge investment. Microsoft had less to show for its billions spentBig tech earnings so far this week have sent a clear warning: investors are willing to overlook soaring…
Cairn review – obsession, suffering and awe in a climbing game that hits exhausting new heights
Published: January 29, 2026 14:00
PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox; The Game BakersA punishing, beautiful survival game that turns mountaineering into an intimate test of endurance, fixation and emotional resolve – you’ll be in tears by the endMountaineers and climbers, especially the free-solo…
Millions creating deepfake nudes on Telegram as AI tools drive global wave of digital abuse
Published: January 29, 2026 11:00
Analysis finds at least 150 channels on messaging app that are distributing AI-generated images and videoMillions of people around the world are creating and sharing deepfake nudes on the secure messaging app Telegram, a Guardian analysis has shown, as the…
The slopaganda era: 10 AI images posted by the White House - and what they teach us
Published: January 29, 2026 10:00
Under Donald Trump, the White House has filled its social media with memes, wishcasting, nostalgia and deepfakes. Here’s what you need to know to navigate the trollingIt started with an image of Trump as a king mocked up on a fake Time magazine cover.…
Universal basic income could be used to soften hit from AI job losses in UK, minister says
Published: January 29, 2026 08:57
Lord Stockwood says people in government ‘definitely’ talking about idea as technology disrupts industries• Business live – latest updatesThe UK could introduce a universal basic income to protect workers in industries that are being disrupted by AI, the…
‘This can’t be left to individual families’: how social media ban could affect under-16s
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2026/jan/29/social-media-ban-under-16s-uk-australia-views
Published: January 29, 2026 06:00
Parents, teachers and young people share their views on whether social media restrictions would work in the UKPressure is mounting on the UK government to introduce a ban on social media for under-16s, after a decisive vote in House of Lords in favour of…
What technology takes from us – and how to take it back
Published: January 29, 2026 05:00
Decisions outsourced, chatbots for friends, the natural world an afterthought: Silicon Valley is giving us life void of connection. There is a way out – but it’s going to take collective effortSummer after summer, I used to descend into a creek that had…
South Korea’s ‘world-first’ AI laws face pushback amid bid to become leading tech power
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/29/south-korea-world-first-ai-regulation-laws
Published: January 29, 2026 00:31
The laws have been criticised by tech startups, which say they go too far, and civil society groups, which say they don’t go far enoughSouth Korea has embarked on a foray into the regulation of AI, launching what has been billed as the most comprehensive…
Burner phones and lead-lined bags: a history of UK security tactics in China
Published: January 28, 2026 19:07
Starmer’s team is wary of spies but such fears are not new – with Theresa May once warned to get dressed under a duvetWhen prime ministers travel to China, heightened security arrangements are a given – as is the quiet game of cat and mouse that takes…
Google DeepMind launches AI tool to help identify genetic drivers of disease
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2026/jan/28/google-deepmind-alphagenome-ai-tool-genetics-disease
Published: January 28, 2026 16:15
AlphaGenome can analyse up to 1m letters of DNA code at once and could pave way for new treatmentsResearchers at Google DeepMind have unveiled their latest artificial intelligence tool and claimed it will help scientists identify the genetic drivers of…
SpaceX mulls $1.5tn IPO timed to ‘align with Musk’s birthday and the planets’
Published: January 28, 2026 15:56
World’s richest person targeting symbolic date in June for flotation of rocket companyElon Musk’s SpaceX is considering a flotation valuing the rocket company at $1.5tn (£1.1tn) that will reportedly be timed for early summer to coincide with a planetary…
China lags behind US at AI frontier but could quickly catch up, say experts
Published: January 28, 2026 15:00
Beijing’s AI policy is focused on real-life applications but Chinese companies are beginning to articulate their own grand visionsStanding on stage in the eastern China tech hub of Hangzhou, Alibaba’s normally media-shy CEO made an attention-grabbing…
YouTube criticised after pulling out of UK TV audience measurement
Published: January 28, 2026 14:49
Owner Google moves to block Barb data access months after allowing 200 channels to be monitoredYouTube has been criticised by the TV and advertising industry after suspending its participation in a key measurement system that compares viewership on the…
‘It’s not too late to fix it’: internet inventor Tim Berners-Lee says he is in a ‘battle for the soul of the web’
Published: January 28, 2026 14:00
Founder of the world wide web says commercialisation means the net has been ‘optimised for nastiness’, but collaboration and compassion can prevailGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastWhen Sir Tim Berners-Lee invented the world wide…
A poor surprise reveal for Highguard leaves it fighting an uphill battle for good reviews
Published: January 28, 2026 12:35
In the fiercely competitive market of the online multiplayer game, Highguard’s rocky start means it now has a lot to prove• Don’t get Pushing Buttons delivered to your inbox? Sign up hereIn the fast-paced, almost psychotically unforgiving video game…
Amazon tells workers it will cut 16,000 jobs worldwide in second big wave of layoffs
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/jan/28/amazon-global-job-cuts-email-error-workers-sent
Published: January 28, 2026 12:23
Workers informed after message erroneously said affected employees in US, Canada and Costa Rica had already been toldBusiness live – latest updatesAmazon has told workers it is cutting 16,000 jobs around the world to streamline its operations, hours after…
Even British teenagers want tighter laws around social media – but let’s make it part of a broader vision for children | Gaby Hinsliff
Published: January 28, 2026 08:00
We need an honest reckoning with other factors that threaten young people’s wellbeing, from poverty to academic stressOur children’s feelings are not for sale, and nor are they to be manipulated.So said Emmanuel Macron this week, after French lawmakers…
‘My Tesla has become ordinary’: Turkey catches up with EU in electric car sales
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jan/28/turkey-eu-electric-car-sales
Published: January 28, 2026 05:00
Popularity of EVs in country is part of global trend of emerging markets spurning fossil fuel cars at surprising speedsWhen Berke Astarcıoğlu bought a BMW i3 in 2016, he was one of just 44 people in a country of 80 million to buy a battery electric vehicle…
‘This train isn’t going to stop’: shocking Sundance film shows promises and perils of AI
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/jan/27/sundance-ai-documentary-daniel-roher
Published: January 28, 2026 02:40
The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist, co-directed by Daniel Roher, delves into the world of AI through the lens of personal anxietyAre we barreling toward AI catastrophe? Is AI an existential threat, or an epochal opportunity? Those are the…
24 creative and unexpected Valentine’s Day gifts for him
https://www.theguardian.com/thefilter-us/2025/dec/10/best-gifts-ideas-for-him-men
Published: January 27, 2026 18:17
From indestructible wallets to Crocs (yes, Crocs), we rounded up the best guy-approved Valentine’s Day gifts they won’t know how they lived withoutThe 15 US gifts to give the women in your lifeSign up for the Filter US newsletter, your weekly guide to…
Pikachu and pals go wild: Pokémon theme park opens in Tokyo
https://www.theguardian.com/games/2026/jan/27/pokemon-theme-park-opens-in-tokyo-pokepark-kanto
Published: January 27, 2026 15:04
From rhino-sized Rhyhorns to worm-like Diglett, visitors to PokéPark Kanto will roam a forest populated by lifelike Pokémon statues when the attraction opens next weekIn Japan, February is normally a period of quiet reflection, a month defined by winter…
How ICE is using facial recognition in Minnesota
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/jan/27/ice-facial-recognition-minnesota
Published: January 27, 2026 14:00
Mobile Fortify app being used to scan faces of citizens and immigrants – but its use has prompted a severe backlashImmigration enforcement agents across the US are increasingly relying on a new smartphone app with facial recognition technology.The app is…
UK ministers accept $1m from Meta amid social media ban consultation
Published: January 27, 2026 13:29
Campaigners decry ties with ‘Trump-supporting’ tech firms after funding is accepted to develop state AI systemsUK politics live – latest updatesMinisters have accepted $1m (£728,000) from Meta, the US tech and social media company, to build AI systems for…
At Davos, tech CEOs laid out their vision for AI’s world domination
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/jan/27/tech-ceos-ai-world-domination-davos
Published: January 27, 2026 12:57
Tech chiefs waxed poetic about AI to delegates at Davos. Plus, the ‘human’ drama of AI startups and why Tesla is thriving in TexasHello, and welcome to TechScape. This week’s edition is a team effort: my colleague Heather Stewart reports on the plans for…
‘Wake up to the risks of AI, they are almost here,’ Anthropic boss warns
Published: January 27, 2026 12:53
Dario Amodei questions if human systems are ready to handle the ‘almost unimaginable power’ that is ‘potentially imminent’Business live – latest updatesQuarter of Britons fear losing jobs to AI in next five yearsHumanity is entering a phase of artificial…
‘I didn’t have anything to prove’: what Traitors finalist Jade Scott learned about survival from video games
https://www.theguardian.com/games/2026/jan/27/traitors-finalist-jade-scott-interview-video-games
Published: January 27, 2026 11:30
Accused, isolated and constantly under scrutiny, The Traitors contestant drew on years of social deduction gaming to stay calm under pressureThe latest series of The Traitors, which ended last week on a nail-biting finale, featured some of the usual…
California governor Gavin Newsom accuses TikTok of suppressing content critical of Trump
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/jan/27/gavin-newsom-tiktok-content-critical-of-trump
Published: January 27, 2026 05:00
Newsom launched a review of the platform, despite TikTok saying a systems failure was responsible for the issueCalifornia governor Gavin Newsom has accused TikTok of suppressing content critical of president Donald Trump, as he launched a review of the…
Georgia leads push to ban datacenters used to power America’s AI boom
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/jan/26/georgia-datacenters-ai-ban
Published: January 26, 2026 16:07
Southern state becoming ground zero in fight against rapid growth of facilities using huge amounts of energy and waterLawmakers in several states are exploring passing laws that would put statewide bans in place on building new datacenters as the issue of…
EU launches inquiry into X over sexually explicit images made by Grok AI
Published: January 26, 2026 14:27
Investigation comes after Elon Musk’s firm sparked outrage by allowing users to ‘strip’ photos of women and childrenEurope live – latest updatesThe European Commission has launched an investigation into Elon Musk’s X over the production of sexually…
Why I’m launching a feminist video games website in 2026
Published: January 26, 2026 11:00
I’ve been a games journalist since 2007, but still there isn’t much video games coverage that feels like it’s specifically for people like me. So I’m creating a home for it: MothershipWhether you’re reading about the impending AI bubble bursting or about…
UK maker of AI avatars nearly doubles valuation to $4bn after funding round
Published: January 26, 2026 09:00
Synthesia makes digital presenters for clients to use in corporate videos and counts 70% of FTSE 100 as customersA British AI startup that makes realistic video avatars has almost doubled its valuation to $4bn (£3bn), in a boost for the UK technology…
AI is hitting UK harder than other big economies, study finds
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/jan/26/ai-uk-jobs-us-japan-germany-australia
Published: January 26, 2026 08:41
Britain is losing more jobs than it creates owing to artificial intelligence, Morgan Stanley research suggestsMore than a quarter of Britons fear losing job to AI in next five yearsBusiness live – latest updatesThe UK is losing more jobs than it is…
Schools in England should be phone-free all day, education secretary says
Published: January 26, 2026 08:20
Bridget Phillipson says pupils should not use mobiles at any point, as Ofsted prepares to inspect complianceUK politics live – latest updatesSchools should be phone-free throughout the entire day, the education secretary has told headteachers in England,…
Life after Molly: Ian Russell on big tech, his daughter’s death – and why a social media ban won’t work
Published: January 26, 2026 05:00
Molly Russell was just 14 when she took her own life in 2017, and an inquest later found negative online content was a significant factor. With many people now pushing for teenagers to be kept off tech platforms, her father explains why he backs a…
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