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AI was supposed to destroy jobs. Where’s the carnage?
Predictions that artificial intelligence would rapidly eliminate large numbers of jobs have not yet been borne out, despite high-profile warnings from technology executives and companies linking some layoffs to AI. Economists say the technology is instead changing how work is organised and what employers expect from staff, in a pattern more akin to earlier, slower…
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If the markets reject OpenAI and Anthropic, the US should nationalize them | Bruce Schneier and Nathan E Sanders
Bruce Schneier and Nathan E Sanders argue that, if OpenAI and Anthropic fail to meet investors’ expectations, the US government should nationalise them and operate them as democratically controlled national laboratories. They say this could restore the firms’ original public-interest aims and prevent powerful AI systems from being governed chiefly by corporate profit motives. The…
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Google Pixel 11 launch: Live updates as the company unveils new devices, AI features and more
Google is due to unveil its latest Pixel devices and AI features at a hardware launch event in New York on 12 August. The event matters because it should provide official confirmation of products that have already been teased and widely rumoured. Expected announcements include the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro Fold…
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Suno licenses BMG recordings for new AI music models
Suno has agreed a licensing deal with music company BMG, allowing it to use BMG recordings in forthcoming AI music models and retrospectively covering their use in earlier training. The agreement gives Suno further legitimacy within the music industry as it seeks to move from disputed training practices towards licensed, label-backed AI tools. Suno will…
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FEMA’s ‘Shadow Administrator’ Was Paid by a DOGE Member’s Startup for Months
Court filings indicate that Kara Voorhies, a FEMA contractor described as the agency’s “shadow administrator”, was subcontracted by a company owned by DOGE operative Kyle Schutt while working in government. The arrangement raises questions about conflicts of interest and whether an outside contractor exercised influence over FEMA spending and grant decisions that may be considered…
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Trump puts vaccines on front burner ahead of crucial midterms for GOP
The Trump administration has thrust vaccine policy back into the headlines just three months before the midterm elections, potentially complicating matters for vulnerable Republicans who are hoping to keep control of Congress. President Trump on Monday doubled down on his attempt to overhaul the childhood vaccine schedule with an executive order aimed at reducing…
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Iran war and high living costs fueling last-minute holiday bookings, Tui says
Tui says the war in Iran and pressure on household budgets are prompting more people to delay holiday bookings until the last minute, creating uncertainty for Europe’s largest travel company. The conflict has already cost Tui €60m, while weaker demand, high fuel prices and intense competition contributed to a sharp fall in quarterly profits. Two…
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Father, 56, was killed in street brawl sparked by deadly turf war between rival biker gangs that has seen horrific violence across Britain
A 56-year-old father was reportedly killed in a street brawl linked to a territorial dispute between rival biker gangs. The death highlights the potentially lethal consequences of the conflict, which the article says has involved serious violence across Britain. The article presents the killing as part of an ongoing feud over territory between the gangs,…
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The Elder Scrolls 6 Demo to Xbox Leadership Included a Giant Inflatable Rat, Placed Outside Bethesda Offices in Protest at Microsoft’s Mass Layoffs
Bethesda staff and former employees staged a protest outside the studio’s Rockville offices while Xbox leadership visited to watch a live demonstration of The Elder Scrolls 6. The action highlighted anger over Microsoft’s recent Xbox layoffs and matters because employees say the cuts could damage morale and affect development of the long-awaited game, although Bethesda…
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Just 20 of 6,600 Defra staff working on climate adaptation amid drought and wildfires
A freedom of information request has found that only 20 of Defra’s 6,613 staff are working on climate adaptation, despite warnings that England is poorly prepared for worsening heatwaves, droughts, floods and wildfires. Critics say the small team reflects a lack of government focus on protecting communities, food security and nature from the effects of…