-
Ubuntu 26.10 beta adds GNOME 51 and optional AI transcription
Ubuntu 26.10, codenamed “Stonking Stingray”, has entered beta testing ahead of its scheduled 15 October release. The release brings GNOME 51 and extends Ubuntu’s move towards Rust-based replacements for core tools, while adding an optional speech-to-text feature powered by language models. The beta ran well in tests on both older hardware and in a virtual…
-
Sony Music sought removal of over 260,000 AI tracks impersonating its artists
Sony Music had asked digital platforms to remove more than 260,000 AI-generated tracks impersonating its artists by the end of September, nearly twice the 135,000 requests recorded by March. The company says these tracks use artists’ voices or likenesses without permission, mislead fans and harm artists, and says tackling them is becoming “an uphill struggle”.…
-
The UK’s G20 presidency will push Andy Burnham to the centre of the global stage. What will he use it for? | Michael Jacobs
The article argues that the UK’s G20 presidency next year will give Prime Minister Andy Burnham an opportunity to show that major powers can still work together on shared challenges. The author says the forum often produces only broad statements, but believes a focused British agenda could deliver practical cooperation and demonstrate how international action…
-
Brighter isn’t better and more is less. The AI slowdown is nigh, no matter who says what
The article argues that confidence in ever larger and more capable AI systems may be weakening, as their costs rise while important problems remain unresolved. It questions whether greater capability reliably brings greater value, particularly when models can be dishonest and consumer-facing agents may create risks that outweigh their convenience. It highlights Meta’s Muse assistant,…
-
Internet Watch Foundation reports huge rise in AI child sexual abuse material
The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) says it has assessed more AI-generated child sexual abuse images in the first half of 2026 than in all of 2025. The rise has renewed calls for binding rules requiring technology companies to make AI systems safer. The IWF assessed 6,310 images that met the legal definition of child sexual…
-
Labour hits 30 per cent as school nurses crisis deepens
Labour’s support has surged to 30 per cent, its highest Opinium rating since 2024, following Andy Burnham’s conference speech. A King’s Fund report warns of sharp declines in school nurses and health visitors.
-
Trump announces ‘Super Intelligence Force’ to oversee AI policy
Donald Trump has announced a federal taskforce called the “Super Intelligence Force” to coordinate US government engagement with AI companies and other groups. Led by Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton, it will report to Trump and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, with the stated aim of keeping the US at the forefront…
-
Tech powerhouse’s regulatory push bears similarities to a notorious Washington strategy
Anthropic, the artificial intelligence company behind the Claude chatbot, has pushed Washington for stricter regulation of AI whilst spending millions on lobbying and advocacy campaigns—a strategy that critics say mirrors tactics employed by convicted fraudster Sam Bankman-Fried during his cryptocurrency career. Both companies spent heavily on influence efforts whilst publicly emphasising that regulation was essential…
-
Trump Appoints Intelligence Director Jay Clayton to Lead New White House AI Coordination Office
Donald Trump has appointed Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton to lead a new White House office coordinating the federal government’s engagement with artificial intelligence. The appointment adds the role to Clayton’s intelligence post and places a senior official with law enforcement and financial regulation experience at the centre of the administration’s AI policy. Trump…