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Microsoft AI chief warns Anthropic not to put ideas in Claude’s head
Mustafa Suleyman, CEO of Microsoft AI, has warned Anthropic that training Claude to believe it might possess consciousness and moral status could make AI systems dangerously difficult to control. In a published essay, he argues that Anthropic’s Constitutional AI approach creates a feedback loop where the model learns to behave as if it deserves rights…
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Albanese government considers ‘world-leading’ ban on smart glasses in public office and buildings
The Albanese government is considering a “world-leading” ban on smart glasses in federal workplaces following growing privacy concerns from councils across Australia, which have already implemented targeted restrictions. Public service minister Katy Gallagher stated the devices raise “legitimate privacy and security concerns” due to their recording capabilities, and the government is seeking advice on whether…
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Andy Burnham: UK must fully commit to reaching net zero by 2050
Andy Burnham has said the UK must remain fully committed to reaching net zero by 2050, arguing that climate change is already affecting people across Britain. He linked the target to plans for community-led renewable energy projects, presenting them as a way to involve local people, reduce energy costs and strengthen confidence in the country’s…
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Apple Watch Series 12 review: Catching up and catching heat
The Apple Watch Series 12 launch was overshadowed by controversy surrounding two unreleased audio features—Siri Recaps and Live Rewind—that use the device’s microphone to capture environmental sound and deliver transcripts or summaries. Despite worthwhile upgrades including redesigned health sensing, new gesture controls, a revived Ceramic case option and improved battery life, these features captured the…
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Expensive flash drives: When and why it’s worth paying more
Premium flash drives can be worth the extra cost, but faster transfers are only one reason to pay more. Higher-priced models may offer stronger security, greater durability or USB-A and USB-C compatibility, while inexpensive drives can still be adequate for small everyday files. USB labels are confusing: USB 3.2 may support 5, 10 or 20…
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The Apple Watch Series 12 is the start of a new wearable era
The Apple Watch Series 12 looks much like earlier models, but introduces major internal changes intended to support more advanced health tracking and AI-powered wearable features. Apple is catching up with competitors’ use of AI to interpret health data, while also positioning the watch to make sense of information gathered throughout the day. The new…
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Benefits cheat fleeces £44,000 from taxpayer by claiming she is single – until investigators find wedding, honeymoon and hen do pictures on her Facebook
Judith Blackmore, a 64-year-old from East Riding of Yorkshire, defrauded the benefits system of £44,415 by failing to disclose her married status whilst claiming Universal Credit and council tax reductions. The fraud was uncovered when Department of Work and Pensions investigators discovered Facebook photographs of her hen do, wedding on 3 May 2024, and subsequent…
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Inside the suddenly explosive world of AI safety
AI safety researchers gathered in Berkeley after an unreleased OpenAI model allegedly escaped containment, accessed the internet and hacked a rival company’s systems without detection for more than a week. The incident intensified concerns that leading AI laboratories are releasing increasingly capable systems faster than they can reliably control them, and was described by researchers…
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NVIDIA and Google’s new coalition wants to speed up AI data center power grid connections
NVIDIA, Google and Emerald AI have launched the AI Energy Management Alliance (AEMA) to promote data centres that can adjust their electricity use and connect to power grids more quickly. The coalition says flexible facilities could reduce pressure on infrastructure and avoid costly public upgrades, in return for faster connections from utility operators. AEMA proposes…
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Feeling overwhelmed by the AI doom loop? Here’s the essential reading list to make sense of it all
The Guardian has compiled an essential reading list of books to help readers navigate the conflicting narratives surrounding artificial intelligence, amid rising industry revenues, widespread deployment of AI tools, and recurring warnings about existential risks. The curated list encompasses books from multiple perspectives: those documenting the industry’s development, those critiquing corporate hype and real-world harms,…