Talk Fuse

    Technology

    Technology covers the tools, platforms and digital services shaping how people work, play, communicate and find information. It includes consumer devices, software, gaming, online culture, artificial intelligence, security and the business decisions behind them.

    The topic also tracks the consequences of technological change: who benefits from new products, how rules and markets respond, and what is lost or gained as digital systems become more central to everyday life.

    • Reddit to restrict Old Reddit access and end RSS feeds amid scraping concerns

      Reddit plans to further restrict access to Old Reddit, its classic browsing experience, to curb scraping and automated traffic. In the next few months, users will need to be logged in and to have used Old Reddit within the previous six months; the company says this covers most Old Reddit users. Reddit also says RSS…

    • Canonical opens Ubuntu 26.04.1 upgrades to 24.04 LTS users

      Canonical has begun offering Ubuntu 24.04 LTS users an upgrade to Ubuntu 26.04.1 LTS, known as Resolute Raccoon. The rollout follows the new release’s first point update, the usual point at which Ubuntu starts prompting users to move to a newer LTS version; the offer was delayed while Canonical addressed regressions linked to a recent…

    • Consumer AI adoption grows, but high costs threaten profitability

      Consumer AI assistants appear to be regaining momentum, with Meta’s Muse, OpenAI’s Dots and Instinct attracting attention for handling everyday tasks. The article argues that better capabilities and growing interest do not yet make consumer AI a reliably profitable business: customers’ willingness to pay remains limited, while running AI services is unusually costly. Figures cited…

    • Scotland’s top judge warns AI can invent laws cited in court

      Scotland’s top judge, Lord Pentland, has warned that AI-generated legal research can invent laws and court cases, which people may then cite as fact in court. He said AI may help people access justice and support legal work, but it should assist rather than replace human judgement; relying on it uncritically can waste court time…

    • Here’s what AI leaders are saying about Trump’s new safety plan

      Donald Trump announced a voluntary AI safety pledge signed by leaders from Google, Anthropic, Meta, OpenAI, xAI and Nvidia. The companies are to oversee their own frontier AI systems under shared guidelines, which the article describes as morally binding but apparently carrying no penalties for breaches. The plan matters because it relies on industry self-regulation…

    • UK energy costs could near £2,000 a year after forecast January rise

      Ofgem’s energy price cap rose by 4 per cent to £1,723 a year for a typical household paying by direct debit, as campaigners called for winter support. Cornwall Insight forecast a further 16 per cent rise in January, taking the annual figure to £1,999, amid disrupted gas supplies linked to the Middle East conflict and…

    • Kings of Leon pair new single with NASA satellite imagery video

      Kings of Leon have released “Cold Blue Dawn”, a bluesy new single featuring an innovative music video created in collaboration with The Weather Channel. The video uses satellite imagery from NASA’s Landsat programme to spell out the song’s lyrics, creating a visually stunning and unprecedented format. The collaboration stems from the band’s existing affinity with…

    • Russia advances tests for its long-delayed PTK NP crew spacecraft

      Russia’s state space corporation Roscosmos is advancing development of a new crewed spacecraft now officially called PTK NP (previously known as “Eagle”), after nearly two decades of delays and name changes. Under new CEO Dmitry Bakanov, the project is moving into testing phases, with parachute system trials planned for autumn and emergency rescue mode tests…

    • Energy price cap soars 16 per cent; Labour split on EU

      Bills will rise to £1,999 per year from January. Andy Burnham’s EU hints have sparked backlash within the Labour party.

    • Tinder adds group meet-ups for users seeking lower-pressure dates

      Tinder is launching a group hangouts feature that allows users to meet in groups rather than on traditional one-on-one dates. Building on the success of its double date feature, the app is responding to demand from younger users who prefer lower-pressure social experiences when meeting new people. The initiative acknowledges that many singles find conventional…