Latest posts

  • Leave big tech behind! How to replace Amazon, Google, X, Meta, Apple – and more

    A handful of companies monopolise the web, with unprecedented access to our data. But there are many more ethical – and often distinctively European – alternatives There’s not much to love about big tech these days. So many ills can be laid at its door: social media harms, misinformation, polarisation, mining and misuse of personal…

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  • ICE reliance on Microsoft technology surged amid immigration crackdown, documents show

    Exclusive: ICE more than tripled the amount of data stored in Microsoft’s cloud at the same time that its arsenal of surveillance technology ballooned Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deepened its reliance on Microsoft’s cloud technology last year as the agency ramped up arrest and deportation operations, leaked documents reveal. ICE more than tripled the…

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  • Claims that AI can help fix climate dismissed as greenwashing

    Industry using ‘diversionary’ tactics, says analyst, as energy-hungry complex functions such as video generation and deep research proliferate Tech companies are conflating traditional artificial intelligence with generative AI when claiming the energy-hungry technology could help avert climate breakdown, according to a report. Most claims that AI can help avert climate breakdown refer to machine learning…

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  • More than 1,000 Amazon workers warn rapid AI rollout threatens jobs and climate

    Workers say the firm’s ‘warp-speed’ approach fuels pressure, layoffs and rising emissions More than 1,000 Amazon employees have signed an open letter expressing “serious concerns” about AI development, saying that the company’s “all-costs justified, warp speed” approach to the powerful technology will cause damage to “democracy, to our jobs, and to the earth.” The letter,…

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  • UK consumers warned over AI chatbots giving inaccurate financial advice

    Which? study of ChatGPT, Copilot and others uncovers incorrect and misleading tips on investments, tax and insurance Artificial intelligence chatbots are giving inaccurate money tips, offering British consumers misleading tax advice and suggesting they buy unnecessary travel insurance, research has revealed. Tests on the most popular chatbots found Microsoft’s Copilot and ChatGPT advised breaking HMRC…

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  • Anthropic announces $50bn plan for datacenter construction in US

    AI startup behind Claude chatbot working with London-based Fluidstack on building vast new computing facilities Artificial intelligence company Anthropic announced a $50bn investment in computing infrastructure on Wednesday that will include new datacenters in Texas and New York. “We’re getting closer to AI that can accelerate scientific discovery and help solve complex problems in ways…

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  • Microsoft reports strong earnings as Azure hit by major outage

    Tech giant reports earnings of $3.72 per share day after deal with OpenAI pushed value of company to more than $4tn Microsoft blew off concerns of overspending on AI on Wednesday, reporting elevated earnings even as it faced an outage of its cloud computing service, Azure, and its office software suite, 365. The strong earnings…

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  • Apple hits $4tn market value as new iPhone models revitalize sales

    Tech company’s stock enters positive territory for first time this year after gaining about 13% since new iPhone launches Apple topped $4tn (£3tn) in market value for the first time on Tuesday, joining Microsoft and Nvidia as the third company in history to hit the milestone, thanks to strong demand for its latest iPhones. Apple’s…

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  • Once the AI bubble pops, we’ll all suffer. Could that be better than letting it grow unabated?

    The world will be pushed into a recession, but perhaps we can build something more promising from the pieces The world economy hinges on the success or failure of artificial intelligence. It’s becoming apparent that we are probably doomed either way. Employment growth is stuck and wage growth is slowing, especially among low-paying jobs. Loan…

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  • What does the end of free support for Windows 10 mean for its users?

    Computers running software will still work but steadily become more vulnerable to viruses and malware From Tuesday Microsoft will no longer offer free support as standard for Windows 10, an operating system that is used by millions of computer and laptop owners around the world. Figures for September suggest four in 10 of those using…

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