Government and policy

bedazzled-by-big-tech,-the-uk’s-ai-summit-is-overlooking-big-issues

Bedazzled by big tech, the UK’s AI summit is overlooking big issues

World leaders and tech titans are currently descending on southern England for an AI safety summit, but the flashy event isn’t impressing everyone. Over the next two days, around 100 bigwigs will attend the event at the historic Bletchley Park, a country estate around 90km north of London. During World War Two, the site was home to the codebreakers […]

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meta-begrudgingly-launches-e9.99-ad-free-subscription-for-facebook-and-instagram

Meta begrudgingly launches €9.99 ad-free subscription for Facebook and Instagram

The effects of the EU’s regulatory crusade on Big Tech are beginning to make themselves known to consumers. Yesterday, Meta launched ad-free subscription services for Facebook and Instagram within the bloc. Users will be able to pay from €9.99 to use the social media platforms without seeing ads — or continue using them for free

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eu-backs-new-project-that-combines-solar-power-with-agriculture

EU backs new project that combines solar power with agriculture

A new “agrivoltaics” initiative looking to prove the commercial viability of integrating solar power plants with agriculture has won the favour of Brussels. The EU is backing German renewable energy company BayWa, in a first-of-its-kind scheme that could be a win-win for farmers and the climate.  In order to develop the project, BayWa has secured

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uk-police-urged-to-double-down-on-facial-recognition

UK police urged to double down on facial recognition

In a controversial move, UK police is being encouraged to double its use of retrospective facial recognition to track down known offenders. Specifically, in a letter to force chiefs, policing minister Chris Philp said that using the AI-enabled technology  would allow for over 200,000 searches of images against the Police National Database by May 2024.

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uk-helps-fund-rocket-factory-augsburg-in-lead-up-to-scotland-launch

UK helps fund Rocket Factory Augsburg in lead up to Scotland launch

German startup Rocket Factory Augsburg has secured £3.5mn (€4mn) in funding from the UK Space Agency as it prepares for its maiden flight next year. The funding was awarded under the European Space Agency’s Boost! Programme, which aims to help companies develop new launch technologies and bring them to the market.  Rocket Factory UK, a

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uk-launches-100m-ai-fund-to-help-treat-incurable-diseases

UK launches £100M AI fund to help treat incurable diseases

From making variant-proof vaccines to preventing genetic diseases and improving cancer treatments, AI could truly be an invaluable tool in solving some of the biggest challenges in healthcare. Against this backdrop, the UK aims to harness the tech’s potential and has launched a £100mn fund to accelerate AI deployment in areas where its capabilities could

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netherlands-starts-building-e1.5bn-hydrogen-pipeline-to-cut-reliance-on-natural-gas

Netherlands starts building €1.5bn hydrogen pipeline to cut reliance on natural gas

Today, the Netherlands officially began constructing a 1,200km-long hydrogen pipeline — amid a continent-wide push to wean Europe off natural gas. The first section of the pipeline will run from the Maasvlakte — a massive man-made extension of the Europoort in Rotterdam (Europe’s largest port) — some 30 kilometres inland to a gas refinery in

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un-creates-ai-advisory-body-to-‘maximise’-benefits-for-humankind

UN creates AI advisory body to ‘maximise’ benefits for humankind

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has unveiled a dedicated AI advisory body with a mandate to harness the technology’s power for good and mitigate its risks through international collaboration and governance. “AI could power extraordinary progress for humanity,” Guterres said, pointing to a plethora of benefits — from health and education to the digitalisation of developing

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dutch-mps-criticise-new-us-export-ban-on-asml-chip-machine

Dutch MPs criticise new US export ban on ASML chip machine

Dutch politicians have expressed their dismay over the US’ new export rules for ASML, claiming that Washington has “unilaterally” imposed restrictions on selling yet another chip making machine to China. AMSL has already been prohibited from selling its most sophisticated machines to China since 2019. This year in June (following months of pressure by the

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how-to-build-a-spaceport

How to build a spaceport

Around 250 kilometres off the north coast of Scotland, the Shetland isle of Unst undergoing a dramatic renovation. On a peninsula flanked by giant cliffs and open ocean, builders are constructing a spaceport. They call the project SaxaVord. They say it could host the first-ever vertical rocket launches from Western Europe. It’s a bold objective

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‘we-may-irreversibly-lose-control-of-autonomous-ai,’-warn-top-academics

‘We may irreversibly lose control of autonomous AI,’ warn top academics

Open letters warning over AI’s risks are amassing — with top technologists and researchers sounding the alarm on uncontrollable development, pressing existential threats, and the lack of regulation. Now, just a week before the AI Summit in London, a new letter calls on companies and governments to ensure the safe and ethical use of AI.

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europe-has-‘no-other-choice’-but-to-depend-on-spacex-for-upcoming-satellite-launches

Europe has ‘no other choice’ but to depend on SpaceX for upcoming satellite launches

Elon Musk’s SpaceX has reached a deal with the European Space Agency (ESA) to launch four navigation and communications satellites into orbit, the Wall Street Journal reports. The agreement covers two launches next year, each carrying two Galileo satellites, Javier Benedicto, the ESA’s director of navigation, told the publication. These satellites enable encrypted communications between

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