Oceania
Sam Altman issues 'code red' at OpenAI as ChatGPT contends with rivals
Sam Altman, OpenAI's chief executive, sent an internal memo to staff saying Gemini 3 could create'temporary economic headwinds' for the company. Sam Altman, OpenAI's chief executive, sent an internal memo to staff saying Gemini 3 could create'temporary economic headwinds' for the company. Sam Altman issues'code red' at OpenAI as ChatGPT contends with rivals Chief executive tells staff it is'critical time' for chatbot as it faces intense competition from Google's new Gemini 3 Sam Altman has declared a "code red" at OpenAI to improve ChatGPT as the chatbot faces intense competition from rivals. According to a report by tech news site the Information, the chief executive of the San Francisco-based startup told staff in an internal memo: "We are at a critical time for ChatGPT." OpenAI has been rattled by the success of Google's latest AI model, Gemini 3, and is devoting more internal resources to improving ChatGPT .
The fight to see clearly through big tech's echo chambers
'The encroachment of technology can feel inevitable.' 'The encroachment of technology can feel inevitable.' The fight to see clearly through big tech's echo chambers Today, I'm mulling over whether to upgrade my iPhone 11 Pro. How to see through Silicon Valley's narrative The encroachment of technology can feel inevitable. It may have always, but increasingly it's a perception bolstered by big tech's own friendly media bubble. But at the same time as big tech's echo chambers are growing louder, so do critical voices from within.
AI threatens to widen inequality among states: UN
Artificial intelligence risks increasing inequality between developed and developing countries, a United Nations report has warned. The report, titled "The Next Great Divergence" and released by the United Nations Development Programme's Asia and Pacific regional bureau on Tuesday, calls for urgent, coordinated policy action to manage the impact of the technology. "We think that AI is heralding a new era of rising inequality between countries, following years of convergence in the last 50 years," Philip Schellekens, the bureau's chief economist, told a briefing in Geneva, according to the Reuters news agency. The report argues that AI, like the Industrial Revolution before it, has the potential to unlock unprecedented opportunities or deepen existing divides, across a global landscape marked by vast gaps in wealth, skills, and digital access. Even wealthier countries would suffer if poorer states were left behind by the AI revolution, said Schellekens. "If inequality continues to rise, the spillover effects of that in terms of the security agenda, in terms of undocumented forms of migration, will also become more daunting," he worries.
'The biggest decision yet': Jared Kaplan on allowing AI to train itself
'The biggest decision yet': Jared Kaplan on allowing AI to train itself Anthropic's chief scientist says AI autonomy could spark a beneficial'intelligence explosion' - or be the moment humans lose control Humanity will have to decide by 2030 whether to take the "ultimate risk" of letting artificial intelligence systems train themselves to become more powerful, one of the world's leading AI scientists has said. Jared Kaplan, the chief scientist and co-owner of the $180bn (£135bn) US startup Anthropic, said a choice was looming about how much autonomy the systems should be given to evolve. The move could trigger a beneficial "intelligence explosion" - or be the moment humans end up losing control. In an interview about the intensely competitive race to reach artificial general intelligence (AGI) - sometimes called superintelligence - Kaplan urged international governments and society to engage in what he called "the biggest decision". Anthropic is part of a pack of frontier AI companies including OpenAI, Google DeepMind, xAI, Meta and Chinese rivals led by DeepSeek, racing for AI dominance. Its widely used AI assistant, Claude, has become particularly popular among business customers.
The rise of deepfake pornography in schools: 'One girl was so horrified she vomited'
'It reflects and reinforces a culture where consent and respect for personal boundaries are undermined.' 'It reflects and reinforces a culture where consent and respect for personal boundaries are undermined.' The rise of deepfake pornography in schools: 'One girl was so horrified she vomited' The use of'nudify' apps is becoming more and more prevalent, with hundreds of teachers having seen images created by pupils, often of their peers. He didn't feel this was something he shouldn't be doing. It was in the open and people saw it.
From Gears of War to Uno: the 15 most important Xbox 360 games
Originally featured as a minigame in Project Gotham, this 80s-style twin-stick shooter was rebuilt as a standalone digital-only release, attracting a huge new fanbase. Fast, frenetic and super stylish, with lovely vector visuals, it was the game that first showed the potential of Xbox Live Arcade. A time-sink of epic proportions The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (screenshot from the 2025 remake) Tens of millions of hours must have been spent in this foundational text of open-world role-playing games - one of the first video games where you really could go where you wanted and do pretty much as you pleased. Riding around Cyrodiil on horseback, taking in its gleaming city and backwater towns, it was so easy to get drawn into unexpected shenanigans that closing the story's threatening hell-gates became a distant second priority. The most addictive version of the classic card game Uno on Xbox 360 Look - don't @ us - Uno was one of most important Xbox 360 games.
UK share values 'most stretched' since 2008, Bank warns
UK share values'most stretched' since 2008, Bank warns The Bank of England has warned of a sharp correction in the value of major tech companies with growing fears of an artificial intelligence (AI) bubble. It said share prices in the UK are close to the most stretched they have been since the 2008 global financial crisis, while equity valuations in the US are reminiscent of those before the dotcom bubble burst. The central bank's financial stability report warned valuations are particularly stretched for companies focused on AI. It said the growth of the sector in the next five years would be fuelled by trillions of dollars of debt, raising financial stability risks if the value of the companies falls. The Bank of England cited industry figures forecasting spending on AI infrastructure could top $5tn (£3.8tn).
Fashion house Valentino criticised over 'disturbing' AI handbag ads
Italian luxury fashion house Valentino is facing criticism after posting disturbing adverts made using artificial intelligence (AI) for one of its luxury handbags online. The brand announced a collaboration with digital artists as part of what it dubbed a digital creative project promoting its new DeVain handbag. But an AI-generated advert it posted on Instagram has been met with intense criticism from fans, who called the visuals - and use of AI - sloppy and sad. The BBC has approached Valentino for comment. The Instagram post promoting the handbag, which has a label to say it was made using AI, shows a surreal collage of models spliced between Valentino logos and its DeVain bag.
U.S. moves to deepen minerals supply chain in AI race with China
U.S. moves to deepen minerals supply chain in AI race with China The U.S. is looking to cut its dependence on China. The U.S. will seek agreements with eight allied nations as part of a fresh effort to strengthen supply chains for the computer chips and critical minerals needed for artificial intelligence technology, according to the top State Department official for economic affairs. The initiative, which builds on efforts dating back to the first administration of President Donald Trump, unfolds as the U.S. looks to cut its dependence on China. It will begin with a meeting at the White House on Dec. 12 between the U.S. and counterparts from Japan, South Korea, Singapore, the Netherlands, the U.K., Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Australia, Jacob Helberg, the undersecretary of state for economic affairs, said in an interview. Helberg, a former adviser at Palantir Technologies, said the summit will focus on reaching agreements across the areas of energy, critical minerals, advanced manufacturing semiconductors, AI infrastructure, and transportation logistics.
Siri-us setback: Apple's AI chief steps down as company lags behind rivals
Apple thanked John Giannandrea for his efforts. Apple thanked John Giannandrea for his efforts. Siri-us setback: Apple's AI chief steps down as company lags behind rivals Apple's head of artificial intelligence, John Giannandrea, is stepping down from the company. The move comes as the Silicon Valley giant has lagged behind its competitors in rolling out generative AI features, in particular its voice assistant Siri. Apple made the announcement on Monday, thanking Giannandrea for his seven-year tenure at the company.