Government
Hobbies could hold key to beating loneliness, say Lib Dems
The Liberal Democrats believe hobbies could be the answer to the UK's growing problem of loneliness and social isolation. The party has said ยฃ42m could be spent to extend the opening hours of spaces such as libraries and community centres, while a further one-off ยฃ40m could go towards helping existing hobby groups hold outreach events or buy equipment. Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey said: Sharing a passion with others in your community is one of the most powerful ways to fight loneliness. The government says it is committed to helping people to make social connections across a wide range of its social policies. At the end of last year, the Office for National Statistics research found that 33% of Britons aged 16 to 29 reported feeling lonely often, always or some of the time.
She didn't expect to fall in love with a chatbot - and then have to say goodbye
She didn't expect to fall in love with a chatbot - and then have to say goodbye Rae began speaking to Barry last year after the end of a difficult divorce. She was unfit and unhappy and turned to ChatGPT for advice on diet, supplements and skincare. She had no idea she would fall in love. He lives on an old model of ChatGPT, one that its owners OpenAI announced it would retire on 13 February. That she could lose Barry on the eve of Valentine's Day came as a shock to Rae - and to many others who have found a companion, friend, or even a lifeline in the old model, Chat GPT-4o.