George Williamson: 'As AI becomes more embedded in domains like defence, national security, critical infrastructure and healthcare we shouldn't depend solely on systems we can't inspect or control.' George Williamson: 'As AI becomes more embedded in domains like defence, national security, critical infrastructure and healthcare we shouldn't depend solely on systems we can't inspect or control.' George Williamson says'national resilience' is key focus of ATI amid US and China's runaway leadership in field The UK must not become dependent on foreign AI systems that can be switched off at short notice and must develop its own versions of the technology, according to the head of the Alan Turing Institute. The country needs a stronger domestic position in AI in response to the US and China's runaway leadership in the field, with "national resilience" a key focus for ATI said George Williamson. The institute is the UK's leading AI research body and is under new leadership after the government, its main source of funding, demanded a strategic shift. Palantir's Tom Watson says'mob rule' must not dictate awarding of government contracts "As AI becomes more embedded in critical services, in domains like defence, national security, critical infrastructure and healthcare we shouldn't depend solely on systems we can't inspect or control, or that could be restricted or even switched off," said Williamson. In June Washington temporarily blocked the release outside the US of Anthropic's latest models, and has reportedly asked leading AI labs to withhold their models from being tested by the UK's AI Security Institute until they have been examined by AISI's US counterpart.

Forecasts of annual revenues by leading AI players are closely watched by markets as an indicator of overall demand for the tech, which is attracting huge investment. Forecasts of annual revenues by leading AI players are closely watched by markets as an indicator of overall demand for the tech, which is attracting huge investment. Questions raised over AI growth as ChatGPT maker forecasts this year's revenue at $50bn, way below the $70bn signalled before Fri 9 Oct 2026 04.06 EDTFirst published on Fri 9 Oct 2026 04.04 EDT OpenAI has revealed that it is making about $20bn less in projected revenue than it had recently indicated to investors, raising questions about the break-neck growth rate in demand for AI. The ChatGPT-maker company has told investors that its revenues for this year would reach $50bn (£37bn), a projection based on sales up to the end of September. However, this is significantly less than the $70bn that it had signalled in information provided to investors last month, which was widely reported.

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei looks on as Donald Trump holds a press briefing with AI executives following a meeting on artificial intelligence. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei looks on as Donald Trump holds a press briefing with AI executives following a meeting on artificial intelligence. Anthropic bans users from'needless abusive or cruel behavior' towards Claude A spokesperson behind the tech company's AI chatbot has not yet specified what counts as abusive or cruel content Anthropic has barred users from exhibiting "sustained and needless abusive or cruel behavior" toward its models, as the company's leaders continue to ponder machine consciousness. The Verge first reported the change in policy. A spokesperson for Anthropic, which is behind AI chatbot Claude, did not immediately respond to an inquiry about what could be considered "abusive or cruel".

One employee says the system can mean their work is monitored by AI for seven hours a day as they handle inquiries, often from bereaved customers. One employee says the system can mean their work is monitored by AI for seven hours a day as they handle inquiries, often from bereaved customers. 'Dystopian': Co-op becomes latest firm to put staff under AI surveillance Thu 8 Oct 2026 05.00 EDTLast modified on Thu 8 Oct 2026 06.04 EDT The Co-op has become the latest employer to place workers under AI surveillance with an automated listening technology that rates every phone call some of them make to customers. In a system described as "oppressive and dystopian" by a whistleblower, Co-op Legal Services is using AI models to record, analyse and award a percentage score for interactions between agents and customers seeking advice about probate, wills and estates. A model from OpenAI has been trained to assess more than 50 discrete aspects of each phone call and provide pass and fail scores to managers who use the data to analyse employee performance.

OpenAI's release of mathematical findings draws concerns from experts Leaders worry OpenAI is not doing due diligence to vet results and that AI models aren't accessible to broader field of mathematicians OpenAI has astounded mathematicians after releasing hundreds of new mathematical findings on Tuesday. The company published over 370 mathematical results across a variety of topics such as algebra, theoretical computer science and mathematical logic, showcasing what some of its most advanced artificial intelligence models are capable of. Last month, the company solved the Navier-Stokes equation, one of the world's toughest mathematical problems with a $1m reward for anyone who cracked it. The achievement prompted concerns from leaders in the field who say that frontier labs should not be testing the most advanced mathematical problems on proprietary AI models that are not accessible to the broader field of mathematicians. The Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey, an independent group of mathematical experts, said that it does not endorse the practice.

Australia's privacy regulator launched an investigation into the China-based company behind the HeyCyan app in Kmart's Anko-branded discount version of Meta's smartglasses. Australia's privacy regulator launched an investigation into the China-based company behind the HeyCyan app in Kmart's Anko-branded discount version of Meta's smartglasses. Privacy watchdog launches investigation into China-based company behind Kmart'pervert glasses' app Tue 6 Oct 2026 22.00 EDTFirst published on Tue 6 Oct 2026 19.02 EDT The Australian privacy regulator has opened an investigation into the China-based software company behind the HeyCyan app in Kmart's $89 smartglasses, following public outrage over the covert use of the devices. In August, Guardian Australia reported Kmart had sold out of the Anko-branded discount version of Meta's smartglasses that can capture images and record high-definition video, which led to widespread concern and calls to ban or restrict their use. The glasses were removed from Kmart's website as of Wednesday.

I'm your host, Blake Montgomery, writing to you as I sit under yellowing leaves in New York. Donald Trump made a series of moves over the past week that make it clear his power is becoming synonymous with artificial intelligence. The new tight alliances between the White House, the Pentagon, US intelligence agencies and AI companies loom ominously over governments and companies, particularly in Europe, that rely on American AI. Last Tuesday, Trump and six AI CEOs signed what he called a "morally binding" agreement to put controls on artificial intelligence. The vague agreement stipulates a framework for what Trump called "tremendous self-policing", reiterating his point that AI companies can act as their own watchmen.

Misuse of AI is brands' top reputational threat, new survey says Misusing artificial intelligence (AI) is the top threat to companies' reputations - more so than being accused of putting children in the way of mental, emotional or physical harm and issues exposed by the US-Israel war on Iran, among other brand risks, according to a new survey of more than 150 public affairs leaders. Those findings in the new edition of the quarterly Reputation Risk Index, released on Tuesday, came on the heels of other perhaps more dire warnings from leading tech figures that AI in the wrong hands could precipitate existential threats on a mass scale such as nuclear war or destruction by bioweaponry. The index's publisher, the Global Risk Advisory Council, acknowledged that misuse of AI is not a particularly new concern in its area of focus, having been identified as a top worry repeatedly since the first edition of the survey in April 2025. But the council said what is new is its attaching an advisory to its latest survey advising business leaders to "take immediate and decisive action to mitigate potential long-term brand damage" with respect to AI, as the technology has "become a clear and present danger to public confidence for many corporations". "As AI is rapidly deployed for productivity gains, we have also seen diminishing public trust in the technology, elevating the need for businesses to take measures to protect their brands," council chair Isabel Casillas Guzman said in a statement. "In this environment, AI use or overuse can quickly damage a company's standing with customers, investors, or other key stakeholders, making it essential for companies to deploy preventive tactics now."

It was organised by PauseAI, a confederation of campaign groups in 17 countries. It was organised by PauseAI, a confederation of campaign groups in 17 countries. 'Pull the plug': protesters resort to direct action against AI firms In a bar below Waterloo Bridge, a cell of a fast-growing anti-AI protest movement met last week to plot their latest move: disrupting a tech industry dinner being addressed by a senior executive from the chip maker Nvidia. Emma, a 28-year-old bartender, had never before taken direct action and was the most nervous of the four plotters from Pull The Plug, one of a growing number of AI-focused campaign groups around the world. Around the table were a former climate protester and a campaigner versed in the anti-nuclear movement.

Sam Altman of OpenAI says there is'a lot of daylight' between his approach to AI safety rules and those of rival firms. Sam Altman of OpenAI says there is'a lot of daylight' between his approach to AI safety rules and those of rival firms. Accept'bad things' in return for benefits of AI, says Sam Altman Boss of OpenAI calls for a regulatory light touch because of the'good stuff' the technology can deliver Mon 5 Oct 2026 09.27 EDTFirst published on Mon 5 Oct 2026 08.13 EDT Sam Altman says he believes the world should accept "bad things" happening with AI in exchange for the benefits of the technology. The chief executive of OpenAI cited hacks, scams and "other bad things that will happen" in an interview that sparked an instant backlash from critics of the big AI companies. His comments came after one of his company's safety experts resigned, saying at the weekend that its "culture is broken".