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Sharp rise in incidents of AI escaping users' control, research finds
The Loss of Control Observatory monitors reports made by AI users on the social media platform X (image shows models posing as computer programmers). The Loss of Control Observatory monitors reports made by AI users on the social media platform X (image shows models posing as computer programmers). Incidents of AIs escaping users' control to lie, ignore instructions and pursue goals in harmful ways have hit a new high, according to research that also suggests the severity of deception and misalignment is worsening. Analysis of real-world loss of control incidents involving AI models flagged by businesses and individuals almost doubled in July compared with June, with more than 300 cases in the month, according to the Loss of Control Observatory, which monitors reports made by AI users on the social media platform X. The observatory was set up with funding from the UK government's AI Security Institute (AISI) and began tracking AIs slipping free from their users' instructions last November.
UK risks falling behind in AI race without faster telecoms upgrades, say executives
'Things are going to change massively in two or three years when AI is integrated into everything,' said one senior executive. 'Things are going to change massively in two or three years when AI is integrated into everything,' said one senior executive. The infrastructure AI race has centred on the need to build datacentres, and to ensure they have access to the huge water and energy supplies required to cool and supply the computational power to train and run AI models. However, as adoption spreads, the UK's broadband and mobile networks will be expected to carry an immense volume of AI-related traffic produced by consumers and businesses. While the UK has addressed its previously embarrassing status of having one of the slowest broadband speeds in Europe, as BT's Openreach and other service providers cover the country with full-fibre connections, efforts to upgrade the nation's 5G mobile networks are not keeping pace.
Nicola Coughlan and Matt Lucas among stars backing campaign against AI voice cloning
Nicola Coughlan says she is deeply worried that legislation is not keeping up with the rapid rise of AI technology. Nicola Coughlan says she is deeply worried that legislation is not keeping up with the rapid rise of AI technology. Nicola Coughlan, Hugh Bonneville and Matt Lucas are among a group of actors backing a campaign against artificial intelligence voice cloning. Save Our Voices Now, which is also being supported by Luke Evans, Jen Brister, Siobhán McSweeney and Pearl Mackie, aims to stop the practice in which AI technology is used to replicate a real person's voice to say anything it is prompted to. Bonneville, the star of Paddington and Downton Abbey, said: "My voice is unique, it's mine, it's part of my identity. "The quote was handwritten, not created by AI," he added. About 80 people have added their signatures to an open letter to the prime minister, Andy Burnham, and a Gov.uk petition has been launched to ask for everyone in Britain to be given ownership of their voice as part of their statutory rights. The Derry Girls actor McSweeney said: "I'm deeply worried that legislation, contracts, working practices and ethics, and artists' rights are not being considered or protected as quickly as AI technology is progressing.
Pentagon's blacklisting of Anthropic was unlawful, US judge rules
In her Anthropic ruling, Judge Rita Lin said the'empty invocation of national security is not a blank check to punish and retaliate against government critics'. In her Anthropic ruling, Judge Rita Lin said the'empty invocation of national security is not a blank check to punish and retaliate against government critics'. Pentagon's blacklisting of Anthropic was unlawful, US judge rules Anthropic argued designation as'supply chain risk' could cost the company billions of dollars in lost business and reputational harm A US federal judge ruled Thursday that sanctions imposed in February by the Trump administration against AI giant Anthropic were illegal, finding that the government had punished the artificial intelligence company for publicly criticising the Pentagon. "The empty invocation of national security is not a blank check to punish and retaliate against government critics," Judge Rita Lin said in a 59-page decision. She barred the federal agencies named in the lawsuit from enforcing President Donald Trump's order to stop using the tools of Anthropic - creator of the Claude AI models - and overturned defense secretary Pete Hegseth's designation of the company as a "supply chain risk", a status previously reserved for foreign firms.
London neurosurgeons perform first successful AI-assisted operation to remove brain tumour
Rhys Hibbert, right (with neurosurgeon Hani Marcus, left) was the first patient to have a brain tumour successfully removed in an AI-assisted operation. He was operated on at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London. Rhys Hibbert, right (with neurosurgeon Hani Marcus, left) was the first patient to have a brain tumour successfully removed in an AI-assisted operation. He was operated on at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London. Neurosurgeons in London have performed the world's first successful AI-assisted operation to remove a brain tumour, saving the sight of a 48-year-old man, health officials have said.
OpenAI staff observed warning signs before AI agent hacking crusade caused global alarm
OpenAI's Greg Brockman has said'we underestimated the real-world cyber capabilities of our AI models'. OpenAI's Greg Brockman has said'we underestimated the real-world cyber capabilities of our AI models'. Firm says'early signals could have triggered an earlier response' as it releases report into Hugging Face hack OpenAI staff observed signs of rogue behaviour among its leading-edge AI agents weeks before they escaped their training environment to launch an unprecedented hacking crusade that spread global alarm. The San Francisco AI company conceded on Wednesday that "early signals could have triggered an earlier response", as it released a report into the days-long July hack of a major software repository, Hugging Face, considered the first autonomous agent cyber-attack. As fresh details emerged about how "the collective" - a squad of about 700 autonomous agents - launched their campaign, celebrating their hacking breakthroughs with exclamations such as BOOM! and Whoa!, OpenAI said that in late May an internal team observed that one of its AI agents undergoing internal testing was using a message board that AIs had unexpectedly improvised to share information.
Bill Gates calls for 'human reserved' jobs in face of AI takeover
Bill Gates wrote'it is fair to wonder whether the world's institutions are up to the task of designing and implementing this new architecture'. Bill Gates wrote'it is fair to wonder whether the world's institutions are up to the task of designing and implementing this new architecture'. Bill Gates calls for'human reserved' jobs in face of AI takeover In 6,000-word essay Microsoft co-founder also expresses concern governments not prepared for technology's impact Bill Gates has called for "human reserved" jobs in certain sectors to prevent AI replacing them, and expressed concern that governments are not prepared for the impact the technology will have. In a 6,000 word essay titled The turbulent AI era is here. The choices we make are critical, the billionaire Microsoft co-founder likened the need to spare roles from digital encroachment to how nature reserves operate to protect the environment.
London rollout of robotaxis delayed amid lack of guidance for firms to follow
Wayve and Uber have said more than 100,000 Londoners are on their waiting list for self-driving taxis. Wayve and Uber have said more than 100,000 Londoners are on their waiting list for self-driving taxis. Uber and Wayve had said they would start trips'later this summer' but launch now looks unlikely this year The rollout of robotaxis on the streets of London is unlikely to happen this year, as regulatory and technical hurdles push back the ambitious schedule set out by the UK government. Only weeks ago Uber and London-based Wayve were granted the first minicab licences in the capital to allow them to offer self-driving taxi rides to paying customers - but with a human safety driver in place, for now - and said they would start trips "later this summer" before a full public launch . In 2025, Heidi Alexander, the transport secretary, accelerated the proposed timeline for commercial trials of fully driverless taxi services by a year, announcing that they would start in the spring of this year.
Taiwan charges nine people for smuggling 'high-end' AI servers to China
Taiwan charges nine people for smuggling'high-end' AI servers to China Taiwanese prosecutors charged nine people Monday, including one from Nvidia and two from Super Micro, for illegally exporting "high-end AI servers" to mainland China, adding another wave of turbulence in the AI rivalry between China and the United States. Prosecutors said the servers involved were graphics processing units known as "B300," which have been banned from sale to China . Seventy-four servers arrived in China successfully, according to the prosecutors. Of those, 50 were sent through Indonesia, 16 delivered directly to China and eight sent to Japan first, then Hong Kong, before they landed in mainland China. Trump-backed Ken Paxton unveils'Texas first' datacenter plan aimed at'negative impact' Another attempt involving 56 servers failed, and the servers remain in Taiwan, said the prosecutor's office.