US AI firms team up to avoid another Deepseek moment April 7, 2026 US artificial intelligence (AI) heavyweights are together stepping up to protect their commercial edge, as Chinese rivals increasingly chip away at their pricing power. Google, Anthropic and OpenAI have begun sharing information on rivals trying to replicate their models through distillation, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday. The united effort has been coordinated through an industry non-profit, [...]
Barclays reverses branch cuts as bank managers return to high street April 4, 2026 Barclays is planning to expand its high street presence and revive the “bank manager” role after years of rapid branch closures. The bank’s UK chief executive Vim Maru told the Times on Saturday that Barclays would increase its branch network beyond its current 206 sites, having already paused a programme that saw it shut around [...]
OpenAI reshuffles leadership as IPO plans loom April 4, 2026 OpenAI is reshaping its leadership team as it prepares for its next phase of growth, with senior executives moving roles and others stepping back. The company confirmed that longtime chief operating officer Brad Lightcap will transition into a new role focused on special projects, reporting directly to chief executive Sam Altman. In the position, Lightcap [...]
Tories brace for heavy losses as Badenoch outpolls rivals April 4, 2026 Five years ago, the Conservatives were polling at around 40 per cent, buoyed by the vaccine rollout and post-Brexit momentum, and went on to gain 235 seats in the 2021 local elections. But ahead of May’s vote, that position seems to have shifted. Political scientist Stephen Fisher has suggested the party could lose as many [...]
Labour to curb jail terms for shoplifters as retail crime fears grow April 4, 2026 Labour’s plans to scrap most prison sentences of under a year will see thousands of prolific shoplifters avoid jail, in a move that risks intensifying pressure on retailers already warning of rising violence and disorder. The changes, introduced under the Sentencing Act, mean around 98 per cent of shoplifters currently in custody would instead qualify [...]
Dexory auditor raises evidence concerns as robotics firm losses widen April 1, 2026 Auditors for Dexory have issued a rare warning over gaps in its financial records after the British robotics firm Dexory reported surging revenues alongside deepening losses. In newly filed accounts, auditors at Moore Kingston Smith said they were “unable to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding the stock quantities”, adding they could not determine whether [...]
Oracle chops headcount as AI reshapes Big Tech workforce April 1, 2026 Oracle has begun a new round of global job cuts, as the software giant ramps up spending on AI infrastructure and follows a broader wave of layoffs across Big Tech. Employees across multiple divisions, including cloud, health, sales and Netsuite, were informed on Tuesday that their roles had been eliminated with immediate effect. In a [...]
Roblox rival Rec Room to shut down after losses March 31, 2026 A major rival to Roblox is shutting down after failing to turn its large user base into a profitable business, 10 years after its launch. Rec Room said it will close on June 1, despite having attracted more than 150 million players and creators and reaching a valuation of $3.5bn (£2.65bn) at its peak. In [...]
CMA launches investigation into Microsoft amid cloud contract crackdown March 31, 2026 The UK’s competition watchdog has launched a new probe into Microsoft’s business software ecosystem, as part of a wider push to loosen the grip of Big Tech on cloud, and boost competition for British firms. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it will open a strategic market status investigation in Microsoft’s suite, including Windows, [...]
Britain’s most AI-exposed sectors foot biggest tax bill March 31, 2026 The UK sectors most exposed to artificial AI are concentrated in the same parts of the economy that generate the bulk of tax revenues, according to government and industry data. A 2026 assessment from the UK government shows AI is most applicable to tasks involving data processing, analysis and routine cognitive work, activities concentrated in [...]
