Labour’s pre-loved tech charter won’t fix the UK’s digital divide, say experts July 11, 2025 The UK government’s new ‘IT reuse for good’ charter has drawn corporate backing, and a chorus of applause from Whitehall to Vodafone HQ for tackling major issues of digital exclusion and electronic waste. But donating devices is not a digital inclusion strategy – and certainly not enough to fix a broken, unequal system. The charter, [...]
Meta-backed fellowship puts open source in the firing line July 11, 2025 The UK government has launched a $1 million open source AI fellowship funded by Meta through the Alan Turing Institute, inviting the nation’s top AI engineers to spend 12 months building public-sector AI tools. The scheme focuses on open-source AI models like Meta’s Llama 4 to create applications for everything from speeding up planning approvals [...]
London claims number two spot in global ranking of AI hubs July 11, 2025 London has claimed the number two spot in a new global ranking of tech talent hubs, second only to San Francisco, as the capital continues to ride the wave of AI innovation. However, behind the headlines, the race for digital skills is intensifying, and the UK still faces significant challenges if it wants to maintain [...]
MPs slam Online Safety Act as ‘not up to scratch’ July 11, 2025 The UK’s Online Safety Act (OSA) is failing to protect the public from the spread of harmful misinformation and must be urgently overhauled, MPs have warned in a damning new report. In findings published Tuesday, Parliament’s Science, Innovation and Technology Committee (SITC) said the OSA – which began to take effect earlier this year – [...]
Nvidia and Bitcoin dodge Trump’s tech tariff effects July 10, 2025 Two of the world’s most-watched assets – Nvidia and Bitcoin – have surged to fresh highs this week, defying growing uncertainty around president Trump’s latest wave of tariff threats aimed squarely at the tech industry. Nvidia on Wednesday became the world’s first company to hit a $4tr (£2.9tr) valuation, cementing its role as the bellwether [...]
OpenAI’s new web browser targets Google Chrome – and your data July 10, 2025 OpenAI is finalising the release of its first AI-powered web browser – an ambitious move that could upend the dominance of Google Chrome and shift the battleground for user data, digital ad revenues, and cybersecurity. The browser, expected to launch by the end of July, will embed a ChatGPT -style interface directly into the web [...]
WPP picks Microsoft exec Cindy Rose as CEO amid sliding sales July 10, 2025 WPP has named Microsoft executive Cindy Rose as its new chief executive, as the advertising giant battles declining revenues, key account losses, and a falling share price. Rose will step into the top job on 1 September 2025, replacing Mark Read, who is stepping down after seven years at the helm and more than three [...]
Peter Kyle hits back at claims Labour is too close to Big Tech July 9, 2025 Tech secretary Peter Kyle has hit back at criticism that the Labour government is cosying up to Big Tech, insisting he’s “doing the job” by securing the best deals for Britain. Speaking at a Google Cloud event in London on Tuesday, Kyle addressed recent reports flagging the number of meetings he’s had with US tech [...]
Meta launches UK hub for AI-powered Ray-Ban smart glasses July 9, 2025 Meta has opened a new £12m audio research lab in Cambridge, aimed at improving the sound capabilities of its AR and AI glasses, including the Ray-Ban Meta and the newly announced Oakley Meta. The move strengthens Meta’s focus on wearable technology that responds intelligently to users’ surroundings. The lab is built to simulate a wide [...]
Digital illusion: How the UK’s paper-based processes fuel cyber attacks July 9, 2025 Thousands of UK SMEs are operating with outdated, paper-based verification processes that expose them to cyber attacks, fraud, hinder growth, and erode confidence. A new report from regtech firm Umazi called for an urgent overhaul of the UK’s corporate identity infrastructure, warning that legacy verification systems have become a weak link in Britain’s digital economy. [...]
