Breaking AI & Tech News Analyzed

The House of Lords has backed an Australian-style social media ban for under-16s, with peers voting 266 to 141 against proposals for a public consultation.Conservative former minister Lord Nash said the vote sent an 'unambiguous message' to the government, emphasizing that 'hollow promises and half-measures are not enough.'The vote comes after a jury in Los Angeles found that Meta, the owner of Google and Facebook, designed deliberately addictive products that harmed a 20-year-old's mental health.Nash proposed the age limit as part of the children's wellbeing and schools bill, stating that 'techies' had taken a 'cavalier approach' to content damaging to children.The decision could influence thousands of similar lawsuits in the US accusing social media companies of deliberately causing harm.Lady Cass, a paediatrician and crossbench peer, criticized the government for 'failing to understand the impact of social media on our children.'

Rebecca Hendin, a renowned cartoonist, has created a thought-provoking cartoon for The Guardian, satirically addressing Donald Trump's 15-point peace plan. The cartoon, published on March 26, 2026, offers a visual commentary on Trump's claims of pursuing peace in the Middle East, particularly in the context of US-Israel relations and Iran.The illustration, available on The Guardian's website, uses satire to critique the former US President's foreign policy initiatives. While specific details of the cartoon are not provided, it is part of The Guardian's series of opinion cartoons that offer critical perspectives on global issues.This work by Rebecca Hendin is part of a larger conversation about peace plans and international relations in the Middle East, a region that has seen significant conflict and political shifts over the years. The cartoon serves as a reflection of public opinion and media discourse on these critical issues.

The creator of the AI actor Tilly Norwood, Eline van der Velden, has revealed that she received death threats following a global backlash against her project. Van der Velden developed Tilly Norwood to spark conversation about the role of AI in the entertainment industry.Van der Velden's AI creation, Tilly Norwood, gained significant attention last year when she announced that talent agents were interested in signing the AI actor. This led to widespread condemnation from prominent actors and acting unions, including Melissa Barrera, Mara Wilson, and Ralph Ineson, as well as Sag-Aftra and Equity.In an interview with the Guardian, Van der Velden expressed her surprise at the intensity of the backlash, stating, “The death threats and the hate … my goodness, loads,” she said. Despite the negative reaction, Van der Velden remains committed to her vision of integrating AI into the entertainment industry.Van der Velden founded Particle6 and its AI arm, Xicoia, and debuted Norwood in a short comedy sketch called AI Commissioner last autumn. Norwood has gained a significant following, with 141,000 followers on Instagram.Van der Velden believes that AI actors like Norwood could be beneficial for some performers, allowing them to maintain anonymity while still engaging in acting. She noted, “I think it’s great for some actors, it might actually be a blessing that they can have a digital twin,” emphasizing that fame can be burdensome.Van der Velden continues to advocate for the use of AI in entertainment, highlighting its potential to offer actors more creative freedom. She has now featured Norwood in a new music video, with lyrics written by an AI chatbot, and controls Norwood’s avatar using motion capture techniques.

Google has issued a warning that quantum computers could potentially break most existing encryption systems by 2029, posing a significant threat to current cryptographic standards. The tech giant is urging banks, governments, and technology providers to prepare for this emerging threat.In a blog post, Google stated that the encryption currently used to keep information confidential and secure could easily be broken by a large-scale quantum computer in the coming years. The company, owned by Alphabet, emphasized the need for post-quantum cryptography migration to protect sensitive data.While quantum computers are still a nascent technology, Google, Microsoft, and universities across the UK and the US are actively building systems that harness the physics of quantum mechanics to perform extremely sophisticated mathematical calculations. However, constructing a powerful quantum computer with hundreds of thousands or even millions of stable qubits remains a significant technological challenge.Leonie Mueck, formerly the chief product officer of Riverlane, a Cambridge-based quantum startup, noted that Google's statement does not necessarily mean a working quantum computer capable of breaking encryption will definitely exist by 2029. Most timelines for a cryptographically relevant quantum computer range from the 2030s to the 2050s.Despite this, governments and organizations are already preparing for the eventuality that data stored to today's encryption standards would be exposed when the technology sufficiently advances. The UK's cybersecurity agency, the National Cyber Security Centre, has urged organizations to guard their systems against quantum hackers by 2035.Google's timeline suggests that engineering teams across the technology industry should consider measures to protect sensitive data by migrating to more advanced encryption systems now. Certain kinds of attacks predicated on the future availability of quantum decryption – “store now, decrypt later” – may currently be being deployed across the field.

The Co-op Group has announced that its chief executive, Shirine Khoury-Haq, will step down this weekend after a challenging year that included a cyber-attack and recent claims of a “toxic” culture at the business.Khoury-Haq will depart on 29 March, and Kate Allum, a board member and former boss of the dairy group First Milk, will step in as interim boss while a permanent replacement is sought.The company, which owns more than 800 funeral parlours and an insurance and legal advisory business, as well as operating more than 2,000 convenience stores, reported an underlying loss of £125m. This is a significant drop from a £45m profit the year before, largely due to a £107m profits hit from the damaging IT hack.Khoury-Haq denied that her resignation was linked to the allegations of a toxic culture, stating that her decision to leave was a personal one. She expressed her desire to “go and do something else”.Sales at Co-op fell 2.3% to £11bn in the year to 3 January, following the mutual’s shops being left with gaps on shelves after the cyber-attack, which knocked £285m off sales.The group cited a “contracting convenience market” and “layered cost headwinds” of about £150m during the year, due to increases in employers’ national insurance, pay and packaging taxes.Khoury-Haq’s departure comes a month after reports of concerns about the culture at the top of the group. In February, the Co-op defended the behaviour of its bosses after reports said senior managers had complained of a “toxic” environment at the retailer.

Sir Paul Marshall, the co-owner of GB News and a self-described 'committed' Christian, has been criticized by a group of 100 church leaders over the TV channel's attacks on climate science and action. The leaders, including former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, argue that Marshall's statements on climate change are misleading and that his hedge fund's £1.8bn investments in fossil fuels present a conflict of interest.Marshall has stated that the UK has been infected by 'climate derangement syndrome' and that efforts to cut planet-heating emissions are 'impoverishing people.' In response, the church leaders emphasized that 100% of global heating since 1950 has been caused by human emissions and activities, according to the world's climate scientists. They also noted that decarbonization is a huge growth opportunity that will save trillions of dollars in the long term.The leaders, in an open letter, urged Marshall to be transparent about any personal conflicts of interest and to declare his financial interests in fossil fuels. They cited research that found GB News broadcast 953 attacks on climate science and climate action in the period immediately before and after the 2024 general election.Marshall responded that 'the Gospel entreats us to look after the vulnerable' but argued that pursuing an 'ideological' net zero policy was 'a path of unilateral economic disarmament and self-harm.' He also stated that he was not involved in the editorial decisions of GB News, which has lost £131m since its launch in 2021.The Christian leaders' criticism of Marshall and GB News highlights the ongoing debate over climate change and the role of media outlets in shaping public discourse on the issue. As more than 100 countries have net zero policies and the UK's net zero economy grew by 10% in 2024, the pressure on media outlets to provide accurate and responsible reporting on climate issues continues to grow.

Afghanistan's authorities have released US citizen Dennis Coyle, who was detained in the country for over a year. The release was announced by the country's Foreign Ministry on Tuesday, stating that Coyle's detention period was deemed sufficient by the Supreme Court of the Islamic Emirate.The decision to release Coyle was made on humanitarian grounds and as a gesture of 'goodwill'. The UAE facilitated the release, which came after a meeting between Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, former US Special Envoy to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad, the UAE Ambassador to Kabul Saif Mohammed al-Ketbi, and a member of Coyle's family.Coyle, a linguist and researcher, was detained in January 2025 while working to support Afghan language communities. He was held 'in near-solitary conditions' without access to adequate medical care, according to the Foley Foundation. The Taliban authorities stated that Coyle was held 'due to violations of Afghanistan's applicable laws'.The release is seen as a positive step towards ending the practice of hostage diplomacy. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio thanked the UAE and Qatar for their support in securing Coyle's release, stating that it is a positive step towards ending the practice of hostage diplomacy.This is not the first time the Taliban has released US citizens as a goodwill gesture. Last year, five other US citizens were released under similar circumstances.

United Nations experts have issued a strong appeal to Israel, demanding the immediate release of Dr. Hussam Abu Safia, a Palestinian physician from Gaza. According to reports, Dr. Abu Safia has been subjected to severe torture and other forms of abuse while in Israeli detention.The UN special rapporteurs, Tlaleng Mofokeng and Ben Saul, expressed grave concern over Dr. Abu Safia's health condition, which they described as dire. They alleged that he has been systematically denied critical medical examination and treatment, and deprived of essential care, putting his life, health, and wellbeing at grave risk.Dr. Abu Safia, the former director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, was detained by Israeli forces in December 2024. His arrest and detention have been widely condemned, with Amnesty International describing it as a reflection of Israel's systematic targeting of Palestinian health workers and the decimation of the healthcare system in Gaza.The UN experts also highlighted the broader context of Israel's war on Gaza, which has resulted in over 930 attacks on the healthcare sector since October 2023, according to World Health Organization (WHO) figures. All 36 hospitals in the Strip have suffered damage, and only half are partially functional.The situation for Palestinian healthcare workers has been particularly dire, with at least 1,722 medical workers killed between October 2023 and October 2025, an average of more than two killed every day.The UN experts urged the international community, including countries with influence on Israel, to take action to ensure prevention, recourse, and justice. They emphasized that Israel must release Dr. Abu Safia and all healthcare workers, and ensure they have access to appropriate medical care.

Robert Habeck, former German Vice-Chancellor and Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, has issued a stark warning about the dangers posed by authoritarian leaders driven by megalomania, drawing parallels between Vladimir Putin's actions in Ukraine and Donald Trump's actions in Iran.Habeck argues that both leaders are primarily concerned with their own greatness, making them unpredictable and disinterested in international law. This megalomania has led to massive military miscalculations, including underestimating the resolve of the countries they attacked to make sacrifices.The article highlights the impact on energy prices, with both conflicts threatening to disrupt global energy supplies. Habeck recalls the high oil prices following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which rose to $130 a barrel, and warns that a prolonged conflict in Iran could lead to an inflationary contagion beyond energy.Habeck emphasizes the need for Europe to develop its defence capabilities, including stockpiles of interceptor drones and new production capacity, to prepare for the scenario of a long war. He also stresses the importance of rapid electrification of industry, transport, and the heating and cooling sectors to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.The author concludes that Europe must act to prevent the worst outcome, rather than relying on hope or second-best outcomes. As he notes, hope is not a strategy, and the EU must use its resources wisely to protect its infrastructure and ensure energy security.