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Tech May 28, 2026

Has the hunt for AI compute uncovered the next Cerebras?

General Compute, an inference‑focused neocloud, closed a $15 million seed round and secured a $300 …
General Compute, a new inference neocloud, raised a $15 million seed round at a $60 million post‑money valuation and booked a $300 million order for SambaNova’s upcoming SN50 chips. The company promises 600‑700 tokens per second per chip and a deployment model that fits into existing, air‑cooled data‑center infrastructure. General Compute’s Funding and Strategic Partnerships Seed round led by FUSE VC with participation from Carya Venture Partners and Village Global Ventures. Co‑founders Finn Puklowski (CEO) and Jason Goodison (CTO) partnered with SambaNova, an Intel‑backed chipmaker focused on inference. General Compute will be the first neocloud to deploy SambaNova’s SN50 chips, ordering $300 million worth of hardware. Colocation strategy includes traditional data‑center providers and repurposed crypto‑miner facilities. Financial Snapshot: $15 Million Seed and $300 Million Chip Order Seed funding: $15 million raised, valuing the company at $60 million post‑money. Chip commitment: $300 million of SN50 chips on order, enough to power a large inference fleet. Comparable market moves: Nvidia’s $20 billion acquisition of Groq (Dec 2025) and Cerebras’ $57 billion IPO (May 2026) illustrate the scale of inference‑focused investments. Implications for the AI Inference Landscape The shift from GPU‑centric training to specialized inference hardware is accelerating. SambaNova’s memory‑rich, flexible architecture claims to outperform GPUs, Groq, and Cerebras on token‑throughput, delivering 600‑700 tokens/sec versus ~250 tokens/sec for GPUs. Air‑cooled, low‑power chips lower the barrier to entry for colocation, enabling rapid deployment in existing facilities and even in repurposed crypto‑mining sites. This could democratize high‑speed inference, pressure pricing, and spur a wave of niche cloud providers focused on agent‑to‑agent workloads. What the Next Year May Hold for Inference‑First Cloud Providers When SambaNova releases its next‑gen chips later in 2026, General Compute’s early access positions it to capture a sizable share of the fast‑inference market. Expect: Increased competition among inference‑only clouds (e.g., CoreWeave, OpenRouter) to offer multi‑model routing and token‑cost optimization. More venture capital flowing into inference‑focused startups, mirroring the recent $113 million Series B for OpenRouter. Potential consolidation as larger players (Nvidia, Intel) seek partnerships or acquisitions to secure the most efficient inference stacks. Speed and cost efficiency will become the primary differentiators, shaping the architecture choices that dominate the AI future.
#General Compute #SambaNova #Finn Puklowski
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Business May 28, 2026

Burberry Boss Could Earn Up to £12.2m This Year Under New Bonus Scheme

Burberry's new CEO, Joshua Schulman, could earn up to £12.2m this year under a new bonus scheme. Hi…
The Burberry CEO's New Bonus Scheme Burberry's CEO, Joshua Schulman, could earn up to £12.2m this year under a new bonus scheme introduced by the luxury British brand. Schulman, who was hired in July 2024 to help revive Burberry, was paid £4m in the year to March, up from £2.5m for his first nine months in the job. Details of the Bonus Scheme Schulman's basic pay will increase by 3% to £1.24m from July. He could earn a new long-term share bonus worth up to 300% of salary if he meets performance targets. The targets include increasing Burberry's annual revenues to £3.1bn by 2029. Financial Performance Burberry made pre-tax profits of £49m in the year to 28 March, compared with a loss of £66m in the previous 12 months. Sales were flat year on year at £2.4bn, once the effect of exchange rates was taken into account. Impact on Executive Pay The pay package of Kate Ferry, the finance director of Burberry, more than doubled to £2.5m, up from £904,000 the previous year. Ferry could earn £5.6m this year if she hits all targets and Burberry's share price increases by 50%. Future Outlook The new bonus scheme aims to incentivize Schulman to meet performance targets and retain him by improving his pay position relative to those who head the brand's luxury peers. The scheme is intended to be "reasonable" and subject to "the delivery of stretching performance targets".
#Burberry #Joshua Schulman #Executive Pay
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Entertainment May 28, 2026

Novel About 'Disneyfication' of Nature Wins Climate Fiction Prize

American author Helen Phillips wins the Climate Fiction Prize for her novel 'Hum,' which explores t…
The LeadA novel featuring a protagonist whose job is taken by AI has won the Climate fiction prize. Hum by Helen Phillips, the American writer's third novel, explores themes of technological displacement and the commodification of nature in a dystopian future.The Disneyfication of Nature in LiteratureHum is about a woman, May, who loses her job to a "hum" of the title – a humanoid robot. Struggling to find work, she becomes a guinea pig for an experimental injection that alters her face so it can't be recognised by surveillance. When she gets paid for it, she splashes out on family passes to the Botanical Garden, the last remaining green space in her city. There, things take a turn for the worse.The Climate Fiction Prize RecognitionThe prize, worth £10,000, was first awarded last year to Abi Daré for And So I Roar, the follow-up to her bestselling debut The Girl with the Louding Voice. This year's judging panel was chaired by Guardian theatre critic and former literary editor of the Independent, Arifa Akbar. Alongside Kit de Waal and Friederike Otto on the panel were author Jessie Greengrass and book influencer Simon Savidge.Judges' Perspectives on the NovelJudge and writer Kit de Waal described Phillips's book as being about the "Disneyfication of nature … turning nature into a rare place that we have to pay to see". Fellow judge and climate scientist Friederike Otto added that it "tackles the central reason that nothing is done about the climate crisis – privilege", while writer Daisy Hildyard described it as "mesmerising and scary".The Author's InspirationPhillips was inspired to write the book after walking home from work one day and having the thought that she needed to buy dishcloths, before opening her computer at home and finding that dishcloths were being advertised to her. "That eerie feeling stuck with me, and I started to think about what worst-case scenarios might arise from surveillance by an algorithm."Impact on Climate AwarenessHum "helps us connect with what really matters and stops us from sleepwalking into an inevitable dystopia", said Lucy Stone, CEO of Climate Spring, which funds the prize. "In the novel, the machines themselves start to question the insane volume of advertising and the consumer treadmill, and then show the family that there are multiple different futures lying ahead of them."Future RecognitionPhillips will appear at Hay festival to discuss the book on Saturday 30 May. Alongside Phillips on this year's shortlist were Madeleine Thien for The Book of Records, Robbie Arnott for Dusk, Keshava Guha for The Tiger's Share, Susanna Kwan for Awake in the Floating City and Maria Reva for Endling.
#Helen Phillips #Climate Fiction Prize #Hum
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Entertainment May 28, 2026

'Sexy as Hell': Filthy and Hilarious Heated Rivalry Parody Musical Arrives in New York

The unauthorized musical parody of the popular Canadian TV series 'Heated Rivalry' has opened in Ne…
The Rise of Heated Rivalry: From Canadian TV to NYC StageWalking into the Culture Club in West Chelsea, New York, for a performance of Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody last week, I was met by three ghosts left over from when the space was called the McKittrick hotel and it hosted the immersive spookfest, Sleep No More. The first was the phantom of clever detail: cans of Athletic IPAs for sale, a cute, non-alcoholic nod to the mega-popular series' hockey setting. The second was of unnerving fright, as I realized there would be no booze at this singing satire. Would I be able to make it through 90 minutes of jokes about an overexposed Canadian gay sports romance, with zero quality guarantee and an even lower blood alcohol concentration? At least at the downtown premiere of the popular parody Titanique, long before it proved itself worthy of a handful of Tony nominations, you could stand up and order a bucket of White Claws.But then the third specter materialized, the ghost of immersion and surrender, as this very funny production completely won me over. (I've since learned that a liquor license is forthcoming.) Heated Rivalry, for the uninitiated, is a television show adapted from a series of gay romance novels by Rachel Reid, a straight woman who unwittingly launched a thousand discussions about who gets to be horny over whom, how and when. Fans of the books petitioned for a wider release of the show produced for the Canadian streamer Crave, last November and, some six months later, its formerly unknown stars Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams are in easy contention for the most photographed people alive. Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody is the latest addition to New York City's musical parody cottage industry, which has led me to a theater lobby where a woman in a branded hockey jersey is telling the stranger next to her that she's seen the series "probably not as many times as you think, but still a lot".The Unauthorized Musical: A Masterclass in ParodyThere was a communal giddiness as everyone filed into the unassuming performance space, where less than 200 folding chairs were arranged around a small stage. Super-fans were giddy that their dreams were coming true, and the more reserved types, perhaps blushing at what they deemed beneath them, were still clearly enjoying themselves. I liked the TV show just fine, a bit underwhelmed at what was broadly discussed as "softcore smut" but felt more in line with the twee "naughtiness" of the romance world. I had worried a musical parody put together in a few months would be a cash-grab; plain fan service for those who can't get enough of those six novels or episodes, not jabbing at the culture so much as stroking its ego. Impressively, as written by Dylan MarcAurele and directed by Alan Kliffer, it satisfies all three camps.Framing is everything, and this romp begins with a faux earnest number, à la Waitress, where three suburban Susans detail their newfound pastime: putting their husbands to bed with some iPad time, knocking back an "Ambien margarita" and reveling in their favorite televised "boy aquarium". From there, "Main Susan" (Ryann Redmond, glorious) recaps the years-long flirtation between the feuding players, innocent Japanese-Canadian "Shane Hollander" (Jimin Moon) and brusque Russian "Ilya Rozanov" (Jay Armstrong Johnson).The obligatory double entendres (a song titled Shane Hollander, Slap that Stick! or a line, by Shane's mom, about the "heavy load" her obviously gay son carries) are expertly delivered right between earnestness and tongue-in-cheek, but it's MarcAurele's ability to mock the story's sillier elements that clinched it for me. Shane, whose thumb-twiddling submissiveness often grated me in the TV show, is played by Moon as a dopey bottom with a hopeless romantic complex. What the series plays out as a forbidden romance writ epic across timelines and borders, MarcAurele presents as Shane's borderline delusion in dealing with an uncaring dom for years on end. "I keep replaying things he said," Shane beams after a hookup, "like, 'Ass up, little whore.'" The score's best number, certainly the one best primed for cabaret nights anywhere, is Liza Minnelli's Maybe This Time send-up where Shane croons, "This fuck felt different from the last fuck. This fuck, he asked if I would stay."If reading that inspires eyerolls – totally – Moon (and the rest of the cast, which includes Cherry Torres and Ryan Duncan) are so winning in their deliveries, so in on the joke without reducing their project into one, that it's impossible to resist. As the icy-hot Ilya, Johnson has the less showy role and plays it mostly straight, which makes his song about an outcast childhood made tragic by his impossibly "big ass, cold heart" that much funnier. And, well, let's face it: Johnson and Moon are sexy as hell, and charming to boot. Kliffer's inventive staging, with choreography by Brooke and Tiffany Engen on a resourceful set by Sully Ross, goes long on bunny-hopping glee.The Off-Broadway Parody Boom: A New RenaissanceThe Canadian Kliffer, previously artistic director of famed improv spots like Second City and Asylum NYC, where he helped launch Titanique's improbable boom, later told me that these parodies rarely come together with such speed, let alone quality. He'd loved MarcAurele's Pop Off, Michelangelo! in London and M3gan spoof stateside, and had just bought into Heated Rivalry, courtesy of its amorously optimistic fifth episode, when the writer texted him with the idea. The resulting work fits attractively between the out-and-out bawdiness of the Titanic send-up and the relentless Millennial nostalgia of Ginger Twinsies, which parodied the 90s Parent Trap remake last summer, and Kliffer notes that this very queer, very funny moment downtown – which also includes Cole Escola's Oh, Mary! – points to "a little bit of an Off-Broadway renaissance."This particular renaissance seems to be defined by parodies that are loving but not saccharine, willing to mock their source material while still celebrating what made it appealing in the first place. The success of these shows suggests a hunger for theater that doesn't take itself too seriously but still delivers genuine theatrical craft. In a city where Broadway ticket prices can be prohibitive, these intimate, affordable productions offer a different kind of theatrical experience – one that feels more accessible and immediate.Cultural Impact: Beyond the ParodyHeated Rivalry exists at the intersection of several cultural conversations. The original series, based on novels by Rachel Reid, sparked discussions about who gets to tell LGBTQ+ stories and how those stories should be represented. The parody doesn't shy away from these questions but instead uses humor to explore them. By exaggerating certain elements of the original series, the musical actually highlights what made it compelling in the first place.The show also represents the growing visibility of LGBTQ+ stories in mainstream entertainment. What began as niche content has become a cultural phenomenon, with the original series gaining international attention and its stars becoming unlikely celebrities. The musical parody capitalizes on this popularity while simultaneously commenting on it, creating a meta-narrative that appeals to both fans and newcomers.Moreover, the success of Heated Rivalry reflects a broader trend in entertainment where audiences are increasingly drawn to content that acknowledges and plays with its own artificiality. In an era of heightened awareness about media consumption, audiences seem to appreciate works that don't pretend to be anything other than what they are – crafted, performed, and enjoyed.The Future of Parody Theater: What's Next?As the Off-Broadway scene continues to evolve with these clever parodies, we can expect to see more adaptations of popular TV shows and movies hitting the small stage. The success of Heated Rivalry, following in the footsteps of Titanique and other parody hits, suggests that there's a sustainable market for this type of entertainment.What's particularly interesting is how these parodies are pushing the boundaries of traditional musical theater. They're more immediate, more self-aware, and more willing to break the fourth wall than many conventional productions. This approach seems to resonate with younger audiences who are accustomed to interactive media and meta-commentary.Looking ahead, we might see parodies of other recent cultural phenomena – perhaps streaming hits, viral social media trends, or even political events. The key to success, as demonstrated by Heated Rivalry, will be balancing genuine affection for the source material with sharp, intelligent humor that offers something new to the conversation.
#Heated Rivalry #Musical Parody #New York Theater
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Entertainment May 28, 2026

Tina Fey's The Four Seasons Season Two: A Brilliant Midlife Comedy Masterpiece

Tina Fey's The Four Seasons returns for a second season that is even more perspicacious, poignant a…
The Lead: A Midlife Comedy Triumph Middle age is a brutal time of life, perfectly suited for mining laughs that are bound up with tears, crisis, and death. Tina Fey's The Four Seasons returns for a second season that is even more perspicacious, poignant and hilarious than the first, proving once again why Fey remains one of comedy's most insightful voices. The Event Details: Season Two's Narrative Structure The second season continues with four fancy holidays split across the seasons, each given two gag-packed episodes. This rigid but neat structural device allows big moments to happen off-screen while we experience the aftermath soundtracked by an avalanche of Vivaldi and bracing jokes about sad lonely donkeys, secret vapes mistaken for thumb drives, and the tragicomedy of being an angry, unravelling fiftysomething man. The three couples have been reconfigured after the death of Nick (Steve Carell) at the end of season one. We follow Kate (played by Fey) and Jack as they workshop their marriage, Danny and Claude as gay, unbearably chic, forever bickering couple, and Nick's ex-wife Anne and the much younger woman for whom he left her, Ginny – now heavily pregnant with his baby. By summer, Anne and Ginny have moved in together with the baby, creating an unconventional but loving family unit. The Critical Analysis: Why This Season Excels The Four Seasons season two delivers moments so hilarious they rival Fey's previous masterpiece, 30 Rock. The show's strength lies in its ability to balance absurd humor with genuine emotional depth. The conversations between Danny and Claude are particularly funny, moving, and sensitively wrought, while Kate and Jack's "freeballing" – their decision to "grow apart on purpose" – evolves into a beautiful meditation on the endurance test of long-term relationships. This season belongs to Anne, who makes a joyous transition from lonely, fearful ex-wife to contented (enough) single woman willing to dress up as a folkloric old witch at an Italian Christmas pageant. She delivers many of the best lines and sports the most fabulous wardrobe, proving that middle-aged women can be both hilarious and fashionable. The Impact Analysis: Redefining Midlife Comedy The Four Seasons stands out in today's television landscape by tackling middle age with honesty and humor. Unlike the aspirational settings of Nancy Meyers movies that the show lovingly mocks, The Four Seasons presents a more realistic – though still beautiful – vision of midlife. The lush lakeside lawns and lobster rolls serve as a lure to reel viewers into the murky depths of actual midlife experience, where good men smash up vintage snack shacks, regrets must be lived with, and people who love each other want completely different things. Fey's special power lies in creating jokes so specific they feel personally tailored to the middle-aged experience. The show's ability to make viewers laugh while simultaneously acknowledging the existential dread that comes with this life stage represents a significant contribution to the comedy genre. The Prediction: The Future of The Four Seasons Given the critical acclaim and the rich narrative possibilities still available, The Four Seasons seems poised for additional seasons. The show has established itself as a worthy successor to Fey's 30 Rock, with the potential to become a modern classic of television comedy. Its unique blend of high-concept settings and low-stakes domestic problems, combined with Fey's signature wit and emotional intelligence, suggests the series will continue to resonate with audiences navigating the complexities of middle age. As streaming platforms increasingly compete for quality content, The Four Seasons represents the kind of smart, character-driven comedy that awards seasons and cultural conversations are built around. If the show maintains this level of quality, it may not only extend its own run but also inspire more television creators to tackle middle age with the same honesty, humor, and heart.
#Tina Fey #The Four Seasons #Netflix
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Lifestyle May 28, 2026

You be the judge: should my girlfriend stop trying to make our lives plastic‑free?

A couple grapples with the push to eliminate plastics from their home as they prepare for a baby, w…
The prosecution: MelanieI want to live a healthier life too, but removing all plastics is unrealistic and unaffordableMy girlfriend, Amy, has become increasingly concerned about microplastics and environmental toxins, and it is starting to feel a little too much. It all began after she watched online content about how plastics affect fertility, and has escalated into a broader effort to remove anything she considers “toxic” from our home.We have thrown out hundreds of pounds’ worth of cleaning products and replaced toothbrushes and dental floss. I came home from work to find all our plastic food containers had been binned, and now she wants to discuss replacing furniture, like swapping our white plastic dining table for an oak one.In principle, I understand it will be better for us. I share her desire to live a healthier lifestyle, especially as we are trying for a baby using a donor and I will be the one carrying the pregnancy. However, the pace and the intensity of the change feels a bit unmanageable.If I pick up a plastic bottle of water, Amy will snatch it from my hands and say it’s poisonousWe can’t realistically eliminate all plastics and find alternatives overnight. Unfortunately, the world is full of plastic and so is our home: we have polyester cushions, plastic shoes and appliances that I’m not prepared to chuck out. Attempting a total removal feels financially and emotionally unsustainable. Buying a new dining table won’t be easy on our wallets.We are both self‑employed and saving for a baby, so we need to be frugal. Plastic‑free products are often deemed as specialist and it’s hard to get cheap alternatives. When I found Amy had splurged on all these organic cleaning products I was shocked, because they cost about £200.At the moment, it feels as if any “normal” behaviour is deemed to be unsafe by her. If I pick up a plastic bottle of water, Amy will snatch it from my hands and say it’s poisonous.I support her decision to live with fewer toxins, but her level of vigilance is harming our wellbeing. I want us to make healthier choices, but to do so gradually and realistically, rather than through sweeping changes that leave us feeling anxious and restricted.The defence: AmyI’m conscious of what we’re exposed to as we’re trying for a baby and I want the best for themPlastics and chemicals are everywhere. I’m not pretending we can eliminate them all, but I’d like to make some changes. I don’t think the only rational response when presented with all the information about toxins and plastics is to shrug and accept it without question.It’s not that hard to make some changes. Mel says: “Microplastics are everywhere, so where does it end?” But she should be saying: “What can we do to start?”Small changes help improve our health. I watched a documentary and it really scared me: I learned that just brushing my teeth with my normal toothbrush was releasing hundreds of thousands of microplastics into my mouth every day. These are linked to illness and altered brain functionality.Mel hasn’t heard all of the facts. If she watched the same documentary, she would feel the sameI didn’t start looking into endocrine disruptors and microplastics because I wanted to overhaul our home overnight. It was because we’re trying for a baby and that makes me more conscious of what we’re exposed to. If we have a child, I want them to have the best start in life and be as healthy as possible.Sometimes Mel acts as if I’m trying to dismantle our entire life, but I’m just trying to make things better. Switching cleaning products and replacing plastic food storage with glass will benefit us for years. When I threw our cleaning products away, it was because I had done the research and knew how much better nontoxic ones would be for us. That wasn’t a gradual adjustment, but I don’t regret it.I feel overwhelmed sometimes, but being told to “calm down” or “take it slow” doesn’t help. I don’t want to make our lives miserable. I want us to make informed choices together.Not drinking from plastic bottles is an easy change we can make, as is using better cleaning products. Mel and I need to work together on this, and active participation is important to me. If my decisions seem rash, it’s only because Mel hasn’t heard all of the facts. If she watched the same documentary she would feel the same. I don’t want to scare her, but making our home safer for our unborn child is a priority.The jury of Guardian readersGetting rid of plastic won’t make Amy and Melanie’s home healthier if they replace it with pressure and resentment. Amy’s pursuit is noble, but her cold‑turkey approach risks alienating Melanie from the cause.Estelle, 27They both want to live with fewer toxins, but Amy shouldn’t decide the pace at which they do this without agreement from Melanie. Amy throwing out all plastic containers and cleaning products without any discussion contradicts her claim that she wants “to make informed choices together”.Val, 68Life’s too short to make it hard for yourself. Carrying containers everywhere and only going to specialist retailers? No one’s got time for that when there’s work and chores to be done. Changing your life after one documentary is extreme, and Amy should consider the benefits of plastic.Ivan, 29We can’t live perfect lives, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try to make better choices. I think they plan together what can change now and what can wait, Melanie might feel part of it instead of feeling it is something being done to her.Michael, 39Amy is valiant in trying to live a healthier lifestyle, but not making it a joint decision with Melanie seems to be detrimental to their relationship, and they need to be working together when they have a child. I wonder if Amy’s obsession might be masking a deeper issue.Jon, 50Now you be the judgeIn our online poll, tell us: should Amy bin her hatred of plastics?The poll closes on Wednesday 3 June at 9am BSTLast week’s resultsWe asked, should Martin stop telling his wife how to mop the floor?98% of you said yes – Martin is guilty2% of you said no – Martin is innocent
#Amy #Melanie #microplastics
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Politics May 28, 2026

Blunkett questions Blair’s advice as Labour faces internal dissent

Former Home Secretary David Blunkett says Tony Blair’s recent essay urging Labour to embrace AI and…
Blunkett reflects on Blair’s controversial essay and Today programme appearanceDavid Blunkett recalled a recent conversation with his former prime minister, noting that while they can argue constructively, Blair’s new 5,700‑word essay and prime‑time interview seem rooted in a bygone era. The essay urges Labour to seize AI opportunities, streamline regulation, and strengthen ties with the White House, while dismissing concerns about human‑rights implications in China and the Middle East.Polling shows limited public appetite for Blair’s counselResearch agency More in Common reports that only 34% of respondents think the government should listen to Blair, with 52% saying it is probably or definitely not worth it. Blair ranks lowest on “worth listening to” among recent prime ministers, trailing only Liz Truss. Focus‑group feedback cites the Iraq war and post‑politics financial activities as key credibility issues.Potential rifts within Labour and challenges to policy directionSenior figures such as Keir Starmer, Andy Burnham and Wes Streeting were directly criticised in the essay.Labour peers, including former welfare secretary John Hutton, defend Blair’s intervention as timely, while younger MPs show limited enthusiasm.Blunkett warns that Labour’s “soft‑left comfort zone” and recent policies—higher national insurance for businesses and a rise in the national minimum wage—may alienate voters.What Blair’s intervention could mean for Labour’s upcoming electionsBlunkett suggests Blair’s essay may provoke a counter‑argument within the party, potentially shaping campaign narratives for the forthcoming Makerfield by‑election and the next general election. If Labour fails to reconcile the technological optimism championed by Blair with the concerns of its grassroots, it risks further fragmentation and a weakened electoral outlook.
#Tony Blair #David Blunkett #Keir Starmer
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Politics May 28, 2026

Reeves Orders Ministers to ‘Buy British’ in Shipbuilding, Steel, Energy and AI

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has told cabinet ministers to award government contracts in shipbuilding, …
The Chancellor’s Directives to Prioritise British SuppliersIn a letter seen by The Guardian, Chancellor Rachel Reeves instructed every cabinet minister responsible for spending to "buy British" wherever possible. She expressed disappointment that many departments continue to award contracts to foreign firms despite the availability of capable UK suppliers.Targeted Sectors and the Scope of New OversightThe Treasury and Cabinet Office will now monitor contracts worth billions of pounds in four identified sectors that are deemed critical to national security:ShipbuildingSteel‑makingEnergy infrastructureArtificial intelligenceOfficials have been given authority to intervene or "call in" contracts that do not meet the new nationality criteria.Financial Scale of the Contracts Under ScrutinyRecent high‑profile deals illustrate the monetary stakes:£200 million contract for navy support vessels awarded to Dutch shipbuilder Damen.£9 million refit of the research ship David Attenborough awarded to Danish yard Orskov.Potential £1.9 billion upgrade of the Faslane nuclear‑submarine shipyard that could be opened to foreign bidders.Collectively, the four sectors involve multiple billions of pounds of annual government procurement.Political and Economic Implications for UK IndustryThe move arrives amid internal Labour Party tensions over the chancellor’s future and broader concerns about the UK’s economic exposure to the Iran war. Union leaders, such as GMB Scotland’s Louise Gilmour, have welcomed the push, arguing that foreign award‑outs undermine British jobs and security.Critics within government warn that prioritising nationality over cost could raise taxpayer expenses and limit competition, especially in high‑tech fields like AI where global expertise is crucial.What Comes Next: Guidance, Enforcement and Potential BacklashReeves plans to issue detailed guidance this summer, directing accounting officers to factor contractor nationality alongside price. The Cabinet Office will review departmental decisions and, where necessary, override them.Potential outcomes include:Increased market share for UK firms in shipbuilding, steel and AI.Heightened scrutiny of foreign involvement in critical energy projects.Possible legal challenges under the 2023 Procurement Act if contracts are blocked.The policy’s success will hinge on balancing national‑security objectives with fiscal prudence, and on whether the Labour leadership can maintain cohesion as the party navigates upcoming leadership debates.
#Rachel Reeves #Chris Ward #UK procurement
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Tech May 28, 2026

Snowflake Signs $6B Deal with AWS for AI CPU Chips

Snowflake has signed a $6 billion, five-year agreement with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to use AWS's …
The Massive Deal Cloud data storage giant Snowflake has signed a new $6 billion five-year agreement with Amazon Web Services, the companies announced on Wednesday. This deal is significant, as Snowflake has sold $7 billion worth of its services via AWS Marketplace since its founding in 2012. Driving Growth with AI The growth is driven by AI, with Snowflake offering its AI building tool, Cortex AI, which provides features like text interfaces for database queries and summary reports. The increasing demand for AI processing power has led to a surge in CPU usage, with CPUs handling most tasks associated with AI. The Role of Graviton Chips Snowflake is signing this contract for more access to AWS's home-grown ARM-based CPU chip, Graviton. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy boasted that Amazon's own homegrown AI chips offer "better price-performance" than Nvidia's offerings. The Data Analysis Snowflake has sold $7 billion worth of its services via AWS Marketplace since 2012. The new deal is worth $6 billion over five years. Snowflake's customers are accelerating their spending on AWS, doubling to $2 billion in 2025. The Impact Analysis The deal highlights the growing demand for AI processing power and the increasing competition in the cloud computing market. Cloud providers like AWS are deploying chips as fast as they can to meet the demand. The Prediction The multibillion-dollar deals signed by AWS, including the one with Snowflake, show how AI is lifting the boat for cloud providers. As AI continues to grow, cloud providers will need to invest in more AI processing power to meet the demand.
#Snowflake #AWS #Amazon
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