Chinese Supercomputer Tops Global Speed Ranking for First Time Since 2017
The milestone displaces US machines at the top of the list and sharpens attention on the high-performance computing race between the major powers.
Rajan Mehta 3 min read
AI
Artificial intelligence now cuts across almost every beat this site covers, and this page collects that reporting in one place. Recent stories trace the model race between GPT-5.5, Gemini 3.5 and Claude Opus 4.8, UN pressure on AI firms to disclose the energy powering their systems, and a Chinese supercomputer topping the global speed rankings. Culture features heavily too: A24's Google partnership, Paul Feig's warning about human storytelling, artists challenging AI music training datasets, and the Spotify-Universal deal on licensed AI covers, alongside AI's growing influence on university applications and vaccine research.
UN Chief Says AI Firms Should Disclose The Energy Powering Their Systems
The UN secretary-general has urged artificial intelligence companies to share information about the power used to run their models, linking AI's rapid growth to energy demand and data-centre transparency.
Rajan Mehta 3 min read
Commonwealth Short Story Prize clears winners of AI claims
Organisers say a review found AI was not used to write the winning entries, allowing regional winners to proceed after weeks of controversy.
Sophie Bennett 3 min read
A24's Google AI partnership exposes Hollywood's taste-versus-tech dilemma
A reported research partnership between A24 and Google DeepMind has stirred fan backlash and sharpened questions about how prestige studios should handle AI tools.
Sophie Bennett 6 min read
Paul Feig's AI warning puts human storytelling back at the centre of Hollywood's debate
Speaking at the Nantucket Film Festival, the filmmaker used an industry honour to argue that artificial intelligence cannot replace lived experience in storytelling.
Sophie Bennett 5 min read
Record Rush for Top University Courses as AI Reshapes Applications
Demand for early-deadline degrees including medicine and places at Oxford and Cambridge has hit a new high for 2026 entry, even as UCAS grapples with how artificial intelligence is changing the way students write their personal statements.
Eleanor Whitfield 7 min read
Artists push back after finding songs in AI music training datasets
SZA, Kenneth Blume and other musicians have criticised the appearance of their work in datasets used by AI music systems, deepening the industry's rights fight.
Sophie Bennett 6 min read
London Tech Week unleashes a wave of AI cash as UK startups race to keep pace
Multi-billion-pound pledges and fresh fintech deals dominated this year's gathering, but founders warn Britain is still playing catch-up on the scale of capital its AI sector needs.
Rajan Mehta 8 min read
Musicians' union lawsuit turns AI licensing into a labour-rights battle
The American Federation of Musicians has sued Universal and Warner over AI-related licensing, arguing session players should be compensated when recordings feed new technology.
Sophie Bennett 6 min read
Spotify and Universal strike landmark deal to let fans build licensed AI covers
The streaming giant will let paying subscribers create AI covers and remixes of opted-in songs, with Universal artists sharing in a new revenue stream built on consent, credit and compensation.
Sophie Bennett 8 min read
Anthropic files confidentially for stock market listing after $965bn valuation
The maker of the Claude chatbot has lodged a confidential filing with US regulators, setting the stage for one of the year's biggest artificial-intelligence flotations.
Rajan Mehta 7 min read
UK studio plans face a new rival: AI data centres
As the streaming boom cools, some UK property developers are reportedly reassessing film and TV studio projects in favour of data-centre demand.
Sophie Bennett 5 min read