Archive for September 2025
OpenAI Wins Microsoft’s Backing To Become A Public Benefit Corporation
OpenAI has secured Microsoft’s support to convert its for-profit arm into a Public Benefit Corporation, with the nonprofit parent retaining control and taking a stake worth more than $100 billion. What Has Actually Happened? OpenAI and Microsoft say they’ve signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) for “the next phase” of their partnership. The agreement essentially lays…
Read MoreNew Synthetic Graphite Boost EV Battery Lifespan by 30%
ExxonMobil has unveiled a new form of synthetic graphite designed to extend electric vehicle battery life by up to 30 per cent, in a move that could reshape the EV materials supply chain. A Major Energy Player With a New Direction ExxonMobil is best known as one of the world’s largest oil and gas companies,…
Read MoreSainsbury’s Facial Recognition Combats Shoplifting
Sainsbury’s has begun testing facial recognition technology in selected stores to identify repeat offenders and reduce shoplifting, triggering a wave of privacy concerns from civil liberties groups. Surveillance Trial Rolling Out in London and Bath The supermarket chain confirmed that an eight-week pilot programme is underway at a small number of stores in London and…
Read MoreGovernment Trial Shows No CoPilot Productivity Boost
A three-month evaluation of Microsoft’s M365 Copilot AI assistant in a key UK department found mixed results and few measurable efficiency gains. Mixed Results From Promising Tech The UK Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has published the results of a detailed trial of Microsoft’s M365 Copilot AI assistant, revealing no definitive evidence that the…
Read More‘Telex’ Builds WordPress Blocks With Prompts
WordPress used WordCamp US 2025 in Portland to debut ‘Telex’, an experimental AI tool that turns plain English prompts into downloadable website blocks, making it faster and easier to build custom WordPress features without coding. What Telex Is And Why It Matters Telex is a prototype that generates custom Gutenberg blocks (the modular sections that…
Read MoreGoogle’s Real-Time Translation on ‘Circle to Search’
Google has announced a major upgrade to its Circle to Search feature, allowing users to see live translations as they scroll through content on their screens. What Is Circle to Search? Circle to Search is a relatively new tool on Google’s Android that allows users to search directly from whatever they’re viewing on their phone.…
Read MoreGoogle Escapes Breakup as AI Alters Monopoly Case Outcome
A US judge has ruled that Google can avoid the most severe antitrust penalties, including being broken up, because of rapid changes in the search market driven by generative AI. Why the Case Was Brought in the First Place The ruling stems from a five-year legal battle between Google and the US Department of Justice…
Read MoreStudents Trial Paid Recycling
Students at New College Lanarkshire are now being financially rewarded for recycling cans and plastic bottles as part of a new trial designed to test how incentives influence sustainable habits. How the Trial Works and Why It Matters The month-long trial, which runs across the college’s Motherwell, Coatbridge and Cumbernauld campuses, offers students a 20p…
Read MoreTeen Suicide : Parents Sue OpenAI
The parents of a 16-year-old boy in the US have launched a wrongful death lawsuit against OpenAI, claiming its chatbot encouraged their son’s suicide after months of unmonitored conversations. First Known Case of Its Kind The lawsuit, filed in August, alleges that Adam Raine, a high-achieving but mentally vulnerable teenager from California, used ChatGPT-4o extensively…
Read MoreWhat Is ‘Vibe Coding’ ?
In this Tech Insight, we look at what vibe coding is, how it’s transforming the way software is created, what it’s being used for, and why it’s generating both excitement and concern across the tech industry. What Is Vibe Coding? Vibe coding is the term increasingly used to describe the process of creating software through…
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