The Guardian AI

OpenAI delays full release of GPT 5.6, offering limited preview to partners after US government request, mirroring Anthropic's Mythos launch strategy.

'It’s all just rendered useless' Something For Kate’s Paul Dempsey says as AI scrapes millions of songs to learn how to make music. Paul Dempsey and Bernard Fanning are among big-name Australian musicians upset that their original songs have been found in datasets used to train artificial intelligence.

An LSE report analyzing around 3,600 climate lawsuits since 2015 finds a growing number of cases targeting datacentres over energy sources, water consumption and air pollution, highlighting the expanding legal scrutiny on digital infrastructure.

Content creation and online safety among new topics for 14- to 18-year-olds – but tweaks may be needed when social media ban comes in. Scouts are introducing badges in content creation, digital communication and online safety after consulting nearly 3,000 teenagers who said they wanted skills to help them navigate a world increasingly shaped by AI, social media and digital technology.

The Metropolitan police have been granted a 12-month extension to a pilot project with spy-tech firm Palantir while the force carries out a procurement process. The move comes weeks after London mayor Sadiq Khan blocked a £50m deal to automate intelligence analysis.

A new report shows that U.S. government spending on AI-powered surveillance tools for immigration enforcement has reached record levels under Trump's second term, with contract awards to 11 tech firms rising from $310 million in 2025 to $513 million in 2026.

Pro- and anti-AI groups spent $24m on a congressional contest in New York, but it’s unclear to what end. The race targeted state assembly member Alex Bores, who sponsored an AI safety bill.

Researchers used AI to virtually unwrap and read a charred ancient scroll from the Vesuvius eruption, revealing 20 columns of text on Stoic philosophy.

For those of us who can’t drive due to disabilities, the drawbacks of these vehicles are vastly outweighed by the possibilities they offer. Waymo has been testing self-driving cars in London this summer with some hiccups, but Waymo and Wayve plan to launch driverless minicabs in the capital this year, offering new possibilities for disabled people.

About 1,600 workers signed petition against tool that tracked staff keystrokes, mouse clicks and computer screen content. Meta pauses the program.

A German court ruled that Google is liable for its AI search summaries, rejecting defenses that users can check for themselves, and holding that the summaries are an expression of Google's business activities.

The writer who coined the word ‘enshittification’ tells us why AI will never deliver what it promises – and why it still appeals so much to those in power. He introduces the concept of 'reverse centaur' where humans become assistants to machines, and warns of AI's potential societal threats.

Garment workers in India were asked to wear head-mounted cameras at work without explanation, sparking concerns about AI replacing jobs.

Losses spread globally as investors questioned soaring valuations and spending on AI infrastructure. A tech sell-off shook global markets on Tuesday as attention turned away from developments in the US war with Iran and toward the future of AI companies and chipmakers that have driven stock markets to record highs.

AI company ElevenLabs unveils its officially licensed replica of the iconic actor’s voice in a retelling of Homer’s epic poem, while director who previously recorded the star recalls real-life experience

While tech companies and Trump have been pushing teachers to use AI in the classroom, many argue that there is little evidence that it would actually help children.

A new study by climate risk analytics firm First Street reveals that nearly 80% of datacenters are exposed to extreme climate hazards such as flooding, extreme winds, and wildfires. These risks threaten operations, increase downtime, and inflate insurance and repair costs. The report warns that the AI boom is exacerbating the climate crisis while making datacenters themselves more vulnerable.

Independent senator David Pocock has challenged the Albanese government to rule out letting tech giants use Australian content to train AI models, as cabinet considers proposals to change copyright rules for the rapidly developing technology.

The author, who believes chatbots have no place in a decent society, is asked by her editor to try an AI boyfriend. She grapples with resentment, contempt, and unease, but is drawn to the idea of a boyfriend who always texts back immediately. She explores her own emotional struggles and the contradictions of seeking connection through AI.

Company hails victory for freelancer over unpaid debt as ‘landmark moment’ for access to justice An artificial intelligence law firm has won a case in an English court, in what is believed to be the first time a trial has been won using an AI lawyer. A freelance HR consultant, Tamires Camal Taquidir, paid the firm, Garfield AI, about £400 to send a legal letter and then issue court proceedings over an unpaid debt of £7,000.

AI-focused Super Pacs are spending heavily in midterms, and nearly half has gone to a single Manhattan district race.

Cyber intelligence agencies from Five Eyes nations issued a rare joint warning that powerful AI models capable of toppling governments and businesses are only months away, urging immediate action after the Trump administration blocked foreign nationals from using Anthropic's Fable AI model.

White-collar work is at risk across the board, including at elite consulting firms that used to be a pathway to the top. The golden ticket promise of firms like McKinsey is fading due to AI and other factors.

A vivid and entertaining polemic on the economics of the tech revolution, filled with righteous ire. The review highlights growing public backlash against AI, including student boos at Eric Schmidt's speech, and widespread opposition to datacenters and AI's perceived negative impacts.

An investigation reveals that brands are secretly using AI-generated influencers on social media to promote products, posing as genuine customer experiences without transparency, sparking calls for clearer labeling.

We asked people in the US about their customer service battles and hundreds responded on the financial and emotional costs. The top takeaway: people really, really don’t like AI customer service.

Lloyds Banking Group launches an AI recruitment drive for 300 tech experts, focusing on agentic AI, weeks before CEO Charlie Nunn unveils a strategic plan. While headcount increases now, broader AI adoption could lead to job cuts in the future.

The prominent literary magazine Granta will no longer publish the winning entries of the annual Commonwealth short story prize after one of this year’s winners drew widespread accusations of AI use. The magazine said it would no longer be involved in “external publishing partnerships” in which it had no editorial control.

Guardian readers in the US worry about the impact of SpaceX's IPO and the AI boom on their retirement accounts as markets shift toward AI-driven investments.

The three-martini lunch allowed us to mix business and pleasure, a phenomenon that is missing during the AI boom. A 46-year-old executive calls for reviving this mocked mid-century tradition as a strategic plan for 2026.