News/Europe
UK freelance journalism income falls 66%, concentrates in London while AI poses new threats
Freelance journalists in the UK are earning 66% less than they did 15 years ago, with average annual earnings now at just £7,000, while facing new threats from generative AI that could further undermine their profession. A recent roundtable convened by the New Statesman and the Authors' Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS), a UK organization that collects licensing fees for writers, explored how to create sustainable futures for freelance journalism amid these mounting economic pressures and technological disruptions. The big picture: The journalism industry is experiencing a perfect storm of declining revenues, increased reliance on freelance labor, and emerging AI...
read Aug 8, 2025Deutsche Telekom plans AI data center with Nvidia for 2026 launch
Deutsche Telekom plans to begin construction of a large-scale AI data center in 2026, developed in partnership with Nvidia and investment firm Brookfield as part of what the companies describe as the world's first industrial AI cloud for European manufacturers. The facility represents a significant push into AI infrastructure by the German telecom giant, targeting the growing demand for specialized computing power among manufacturing companies across Germany and mainland Europe. What you should know: Deutsche Telekom is targeting a 2026 construction start for its AI "Gigafactory" using Nvidia's advanced chip technology. CEO Tim Höttges confirmed the timeline during an investor...
read Aug 7, 2025AI’s Fortress of Solitude: OpenAI picks Arctic Norway for $1B data center
OpenAI has chosen Narvik, Norway—a remote Arctic location—over traditional European tech hubs for its $1 billion Project Stargate data center, which will house 100,000 Nvidia GPUs by 2026. The surprising location choice prioritizes Norway's abundant hydropower and low electricity costs, positioning the facility to become one of Europe's largest AI infrastructure installations with 520MW capacity. What you should know: OpenAI partnered with AI infrastructure firm Nscale and Norwegian industrial company Aker to build what they're calling an "AI Gigafactory" in Northern Norway. The initial 20MW phase requires roughly $1 billion in investment, with plans to scale to 520MW capacity. The...
read Aug 7, 2025Farcical recognition: UK users bypass face-based age verification with video game characters
Discord users in the UK are bypassing new age verification requirements by using video game characters instead of their real faces, exploiting weaknesses in facial recognition systems. The workaround highlights significant vulnerabilities in age verification technology that could become even more problematic as AI-generated content grows more sophisticated. What's happening: The UK's new child safety laws require platforms like Discord to verify users are over 18 through government ID or face scans to access age-restricted content. Users discovered they could pass facial verification using screenshots from video games like Death Stranding, God of War, and Cyberpunk 2077. One user successfully...
read Aug 6, 20253 AI-themed theater shows explore humanity’s digital future at Scottish festival
Edinburgh's fringe festival is featuring three AI-themed theatrical productions that explore humanity's complex relationship with artificial intelligence through immersive storytelling and cutting-edge technology. These performances—Dead Air, Stampin' in the Graveyard, and AI: The Waiting Room—use AI as both subject matter and creative tool, reflecting broader cultural anxieties about our technological future. What you should know: Each production takes a different approach to examining AI's impact on human experience and emotional processing. Dead Air reimagines Hamlet with protagonist Alfie using an AI service called AiR to communicate with her deceased father, exploring themes of grief and digital dependency. Stampin' in the...
read Aug 5, 2025British Petroleum cuts 6,200 jobs as AI drives slick $5B cost reduction plan
BP announced it will eliminate an additional 1,500 jobs and 1,200 contractor roles by the end of 2025, bringing total expected job losses to 6,200—approximately 15% of its office-based workforce. The expanded cuts, up from 4,700 announced earlier this year, are part of the oil giant's intensified cost-saving drive that increasingly relies on artificial intelligence to improve operational efficiency and reduce expenses. The big picture: BP is accelerating its workforce reduction amid mounting shareholder pressure and weaker oil prices, with CEO Murray Auchincloss emphasizing that AI technology is playing a central role in the company's overhaul strategy. Key details: The...
read Aug 4, 2025AI helps Italian rescue team find missing hiker after 11 months
Italy's National Alpine and Speleological Rescue Corps (CNSAS) used artificial intelligence to locate the body of a missing hiker after nearly 11 months, analyzing 2,600 drone images in just one afternoon to spot his helmet among the mountainous terrain. The breakthrough demonstrates how AI-powered search and rescue operations can dramatically reduce recovery times from weeks or months of manual analysis to hours, potentially saving lives in future mountain emergencies. How it worked: The rescue team deployed drones across a 183-hectare area on the north face of Monviso, Italy's highest peak in the Cottian Alps, capturing thousands of aerial images from...
read Aug 4, 2025Gen-guesser: Google uses AI to estimate user ages from browsing data
Google is rolling out an AI-powered age-estimation system that will infer users' ages based on their search history and browsing data to apply content restrictions on Search and YouTube. The system, launching in the EU to comply with digital safety regulations, represents a significant shift from relying solely on user-provided age information to algorithmic inference, raising new questions about privacy, accuracy, and consent in content moderation. Why this matters: The move marks the first major deployment of AI age-estimation technology by a major platform, potentially setting a precedent for how tech companies balance regulatory compliance with user privacy across global...
read Aug 1, 2025Deepfake scammers target Guernsey chief minister in fake investment scheme
Fraudsters are using AI-generated deepfake content featuring Guernsey's chief minister to trick islanders into fake investment schemes. The scam includes fabricated videos and images of Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez appearing to endorse fraudulent investments, along with fake local newspaper articles designed to lend credibility to the deception. What you should know: Guernsey Police have issued warnings after discovering the sophisticated deepfake scam targeting local residents. The fraudulent content shows fake video and images of Chief Minister Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez seemingly recommending investment opportunities. Scammers also created fake local newspaper articles to make their scheme appear more legitimate and trustworthy....
read Jul 30, 2025Ok, alright, fine: Google signs EU’s AI code of practice after initial opposition
Google has confirmed it will sign the European Union's AI Code of Practice, a voluntary framework it previously opposed as too restrictive. The decision positions Google to influence AI regulation implementation while competitors like Meta refuse to participate, potentially giving Google strategic advantages in navigating Europe's evolving AI legal landscape. The big picture: Google's reversal reflects a calculated shift from resistance to engagement, as the company seeks to shape rather than simply comply with EU AI regulations. The tech giant initially opposed the code for being too harsh but now believes its input has helped create a framework that could...
read Jul 30, 2025Euro voice actors have a Eurovision for regulation as AI threatens $4.3B industry
European voice actors are mobilizing against artificial intelligence as the technology threatens to disrupt the $4.3 billion dubbing industry, with industry associations calling for EU regulation to protect jobs and artistic rights. The pushback comes as streaming giants like Netflix experiment with AI dubbing solutions while the global dubbing market is projected to reach $7.6 billion by 2033. What you should know: Voice actors across Europe are demanding legislative protection as AI dubbing technology becomes more sophisticated and cost-effective. Boris Rehlinger, the French voice of Ben Affleck and Joaquin Phoenix, leads the TouchePasMaVF initiative to protect human-created dubbing from AI...
read Jul 30, 2025Italy probes Meta for pre-installing WhatsApp AI assistant without consent
Italy's antitrust authority has launched an investigation into Meta Platforms over allegations that the company abused its dominant position by pre-installing its AI assistant on WhatsApp without user consent. The probe centers on whether Meta violated European Union competition rules by integrating Meta AI into WhatsApp's interface, potentially steering users unfairly toward its services and harming competitors. What you should know: The investigation focuses on Meta's decision to embed its AI chatbot directly into WhatsApp's core functionality since March 2024. Meta AI has been integrated into WhatsApp's search bar, providing chatbot-style responses and virtual assistant functions to users. Italian regulators...
read Jul 29, 2025NiCE acquires German AI firm Cognigy for $955M in record European deal
NiCE has acquired German conversational AI company Cognigy for $955 million, marking the largest acquisition of a European AI company to date. The deal represents a significant milestone for Europe's AI sector and demonstrates investor confidence in enterprise AI solutions, particularly as venture capital investment in European AI continues to surge. What you should know: Cognigy specializes in agentic AI that delivers human-like customer service across more than 100 languages and communication channels. The company's AI agents can understand, adapt, and act in real time, serving major clients including Mercedes-Benz, Nestlé, DHL, and Lufthansa Group. NiCE, an AI-powered customer experience...
read Jul 29, 2025Google’s AI Mode search launches in UK with conversational queries
Google Search has expanded AI Mode to the UK, following its earlier launches in the US and India. This conversational search experience offers a more chatbot-like alternative to traditional AI Overviews, allowing users to ask complex, multi-part questions and receive comprehensive answers powered by Gemini 2.5. What you should know: AI Mode transforms how users interact with Google Search by supporting longer, more conversational queries that are "two or three times the length of traditional search queries." Users can ask complex questions like "Things to do in Edinburgh this weekend with friends. We're big foodies who like music but also...
read Jul 28, 2025Swedish startup Lovable hits $100M revenue in record 8 months
Lovable, a Swedish "vibe coding" startup, has achieved $100 million in annual recurring revenue just eight months after launch, marking one of the fastest revenue growths in software company history. The company also recently secured unicorn status with a $200 million Series A funding round that valued it at $1.8 billion, demonstrating explosive investor enthusiasm for AI-powered coding tools that allow users to build software using natural language instead of traditional programming languages. What you should know: Vibe coding represents a fundamental shift in software development, making programming accessible to non-technical users through AI-powered natural language interfaces. CEO Anton Osika...
read Jul 28, 2025“Hey Geraldine”: UK council turns 35-year care expert into AI chatbot to speed hospital discharge
Peterborough City Council has transformed the 35-year expertise of therapy practitioner Geraldine Jinks into an AI chatbot called "Hey Geraldine" to help adult social care staff access her knowledge instantly. The innovative solution addresses the challenge of Jinks being overwhelmed with daily questions from colleagues while aiming to speed up hospital discharge processes and improve patient care efficiency. How it works: The AI chatbot replicates Jinks' conversational style and expertise to provide immediate responses to practice-based questions. Staff can ask contextual questions like "I am working with a person who is forgetting to turn the oven off. What is available...
read Jul 28, 2025Spanish teen investigated for selling AI deepfake nudes of sixteen classmates
Spanish police are investigating a 17-year-old boy for allegedly using artificial intelligence to create and sell deepfake nude images of female classmates in Valencia. Sixteen young women from the same educational institute reported that AI-generated naked images of them were circulating on social media, highlighting a growing trend of non-consensual deepfake abuse targeting minors in Spain. What you should know: The investigation began after a teenage girl reported in December that AI-generated videos and fake photos showing her "completely naked" were posted on a social media account created under her name. Photos of various people, all of them minors, appeared...
read Jul 25, 2025UK poll reveals split: 89% oppose student AI use yet 46% back grammar help
Public opinion is sharply divided on whether students should use artificial intelligence to improve their writing in school coursework, according to a new YouGov poll commissioned by Cambridge University Press and Assessment, a UK-based educational testing organization. The survey of 2,221 UK adults reveals a complex landscape where 89% consider AI use "unacceptable" for pupils, yet nearly half support its use for basic grammar and punctuation corrections—highlighting the nuanced challenges educators face as AI becomes increasingly prevalent in classrooms. What you should know: The poll exposes significant contradictions in public attitudes toward AI in education, with acceptance varying dramatically based...
read Jul 22, 2025UK government partners with OpenAI to deploy AI across public services
OpenAI has signed a memorandum of understanding with the UK government to deploy artificial intelligence across public services, including education, defense, security, and the justice system. The deal could give OpenAI access to government data while positioning AI as a cornerstone of the Labour government's strategy to revive the UK's stagnant economy, which grew just 0.1% to 0.2% in the second quarter. What you should know: The agreement establishes a framework for AI integration across critical government functions while promising safeguards for public protection. Technology Secretary Peter Kyle emphasized that "AI will be fundamental in driving change" in the UK...
read Jul 18, 2025Microsoft splits with Meta on EU’s voluntary AI compliance framework by agreeing to it
Microsoft will likely sign the European Union's voluntary AI code of practice to help companies comply with the bloc's landmark artificial intelligence rules, while Meta Platforms has rejected the guidelines. The code, developed by 13 independent experts, aims to provide legal certainty for AI companies by requiring them to publish summaries of training content and establish copyright compliance policies. What you should know: The code of practice is part of the EU's AI Act, which came into force in June 2024 and will apply to major tech companies including Google, Meta, OpenAI, Anthropic, and Mistral. Companies that sign the voluntary...
read Jul 18, 2025Meta rejects EU AI code, calls it innovation-stifling overreach
Meta Platforms has declined to sign the European Union's artificial intelligence code of practice, with global affairs chief Joel Kaplan calling it an overreach that will "stunt" companies. The rejection comes as the EU's AI compliance framework prepares to take effect next month, highlighting growing tensions between Big Tech and European regulators over AI governance. What you should know: Meta joins a growing list of companies pushing back against Europe's new AI rulebook, which aims to improve transparency and safety around AI technology. The European Commission, the executive body of the EU, published the final iteration of its code for...
read Jul 18, 2025Not at all shook up: London’s AI-enhanced Elvis show flops without the King’s charisma
Elvis Evolution, a new immersive show at London's Excel Waterfront complex, attempts to bring the rock icon back to life through AI-enhanced video footage and recreated sets. The experience fails to capture the energy and charisma that made Elvis legendary, delivering a lackluster spectacle that feels more like a theme park attraction than a meaningful tribute to the King of Rock and Roll. What you should know: Elvis Evolution represents a growing trend of immersive entertainment experiences that blend theater, amusement park attractions, and interactive spectacles. The show takes place at Immerse LDN and has been heavily advertised across London's...
read Jul 18, 20251 in 3 Britons are fine with sharing sensitive data with AI chatbots
Nearly one in three Britons are sharing confidential personal information with AI chatbots like ChatGPT and Google Gemini, according to new research from cybersecurity company NymVPN. This widespread oversharing includes sensitive health, banking, and financial data, despite 48% of respondents expressing privacy concerns about AI tools, highlighting a concerning gap between awareness and behavior that extends into workplace environments. What you should know: The research reveals alarming patterns of data sharing across both personal and professional contexts. 30% of Britons have provided AI chatbots with confidential personal information, including health and banking data. 26% admitted to disclosing financial information related...
read Jul 17, 2025UK launches Isambard-AI, Britain’s most powerful supercomputer
The UK's most powerful supercomputer, Isambard-AI, has been made fully operational in Bristol, with Technology Secretary Peter Kyle officially launching the machine as part of the government's expanded AI strategy. The supercomputer will join Cambridge's Dawn machine to form the UK's "AI Research Resource," designed to tackle public challenges like reducing NHS waiting lists and developing climate change solutions while positioning Britain as an "AI maker rather than an AI taker." What you should know: Isambard-AI represents a significant leap in the UK's public AI computing capacity, built with cutting-edge hardware and substantial government investment. The supercomputer uses more than...
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