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The long-running series in which readers answer other readers’ questions on subjects ranging from trivial flights of fancy to profound scientific and philosophical concepts What are the best defunct products and overlooked innovations? Brian Phipps, Sheffield Send new questions to nq@theguardian.com. Continue reading… The long-running series in which readers answer other readers’ questions on subjects …

Readers reply: what are the best defunct products and overlooked innovations? Read More »

Security services fear the new technology could be used to groom vulnerable people The creators of artificial intelligence need to abandon their “tech utopian” mindset, according to the terror watchdog, amid fears that the new technology could be used to groom vulnerable individuals. Jonathan Hall KC, whose role is to review the adequacy of terrorism …

AI poses national security threat, warns terror watchdog Read More »

In a giant factory in California, thousands of screens, PCs and other old or unwanted gadgets are picked apart for materials. But what about the billions of other defunct (or not) devices? In the lobby of Fresno airport is a forest of plastic trees. A bit on the nose, I think: this is central California, …

‘I spot brand new TVs, here to be shredded’: the truth about our electronic waste Read More »

Since the first podcast was released two decades ago this month, the medium has upended pop culture in countless unexpected ways, from revolutionising standup comedy to providing storytelling fuel for drama and documentary Do you remember life before podcasts? Yes, obviously, is likely to be the short answer. Podcasting is still a relatively youthful medium, …

‘Deeply personal and very authentic’: how podcasts took over the world in 20 years Read More »

Experts say the fallout from powerful AI will be less a nuclear bomb and more a creeping deterioration of society Alarm over artificial intelligence has reached a fever pitch in recent months. Just this week, more than 300 industry leaders published a letter warning AI could lead to human extinction and should be considered with …

Robot takeover? Not quite. Here’s what AI doomsday would look like Read More »

The film-maker captured her striking image while visiting a Tanzanian village healer who diagnoses patients by fair means or fowl Earlier that day, film-maker Kaja Kraska had accompanied her new friend Muanauru to the market to buy a chicken. Now, it was sitting on Muanauru’s head. It was summer 2020 and Kraska was with her …

‘The chicken lived for another day, at least’: Kaja Kraska’s best phone picture Read More »

Parents and schools across Greystones adopt voluntary ‘no-smartphone code’ in bid to curb peer pressure On the principle of strength in numbers, parents in the Irish town of Greystones have banded together to collectively tell their children they cannot have a smartphone until secondary school. Parents’ associations across the district’s eight primary schools have adopted …

‘Much easier to say no’: Irish town unites in smartphone ban for young children Read More »

Roger Haines writes that there is no evidence of AI sentience, while Prof Paul Huxley recalls Asimov’s laws of robotics, and Phyl Hyde says fears of AI are being overblown Regarding Jonathan Freedland’s article about AI (The future of AI is chilling – humans have to act together to overcome this threat to civilisation, 26 …

The existential threat from AI – and from humans misusing it | Letters Read More »

Show contestant says she did not expect the level of cruel comments about her appearance When Coco Lodge decided to go on Love Island, she knew she was going to be judged on her behaviour. But what she did not expect was the level of trolling and cruel comments she received about her appearance. The …

Coco Lodge: ‘I think I’m the most trolled Love Islander for how I look’ Read More »

Prosecutors are reportedly seeking a prison term and a near-£1m fine for ex-Sega developer Yuji Naka One of Sonic the Hedgehog’s creators is facing possible jail time and a fine of close to £1m for his alleged part in an insider trading scheme, according to a court report by Japanese media. Yuji Naka, who co-created …

Sonic the Hedgehog co-creator may face jail over alleged insider trading Read More »