BBC technology news

WhatsApp says it has resolved technical problem https://ift.tt/OYxSdD3 Thousands of users reported problems on Friday, but the Meta-owned company says the issue is now resolved.

Skype announces it will close in May https://ift.tt/Yk3rLae The internet chat and phone service, which is owned by Microsoft, made the announcement on X.

Lloyds, Halifax and TSB banking apps down, thousands report https://ift.tt/S43mKPz Technical issues are affecting UK banking app users on payday for the second-month running in 2025.

Amazon joins quantum race with 'cat qubit' powered chip https://ift.tt/pzHtkLl The prototype chip it dubs Ocelot follows similar announcements by Microsoft and Google

What an AI-generated video of Gaza reveals about Trump tactics https://ift.tt/0W1DxUN US President Donald Trump sparked a social media frenzy when he posted a video of Gaza generated by artificial intelligence on his site Truth Social. Marianna Spring has been analysing the online tactics of Trump and his team.

US intelligence head 'not told' about UK's secret Apple data demand https://ift.tt/UfQuXoW Tulsi Gabbard said she was seeking further information from the FBI and other US agencies.

Alexa relaunched with ambition to be 'your best digital friend' https://ift.tt/BkVNALI It is available from March and included in a Prime subscription - or $19.99 to non-members.

Crypto sleuths join hunt for $1.5bn stolen in biggest ever heist https://ift.tt/CO530wG ByBit is offering financial rewards to anyone who can spot criminals attempting to launder the stolen crypto.

Apple AI tool transcribed the word 'racist' as 'Trump' https://ift.tt/7Xeizk1 Experts have questioned the company's explanation that it is due to the two words being similar.

What Apple pulling Advanced Data Protection means for you https://ift.tt/GrUMm1w The tech giant's decision has prompted questions and concerns about reduced protections for UK iCloud users.

Tesla shares slump after European sales fall https://ift.tt/X9uT37g Shares in the US electric carmaker dropped after European sales halved in January.

Major Asia bank to cut 4,000 roles as AI replaces humans https://ift.tt/2wX5vQb It makes DBS one of the first major banks to offer details on how AI will affect its operations.

Lion King visual effects studio on brink of collapse https://ift.tt/2VnBtPa The company's UK entity has filed for administration, with staff told to stay home.

Virgin Media apologises as thousands report internet outage https://ift.tt/JvzrB7X The internet giant says it is aware customers are experiencing problems and is working to fix them.

List accomplishments or resign, Musk tells US federal workers https://ift.tt/dslTQP4 The weekend email comes as Elon Musk leads an effort to aggressively curtail the government workforce.

Cryptocurrency theft of £1.1bn could be biggest ever https://ift.tt/OhWvrdV Dubai-based Bybit said it could afford to reimburse customers and that it was working to find the hackers.

Coinbase boss claims SEC will drop crypto lawsuit https://ift.tt/McLXawr The SEC's 2023 lawsuit formed part of a crackdown on crypto firms which President Trump pledged to reverse.

Apple pulls data protection tool after UK government security row https://ift.tt/fyP9oev Customers' photos and documents stored online will no longer be protected by end to end encryption.

Tech Life: Human life under the oceans https://ift.tt/yzg6Wut Plans are underway for humans to live and work in underwater habitats for long durations

Children routinely using social media, Australian regulator says https://ift.tt/EpKc3k5 It found they were easily able to bypass age checks on apps, which face being banned for under-16s.

AI cracks superbug problem in two days that took scientists years https://ift.tt/7FuxoVL The lead researcher has told the BBC he was so astounded he assumed his computer had been hacked.

Tech Life: Human life under the oceans https://ift.tt/yzg6Wut Plans are underway for humans to live and work in underwater habitats for long durations

Apple gambles on new iPhone with AI features at lower cost https://ift.tt/WMXZ9c1 The tech giant is hoping AI at a lower price can reinvigorate sales of its flagship piece of hardware.

Powerful quantum computers in years not decades, says Microsoft https://ift.tt/otxSWn7 It says a new chip it has created could end up being as important a breakthrough as the semiconductor.

'Hopeless' to potentially handy: law firm puts AI to the test https://ift.tt/BbO8HYf Despite 'incredible' progress AI tools still aren't up to the level of even a junior lawyer, research suggests.

Argentina's President Milei denies crypto fraud allegations https://ift.tt/rIF2lz4 Javier Milei says he was acting in "good faith" when he posted about a crypto currency which collapsed.

DeepSeek 'shared user data' with TikTok owner ByteDance https://ift.tt/Y8iCTdy South Korea's data protection regulator says user data was sent to the Chinese owner of TikTok.

The quest for video games that don't overstay their welcome https://ift.tt/OWRuLtV Bigger, longer, better? Why the race to pack more hours into video games might be slowing.

Meta plans globe-spanning sub-sea internet cable https://ift.tt/6JfsrpS It is the latest move from Meta to invest more in global connectivity rather than its apps.

Critics say new Google rules put profits over privacy https://ift.tt/wAEVkDF Google is allowing advertisers to collect more personal information, which is harder for users to control.

South Korea bans new downloads of China's DeepSeek AI https://ift.tt/YPukRSn App stores in South Korea have removed DeepSeek over concerns about how it manages users' data.

Tech Life: Decoding the brain https://ift.tt/kXQL0ld Could AI help people with speech loss talk by interpreting signals in their brain ?

Tech Life: Decoding the brain https://ift.tt/kXQL0ld Could AI help people with speech loss talk by interpreting signals in their brain ?

US politicians furious at UK demand for encrypted Apple data https://ift.tt/iyu57AH They say the US should re-evaluate its cyber-security partnership with the UK unless the "dangerous" request is withdrawn.

TikTok returns to Apple and Google app stores in the US https://ift.tt/QsFC4L7 TikTok is again available on app stores in the US after President Donald Trump delayed a ban on the app.

Scientists work on 'superhuman' vision systems for robots https://ift.tt/4ymMXIw Researchers have given a robot a powerful radio-based vision system which can see through smoke.

Google Maps blocks Gulf of America reviews after rename criticism https://ift.tt/rsFSpvi It controversially updated the Gulf's name for US users after President Trump ordered it to be changed.

Unofficial TikTok downloads surge in the US https://ift.tt/VOso94T Many people are turning to so-called "sideloading" because the app is unavailable on official stores.

Tech Life: Decoding the brain https://ift.tt/b0eTnYz Could AI help people with speech loss talk by interpreting signals in their brain ?

Watch: Why Google Maps renamed the Gulf of Mexico https://ift.tt/fdUWbIo The Gulf of Mexico has been renamed the Gulf of America on Google Maps in the US. BBC Verify explains why Google made the change.

Law firm restricts AI after 'significant' staff use https://ift.tt/gY3BLTx The chief technology officer of Hill Dickinson warned of the use of AI tools.

UK and US refuse to sign international AI declaration https://ift.tt/TYvB9cs It follows a warning from US Vice President JD Vance that excessive regulation could "kill a transformative industry."

AI chatbots unable to accurately summarise news, BBC finds https://ift.tt/jtdSFDJ The BBC's head of news and current affairs says the developers of the tools are "playing with fire."

Data of four dead British teens may have been removed, says TikTok https://ift.tt/2weW9Oj The parents of four British teenagers are suing the social media firm over the deaths of their children.

Musk-led group makes $97.4bn bid for ChatGPT maker OpenAI https://ift.tt/fhJUHQ5 The billionaire's attorney, Marc Toberoff, confirmed he submitted the bid for "all assets" of the company on Monday.

Macron shares his deepfakes for AI summit attention https://ift.tt/SUNwReT The French president posted a montage of parodies featuring himself to promote an AI Summit in Paris.

PlayStation Network back online, firm says https://ift.tt/4Ex9sGe PlayStation says the service has now "fully recovered" and apologised for the disruption.

China's former UK ambassador clashes with 'AI godfather' https://ift.tt/h4QvqBd Fu Ying also expressed regret about the impact of US-China tensions on the progress of AI safety.

Parents suing TikTok over children's deaths say it 'has no compassion' https://ift.tt/mYXcBIw Four families who say their children died after taking part in a viral trend in 2022 speak to the BBC about their legal fight against TikTok.

UK demands access to Apple users' encrypted data https://ift.tt/psBvJZt The Home Office served the notice to the tech giant under the Investigatory Powers Act.

TikTok sued by parents of UK teens after alleged challenge deaths https://ift.tt/Cya6RN2 The US-based Social Media Victims Law Center filed the wrongful death lawsuit on Thursday.

Concern UK's AI ambitions could lead to water shortages https://ift.tt/Dsy7deS Data centres can use vast quantities of water to cool them - but it's not clear where it will come from.

Google remakes Super Bowl ad after AI cheese gaffe https://ift.tt/DLNKMTW Its Gemini tool wildly overestimated global gouda consumption in ad that was meant to show off its capabilities.

Google joins firms dropping diversity recruitment goals https://ift.tt/PuhnSxZ U-turn by former the diversity champion comes as major companies face pressure to drop the policies.

World leaders set to vie for AI domination at Paris summit https://ift.tt/JSFTMxl Global politicians and AI bosses will next week attend a summit to debate the disruptive technology.

The monthly AI or real quiz: February 2025 https://ift.tt/Nodi4jh Challenge yourself with this edition of our monthly AI or real quiz and see if you can get top marks!

Reddit community banned as user spat with Musk intensifies https://ift.tt/pCtuG6b The tech billionaire had complained that some Reddit users were advocating violence against his staff.

Google drops pledge on AI use for weapons https://ift.tt/B0yUtb6 The tech giant has updated the principles governing its development of artificial intelligence.

Australia bans DeepSeek on government devices over security risk https://ift.tt/A6RKCp4 The Australian government says the Chinese AI app is a threat to it and its assets.

The Sims at 25: How a virtual dollhouse took over the world https://ift.tt/oaL5RgV Some people didn't expect it to last a year. Here's how the popular life simulator has stayed alive.

Bill Gates has given away billions, but 'still has more to give' https://ift.tt/5BAcv4U The Microsoft co-founder says he enjoys giving away his fortune and it won't leave his kids poor.

Barclays says payment issues resolved after tech outage https://ift.tt/XMDvpxs The bank says a technical issue, which began on Friday and impacted the its app, online banking and payments, has been resolved.

Why Dynasty Warriors makers scrapped sequel to reinvent series https://ift.tt/Wv7qFiR Tomohiko Sho says the unreleased game was something fans were 'starting to get a bit bored of'.

AI-generated child sex abuse images targeted with new laws https://ift.tt/NJ0o9nE Yvette Cooper says the UK will make it illegal to own AI tools to make images of child sexual abuse.