BBC technology news

E-scooters being advertised for commuting despite UK road ban https://ift.tt/aPgdAri A Press Association investigation found major retailers advertising e-scooters for "commuting" and "urban riding".

Tech Life https://ift.tt/zCHOR7r We hear concerns that shadow banning is limiting access to health advice for women.

WhatsApp to let people chat without swapping phone numbers https://ift.tt/nkDSvAo The app's new usernames feature will be rolled out globally over the next few months.

Ford rehires human engineers after AI fails to match quality checks https://ift.tt/7isbe2m The car-maker found AI quality checks failed to match the skill of veteran technicians.

South Korea unveils $1tn chip and AI investment plan https://ift.tt/AoiDSpZ It comes as regional rivals like Taiwan, China and Japan are investing heavily in chip factories and other technology.

Tech Life https://ift.tt/wmQ43ki We're at one of Europe's biggest tech events.

Tech firms are blaming AI for mega device and console price rises https://ift.tt/vdHqYeO Xbox consoles, Nintendo's new Switch 2 and Valve's Steam Deck are just some of the gadgets seeing price hikes in recent months.

Why GTA 6 will launch without a disc - and what it means for gamers https://ift.tt/QkjYdR1 Music and films are now largely digital-only - does the lack of a disc for GTA 6 mean gaming is going the same way?

Asia stock markets slide as tech shares slump https://ift.tt/xNKHc0M Trading on South Korea's Kospi index was halted for the third time this week to prevent panic selling.

The abundant but expensive energy source that's under your feet https://ift.tt/nDt6sKj Start-ups are taking fresh approaches to geothermal energy, but will the economics work?

Apple hikes MacBook and iPad prices, blaming rising chip costs https://ift.tt/FfioCmp Apple said it had "never seen a component price increase this much, this quickly".

IBM hails new 'block of flats' design breakthrough for ultra tiny chips https://ift.tt/ljncvsF IBM says it has created the world's first known chip tech below 1 nanometre - but it will be some time before it's ready for production.

Scientist publishes fresh doubts over Microsoft's quantum claims https://ift.tt/fb241QI The tech giant has consistently stood by its Majorana chip research despite scepticism from some experts in the field.

Tech Life https://ift.tt/pt2LhBU We're at one of Europe's biggest tech events.

GTA 6 will cost $80 - and physical edition will not contain a disc https://ift.tt/R4eWCHx Rockstar has said physical copies of the game will contain a code for a digital download for the game.

AI will create more jobs for humans, not replace them, Amazon founder Bezos says https://ift.tt/kyVUobO The Amazon founder, who now has robotics and space travel companies, thinks AI will create a labour shortage.

Tech giant Oracle sheds 21,000 jobs in a year as AI replaces some roles https://ift.tt/lGuXKW5 The cuts are part of a wider trend among tech firms as they spend hundreds of billions of dollars on AI infrastructure.

Do you know your 'sweat score'? The rise of hydration tech https://ift.tt/QvEumh8 Hydration tracking gadgets are flooding the market but is it too much information?

WhatsApp to be led by Indian start-up founder as Will Cathcart steps back https://ift.tt/hgPznJ2 WhatsApp's leadership shake-up comes as Meta looks to strengthen its app's already booming presence in India.

It's not just about nudity warns actress - the complex reality of images and online abuse https://ift.tt/Dlguen7 Tech companies and authorities are failing women by focusing on nudity rather than consent, says a report by Chayn.

Why the social media ban is about so much more than social media https://ift.tt/59zApSm If we are witnessing a profound shift in the online space, how will it reshape our relationship with it? Technology and AI editor Zoe Kleinman writes.

New video game console aims to get kids moving https://ift.tt/dclIhT6 The cube-shaped console will cost £269 (€319) when it is released on 22 June in the UK and Ireland.

Tech Now https://ift.tt/skP3QRU Shiona McCallum visits Fifa HQ in Zurich to see new tech being used in the World Cup.

GTA 6 - all you need to know about Rockstar's blockbuster game https://ift.tt/7Co49ua Rockstar's sixth game in the franchise is set to be the biggest game release of the year.

UK AI regulator quits after 'attempts at humour that were inappropriate' https://ift.tt/zcVHWu9 Edwards has been the boss of the data watchdog since January 2022, and said he had made inappropriate attempts at humour.

The artificial ice pyramids saving India's mountain villages https://ift.tt/G3hn6Cp Himalayan villages are creating artificial glaciers to guarantee water for their crops in the spring.

GTA 6 pre-order date and cover art revealed by Rockstar https://ift.tt/N2xyAXj The developer has said pre-sales of the hugely anticipated game will begin on 25 June.

ChatGPT can be made to generate sexualised and violent images, researchers find https://ift.tt/WCR81nf But researchers say its still possible to trick the AI chatbot into producing graphic content.

Google, Nvidia and Anthropic bosses' AI tips for students https://ift.tt/1q7ROPZ Sundar Pichai, Jensen Huang and Jack Clark share their advice with the BBC.

Snap unveils $2,195 smart glasses after previous flops https://ift.tt/bGa4gYx The augmented reality glasses from Snapchat's parent company are expected to ship in autumn.

Tech Life https://ift.tt/ecoGCPQ The prompt that made ChatGPT generate disturbing images. What does this tell us about AI?

Five big questions about the UK's under-16s social media ban https://ift.tt/Y7LBkuV A ban is coming - but it's still not clear what it will mean for sites including Roblox, YouTube and WhatsApp.

Under-16s will be banned from social media from early 2027 https://ift.tt/LIsfPXc Sites including Instagram, YouTube and TikTok will become inaccessible for millions of children, the prime minister has announced.

Social media ban - bold and blunt, but no silver bullet https://ift.tt/sQCZAiK The BBC's technology editor Zoe Kleinman on the big changes coming down the line for young people online.

What is the UK social media ban for under-16s? https://ift.tt/8Am1U0o The measures will see apps including TikTok and Snapchat blocked for UK teens early in 2027.

Elon Musk's stratospheric rise to trillionaire status - in charts https://ift.tt/QkIOs0q The BBC breaks down how the tech mogul's fortune has grown.

Tech Life https://ift.tt/fgnPjro Check before check-in. What's behind a new safety campaign about power banks on aircraft?

India's 'blue gold' starts a new drinks industry https://ift.tt/WguJdMX Agave plants grow wild in India and new distillers are using them to create a spirits industry.

Korea fines e-commerce giant $400m over data breach affecting millions https://ift.tt/9GLcnmC The record fine comes after around 37.5 million users had their private data exposed.

Social media on trial: Four important cases to watch https://ift.tt/UTGViLn Social media firms face thousands of lawsuits, the BBC looks at four which could be significant.

Tech Life https://ift.tt/T9k3SfC Check before check-in. What's behind a new safety campaign about power banks on aircraft?

Version of AI tool too powerful for public released to public https://ift.tt/Vcq6H0R Claude Fable 5 is a version of Anthropic's Claude Mythos, an AI program which caused a stir among technology, finance, and government leaders

EU orders Meta to open WhatsApp to rival AI chatbots https://ift.tt/bYWvUni Meta has accused the EU of "regulatory overreach" and says its decision will allow tech giants like OpenAI free access to WhatsApp.

OpenAI plans to go public, intensifying investment race with Anthropic https://ift.tt/VW5bypZ The company behind ChatGPT filed its plans one week after Anthropic did the same.

Apple unveils Siri AI makeover as Tim Cook bids farewell https://ift.tt/pd3klOr The technology giant also revealed a series of new child safety features amid widespread scrutiny over "nudification" apps.

Jailed crypto founder Sam Bankman-Fried seeks Trump pardon https://ift.tt/tc8myXF The former leader of crypto platform FTX, currently serving a 25-year sentence, on Monday officially applied to be pardoned.

Starmer tells Apple and Google to ban nude images on children's phones https://ift.tt/fNw13IE Firms will be expected to activate built-in features to stop children accessing sexually explicit images.

Tech Life https://ift.tt/eRvSZcI The tech company announces its new Majorana 2 chip.

The gamers taking on the industry to stop it switching off games https://ift.tt/gc3yQUb Stop Killing Games is challenging the idea publishers can shut down a game without making sure it's still playable.

Tech Life https://ift.tt/Cr0D8Gz The tech company announces its new Majorana 2 chip.

Trump to meet AI leaders to discuss US investment in their companies https://ift.tt/LgOdBk1 The US president said on Friday he expects to meet the leaders of top AI companies next week.

Raspberry Pi raises profit forecast as AI demand grows https://ift.tt/85LKY4H The firm said it expected to deliver adjusted earnings of at least $38m (£28.2m) for the first half of 2026.

From Bitcoin to blockchain: Key cryptocurrency terms and what they mean https://ift.tt/w9MxcTz As the price of Bitcoin sinks once more, here's a guide to some of the trickiest crypto terms.

Mark Zuckerberg's longest-serving employee on AI, jobs - and her boss https://ift.tt/jR7gt3M Naomi Gleit has weathered many controversies at Meta, but remains in what she tells the BBC is her "dream job".

AI needs a 'brake pedal', warns Anthropic co-founder https://ift.tt/0uKNoBd Jack Clark tells BBC's Newsnight AI could get to the point where it develops without human input.

Exams watchdog warns of rise in high-tech cheating https://ift.tt/Zg03RnA Ofqual chief says invigilators are being trained to detect devices like smart glasses and hidden earpieces.

Who is Elon Musk and what is his net worth? https://ift.tt/zCIOeFX The boss of X, Tesla and SpaceX is the world's richest person and has used his platform to make his views known on a vast array of topics.

Phone signal on trains not good enough most of the time, research says https://ift.tt/i3pgX7B Ofcom found the major phone networks were not providing good signal on trains, and train companies were slowing down wi-fi.

Tech Life https://ift.tt/D6b1yFB The tech company announces its new Majorana 2 chip.

Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland app users report outage https://ift.tt/nxqMgT6 Thousands of Lloyds Banking Group customers reported problems with online banking access on Wednesday morning.

Meta won't track its workers' clicks - but only for half an hour at a time https://ift.tt/8z0mhVa According to an internal memo, new controls will allow employees to pause the data collection for "up to 30 minutes at a time".

Microsoft testing wearable AI gadget aimed at office workers https://ift.tt/jAc6i7T The company said its own workers are testing a "wearable access badge" and a desktop device.

Tech Life https://ift.tt/D6b1yFB The tech company announces its new Majorana 2 chip.

Microsoft says new quantum chip 1,000 times more reliable than predecessor https://ift.tt/w5sezWn The tech giant predicts it will have a quantum computer that can solve commercially useful problems by the end of the decade.

Instagram AI chatbot tricked by hackers to give access to others' accounts https://ift.tt/TntE1yH Some reports have linked the incident to recent cases of high-profile Instagram accounts being hijacked.

How 'confused' AI rollout hurts firms and baffles staff https://ift.tt/LtCAV70 Some firms are putting pressure on staff to use AI, but have not thought through their AI rollout.

OpenAI let ChatGPT aid and abet mass shooters, Florida lawsuit claims https://ift.tt/NVuzynh Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier alleges OpenAI and boss Sam Altman built a 'web of deceit'

AI giant Anthropic announces plans to list on US stock market https://ift.tt/x86BXqT The AI company behind Claude is set to offer the public shares of stock sometime this year.

UK banks blocked from cyber AI tool Mythos get offer from rival OpenAI https://ift.tt/yQch0qN Nine banks have been offered access to GPT 5.5 Cyber, as fierce rival Anthropic has blocked previews of its tool.