The Guardian

Thalha Jubair and Owen Flowers, linked to the Scattered Spider hacking group, change pleas on first day of trial Two British cybercriminals from the Scattered Spider hacking group have pleaded guilty to a cyber-attack on Transport for London in 2024 that cost £39m and affected 10 million people. Thalha Jubair, 20, and Owen Flowers, 18, pleaded guilty to offences under the Computer Misuse Act at W…

Technology to be used in six more areas next year as critics say tens of thousands of people will be forced into ‘digital police lineup’ The Metropolitan police is to expand its use of live facial recognition (LFR) technology, first into London’s West End by Christmas and then into a further six areas next year. The new cameras will be fixed, and could be attached to street furniture such as lamp…

Barrister who was given material produced by Garfield AI says advocacy at trial ‘remained fundamentally human’ 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 …

Our experts found and vetted the best Prime Day deals and sales. Here are our picks for nontoxic cookware, bedding, tower fans and more The 26 best anti-Prime Day deals for Amazon skeptics The best wireless earbuds for iPhone owners are on sale Our favorite nontoxic, nonstick pans is now on sale Prime Day is the wild west of online shopping. For every genuinely great deal, there are about seven d…

Besides Amazon, plenty of other retailers are also lowering prices on great products our shopping experts can vouch for The 31 best Prime Day deals on things our editors actually tested and love Sign up for the Filter US newsletter, your weekly guide to buying fewer, better things Every summer, Amazon entices sweaty consumers with steep discounts on everything from slushie machines to tower fans …

I believe that chatbots have no place in a decent society, and am repelled by the topic of AI in general. But could I be seduced? I received a text message from my editor: “Um, is it unethical to ask you to get an AI bf?? You can prob say no.” Resentment. Contempt! Sorrow. Unease. I love text messaging. I have text message exchanges with, let’s say, 15 people a day. If you want me to do something…

They claim to fix fine lines, blemishes and redness – but which stand up to scrutiny? We asked dermatologists and put them to the test to find out • The best anti-ageing creams, serums and treatments LED face masks are booming in popularity – despite being one of the most expensive at-home beauty products to hit the market. They claim to either reduce the appearance of fine lines, stop spots or c…

Signal agencies in Australia, the US, the UK, New Zealand and Canada sound alarm after Trump blocks foreign nationals from Anthropic’s Fable AI model Powerful AI models capable of taking down governments and businesses are mere months away, cyber intelligence agencies for the Five Eyes have warned in a rare joint statement, urging leaders to “act now”. The surprising public intervention by signal…

AI-focused Super Pacs are spending heavily in midterms, and nearly half has gone to a single Manhattan district race The artificial intelligence industry is spending heavily in the 2026 midterms, hoping to secure influence over the technology’s first generation of legislation – and New York City’s primary has emerged as the key battleground. AI-focused Super Pacs have raised roughly $100m this cy…

They’re a key part of the digital and AI economy, but they come at a high environmental cost and offer few operational jobs Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast On Mamre Road, in Sydney’s outer western suburbs, there are plans to build a “hyperscale” datacentre that will be one of the biggest in the world. If approved, the 52-hectare site will include six four-storey build…

As phrases like easter eggs and looksmaxxing enter everyday language, what other words from the world of video games might soon be mainstream? Twenty years ago, video games were seen as a niche hobby dominated by hardcore enthusiasts, tucked away in obscure online forums and gaming meet-ups. Back then, the idea that governments would use footage from Call of Duty and gaming terms such as “killstr…

Investigation finds AI content that purports to show genuine customers, prompting calls for greater transparency Brands promoting their products online are quietly deploying AI-generated influencers on social media, an investigation has found, prompting calls for greater transparency. The findings suggest companies are increasingly turning to AI-generated content that purports to show genuine cus…

The animated sequel sets up a tug-of-war between physical and digital play for children but is still eager not to be an anti-tech screed For more than 30 years, Pixar’s signature Toy Story series has been entertaining children while giving voice to their parents’ anxieties. This is especially pronounced in the film’s sequels, as the living toys who dedicate their lives to the happiness of their o…

Exclusive: While recruits will increase headcount for now, broader adoption of AI could lead to jobs cuts in future Lloyds Banking Group has launched an AI recruitment drive for 300 tech experts, weeks before its chief executive, Charlie Nunn, unveils a strategic plan for the 261-year old lender. The bank said it intended the recruits to work on its use and development of agentic AI by September,…

Literary magazine will no longer engage in ‘external publishing partnerships’ after Commonwealth prize furore 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 …