Artificial intelligence

AI race shows diverging paths for China and the US

The US administration’s new AI action plan frames global development as an AI race with a single winner. Officials argue AI dominance brings economic, military, and geopolitical advantages. Experts say competition is unfolding across multiple domains.

The United States continues to lead in the development of advanced large language and multimodal models by firms such as OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic. American companies also dominate global computing infrastructure. Control over high-end AI chips and data-centre capacity remains concentrated in US firms.

Chinese companies are narrowing the gap in the practical applications of AI. Models from Alibaba, DeepSeek, and Moonshot AI perform well in tasks such as translation, coding, and customer service. Performance at the cutting edge still lags behind US systems.

Washington’s decision to allow limited exports of Nvidia’s H200 AI chips to China reflects a belief that controlled sales can preserve US leadership. Critics argue the move risks weakening America’s computing advantage. Concerns persist over long-term strategic consequences.

Rather than a decisive victory for either side in the AI race, analysts foresee an era of asymmetric competition in AI. The United States may dominate advanced AI services, but China is expected to lead in large-scale industrial deployment within the evolving AI race.

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OpenAI and SoftBank back a $1 billion AI data centre energy partnership

SoftBank Group and OpenAI announced a strategic partnership with SB Energy, involving a combined investment of $1 billion to support the development of large-scale AI data centres and energy infrastructure in the US.

The agreement forms part of the broader Stargate initiative, which aims to expand domestic AI computing capacity.

As part of the arrangement, OpenAI signed a lease for a 1.2 gigawatt data centre project in Milam County, Texas, with SB Energy selected to develop and operate the facility.

The partners stated that the project is designed to support the rising demand for AI computing while minimising water usage and enhancing local energy supply.

SB Energy also secured an additional $800 million in redeemable preferred equity from Ares, strengthening its financial position for further expansion.

The companies stated that the collaboration is expected to generate construction employment, long-term operational roles and investment in grid modernisation, while establishing a scalable model for future AI-focused data centre developments.

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Meta backs US nuclear projects for AI growth

A series of agreements has been announced by Meta to support nuclear energy projects in the US, aiming to secure up to 6.6 gigawatts of clean and reliable electricity for data centres and AI infrastructure by 2035. The company said the move supports grid stability while reinforcing domestic energy capacity.

The agreements include support for existing nuclear facilities operated by Vistra in Ohio and Pennsylvania, as well as commitments to advanced reactor developers TerraPower and Oklo.

Meta stated that the arrangements are intended to extend the operational life of current plants while accelerating the deployment of next-generation nuclear technologies.

According to Meta, the projects are expected to generate thousands of construction roles and hundreds of long-term operational jobs, while contributing to the firm’s power to regional electricity grids.

The company added that energy costs associated with its data centres are fully covered through corporate agreements, instead of being passed on to US consumers.

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xAI plans $20 billion data centre investment in Mississippi

The US AI company, xAI, plans to establish a large-scale data centre in Southaven, Mississippi, representing an investment of more than $20 billion. The project is expected to create several hundred permanent jobs across DeSoto County.

xAI has acquired an existing facility that will be refurbished to support data centre operations, located near additional energy and computing infrastructure already linked to xAI.

Once operational, the Southaven site in the US is expected to expand the company’s overall computing capacity significantly.

State and local authorities approved incentive measures for the project, including tax exemptions available to certified data centres.

Officials indicated that the investment is expected to contribute to local tax revenues supporting public services and infrastructure, while operations are scheduled to begin in February 2026.

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Wegmans faces backlash over facial recognition in US stores

Supermarket chain Wegmans Food Markets is facing scrutiny over its use of facial recognition technology. The issue emerged after New York City stores displayed signs warning that biometric data could be collected for security purposes.

New York law requires businesses to disclose biometric data collection, but the wording of the notices alarmed privacy advocates. Wegmans later said it only uses facial recognition, not voice or eye scans, and only in a small number of higher-risk stores.

According to the US company, the system identifies individuals who have been previously flagged for misconduct, such as theft or threatening behaviour. Wegmans says facial recognition is just one investigative tool and that all actions are subject to human review.

Critics argue the signage suggests broader surveillance than the company admits. Wegmans has not explained why the notices mention eyes and voice if that data is not collected, or when the wording might be revised.

Lawmakers in Connecticut have now proposed a ban on retail facial recognition. Supporters say grocery shopping is essential and that biometric monitoring weakens meaningful customer consent.

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BBC launches media literacy series for teenagers

BBC Children’s and Education has launched Solve The Story, a new series tackling online misinformation among teenagers. The six-part programme is designed for classroom use across UK schools.

The British series follows research showing teachers lack resources to teach critical thinking effectively. Surveys found teenagers struggle with online content volume, while one in three teachers find media literacy difficult to deliver.

Solve The Story uses mystery-style storytelling to help pupils question sources, spot deepfakes and challenge viral claims. Each episode includes practical classroom guides supporting teachers and lesson planning.

BBC figures say two thirds of teenagers worry about fake news causing confusion and stress. Educators argue AI-driven misinformation makes structured media literacy support increasingly urgent.

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AI helps solve alpine rescue mystery

AI-powered image analysis helped Italian rescuers locate a missing mountaineer in the Alps. Traditional searches had failed across vast, remote terrain despite days of effort.

Drones captured thousands of images which AI software scanned for unusual colours and shapes. A small red object, later confirmed as a helmet, guided teams to the site.

The climber’s body was found in a steep gully on Monviso, in Italy, after AI narrowed search zones. Manual checks and human judgement remained essential to confirm findings.

Rescue experts say AI can cut search times dramatically but cannot replace human oversight. Terrain complexity, weather, and ethical concerns still limit wider deployment.

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Robotics industry sets out key trends for 2026

The global market for industrial robot installations has reached a record value of $16.7bn in 2025. The International Federation of Robotics expects further growth through technological change and labour pressures.

AI-driven autonomy is becoming central to robotics development, enabling machines to learn tasks and operate independently. Agentic AI combines analytical and generative models to improve decision-making in complex environments.

Robots are also becoming more versatile as IT and operational systems converge across factories and logistics. Humanoid robots are moving beyond prototypes, with reliability and efficiency now critical for industrial adoption.

Safety, cybersecurity and workforce acceptance remain key challenges for the sector. Industry leaders see robots as allies addressing labour shortages while governments expand skills and retraining programmes.

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EU instructs X to keep all Grok chatbot records

The European Commission has ordered X to retain all internal documents and data on its AI chatbot Grok until the end of 2026. The order falls under the Digital Services Act after concerns Grok’s ‘spicy’ mode enabled sexualised deepfakes of minors.

The move continues EU oversight, recalling a January 2025 order to preserve X’s recommender system documents amid claims it amplified far-right content during German elections. EU regulators emphasised that platforms must manage the content generated by their AI responsibly.

Earlier this week, X submitted responses to the Commission regarding Grok’s outputs following concerns over Holocaust denial content. While the deepfake scandal has prompted calls for further action, the Commission has not launched a formal investigation into Grok.

Regulators reiterated that it remains X’s responsibility to ensure the chatbot’s outputs meet European standards, and retention of all internal records is crucial for ongoing monitoring and accountability.

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CES 2026 showcases AI and robotics innovations

CES 2026 has already revealed a range of groundbreaking technologies, from AI-powered holograms to autonomous vehicles. The event highlights how AI and robotics are increasingly shaping both entertainment and everyday life.

Razer introduced an all-in-one anime waifu hologram for desktops, while ASUS showcased extended reality glasses that act as a 240Hz gaming monitor. LEGO unveiled a Smart Brick capable of lighting up, playing sounds, and detecting characters.

Robotics took centre stage, with Boston Dynamics revealing its next-generation Atlas robot integrated with Google DeepMind AI, signalling rapid progress in humanoid robotics.

NVIDIA announced Alpamayo, a reasoning AI for autonomous vehicles, while Lucid partnered with Uber and Nuro to showcase a robotaxi.

Health and lifestyle innovations were also prominent. Withings launched Body Scan 2, an at-home longevity station offering AI-powered insights on blood pressure and over 60 biomarkers. Gaming hardware included the 8BitDo FlipPad, a flip-style controller optimised for mobile gaming.

Samsung teased a slim 3D display that delivers depth without bulky hardware, signalling a new generation of immersive screens. Alongside it, a pen with three cameras showed advanced spatial tracking for precise motion capture and object scanning.

CES 2026 emphasises the blending of AI, robotics, and interactive devices, highlighting how technology is increasingly personal, intelligent, and integrated into everyday life.

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