In mid-2025, the debate over AI in programming mirrors historic resistance to earlier breakthroughs in computing. Critics say current AI coding tools often slow developers and create overconfidence, while supporters argue they will eventually transform software creation.
The Register compares this moment to the 1950s, when Grace Hopper faced opposition to high-level programming languages. Similar scepticism greeted technologies such as C, Java, and intermediate representation, which later became integral to modern computing.
Current AI tools face limits in resources, business models, and capability. Yet, as past trends show, these constraints may fade as hardware, training, and developer practices improve. Advocates believe AI will shift human effort toward design and problem definition rather than manual coding.
For now, adoption remains a mixed blessing, with performance issues and unrealistic expectations. But history suggests that removing barriers between ideas and results catalyses lasting change.
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Tesla has applied for a licence to supply electricity to homes and businesses across Britain, challenging the dominance of major energy firms. Ofgem could take up to nine months to decide, with operations potentially starting next year.
Known for electric vehicles, Tesla also runs solar and battery storage divisions, with more than 250,000 EVs and tens of thousands of home batteries already sold in the UK. The company’s experience in Texas, where it rewards customers for feeding surplus power to the grid, could inform its UK plans.
The move comes as Tesla’s European car sales decline sharply, with July registrations falling almost 60% in the UK and over 55% in Germany. Increased competition from Chinese manufacturer BYD has added to the pressure.
Tesla has faced public criticism linked to Elon Musk’s political positions, yet the energy push signals a strategic shift towards broader utility services in its key markets.
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OpenAI has released reasoning-focused open-weight models in a strategic response to China’s surging AI ecosystem, led by DeepSeek’s disruptive efficiency. Unlike earlier coverage, the shift is framed not merely as competitive posturing but as a deeper recognition of shifting innovation philosophies.
DeepSeek’s rise stems from maximizing limited resources under the US’s export restrictions, proving that top-tier AI doesn’t require massive chip clusters. The agility has emboldened the open-source AI sector in China, where over 10 labs now rival those in the US, fundamentally reshaping competitive dynamics.
OpenAI’s ‘gpt-oss’ models, which reveal numerical parameters for customization, mark a departure from its traditional closed approach. Industry watchers see this as a hybrid play, retaining proprietary strengths while embracing openness to appeal to global developers.
The implications stretch beyond technology into geopolitics. US export controls may have inadvertently fueled Chinese AI innovation, with DeepSeek’s self-reliant architecture now serving as a proof point for resilience. DeepSeek’s achievement challenges the US’s historically resource-intensive approach to AI.
AI rivalry may spur collaboration or escalate competition. DeepSeek advances models like DeepSeek-MoE, while OpenAI strikes a balance between openness and monetization. Global AI dynamics shift, raising both technological and philosophical stakes.
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OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman has warned that many ChatGPT users are engaging with AI in self-destructive ways. His comments follow backlash over the sudden discontinuation of GPT-4o and other older models, which he admitted was a mistake.
Altman said that users form powerful attachments to specific AI models, and while most can distinguish between reality and fiction, a small minority cannot. He stressed OpenAI’s responsibility to manage the risks for those in mentally fragile states.
Using ChatGPT as a therapist or life coach was not his concern, as many people already benefit from it. Instead, he worried about cases where advice subtly undermines a user’s long-term well-being.
The model removals triggered a huge social-media outcry, with complaints that newer versions offered shorter, less emotionally rich responses. OpenAI has since restored GPT-4o for Plus subscribers, while free users will only have access to GPT-5.
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Firms such as Wix.com, Shutterstock, and Adobe have been labelled high risk by Bank of America, with stock declines far outpacing the broader market. The shift stems from fears that AI will replace services like graphic design and data analysis, delivering them faster and cheaper.
Some analysts say the impact, once expected over five years, may unfold in just two.
The disruption is not limited to creative industries. Gartner saw a record share drop after cutting its revenue forecast, with some attributing the slump to cheaper AI-powered alternatives.
Meanwhile, major tech firms, including Microsoft, Meta, Alphabet, and Amazon, are expected to invest around $350 billion this year, nearly 50% more than last year, to expand AI infrastructure.
Despite the pressure, certain businesses are adapting successfully. Duolingo has doubled its share price over the past year by integrating AI into its language-learning tools, though questions remain over the long-term sustainability of such gains.
As the gap between AI-powered growth and industry decline widens, markets are bracing for further upheaval.
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The 2025 World Robot Conference in Beijing has drawn significant attention to China’s growing humanoid robotics industry. With over 60 humanoid robots on display, the event attracted investors and tech enthusiasts alike, generating a surge in stock prices for companies such as Unitree Robotics.
The conference showcased robots performing diverse activities from industrial operations to more human-like tasks, including marathons and kickboxing, highlighting rapid AI advancements.
China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has supported the sector strongly, aiming for mass production and widespread adoption by 2027. The market, valued at $2.24 billion in 2024, is expected to grow to $41 billion by 2032, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of nearly 44%.
New manufacturing facilities and advances such as carbon fibre materials are boosting the durability and agility of these robots, while companies are focusing on AI integration and teamwork capabilities.
Despite the promising outlook, challenges like high costs, AI learning complexities, and potential overvaluation remain. Experts acknowledge China is closing the gap in humanoid robotics innovation, though technical hurdles persist.
The event underscores the significant role humanoid robots could play in reshaping industries and everyday life, supported by both state initiatives and private investment.
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OpenAI will make its GPT-4o model available again for ChatGPT Plus subscribers after replacing it with GPT-5, following complaints from users who said the change was abrupt and unwelcome.
Chief executive Sam Altman confirmed that subscribers can choose between the two models, adding that the company will monitor usage before deciding how long to keep older versions available.
The decision comes days after the debut of GPT-5, which was introduced without the option to select previous models manually.
Some users said they valued the continuity and emotional connection they had formed with GPT-4o, describing it as unique and meaningful instead of simply replaceable. Others preferred having the freedom to select a model manually rather than relying on a default.
Altman acknowledged that GPT-5’s performance appeared weaker at times, attributing it partly to a temporary malfunction in the automatic switching system.
He also said adjustments are being made to improve how the system selects the most suitable model in different scenarios.
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Google is testing a new AI-powered version of its Finance page, offering users advanced tools to explore stock market, financial, and cryptocurrency information.
The platform enables users to ask natural language questions about finance and receive detailed answers, accompanied by source links.
The new page features three main components: research, charting tools, and real-time data and news. Users can visualise financial data using technical charts such as moving averages and candlestick charts, and access live updates and news feeds related to financial markets and cryptocurrencies.
Google plans to roll out the AI-powered Finance page over the coming weeks via Google.com/finance, aiming to provide a more interactive and insightful experience for users interested in financial data and market trends.
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Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices have agreed to hand 15% of their Chinese AI chip sales revenue to the US government in return for export licences.
The arrangement, covering Nvidia’s H20 accelerator and AMD’s MI308 model, is considered unusual and could prove contentious for both companies and Beijing.
The deal reflects Washington’s willingness to link trade concessions to financial payments, but analysts note there is little precedent for such a targeted export levy.
Critics warn the move could undermine the national security rationale for export controls, making it harder to convince allies to adopt similar measures. Beijing, meanwhile, has voiced security concerns over the H20 chip’s performance and alleged vulnerabilities.
Industry observers suggest the payment requirement could discourage further expansion by US chipmakers in China, the world’s largest semiconductor importer, and give local producers an advantage in building domestic capacity.
Chinese firms such as Huawei are already increasing market share amid tighter restrictions on US technology.
The potential sums involved are significant. Before restrictions were imposed, Nvidia had generated over $7 billion in H20 sales to China in a single quarter. In comparison, AMD could earn up to $5 billion annually if full access to the market resumed.
However, uncertainties over demand and regulatory conditions remain.
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Tesla has disbanded its Dojo supercomputer team, with team leader Peter Bannon departing amid a shift in AI strategy. Resources are being reallocated to other company data centres and computing projects.
The supercomputer was initially intended to process large volumes of vehicle data and video to train its autonomous‑driving systems. The team had recently lost around 20 members to the start‑up DensityAI.
Tesla plans to rely more on external partners for compute and chip supply. Strategic collaborations with Nvidia, AMD and Samsung Electronics are being pursued to bolster capacity.
The company focuses on integrating AI, including robotics and self‑driving technologies, across its business. A recent $16.5 billion agreement with Samsung aims to support services like robotaxi, humanoid robots and data‑centre operations.
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