Sustainable development

Lords reject UK AI copyright bill again

The UK government has suffered a second defeat in the House of Lords over its Data (Use and Access) Bill, as peers once again backed a copyright-focused amendment aimed at protecting artists from AI content scraping.

Baroness Kidron, a filmmaker and digital rights advocate, led the charge, accusing ministers of listening to the ‘sweet whisperings of Silicon Valley’ and allowing tech firms to ‘redefine theft’ by exploiting copyrighted material without permission.

Her amendment would force AI companies to disclose their training data sources and obtain consent from rights holders.

The government had previously rejected this amendment, arguing it would lead to ‘piecemeal’ legislation and pre-empt ongoing consultations.

But Kidron’s position was strongly supported across party lines, with peers calling the current AI practices ‘burglary’ and warning of catastrophic damage to the UK’s creative sector.

High-profile artists like Sir Elton John, Paul McCartney, Annie Lennox, and Kate Bush have condemned the government’s stance, with Sir Elton branding ministers ‘losers’ and accusing them of enabling theft.

Peers from Labour, the Lib Dems, the Conservatives, and the crossbenches united to defend UK copyright law, calling the government’s actions a betrayal of the country’s leadership in intellectual property rights.

Labour’s Lord Brennan warned against a ‘double standard’ for AI firms, while Lord Berkeley insisted immediate action was needed to prevent long-term harm.

Technology Minister Baroness Jones countered that no country has resolved the AI-copyright dilemma and warned that the amendment would only create more regulatory confusion.

Nonetheless, peers voted overwhelmingly in favour of Kidron’s proposal—287 to 118—sending the bill back to the Commons with a strengthened demand for transparency and copyright safeguards.

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Uber is ready for driverless taxis in the UK

Uber says it is fully prepared to launch driverless taxis in the UK, but the government has pushed back its timeline for approving fully autonomous vehicles.

The previous 2026 target has been shifted to the second half of 2027, despite rapid developments in self-driving technology already being trialled on British roads.

Currently, limited self-driving systems are legal so long as a human remains behind the wheel and responsible for the car.

Uber, which already runs robotaxis in the US and parts of Asia, is working with 18 tech firms—including UK-based Wayve—to expand the service. Wayve’s AI-driven vehicles were recently tested in central London, managing traffic, pedestrians and roadworks with no driver intervention.

Uber’s Andrew Macdonald said the technology is ready now, but regulatory support is still catching up. The government insists legislation will come in 2027 and is exploring short-term trials in the meantime.

Macdonald acknowledged safety concerns, noting incidents abroad, but argued autonomous vehicles could eventually prove safer than human drivers, based on early US data.

Beyond technology, the shift raises big questions around insurance, liability and jobs. The government sees a £42 billion industry with tens of thousands of new roles, but unions warn of social impacts for professional drivers.

Still, Uber sees a future where fewer people even bother to learn how to drive, because AI will do it for them.

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China launches first AI satellites in orbital supercomputer network

China has launched the first 12 satellites in a planned network of 2,800 that will function as an orbiting supercomputer, according to Space News.

Developed by ADA Space in partnership with Zhijiang Laboratory and Neijang High-Tech Zone, the satellites can process their own data instead of relying on Earth-based stations, thanks to onboard AI models.

Each satellite runs an 8-billion parameter AI model capable of 744 tera operations per second, with the group already achieving 5 peta operations per second in total. The long-term goal is a constellation that can reach 1,000 POPS.

The network uses high-speed laser links to communicate and shares 30 terabytes of data between satellites. The current batch also carries scientific tools, such as an X-ray detector for studying gamma-ray bursts, and can generate 3D digital twin data for uses like disaster response or virtual tourism.

The space-based computing approach is designed to overcome Earth-based limitations like bandwidth and ground station availability, which means less than 10% of satellite data typically reaches the surface.

Experts say space supercomputers could reduce energy use by relying on solar power and dissipating heat into space. The EU and the US may follow China’s lead, as interest in orbital data centres grows.

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UK workers struggle to keep up with AI

AI is reshaping the UK workplace, but many employees feel unprepared to keep pace, according to a major new study by Henley Business School.

While 56% of full-time professionals expressed optimism about AI’s potential, 61% admitted they were overwhelmed by how quickly the technology is evolving.

The research surveyed over 4,500 people across nearly 30 sectors, offering what experts call a clear snapshot of AI’s uneven integration into British industries.

Professor Keiichi Nakata, director of AI at The World of Work Institute, said workers are willing to embrace AI, but often lack the training and guidance to do so effectively.

Instead of empowering staff through hands-on learning and clear internal policies, many companies are leaving their workforce under-supported.

Nearly a quarter of respondents said their employers were failing to provide sufficient help, while three in five said they would use AI more if proper training were available.

Professor Nakata argued that AI has the power to simplify tasks, remove repetitive duties, and free up time for more meaningful work.

But he warned that without better support, businesses risk missing out on what could be a transformative force for both productivity and employee satisfaction.

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US bans nonconsensual explicit deepfakes nationwide

The US is introducing a landmark federal law aimed at curbing the spread of non-consensual explicit deepfake images, following mounting public outrage.

President Donald Trump is expected to sign the Take It Down Act, which will criminalise the sharing of explicit images, whether real or AI-generated, without consent. The law will also require tech platforms to remove such content within 48 hours of notification, instead of leaving the matter to patchy state laws.

The legislation is one of the first at the federal level to directly tackle the misuse of AI-generated content. It builds on earlier laws that protected children but had left adults vulnerable due to inconsistent state regulations.

The bill received rare bipartisan support in Congress and was backed by over 100 organisations, including tech giants like Meta, TikTok and Google. First Lady Melania Trump also supported the act, hosting a teenage victim of deepfake harassment during the president’s address to Congress.

The act was prompted in part by incidents like that of Elliston Berry, a Texas high school student targeted by a classmate who used AI to alter her social media image into a nude photo. Similar cases involving teen girls across the country highlighted the urgency for action.

Tech companies had already started offering tools to remove explicit images, but the lack of consistent enforcement allowed harmful content to persist on less cooperative platforms.

Supporters of the law argue it sends a strong societal message instead of allowing the exploitation to continue unchallenged.

Advocates like Imran Ahmed and Ilana Beller emphasised that while no law is a perfect solution, this one forces platforms to take real responsibility and offers victims some much-needed protection and peace of mind.

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UAE to host world’s biggest AI site outside the US

The United Arab Emirates will build the largest artificial intelligence infrastructure outside the United States, following a high-level meeting between UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and President Trump in Abu Dhabi.

It will be constructed by G42 and involve US firms under the newly established US-UAE AI Acceleration Partnership. Spanning 10 square miles in Abu Dhabi, the AI campus will run on a mix of nuclear, solar and gas energy to limit emissions and will feature a dedicated science park to drive innovation.

A 5GW capacity will enable it to serve half the global population, offering US cloud providers a vital regional hub. As part of the agreement, the UAE has pledged to align its national security rules with US standards, including strict technology safeguards and tighter access controls for computing power.

The UAE may also be permitted to purchase up to 500,000 Nvidia AI chips annually starting this year.

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Japan approves preemptive cyberdefence law

Japan’s parliament has passed a new law enabling active cyberdefence measures, allowing authorities to legally monitor communications data during peacetime and neutralise foreign servers if cyberattacks occur.

Instead of reacting only after incidents, this law lets the government take preventive steps to counter threats before they escalate.

Operators of vital infrastructure, such as electricity and railway companies, must now report cyber breaches directly to the government. The shift follows recent cyber incidents targeting banks and an airline, prompting Japan to put a full framework in place by 2027.

Although the law permits monitoring of IP addresses in communications crossing Japanese borders, it explicitly bans surveillance of domestic messages and their contents.

A new independent panel will authorise all monitoring and response actions beforehand, instead of leaving decisions solely to security agencies.

Police will handle initial countermeasures, while the Self-Defense Forces will act only when attacks are highly complex or planned. The law, revised to address opposition concerns, includes safeguards to ensure personal rights are protected and that government surveillance remains accountable.

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Google and Nvidia dominate AI patents

Google has overtaken IBM to lead in generative AI patent filings, according to new data from IFI Claims covering February 2024 to April 2025.

The tech giant has also emerged as a frontrunner in agentic AI patents, sharing the spotlight with Nvidia in both US and international rankings.

Instead of maintaining previous leads, IBM and Microsoft now trail Google and Nvidia, with Intel and several Chinese universities also securing top global positions in agentic AI. This suggests a growing international race to shape the future of autonomous AI systems.

In generative AI, Google maintains the top spot globally, while Chinese firms and institutions dominate six of the ten leading positions. Microsoft, Nvidia, and IBM also rank highly, with the US seeing a 56% surge in generative AI patent applications over the past year.

Within the US, top filers include Capital One, Samsung, Adobe, and Qualcomm.

Meta and OpenAI were notably absent from the top ten. OpenAI has recently increased its patent activity but continues to file defensively instead of focusing on patent volume.

Meta has prioritised open-source contributions rather than pursuing patents. Generative AI now accounts for 17% of all US AI patent activity, with agentic AI making up 7%.

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Trump seals $200 billion UAE AI deal

US President Donald Trump has secured €179 billion ($200 billion) in deals with the United Arab Emirates, capping his Persian Gulf tour with plans for the world’s largest AI campus outside the US.

Located in Abu Dhabi and spanning 10 square miles, the facility will be built by UAE-based firm G42 in partnership with American companies, aimed at boosting regional computing capacity while supporting the Global South.

Instead of focusing solely on energy, Trump’s trip saw investments broaden to include AI, aviation, and industrial sectors. In total, his visit to the Gulf states yielded €1.3 trillion ($1.4 trillion) in investment pledges, including major agreements with Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

Gulf leaders are using AI as a vehicle to diversify their economies, while Trump is turning foreign capital into support for US manufacturing and tech exports.

The UAE deal includes plans to import up to 500,000 Nvidia H100 AI chips annually through 2027, with 20% allocated to G42. US officials, however, continue to express concern over potential Chinese access to advanced American technology.

The US Department of Commerce insists that strict safeguards are in place to prevent any misuse or diversion of AI hardware.

Other agreements include a $14.5 billion aircraft purchase by Etihad Airways from Boeing and GE Aerospace, a $60 billion energy partnership with ADNOC, and aluminium and gallium production deals with Emirates Global Aluminum.

Trump’s push to expand American business influence in the Gulf appears to be paying off, instead of letting China or Europe dominate future AI and industrial markets.

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Meta’s Behemoth AI model faces setback

Meta Platforms has postponed the release of its flagship AI model, known as ‘Behemoth,’ due to internal concerns about its performance, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal.

Instead of launching as planned, engineers are struggling to deliver improvements that would meaningfully advance the model beyond earlier versions.

Behemoth was originally scheduled for release in April to coincide with Meta’s first AI developer conference but was quietly delayed to June. The latest update suggests the launch has now been pushed to autumn or later, as internal doubts grow over whether it is ready for public deployment.

In April, Meta previewed Behemoth under the Llama 4 line, calling it ‘one of the smartest LLMs in the world’ and positioning it as a teaching model for future AI systems. Instead of Behemoth, Meta released Llama 4 Scout and Llama 4 Maverick as the latest iterations in its AI portfolio.

The delay comes amid intense competition in the generative AI space, where rivals like Google, OpenAI, and Anthropic continue advancing their models. Meta appears to be opting for caution instead of rushing an underwhelming product to market.

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