Author: Chris Price
Chris has been a journalist since the 1990s. In addition to editing TechDigest.tv and ShinyShiny.tv, he also regularly contributes tech/business articles to The Daily Telegraph and Tech Radar. A passionate swimmer, Chris has his own swimming blog and is a qualified lifeguard. He can be contacted at [email protected]
Tech Digest daily roundup: Home Office secretly lobbied for facial recognition company
Senior officials at the Home Office secretly lobbied the UK’s independent privacy regulator to act “favourably” towards a private firm keen to roll out controversial facial recognition technology across the country, according to internal government emails seen by the Observer. Correspondence reveals that the Home Office wrote to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) warning that policing minister, Chris…
Octopus to buy Shell Energy including broadband service
Octopus has announced it will buy Shell's household energy business in the UK and Germany. Octopus Energy said that it will take over providing energy for 1.4 million homes as well as broadband services for 500,000 customers. Shell's customers are advised to "sit tight for now" as the deal is not expected to be completed…
Tech Digest daily roundup: Call of Duty to use AI to listen out for hate speech
Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare II Shooter video game Call Of Duty has started using AI to listen out for hate speech during online matches. Publisher Activision said the moderation tool, which uses machine learning technology, would be able to identify discriminatory language and harassment in real-time. Machine learning is what…
Two thirds of drivers risk over-reliance on automated car tech
New data shows 66% of drivers have automated technology in their cars, yet nearly a third (31%) admit that these features - including parking sensors and assisted parking - are making people worse drivers. In addition to this, 15% confess to heavily relying on the tech each time they get behind the wheel. The…
UK car production rises over 30% in July – 2 in 5 Hybrid or EV
UK car production surged in July, rising 31.6% to mark the sixth consecutive month of growth, according to the latest figures published today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). 76,451 units rolled off factory lines as UK car makers continued their recovery from recent difficulties, notably global chip shortages, to deliver the…
Tech Digest daily roundup: Netflix’s move into gaming is ‘natural extension’
Think of Netflix and a memorable television show or movie will likely pop into your mind. Squid Game? Bridgerton? Stranger Things maybe? Soon, the streaming service wants video games to be competing for a place on that list. Netflix says games are a key part of its proposition to stay relevant with audiences in years…
Tech Digest daily roundup: Google trials watermark to identify AI images
Image: Google DeepMind Google is trialling a digital watermark to spot images made by artificial intelligence (AI) in a bid to fight disinformation. Developed by DeepMind, Google's AI arm, SynthID will identify images generated by machines.It works by embedding changes to individual pixels in images so watermarks are invisible to the…
Tech Digest daily roundup: Nvidia delights with AI-driven revenue boost
The US tech firm that dominates the market for chips used in artificial intelligence (AI) has delighted investors with a doubling in quarterly revenue, promising more of the same in future. Nvidia shares gained almost 10% in after-hours trading in New York on Wednesday night when it revealed a string of numbers that beat analysts'…
Which? demands Ofcom investigates Virgin Media contracts
Which? has asked Ofcom to urgently investigate concerns that Virgin Media could potentially be breaking the law by giving itself sweeping powers to hike customer broadband bills. The consumer association believes Virgin Media’s terms for customers are an attempt by the firm to “have its cake and eat it” by applying aggressive inflation-linked annual mid-contract…
Tech Digest daily roundup: India makes historic Moon landing near South Pole
Nearly four years ago, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hugged the director of India's space agency who was reduced to tears after losing Chandrayaan-2 - his country's first attempt to land on the moon. Today, it was tears of joy. This isn't just a huge triumph for Indian scientists and engineers. As Chandrayaan-3 touched down near…
