Ofcom questions X over claims Grok AI generated sexualised images of children
Ofcom has made “urgent contact” with Elon Musk’s company xAI after reports emerged that its AI tool, Grok, can be used to create sexualised images of children and digitally undress women. A spokesperson for the regulator confirmed it is also examining claims that Grok has been generating “undressed images” of individuals. The BBC has seen multiple examples on social media...
BYD Surpasses Tesla to Become the World’s Largest EV Seller
China’s BYD has overtaken Elon Musk’s Tesla to become the world’s largest seller of electric vehicles, marking the first time the Chinese manufacturer has surpassed its US rival in annual sales. Tesla reported that global vehicle deliveries fell by nearly 9% in 2025 to about 1.64 million units, extending its decline for a second consecutive year. That result left the...
Meta acquires Chinese-founded AI start-up Manus
Mark Zuckerberg has made another bold move. Meta Platforms is set to acquire Manus, a Singapore-based AI start-up that has been a major talking point in Silicon Valley since its debut last spring. The company drew attention with a demo video showcasing AI agents capable of screening job candidates, planning holidays, and analysing stock portfolios — with Manus claiming performance...
Uber and Lyft to Pilot Chinese Robotaxis in the UK from 2026
Chinese-made robotaxis could be operating on UK roads as early as 2026 after ride-hailing firms Uber and Lyft announced partnerships with Baidu to trial the technology. Both companies are seeking regulatory approval to test autonomous vehicles in London, marking a significant step towards introducing driverless ride-sharing services in the capital. Baidu’s Apollo Go robotaxi service already runs in dozens of cities...
TikTok’s parent company seals deal to avoid US ban
TikTok has struck an agreement to hand over a significant stake in its U.S. business to a consortium of American investors, bringing to a close a prolonged standoff with the federal government, which has for years pushed for the platform’s U.S. operations to be separated from its Chinese parent. Under the deal, the company will operate through a newly created...
NHS England IT provider reports data breach incident
DXS International, a UK-based healthcare technology provider for England’s National Health Service (NHS), has confirmed it was hit by a cyberattack, according to a statement released on Thursday. In a filing to the London Stock Exchange, the company said it identified a “security incident affecting its office servers” on December 14. DXS said it moved quickly to contain the breach...
UK watchdog investigates BT and Three over summer network outages
The UK communications regulator has opened investigations into BT and Three following major network outages over the summer. Ofcom said the incidents caused widespread disruption to mobile call services across the UK, including access to emergency services. BT notified Ofcom of a software fault that affected call services on its EE mobile network on July 24 and 25. The issue meant...
Adobe Unveils New Premiere Mobile Hub for YouTube Shorts Creators
Adobe has teamed up with YouTube to introduce a new dedicated content creation hub inside Premiere for iOS, tailored specifically for YouTube Shorts creators. Announced on Monday, this hub offers creators access to exclusive templates, transitions, and effects, plus the ability to publish Shorts directly to their YouTube channels from their phones. According to the company, the new hub is...
Australia Set to Block Children Under 16 from Social Media Platforms
More than one million social media accounts belonging to Australians under 16 are expected to be shut down when the country’s new national ban comes into force. Starting December 10, platforms including Facebook, Snapchat, and YouTube will be required to block access for users under 16—or face penalties of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars ($32 million). Australia is the...
Shopify Restores Service After Cyber Monday Outage
Earlier today, Shopify experienced a significant outage that disrupted operations for thousands of merchants, leaving many unable to process transactions during one of the busiest shopping days of the year. According to the company’s status page, Shopify has now identified and resolved the issue. The timing couldn’t have been worse, as customers were actively hunting for Cyber Monday deals—an event that...
