Can we regulate AI without stifling innovation? Here’s what experts think


Whether it’s excitement, confusion, apprehension, or outright pessimism, everyone feels something about AI. So it was no surprise that AI technology was one of the main talking points at The Next Web Conference 2023. In the wake of the EU Parliament’s decision to

New hope for Microsoft-Activision deal after UK regulator reopens consultation


The UK’s antitrust watchdog has called for more public input on Microsoft’s bid for Activision-Blizzard, renewing hopes that the deal will be approved. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) originally blocked the $69bn (€63bn) merger in April. At the ti

UK’s first drone delivery service launches in remote Scottish islands


Remote communities off the Scottish coast are now the first people in the UK to have their mail delivered by drone.  Royal Mail and London-based Skyports Drone Services launched the project to make it easier for residents of Orkney, located off the nort

Tech is breaking accessibility barriers in transport — here’s how


According to WHO, people with disabilities represent 16% of the world population. They also find transportation 15 times more challenging than non-disabled individuals. But for mobility to truly be sustainable, it has to go beyond reducing emissions; it has

Telecoms giant BT wants to turn old broadband boxes into EV chargers


The innovation arm of British telecoms giant BT — called Etc. — is looking to convert the Group’s street cabinets into EV charging points. The big green cabinets, a common sight across the UK, are currently used for providing copper-based broadband and phone servi

World’s tallest wooden wind turbine is ‘stronger than steel’


There’s a wind turbine being built in the forests of Sweden — or should I say from the forests. Budding startup Modvion, based in the Scandinavian country, is currently building the world’s tallest wooden wind turbine, and it’s on track for completion this ye

Virtual worlds pioneer targets sports for revival of metaverse dream


On a typical visit to a sports stadium, you don’t bump into 20-metre-tall giants outside the gates. But this isn’t your typical sports stadium. It’s the MLB virtual ballpark — the first metaverse for a pro sports league. The venue opened on July 8, for a watc

Generative AI could undermine upcoming elections in US and India, startup warns


AI image generators could undermine upcoming elections in the world’s biggest democracies, according to new research Logically, a British fact-checking startup, investigated AI’s capacity to produce fake images about elections in India, the US, and the UK. Ea

European consumers believe society isn’t ready for AI, survey finds


The rapid rise of AI has evoked mixed feelings to say the least. Some experts champion it as a “force for good,” while others forewarn it poses a “risk of extinction.” To assess how European consumers feel about artificial intelligence, decision intelligence c

These antimicrobial spacesuits could solve astronauts’ laundry woes


Wardrobe malfunctions are never fun. When on Earth, they might be a nuisance or prove somewhat embarrassing. In space however, they could be a matter of life and death. Not to mention, how do you handle, uhm, laundry on the Moon? The European Space Agenc


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