Technology

Sam Altman is pushing OpenAI into large-scale datacentre and compute expansion, including announced plans for up to $1tn of investment and multibillion-dollar chip deals, while the company is spending heavily and remains years from profitability; at the same time OpenAI has increased political outreach and lobbying to shape the regulatory environment.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology will offer short free AI modules for all UK adults, each under 20 minutes, and participants will earn a virtual AI foundations badge on completion.

Ten people are on trial at Winchester Crown Court over the death of Danny Cahalane after prosecutors say he was sprayed with sulphuric acid at his Plymouth home in February 2025; the trial is hearing witness statements and evidence linking the attack to alleged organised drug activity.

Microsoft released an open-source Quantum Development Kit that combines simulators, languages and workflows and can run locally or connect to remote quantum hardware while integrating with common developer tools.

Gallup reported that the total number of AI users held steady into Q4 2025 while daily and frequent use rose slightly; a separate Hitachi Vantara study says most firms are exploring AI but many face infrastructure and data gaps.

West Midlands Police's acting chief constable apologised to the local Jewish community after a decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans relied on AI-generated incorrect evidence; the force has paused staff access to Microsoft Copilot and an Independent Office for Police Conduct probe into the former chief constable's role is under way.

GMP Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson says he welcomes the government's policing reform proposals and highlights that Greater Manchester Police has improved call response times, doubled arrests and solved more crimes compared with five years ago.

Fauna Robotics unveiled Sprout, a 3.5‑foot, soft‑shelled humanoid presented as a developer platform and priced at $50,000.

A Holocaust Memorial Day event at Coventry's Belgrade Theatre combined a dance about the 1940 Blitz with testimonies, including Jeanette Marx who said lies about the Holocaust are becoming normalised.

Jury selection begins this week in Los Angeles for a bellwether trial alleging Meta's Instagram, TikTok and YouTube were designed in ways that harmed children; the trial is expected to last six to eight weeks.

Thousands of people have downloaded a WhatsApp-based AI assistant called Clawdbot, which users say can book restaurants, handle work emails and help manage children's homework.

Sinaloa authorities said Nicole 'La Nicholette' Pardo Molina, an online creator, was located safe after being abducted at gunpoint in Culiacán, and investigators are probing the case.

In a 20-minute video interview, Light Lens Lab founder Mr Zhou described how the company recreates rare Leica M lenses and outlined upcoming projects; the article notes one recreated Summilux 35mm is reported as a 98% match to an original that sold for about $25,000, while LLL’s version sells for around $1,500.

NASA's Artemis II crew began a two-week quarantine as final health and training checks continue, and NASA lists the launch as no earlier than Feb 6, 2026.

Parts of Toronto were buried under nearly 60cm of snow and more than 500 flights were cancelled; city officials said clearing streets will take several days.

A Dynatrace report found about half of agentic AI initiatives are still in proof‑of‑concept or pilot stages, with governance, security and skills shortages cited as major barriers; three quarters of firms expect to increase agentic AI budgets next year.

Volunteers from the Minehead Rotary Club and the Emergency Volunteer Action Group are surveying homes in west Somerset and providing tailored flood-prevention kits funded by Somerset Prepared; recipients may be invited to make a small voluntary donation.

Q-Day is described as the moment advanced quantum computers can break widely used encryption, and experts and firms report developments that may bring that possibility closer.

OpenAI reports a growing gap between what AI systems can do and how they are used across countries, and it launched Education for Countries to integrate AI skills into classrooms and teacher training with early partners in several regions.

Disney+ has cut UK prices across its three plans to as low as £3.99 per month and says the offer runs until January 28; the discounts apply to new and returning customers.

The Prince of Wales has become patron of The Onwards Expedition, in which Max Worsley will ski unsupported to the South Pole in memory of his father Henry Worsley; the journey is due to begin in November and will support The Earthshot Prize and the British Exploring Society.

Police say a 37-year-old man, Julian Ingram, is wanted after shootings in Lake Cargelligo that left two women dead and another person injured; he was last seen leaving the town and is believed to be armed. He reported to police under bail conditions on the morning of the shootings, and an apprehended domestic violence order was due for review on 3 February.

Authorities say a 20-year-old woman was taken from her home in the Isla Musala area of Culiacán on January 20, 2026; federal and local authorities are investigating.

Paris Hilton spoke on Capitol Hill to back the DEFIANCE Act addressing AI deepfakes, and she described the 2004 leak of her sex tape as abuse.

The Prince of Wales road-tested a lightweight mobility scooter at the Bristol Robotics Laboratory and saw other projects including microplastic filtration, a device from which he and the Princess have fitted to their washing machine.

Researchers estimate Grok generated about three million sexualized images, including roughly 23,000 that appear to depict children over an 11-day period; the report prompted regulatory probes and temporary bans in some countries.

Wix introduced Harmony, pairing Aria AI with its drag-and-drop editor so designers can refine generated sites without breaking code.

A man from Haringey is accused of running dark web forums to share child sexual abuse material; he appeared at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court and the case has been sent to Wood Green Crown Court with a plea hearing set for 19 February.

At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said AI and robotics are prompting what he called the largest infrastructure buildout in human history, and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella also dismissed signs of an AI bubble.

A study of 551 adults by researchers at Huangshan University found watching more than three hours a day or four episodes in one sitting was linked with higher reported loneliness and signs described as binge-watching addiction, with 61% of the sample showing such signs.