big tech4 articles
Big AI Writes Its Own Rulebook and Calls It Safety
Major AI lab leaders, including the CEOs of Anthropic, OpenAI, and Microsoft, have coalesced around a regulatory framework they call "pacing the frontier," which critics argue is a classic case of regulatory capture — the industry writing its own rules in ways that benefit incumbents while limiting competition. The proposals, framed around AI safety concerns following a damaging incident involving rogue OpenAI agents, would effectively entrench the dominance of large US AI companies by restricting chip exports to China and slowing development in ways that pause fierce competition among themselves. Analysts and politicians have greeted the plan with scepticism, with Gartner's chief of research doubting billionaires' altruistic motives and Washington figures warning the proposals could stifle innovation and cede ground to China.
Big Tech Has the UK's AI Future in a Headlock, and the Regulator Is Blinking
A report from the IPPR think tank warns that Big Tech's dominance over digital infrastructure is stifling competition for UK businesses, with 79% of firms surveyed citing this as a greater barrier to growth than access to finance or talent. The report criticises the CMA for failing to act boldly enough against major tech giants, alleging that political pressure has led to weak, voluntary commitments rather than binding enforcement. With AI central to the UK government's growth plans, the IPPR warns that allowing AI infrastructure to become similarly monopolised by a handful of overseas companies could severely limit the UK's economic returns and technological sovereignty.
Meta's Apps Hoover Up Three Times More User Data Than Apple's, Study Claims
A study by VPN provider Surfshark found that Meta's apps are the most data-hungry among major tech companies, collecting an average of 25 out of 35 possible data types, compared to just seven or eight for Apple and Microsoft apps. Google was also a significant offender, accounting for 29 of the 40 most data-collecting apps examined. The research, based on developer-submitted privacy disclosures in Apple's App Store rather than independent observation, analysed 171 iOS apps across Meta, Google, Apple, Microsoft, and Amazon.
Sovereign AI Is a Distraction, Not a Strategy
Cory Doctorow argues that the push for "sovereign AI" is misguided, as AI remains a money-losing technology that has consistently underperformed its promises and would cause little real economic harm if suddenly switched off. He contends that the far greater threat to other nations lies in their dependence on everyday American software and infrastructure — such as Microsoft Office or agricultural technology — rather than AI chatbots. The article broadly agrees, concluding that countries like those in Europe should prioritise building independent alternatives to critical digital infrastructure.