Vincent Manancourt

...I'm also taking the chance to sound the dreaded personal news klaxon: It's my last day at POLITICO. After 5 years at the red rag first in Brussels and then in London, I've decided to move on (update on that very soon.) It's been a blast.

Inside Britain’s plan to save the world from runaway AI Within a year, the U.K. government has become a world leader in AI safety.

I've spent over a year tracking the U.K.'s AI Safety Institute. From Rishi Sunak being played a deepfake of his own voice by Sam Altman to running pre-deployment tests on the most powerful models, this is its story.

www.politico.eu/article/brit...

Draft Statement of Strategic Priorities for online safety

Full draft strategic objectives from Kyle for Ofcom, the online safety watchdog here:

www.gov.uk/government/p...

New online safety priorities for Ofcom and launch of study into effects of social media on children Technology Secretary outlines priorities for Ofcom as government prepares to enforce the Online Safety Act next year.

UK tech sec Peter Kyle launches study on smartphone effects on kids, says Australia style social media ban for u16s not off table:

www.gov.uk/government/n...

Meta whistleblower: Regulators are our ‘last hope’ at fixing social media Arturo Béjar, who previously worked on safety at Meta, is in London meeting ministers, regulators and lawmakers.

"Regulators are our last hope at peace. They really are our last hope"

That's what Meta whistleblower Arturo Bejar told me when we met in central London this week about how to fix social media.

Microsoft CEO: Journalists should welcome AI The comments come as the New York Times takes legal action over Microsoft-backed OpenAI’s usage of its content.

Platitudes on AI's risk to journalism? ✅
Pot-shots at Big Tech rivals? ✅
Davos-ready wardrobe? ✅

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella's appearance in London today had it all. Read the full story here 👇

www.politico.eu/article/micr...

In POLITICO's Morning Technology UK newsletter today:

🧐 NGOs call on Britain's competition watchdog to probe Microsoft/OpenAI.
📅 Tech sec Michelle Donelan sets a date for Britain's tech priorities in '24.
💉 Palantir gets into trouble with the NHS.

Palantir bid wins £330M British health service contract Data firm has courted controversy because of links to former Donald Trump donor Peter Thiel.

On the same day, a bid speared by controversial U.S. tech firm Palantir won a £330M British health service contract to run a new data platform.

Oliver Dowden’s ‘hit squad’ aims to replace UK civil service jobs with AI Deputy prime minister says automation can shrink the state.

ICYMI: Britain stood up a new "hit squad" within government to use AI to cut the civil service, fight welfare fraud and help process asylum claims.

EU "crazy" to consider carve out for foundation models in AI act, says 'Godfather of AI' Yoshua Bengio. He warns bloc risks "law of the jungle" for most advanced forms of the tech.

Story for pros:

pro.politico.eu/news/171730

‘Sex life data’ stolen from UK government among record number of ransomware attacks The latest report from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) includes an attack that breached data on the sex lives of up to 10,000 people, from an unspecific government department.

Scoop: ‘Sex life data’ on up to 10,000 people was stolen from a British government department in a recent ransomware attack - one of the record number of ransomware incidents to have hit Westminster this year.

Rishi Sunak performs delicate balancing act in Big Tech lobbying battle The UK has caved in to some of Big Tech’s demands on its landmark competition bill but not its key ask.

ICYMI — key amendments to the UK's digital competition bill y'day including changes to the appeals mechanism that will cheer Big Tech.

Story by Tom Bristow, with assist by me.