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THURSDAY, 18 DECEMBER 2025, 21:32

South Africa

UK Actors Vote to Refuse On-Set Digital Scans Amid AI Fears

Today at 20:22 PM, via iAfrica

Actors in the United Kingdom have voted overwhelmingly to refuse digital scanning on set, escalating pressure on film and television producers to strengthen protections against the misuse of artificial intelligence. Equity, the UK’s largest acting union, announced the results of an indicative industrial action ballot on Thursday. With turnout exceeding 75%, more than 99% of […]

South Africa

AI Boom’s Environmental Cost Matches New York City Emissions, Study Finds

Today at 20:19 PM, via iAfrica

The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence has generated an environmental footprint in 2025 comparable to that of New York City, according to new research that raises concerns about the climate and water impact of the technology. The study, published Wednesday in the academic journal Patterns, estimates that AI-related activity released up to 80 million tonnes […]

South Africa

Workshop in Woodmead Trains African Creators on AI and Digital Twin Tech

Today at 20:16 PM, via iAfrica

A Woodmead-based workshop is equipping African digital creators with practical skills in artificial intelligence and digital twin technology, signalling a shift in how the continent’s creative economy competes on a global stage. The first Digital Twin and AI Creator Enablement Workshop on the continent brought together more than 20 award-winning South African digital creators who […]

South Africa

ADQ, Gates Foundation Launch $40M AI and EdTech Partnership to Boost Learning in Sub-Saharan Africa

Today at 20:11 PM, via iAfrica

ADQ and the Gates Foundation have announced a four-year, $40 million partnership aimed at expanding the ethical use of artificial intelligence and education technology to improve learning outcomes across sub-Saharan Africa. The initiative, unveiled on the sidelines of Abu Dhabi Finance Week during a visit by Bill Gates to the United Arab Emirates, will combine […]

Sport

Southport girls’ fathers win Helen Rollason Award

Today at 21:22 PM, via BBC News

Sergio Aguiar and David Stancombe, the fathers of two of the young girls killed in Southport last year, receive the Helen Rollason Award at BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2025.

Sport

Chloe Kelly

Today at 20:31 PM, via BBC News

England and Arsenal footballer Chloe Kelly has been nominated for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year after playing a decisive role in England’s Euro 2025 win, scoring the winner in the semi-final and the winning penalty in the final.

Sport

Rory McIlroy

Today at 19:52 PM, via BBC News

Golfer Rory McIlroy has been nominated for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award after completing the Grand Slam.

Education

Deepfakes and porn: the plan to tackle toxic masculinity in schools | The Latest

Today at 19:22 PM, via The Guardian

The government has announced a multimillion-pound investment to tackle misogyny in England’s schools, but is it enough? As part of the government’s flagship strategy, teachers will be able to send children as young as 11 on behavioural courses if they are witnessing disturbing or worrying behaviour. The courses will include teachings on deepfakes, image-based abuse and online harassment. ...

Education

Deepfakes and pornography: the plan to tackle toxic masculinity – The Latest

Today at 18:22 PM, via The Guardian

The UK government’s long-awaited strategy to tackle violence against women and girls has been published today. Alexandra Topping joins Lucy Hough to explain what it will change, amid concerns that ‘toxic ideas’ are going unchallenged in schools

Continue reading…

Education

Kenya: School Internet Costs Drop After Procurement Reforms

Today at 17:35 PM, via AllAfrica

[Capital FM] Nairobi — Kenya’s decision to open up procurement for school internet connectivity has led to a sharp decline in broadband costs, highlighting how competition-led reforms can deliver large-scale fiscal savings, according to a UNICEF-Giga report.

Science/Tech

Tests Find AI Toys Parroting Chinese Communist Party Values

Today at 21:25 PM, via Slashdot

A plush AI toy marketed for children as young as three years old delivers detailed instructions on sharpening knives and lighting matches, and when asked about Chinese President Xi Jinping’s resemblance to Winnie the Pooh — a comparison censored in China — responds that “your statement is extremely inappropriate and disrespectful.” The Miriat Miiloo, manufactured by a Chinese company and among...

Science/Tech

Anthropic’s AI Lost Hundreds of Dollars Running a Vending Machine After Being Talked Into Giving Everything Away

Today at 20:49 PM, via Slashdot

Anthropic let its Claude AI run a vending machine in the Wall Street Journal newsroom for three weeks as part of an internal stress test called Project Vend, and the experiment ended in financial ruin after journalists systematically manipulated the bot into giving away its entire inventory for free. The AI, nicknamed Claudius, was programmed to order inventory, set prices, and respond to...

Science/Tech

OpenAI Has Discussed Raising Tens of Billions at About $750 Billion Valuation

Today at 20:10 PM, via Slashdot

An anonymous reader shares a report: OpenAI has held preliminary talks with some investors about raising funds at a valuation of around $750 billion, the Information reported on Wednesday. The ChatGPT maker could raise as much as $100 billion, the report said, citing people with knowledge of the discussions. If finalized, the talks would represent a roughly 50% jump from OpenAI’s reported $500...