Artificial intelligence will cost jobs, admits Liz Kendall
Increasing deployment of artificial intelligence will cause job losses, the UK technology secretary has warned, saying: “I want to level with the public.Some jobs will go.”In a speech on government plans to handle the impact of AI on the British economy, Liz Kendall declined to say how many redundancies the technology might cause but said: “We know people are worried about graduate entry jobs in places like law and finance.”She said: “Others will be created in their place”.While some forecasts have suggested the fast-developing technology could create a net increase in employment, Kendall said: “I’m not complacent about that.
”Earlier this month the London mayor, Sadiq Khan, said that without action to use AI “as a superpower for positive transformation and creation”, it could become “a weapon of mass destruction of jobs”.Speaking to an audience of tech and business leaders at the Bloomberg headquarters in London, Kendall, the former work and pensions secretary, pledged Labour “won’t leave people to struggle on their own”.She announced plans to train up to 10 million British workers in the most basic AI skills by 2030 – including members of the cabinet – signalling a focus on helping workers adapt to the coming shifts in the labour markets, rather than resisting them.She said the government’s goal was to “make Britain the fastest AI adoption country in the G7” and said jobs will be created around the government’s four AI growth zones.“We are on the cusp of great change – an industrial revolution [taking place] in a decade,” she said.
“We have barely begun to see how this technology will transform all our lives – I believe for the better.”The rollout of online AI training for millions of workers – to involve Multiverse, a company founded by Euan Blair, plus a new programme to support women to move into entry level tech roles – would together be “the biggest single plan to upskill the nation since Harold Wilson’s Open University”, she said.A new “future of work unit” is also being established in the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) with involvement from trades unions and business leaders.Ministers have faced criticism they are relying too heavily on US AI companies, whose models could soon be competing with British white collar workers for jobs.It was announced that a $1m (£750,000) donation from Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta was being spent on a government initiative to build AI systems for defence, national security and transport.
Meanwhile, Anthropic, a US AI startup valued at $350bn, has been chosen to build and pilot a dedicated assistant tool for public services on gov.uk, starting with a model that will give jobseekers career advice.It is providing the services for free.The government also has a memorandum of understanding with OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT.
Even more energy suppliers are short of capital. Ofgem needs to toughen up
When half the nation’s retail energy suppliers, including Bulb with 1.7 million customers, failed during the gas crisis of 2021-22, the embarrassed regulator, Ofgem, decided it should probably pay more attention to companies’ balance sheets. Better late than never.The cost of mopping up the corporate calamities added up to £2.7bn, or £94 on every household’s energy bill, calculated the National Audit Office
Federal Reserve holds interest rates as Trump piles on pressure
The US Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged after its first rate-setting meeting of the year on Wednesday, resisting enormous pressure from the White House to lower rates.A majority of members in the Fed’s federal open market committee (FOMC) voted to pause interest rate cuts after slashing rates three times in the fall. Rates currently sit at a range of 3.5% to 3.75%
Artificial intelligence will cost jobs, admits Liz Kendall
Increasing deployment of artificial intelligence will cause job losses, the UK technology secretary has warned, saying: “I want to level with the public. Some jobs will go.”In a speech on government plans to handle the impact of AI on the British economy, Liz Kendall declined to say how many redundancies the technology might cause but said: “We know people are worried about graduate entry jobs in places like law and finance.”She said: “Others will be created in their place”.While some forecasts have suggested the fast-developing technology could create a net increase in employment, Kendall said: “I’m not complacent about that
US TikTok users: tell us how you feel about the app after the new US deal
TikTok users in the US appear to be deleting the app at higher rates after the announcement of a new deal securing its future in the country, according to reports. The short-form video app, which is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, has faced years of uncertainty in the US amid concerns over data security and a possible ban.The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more
ICE agents expected to be deployed for Super Bowl in California, officials say
US Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE) agents are expected to conduct immigration enforcement operations during next month’s Super Bowl game in Santa Clara, California.Local officials confirmed to media that ICE is expected to deploy for the game between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots. ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations team has long worked the Super Bowl and other major sporting events, largely focused on preventing human trafficking and stopping the sale of counterfeit goods, but immigration operations would be unusual.“We have heard from the administration that they intend to have ICE at the Super Bowl. I don’t know how much of that is rhetoric,” Matt Mahan, the San Jose mayor, told KTVU
Patrick Reed quits rebel LIV Golf tour in latest blow to Saudi-backed breakaway
Patrick Reed has delivered the latest high-profile blow to LIV Golf by announcing he will leave the circuit before the start of its 2026 season.The 35-year-old American former Masters champion joins Brooks Koepka by instead focusing on the PGA Tour. Reed will spend his immediate time on the DP World Tour, where he won the Dubai Desert Classic on Sunday. Reed tees up in Bahrain from Thursday.It would now be only natural for LIV to be anxious about talent drain which once ran in their favour
Bundee Aki start in doubt for Ireland’s Six Nations opener against France over ‘disrespect’
Talent, tech and grit: how Team GB’s Big Tricks and Adrenaline dept got its mojo back | Sean Ingle
Australian Open 2026: Ben Shelton v Jannik Sinner – as it happened
‘Fascism is here now’: the US athletes pushing back on Trump’s America
The Spin | How Sandhill Ashes cricket match helped to rebuild a community ravaged by bushfire
Zuffa Boxing says it will save the sport – but the fine print shows that fighters may pay the price