Advances in AI and robotics will transform human jobs, starting with roles in warehouses and factories, the UK science minister has said, as the government announced plans to reduce red tape for robot and defence tech companies. Patrick Vallance said technological progress was creating a “whole new area” for robots to work in. “What’s really
TikTok will begin to roll out new age-verification technology across the EU in the coming weeks, as calls grow for an Australia-style social media ban for under-16s in countries including the UK. ByteDance-owned TikTok, and other major platforms popular with young people such as YouTube, are coming under increasing pressure to better identify and remove
Improvements to a number of Apple services – including a more personalised version of its virtual assistant, Siri – are to be powered with AI provided by Google. The tech giants have announced a “multi-year collaboration” which will see the iPhone-maker base some of its key tech on Google’s Gemini AI models. In a joint
Key Takeaways Forced technology transfer (FTT) involves governments requiring foreign firms to share technology. In China, FTT is often enforced through joint venture requirements with local firms. China’s “Made in China 2025” aims to transform China into a global tech leader. The U.S. has criticized China’s FTT tactics, citing IP theft concerns. The U.S. responded
Franchise systems work better with modern technology built for the people in the brand. getty As franchising moves into 2026, success will come down to getting the right balance between technology and the people behind the brand. The franchising industry is entering a new stage of growth. In 2025, we saw momentum from the entire
The world of technology is full of innovators and disruptors trying to solve some of our biggest problems. Those who have made it onto this year’s 2026 Startups 100 Index, powered by Sage, Tech Award shortlist stand out for their persistence and vision. These are founders who have faced big challenges and thought round them to create solutions
EditorialSpecial projects editor: Amy NordrumEditing: Rachel Courtland, Niall Firth, Mary Beth Griggs, Mat Honan, Charlotte Jee, Amy Nordrum, Adam Rogers, Amanda SilvermanCopy editing: Linda Lowenthal, Teresa ElseyEngagement: Juliet Beauchamp, Abby Ivory-GanjaFact checking: Ena Alvarado, Lauren Colella, Kelsey Kudak, Rachael Lallensack ArtIllustration: Vichhika Tep, Daniel Liévano, Stuart BradfordArt direction: Mariya Sitnova, Stephanie Arnett, Eric Mongeon Design
In early January 2026, The Timken Company announced a series of leadership changes, including appointing John Szarka as its first chief technology officer to oversee enterprise-wide technology, AI, automation and data strategy, alongside new regional presidents for the Americas and Europe to sharpen geographic focus. By elevating technology to the C-suite and giving regional heads
The legal profession is standing at the edge of one of the most profound transformations in its modern history. In 2026, artificial intelligence, data analytics, geopolitical uncertainty, regulatory complexity and relentless pressure on cost and efficiency will significantly reshape how legal services are delivered, how legal departments are structured and how law firms compete. For
Faisal IslamEconomics editor Inside the secretive lab which stores the world’s most powerful computer It looks like a golden chandelier and contains the coldest place in the known universe. What I am looking at is not just the most powerful computer in the world, but technology pivotal to financial security, Bitcoin, government secrets, the world