Business

Business · 1 October 2026

White House AI Pact Relies Entirely on the 'Sword of Damocles' of Peer Pressure

Helen Pell, Washington desk

US tech executives have agreed to a "morally binding" framework for AI safety that experts describe as effectively a moat around their own profit margins. The new guidelines rely less on regulation and more on the collec…

Business · 1 October 2026

Epic’s AI ‘Safety Net’ Uncovers a Privacy Black Hole

Helen Pell, Washington desk

A new Anthropic-powered AI designed to tidy medical records has exposed a slew of vulnerabilities, raising the stakes for patient privacy.

Business · 1 October 2026

Google's 100 Zeros: Hollywood's Newest Investor in the Tech-Drama

Helen Pell, Washington desk

Google teams with Range Media Partners to launch 100 Zeros, hoping to replace fear with algorithmic enthusiasm in film, TV and emerging entertainment.

Business · 1 October 2026

Huel’s ‘All‑You‑Need‑in‑a‑Shake’ Pitch Stopped by the UK’s Advertising Authority – Reality Star’s Cheeky Appeal Fails

Iris Quay, London desk

The UK Advertising Standards Authority has prohibited Huel’s latest meal‑replacement advert, which featured ex‑Made In Chelsea star Spencer Matthews, for making unverified health claims, prompting the brand to reth…

Business · 30 September 2026

From Page to Play: Lynch Trades Editorial for Plastic Toy Kingdom

Helen Pell, Washington desk

After a decade of turning glossy pages into profit, Roger Lynch has agreed to take the helm of Mattel, promising to bring a new editorial flair to a toy empire that may or may not be as fragile as the plastic dolls he on…

Business · 1 October 2026

Bailey Backs the Idea That AI Regulation Is a 'Wrong First Stop' – and Still Wants a Test Tube

Iris Quay, London desk

Andrew Bailey declares that while AI needs careful testing and safeguards, the first step is not to legislate its behaviour outright. The regulator hints at a ‘sandbox’ approach, leaving market players to wrestle wit…

Business · 30 September 2026

Growth Grows, Diesel Rises: A Londoner’s Dream and a Driver’s Dilemma

Iris Quay, London desk

The Office of National Statistics nudged the UK’s growth figure higher, delighting City brass, even as diesel prices edge towards the dreaded £2 threshold.

Business · 30 September 2026

Greggs to Trim the Oven: Four Factories Shut, 740 Jobs Sent to the ‘City’ for a Proper Cup of Tea

Iris Quay, London desk

Greggs says it will close four UK bakeries, cutting 740 positions, in a bid to stay ‘cost‑efficient’ while the City nods approvingly.

Business · 30 September 2026

Europe’s Diesel Deluge Turns Trucks into Tortoises, Farmers into Fuel‑Starved Sentries

Etienne Marlow, Brussels desk

Soaring diesel costs from refinery hiccups and a looming US export ban are grinding European logistics, agriculture and industry to a halt, prompting a tongue‑in‑cheek forecast of a ‘diesel winter’.