Women in tech and finance at higher risk from AI job losses, report says

Women working in tech and financial services are at greater risk of losing their jobs to increased use of AI and automation than their male peers, according to a report that found experienced females were also being sidelined as a result of “rigid hiring processes”.“Mid-career” women – with at least five years’ experience – are being overlooked for digital roles in the tech and financial and professional services sectors, where they are traditionally underrepresented, according to the report by the City of London Corporation.The governing body that runs the capital’s Square Mile found female applicants were discriminated against by rigid, and sometimes automated, screening of their CVs, which did not take into account career gaps related to caring for children or relatives, or only narrowly considered their professional experience.To reverse the trend, the corporation is calling on employers to focus on re-skilling female workers not currently in technical roles, particularly those in clerical positions most at risk of being displaced by automation.It is estimated that about 119,000 clerical roles in tech and the financial and professional service sectors, predominantly carried out by women, will be displaced by automation over the next decade

Elon Musk is taking SpaceX’s minority shareholders for a ride | Nils Pratley

To Elon Musk’s fanclub, there is nothing to see apart from more evidence of the great man’s visionary genius. SpaceX, the rocket firm, is buying xAI, the artificial intelligence developer, and the combination of these two Musk-controlled entities is being valued at $1.25tn (£910bn). Feel the positive vibes ahead of a stock market debut due in June! The most valuable private company in history! The largest ever transaction!Or, as Musk described it, he is creating “the most ambitious, vertically integrated innovation engine on (and off) Earth, with AI, rockets, space-based internet, direct-to-mobile device communications and the world’s foremost real-time information and free-speech platform”.SpaceX’s minority shareholders may have a less stellar view

From ‘nerdy’ Gemini to ‘edgy’ Grok: how developers are shaping AI behaviours

Do you want an AI assistant that gushes about how it “loves humanity” or one that spews sarcasm? How about a political propagandist ready to lie? If so, ChatGPT, Grok and Qwen are at your disposal.Companies that create AI assistants, from the US to China, are increasingly wrestling with how to mould their characters, and it is no abstract debate. This month Elon Musk’s “maximally truth-seeking” Grok AI caused international outrage when it pumped out millions of sexualised images. In October OpenAI retrained ChatGPT to de-escalate conversations with people in mental health distress after it appeared to encourage a 16-year-old to take his own life.Last week, the $350bn San Francisco startup Anthropic released an 84-page “constitution” for its Claude AI

UK privacy watchdog opens inquiry into X over Grok AI sexual deepfakes

Elon Musk’s X and xAI companies are under formal investigation by the UK’s data protection watchdog after the Grok AI tool produced indecent deepfakes without people’s consent.The Information Commissioner’s Office is investigating whether the social media platform and its parent broke GDPR, the data protection law.It said the creation and circulation of the images on social media raised serious concerns under the UK’s data regime, such as whether “appropriate safeguards were built into Grok’s design and deployment”.The move came after French prosecutors raided the Paris headquarters of X as part of an investigation into alleged offences including the spreading of child abuse images and sexually explicit deepfakes.X became the subject of heavy public criticism in December and January when the platform’s account for the Grok AI tool was used to mass-produce partially nudified images of girls and women

‘Swagger’ and mindset change is key for England in Six Nations glory chase

England will embrace the expectation surrounding their bid to end the wait for a Six Nations title, according to Tommy Freeman. The centre says his side will “have a bit of swagger” during the Championship.Accusations of English arrogance, particularly from their Six Nations rivals, are nothing new, but the best England sides have not wanted for self-belief and Freeman says they intend to puff out their chests as they seek to extend their 11-match winning run.Such confidence is reflective of the mood in the camp. Steve Borthwick has told us repeatedly how he expects Wales to play on Saturday and has challenged England to ensure they are in the hunt for the grand slam on Super Saturday – the final round of the championship on 14 March – when they face France in Paris, urging supporters to “flood across the Channel”

England beat Sri Lanka by 12 runs in third T20 to seal 3-0 series win – as it happened

Theekshana c Dawson b Bethell 2 Bethell the hero! Denied a fourth wicket by a review, he soon induces a top edge which is safely held by Dawson at backward point. England win the match by 12 runs and complete a clean sweep. It’s a white-ball whitewash!“That was awesome,” says Harry Brook. “One of the best wins I’ve ever had… Sixteen overs of spin – to do that to a Sri Lankan team in their own country is awesome… It’s been an awesome tour.”He receives the trophy, which, as in the ODI series, is much the same size as the one for the Champions League in football