Tech Life

BBC World Service
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Sep 17, 2021 • 24min

Wikipedia’s editing war

Can the online encyclopaedia be impartial in a world of hotly-contested narratives? Plus, is Apple struggling to innovate? And the privacy implications of Facebook’s smart sunglasses. Presented by Rory Cellan-Jones, with BBC senior tech reporter Jane Wakefield. Produced by Jat Gill.
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Sep 10, 2021 • 24min

El Salvador's Bitcoin experiment

El Salvador becomes the first country to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender. Cryptocurrency fans celebrate, but will Salvadorans benefit? Rory Cellan-Jones speaks to Alex Gladstein from the Human Rights Foundation, who says Bitcoin can help give citizens of poorer countries more economic freedom. Also on the programme, Facebook's algorithm is accused of perpetuating gender stereotypes in the way it shows job adverts to men and women. Naomi Hirst from the campaign group Global Witness explains. And what will a world powered by artificial intelligence look like in 20 years' time? AI pioneer Kai-Fu Lee paints a picture of life in 2041.(Photo: A woman buys in a store that accepts bitcoins in El Zonte, La Libertad, El Salvador. Credit: Getty Images)
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Sep 3, 2021 • 24min

China's video games ban

China announces plans to restrict children to just three hours of video games a week. How will gamers cope and what does it mean for China's booming video games industry? We speak to Rui Ma, China tech watcher and host of the Tech Buzz China podcast, and to games industry analyst Lisa Cosmas Hanson from Niko Partners. Plus the battle over the video game streaming market hots up, with major streaming stars switching from Twitch to YouTube. Can YouTube ever challenge Twitch's dominance? Louise Shorthouse from Ampere Analysis explains. And the BBC's cyber security correspondent Joe Tidy tells us about the strange case of a fake Banksy NFT, and why one collector paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for it. Presented by Rory Cellan-Jones, with BBC technology reporter Jane Wakefield.(Photo: A gamer yawns during an esports tournament in Shanghai, China. Credit: Getty Images)
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Aug 27, 2021 • 24min

AI: Reality and hype

Is language-based artificial intelligence as capable as it seems? We visit a theatre production that places the GPT-3 algorithm at its heart. Plus, why attempts at using AI to help diagnose and treat Covid-19 don’t yet appear to have yielded significant results. And how sensors and AI might help provide better care for vulnerable people in their own homes. Presented by Rory Cellan-Jones, with BBC senior tech reporter Zoe Kleinman. Produced by Jat Gill.
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Aug 20, 2021 • 24min

Fears over Afghan biometric data

Human rights activists say that the Taliban could use databases compiled by the previous government and coalition forces to target citizens. Plus, why is there a flurry of investment in undersea internet cables. And the amazing stories behind some emoji characters. Presented by Zoe Kleinman, with BBC tech reporter Chris Vallance. Produced by Jat Gill.(Image: Representation of a fingerprint scan, Credit: Getty Images).
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Aug 13, 2021 • 24min

Removing carbon from the air

Can tech to capture and store carbon prevent a climate catastrophe? Plus how cyber criminals can now check whether their planned cryptocurrency transfers will raise suspicions. And is there any significant market for folding phones? Presented by Joe Tidy, with BBC Click tech reporter Jen Copestake. Produced by Jat Gill.
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Aug 6, 2021 • 24min

China cracks down on online games

A state-run media outlet brands online games ‘electronic drugs’ and calls for more curbs on the industry. Plus, the AI that’s claimed to speed up insurance claims following extreme weather events. And could machine learning make recruitment fairer? Presented by Rory Cellan-Jones, with BBC senior tech reporter Jane Wakefield. Produced by Jat Gill.(Image: Stock photo of a young woman with large headphones looking at her smartphone, Credit: Getty Images).
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Jul 30, 2021 • 24min

Intel’s road ahead

Pat Gelsinger, the CEO of Intel, outlines his plan to regain the lead in silicon chips. Plus, the US tech giants report bumper quarterly profits. Will regulators be taking note? And is the battle against online terrorist propaganda being won? Presented by Rory Cellan-Jones, with BBC tech reporter David Molloy. Produced by Jat Gill.(Image: Stock photo of a silicon chip with a road vanishing into the distance, Credit: Getty Images).
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Jul 23, 2021 • 24min

Fresh questions over Pegasus spyware

How the Pegasus software from Israel’s NSO Group has kept ahead of smartphone makers’ attempts to block it. Plus, can Zoom’s new app features keep people video-conferencing post-pandemic, or has everyone had enough of virtual meetings? And the AI designed to help wine producers take more risks with what they make. Presented by Rory Cellan-Jones, with BBC senior tech reporter Zoe Kleinman. Produced by Jat Gill.
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Jul 16, 2021 • 24min

Football and online hate

England’s black players received a wave of racist abuse after the team lost to Italy in the European Championship final. What could the social platforms do to end such behaviour? Plus websites associated with the hacker group REvil go offline. And why an old Super Mario 64 video game cartridge sold for $1.5m at auction. Presented by Rory Cellan-Jones, with BBC senior tech reporter Jane Wakefield, and BBC cybersecurity reporter Joe Tidy. Produced by Jat Gill.(Image: England footballer Marcus Rashford, Credit: PA).

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