

Tech Life
BBC World Service
Tech Life discovers and explains the ways technology is changing our lives, wherever we are in the world. We meet the people with bright ideas for rethinking the way we work, learn and play, and get hands-on with the products they dream up. We hold tech giants to account for their huge power to affect our lives, and ask who wins, and who loses, in the technology transformation. Tech Life is your guide to a future being made, and remade, at lightning speed in front of our eyes.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 9, 2019 • 23min
8chan searches for new home
Key service providers kick the controversial message board, which has been used to celebrate mass shootings, off the mainstream internet. In what form might it resurface? Plus "warshipping" is one of the latest threats to corporate security presented at the annual Black Hat hackers' conference. Presented by Rory Cellan-Jones, with BBC tech reporters Chris Fox and Dave Lee, and special guests Kate Bevan, editor of Which? Computing, and Poppy Gustafsson, co-CEO of Darktrace.(Image: Stock photo of a bundle of unplugged network cables, Credit: Getty Images Plus).

Aug 2, 2019 • 23min
New rules for robots
Should a robot be allowed to react if it is attacked by a person? A new blueprint for robot makers aims to set out how machines should behave. Plus the UK Parliament committee scrutinising Facebook demands an explanation after reports the company knew about the misuse of its data by a political consultancy earlier than it had claimed. Presented by Jane Wakefiled, with BBC Online tech editor Leo Kelion, and special guest Annabelle Timsit from the Quartz website.(Image: Stock photo of man shaking hands with a robot, Credit: iStock/ Getty Images Plus)

Jul 26, 2019 • 23min
Facebook's five billion dollar bill
The social network reaches a record settlement with regulators over users' data privacy. Will it change how Facebook operates? Plus, is opposition to using facial recognition technology in public places growing? And, we get a rare glimpse into the online activities of Russia's intelligence agencies. Presented by Chris Fox, with BBC North America tech reporter Dave Lee, and special guest technology researcher Stephanie Hare.(Image: Person trying the Facebook Portal device during the F8 2019 developers conference, Credit:Justin Sullivan /Getty Images).

Jul 19, 2019 • 23min
Celebrating games
How Dundee in Scotland gave birth to Grand Theft Auto and has remained a hub of games design ever since. We visit the V&A design museum’s exhibition on gaming, plus we get one young developer’s tips on getting into the games business. And we track down one of the original team that worked on GTA. Presented by Rory Cellan-Jones.

Jul 12, 2019 • 23min
Alexa dispenses medical advice
Are privacy fears over Alexa's new ability to offer medical advice from the UK's National Health Service justified? Plus, how super-car maker Aston Martin thinks it can persuade its customers to swap the roar of a V12 engine for the near-silence of electric propulsion. And we hear about the disturbing rise of "stalkerware" apps. Presented by Rory Cellan-Jones, with BBC tech reporter Chris Fox, and special guest Charlotte Jee from the MIT Tech Review.(Image: An Amazon Echo smart speaker on a coffee table alongside an ear thermometer and some pills, Credit: Andrew Matthews/ PA Wire).

Jun 28, 2019 • 23min
Jony Ive quits Apple
The man behind the design of the iPhone and iMac, Sir Jony Ive, leaves Apple to set up his own business. We assess his impact on the design of tech products. Plus, we talk to telecoms equipment giant Nokia on why it thinks it can beat its Chinese rival Huawei in 5G. And we find out where robots are likely to have the most effect in the coming years. Presented by Rory Cellan-Jones, with BBC tech reporter Zoe Kleinman, and special guest Kate Bevan, editor of Which? Computing.(Image: Sir Jony Ive (Left) with Apple CEO Tim Cook, inspecting new iPhones at a product launch, Credit: Justin Sullivan/ Getty Images).

Jun 14, 2019 • 23min
Deepfake or art: who decides?
Rory Cellan-Jones talks to the artist who has created a "deepfake" Mark Zuckerberg to put Facebook on the spot over privacy. Also in the programme, Rory gets behind the hype over artificial intelligence and talks with the head of Moonshots at Google X, Astro Teller, about whether AI is finally becoming mainstream. And in a busy week for London's tech scene, Rory visits the Founders Forum to hear from the Europeans who want to impose tighter controls on the giant American technology companies. Special guest throughout the programme is Tabitha Goldstaub who runs the CogX festival of Artificial Intelligence.(Image: Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg delivers the opening keynote introducing new Facebook, Messenger, WhatsApp, and Instagram privacy features at the Facebook F8 Conference on April 30, 2019. Credit: AMY OSBORNE/AFP/Getty Images)