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UK Watchdog Bans Coinbase Ads; Driverless Taxis Loom; Meta Boosts AI Spending
The UK's Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) banned advertisements from cryptocurrency firm Coinbase for implying that crypto investments could ease cost of living concerns, while Waymo, owned by Google-parent Alphabet, announced plans to launch a driverless taxi service in London as early as September. Meanwhile, Facebook-owner Meta revealed plans to nearly double its spending on artificial intelligence (AI) projects this year.
The ASA upheld complaints against Coinbase ads that depicted the UK in disrepair alongside a satirical slogan and the exchange's logo. The watchdog found the ads "trivialised the risks of cryptocurrency," which is largely unregulated in the UK, according to the BBC. Coinbase stated that it disagreed with the ASA's decision.
In other technology news, Waymo, the US driverless car firm, said it hopes to be operating a robotaxi service in London as soon as September this year. According to the BBC, the UK government plans to change regulations in the second half of 2026 to enable driverless taxis to operate in the city, but has not given a specific date. A pilot service is scheduled to launch in April. Local Transport Minister Lilian Greenwood said, "We're supporting Waymo and other operators through our passenger pilots, and pro-innovation regulations to make self-driving cars a reality on British roads."
Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg plans to ramp up spending on artificial intelligence (AI) projects this year, even as other executives warn of a potential bubble in the industry. During a call with financial analysts on Wednesday to discuss the Facebook-owner's 2025 financial results, the company said it expects to spend up to £97bn this year, mostly on infrastructure related to AI. That is nearly twice the £72bn Meta spent last year on AI projects and infrastructure. In the last three years, the technology giant has spent roughly £140bn in an attempt to get ahead of the AI boom. Zuckerberg said on Wednesday that he is expecting "2026 to be the year that AI dramatically changes the way we..."
In other business news, Paul Patterson, the European boss of Fujitsu, the company which built the IT system at the heart of the Post Office Horizon scandal, is to step down in March. According to the BBC, Patterson, 60, will become non-executive chairman of Fujitsu's UK business, where he will "continue managing the company's response" to the inquiry into the scandal. The announcement is part of a long-planned transition, and Patterson is expected to stay with the company until the inquiry process is complete. Patterson has played a prominent role in Fujitsu's response to the Horizon scandal, representing the company at the public inquiry into the affair, and at House of Commons select committee hearings.
Finally, the number of planning applications for new homes in England is at its highest level for four years, new data shared with BBC Verify suggests. Applications for 335,000 homes outside London were lodged in 2025, up by 60 on 2024, according to Planning Portal, the service people use to request permission. But there are warnings that more needs to be done to meet Labour's target of building 1.5 million homes by 2029, as separate government data released on Thursday suggests there has been a decrease in house building. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said it had "overhauled the planning system and removed long-
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