Starmer Pledges Crackdown on AI Chatbots, Royal Mail Faces Scrutiny, and Lloyds Addresses Data Concerns
LONDON - In a week of significant developments, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced plans to tighten regulations on AI chatbots, Royal Mail staff reported undelivered mail, and Lloyds Banking Group addressed concerns over the use of staff data. These events highlight pressing issues in technology, postal services, and corporate practices.
Starmer pledged to respond more quickly to close loopholes in laws designed to protect children online, according to BBC Technology. He stated the government would address AI chatbots, mirroring their response to X (formerly Twitter) regarding its AI assistant Grok. Government proposals also included a measure requiring tech giants to preserve all data on a child's phone if they die.
Meanwhile, Royal Mail postal staff reported significant delays in mail delivery, with letters sitting undelivered for weeks, according to BBC Business. Staff members claimed that parcels were being prioritized over letters due to capacity issues. The BBC reported that postal workers from different delivery offices stated that rounds were being missed daily. The union representing the workers described Royal Mail as "a company in crisis." Hundreds of people contacted BBC Your Voice to express frustration over delayed mail, citing missed hospital appointments as one consequence. Royal Mail responded by stating they wanted to reassure customers that the vast majority of mail is delivered.
In the financial sector, Lloyds Banking Group faced criticism over its use of staff bank account information in pay negotiations. According to BBC Business, Chief Executive Charlie Nunn acknowledged concerns, stating, "we have definitely listened." The bank had compared employees' spending habits to the wider public to assess their ability to weather the cost-of-living crisis.
In other news, six companies linked to Sarah Ferguson, the former Duchess of York, are being wound down, according to BBC Business. Documents filed with Companies House show Ferguson as the director of all six businesses. The closures come in the wake of further revelations from the Epstein files.
Additionally, the AI Impact Summit in India this week brings together tech bosses, politicians, scientists, academics, and campaigners to discuss the future of AI. According to BBC Business, the summit is significant as it is held in the Global South, a region at risk of being left behind in the AI race.
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