logo
You don't have to be America or China to win in AI, says Rishi Sunak

You don't have to be America or China to win in AI, says Rishi Sunak

Economist16-07-2025
AMERICA AND China are sprinting to see who can push the frontiers of technology and develop artificial general intelligence (AGI) first. The competition for AGI—AI that surpasses humans at all cognitive tasks—is of fundamental geopolitical importance. Every democratic state should hope that America wins: a Chinese victory would tilt the balance of power in favour of an authoritarian superpower.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

China's foreign minister meets Pakistan army chief, urges protection for nationals
China's foreign minister meets Pakistan army chief, urges protection for nationals

Reuters

time4 hours ago

  • Reuters

China's foreign minister meets Pakistan army chief, urges protection for nationals

BEIJING, July 25 (Reuters) - China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged Pakistan to protect the safety of Chinese nationals and projects, as he met with Pakistan's army chief who was on his first visit to Beijing since his country's recent clashes with India. Over the years China has poured billions of dollars into infrastructure projects in Pakistan under the Belt and Road Initiative. But security concerns have mounted, with Chinese workers repeatedly targeted in what Beijing has called "terrorist attacks" in the South Asian nation. "China supports Pakistan in resolutely combating all forms of terrorism and hopes that the Pakistani military will continue to make every effort to ensure the safety of Chinese personnel, projects, and institutions," Wang said during the meeting on Thursday with Pakistani Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir, according to a readout from the Chinese foreign ministry. He reaffirmed China's "ironclad" friendship with Pakistan, saying that Beijing would continue to prioritise the country in its neighbourhood diplomacy. Munir also met with China's Central Military Commission vice chairman Zhang Youxia on Friday, Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported. Beijing has pushed Pakistan to allow its own security staff to provide protection to Chinese citizens on the ground, after a car bombing in the southern port city of Karachi that killed two Chinese engineers in October last year, Reuters reported.

Inside ‘fastest-charging' EV minivan with swivelling seats that can be turned into living room at click of ONE button
Inside ‘fastest-charging' EV minivan with swivelling seats that can be turned into living room at click of ONE button

Scottish Sun

time6 hours ago

  • Scottish Sun

Inside ‘fastest-charging' EV minivan with swivelling seats that can be turned into living room at click of ONE button

The motor also has massage seats and a fridge BRAVE NEW WORLD Inside 'fastest-charging' EV minivan with swivelling seats that can be turned into living room at click of ONE button Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A BRAND new electric vehicle that can be transformed into a living room at the click of a button, has been unveiled. The Chinese EV is an incredibly unique motor, and boasts dual rotating zero-gravity seats, that allow passengers to sit face to face. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 The Chinese EV is an incredibly unique motor, and boasts dual rotating zero-gravity seats Credit: Getty 5 The Tesla rival is a seven-seater vehicle Credit: Getty 5 The car can also be turned into a cinema or a study Credit: Getty The seven-seater Tesla rival, Li Mega, can also have a table mounted in the centre, turning the car into a living room. Li says that the Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV) is completely adaptable and can also be turned into a cinema, a study, a bedroom or even a warehouse. Car fan and lifestyle vlogger Shu Xu said that the new motor could be a nightmare for Elon Musk's Tesla. Writing on TikTok, he said: "This Chinese EV is Tesla's nightmare. "The second row turns around and creates a living room, it even comes with a table that mounts directly to the floor. "And if you get tired, it has a zero gravity lounge chair mode to relax in. It has 400 miles of all-electric range and sells for 500,000 Yuan ($70,000)." The Li Mega was first unveiled in China back in 2024, and customers first received orders for the car a year later. The vehicle is jam-packed with incredible features such as heated stone massage seats and a 270° wraparound heating system. It even has its own fridge, a wireless charging panel, and memory foam seats. The car is currently only available in China, but the motor company is currently exploring overseas expansion. Watch Tesla test self-driving cars on London streets as it passes famous landmarks Luxury Mercedes This comes after a luxury car brand is set to launch a brand new 'blinged out' electric vehicle, with a 65-inch screen. The Mercedes-Benz Vision V will be a range of luxurious people carriers, set to launch in 2026. The new motors will come in a variety of different models, from ultra-luxurious "CEO transport" to seven-seater family cars. The interior of the vans will be incredibly luxe, with the seats made from white leather. Wood is also used on the walls of the car, and there are clear acrylic storage compartments attached to the doors. The cabinets are said to mimic display cabinets in high-end designer stores, and can be used to carry handbags or sunglasses. Passengers can even separate themselves from the driver with a glass panel, which creates a "private lounge." This panel can then turn into a 4k resolution 65-inch cinema screen, which can be expanded thanks to seven additional projectors in the floor and roofliner. The projectors can all be sticked together, creating a 360 degree viewing experience. The car even has both a karaoke mode and a gaming mode, meaning passengers will never be bored on long car journeys. 5 The car is currently only available in China Credit: Getty

YouTube generation propels Japan's anti-foreigner politics into the mainstream
YouTube generation propels Japan's anti-foreigner politics into the mainstream

Reuters

time8 hours ago

  • Reuters

YouTube generation propels Japan's anti-foreigner politics into the mainstream

TOKYO, July 25 (Reuters) - Yuta Kato is increasingly annoyed by foreigners ignorant of Japan's social etiquette, whether that involves blocking the streets near his work in Tokyo's upscale Ginza district or distracting commuters by playing loud videos on their phones. The 38-year-old hairdresser is among a growing number of Japanese voters drawn to the right-wing Sanseito party, whose warnings about foreigners helped it establish a strong foothold in an upper house election on Sunday. "It is not about discrimination, it's just like, why don't they notice?" said Kato, who, like many Sanseito supporters, obtains his information from YouTube and other social media sites, a space the party has utilised to amplify its "Japanese First" message. Japan's foreign-born residents account for just 3% of the total population, a fraction of the corresponding proportion in the United States and Europe, but record numbers of tourists in recent years have made foreigners more visible in major cities. While Sanseito largely avoids identifying specific immigrant groups, Romeo Marcantuoni, a Tokyo-based academic who has studied the party, said it taps into latent concerns ranging from badly-behaved tourists to conspiracy theories about sneaking Chinese influence. Kato said he believes the Chinese, the biggest cohort of foreign residents in Japan and among the largest visitor groups, are quietly taking over the country. Chinese are also often the focal point for anti-immigrant rhetoric propagated online. Sanseito leader Sohei Kamiya and other party lawmakers and candidates have raised concerns about Chinese buying up land and resources in Japan. One of the party's policies listed on its website is to "stop the silent invasion of Japan by foreign forces". The party did not immediately respond to a request for comment and Kamiya has previously denied criticism that it is xenophobic. Sanseito is most popular among 18 to 39-year-olds, with men favouring the party more than women, according to a poll conducted by public broadcaster NHK, a trend increasingly seen among support for right-wing parties in democracies worldwide. In contrast, support for Ishiba's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which lost its majority in Sunday's election, is deepest among those aged over 70 with no clear gender divide, the NHK poll showed. Sanseito's presence online has given them visibility among younger voters that the LDP has struggled to reach, Kato said. The party's official YouTube channel has three times as many followers as the LDP's, with engagement in their content far higher than other parties, a study by Asahi newspaper found. "They are the party of YouTube," said Jeffrey Hall, a lecturer at Kanda University of International Studies who has authored a book on right-wing politics in Japan. YouTube did not respond to emails seeking comment on Sanseito's use of the platform. On its community guidelines page, YouTube says it closely monitors content and removes videos it deems to promote "harmful or dangerous behavior". Birthed during the COVID-19 pandemic when they spread conspiracy theories about vaccinations, Sanseito has broadened its appeal with its tough immigration policies and pledges to help households struggling with rising prices. It also wants to scrap Japan's pacifist constitution and restore the Emperor's authority, fringe ideas promoted by other right-wing groups that regularly drive around Japan's cities in black trucks blaring imperial-era military songs. While that megaphone politics has long been largely ignored by the Japanese, Sanseito has set its sights on emulating the successes of other far-right groups in Europe, such as Germany's AfD and Britain's Reform UK. At a rally held outside Tokyo's bustling Shimbashi train station on Monday, crowds clapped and cheered some of Sanseito's newly elected lawmakers. "They're going to get things done," said Eriko Harada, 47, a housewife wearing a kimono and a headband emblazoned with the words 'Samurai Spirit', who said she voted for the first time this year. Sanseito's rise has sparked a backlash by those who fear the party is normalising xenophobia. Monday's rally attracted dozens of protesters who tried to drown out the speakers. "It is people falling for lies and displacing their frustrations - economic hardship, political alienation - onto others," said Miroko Kato, a 42-year-old haiku poet among the protestors. "We're here to say: we're watching you!"

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store