New budget-friendly MG S5 EV undercuts SUV rivals
The latest MG SUV model, oddly named MG S5 EV, has just arrived in the UK with prices starting at just £28,495. That buys you the Standard Range model which gets 211 miles from a 49kWh battery. The Long Range model gets a bigger 64kWh battery for a maximum claimed range of 298 miles, which drops to 288 miles for the sportier-looking Trophy Long Range.
Prices rise to £30,995 for the Long Range and £33,495 for the Trophy, which is just £500 more than the entry-level Kia EV3 with its 270 mile range and £145 more than a Skoda Elroq SE L 60 with its 260 mile range.
Maximum fast charging speeds are 139kW for the 64kWh battery and 120kW for the 49kWh unit, 10 to 80 per cent rapid charge times of 28 and 24 minutes respectively.
The S5 uses an updated version of the MG 4's Modular Scalable Platform with an ultra-thin battery, meaning decent space inside the new SUV. It's the same in the boot with 453-litres of room, rising to 1,441 litres with the seats folded and a two-level boot floor.
The styling is less striking than the MG 4 and similar to other recent Chinese SUV arrivals, although MG says the look of the S5 has taken inspiration from the MG Cyberster all-electric roadster. There are some neat details, though, with a chequered flag lighting signature in the LED running lights at the front and back.
MG has listened to feedback from MG 4 customers and worked hard to up the quality of the interior and usability of the infotainment. The central screen is 12.8in wide and features faster responses and new graphics, while a row of physical buttons sits underneath for audio, air-con controls and the hazard warning light. A 10.25in driver display sits in front of the sporty steering wheel with a flat top and bottom.
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both standard, while a range of apps including YouTube, TikTok and Spotify are all built in, too.
Interior plastics have also had an upgrade over the MG 4 with more soft-touch materials, dual-tone leather-style seats in the Trophy model, while there are plenty of MG badges also scattered around the cabin.
There's also plenty of tech, including a revamped iSmart app, plus a host of driver assistance features under the MG Pilot brand, including adaptive cruise control. There are also five driving modes – Normal, Sport, Comfort, Snow and Custom – and six colours: Black Pearl, Cosmic Silver, Arctic White, Dynamic Red, Camden Grey and Piccadilly Blue.
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The Independent
4 hours ago
- The Independent
Fake videos and AI chatbots drive disinformation about LA protests
A rioter admitting he was "paid to be here". A National Guard soldier filming himself being bombarded by "balloons full of oil". A young man declaring his intention to "peacefully protest", before throwing a Molotov cocktail. These are some things that are not happening on the streets of Los Angeles this week. But you may think they are if you're getting your news from AI. Fake AI-generated videos, photos, and factoids about the ongoing protests in LA are spreading like wildfire across social media, not least on Elon Musk's anything-goes social network X (formerly Twitter). Made using freely available video and image generation software, these wholly synthetic chunks of outrage usually confirm some pre-existing narrative about the protests — such as the baseless idea that they are being covertly funded and equipped by mysterious outside factions. And while some are technically labelled as parodies, many users miss these disclaimers and assume that the realistic-looking footage is an actual document of events on the ground. "Hey everyone! Bob here on National Guard duty. Stick around, I'm giving you a behind the scenes look at how we prep our crowd control gear for today's gassing," says a simulated soldier in a viral TikTok video debunked by France24. "Hey team!" he soon follows up. "Bob here, this is insane! They're chucking balloons full of oil at us, look!" Another fake video posted on X features a male influencer wearing a too-clean T-shirt in the thick of a riot. "Why are you rioting?" he asks a masked man. "I don't know, I was paid to be here, and I just wanna destroy stuff," the man replies. AI tries to fact-check AI Meanwhile, chatbots such as OpenAI's ChatGPT and X's built-in Grok have been giving false answers to users' questions about events in the City of Angels. Both Grok and ChatGPT wrongly insisted that photos of National Guard members crammed in together sleeping on the floor in LA this week "likely originated" in Afghanistan in 2021, according to CBS News. It also reportedly claimed that a viral photo of bricks piled up on a pallet — which right-wing disinformation merchants had touted as proof of outside funding — was "likely" taken from the LA protests. In fact the photo showed a random street in New Jersey, but even when informed of the truth AI stuck to its guns. AI-generated fakes are merely one new instrument in a long-established orchestra of disinformation. Photos recycled from past protests or events, photos taken out of context, and disguised video game footage — all commonplace among partisan outrage-peddlers since at least 2020 — are being shared widely, including by Republican senator Ted Cruz (who has form in this regard). "Pictures are easily manipulated; that idea has been there," James Cohen, a media professor and expert on internet literacy at CUNY Queens College, told Politico. "But when it comes to videos, we've just been trained as an individual society to believe videos. Up until recently, we haven't really had the opportunity to assume videos could be faked at the scale that it's being faked at this point.' Ammunition for the culture war Most of the videos seen by The Independent were evidently targeted at a conservative audience, designed to reinforce or reference right-wing talking points. At least one TikTok account, however, with more than 300,000 views on its videos as of Wednesday evening, was evidently aimed at progressives interested in stirring messages of solidarity with immigrants. Some are obviously jokes; others, ambiguously jokes. Often there is a tag indicating that they the video is AI-generated. But in most cases this crucial information is easily missed. Unfortunately, the problem is only likely to get worse in future. Republicans' flagship "Big Beautiful Bill" includes a moratorium on all state regulation of AI, which would prevent any state government from intervening for 10 years. While AI-generated videos can be difficult to tell from the real thing, there are ways. They're often suspiciously clean and glossy-looking, as if hailing from the same manicured universe as Kendall Jenner's infamous Pepsi protest advert. The people in them are often strangely beautiful, like the amalgamation of a million magazine photoshoots. The Better Business Bureau also recommends scrutinizing key details such as fingers and coat buttons, which often don't make sense on close inspection. Writing, too, is frequently blurred and illegible: just a jumble of letters or letter-like forms. Background figures may behave strangely or repetitively, or even move in ways that are physically impossible. If in doubt, Google it and see if any trustworthy media organizations or individual journalists have confirmed or debunked what you're seeing. Most of all, be on the lookout for anything that seems to perfectly confirm your pre-existing beliefs. It may just be too good to be true.
Scottish Sun
12 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
I took a ride in AI-powered robotaxis set to hit UK – they have more gadgets than James Bond but I missed key element
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AS my odd-looking taxi pulled up, it was comforting to know that the driver couldn't have downed a skinful the night before. And I was certain this cabbie wouldn't spend the journey telling me why my football team, Crystal Palace, aren't as good as I think they are. 6 Robot Jaguar I-PACE has a light on top that displays the name of the person it is picking up Credit: Paul Edwards 6 The Sun's Oliver sitting in a Waymo vehicle waiting for it to take him on his 1.6-mile journey Credit: Paul Edwards 6 Navigating a multi-lane highway with no one at the wheel as traffic whizzes by Credit: Paul Edwards That's because there wasn't a human behind the steering wheel. I was about to take a ride in an AI-powered robotaxi. They are coming to Britain next year after driverless vehicles were given the go-ahead. Ride-hailing app Uber will be allowed to put passengers' lives in the hands of artificial intelligence in London. For someone who has struggled to comprehend tech since the invention of the SodaStream, this ride was a frightening prospect. Well, would you get on an airliner without a pilot? READ MORE ON ROBOTAXIS BUCKLE UP! Uber self-driving robotaxis are coming to UK roads NEXT YEAR Gazing out on to the busy freeway in Phoenix, Arizona, with giant SUVs motoring past, I had a similar pang of nerves about riding in the driverless contraption that had come to pick me up. More gadgets than Bond I had read some horror stories about robotaxies going rogue. In 2021, a self-driving car in the sunbelt city became confused by traffic cones then drove away from a technician sent to rescue it. Eventually the Waymo motor had to be disabled so a human driver could get behind the wheel. The passenger filmed the 33-minute debacle and plastered it on YouTube. Last year a General Motors-owned Cruise robotaxi struck and dragged a pedestrian 20 feet in San Francisco. The woman — who was injured — survived the ordeal. And in 2018 a cyclist was killed by an Uber cyber car with a safety driver in Phoenix. Watch moment passenger left TRAPPED in driverless car 'going round in circles' after robot taxi malfunctions The back-up driver had been looking down to watch The Voice TV show which he was streaming when Elaine Herzberg, 49, crossed a darkened road in front of her. It was the first fatal collision involving a fully autonomous vehicle. Nevertheless, with self-driving cars being touted as the future of motoring, it was time for a test run. Booking my ride was simple. I downloaded the app of Waymo One — a self-drive firm owned by Google's parent company Alphabet — and punched in my details along with where I wanted to go. With the thermometer hitting 39C in this desert city, I was on the hunt for a nice, cool pint of Guinness and was told Casey Moore's Oyster House was the place to go. At least there would be no argument about designated drivers. Soon I was tracking the Waymo on my phone as it surged to my hotel through the early rush-hour traffic. And then the gleaming white Jaguar I-PACE came into view — with no one at the wheel. On the roof was something that looked like a giant police blue light with my initials displayed on it. Unlocking its door with the app, I sat in the back (no one is allowed in the driver's seat) as the Waymo played calming elevator music. 6 Screen on dashboard to greet passenger and button they must press to get going Credit: Paul Edwards 6 Booking a ride on app, which is also used to unlock the door Credit: Paul Edwards I pressed a screen between the front seats saying 'start ride'. Then, a bit like KITT, the car from Eighties TV series Knight Rider, Waymo began talking. As we pulled smoothly away from the hotel forecourt, the robotaxi told me to buckle up. And then, with the steering wheel spinning as if by some invisible force, we eased into the Phoenix traffic as I let out an involuntary 'whoaa!' On the opposite side of the road cars were whizzing towards us but all-electric Waymo deftly navigated the right path before pulling up at a red light. How did it know it was red? That's one for the brainiacs. Swinging left into East Apache Boulevard, I caught sight of a couple of pedestrians ahead. How would the cyber motor react? My Waymo One slowed and made sure to give them a wide berth. That's because it is bristling with more gadgets than a James Bond car. Its sensors include cameras, radars and something called lidars which use lasers to create a 3D image of the vehicle's surroundings. The in-car computer then makes sense of all the data that Waymo is gathering. And, learning to trust the tech, I was soon beginning to relax. All speed limits were observed and driving rules obeyed. The ride was smooth and felt safe. Perhaps I was better off without a driver after all. Wayve's technology operates more like a human driver would learning to drive in one city and then applying that knowledge to drive in new places. Bill Gates Britain's Department for Transport estimates that 88 per cent of road accidents are caused by human error. Soon we were pulling up outside the pub. Keeping the rear door open a little too long, an actual human called Brian came through on Waymo's intercom to check I was OK. He was certainly more amenable than Johnny, the robot driver of the taxi in 1990 sci-fi flick Total Recall, who Arnold Schwarzenegger ripped out of the cab in frustration be- cause he was not listening to his in- structions. My 14-minute journey over 1.6 miles had cost $9.33 (just over £7). And, unlike most things in America, there was no need to add a tip. Waymo One serves 180 square miles of Arizona's capital — that makes Phoenix the largest fully autonomous ride-hail service zone in the world. After a couple of pints, I decided to summon another Waymo. Not arriving at the front of the pub as I had imagined, it headed to- wards a park- ing lot at the back. Would the robotaxi be able to navigate this manoeuvre? In May this year another empty Waymo trying to pick up its ride collided with a telephone pole in a Phoenix alleyway. No one was injured but pictures show a fire crew attending the scene with the robotaxi suffering a crumpled front grill. Hunk of metal Waymo voluntarily recalled its 672-car fleet for a software update in what the company called a 'safety-first approach'. The crash was put down to the robotaxi's software having 'assigned a low damage score' to the pole. It had misjudged the danger because there was no kerb or clear road edge. My Waymo pulled into the parking lot smoothly and confidently. But, unlike many humans, could it parallel park? Indeed it could and reversing is no problem either. And — despite having sampled some local beverages — there was no barked warning: 'Mate, you're not going to be sick in my cab, are you?' Soon this taxi was traversing the two miles to Society restaurant like a London cabbie with The Knowledge. The 11-minute ride cost $13.31 (£10.25). Again, no tip required by the computer chip and its hunk of metal. With millions employed as drivers across the globe, tech titans are investing billions in robo vehicle technology for what they see as a lucrative driverless future. 6 Johnny drives Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1990 sci-fi flick Total Recall Last year Elon Musk unveiled Tesla's Cybercab at the Warner Bros studio lot in Hollywood. The world's richest man insisted that the sleek, golden two-seater car without a steering wheel or pedals will be on sale 'before 2027'. Meanwhile Amazon-owned Zoox's self-driving cars will soon be available to the public in Las Vegas. In Scotland a robobus with a back-up driver plies a route over the Forth Road Bridge. Wuhan in China — where Covid was first detected — has more than 400 self-driving Apollo Go cars taking passengers. Tech giant Baidu delayed increasing the fleet to a thousand after complaints by human taxi drivers. A cab firm in the city accused the robotaxis of 'taking jobs from the grass roots'. It will be far from the last time humans protest about losing their jobs to AI-powered robots. Self-driving cars could bring jobs, investment, and the opportunity for the UK to be among the world leaders in new technology. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander Over here, the UK start-up Wayve will be teaming up with Uber for its taxi service next spring. If all goes well, the plan is to roll out these services across the country in the second half of 2027 when last year's Automated Vehicles Act comes fully into force. Founded in 2017 by New Zealand-born Alex Kendall, Wayve believes it can produce robocars that are safer and cheaper than anyone else by giving the car 'its own brain.' Its AI-driven software can be used to make any car self-driving using cameras. The live images are used to train itself to drive by visual observation. Microsoft founder Bill Gates went for a ride to get fish and chips in a Wayve-powered motor — with a back-up driver — while in London. The tech giant said: 'Other self-driving technologies work only on specific mapped streets. 'Wayve's technology operates more like a human driver would learning to drive in one city and then applying that knowledge to drive in new places.' In May, Wayve raised $1.05billion (£840million) in funding, with Microsoft and Nvidia, a leading chip-maker, among investors. It is the largest known investment in an AI company in Europe to date. According to the Department for Transport, the UK cybercar industry could be worth £42billion and create 38,000 jobs by 2035. This week, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: 'The future of transport is arriving. 'Self-driving cars could bring jobs, investment, and the opportunity for the UK to be among the world leaders in new technology.' Back in Phoenix, I summoned another Waymo for a ride back to my hotel. By now I was relaxed enough to enjoy the experience of being driven through the night-time streets by a machine seemingly with a mind of its own. Yet, as the journey progressed, I realised I was missing something. There was no round-up of the Champions League scores and no chat about the most famous person to ride in the cab. Waymos don't do banter. You still need a human driver for that.
Wales Online
14 hours ago
- Wales Online
Twix advert banned after complaints it promoted dangerous driving
Twix advert banned after complaints it promoted dangerous driving The advert shows a man in a car embarking on a high-speed chase with a pursuer, before swerving off the road and tumbling down a hill Twix TV advert banned after complaints it encouraged dangerous driving (Image: Twix/YouTube ) A TV advert for the popular chocolate bar, Twix, has been banned following objections that it promotes reckless driving. The advert, titled Two is More Than One, showcases a 70s-inspired car chase featuring a long-haired man in a caramel-coloured vehicle navigating through a rugged terrain with winding roads. After noticing another driver tailing him via his rear view mirror, he accelerates before yanking the handbrake, veering off to the right side of the road and rolling sideways through a metal barrier. Despite the dramatic tumble down the hill, the driver remains unfazed as the car comes to a halt, landing on an identical vehicle at the bottom of the hill. The two cars are depicted stacked roof-to-roof, with the same man seemingly occupying both vehicles. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter The Twix bar from the top driver falls through the sunroof into the hands of the driver below, and they both shift the gear stick on the ground level car and drive off. Two cars end up roof to roof, and drive away together. (Image: Twix/YouTube ) The Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) received five complaints alleging that the advert was irresponsible and encouraged dangerous driving, reports the Express. Article continues below Mars-Wrigley, the confectionery giant that owns Twix, defended the advert by stating it "was set in a separate world that was absurd, fantastical and removed from reality," and they ensured that the acts depicted in the sequence "would be impossible to recreate", according to Sky News. The firm, which also owns brands such as Maltesers and M&Ms, stated that the cars "were shot driving at lawful speeds and any emulation would only reflect the legal and safe driving presented". Mars-Wrigley also pointed out that the advert embodied the playful and absurd humour that the Twix brand is renowned for. Clearcast, the non-profit organisation that approves adverts before they are broadcast in the UK, informed the watchdog that the style of the video made it clear to viewers that the actions depicted were not intended to be replicated, and said the ad did not suggest "safe driving was boring," according to BBC News. However, despite acknowledging that the video featured "some clearly fantastical elements," the watchdog decided to uphold the complaints, stating in its ruling that the ads "must not appear again in their current form". "We considered the road was clearly realistic," the ASA stated. "The scenes were depicted as a chase with the emphasis on speed. In addition, the first man was then shown putting the handbrake on and the car swerved off the road leaving visible skid marks. "We considered the emphasis on a chase, and the speed inherent to that, and the driving manoeuvres featured would be dangerous and irresponsible if emulated in real life on a public highway." In its ruling, the ASA instructed Mars-Wrigley "not to condone or encourage irresponsible driving that was likely to breach the legal requirements of the Highway Code in their ads." A spokesperson for Mars Wrigley UK stated: "We always take pride in maintaining high standards across all our communications and every advert we produce is submitted for approval through the appropriate review channels. Article continues below "In our view, this particular advert adopts a fantastical tone that is neither realistic nor intended to be imitated. "Nonetheless, we take our responsibility as an advertiser seriously and never intended to cause any offence or concern, so we are reviewing the ruling carefully in order to work collaboratively towards a resolution."
