artificial intelligence
Background
Across 72 storiesArtificial intelligence has become a central topic spanning technology development, economic competition, policy, and societal impact. The field encompasses advances in AI systems capable of performing tasks from analyzing scientific problems to generating text and images, with major technology companies like Nvidia expanding rapidly to meet demand. At the same time, questions persist about how AI actually works, what its limitations are, and whether current systems possess genuine intelligence or merely simulate it through pattern recognition.
Global competition around AI is intensifying, particularly between the United States and China, with governments and investors treating AI development as strategically crucial. Concerns about safety and regulation feature prominently in the discussion, with experts proposing frameworks for managing potential risks, while industry leaders argue the sector needs time to implement safeguards. Meanwhile, practical applications continue to expand across medicine, infrastructure, environmental monitoring, and other domains, raising questions about which human skills and professions will remain essential as the technology matures.
The broader societal conversation reflects both opportunity and anxiety: some see AI as transformative for capitalism and problem-solving, while others worry about displacement of human workers, erosion of human connection, or risks that current regulatory approaches cannot address. Educational and career guidance increasingly incorporate AI considerations, and debates continue over whether existing oversight mechanisms are adequate for the technology's trajectory.
AI-written background, based on the coverage we have clustered about this subject. Not original reporting — the stories below link to their sources.
Coverage
The Guardian view on AI v mathematicians: humans are still vital to the field, but tech firms refuse to see that | Editorial
1 source·Sep 20Nvidia's Jensen Huang on artificial intelligence
2 sources·Sep 20Trump and sons invest heavily in AI economy as he resists calls for slowdown
1 source·Sep 20Can an AI chatbot save lives by answering texts about pregnancy?
1 source·Sep 17U.S., China security experts propose nuclear-style safeguards for AI risks
1 source·Sep 17AI struggles to decipher 'animal language' because sound doesn't equal meaning, experts say
1 source·Sep 16The future of AI depends on Donald Trump, says ex-national security adviser
1 source·Sep 16Sniffing out trouble: Customs dogs remain vital in the age of AI
1 source·Sep 16What is AI, how does it work and why are some people concerned about it?
1 source·Sep 14Could AI pose a threat to humanity, and can it be regulated?
1 source·Sep 14Can you futureproof your career by choosing an AI-resistant degree?
1 source·Sep 14Xi pitches AI Vision at BRICS summit as China duels with U.S.
2 sources·Sep 13AI will transform capitalism – but how?
1 source·Sep 13Anthropic CEO says AI industry needs to give safety measures time to catch up
10 sources·Sep 12‘This is dangerous’: slime moulds and the bitter debate over the nature of intelligence
1 source·Sep 8AI cancer cures slowed by chip shortage, says UK's biggest tech boss
1 source·Sep 7Designers should not fear being replaced by AI, industry leaders say
1 source·Sep 7As AI madness encroaches, we need human connection more than ever. But we’ll have to fight for it | Van Badham
1 source·Sep 4Global road map tracks four years of infrastructure change using AI
1 source·Sep 2Why the tween years are a good time to talk to your kids about AI
1 source·Aug 28Nvidia’s quarterly revenue doubles to nearly $100bn as CEO declares ‘golden age’
1 source·Aug 26Disappearing lakes, old photos and AI are helping scientists map Arctic permafrost thaw in near‑real time
1 source·Aug 26In China, talking to AI is normal. Now the government fears it might replace human intimacy
1 source·Aug 26Billionaire investor says he used AI to write critique of former mentee Scott Bessent
1 source·Aug 26AI gold rush draws crypto firms away from Bitcoin
1 source·Aug 25Who gains in an AI-supercharged economy?
1 source·Aug 25Column: The freak-out over AI data centers is creating a moral panic
1 source·Aug 25I feared AI would leave my community behind. Now I see a path to prosperity
1 source·Aug 25No, AI doesn’t mean the end of mathematics – at least not yet | Bruce Schneier and Kasra Rafi
1 source·Aug 25US building twice as much gas-fired capacity as China in AI boom, analysis finds
1 source·Aug 25