Nvidia to buy developer platform Hugging Face in $12.9bn deal
Posted on Thursday September 03, 2026

Semi-conductor giant bets that support for open AI models could offset potential slowdown in demand for chips

Nvidia will buy the popular developer platform Hugging Face for nearly $13bn, betting that support for ⁠open AI models could offset a potential slowdown in demand for the semiconductor giant’s chips.

Shares ⁠in Nvidia were ⁠slightly lower ​after the $12.93bn (£9.57bn) deal – which ranks among its biggest ever – was announced for the database of AI models on Thursday.

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OpenAI hails ‘new era of artificial general intelligence’ with Astra model release
Posted on Thursday September 03, 2026

Astra’s arrival comes days after Sam Altman, OpenAI’s chief executive, described AGI as an ‘irrelevant marketing term’

The president of OpenAI, Greg Brockman, has claimed the world has entered a new era of artificial general intelligence after the release of his company’s latest model, Astra, which it described as the “world’s most intelligent and aligned model”.

Brockman made the claim on Thursday as the San Francisco company released the model only weeks after a serious AI safety incident involving other models under its development caused international concern and a pause in Astra’s training.

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John Lewis to launch YouTube chatshow to improve AI search results
Posted on Thursday September 03, 2026

Department store chain’s Gift List ‘vodcast’ will be hosted by TV presenter Angela Scanlon

• Business live – latest updates

John Lewis is launching an online chatshow and social media studio to help make itself and its products more visible to chatbots and more prominent in AI search results.

The department store chain’s Gift List “vodcast” hosted by the TV presenter Angela Scanlon will air on YouTube with clips disseminated via other social media channels and comes after the success of its sister chain Waitrose’s Dish podcast.

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Crypto billionaire pardoned by Trump gives Reform UK another £4m
Posted on Thursday September 03, 2026

Party confident money from Ben Delo will not be caught in new overseas donor cap

Reform UK has been given a further £4m from the British crypto billionaire Ben Delo, with the party saying it is confident the businessman – who was formerly based in Hong Kong – will not be caught by the new overseas donor cap.

Delo, who was convicted in the US in 2022 for failing to implement adequate anti-money laundering controls in his cryptocurrency business, before being pardoned by Donald Trump, has previously given Reform £4m.

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Apocalypse prep or pure pragmatism: what is behind Peter Thiel’s move to Argentina?
Posted on Thursday September 03, 2026

Relocation coincides with proposed laws that opponents say would entrench power of US tech billionaires in country

Dozens of protesters converged on Peter Thiel’s mansion in Buenos Aires this week after a congressional session raised questions about the billionaire’s presence in the country.

In white masks, they held signs saying “Peter Thief” and “No to the Peter Thiel law” in front of the wrought-iron gates of the $12m (£8.9m) residence, which Thiel bought in April as he moved his family to Argentina.

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Nvidia to buy developer platform Hugging Face in $12.9bn deal
Posted on Thursday September 03, 2026

Semi-conductor giant bets that support for open AI models could offset potential slowdown in demand for chips

Nvidia will buy the popular developer platform Hugging Face for nearly $13bn, betting that support for ⁠open AI models could offset a potential slowdown in demand for the semiconductor giant’s chips.

Shares ⁠in Nvidia were ⁠slightly lower ​after the $12.93bn (£9.57bn) deal – which ranks among its biggest ever – was announced for the database of AI models on Thursday.

Read more...

Premier League: 10 things to look out for this weekend
Posted on Thursday September 03, 2026

Florian Wirtz has a chance to shine, there’s a Red Bull reunion on Tyneside and Chelsea face litmus test at Arsenal

Florian Wirtz is easing himself into his second season at Liverpool after a forgettable first. There were signs of promise against Nottingham Forest, where he set up the second equaliser and would have had a goal of his own if not for an offside in the buildup. It is clear the German needs to become more influential as a No 10 given the quality of players he has around him, especially after the expensive arrival of Bradley Barcola this week. Bruno Fernandes showed there is plenty of fun for an attacking midfielder to have against Ipswich and Wirtz can follow suit as a protagonist. Liverpool have drawn both their opening fixtures 2-2 and need something to kickstart their campaign, with a Friday night visit to promoted opposition a fine place to start. Wirtz should cause problems but, if he does not, the internal competition will be after his spot. Will Unwin

Ipswich v Liverpool (Friday 8pm, all times BST)

Newcastle v Bournemouth (Saturday 12.30pm)

Brentford v Sunderland (Saturday 3pm)

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Gaël Monfils takes final grand slam bow after US Open defeat to Learner Tien
Posted on Friday September 04, 2026

• Frenchman falls in straight sets to No 14 seed

• Monfils, 40, will retire at end of 2026 season

• Tien reaches US Open third round for first time

It would have felt more fitting if Gaël Monfils went out with a roar, with a five-set epic matching the reputation he has built as tennis’s great showman.

He may have preferred the kind of bow he made at his home French Open earlier this year, a thrilling five-set fightback that ended well after midnight, or one that had a few more of his dazzling signature shots, like the mid-air forehand that stole the show in his first-round win this week.

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