Morning, noon and night, it’s there, whirring and whirling around. It’s so industrious I feel simultaneously scared and shamed, writes Emma Beddington
November 2022
The networker
Alexa, how did Amazon’s voice assistant rack up a $10bn loss?
John Naughton
The tech giant’s flawed business model for its popular smart devices has cost the company a fortune and thousands of jobs
August 2022
We can make our phones harder to hack but complete security is a pipe dream
John Naughton
Even the latest iPhone scare won’t persuade us to choose safety over convenience
March 2022
How smart thermostats can save you fuel and money
As well as turning off your hot water or boiler as you leave home, some can offer to heat only rooms that need it
September 2021
The smart toilet era is here! Are you ready to share your analprint with big tech?
Loo design has barely changed in 150 years – until now.Will people trade their privacy for the chance to find out exactly what is in their waste?
August 2021
Why right to repair matters – according to a farmer, a medical worker, a computer store owner
Biden’s recent executive order makes taking action on the strict rules imposed by manufacturers a priority, affecting workers across several industries
May 2021
Amazon’s Ring is the largest civilian surveillance network the US has ever seen
Lauren Bridges
One in 10 US police departments can now access videos from millions of privately owned home security cameras without a warrant
February 2020
Oliver Letwin, the unlikely merchant of technological doom
After battling to stop a no-deal Brexit, the ex-MP has written a modern fable, Apocalypse How?, warning of the catastrophe our tech dependence could cause
November 2019
These new rules were meant to protect our privacy. They don’t work
Stephanie Hare
The data protection laws introduced last year are failing us – and our children
September 2019
Pink-eyed terminators and limbless chickens: Boris Johnson's UN speech in quotes
PM uses his General Assembly speech on the challenges of technology to paint a dystopian view before returning to political crisis at home
August 2019
Teen claims to tweet from her smart fridge – but did she really?
A Twitter user’s claim to have tweeted from a kitchen appliance went viral but experts have cast doubt
July 2019
Is buying a ‘smart nappy’ really such a clever idea?
Arwa Mahdawi
Anxious parents may see the appeal of measuring their baby’s vital signs – but sharing your child’s data with a private company may not be wise, says Arwa Mahdawi
March 2019
The long read
Can we stop AI outsmarting humanity?
The long read: The spectre of superintelligent machines doing us harm is not just science fiction, technologists say – so how can we ensure AI remains ‘friendly’ to its makers?
February 2019
From vacuums to vibrators: why spies are everywhere in our smart homes
Arwa Mahdawi
Data-collecting devices can never be trusted, as the FaceTime bug has shown. From phones to doorbells, it’s the start of a civil-liberties nightmare
November 2018
Will you be getting a smart home spy for Christmas?
Facebook, Google and Amazon are eager to get their new devices under your tree. But will they give away your privacy?
October 2018
Google launches DIY smart Nest Thermostat E
Heating controller cheaper than previous model and consumers will not require a boiler engineer to install it
September 2018
Nest Hello review: Google's smart facial-recognition video doorbell
Excellent smart device comes with optional 24/7 video recording with facial recognition – and works as a doorbell too
July 2018
Our phones and gadgets are now endangering the planet
John Harris
The energy used in our digital consumption is set to have a bigger impact on global warming than the entire aviation industry, says Guardian columnist John Harris
June 2018
Workers not paid legally by Amazon contractor in China
UK homes vulnerable to 'staggering' level of corporate surveillance
