Author: SKYNEWS

The creator of an AI actress has told Sky News that synthetic performers will get more actors working, rather than steal jobs. AI production studio Particle6 has ruffled feathers in Hollywood by unveiling Tilly Norwood – a 20-something actress created by artificial intelligence. Speaking to Sky News’ Dominic Waghorn, actor and comedian Eline Van der Velden – who founded Particle6 – insisted Norwood is “not meant to take jobs in the traditional film”.AI entertainment is “developing as a completely separate genre”, she said, adding: “And that’s where Tilly is meant to stay. She’s meant to stay in the AI genre…

Day two after a budget is always an important moment.This is when the nerds and boffins of Britain’s fiscal thinktanks assemble to deliver their snap verdict on the chancellor’s decisions. The moment is more important than ever when, as was certainly the case this time, the budget is a big one.So what did the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) and the Resolution Foundation make of this year’s budget?Well, as you’d probably expect, they both fell short of distilling it into a single soundbite, but in broad terms, they both sounded somewhat positive. Money latest: Budget blow to holidays Yes, there…

An NHS screening programme for prostate cancer could come one step closer if it’s backed today by a key committee that advises the government.The National Screening Committee, comprised of doctors and economists, will reveal whether it now believes the benefits of screening outweigh any risks, and whether testing could be done at a reasonable cost to the NHS. When it last looked at the evidence in 2020, it rejected calls for screening, even though prostate cancer kills 12,000 men a year.But in recent months, there has been growing pressure for screening from high-profile public figures such as Olympian Sir Chris…

Prince William wasn’t close to being born when Fawlty Towers first aired – but now even his children have fallen in love with it.The Prince of Wales, 43, revealed his kids’ love of the classic British sitcom – which first aired in 1975 – during a conversation with star John Cleese. The pair shared a few words at the Tusk Conservation Awards at London’s Savoy Hotel on Wednesday night, which honoured those safeguarding the habitats and animals of Africa.William told Cleese they were having “a lot of family laughs” watching the show, and his children “love it”. Image: The Prince…

Sticking to Labour’s manifesto pledge and freezing income tax thresholds rather than raising income tax has hurt low- and middle-income earners, an influential thinktank has said. Millions of these workers “would have been better off with their tax rates rising than their thresholds being frozen”, according to the Resolution Foundation’s chief executive, Ruth Curtice. “Ironically, sticking to her manifesto tax pledge has cost millions of low-to-middle earners”, she said.Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced in her budget speech that the point at which people start paying higher rates of tax has been held. It means earners are set to be dragged into…

If a jeans advert hinting at actress Sydney Sweeney’s “good genes” sent the internet into a frenzy over eugenics – how about one for a company that’s actually selling good genes?Posters have appeared on the New York subway offering would-be parents the opportunity to “genetically optimise” their future baby. By signing up to their $8,999 (£6,800) service, Nucleus Genomics will profile the full DNA sequence of up to 20 embryos for couples undergoing IVF.The New York start-up’s slick app then allows would-be parents to review their brood for known disease genes, conditions like autism and ADHD, as well as traits…

Jimmy Cliff, a musical artist who helped bring reggae to an international audience, has died aged 81.Known for hits including You Can Get It If You Really Want, The Harder They Come, and Many Rivers To Cross, his career spanned six decades. Image: Cliff performing on the Pyramid Stage, at the Glastonbury Festival in 2003. Pic: PA His wife, Latifa Chambers wrote on Instagram: “It’s with profound sadness that I share that my husband, Jimmy Cliff, has crossed over due to a seizure followed by pneumonia.”I am thankful for his family, friends, fellow artists and coworkers who have shared his…

A raft of tax rises is expected in the budget this lunchtime – with the chancellor acknowledging that voters are “angry at the unfairness in our economy”.In a newly released video, Rachel Reeves said the public is “frustrated at the pace of change” – but vowed to “take the fair and necessary choices” to tackle the cost of living crisis. And in a dig at the Conservatives – especially former prime minister Liz Truss – she pledged not to impose austerity, lose control of public spending, or engage in more reckless borrowing.Budget 2025: Follow the latest in the Money blog…

Forget “ello, ello, ello” – modern policing’s now about “AI, AI, AI”.The UK’s first police virtual assistant, powered by artificial intelligence, has been launched by two police forces as part of a new trial. “Bobbi” interacts like a human and helps answer frequently asked questions – but it isn’t designed to be used in emergencies.Thames Valley Police, as well as the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, say the tool aims to complement online forms, phone lines and front counters… not replace them. Image: (Human) Chief Superintendent Simon Dodds is involved in the pilot. Pic: PA A spokesman for the…

Reports of a “board-level orchestrated coup” at the BBC are “complete nonsense”, non-executive director Sir Robbie Gibb has told MPs.Sir Robbie, whose position on the BBC board has been challenged by critics in recent weeks, was among senior leaders, including the broadcaster’s chair, Samir Shah, to face questions from the Culture, Media and Sport committee about the current crisis. The hearing took place in the wake of the fallout over the edit of a speech by US President Donald Trump, which prompted the resignation of the corporation’s director-general and the chief executive of BBC News, and the threat of a…