Britain’s electric dreams will never come true while China has a materials advantage

Rare earth elements hold the key to a carbon-free future, but a new report reveals the UK’s shortcomings and vulnerabilities

From Hitchhiker’s Paranoid Android to Wall-E: why are pop culture robots so sad?

‘Sentient’ AI seems to shoulder the weight of the world. Maybe we humans want it that way

The big idea: should we worry about sentient AI?

A Google employee raised the alarm about a chatbot he believes is conscious. A philosopher asks if he was right to do so

Ode to the Spring review – Chinese exploration of pandemic ground zero in Wuhan

Telling five Covid-related stories, this platitudinous urban-interconnection drama offers lectures on virtue and self-sacrifice and feels like state propaganda

Goodbye silicone? A new era of breast reconstruction is on the horizon

Tissue-regrowing implants, which will enter human trials next week, could provide comfortable and accessible alternatives to silicone

Is your smartphone ruining your memory? A special report on the rise of ‘digital amnesia’

‘I can’t remember anything’ is a common complaint these days. But is it because we rely so heavily on our smartphones? And do the endless alerts and distractions stop us forming new memories?

Dame Deborah James obituary

Frank, warm and funny podcaster and campaigner who raised millions for bowel cancer charities

Wrist-worn trackers can detect Covid before symptoms, study finds

Sensor tech can alert wearer to Covid early, helping to prevent onward transmission

UK flight schools hire instructors for electric aircraft as fuel prices bite

Pilot schools are recruiting instructors to meet demand for more sustainable and cheaper training

China says anti-missile test not ‘aimed at any country’ despite rising tensions

Ballistic missile interception system trial follows North Korean tests and deployment of US THAAD system in South Korea

Greenery and bright colours in cities can boost morale – study

Researchers in France used virtual reality to test the impact of tweaks made to urban settings

TechScape: why you shouldn’t worry about sentient AI … yet

A researcher says Google has created an AI being with smarts and soul, but my own attempt reveals the truth behind those claims. Plus, the latest crypto crash

Human-like programs abuse our empathy – even Google engineers aren’t immune

Consumers need transparency about how such systems are used, says professor of linguistics Emily M Bender

Tyrannosaurus cheques? UK’s dino-industry pins hopes on Jurassic World Dominion

Theme parks, toy brands and even coastal hotspots are looking to the latest dinosaur blockbuster for a bump in revenue

Scientists make ‘slightly sweaty’ robot finger with living skin

Japanese innovation thought to have potential to ‘build a new relationship between humans and robots’