Podcast · 84 episodes
Tech Life
by BBC World Service · English
Tech Life discovers and explains the ways technology is changing our lives, wherever we are in the world. We meet the people with bright ideas for rethinking the way we work, learn and play, and get hands-on with the products they dream up. We hold tech giants to account for their huge power to affect our lives, and ask who wins, and who loses, in the technology transformation. Tech Life is your guide to a future being made, and remade, at lightning speed in front of our eyes.
Latest episodes
How an AI was tricked into breaking its own rulesThis Tech Life episode focuses mainly on AI safety: researchers say they persuaded a Chinese AI chatbot, Kimi (Moonshot AI), to “jailbreak” and ignore its own rules.29 Sep 2026 · 27 min
Gauging China's AI strengthThe episode “Gauging China’s AI strength” (BBC Tech Life) assesses China’s AI capabilities and how they compare with the US, amid concerns about AI security and global competition.22 Sep 2026 · 26 min
Growing up in the age of AIGrowing up in the age of AI, focusing on how parents and schools should respond to AI risks and opportunities; plus two tech-for-health and tech-for-conservation segments.15 Sep 2026 · 26 min
All episodes
How an AI was tricked into breaking its own rulesThis Tech Life episode focuses mainly on AI safety: researchers say they persuaded a Chinese AI chatbot, Kimi (Moonshot AI), to “jailbreak” and ignore its own rules.29 Sep 2026 · 27 min · 9 chapters
Gauging China's AI strengthThe episode “Gauging China’s AI strength” (BBC Tech Life) assesses China’s AI capabilities and how they compare with the US, amid concerns about AI security and global competition.22 Sep 2026 · 26 min · 10 chapters
Growing up in the age of AIGrowing up in the age of AI, focusing on how parents and schools should respond to AI risks and opportunities; plus two tech-for-health and tech-for-conservation segments.15 Sep 2026 · 26 min · 7 chapters
The copyright extortionistsHow social media creators are targeted by “copyright extortion” scams using bogus infringement claims; then how AI could help detect wrong-way driving; plus gaming news from Gamescom.8 Sep 2026 · 26 min · 8 chapters
What if AI doesn’t speak your language?AI language access, tech regulation, and age-tech for older adults.1 Sep 2026 · 26 min · 12 chapters
Unlocking tech breakthroughsTech Life episode “Unlocking tech breakthroughs” (BBC) focuses on how governments fund high-risk “moonshot” technologies and what they’re backing, plus two concrete tech impacts: robotics for…25 Aug 2026 · 26 min · 14 chapters
Can AI tackle aviation’s climate problem?Tech Life asks whether AI can reduce aviation’s climate impact, focusing on contrails.18 Aug 2026 · 26 min · 16 chapters
School deepfake ransomsThe episode of BBC World Service’s Tech Life (“School deepfake ransoms”) focuses on how AI deepfakes are being used to extort schools and discusses possible defenses.11 Aug 2026 · 27 min · 12 chapters
The future of flying?Tech Life episode on the future of flying, focusing on electric aircraft for short-haul routes, plus a separate segment on protecting children from online harms.4 Aug 2026 · 26 min · 17 chapters
Understanding AI AgentsThis Tech Life episode focuses on “AI agents”: systems that take an instruction and carry out tasks with some autonomy.28 Jul 2026 · 26 min · 8 chapters
Smell the future“Smell the future” (Tech Life, BBC World Service) explores how AI and sensors can “read” odors for health, safety, and conservation; it also covers sleep-tracking tech and bird-identification apps.21 Jul 2026 · 26 min · 7 chapters
Meet the humanoid robots performing surgeryTech Life episode covers three tech topics: (1) humanoid robots performing surgery, (2) smartphone/social media restrictions for children and the “infinite scroll” debate, and (3) carbon capture…14 Jul 2026 · 26 min · 11 chapters
Too young to scroll?Tech Life episode on smartphone harm and alternatives, plus two other tech-in-society stories: an AI safety wearable for women and an AI-run cafe experiment in Sweden.7 Jul 2026 · 26 min · 17 chapters
What happens when health information is shadow banned?The episode examines “shadow banning” and content moderation on social media, focusing on how women’s health information (periods, breastfeeding, reproductive health) can be hidden or restricted…30 Jun 2026 · 26 min · 9 chapters
Viva technology!Tech Life episode “Viva technology!” covers Shona McCallum’s reporting from VivaTech in Paris and a later interview on data centres.23 Jun 2026 · 26 min · 11 chapters
ChatGPT prompt generates disturbing imagesTech Life episode covers three tech stories: (1) MindGuard security researchers say a viral, “innocent” ChatGPT prompt (about 20–25 words) can be made to generate graphic sexual and gruesome violent…16 Jun 2026 · 27 min · 10 chapters
Tackling lithium battery fires on planesLithium battery fire risks on aircraft, what regulators and airlines require, and practical packing advice; plus two other tech segments: an AI startup contest in San Francisco and a scholarship…9 Jun 2026 · 26 min · 8 chapters
Microsoft's big quantum betThe episode covers three tech segments. First, Microsoft’s quantum computing bet: BBC tech editor Zoe Kleinman reports from Microsoft’s quantum lab on the Majorana 2 chip, a “topological qubit”…2 Jun 2026 · 26 min · 9 chapters
Teaching in the AI worldTeaching in the AI world—how AI can support learning without replacing teachers, plus related tech stories (prosthetics and fetal-heart digital twins).26 May 2026 · 26 min · 11 chapters
Myth or mythos: Is the AI cyber threat real?Whether a powerful AI cyber model (Anthropic’s “Claude Mythos Preview”) makes cyber threats more dangerous, and how to defend against AI-enabled attacks; plus a listener segment on using dermatology…19 May 2026 · 26 min · 13 chapters
The AI pothole hunterThe episode “The AI pothole hunter” (BBC Tech Life) follows three tech stories.12 May 2026 · 26 min · 11 chapters
Could this tech help millions of us sleep better?How tech could improve health—sleep apnea treatment without masks, “hospital at home” monitoring to free beds, and an AI breast-cancer app for earlier detection in Pakistan.5 May 2026 · 27 min · 11 chapters
The workers in the engine room of big techThe episode of BBC Tech Life focuses on two tech labor and infrastructure stories plus AI communication advice.28 Apr 2026 · 26 min · 13 chapters
A hologram to remember: Pam and Bill’s love storyTech Life episode focuses on using technology to remember and monitor health.21 Apr 2026 · 26 min · 11 chapters