The Wrap With Gillian Joseph

Leading AI figures, including Anthropic's chief and rivals Sam Altman of OpenAI and Elon Musk of xAI, have backed calls for a slowdown in artificial intelligence development over fears it could threaten humanity, with one expert warning of a potential catastrophe. Donald Trump accused them of fear mongering and argued that a pause would let China win the AI race. The discussion drew parallels to the atom bomb and highlighted the challenge of securing global cooperation, with references to the UK's Bletchley summit and the need for regulation.

Reform UK defended two £36 million donations from crypto billionaires Christopher Harborne and Ben Delo, insisting they are legal and unconditional, but the government suggested it could retrospectively cap overseas political donations, possibly forcing repayment. Commentators debated whether caps are justified, noting Labour's reliance on union funding and the perceived grubbiness of large political gifts.

Donald Trump, at his Doonbeg golf course during the Irish Open, reiterated his support for Irish reunification, called the UK's immigration policy and North Sea oil management poor, and announced the removal of tariffs on Irish whiskey. His remarks drew responses from Irish political leaders, including Sinn Fein's Mary Lou McDonald, who said Irish unity must be prepared for, while some analysts saw his comments as politically motivated ahead of the US midterms.