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PODCAST

Tech Life

BBC World Service

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.

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All Episodes

26:28

Inside a supercomputer: A Tech Life special

Tech Life ·

2026/10/06

What exactly is a supercomputer for? How does it work? And who gets to use it? Tech Life spends the day at the UK’s national supercomputer to get the answers. We get a rare tour of one of the most powerful computers in the country, and speak to scientists who have access to the computer about how it helps them with their research. (Photo: The inside of a supercomputer blade, with circuit boards, copper processors and memory sticks inside)Producer/presenter: Imran Rahman-Jones

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26:36

How an AI was tricked into breaking its own rules

Tech Life ·

2026/09/29

Security researchers have got an AI model to break its own rules and give advice on terrorist attacks and assassinations. They talk to Tech Life about their findings. Plus, indie game developer Jonathan Blow on why he spent 10 years inventing his own coding language and game engine for his newest release. And Shiona McCallum takes us through the latest in birth tech. Presenter: Chris Vallance Producer: Imran Rahman-Jones (Image: An illustration of a brain with “AI” written on it, underneath a

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26:29

Gauging China's AI strength

Tech Life ·

2026/09/22

How far has China come in developing AI technology? And what challenges does it face? An expert helps us understand the thinking in Beijing.Also this week: what can fifty thousand autonomous machines tell us about the future of robotics? And cutting edge tech helps cricket reach new audiences.Presenter: Chris VallanceProducer: Tom Quinn(Image: An illustration of the Chinese flag over electronic circuitry. Credit: Getty Images)

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26:29

Growing up in the age of AI

Tech Life ·

2026/09/15

AI is developing rapidly. What should parents and children make of it all? And how can young people navigate school and future careers when AI is becoming increasingly important? We speak to an expert who has written a new book about these issues.Also this week: we find out how one piece of health tech is helping scientists uncover disease-fighting data in menstrual blood. And satellite imaging is used by conservationists in Indonesia to protect the habitat of a rare species of orangutan.Presenter:

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26:29

The copyright extortionists

Tech Life ·

2026/09/08

Lots of people make a living from social media posts. But some have been targeted by an international extortion scheme. It involves a flood of false copyright infringement claims. It only stops if the extorter is paid. Imran Rahman-Jones has the story.Also this week: could AI help to spot wrong-way driving on Ireland's major roads? And we bring you the latest titles and tech on show at Gamescom in Germany.Presenter: Chris VallanceProducer: Tom Quinn(Image: Silhouettes of mobile phone users are seen

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26:29

What if AI doesn’t speak your language?

Tech Life ·

2026/09/01

English is the most widely-used language online. Internet material helps to train AI tools. So where does that leave people whose native language barely features on the web? We find out about a project helping AI to work in more of the world’s languages.Also this week: regulating tech might sound about as appealing as a trip to the dentist. But, like your check-up, it is important. With Europe and the United States taking different approaches, we’ll ask who gets to set the rules, and what that means

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26:29

Unlocking tech breakthroughs

Tech Life ·

2026/08/25

ARIA is the UK's research and development funding agency that's built to unlock new scientific and technological developments. We speak to ARIA's new boss about their work.Also this week: the tech that's helping disabled racing drivers to achieve their dreams. And the pros and cons of making AI-generated complaints.Presenter: Chris VallanceProducer: Tom Quinn(Image: An illustration of a light bulb, representing creative thoughts and ideas. Two human hands attempt to grasp the image. Credit: Getty

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26:28

Can AI tackle aviation’s climate problem?

Tech Life ·

2026/08/18

Cloudy lines in the sky, caused by aircraft engines, are called contrails. They're harmful to the environment. Now a project is underway, using AI, to reduce the amount generated. It's called Operation Blue Skies, and we speak to Google about their involvement.Also this week: we look at three very different approaches taken by manufacturers to help children and adults have a healthy relationship with mobile phones. And AI detectors - how do they work?Presenter: Shiona McCallumProducer: Tom

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26:38

School deepfake ransoms

Tech Life ·

2026/08/11

For many schools, it’s normal to post pictures of their own pupils online, either celebrating events or for marketing. But these photos could also be taken by criminals and used to make distressing deepfake AI images. We speak to the founder of a company which says it has a solution. Also on the programme, the incredible ways graphene can augment our senses – including to smell for diseases. And the student with dyslexia who invented his own tech to help him through his course.Presenter: Chris

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26:29

The future of flying?

Tech Life ·

2026/08/04

The transition from petrol to electric cars is well underway. But why are most aircraft in the skies still burning jet fuel? We look at new developments in electric aviation. Also this week: keeping children safe online - a leading international child charity talks to Tech Life.Presenter: Shiona McCallumProducer: Tom Quinn(Photo: An all-electric CX300 aircraft from BETA Technologies takes part in a demonstration flight in Scotland. It is a small white aircraft, flying at low altitude. The propeller

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26:29

Understanding AI Agents

Tech Life ·

2026/07/28

AI agents carry out tasks autonomously on behalf of users. But what are they capable of, and what do we need to know about them? With AI agents in the news, we speak to an expert.Also this week: can AI make the process of recruiting employees better? And we find out about the campaign to teach AI how to represent people with limb loss.Presenter: Chris VallanceProducer: Tom Quinn(Image: In the foreground, a hand holds a smartphone. The screen displays an AI Agent, with various task options

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26:29

Smell the future

Tech Life ·

2026/07/21

The nose of a dog is incredibly sensitive. And odour contains information. With the help of AI, electronic 'noses' are being used to sniff out complex odours, including diseases. Chris Vallance visits a company developing the technology.Also this week: Shiona McCallum is in Paris to see the tech that can help us understand sleep. And Liv McMahon accompanies Chris on a walk in a park. There, they try one of many bird identification apps that are proving a hit, especially with younger users.Presenter:

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26:28

Meet the humanoid robots performing surgery

Tech Life ·

2026/07/14

Humanoid robots have successfully performed surgery in an operating theatre for the first time. They were remotely controlled by surgeons. An expert involved talks to Tech Life.Also this week: the man who invented the infinite scroll tells us his latest thoughts on social media. And how do you stop big cargo ships pumping greenhouse gases into the air, as they move our goods around the world? We hear about a carbon capture solution.Presenter: Shiona McCallumProducer: Tom Quinn(Photo: Two

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26:29

Too young to scroll?

Tech Life ·

2026/07/07

What is a good age to give a child a smartphone? A community in Ireland might have the answer. In Greystones there's a voluntary agreement to wait until secondary school age. We hear from the school principal who leads the "It Takes A Village" initiative, and a local parent.Also this week: a woman tells Shiona McCallum how surviving a late-night attack inspired her to develop a wearable safety device. And AI was let loose to run a cafe in Sweden. Find out what happened next.Presenter: Shiona

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26:28

What happens when health information is shadow banned?

Tech Life ·

2026/06/30

We look at an issue known as shadow banning. What is it? How does it work? And could it be affecting health education messages for women and young girls?Also this week: we're feeling nostalgic about the discs that hold our favourite video games. And Shiona McCallum speaks to the founder of the Global Gaming League.Presenter: Shiona McCallum Producer: Tom Quinn(Photo: A young sports woman relaxes after a workout. She is lying on a yoga mat, looking at her smartphone. Credit: Getty Images)

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26:29

Viva technology!

Tech Life ·

2026/06/23

Shiona McCallum visits a huge technology show in Paris. There, she finds some of the latest kit that could be in your home or workplace before too long. And we're talking about data centres. They are central to our modern online lives. But not everyone thinks they are great. Shiona speaks to the head of a big global data centre company about some of the challenges facing the industry.Presenter: Shiona McCallum Producer: Tom Quinn(Photo: Shiona McCallum tries on some wearable tech at VivaTech in

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26:30

ChatGPT prompt generates disturbing images

Tech Life ·

2026/06/16

A group of cybersecurity researchers found a prompt which gets past ChatGPT’s guardrails and causes it to generate some disturbing images. We unpack what this tells us about the way AI is trained, and how it could be exploited.Also on the show, after a recent episode about potholes, we were contacted by the UK’s ministry of transport. We speak to their chief scientific adviser about potholes and the future of transport. And what is a quantum diamond magnetometer? We speak to the company which has

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26:29

Tackling lithium battery fires on planes

Tech Life ·

2026/06/09

When we fly we love to take our gadgets with us. But the lithium batteries that power them can catch fire. We find out about a new campaign urging us to pack with safety in mind.Also this week: the BBC's Lily Jamali visits an international competition for new AI applications in San Francisco. And protecting Africa's endangered wildlife is an increasingly high-tech business - a new scheme aims to give conservation workers the latest skills.Presenter: Chris Vallance Producer: Tom Quinn(Photo: A man is

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26:29

Microsoft's big quantum bet

Tech Life ·

2026/06/02

Microsoft unveils a new quantum chip. It's a big moment for the company, as its quantum programme has faced criticism. Is the tech giant's strategy finally paying off? And when will this chip deliver practical quantum computing? The BBC's Technology Editor, Zoe Kleinman, interviews Microsoft's executive vice president for quantum.Also this week: what new tech can soccer fans expect at the World Cup? Shiona McCallum reports from FIFA headquarters in Switzerland. And a leading critic of AI hype

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26:29

Teaching in the AI world

Tech Life ·

2026/05/26

We speak to Google about the introduction of artificial intelligence into classroom learning, and what they think this will mean for teachers and pupils.Also this week: Shiona McCallum reports on a new artificial limb which is making a big difference to the life of one man who has a very personal story to tell. And find out about the engineering technology that's being used to check the heart health of unborn babies as they grow in the womb.Presenter: Shiona McCallum Producer: Tom Quinn(Photo: A

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137 results

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