Industry

• A new US science and technology council has been established including leaders from Meta, Nvidia, Oracle, Google, and AMD to guide national AI strategy and policy. • The council will shape policy in response to global competition, particularly with China, while prioritizing innovation acceleration and reducing regulatory barriers. • This government-industry alignment reflects the administration's emphasis on AI competitiveness and signals closer integration between policymaking and tech sector interests.

Report shows black music accounts for 80 per cent of money generated by UK industry in past 30 yearsLeading figures in the UK music industry are calling for more work to be done to support black talent in executive roles as a report finds that 80% of UK music revenue has been generated by black music in the past 30 years.A recent report by UK Music states that black music has made £24.5bn out of the £30bn generated by the UK music industry in the past 30 years. However, industry figures have highlighted that black people are still kept out of top executive roles. Continue reading...

Weak demand and global trade pressures hit ouput, with energy price rises expected to bring further dropBusiness live – latest updatesFewer cars rolled off UK production lines in February in what the industry called an “extremely worrying” slump even before the impact of the Iran war was felt.Vehicle production was 17% lower last month on the same period in 2025, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, as exports dropped sharply. Continue reading...

Papers reveal how chemical lobby influenced policy, reversing Biden-era limits on a common carcinogenSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxA new trove of chemical producer and US Environmental Protection Agency documents reveal an elaborate industry operation that killed strong regulations around formaldehyde, a highly toxic carcinogen widely used in everyday goods from cosmetics to furniture to craft supplies.The Biden EPA in late 2024 determined any exposure to formaldehyde increased the risk of cancer and other health problems. The Trump EPA in late 2025 moved to undo those findings and replace them with less protective figures. Continue reading...

Industry groups say delay to defence investment plan (DIP) leaving UK behind in global race for fundingDefence manufacturers are going bust while others have been left in “paralysis” and “bleeding cash” as they wait for a long-delayed UK military spending plan for the next decade, MPs have heard.Industry groups said that a more than six-month delay to the defence investment plan (DIP) has also left the UK behind Germany and the US in attracting cash from global investors. Continue reading...

• California's new legislation AB 2602 and AB 1836 now require explicit consent and detailed descriptions for creating digital replicas of performers, addressing growing concerns over generative AI in entertainment. • Union agreements place additional limitations on how entertainment companies use generative AI tools, providing protections for performers and creatives amid ongoing industry consolidation. • The Los Angeles entertainment sector continues to navigate back-to-back crises including COVID-19, strikes, and fires, but industry experts predict consolidation will create opportunities for nimble new players and innovative talent pursuing independent projects.

Doubling tariffs on imported steel will raise cost of the metal when Iran war is already inflating steel and concrete pricesOne of HS2’s biggest contractors has warned the government that raising tariffs on foreign steel imports will “exacerbate” cost pressures for the UK construction industry, amid growing concern over the £100bn railway’s rising budget.Ministers said last week they would double the tariffs on imported steel and slash the amount that can be bought from overseas, in an attempt to save Britain’s struggling steelmakers. Continue reading...