Judie Dench and John Cena to join Meta’s AI chatbot

📍 Top line: Meta is set to unveil major new AI-driven features at its upcoming Connect conference, marking another step in its race to lead the generative AI space. Among the major announcements will be the launch of celebrity voices for the companies’ AI chatbot, available across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, according to Reuters.

The chatbot will feature voices from stars like Judi Dench, Kristen Bell, John Cena, Awkwafina, and Keegan-Michael Key, giving users a more personalised experience when interacting with Meta's AI assistant. The feature will roll out in the U.S. and other English-speaking markets this week.

In addition to AI-powered chatbots, Meta is expected to unveil its first version of augmented-reality (AR) glasses, part of its growing hardware ecosystem.

TGI Fridays secure potential rescue deal

📍Top line: The UK operations of TGI Friday’s are set to be taken over by the owners of prominent London restaurants the German Gymnasium and Quaglino's, according to Sky News. The potential deal would see Breal Capital and Calveton taking over the majority of TGI Fridays' 89 UK locations, though a significant number of job losses are expected.

Analysts suggest that only 50 to 60 of TGI Fridays' sites are commercially viable, which would result in the new owners retaining about three-quarters of the current 3,200 employees.

🎈 It’s good news for TGI Friday’s fans, as it means the chain will likely stay on the high street in some form.

Elsewhere in business:

⚽ The Friedkin Group has reached a deal to acquire Farhad Moshiri's 94% stake in Everton, bringing an end to Moshiri's controversial ownership. The US-based group, led by Dan Friedkin, already owns Italian football club Roma and will now need approval from the Premier League, the Football Association, and the Financial Conduct Authority to finalise the transaction. This move will make Everton the 10th Premier League club under majority American ownership.

🍲 Dozens of Tesco products, which are price-matched to Aldi, differ significantly in the quantity of key ingredients, according to a BBC investigation. Out of 122 Tesco items analysed, 38 products had at least five percentage points less of the main ingredient than their Aldi counterparts, while 12 Tesco products contained more. For example, Tesco chicken nuggets from the Hearty Food Co range were found to contain only 39% chicken compared to 60% in Aldi’s Roosters nuggets.

Prime Minister to propose crackdown on benefit fraudsters

📍Top line: Sir Keir Starmer will today announce plans to crack down on benefit fraud by granting investigators new powers to access bank accounts and seize property. In his Labour conference speech, the Prime Minister is expected to propose a Fraud, Error, and Debt Bill, which would allow inspectors to demand financial information from banks if someone is suspected of falsely claiming benefits.

The legislation aims to save £1.6 billion over five years by recovering overpayments and tackling organised criminal gangs exploiting the system. Under the new bill, banks will be required to tell the benefit system if people have savings of more than £16,000, the cut-off point for claiming benefits, or have been abroad for more than the four weeks allowed for universal credit claimants.

Benefit fraud, estimated to cost £10 billion annually, has doubled since the pandemic. Ministers are also concerned that there is a growing tolerance among many Britons for fraudulent claims.

Elsewhere in the economy:

🏠 Nationwide, the UK’s largest building society, has announced a groundbreaking move to allow first-time buyers to borrow up to six times their annual income, surpassing the typical industry limit of 4.5 times. This significant shift is part of an ongoing mortgage price war among lenders.

👩‍⚕️ Nurses in England have rejected the government's offer of a 5.5% pay rise for 2024-2025, deeming it insufficient, according to the Royal College of Nursing (RCN). Out of 145,000 members who participated in an online vote, two-thirds expressed that the pay award was unfair.

HSBC have opened applications for their Wealth and Personal Banking Internship in London. Successful applicants will get to work with various Head Office teams contributing to the company’s ongoing projects and strategy. The 8 to 10 week programme starts in June 2025 and is open to any undergraduates currently in their penultimate year. Apply now here.

US to ban Chinese and Russian tech from cars

📍 Top line: The US is planning to ban certain hardware and software made in China and Russia from being used in cars, trucks, and buses due to national security concerns. Officials are worried that the technology, which is used for autonomous driving and vehicle connectivity, could be exploited by foreign adversaries to remotely manipulate vehicles on American roads.

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo described the measures as "targeted, proactive steps" to safeguard the US, noting that modern cars have cameras, GPS tracking, and other internet-connected technologies that could be used for surveillance or hacking. The proposed rules would primarily affect technology starting with model year 2027 for software and three years later for hardware, allowing the auto industry some time to adapt their supply chains.

🇨🇳 China has criticised the move, accusing the US of expanding the concept of national security to unfairly target Chinese companies, and urged the US to maintain fair and open business practices.

Elsewhere in tech

🎮 Tamagotchi is back! The iconic 90s virtual pet has seen global sales double from 2022 to 2023, sparking the opening of its first-ever UK store in Camden Market. While it still sports the classic egg shape, today's Tamagotchi comes with modern upgrades like Wi-Fi and social connectivity, keeping the nostalgia alive while adding fresh, interactive features.

📱 TikTok has permanently removed accounts associated with Russian state media for allegedly "engaging in covert influence operations." The move is part of the platform's broader effort to combat disinformation ahead of the 2024 U.S. presidential election.

💊 Psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, is as effective as antidepressants in treating depression, with added benefits, according to a new study. Researchers found that psilocybin not only reduced symptoms like sadness and fatigue but also boosted well-being, social connection, and sex drive. This holistic alternative may offer hope for those not responding to conventional treatments.

🏙️ Construction of Britain’s first laboratory skyscraper is set to begin in Canary Wharf this week, aiming to address the shortage of space for scientific research. The 23-storey building will be Europe’s tallest purpose-built commercial lab structure and is designed to expand the life sciences cluster in the area. The skyscraper is expected to open in 2027.

🇺🇸 Ryan Routh, the suspect in an alleged assassination attempt on Donald Trump, wrote a note declaring his intent to kill the former president, prosecutors say. The US Justice Department revealed the note, titled "Dear World," was written months before Routh's arrest at a Florida golf course where Trump was playing.