Technology

As attention across the technology sector remains dominated by artificial intelligence, a parallel and intensifying race for quantum computing leadership is emerging among major powers.

Reporting on developments as of May 24, 2026, Channel 4 News’ Substack notes that the White House is preparing to announce $2 billion in grants for quantum technologies and plans to take ownership stakes in quantum firms. The British government has pledged an additional £2 billion to the sector, underscoring a US-UK push to accelerate research, commercialization and strategic control of quantum-capable companies.

Those moves come amid evidence that quantum efforts are already producing advanced applications in other countries, signalling a global scramble to secure technological advantages beyond the current AI narrative.

At the same time, the artificial intelligence industry continues to make headlines. AI News Today reported that Anthropic is on track to close a funding round expected to exceed $30 billion and to reach a pre-money valuation above $900 billion, a mark that would make it the most valuable private AI startup and place it ahead of OpenAI in private-market valuation. Such massive capital inflows illustrate the scale of investor appetite driving competition among AI firms.

That competition is also producing side effects in corporate messaging. The Guardian reports growing concern among UK public relations firms about so-called "AI washing," in which companies relabel existing products or low-tech services as AI-driven to ride the sector’s hype cycle. PR professionals say the trend reflects commercial pressure to be seen as part of the AI boom even when generative AI capabilities are not present.

The broader technology ecosystem is being reshaped by high-value mergers and breakthroughs outside software. Taipei Times reports that Uber has proposed a roughly €10 billion takeover of Germany’s Delivery Hero, a move that would reshape consolidation in on-demand delivery and mobility services.