BBC World Service
Tech Life
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.
Author
BBC World Service
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Podcast website
Latest episode
Jul 7, 2026
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Episodes
Coronavirus: Can the internet cope? 20.03.2020 22:59
What impact will the coronavirus pandemic have on the infrastructure of the internet? Zoe Kleinman speaks to David Belson from the Internet Society, and to Lisa Forte from Red Goat Cyber Security about the security implications for companies of having so many remote workers. Dhanaraj Thakur from the Web Foundation explains how the current health crisis exposes the billions of people who still live...
Apps helping to track coronavirus 13.03.2020 23:03
How governments are using apps and citizens' phone data to try to contain the pandemic. Plus, the robots helping to disinfect hospital wards using ultraviolet light. And Steven Levy, author of the new book "Facebook - the inside story" talks to us about Mark Zuckerberg's management of the social network. Presented by Rory Cellan-Jones, with BBC tech reporter Jane Wakefield, and special guest Ingri...
YouTube and conspiracy theories 06.03.2020 23:03
Users are seeing fewer conspiracy theories in their YouTube recommendations, a new study suggests. But the material is still available on the platform. Plus, what Amazon knows about you if you have a Ring connected doorbell. And how Silicon Valley thinks there's money in wellness at work. Presented by Rory Cellan-Jones with BBC tech reporter Zoe Kleinman, and special guest Shona Ghosh, UK tech edi...
Conspiracy theories rage online over coronavirus 28.02.2020 23:06
Is social media likely to help or hinder efforts to contain the outbreak? We hear about the lessons from past epidemics. Plus, is the tech business reaching "peak capitalism" and is there a future for it based on values other than making money? And why people keep choosing bad passwords. Presented by Rory Cellan-Jones, with BBC tech reporter Jane Wakefield. Produced by Jat Gill. (Image: A visitor...
US tells the UK to think again on Huawei 5G 24.02.2020 23:56
America's top cyber-security official tells us that the US is still working to get Britain to change its mind and drop Huawei tech from its 5G networks. Plus Apple warns of iPhone shortages ahead because of the Coronavirus. And how AI can help hospitals recruit the right nurses. Presented by Rory Cellan-Jones, with BBC tech reporter David Molloy, and special guest Marina Koytcheva, technology mark...
Coronavirus stops MWC tech show 14.02.2020 23:47
The mobile industry’s biggest annual event is called off over fears of attendees spreading the infection. But Samsung, which held its own launch event this week, revealed a new attempt at a phone with a folding screen. Plus, we visit Startup Grind Global to discover the latest ideas looking for Silicon Valley investors’ money. Presented by Rory Cellan-Jones, with BBC tech reporter Chris Fox, and s...
Is Silicon Valley still top for tech? 07.02.2020 23:00
Rory Cellan-Jones asks whether California is still the best home for tech startups. He speaks to a video games executive, a venture capitalist, a gig-economy driver, a social entrepreneur, and the Dean of Stanford University’s Medical School to get their view. And Rachael Myrow, senior tech editor from Californian radio station KQED gives her take on whether Silicon Valley is still on top. Produce...
UK gives Huawei the OK 31.01.2020 24:08
The Chinese tech giant will be allowed a limited role in Britain's 5G telecoms network. Plus, how Estonia wants to lure British tech talent after "Brexit". And is it becoming easier to do e-commerce in Africa? Presented by Zoe Kleinman, with BBC tech reporter Jane Wakefield, and special guest Raquel de Condado Marques, telecoms research analyst at IDC. Produced by Jat Gill. (Image: A 5G handset sh...
Tech's battle for the classroom 24.01.2020 24:03
Jane Wakefield checks out the latest educational tech at the Bett 2020 show in London and talks to Apple and Google about how they think technology can prepare students for the jobs of tomorrow. Plus she finds out what role robots can play in teaching. And is always-connected technology making you stressed and burnt-out? If so, we hear some tips that might help. With BBC tech reporter Chris Fox. P...
Microsoft vows to go 'carbon negative' 17.01.2020 23:01
The tech giant behind Windows and Office promises to remove all the carbon it has emitted since it was founded in 1975. Plus, is tracking for digital ads out of control? And we hear about a new BBC podcast in which teenagers interview technology pioneers. Presented by Jane Wakefield, with BBC tech reporter Chris Fox, and special guest Catherine Stihler, chief executive of the non-profit Open Knowl...
CES 2020 10.01.2020 23:32
Zoe Kleinman, Chris Fox, and Cody Godwin report from the giant annual CES event in Las Vegas on the latest tech that you might soon be buying. Zoe takes a ride in a Russian driverless car, and tastes a plant-based alternative to pork meat. Chris meets Samsung's new robot for the home, and Cody tries out a circular mobile phone. Produced by Jat Gill. (Image: Char Siu Buns made from meat-alternative...
Tech to watch in 2020 03.01.2020 23:52
Rory Cellan-Jones and special guests look ahead to the technology trends they expect to see in 2020 and discuss ideas for a better internet in the coming year. Plus they’ll preview the gigantic annual CES tech event in Las Vegas. With BBC Online tech editor Leo Kelion, and guests Catherine Miller from Doteveryone and Tom Standage from The Economist. Produced by Jat Gill. (Image: Stock photo of a s...
Taking stock of tech 27.12.2019 23:47
Rory Cellan-Jones and the BBC Online tech team give their assessment of the current state of tech in several important areas. They’ll be looking at technology ranging from smart cities to artificial intelligence, and from gaming to tech aimed specifically at women. With BBC reporters Chris Fox, Leo Kelion, Zoe Kleinman, and Jane Wakefield. Produced by Jat Gill. (Image: Young woman using smart bus...
Tech quiz of the year 2019 20.12.2019 22:41
How well do you know your tech? We test Chris Fox, Zoe Kleinman, Dave Lee and Jane Wakefield’s knowledge of the top technology stories of 2019. And please do play along with them and test yourself against our teams. Presented by Rory Cellan-Jones. (Image: Woman sitting in front of a Christmas tree, listening to headphones, Credit: iStock/ Getty Images Plus).
YouTube's plan to stop harassment 13.12.2019 23:03
The video-sharing giant will block clips that "maliciously insult someone" based on race, gender identity or sexuality. Plus, what does the British general election tell us about the effectiveness of paid-for social media campaigning? Presented by Rory Cellan-Jones, with BBC tech reporter Chris Fox, and special guest Chris Stokel-Walker, author of "YouTubers". (Image: Stock photo of a young man in...
China pushes facial recognition 06.12.2019 23:04
Mobile phone buyers in China are made to provide facial recognition data when they get a new plan. But are Chinese citizens comfortable with the rapid rollout of such tech? Plus, how advances in machine learning could help patients with Parkinson's Disease manage their symptoms better. Presented by Rory Cellan-Jones, with BBC tech reporter Zoe Kleinman, and special guest Stephanie Hare, technology...
TikTok restores teen's viral video 29.11.2019 24:07
The Chinese-owned platform is forced to back down after removing a US teenager's viral video highlighting China's treatment of Uighur Muslims. Plus, we chat to Kenyan startup Kwara, which is trying to stop people without access to bank lending falling into the hands of loan sharks. And the charity Scope reveals that many websites and apps remain inaccessible to people with disabilities. Presented...
Ford Mustang goes electric 22.11.2019 23:04
Does an electric model of the iconic muscle-car signal the future for the motor industry? Plus, the founder of Wikipedia Jimmy Wales tells us why he thinks his new social network can lure people away from Facebook and Twitter. And the head of Google Cloud AI talks to us about solving the "black box" problem. Presented by Rory Cellan-Jones, with BBC tech reporter Chris Fox, and special guest Kate B...
Facebook battles harmful posts 15.11.2019 23:04
New figures suggest the tech giant is removing a growing amount of banned content. Is Facebook getting better at finding it or is it losing control of the problem? Plus, we chat to Eben Upton, creator of the Raspberry Pi, who has been given a Lovie lifetime achievement award for the affordable computer's success. And Damian Bradfield, author of "The Trust Manifesto", tells us why he thinks trust b...
Can Ireland reshape big tech? 08.11.2019 23:45
How Ireland’s Data Protection Commissioner could change the way big tech firms operate. Plus why Dublin is a favoured place for startups. And economists and comedians gather in the city of Kilkenny for the tenth annual Kilkenomics festival where cryptocurrency is one of the topics on the agenda. Presented by Rory Cellan-Jones, with BBC tech reporter Jane Wakefield and special guests Peter Antonion...
The power of online political ads 01.11.2019 24:30
Why is Twitter banning political ads when Facebook insists it will keep on carrying them? Plus, some tech products aimed at women have been called "femtech". Does the label help or hinder inclusivity? DeepMind's AlphaStar artificial intelligence has reached the top league of one of the most popular esport video games Starcraft 2. We talk to a top player of the game who has competed against it. And...
Indian call centre scam shut down 25.10.2019 23:04
We follow Indian cyber police in the city of Kolkata as they raid a call centre suspected of scamming people in the US and UK. Plus, Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg defends the Libra digital currency project. And how robots could help more patients in India's hospitals receive the surgery they need. Presented by Rory Cellan-Jones, with BBC reporter Szu Ping Chan, and special guest Izabella Kaminska fro...
Google Pixel 4 boasts radar 18.10.2019 23:03
The latest handset from Google introduces a new way to control a phone without touching it. Is it actually useful, or an interesting gimmick? And the company's hardware chief Rick Osterloh tells us why he would warn a house-guest about the presence of smart devices. Plus, Nir Eyal, author of the new book "Indistractable" shares his strategies to help us all be less distracted by our gadgets. Prese...
US and China battle over tech 11.10.2019 23:05
In a week of rising tension between US and China over trade we hear how some of China's biggest tech firms are caught in the cross-fire. And Rory Cellan-Jones asks why Apple has decided to take down a Hong Kong mapping app? As Ada Lovelace Day spreads around the world to celebrate women in science and tech, the BBC's Zoe Kleinman asks its founder whether conditions have actually improved since the...
The rise and rise of TikTok 04.10.2019 24:14
Why the Chinese video-sharing app seems to have Facebook worried. Plus, a leading AI researcher in Ghana tells us why algorithms used in Africa but trained on data from elsewhere could make biased decisions. And how a common definition of online abuse could help to tackle it more effectively. Presented by Rory Cellan-Jones, with BBC tech reporter Jane Wakefield, and special guest Parmy Olson, tech...
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