Episode notes
We dig through the evidence on the effect of screen time on babies and young children, with the help of some parents and experts. And after hearing our story of a woman who got her voice back with the help of AI, a listener got in touch to tell us his own moving story of hearing his father’s voice for the first time in 50 years. Producers: Imran Rahman-Jones and Vuyelo Ndlovu Presenter: Shiona McCallum (Image: A baby holds a smartphone, looking at the screen while lying in bed. Credit: Getty Images.)
Tech Life
by BBC World Service · English · Tech & Science
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…
More from Tech Life
-
7 Apr 2026 · 26 min
The problem with AI
Can we trust AI? Its answers are not always correct. And it only knows what it's been trained on, so some of its responses can contain bias. Tech experts offer us some solutions. Also this week: digital twinning is helping the restoration of a three hundred year old palace. And the joy of mundane video gaming! Presenter: Shiona McCallum Producer: Tom Quinn (Image: A person is typing on a laptop computer. Digital icons for AI, ticks (checkmarks) and warning signs float above the keyboard. Credit: Getty Images)
-
31 Mar 2026 · 26 min
Putting polluters in court
Climate change is making devastating extreme weather more common. Tech Life's Yasmin Morgan-Griffiths explores the science that could help communities take polluters to court. Also this week: we look at whether the boom in AI is causing a boom in electronic waste. And as astronauts head back to the Moon, we meet a veteran NASA space robot that's on a mission to return home. Presenter: Chris Vallance Producer: Tom Quinn (Photo: Smoke billows from a chimney at a coal-fired power station in Eastern Europe. The light of the sun is obscured by the dense dark smoke clouds. Credit: Reuters)
-
24 Mar 2026 · 26 min
How will AI help my doctor?
We discuss how AI could help health professionals work better, detect diseases earlier and even change the way people around the world look after themselves. Also this week: Shiona McCallum interviews a businesswoman who is trying to make female health tech more accessible and affordable. And we have a good news story that originated on the darker side of the internet. Presenter: Shiona McCallum Producer: Tom Quinn (Image: A photo of a female doctor sitting at a desk in a hospital lab. She is using AI technology on a laptop computer. Credit: Getty Images)
-
6 Oct 2026 · 26 minNew
Inside a supercomputer: A Tech Life special
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
-
29 Sep 2026 · 27 min
How an AI was tricked into breaking its own rules
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 birdcage. Credit: Getty Images.)
-
22 Sep 2026 · 26 min
Gauging China's AI strength
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 Vallance Producer: Tom Quinn (Image: An illustration of the Chinese flag over electronic circuitry. Credit: Getty Images)
-
15 Sep 2026 · 26 min
Growing up in the age of AI
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: Shiona McCallum Producer: Tom Quinn (Photo: A female school pupil sits at a laptop in a…
-
8 Sep 2026 · 26 min
The copyright extortionists
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 Vallance Producer: Tom Quinn (Image: Silhouettes of mobile phone users are seen next to a screen projection of Instagram's logo. Credit: Reuters)
-
1 Sep 2026 · 26 min
What if AI doesn’t speak your language?
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 for the rest of us. And there’s a growing range of technology aimed at older people. We’ll…
-
25 Aug 2026 · 26 min
Unlocking tech breakthroughs
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 Vallance Producer: Tom Quinn (Image: An illustration of a light bulb, representing creative thoughts and ideas. Two human hands attempt to grasp the image. Credit: Getty Images)
Take it with you
The Melo app keeps playing with the screen off, works in the car and on your watch, wakes you to your station, and browses the whole catalogue offline. Free, no ads, no account.
