Billy Perrigo

Billy Perrigo is a correspondent at TIME based in the London bureau. He covers the tech industry, focusing the companies reshaping our world in strange and unexpected ways. His investigation ‘Inside Facebook’s African Sweatshop’ was shortlisted for the 2022 Orwell Prize.

Recent Articles

OpenAI's Chaotic Week

Over five chaotic days, the world’s leading AI company appeared to be on the verge of imploding in a power struggle.

By Billy Perrigo

A First Look at Humane’s Ai Pin

The startup's new AI-powered wearable retails at $699, plus a $24 per month subscription fee.

By Billy Perrigo/San Francisco

OpenAI Users Can Now Build Their Own Custom Version of ChatGPT

At a developer conference in San Francisco, the company also announced a new, more powerful model of GPT-4 and slashed prices.

By Billy Perrigo

Inside the U.K.’s AI Safety Summit

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced that AI labs would give governments early access to their systems, but details were light.

By Billy Perrigo / Bletchley, U.K.

Scientists Break AI to Make It Safer

Scientists teamed up to stress test an AI large language model, to better guard against misinformation.

By Billy Perrigo

How the AI Landscape Has Shifted Over the Past Year

Governments made a “lack of concrete progress” toward regulating AI despite concern about AI safety, the 2023 'State of AI' report found.

By Billy Perrigo

Inside One Indian iPhone Factory

Apple is betting big on India as it pivots iPhone manufacturing from China. Here's how that's playing out for workers in South India

By Billy Perrigo/Sriperumbudur, India

What the Luddites Can Teach Us About AI

Author Brian Merchant says the Luddites have never been more relevant.

By Billy Perrigo

California Bill Proposes Regulating AI

A new bill in California, where many AI companies are based, adds to national and global efforts to regulate the technology

By Billy Perrigo

AI By the People, For the People

Thanks to Karya, millions of people whose languages are marginalized online could gain better access to AI.

By Billy Perrigo/Karnataka, India

AI Gig Workers Face 'Unfair' Work Conditions

The human gig workers behind AI are often subjected to "unfair" working conditions, a new Oxford report says

By Billy Perrigo

Former TikTok Moderator Threatens Lawsuit in Kenya

A former TikTok content moderator claims that he developed PTSD as a result of his work.

By Billy Perrigo

OpenAI Lobbied E.U. to Water Down AI Law

In public, OpenAI is calling for stronger AI guardrails. But documents show the company lobbied to weaken E.U. regulation

By Billy Perrigo

European Parliament Approves Landmark AI Act

E.U. lawmakers voted to approve the text of the law that would ban real-time facial recognition, and bring in transparency requirements.

By Billy Perrigo and Anna Gordon

Her App Blocked Harassment On Twitter. Elon Musk Killed It

Tracy Chou's Block Party has closed its doors, a victim of soaring new bills imposed by new owner Elon Musk.

By Billy Perrigo

AI Is as Risky as Nuclear War, Top CEOs Say

The CEOs of the leading AI companies made their most unified statement yet about the existential risks posed by the technology

By Billy Perrigo

OpenAI Could Quit Europe Over New AI Rules, CEO Warns

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said his company could “cease operating” in the E.U. if it is unable to comply with the provisions of planned AI rules.

By Billy Perrigo/London

Sam Altman Avoids the Zuckerberg Treatment

Sam Altman received a warmer welcome from lawmakers than other tech CEOs at a recent Senate hearing

By Billy Perrigo

African AI Workers Vote to Unionize

More than 150 workers for Facebook, TikTok and ChatGPT gathered in Nairobi to establish the first African Content Moderators Union

By Billy Perrigo

A History of Elon Musk's Twitter U-Turns

Here are some of the best examples of Musk saying one thing and then doing another at the company

By Billy Perrigo
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