The Know Daily - Monday 18 May 2026

_{Read in 4m 04s ∙ Listening to Ed Sheeran & Martin Garrix ∙}

A climate tech company has turned a sci-fi idea into reality: pulling drinking water straight out of the air. Using materials inspired by Nobel Prize–winning research, the system grabs moisture from the atmosphere (even in really dry deserts) and turns it into clean, near-distilled water. Each unit can produce up to 1,000 litres a day, which could be a game-changer for places where fresh water is hard to come by or unreliable.

🤖 EU rules for AI

The EU has spent years positioning itself as a strong regulator of artificial intelligence. But now, it’s softening parts of those rules in a move that reflects growing concern about whether strict regulation could slow innovation.

So what’s actually changing?
As reported by The Week, the EU has agreed to delay some of the strictest parts of its AI Act, particularly rules covering “high-risk” AI systems used in areas like hiring, healthcare, education and border control. These systems were set to face tighter requirements around transparency, risk testing and human oversight – for example, companies may need to explain how AI makes decisions or assess risks around bias and discrimination.

Instead of taking effect in 2026, some requirements will now be pushed back to 2027 or 2028. The changes are designed to simplify compliance and reduce pressure on businesses, especially smaller companies. EU officials insist this isn’t about abandoning regulation altogether, but about making the rollout more practical and giving companies more time to adapt.

Why is the EU rolling back?
A big factor is competitiveness. Reuters reported that tech companies and some European governments have argued that overly complex AI rules risk making Europe less attractive for innovation compared with the US or China. Germany and France, in particular, have pushed for a more flexible approach, while business groups warned that compliance costs could slow investment and AI development.

What about the rest of the world?
The EU has generally focused on precaution and consumer protection, creating detailed rules around transparency, risk and accountability. The US, by contrast, has so far leaned towards lighter-touch regulation, with a bigger focus on encouraging innovation and competition between AI companies. Though it has been criticised for its “patchwork” approach to legislation. Meanwhile, countries like China are taking a more state-controlled approach, with tighter rules around content, security and platform oversight.

And closer to home?
The UK has tried to position itself somewhere in the middle. Rather than introducing one large AI law, it has favoured a more flexible system where existing regulators, like the Competition and Markets Authority and the Information Commissioner’s Office, oversee AI within their own sectors. The government has argued this approach could help innovation move faster while still managing risks.

So what does this mean in practice?
For businesses developing AI tools, the delays will likely mean more breathing room and fewer immediate compliance pressures. For consumers, though, the debate is really about balance: how do governments encourage innovation without moving so quickly that protections around safety, bias, misinformation or privacy fall behind.

💰 Money Monday: The gender pension gap starts widening from the age of 28, with new research from AJ Bell showing a noticeable shift in how much men and women are saving for retirement.

• The bigger story: Up to the age of 28, pension saving tends to look broadly similar between men and women, but after that point the paths begin to split, often linked to changes in work patterns, pay progression and time out of the workforce. That can lead to women ending up with less in their pension pot over time. However, the research also highlights that the gap isn’t fixed early on – small, consistent contributions and later career boosts can make a meaningful difference, helping people stay on track and build stronger financial security over the long term.

👩🏻‍🎤 Bulgaria won the 70th Eurovision contest with the song Bangaranga, performed by singer Dara.

🗳️ Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has been cleared to put his name forward as a Labour candidate at the Makerfield by-election. If he wins and secures the backing of 81 MPs, he could trigger a party leadership contest.

🏆 The Red Roses have won their eighth successive Women’s Six Nations after a victorious finale against France – well done ladies! 

🦷 Stone drills were used to treat cavities almost 60,000 years ago in what’s the earliest known evidence of dental treatment, archaeologists have found. 

🏝️ A Greek island is currently up for auction for less than the price of a London flat – anyone fancy a whiparound? 

🔗 Last week’s most clicked: 53% of women feel their pain is dismissed, the real face of Anne Boleyn and Britain’s friendliest place.

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Trivia answer: C) The Beatles are returning to one of their most iconic locations via a new seven-floor fan experience set.

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