The Know Daily - Monday 29 June 2026

_{Read in 4m 11s ∙ Listening to Tucker Wetmore ∙}

The Commonwealth Games baton relay is doing more than building excitement for the event in Glasgow this summer – it’s also supporting the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign. Communities across the Commonwealth have already collected more than 755,000 pieces of plastic, putting them well on the way towards their goal of stopping one million pieces from reaching rivers and seas before the games begin. It’s a hopeful example of how sport can bring people together and inspire positive change.

🧠 Cognitive offloading

Humans have long relied on tools to lighten the mental load, but the rise of AI is taking the outsourcing of our thinking – known as cognitive offloading – to new levels. 

Tell me more.
If you’ve ever used your phone to remember a birthday, relied on Google Maps to get somewhere or asked ChatGPT to summarise a document, you’ve engaged in cognitive offloading. The term refers to the habit of shifting mental tasks from our brains to external tools. Far from being a new phenomenon, humans have been doing it for centuries, as diaries, calendars and calculators all serve the same purpose. Today, though, digital technology means we can offload more than ever before, and often without even noticing it.

How does it affect everyday life?
It can help us organise increasingly busy lives, reduce mental clutter and focus our attention where it matters most. According to research from the University of California, the average person makes around 35,000 decisions every day, so freeing up some mental space for more important choices can be beneficial. Rather than trying to remember every little detail, external tools can take care of the routine stuff, leaving us with more capacity for the things that really require human thought and creativity. 

So what are the downsides?
The issue isn't that we use external tools, but how much we rely on them. If we're constantly outsourcing simpler tasks such as recalling information or generating ideas using AI, we may miss opportunities to practise those skills ourselves. Some experts worry this could make us more passive thinkers and affect long-term brain health with age.

Should we be worried?
Humans have always relied on tools to extend our capabilities, and few people would argue we should abandon notebooks or calculators. The challenge is finding the right balance. Technology is incredibly useful when it helps us think, but perhaps less so when it thinks entirely on our behalf.

Any tips for using technology without switching off?
Experts generally suggest treating digital tools and AI as collaborators rather than replacements. That might mean using AI to generate ideas rather than write the finished piece, taking time to solve some problems yourself before asking for help, or occasionally relying on your own memory instead of immediately reaching for your phone. Some researchers also recommend being intentional about which tasks you delegate, particularly when it comes to activities that involve creativity, critical thinking or learning new skills. It's about making sure our brains are getting as much of a workout as our devices.

💰 Money Monday: New analysis suggests around £1 in every £11 spent on UK government contractors now goes to private equity-owned companies.

• The bigger story: The research found that £24.4bn of public spending on contractors in the year to April 2025 went to companies backed by private equity, spanning sectors including healthcare, transport, waste management and education. The findings have renewed debate over the growing role of private equity in delivering public services, with some economists and thinktanks raising concerns about debt levels and profit incentives, while the industry's trade body argues private equity plays an important role in boosting investment, productivity and economic growth.

🗞️ Nearly 400 local newspapers are suing OpenAI and Microsoft, claiming they "scraped, copied, and ingested" their work without permission or compensation to train AI models. The lawsuit joins a dozen similar legal challenges brought against OpenAI since late 2023, led by The New York Times.

🐦‍⬛ A scientist who decoded the vocalisations birds use to communicate has won $100,000 for bringing us a step closer to a world where humans can talk to animals.

🏳️‍🌈 The first Pride march since Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban was voted out drew more than 10,000 people to Budapest, after he tried to ban last year’s event.

👽 Hidden magma systems on Mars – like we have on Earth – have been discovered by scientists and could have big implications for the search for alien life.

🌆 The world’s most beautiful cities (according to locals, who know a thing or two!) have been revealed. 

🔗 Last week’s most clicked: 5 habits to build permanent happiness into your life, the hottest Tube lines and the world’s most peaceful country.

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Trivia answer: A) The city’s government has voted in favour of not renewing the contracts of its two e-scooter providers.

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