Photo of Patricia Clarke
Patricia Clarke

Technology Reporter

Patricia Clarke reports on the ways emerging technologies are reshaping lives, business and power. Her work has earned multiple accolades, including a 2024 Wincott Award for her investigation into boardroom battles at OpenAI.

Photo of Patricia Clarke

Patricia Clarke

Technology Reporter

Patricia Clarke reports on the ways emerging technologies are reshaping lives, business and power. Her work has earned multiple accolades, including a 2024 Wincott Award for her investigation into boardroom battles at OpenAI.

  • Patricia Clarke
    ‘I’m sorry Dave’: when AI agents go rogue

    In the rush to embrace AI, some firms are risking ‘catastrophic’ errors – but at least the chatbots are owning up to them

    Thu, 13 Nov 2025

  • Patricia Clarke
    How did Gen Z in Nepal overthrow a government?

    With young people in Nepal using social media sites like Discord to organise protests, are we witnessing the South Asian Spring? How influential is Elon Musk in British politics following his message to the Unite the Kingdom protestors? And how did the Assad regime systematically steal hundreds of children from their families?    Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer's Patricia Clarke, Chloe Hadjimatheou and Stephen Armstrong, as they each try to pitch the top story of the day.  

    35 min • S1, E268

  • Patricia Clarke
    What could possibly burst Nvidia’s $5tn bubble?

    Now more valuable than the German economy, the chipmaker has invested in AI ventures with unclear returns

    Sat, 1 Nov 2025

  • Patricia Clarke
    The immortality bros: the new frontiers of health

    A  city in Honduras is home to a start-up selling experimental gene therapies for $25,000 a dose. Now, those radical ideas are reaching the United States. What happens when biohacking leaves the libertarian fringes and reaches Capitol Hill?

    41 min • S1, E323

  • Patricia Clarke
    Messageboard 4chan refuses to pay fine over ‘free speech’

    The US messageboard is openly defying British regulators and refusing to comply with the Online Safety Act

    Sun, 26 Oct 2025

  • Patricia Clarke
    Are we in a “Hot Reform Summer”?

    As the UK Parliament takes its summer break, has Reform seized the media spotlight and emerged as a viable third-party contender? What are the risks of uploading ID to age-restricted websites under the Online Safety Act? Will Trump impose his peace deal deadline on Russia if Putin refuses negotiations?   Rebecca Moore is joined by The New Statesman's Associate Political Editor, Rachel Cunliffe. Plus the Observer's Poppy Bullard and Patricia Clarke, as they battle it out and pitch the top stories of the day.  

    34 min • S1, E257

  • Patricia Clarke
    Driverless cars battle to rule London roads

    Waymo will launch robotaxi service in 2026 while UK rival Wayve plans autonomous trials next spring

    Sun, 19 Oct 2025

  • Patricia Clarke
    Who is the tech billionaire cosying up to Donald Trump?

    Is Keir Starmer facing his most significant rebellion yet? Why is Chinese billionaire Justin Sun being accused of buying access to Donald Trump? And what should Health Secretary Wes Streeting focus on if he wants to fix the NHS? Rebecca Moore is joined by host of the Westminster Insider podcast Sascha O’Sullivan, alongside The Observer’s Patricia Clarke and Jon Ungoed-Thomas, as they battle it out and pitch the top stories of the day.

    35 min • S1, E246

  • Patricia Clarke
    Tech billionaire Thiel claims regulators are the ‘antichrist’

    One of Silicon Valley’s most influential donors rails against ‘legionnaires of the antichrist’

    Sun, 19 Oct 2025

  • Patricia Clarke
    Did Democrats try to hide Joe Biden’s deteriorating health?

    Alex Thompson and Jake Tapper’s book, Original Sin alleges that officials working for Biden’s administration tried to keep what they describe as the president’s mental decline hidden. Is the media guilty of sensationalising Cassie Ventura’s testimony and the trial involving Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs? Why are changes to the fisheries policies between the EU and UK causing such a fuss? Giles Whittell is joined by Anu Anand, Stephen Armstrong and Patricia Clarke as they battle to pitch the top story of the day.

    37 min • S1, E233

  • Patricia Clarke
    Blood rejuvenation, gut pills and beaded leggings

    Billions of dollars are being poured into the longevity industry, with investors rapidly warming to cryonics

    Sat, 27 Sept 2025

  • Patricia Clarke
    How has President Trump ushered in a new age of corruption?

    The presidency and personal gain now go hand in hand – and no one has been able to do anything about it.

    7 min • S1, E1105

  • Patricia Clarke
    Billions for UK data centres pose challenge for power grid

    Warning of vast demands on water and energy if AI infrastructure expands in UK with new projects

    Sat, 20 Sept 2025

  • Patricia Clarke
    Why are the Qataris reportedly gifting Donald Trump a $400mn jumbo jet?

    How will Labour’s immigration legislation affect the UK’s care sector? What are the potential conflicts of interests if Trump accepts a jet from Qatar? The Indian Premier League is set to return after the competition was suspended amid rising tension in Kashmir, but what does this tell us about India's power in international cricket? Rebecca Moore is joined by Orwell Prize winning Pete Apps, alongside The Observer’s Patricia Clarke and Jessy Parker Humphreys, as they battle to pitch the top story of the day.

    35 min • S1, E230

  • Patricia Clarke
    Analyst warns of extremists’ reactions online

    Uncensored viral footage of Charlie Kirk’s murder has created a febrile and divisive mood online, experts say

    Sun, 14 Sept 2025

  • Patricia Clarke
    Are Chatbots afraid of dying?

    Since December 2024, a run of scientific papers has illustrated AI’s capacity for deception. Deep learning pioneer Yoshua Bengio says the consequences could be existential. Writer: Patricia Clarke Producer: Ada Barumé Host: Tomini Babs Photography: Joe Mee Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore

    9 min • S1, E1094

  • Patricia Clarke
    The millionaire guinea pigs risking death to live for ever

    Firms offering untested ‘longevity’ jabs and therapies were once based in offshore free zones. Now a US state is relaxing the rules

    Sun, 7 Sept 2025

  • Patricia Clarke
    What’s behind the allegations of insider trading following Trump’s tariff U-turn?

    A few hours before he announced a 90-day pause on tariffs, the president posted “THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO BUY!!! DJT” on social media. Why has this led to accusations he manipulated the market for his own gain? The popularity of companion AI chatbots is rapidly increasing, but what safety nets are in place to protect young people? How have Big Law firms in America reacted to Trump 2.0? Rebecca Moore is joined by Hashi Mohamad, Patricia Clarke and Katie Riley, as they battle to pitch the top story of the day.

    37 min • S1, E223

  • Patricia Clarke
    Tech turmoil threatens investment drive in UK

    Three sudden exits from the top of science and investment have raised fresh questions about Britain’s abilities to attract talent and capital

    Sun, 7 Sept 2025

  • Patricia Clarke
    The Good Soldier: Killings and cover-up in Afghanistan

    The British army has never faced more serious allegations of wrongdoing; that the SAS committed multiple war crimes in Afghanistan. A public inquiry is beginning to reveal a troubling picture of UK special forces beyond the control of their military and political bosses.

    51 min • S1, E258

  • Patricia Clarke
    Never mind the profits: new model is to hold crypto and forget risk

    Struggling companies the world over are praying that a risky cryptocurrency strategy is the answer to their problems

    Sun, 24 Aug 2025

  • Patricia Clarke
    Turing turmoil: UK’s hope to lead world in AI is at war with itself

    Ministers are worried, partners are mulling legal action, and top managers are accused of losing their grip

    Mon, 18 Aug 2025

  • Patricia Clarke
    Musk’s $30bn stock option proves tech CEO pay is ‘bonkers’

    US tech companies are betting big on charismatic leaders – and the UK is starting to follow suit

    Sat, 9 Aug 2025

  • Patricia Clarke
    A new dotcom bubble? AI hype has yet to translate into profits

    The top two tech firms are worth twice the rest of the FTSE 100 combined but valuations haven’t turned into revenues

    Sun, 3 Aug 2025

  • Patricia Clarke
    Trump’s top crypto investor closes in on American power

    The Chinese billionaire Justin Sun has been accused of buying access to the US president and using his influence to thwart the securities regulator

    Sun, 29 Jun 2025

  • Patricia Clarke
    Israeli hackers steal $90m Iranian crypto – and ‘burn’ it

    Predatory Sparrow group that targeted Iran’s largest crypto exchange may be sponsored by Israel as part of country’s political war

    Sat, 21 Jun 2025

  • Patricia Clarke
    AI, data control and sexism - London Tech Week unpacked

    The future of technology was on display in London last week – as were parts of the industry still stuck in the past

    Sat, 14 Jun 2025

  • Patricia Clarke
    Google searches for answer to rising threat from AI chatbots

    People are starting to say ‘I ChatGPT-ed it’ instead of ‘I Googled it’. This new level of competition is just one of the threats facing the internet giant

    Sun, 8 Jun 2025

  • Patricia Clarke
    Period app firms express shock at police checks of women’s data

    New UK police guidance suggests officers can check menstrual-cycle tracking apps after pregnancy loss

    Mon, 2 Jun 2025

  • Patricia Clarke
    ‘Can’t ChatGPT do it?’ The growing cull of office jobs

    Hiring is slowing but AI may not be up to the task of fully replacing workers

    Mon, 2 Jun 2025

  • Follow

    The Observer
    The Observer Magazine
    The ObserverNew Review
    The Observer Food Monthly
    Copyright © 2025 Tortoise MediaPrivacy PolicyTerms & Conditions