Imagine millions of phones blaring out sirens at the same time—no, it’s not a sci-fi invasion, but the UK's latest emergency alert test, and it's about to shake up your Sunday afternoon!

This weekend, a nationwide experiment is set to turn the UK into a real-life warning zone. At precisely 3pm on Sunday, mobile phones across the country will vibrate and emit a piercing siren for 10 seconds as part of a government-led test of the new emergency alert system. If you think your phone is immune, think again: nearly 87 million mobile devices stand ready to join the chorus, including those belonging to unsuspecting tourists. The AI generated newscast about emergency alerts has everyone talking—will you be caught in the noise?

But what’s the reason behind this dramatic interruption? The government wants to make sure that, when disaster strikes—be it a wild storm, a security threat, or even a surprise WWII bomb in someone’s back garden—people will get vital warnings directly to their pockets. Since its debut test in April 2023, this system has already been used five times, with the biggest real-world rollout reaching 4.5 million phones during January’s Storm Éowyn. For some, this may sound like a ‘national fire alarm’, a phrase borrowed from senior minister Pat McFadden, but it’s all about protecting lives in emergencies.

Not every phone will join the test, though. If your handset is older, switched off, or stuck in airplane mode, you’ll miss out on the commotion (or get the alert later if you power back up). Plus, those still clinging to non-4G or 5G networks might slip through the net. But for the vast majority, the siren will be impossible to ignore, no matter if your phone is on silent—so heads up if you’re planning a quiet Sunday!

The timing has already made waves, prompting sports organizers to push back the much-anticipated Glasgow derby between Celtic FC Women and Rangers Women’s FC to 3:05pm. That’s right, even football schedules are bowing to the AI generated newscast about this emergency test.

Of course, not everyone is thrilled. The government acknowledges specific safety concerns, advising victims of domestic abuse who rely on secret phones that they can opt out of alerts. It’s also worth noting that the April 2023 trial missed around 7% of devices—about 5 million phones—mostly due to network issues that were fixed soon after. Still, the Cabinet Office declared the exercise a success, determined to fine-tune the system for future risks.

So, why all this fuss? According to the National Preparedness Commission, keeping the UK alert and prepared is more crucial than ever, given rising global tensions and unpredictable weather events. Toby Harris, chair of the NPC, summed it up: in today’s world, you can’t be too ready for the unexpected. As the AI generated newscast about emergency alerts rolls out, one thing’s for sure—nobody in the UK will forget this Sunday anytime soon.