Digital screens and VR is cool, but artificial intelligence is creepy to most consumers | City A.M. July 18, 2018 Fingerprint scanners, voice recognition, targeted ads, home voice assistants. These technologies are all part of everyday modern life and are revolutionising the way retailers sell their products to consumers across the world. But have we actually taken the time to stop and consider what customers think of our ever increasing arsenal of tech tricks to [...]
Tesla boss Elon Musk apologises after cave diver ‘pedo’ comments | City A.M. July 18, 2018 Tesla chief executive Elon Musk has apologised today to the British diver involved in the Thai cave rescue who Musk labelled as a “pedo” on Twitter. Musk had described British diver Vern Unsworth as a “pedo guy” on Twitter after Unsworth had dismissed Musk’s offer of a mini-submarine for the cave rescue as a “PR [...]
Premier Foods chief defends strategy ahead of crucial AGM vote | City A.M. July 18, 2018 Premier Foods boss Gavin Darby has defended the group’s strategy ahead of a crucial vote at its AGM today. Activist investors Oasis and Paulson oppose Darby’s re-election and have both built up bigger stakes in the company over the last two weeks. Oasis has described the chief exec’s tenure as ‘five years of failure’. But [...]
The NHS spending spree based on the “Brexit dividend” is just another Theresa May fudge | City A.M. July 18, 2018 One would think Theresa May had enough Brexit-related fights on her hands without provoking another one – but that is exactly what Downing Street is doing by belligerently insisting that an illusory “Brexit dividend” will contribute to higher NHS costs. The government’s own fiscal watchdog, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), yesterday became the latest [...]
Trump backtracks on comments regarding Russian election interference | City A.M. July 17, 2018 US President Donald Trump did a swift U-turn in a meeting with members of Congress this evening, saying that he misspoke when he yesterday rejected the findings of US intelligence agencies into Russia’s interference with the 2016 election. Trump said that he had meant to say he saw no reason why Russia wouldn’t be responsible [...]
Brexit: Rebel Conservative and opposition MPs fail to defeat government on key customs union amendment to Trade Bill | City A.M. July 17, 2018 Remainer rebels in the Conservatives and Labour MPs have failed to derail Theresa May over her Brexit policy, leaving the Prime Minister bruised but not beaten yet again. An amendment to the government’s Trade Bill, requiring the UK to seek customs union membership if frictionless trade is not secure by January next year, was opposed [...]
How county cricket is fighting back by embracing live streaming | City A.M. July 17, 2018 Depending on who you listen to, county cricket is either in bloom or wilting on the vine. Its flagship event, at least in theory, is the County Championship – a venerable 128-year-old competition which sees 18 counties play four-day matches throughout the summer. It has taken some flak in recent years – and not just [...]
Former Apple employee pleads not guilty to stealing trade secrets for Chinese rival | City A.M. July 17, 2018 Ex-Apple employee Xiaolang Zhang pleaded not guilty in a Californian court today, after he was accused by federal prosecutors of stealing trade secrets. Zhang was indicted last week on a single count of trade secret theft, on the back of evidence submitted by Apple which alleged he accepted a job at Chinese rival Xmotors, then [...]
Ceru review: Say hello to the new Levantine star of Soho | City A.M. July 17, 2018 This former pop-up has just opened a second permanent home in the ultra-competitive foodie heart of Soho, at 11 D’Arblay Street. Ceru is short for cerulean, the blazing shade of azure, which is a reference to the colour of the sea around the Levant, the region this restaurant celebrates. For the geographically challenged, it’s the [...]
China’s Didi scores $500m and a $1.5bn spinoff deal ahead of an early 2019 exit | City A.M. July 17, 2018 Chinese ride-hailing service Didi Chuxing today announced $500m (£380.1m) in investment from the US parent of Booking.com, alongside rumours of a potential deal to sell off its car services unit for $1.5bn. Though the company has yet to comment on any plans for an initial public offering, it is thought that Didi will need to [...]