Killer robots? It’s only a matter of time November 12, 2019 Artificial intelligence (AI) is everywhere in the news at the moment, but there is little discussion of an area where huge sums are being spent by all the major powers: automated intelligent weapons — or killer robots, as they are usually called. Some strategists now envision military operations conducted entirely by automata. Such fully automated [...]
The vote-winning power of tax cuts November 12, 2019 As theGeneral Election clunks into gear, it’s already clear what Labour’s approach will be: promise to spend literally all the money. The Tories put out a dossier at the weekend costing the opposition’s pledges at a jaw-dropping £1.2 trillion. You can quibble with the detail, but it’s pretty clear that under John McDonnell’s guidance, the [...]
DEBATE: Are this week’s UK growth figures anything to celebrate? November 12, 2019 Are this week’s UK growth figures anything to celebrate? Ruth Lea, economic adviser at the Arbuthnot Banking Group, says YES. The GDP data for the third quarter of 2019 was a tad weaker than expected, and much has been made of the growth rate being the weakest since the start of 2010. But the data [...]
Interest rates aren’t central banks’ only ammunition to defend against recession November 12, 2019 Monday’s GDP figures were a mixed bag: the UK has narrowly avoided slipping into recession, but with growth at its lowest rate since 2010, the country is far from being out of the woods. Nor is this just a British issue. Increasing numbers of economic commentators are sounding the alarm about a potential recession in [...]
Revolut hopes to win round cynics with heavyweight hires November 12, 2019 Fast-growing fintech firm Revolut will confirm today the worst kept secret in the City; Martin Gilbert, the asset management titan, is to become its new non-executive chairman. The move – unsurprising though it may be – is a stark reminder of the startup company’s ambitions to become a global bank. In the last six months [...]
Want healthy, happy staff? Treat them like plants November 11, 2019 When imagining a tech company’s office, the first thing that comes to mind is not usually a bright, green, collaborative working environment. If you think about cyber security, the associated images are even worse. Who doesn’t immediately picture a faceless hacker with their hood up, typing on a keyboard in a poorly lit basement room? [...]
Don’t dismiss small publications, they serve a role in PR November 11, 2019 “Do our customers read that publication anyway?” It’s a question that any chief executive or marketer should ask. Marketing that’s not targeted at your audience is waste — or so the theory goes. Brands should of course aim for coverage in relevant media. But what about leads from publications that aren’t strictly on point? Sometimes [...]
The Wizard of Oz Democratic primary portends another victory for Donald Trump November 11, 2019 The starting gun may have yet to sound in the 2020 Democratic presidential contest, but with the Iowa caucus only 90 days away, there is already a surprising amount that is clearly in focus. First, the very crowded Democratic field has already been decisively winnowed. According the 7 November Real Clear Politics average of polls, [...]
Would libra have more success if it wasn’t launched by Facebook? November 11, 2019 At the World Blockchain Forum in September, one of the speakers asked who in the audience thought that libra was likely to succeed in taking cryptocurrencies mainstream. About half the room raised their hands. He then continued: “Who wants it to be Facebook that achieves this?” All hands were hastily lowered. It comes as no [...]
DEBATE: Are there any benefits to the rise of renting? November 11, 2019 Are there any benefits to the rise of renting? Anne-Marie Brown, founder and chief executive of Love to Rent, says YES. While the UK has traditionally been a nation of homeownership, more people are choosing to rent, and the profile of renters is changing too, with more families and retirees looking for a stress-free alternative. [...]