Why banks should say thanks to fintech startups March 22, 2017 A perfect storm of financial crisis and technological advances paved the way for a flurry of fintech activity. The sector has seen growing investment and is maturing as traditional finance houses wake up to the challenge of digital rivals. Anna Scally, partner and head of KPMG’s fintech practice in Dublin, offers several explanations why the [...]
Roboshop: How Morrisons is using artificial intelligence to stock its shops March 20, 2017 Morrisons is using artificial intelligence to stock its stores in a bid to improve efficiency and customer service. The supermarket is rolling out a system from tech firm Blue Yonder that uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to predict exactly what is needed in each of Morrisons' 491 stores. Read more: Amazon is looking for [...]
It looks like DeepMind’s founders Demis Hassabis and Mustafa Suleyman are paying it forward in European tech March 19, 2017 The founders of DeepMind appear to be paying it forward after finding huge success with their own startup which sold to Google for £400m. Demis Hassabis and Mustafa Suleyman are reportedly forming a network of "super angel" investors across Europe to invest in other startups at the early stage. Read more: Google's DeepMind talks with National Grid to [...]
Editor’s Notes: Only a lack of ambition can hold Britain back, says the Legatum Institute’s researcher tasked with finding the upside of the Brexit vote March 17, 2017 Britain faces an enormous challenge in the wake of Brexit, but the prize is more than worth the fight. That’s according to one experienced former trade negotiator who now finds himself at the heart of the UK’s trade debate. Shanker Singham is director of economic policy and prosperity studies at the Legatum Institute in London. He’s [...]
The augmented workforce isn’t coming – it’s already here: Are you ready? March 15, 2017 Digital technology is moving at an unprecedented speed, raising some of the most difficult social, political and ethical questions of our time. Along with disrupting the way we live our lives, it’s fundamentally rewriting the rules of work. Deloitte’s human capital trends survey reveals that despite being the top priority for nine in 10 UK [...]
Leap 100 companies have shown how much can be achieved in just two years March 14, 2017 We're living in an unprecedented time of change. Technology is accelerating at breakneck pace, changing the way we work, creating new industries and, with them, new opportunities for ambitious British businesses. The UK is becoming an increasingly fertile nesting ground for new technology. According to London & Partners, the UK tech sector drew more investment [...]
Innovation never stops: What’s next for the tech startups in Bird & Bird’s Digital Innovators showcase pushing boundaries? March 14, 2017 When Bird & Bird and City A.M. sought to unearth, and then celebrate, the most innovative digital companies shaking up the worlds of finance, health, education, media and security, we knew the collective 20 companies we found were an outstanding demonstration of the UK’s leadership in cutting edge technology. Now, just four months on, the visionary founders [...]
Google’s DeepMind is in talks with National Grid to apply artificial intelligence to energy use March 12, 2017 The Google-owned star British artificial intelligence company DeepMind is in talks with the National Grid about a potential partnership, with the possibility of using the technology to make the supply of energy across the UK more efficient. “There's huge potential for predictive machine learning technology to help energy systems reduce their environmental impact," said a spokesperson for the [...]
Cyber Security in a Transport Revolution March 9, 2017 The transport industry is undergoing a technological revolution driven by connectivity, Big Data, autonomy and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Driverless cars are on the horizon and the Internet of Things is being developed throughout our current transport infrastructure. However, these technologies pose some significant issues, particularly in the area of cyber security. To address some of [...]
How Google’s DeepMind is using blockchain-like technology to make patient health data transparent and secure March 9, 2017 Google's DeepMind has lifted the lid on its development of "blockchain related" technology that it's planning to use to make patient health data both more transparent and secure. The British artificial intelligence company which is working on trial projects with the NHS in London, is seeking to allay fears over access to patient's personal health data, and [...]