Data Protection Bill: How the UK’s data laws will now be fit for the digital age September 14, 2017 They’ve always said that information is power, and in the digital age, data increasingly powers the world. It drives price comparison sites and improves the flow of transport around cities. Using data properly adds billions of pounds to the economy, and helps improve and save lives. We are yet in the foothills of the digital [...]
Sadiq Khan on Digital London: How we can remain a capital of innovation September 14, 2017 London is the world’s business capital and the engine of Britain’s economy. Our city has always been an incredible hotbed of innovation and disruption. As Britain prepares to leave the EU, we must embrace our entrepreneurial spirit more than ever, to ensure our economy continues to go from strength to strength over the decades ahead. [...]
Balderton and Mike Lynch’s tech fund Invoke Capital back Sophia Genetics, an AI DNA analysis startup, with £30m September 13, 2017 A Swiss biotech firm that uses machine learning to analyse genetics used by several of the UK’s NHS trusts has bagged millions of pounds in fresh funding from Balderton Capital and Mike Lynch’s Invoke Capital. Sophia Genetics’ technology can accelerate diagnosis of cancer and other hereditary diseases by using algorithms to analyse DNA, reducing the [...]
Skype billionaire Niklas Zennstrom’s Atomico backs Bossa Studios with $10m ahead of Worlds Adrift launch September 12, 2017 Atomico is at it again, splashing the cash from its huge new fund, this time on a London games developer. The venture capital firm has led a $10m series A round in Bossa Studios, which is set to launch Worlds Adrift, the first built using the virtual reality platform created by fellow UK tech startup [...]
Top Israeli entrepreneurs take to London for disruptive tech summit spanning drones and artificial intelligence September 12, 2017 A raft of top Israeli entrepreneurs meet today in the capital for a disruptive technology summit, in a vote of confidence for London’s tech scene. Among those speaking at the UK Israel Business technology summit include OurCrowd founder Jon Medved, Gett’s Western Europe boss Matteo de Renzi, and Tomer Tzach, chief executive of CropX. Read [...]
AI can liberate humans to lead happier lives, if we get it right September 11, 2017 Discussions around artificial intelligence (AI) provoke both excitement and fear in strong measure. Just last week, Elon Musk predicted that AI will be the most likely cause of World War III (although perhaps he just wasn’t following President Donald Trump closely enough). As happens so often with new advances, policymaking lags significantly behind. We must [...]
UK artificial intelligence startup FiveAI lands £14m series B from Lakestar Capital, an early Facebook and Spotify backer September 6, 2017 The venture fund set up by an early backer of Facebook, Spotify and Skype has invested millions in a UK artificial intelligence startup that is planning on getting driverless cars on the road. Lakestar Capital has led the £14m series B round into FiveAI, the company working with Mclaren technologies and Transport for London on [...]
Could robots reduce the state pension age? The TUC union thinks artificial intelligence will help us retire early September 4, 2017 Fancy retiring early than expected? The nation could get a helping hand to kick back and relax ahead of time thanks to robots and artificial intelligence. There may be fears around the technology taking jobs, but in fact, one of the benefits could be a reduction in the state pension age, which has steadily risen [...]
Fintech could be risky if banks don’t cooperate, says the Bank for International Settlements August 31, 2017 Banks will need to take measures over the coming years to mitigate the risks of financial technology (fintech), according to a new report from the Bank for International Settlements (BIS). The central bankers’ bank has set up a task force to “provide insight” into the new technology and “explore the implications” for current business models. [...]
UK drone firm wins the backing of Japanese industrial giant Mitsui August 31, 2017 A UK-based drone company is set to receive a $4m (£3m) investment from Japanese conglomerate Mitsui. Sky Futures provides drone-based industrial inspection technology. With drones, companies can more safely inspect industrial equipment like oil rigs. The strategic partnership, to be announced today, is launched in tandem with Prime Minister Theresa May’s visit to Japan. It [...]