AI-fuelled plumbing boom is luring in private equity March 3, 2026 AI has made trades like plumbing alluring not just to jobseekers, but private equity investors, writes Susannah Streeter.
HSBC Innovation Banking CEO: the next phase of UK innovation will be won quietly March 2, 2026 The next phase of UK innovation will be driven by deep tech, life sciences and infrastructure-heavy businesses, says Emily Turner The UK’s innovation economy is now worth $1.3tn. Artificial intelligence sits at the heart of that story, commanding headlines and capital in equal measure. But when we look at where long-term value is being created, [...]
UK considers social media curfew as under-16 ban looms March 2, 2026 The government is considering overnight curfews on social media and tighter restrictions on children’s access to AI chatbots as it prepares to launch what it describes as a “national conversation” on online safety. From Monday, parents and young people will be invited to take part in a consultation exploring measures that could include an Australia-style [...]
Block slashes 4,000 jobs in latest AI warning February 27, 2026 Payments giant Block will slash nearly half its workforce, cutting more than 4,000 roles as it pivots towards a business model built around AI and leaner teams. In a message to staff, the company confirmed it will reduce headcount from more than 10,000 employees to just under 6,000, with affected workers either leaving immediately or [...]
AI safety row deepens as Anthropic risks losing Pentagon deal February 27, 2026 Anthropic has refused to relax its safety limits on its AI tools, despite threats from the US Department of Defence to scrap a $200m contract and remove the company entirely from its supply chain. Chief executive Dario Amodei said the booming AI firm would rather stop working with the Pentagon than allow its AI model, [...]
Pearson boss shrugs off investor AI fears after share jitters February 27, 2026 The boss of Pearson has shrugged off shareholder concerns that the company’s services could be usurped by the rising use of AI chatbots. Earlier in the year the education giant was one of a number of London-listed data and software-led stocks, including the likes of Sage and Relx, that suffered steep selloffs amid investor anxieties [...]
Rightmove profit grows as it doubles down on unpopular AI plans February 27, 2026 Rightmove has reported growing profit and revenue as it stood by AI plans which had proved divisive with investors. The UK’s top property portal reported profit before tax of £290m, up 12 per cent from last year, in its financial results for the year ended December 2025. The FTSE-100 listed firm recently launched a conversational [...]
OpenAI backs London with hub expansion and new roles February 26, 2026 OpenAI is to make London its largest research hub outside the United States, in what ministers have hailed as a “huge vote of confidence” in the UK’s AI sector. The ChatGPT developer confirmed it will significantly expand its London operation, which currently employs around 30 researchers, though it declined to put a figure on how [...]
Ocado boss: We were naive to accept orders but US firms should have worked harder February 26, 2026 After its share price tumbled on Thursday morning, the boss of Ocado was given the chance to evade the blame for shuttered warehouses and job cuts. The retail tech group’s financial results set out easing losses and slowly climbing revenue. But it was the plans to cut 1,000 jobs – mostly at the company’s Hertfordshire [...]
Ocado shares tumble as boss warns of job cuts February 26, 2026 The boss of online retailer Ocado has warned of “significant” job cuts after US retail giant Kroger pulled out of its automated warehouse partnerships, prompting shares to tumble. The group confirmed it has closed several warehouses in North America and warned that further job losses are to come as Ocado continues to “simplify” its model. [...]