Microsoft and FTSE firm Pearson tie up AI deal after UK action plan January 15, 2025 Microsoft and London-listed education giant Pearson have announced a multiyear partnership to address the global skills gap in artificial intelligence, as the UK prioritises AI. This collaboration will combine Microsoft’s cloud and AI technologies with Pearson’s learning and assessment expertise to provide AI tools. It will also offer tailored learning and certifications for workers and [...]
Starmer positions the UK as a trailblazer in AI innovation January 13, 2025 Keir Starmer has thrown the weight of Whitehall behind AI in a bid to boost growth and position the UK as a world leader in the sector. On Monday morning, Keir Starmer revealed the UK’s ‘AI Opportunities Action Plan’, a transformative strategy to establish the UK as a global leader in AI. He said: “The [...]
2025 Predictions for Apple, Microsoft, Tesla, and other tech leaders January 6, 2025 The Magnificent Seven group of leading tech companies: Apple, Nvidia, Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet, Meta and Tesla, gained a combined 63 per cent in 2024, building on 2023’s strong performance. Deutsche Bank revealed the group generated more profit in 2024 than most national stock markets. However, JP Morgan has projected their contribution to S&P 500 earnings [...]
Microsoft facing £1bn overcharging claim from UK firms December 3, 2024 Microsoft is facing a £1bn legal action over claims the US giant overcharged firms for access to products. Filed to the Competition Appeal Tribunal, the claim alleges customers using rival cloud computing platforms to Microsoft’s own Azure were charged higher licensing fees to access its Windows Server. It also alleges that UK companies and organisations [...]
F1 owner Liberty Media CEO Maffei to step down after 20 years November 13, 2024 The chief executive of Formula 1 owner Liberty Media Greg Maffei will leave the firm after 20 years, it was announced on Wednesday. Maffei, 64, will be replaced by chairman John Malone, 83, on an interim basis but Maffei will continue on as a senior advisor until a replacement is found. “I have thoroughly enjoyed [...]
Microsoft and Meta stocks slip as investors demand more October 31, 2024 Microsoft and Meta stocks have tumbled in after-hours trading despite both tech giants posting better-than-expected results yesterday. Microsoft reported a 16 per cent revenue increase to $65.6bn (£50.5bn) against a forecasted $64.5bn (£49.7bn), fuelled by its cloud services which grew by 33 per cent. Earnings per share (EPS) came in at $3.30 (£2.54), easily beating [...]
CMA launches merger inquiry into Alphabet and Anthropic partnership October 24, 2024 Britain's competition watchdog has opened a merger inquiry into Alphabet's partnership with artificial intelligence (AI) safety start-up Anthropic.
London Stock Exchange Group beats expectations in ‘particularly strong quarter’ October 24, 2024 The London Stock Exchange Group beat market expectations today as it reported a bump in growth across its divisions in a “particularly strong quarter”. In the three months to the end of September, the owner of London’s stock market recorded gross profits of £1.92bn, up 8.5 per cent on the same period last year and [...]
Microsoft launches AI ‘agents’ to woo investors ahead of earnings October 21, 2024 Microsoft has launched a suite of artificial intelligence-powered ‘agents’ geared towards businesses, as the tech giant continues to build out its suite of AI products in a bid to stay ahead of the competition and woo investors. At its AI Tour event in London on Monday, Microsoft boss Satya Nadella introduced the autonomous agents, which [...]
Bytes Technology: NHS and HMRC contracts help lift profit as dividend hiked October 15, 2024 IT provider Bytes Technology has posted an uptick in income and operating profit as new and existing clients invest in their software. In its half year results for the six months ended 31 August, Bytes said gross invoiced income jumped by 13.7 per cent to £1.2bn, largely driven by software and from public sector contract [...]