HSBC follows Nationwide with branch pledge in bid to woo customers Banking HSBC has promised it will not shut any branches in the UK until at least 2027 as the bank ramps up its efforts to appeal to customers. The FTSE 100 titan, which is Europe’s biggest lender, will invest £55.8m into its 327 branches in 2026, a 30 per cent increase on the £42m it spent [...]
‘It probably could do my job’: New ChatGPT model catches up with junior bank analysts Tech OpenAI introduced a new ChatGPT model on Thursday, which they claim is the first to outperform human experts. The software, GPT-5.2, is specifically designed for professional use and was tested using tasks which would typically be assigned to a junior analyst at an investment bank. These included putting together a three-statement model for a Fortune [...]
Google DeepMind partners with the government on AI innovation The government has struck a major deal with Google DeepMind which will see UK scientists gain priority access to its AI technologies. The Alphabet-owned AI giant will also create a new AI system aimed to cut government bureaucracy, and develop a version of Gemini – Google’s largest AI model – to be integrated into schools. [...]
Substack implements native advertising following $1.1bn valuation December 11, 2025 Substack, the historically anti-advertising newsletter platform, has announced it will pilot an advertising programme following its latest funding round. Substack was founded with the goal of providing an alternative to online advertising as a monetisation model for writers and creators. It was founded in 2017 as a website where people can write and subscribe to [...]