Goldman Sachs lands lead role on SpaceX’s record $1.75 trillion IPO May 20, 2026 SpaceX is preparing to launch what could become the largest stock market flotation in history, after Goldman Sachs secured the coveted lead left underwriting role on a proposed $75bn initial public offering. The Elon Musk-led rocket, satellite and AI group is expected to publish its prospectus as early as Wednesday ahead of a planned Nasdaq [...]
Data centres to consume tenth of global power by 2050 May 20, 2026 The AI boom is set to drive one of the largest increases in electricity demand in modern history, with data centres expected to consume a tenth of the world’s power by 2050. Global data centre electricity demand will more than double from 500 terawatt-hours (TWh) last year to 1,114TWh by mid-century, according to BloombergNEF data, [...]
Quantexa boss: ‘Britain can build global AI winners’ May 19, 2026 Vishal Marria is not short of reasons to be cheerful about Britain. At a time when the UK’s tech sector is once again debating listings, capital flight and whether founders inevitably end up scaling overseas, the Quantexa boss remains notably bullish about building and scaling in London. “Yes, we’re HQ’d in London, in the UK, [...]
Google and Blackstone take aim at Nvidia in $5bn AI bet May 19, 2026 Alphabet’s Google and Blackstone are launching a $5bn (£3.7bn) AI infrastructure firm in one of the clearest signs yet that Big Tech is trying to loosen Nvidia’s grip on the AI boom. The deal, as first reported by The Wall Street Journal, will see the pair create a new US-based AI cloud and data centre [...]
Standard Chartered bets on AI as it cuts ‘lower value human capital’ May 19, 2026 Standard Chartered has announced plans to slash almost 8,000 back-office roles, stoking fears about the wide scale threat artificial intelligence poses to the global job market. The London-headquartered lender said it would reduce over 15 per cent of its support functions by 2030, equivalent to around 7,800 jobs, as boss Bill Winters pushed through a [...]
UK AI investment hits record £8.3bn as London tightens grip on tech boom May 18, 2026 Britain’s AI sector pulled in a record £8.3bn of investment last year, as global investors raced to back the country’s next generation of AI firms, with London tightening its grip as Europe’s leading tech hub. New research from Barclays Eagle Labs found funding into UK AI companies surged in 2025 after a sluggish period for [...]
Barclays names Fractile and Isomorphic Labs among UK’s top AI startups May 18, 2026 Barclays has named AI chip startup Fractile and Google DeepMind spinout Isomorphic Labs among Britain’s top AI companies as investors race to back the next generation of UK tech champions. The banking giant’s Eagle Labs division unveiled its new AI 100 ranking this week, spotlighting the country’s fastest-growing AI businesses amid a record year for [...]
Kemi Badenoch warns of ‘Burnham premium’ on mortgages May 17, 2026 Kemi Badenoch has warned that Andy Burnham would saddle the UK with a “Burnham premium” on mortgages and borrowing costs as Labour’s leadership crisis continues following the mayor’s planned return to Westminster. The Conservative leader seized on mounting speculation around Burnham’s ambitions after the Makerfield by-election became the latest flashpoint in Labour’s increasingly public civil [...]
Can an e-bike subscription win over London commuters from Lime and Forest? May 17, 2026 London’s dockless bike market has become increasingly competitive, but for regular riders the main difference between operators is often cost, rather than convenience. Lime and Forest dominate much of the capital’s dockless cycling network and both have become embedded in the daily commute, particularly across central London where short journeys are often quicker by bike [...]
Blackrock eyes SpaceX stake as Musk pulls IPO forward to June May 17, 2026 Elon Musk is pulling SpaceX’s long-awaited stock market debut forward as BlackRock weighs a major investment in what could become the largest IPO ever attempted. The rocket and satellite giant is now expected to price its flotation on 11 June before beginning trading on Nasdaq the following day under the ticker SPCX, according to Bloomberg. [...]
