DEBATE: Has any technological development in the last 50 years matched the magnitude of the moon landing? July 19, 2019 Has any technological development in the last 50 years matched the magnitude of the moon landing? Ivan Mazour, chief executive and founder of AI-powered customer retention platform Ometria, says YES. When asked about the greatest innovation of the past century, would many of us point to the moon landing? A feat remarkable, yes, but unrepeated [...]
Elon Musk reveals plans to connect human brains to computers July 17, 2019 Billionaire Elon Musk yesterday revealed plans to develop technology to allow human brains to connect with computers. Secretive “brain-machine interface” firm Neuralink was founded in 2017 to fight the “existential threat” of artificial intelligence developing further than humans. Read more: Tesla boss Elon Musk rebrands on Twitter as Daddy Dotcom At an event in California [...]
Google terminates Project Dragonfly, its censored search engine for China July 17, 2019 Google has “terminated” China’s controversial censored search engine, codenamed Project Dragonfly, a top executive has said. The project, which a former Google staffer had called “disturbing”, was shelved last December, but suggestions continued to circulate that the tech giant was still running it. Read more: Donald Trump hints at treason probe into Google Karan Bhatia, [...]
Advertising data platform Near raises $100m to fuel global expansion July 16, 2019 Advertising tech platform Near has secured $100m (£80m) in funding from a London-based private equity firm as it looks to expand its global presence. Read more: Competition watchdog launches probe into tech giants over digital advertising dominance The Singapore-headquartered ad firm said its new funding round, which comes from Greater Pacific Capital (GPC), will also [...]
Donald Trump hints at treason probe into Google after Peter Thiel complaint July 16, 2019 US President Donald Trump has hinted his administration might investigate Google for treason, after entrepreneur Peter Thiel called on the FBI and CIA to probe the company. Speaking on Twitter, the President said his administration will “take a look” at allegations Google has worked with the Chinese government. Read more: Donald Trump says his trade [...]
Google employee who led walkout leaves firm following retaliation claims July 16, 2019 Google employee Meredith Whittaker, who led global staff walkouts over the tech giant’s sexual harassment policy, has left the company following allegations of a backlash against the protest’s organisers. Read more: Google workers listen in on private conversations via smart speakers Whittaker, who specialised in AI and founded the company’s Open Research Group, was a [...]
Volkswagen and Ford strengthen ties by teaming up on electric and self-driving cars July 12, 2019 Two of the world’s biggest car makers, Volkswagen and Ford, have moved their existing commercial partnership up a gear this afternoon to collaborate on electric cars and self-driving cars. Read more: Ford gears up to announce up to 550 job losses for UK office workers amid turnaround efforts The firms are looking to pull ahead [...]
Woodford lifts block on investors switching from Hargreaves Lansdown July 10, 2019 Investors who found themselves locked into both Neil Woodford’s suspended fund and Hargreaves Lansdown will now be able to switch to a different stockbroker. Thousands of customers were left stranded after Link Fund Solutions, the authorised fund manager, blocked transfers from Hargreaves Lansdown to other platforms. Read more: Woodford investors blocked from switching from Hargreaves [...]
Woodford investors blocked from switching from Hargreaves Lansdown July 9, 2019 Customers that invested in Neil Woodford’s suspended flagship fund through Hargreaves Lansdown have been blocked from switching investment platforms, according to evidence submitted to the Treasury Committee’s inquiry into the scandal. Richard Wilson, chief executive of rival fund supermarket Interactive Investor, said investors had “both hands tied” after Link Fund Solutions, the authorised fund manager, [...]
Fresh trouble for Neil Woodford as Benevolent AI valuation drops July 7, 2019 Beleaguered fund manager Neil Woodford could be facing fresh trouble as one of his biggest bets is reportedly braced to suffer a drop in its valuation. London-based tech firm Benevolent AI is said to be raising money at a level well below its $2bn (£1.6bn) valuation, the Sunday Times reported. Read more: Neil Woodford cuts [...]