A robot tax is a tempting but misguided response to our public funding crisis January 10, 2018 The threats posed by automation are now a common topic for futurologists. The reality is that automation has been quietly progressing for some time, and while we are a long way off a Skynet-style singularity, the development of artificial intelligence means robots are not only taking our current jobs, they are going to take more. [...]
No more dodging hard questions, we need a conversation about AI January 9, 2018 Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as one of the hottest areas of technology in recent years. It’s in our phones, cars, and living rooms. It’s part of our banking decisions, love lives, and even our weekly grocery shop. By 2035, Accenture estimates that AI could add £654bn to the national economy. Given its rapid adoption [...]
Security minister Ben Wallace: “Ruthless profiteer” internet giants face tax raid unless they help in fight against terror December 31, 2017 Google, Facebook and YouTube and other internet giants have been blasted by the UK’s security minister for making life too easy for terrorists and extremists. Calling them “ruthless profiteers”, Ben Wallace said the firms face a multi-million pound tax raid if they continued to refuse to take down extremist content as well as failing to [...]
Deliveroo is going green: Riders will start using electric scooters and bikes early in 2018 December 23, 2017 Deliveroo has announced an early Christmas present to residents of London, as it has said it will begin to trial electric scooters to cut down on noise and air pollution next year. The meal delivery company has said its riders in the capital will be able to rent electric-powered scooters and bikes early in 2018 [...]
Looking for a new year’s resolution? Invest in ethical finance December 22, 2017 As a society, we have never been more aware of the impact of our actions. From the food we eat to the cars we drive, our sense of social conscience has never been stronger. In 2016, data from The Vegan Society showed there has been a 360 per cent increase in the number of vegans [...]
AI and experiments – let’s make 2018 Britain’s year of innovation December 21, 2017 It has been a rather frustrating year for those interested in hearing from the government on a long-term vision for the British economy. With most of the year dominated by Brexit negotiations – plus a mid-year pause for a surprise election – it took 11 months for a roadmap for UK growth to be set [...]
Could a robot replace Jose Mourinho? The growing presence of artificial intelligence and machine learning in football December 19, 2017 If you pay attention to the countless academic studies devoted to the subject or the dire prophecies from Elon Musk or Stephen Hawking, an artificial intelligence (AI) age is rapidly approaching that promises to make most of our jobs redundant. A McKinsey and Company report published earlier this year estimated that more than half of [...]
UK mattress startup Simba Sleep raises £40m and is heading for profit in some markets December 17, 2017 Simba Sleep, one of several startups hoping to disrupt the world of sleep, has bedded fresh cash to fuel global expansion as it nears profitability in some markets. The £40m series B round of investment comes from previous backers Nigel Wray, a City heavywight and chairman of Saracens rugby club, Wharton Asset Management and Swiss [...]
UK mattress startup Simba Sleep raises £40m and is heading for profit in some markets December 17, 2017 Simba Sleep, one of several startups hoping to disrupt the world of sleep, has bedded fresh cash to fuel global expansion as it nears profitability in some markets. The £40m series B round of investment comes from previous backers Nigel Wray, a City heavywight and chairman of Saracens rugby club, Wharton Asset Management and Swiss [...]
Open Banking: Meet 10 startups that just won cash for innovative ideas December 13, 2017 Nearly a dozen startups have been chosen for a cash prize totalling £5m for their innovative ideas for making banking easier for small businesses. A firm that is a current account for freelancers that can help them manage tax and expenses, called Coconut, and another, Funding options, a marketplace for financial products for small firms, [...]