London is home to more of the hottest fintech startups than ever before according to the Fintech50 2017 June 7, 2017 London’s status as the world leading centre of fintech has been questioned in the wake of Brexit, but new figures suggest the capital continues to be a global powerhouse for financial technology. The city has produced more of the hottest fintech startups than ever before, with over half of the Fintech50 calling it home. Challenger [...]
Apple reveals HomePod, a smart home speaker to rival Amazon Echo and Google Home powered by Siri – price, release date, spec June 5, 2017 Apple has confirmed the rumours and unveiled a home speaker taking on rivals Google and Amazon – it’s called HomePod. “No one’s quite nailed it yet” said Apple executive Phil Schiller of the increasing number of home speakers and voice assistants on the market. “Just like iPod reinvented music in our pockets, HomePod will reinvent [...]
Google’s new £1bn King’s Cross HQ: 11-storey building will boast a swimming pool, gym, games area and a rooftop cafe June 1, 2017 Google has submitted planning permission for its £1bn King’s Cross HQ that will boast jazzy features including swimming pools and sleep pods. Designed by Heatherwick Studio and Bjarke Ingels Group, construction on the 11-storey building will commence in 2018. Spread across more than 1m square feet of space, the campus will house 7,000 employees. This [...]
Artificial Intelligence is a threat to society, an EU committee (EESC) has warned June 1, 2017 Artificial intelligence (AI) could pose a threat to the fabric of our society, according to an opinion published last night by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC). The EESC’s Workers’ Group, which is comprised of representatives from national trade unions, found 11 areas in which AI raises societal concerns – ranging from labour to [...]
These are the 100 most disruptive startups in the world (and a third are from the UK): Roman Abramovich-backed Storedot, AI chip maker Graphcore and cancer detection scientists at Grail top list June 1, 2017 A Bristol-based startup developing computer chips for artificial intelligence, an app for helping kids manage money, and a fintech just backed by Aviva, are among the UK startups to be named the most disruptive in the world. AI chip firm Graphcore was ranked second in the annual list identifying companies with the potential to “influence, [...]
Ireland: a perfect partner for AI development May 25, 2017 China is emerging as a global powerhouse for artificial intelligence (AI) and Ireland offers an ideal location for Chinese companies to extend their international reach in this critically important space. China’s growing pre-eminence in this area is in line with the “One Belt One Road” initiative announced by President Xi Jinping in 2013 and the [...]
Chief executives must do more to adapt their companies to the working practices of tomorrow May 25, 2017 Most chief executives and other C-suites in the City must admit they’ve fallen behind the fast-moving digital curve – and catching up could be the most important challenge they have ever faced. Incumbency offers the shakiest of foundations as startups and challengers disrupt the landscape through rapid implementation of new technologies and ideas, attracting the [...]
CHI&Partners chief executive Sarah Golding talks taking up the IPA presidency May 22, 2017 I got rather lost in Fitzrovia searching for the CHI&Partners office; I thought I’d been there before, forgetting that in fact, the business and its affiliates are slowly but surely colonising the area around Rathbone Street, and I was at the wrong building. This time I was meeting Sarah Golding, CHI’s chief executive – hawk-eyed [...]
Insurer Ageas has started processing claims using artificial intelligence from London startup Tractable May 18, 2017 One of the biggest car insurers in the UK has started automating the way it's processing claims with the help of artificial intelligence. Ageas will start using technology which can asses images of vehicle damage, and even flag potential fraudulent claims, to make the process more efficient by performing assessments within seconds. Read more: How [...]
Meet the six tech startups working with Transport for London to make the capital a smart city in Nitrous accelerator’s first cohort May 15, 2017 Six star startups have been chosen to delve into Transport for London’s troves of data to help transform the capital into a so-called smart city. Entrepreneurs working to reduce congestion on the trains, buses and roads of London as well as pollution will join the first Nitrous accelerator, designed to connect up-and-coming tech companies with [...]