Let’s be honest, we shouldn’t take those predicting the AI doomsday too seriously June 1, 2023 If you believe AI will destroy humanity, you're probably wrong. The real challenge is to regulate artificial intelligence safely without stifling innovation and growth, writes Matthew Lesh
The UK government needs equity stakes in AI firms to truly safeguard its citizens May 31, 2023 To ensure AI is scrutinised, the UK government should accept some intervention is needed and take on equity stakes in artificial intelligence firms to shape the future of the technology, writes Simon Neville
Ben Elton interview: Woke comedy and the scourge of individualism May 30, 2023 In a rundown rehearsal room opposite a housing estate in Oval, Ben Elton is spilling political truths in sharp, disarmingly blunt sentences. He’s been talking for almost fifteen minutes, nearly half the time I have with him, but I’ve barely asked him a question. Aged 63, Elton still fizzes with energy. He talks on three [...]
Aspects of love, London, review: Flatly ridiculous, utterly gorgeous Michael Ball musical May 26, 2023 Aspects of Love review and star rating: ★★★★ I think I must be mad, but I really enjoyed this absolutely morally bankrupt musical about a weirdly incestual group that all seem to have sex with each other, no matter their relation to one another, and no matter how flatly ridiculous it all seems. I’ve never [...]
Retail sales up in April but analysts warn on implications of further rate hikes May 26, 2023 Retail sales volumes recovered slightly by 0.5 per cent in April as the sector was lifted by the Easter holidays, however high inflation and strains on household finances continue to hinder spending. Non-food stores sales volumes rose by 1.0 per cent during the month, data from the ONS shows, following a fall of 1.8 per [...]
More than a year after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine some firms still can’t – or won’t – quit Moscow May 25, 2023 Some global companies are still operating in Russia more than a year on from the country’s invasion of Ukraine. Firms were quick to respond to the full-scale war, which broke out last February, with some saying they would quit Russia immediately and others curtailing imports or new investment. Billions of pounds of factories, energy holdings [...]
London ‘busier and busier’ as return to office gathers pace – but demand for flexible working remains May 24, 2023 Great Portland Estates, a leading landlord in office space said London has got “busier and busier,” but noted that it does not expect the the recovery of offices in the capital to be “uniform” as a demand for flexible working and best space remains. Throughout the year, the property firm recorded £55.5m of leasing, as [...]
The Notebook: Victoria Scholar on the Fed’s new move, Adidas’s Yeezy problem and Shell’s AGM showdown May 23, 2023 Where the City’s movers and shakers get a few things off their chest. Today, it’s Interactive Investor’s Victoria Scholar. After 10 straight hikes, is it now time for a ‘Fed skip’? Forget the hike, pause and cut, the new word to enter the lexicon of central bank watchers is the ‘Fed skip’. US monetary policymakers [...]
Who has Premier League’s biggest and smallest wage bill? (Look away Chelsea fans) May 23, 2023 Chelsea’s lavish spending since their takeover by Todd Boehly’s consortium has seen them amass the biggest wage bill in the Premier League, according to new research. The Blues’ estimated payroll for this season totalled £216m, an increase of 18.3 per cent or more than £33m on the previous campaign. That saw their salary costs overtake [...]
Carlota Ciganda emulates England’s Charlie Hull with Aramco Team Series win in Florida May 22, 2023 Spain’s Carlota Ciganda followed in the footsteps of fellow former European No1 Charley Hull by winning the US leg of the Aramco Team Series in Florida on Sunday. Ciganda held her nerve at the end of a testing final round to clinch her seventh Ladies European Tour title, beating Czech Klara Davidson Spilkova by one [...]