The human genome project – From then to now May 12, 2021 Around 64 years ago, a group of scientists took biology to the next level: the molecular level. This provided us with revelations about the structure of the DNA helix and how genetic information flows through cells. Thus, molecular biology came into being. Following this huge success, the early 1970s marked the emergence of two historical [...]
Are we working more than ever? May 12, 2021 Furlough and working-from-home have dispersed workers into a diverse range of new working patterns. Social media is filled with anecdotes from workers who start their day late and finish early but still get more done by virtue of not having to commute to an office. There are those who have already returned to and embraced [...]
Regulating the robots – unpacking the EU’s new AI Regulation May 11, 2021 The European Commission recently publish a first draft of its new Artificial Intelligence Regulation (AI Regulation). The AI Regulation covers both Providers (i.e. developers) and business Users of AI systems. Providers have a broad set of obligations owed to Users. Under the AI Regulation, AI systems are categorised as: – Prohibited: certain “manipulative” and “exploitative” uses of AI are outlawed [...]
AI is growing: How do we create fair technology we can trust in, and minimise the risks of gender bias? May 7, 2021 This year marks 20 years since Spielberg’s sci-fi / drama movie came to our screens: A.I. Artificial Intelligence – and in 2021, AI is no longer the work of science fiction. In the last 20 years, AI uses have been explored for human benefits in numerous industries. AI has played a key role in developing vaccines against [...]
SOX or no SOX? The focus on internal control is here to stay May 7, 2021 The UK Government is considering whether to introduce something along the lines of SOX. Regardless of where we end up following the current consultation process, it will almost certainly not be the end of the debate on internal control. More than twenty years have passed since the corporate collapse of Enron. The response of the [...]
Infosys to add 1,000 UK staff to help with digital growth May 4, 2021 Indian software exporter Infosys has said it will hire 1,000 new staff in the UK to meet increased demand for its services during the pandemic. Infosys will ramp up its presence in the UK over the next three years after the pandemic “exacerbated” the need for digital skills and infrastructure. The New York-listed company said [...]
Marks & Spencer chair: More young faces are needed on company boards May 1, 2021 Archie Norman, chairman of Marks & Spencer, has said company boards are “made up of old people”, and as a result are not able to keep pace with disruptive, smarter and faster technological advances. Norman, who is also chairman of Signal AI, an artificial intelligence-powered public relations platform, and special advisor to Lazard Bank, said [...]
Goldman Sachs in talks to invest £250m in challenger OVO Energy April 30, 2021 A division of Goldman Sachs is reportedly in talks to invest £250m into the UK’s second largest energy supplier OVO Energy. A private investment division of Goldman Sachs’ asset management division is in “advanced” talks with the company, Sky News reported, and the deal could be announced within weeks. It could raise between £250m and [...]
Darktrace races out of the blocks: A boost for London’s IPO market after Deliveroo’s flop April 30, 2021 In a welcome boost for the London IPO market after the Deliveroo flop, UK cybersecurity company Darktrace launched this morning well above its initial price of 250p per share, jumping sharply to 350p in opening trade. There were early indications that the initial valuation might be higher than this, at around £3bn, however it appears that [...]
Softbank leads $525m round in British drug developer Exscientia April 27, 2021 British pharmaceutical company Exscientia has received funding from Softbank Vision Fund just a month after closing its last investment round. Exscientia uses artificial intelligence to discover new drug molecules and has now designed two drugs that are in Phase 1 of clinical trials. The Oxford-based company today announced it had completed a $225m Series D [...]