Autumn Budget 2017: Philip Hammond to accelerate Britain’s tech credentials with investment in AI and driverless car reforms November 19, 2017 The chancellor is expected to unveil a flurry of announcements to progress artificial intelligence, driverless and electric cars, and 5G across Britain in next week’s Autumn Budget, to help bolster the nation’s credentials as a leader in tech. Philip Hammond is poised to announce £75m for AI, £400m for electric car charge points, £160m for [...]
Theresa May doubles tech talent visas for non-EU foreign workers after Brexit to woo industry November 14, 2017 Theresa May is seeking to reassure the UK’s flourishing tech industry amid ongoing concerns over the impact of Brexit on hiring top talent. The Prime Minister and chancellor Philip Hammond will meet with top entrepreneurs and investors on Wednesday and is promising a flurry of measures to support startups across the country. “It is absolutely [...]
Time to recognise the value of Venture Capital Trust funds November 14, 2017 Next week, the chancellor will unveil his Budget, with just 18 months to go before the UK leaves the EU. Despite Brexit uncertainty, the UK entrepreneurial scene is thriving, and the investment opportunity ripe for those looking to access the growth potential of early-stage businesses. This is something the government has recognised, and we expect [...]
We must lay the ethical groundwork for artificial intelligence now, before it’s too late November 7, 2017 Artificial intelligence (AI) is having an identity crisis. More specifically, the concept of AI is often wrongly portrayed as a thing, a noun, a sentiment being – which it is not. The danger of overhyping and objectifying AI is that we misunderstand the valuable opportunity that presents itself, fail to fully educate the global population, [...]
Facebook makes fintech move with UK launch of p2p payments via Messenger feature November 6, 2017 Facebook is making its first foray into finance in the UK with the launch of a new feature which lets users send and receive payments via Messenger. Cash can be transferred with just a message and users can even add emojis and gifs. Facebook’s artificial intelligence powered virtual assistant for Messenger, called M, will also [...]
eDreams Odigeo hints at a merger on the horizon with a strategic review November 2, 2017 Barcelona-based travel booking firm eDreams Odigeo could be about to sell itself or merge with another company after it announced a strategic review this morning. Unsolicited approaches from potential investors prompted the unanimous decision by the board to being a review and appoint Morgan Stanley as a financial advisor. At the same time, the company [...]
Risks of artificial intelligence on financial markets must be monitored, warns Financial Stability Board November 1, 2017 The world’s top central bankers have warned that the spread of artificial intelligence could pose a threat to financial stability. The Financial Stability Board (FSB) said yesterday it was crucial for regulators to monitor the growing adoption of AI and machine learning technology across the financial industry, from hedge funds to brokers to banks. Read [...]
Ada Health lands €40m from Len Blavatnik, Amazon Alexa creator William Tunstall-Pedoe and Google business chief Philip Schindler’s June Fund October 31, 2017 The company behind a healthcare app which can help diagnose symptoms has landed a multi-million pound round of funding from investors, who include a top Google executive, the man who created Amazon's Alexa voice assistant and one of Britain's richest billionaires. London and Berlin based Ada Health has raised €40m (£35.2m) to grow the business [...]
Rise of the robots: 600k construction jobs could be lost to automation by 2040 October 31, 2017 More than half a million jobs in the construction industry could be lost as a result of the rise of robots. The so-called fourth industrial bringing with it technology such as robotics, autonomous vehicles, the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence, which could replace jobs done by humans. Read more: Four in five retail jobs [...]
The Indian Billionaire With His Eye On Robotics October 30, 2017 Tej Kohli, the Indian billionaire philanthropist aiming to halve the number of people with corneal blindness, has a new ambition. The entrepreneur and philanthropist has a mission to control and reduce the magnitude of avoidable corneal blindness worldwide by 2030. Now Kohli has committed to becoming one of Britain’s leading investors in artificial intelligence and [...]