Training AI to be unbiased must be a priority, not an afterthought February 9, 2018 When considering threats posed by artificial intelligence (AI), the focus usually rests on two. Some foresee a terrifying Skynet dystopia, with sentient computers identifying mankind as their greatest enemy and turning the world into a killbot hellscape. Others, slightly less alarmist, fear automation rendering vast swathes of the population literally redundant. But the most likely [...]
China’s Didi Chuxing is partnering with 12 auto giants including Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi on a car-sharing platform February 7, 2018 Chinese ride-hailing behemoth Didi Chuxing announced today that it has launched a car-sharing platform alongside 12 auto giants including Geely Auto and Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi. Didi said it intends to utilise its artificial intelligence strengths and national network to help the “entire automotive industry chain”. The company, which bought out Uber’s China business in 2016, said it [...]
Financial services jobs are most at risk in t he short term from automation, robotic and atificial intelligence February 6, 2018 City jobs will be lost to automation earlier than those in the wider job market, new research reveals. The first wave of automation arriving in the next two to three years will hit financial and professional services hardest compared to other industries, according to the analysis of more than 200,000 jobs across 26 counties by [...]
The UK must not get left behind by China’s rise as a new superpower February 5, 2018 Last week, the Prime Minister visited China, a country set to have the largest economy on Earth by 2030. Its rapid growth is expected to continue for another generation. In 2016, foreign direct investment from China reached $180bn – a striking figure when compared with 2002, when it totalled less than $5bn. The sophistication of [...]
A fintech M&A bonanza drove deal value to its highest level last year, as the UK led the way, says Hampleton Partners February 1, 2018 The UK helped to drive a record six months of fintech mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the second half of last year, as the global deal total hit a new high of $29.35bn (£20.7bn). The announced acquisition of the UK’s Worldpay, by US firm Vantiv, was the largest over the period accounting for a massive [...]
London will remain tech hub of the world January 30, 2018 The eyes of the world were on London earlier this month, as the city’s most iconic buildings were lit up in an array of colour as part of the world-class light festival, Lumiere London. More than 50 works of art were created by artists across the world, showcasing the strength of international collaboration. This doesn’t [...]
Facebook hires Jerome Pesenti, an expert from UK startup BenevolentAI, to lead its artificial intelligence efforts January 24, 2018 Facebook has poached a top scientist from a UK tech startup to lead its artificial intelligence efforts. Jerome Pesenti is leaving BenevolentAI – a startup using machine learning technology to discover new drug treatments for diseases like motor neuron disease – to take on Facebook’s top job in artificial intelligence research. Read more: Facebook’s promising [...]
Booming optimism about the global economy is driving UK CEO confidence for business this year, according to PwC January 22, 2018 UK chief executives are optimistic about global economic growth prospects and their bullish attitude is driving business confidence, according to new research. Though the final shape of Brexit is as-yet undecided, PwC’s annual survey of business chiefs reveals 96 per cent of UK bosses expect their revenue to increase over the next three years – [...]
Facebook’s promising to help Europe learn digital skills and invest more in Paris artificial intelligence research centre January 22, 2018 Facebook is the latest US tech giant to jump on the digital skills bandwagon, promising to train one million people across Europe by 2020. And it’s also putting more cash behind its artificial intelligence efforts, investing €10m more in its Paris-based AI research lab. Read more: Facebook to expand probe into possible Russian influence on [...]
Startup Iris Automation raises $8m to help drones and air taxis avoid collision January 19, 2018 A US-based startup has closed an $8m (£5.8m) Series A funding round to propel the development of its collision avoidance system for commercial drones and “air taxis”. Iris Automation uses artificial intelligence, along with computer vision and “sensor fusion” to create a situational awareness platform for drones and air taxis to “enable their widespread use [...]