The Chinese town where robots replaced 60,000 workers May 23, 2016 A Chinese manufacturing hub enlisted a fleet of robots to help overhaul its growth strategy. Kunshan, in Jiangsu province of China, used to be one of the country’s best performing economies. But its reputation was dented after an industrial explosion killed 146 people in 2014. At the time, it was blamed on poor safety standards [...]
Here’s how your brain works on the Tube (and what it can teach AI) May 19, 2016 Our brains work harder when we have to switch lines on the Underground, even if there are fewer stops than a longer journey which requires no changes, new research reveals. Scientists have identified how our brains work when we're navigating the London Underground which could help artificial intelligence learn things more efficiently. Read more: Accenture's launching an [...]
Google just launched a personal assistant that can control your home, book movies and search the internet May 18, 2016 How would you like to run your whole house by using just your voice? Google just made that possible by cashing in on the Internet of Things trend. The tech giant today launched Google Assistant, a digital Man Friday, at its annual developer conference in Mountain View, California The new device, similar to Apple's Siri, allows users [...]
Accenture’s launching an artificial intelligence practice with IPsoft’s Amelia May 16, 2016 No sooner than one global consulting giant has jumped on board with the latest technology trend, another follows suit. Accenture is launching an artificial intelligence practice just a week after PwC did the same with drones, in a bid for a share of the multi-billion dollar and fast growing industry. The Amelia practice, named after the AI software [...]
Ryan Bertrand’s secret second career as a fintech entrepreneur – and John Terry is backing his latest venture May 11, 2016 The history of football’s relationship with technology is a chequered one, from the game’s long resistance to implementing goal-line gadgetry to the tale of former Aston Villa striker Darius Vassell taking a power drill to his toenail in the misguided belief that it would relieve pain. Ryan Bertrand hopes to change that perception. When he is [...]
City Moves for 9 May 2016 | Who’s switching jobs May 9, 2016 Parker Fitzgerald Parker Fitzgerald (PFG), the specialist management consultancy, has appointed Patrick Gormley (pictured) to its executive board. Patrick will lead the firm’s global digital practice, which focuses on transforming the risk management and regulatory compliance functions of financial institutions through digital innovation, robotics, artificial intelligence and new technologies such as blockchain. Patrick joins PFG [...]
Star Wars Day shows us the droids we’re looking for May 4, 2016 Over the years I think I’ve made it pretty clear that I firmly believe science fiction is one of the most powerful influences on how people think about the future potential of technology. We’ve seen wonderful examples where the creative license of a few enlightened people have led to the creation of incredible technologies that [...]
I would trust Google’s DeepMind with my personal data more than the NHS May 4, 2016 The NHS is not a data company. Google's pretty good with that kind of thing. No wonder, then that the millions of pieces of information the health service has amassed about the nation's wellbeing – from admission times to blood tests – is being shared with the company in pursuit of the shared and very human [...]
The nine things scientists believe could cause the apocalypse (soon), from artificial intelligence and pandemics to asteroids and supervolcanos April 28, 2016 Time to hide behind the sofa. Scientists have looked at the biggest risks facing the world and ranked them according to how likely they are to bring about the apocalypse. Imminent threats to the world as we know it include the rise of artificial intelligence, pandemics – both natural and man-made – and even an [...]
Finance actually wants more regulation because of the rise of artificial intelligence fintech in the world’s markets April 25, 2016 The finance world is cautiously optimistic about the future of artificial intelligence and how it can be used, but, there is more work needed on regulating the technology when it comes to world markets. “Financial institutions have been fined billions of dollars because of illegality and compliance breaches by traders. A logical response by banks is to [...]