China’s Baidu targets artificial intelligence with appointment of former Microsoft executive January 17, 2017 Chinese search giant Baidu has named a former Microsoft executive as its chief operating officer in an effort to push towards artificial intelligence. Baidu's core search engine business hasn't been performing well – new advertising regulations caused Baidu to lose 16 per cent of its ad customers in the quarter ending September 2016 – so the company is refocusing its [...]
Why Davos elites should invite the populists to the table January 17, 2017 The year has barely kicked off and 2017’s biggest business get-together, held in the Swiss mountain resort town of Davos, has already begun. And, this year, the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting is headlining under the theme of “Responsive Leadership”. This theme leaves plenty of room for interpretation and imagination. My sense of what best [...]
Here’s some of the best (and weirdest) new technology from CES 2017 January 11, 2017 Audio The Doppler Labs Here One wireless earphones returned to CES this year. A more practical alternative to the rather silly Apple AirPods, they’re controlled with an app via Bluetooth and can bionically enhance your hearing in a given direction or block out external sounds, as well as the usual music playback features. If you’re [...]
Artificial intelligence and robots are one of the biggest technological risks to the world January 11, 2017 Artificial intelligence and robotics are one of the biggest potential risks to humankind of emerging technologies, according to a new report from the World Economic Forum. But, the development of such technology, which is expected to disrupt everything from the world of work to geopolitics, could also conversely bring the biggest benefits to the world. [...]
This noise-cancelling device means you can finally have office phone conversations in private January 11, 2017 Tired of leaping up from your desk every time you need to have a private phone conversation at the office? One company has unveiled the solution: a mask which absorbs your speech. The Hushme looks like a pair of headphones, but is designed to go around your mouth, absorbing noise so you can have conversations without your [...]
10 years on: How the iPhone changed the world January 9, 2017 The iPhone got off to a subdued start when it was first unveiled by Steve Jobs 10 years ago Today. The decade anniversary of the device feels short and at the same time a lifetime. On 9 January 2007, we had no idea how the pocket sized computer would change our lives and business as [...]
City Moves for 9 January 2017 | Who’s switching jobs January 9, 2017 Scottish Friendly Scottish Friendly, Scotland’s biggest financial mutual, has appointed Neil Lovatt to its board as commercial director. Neil was previously Scottish Friendly’s sales and marketing director, a position he held for a decade, after 14 years of marketing experience at Scottish Life and Royal London. As commercial director, Neil will play a key role in the [...]
Atif Sheikh of Business 3.0 offers seven new year’s resolutions for all chief executives January 9, 2017 Last year was tough on chief executives, who were forced to dodge arrows from every direction. Among the hubbub of unexpected events, it was easy to lose track of the fundamental principles of just running your business. But in the spirit of 2017, here are seven New Year’s Resolutions that UK chief executives should adopt [...]
Editor’s notes: The great Civil Service myth, and why it’s time to shake things up… January 6, 2017 Though probably not on your daily reading list, Dominic Cummings (former adviser to Michael Gove and a top dog in the official Leave campaign) writes a fascinating blog. In between posts on artificial intelligence, super-computing and advanced physics, you’ll find reflections on his time working at the Department for Education as Gove’s senior adviser. If you [...]
Business secretary Greg Clark to hone in on industrial strategy in raft of meetings with companies next week January 5, 2017 Business secretary Greg Clark is expected to hold meetings with a raft of companies next week to discuss industrial strategy ahead of a green paper due out later this month. City A.M. understands Clark will be in meetings throughout the week with business figures from a range of industries to discuss the UK's nascent industrial [...]