Microsoft’s just bought successful London-based startup Swiftkey February 3, 2016 One of London's most successful startups is being acquired by Microsoft for a multi-million pound sum. Swiftkey, a keyboard app for Android and iOS smartphones powered by artificial intelligence, has been snapped up by the US tech giant for as much as $250m (£174m), reports suggest. Co-founders Jon Reynolds and Ben Medlock said in a blog post: [...]
Why does Stephen Hawking hate the future? January 31, 2016 When it comes to modern day scientists none have managed to punch through into the collective psyche of our society more than Stephen Hawking. From his incredible ambition to explain the theory of everything through to his brilliant performances (in all senses of the word) on comedy and primetime TV shows, he has become the [...]
Relax: Artificially intelligent robot Godzilla won’t enslave us all – it’s humans, not technology, we should worry about says Oxford academic January 26, 2016 After stark warnings about the risk of artificial intelligence to the future of humankind from such luminaries as Stephen Hawking and Elon Musk, one academic has countered such arguments Breathe a sigh of relief: a robot Godzilla won't enslave us all, he reassures. Luciano Floridi, professor of philosophy and ethics of information at Oxford, has said [...]
Here’s what early and seed-stage investor Seedcamp’s portfolio looks like: UK tech startups, fintech and blockchain January 25, 2016 One of the UK and Europe's leading investors in startups at an early stage has lifted the lid on its portfolio of companies. Eight-year old Seedcamp which initially started life as an accelerator but now concentrates on first-round funding, has backed more than 200 companies, which went on to pick up a further $365, in their next stage. Investments include [...]
Apple hires VR researcher Doug Bowman to catch up with Facebook, Google and Microsoft in Silicon Valley virtual reality race January 22, 2016 Apple has hired a leading VR researcher in a bid to catch up to its rivals in the great Silicon Valley virtual reality race. Doug Bowman can now add Apple employee to his cv, joining the company from his current role as the director of the Centre for Human-Computer Interaction at Virginia Tech, reports the [...]
Davos 2016: Why London fintech can transform the 21st century January 20, 2016 In recent years, there has been cynicism about the objectives of the World Economic Forum annual meeting at Davos, with reports of parties, private jets and closed-door discussions. However, the core purpose of the forum should not be dismissed in an era of global upheaval, tensions and economic uncertainty for billions across the developed and [...]
Stephen Hawking and Elon Musk win 2015 Luddite Award for their “alarmist” warnings about artificial intelligence January 20, 2016 Stephen Hawking and Elon Musk have just “won” the 2015 Luddite Award for their warnings about artificial intelligence. A world-renowned physicist and the entrepreneur behind ventures like Tesla and SpaceX, neither of the two are exactly what you might call afraid of technology. But the worries the two have expressed on the future of AI [...]
Rise of the robots: Advanced robotics spark an investment boom as experts predict a robot-led industrial revolution is coming January 18, 2016 The world is on the cusp of a revolution in robotics and there has been a surge of investment in artificial intelligence recently, with a spread of innovations fast developing which will change the global economy. Last year, the sector experienced a boom in mergers and acquisitions as $2bn worth of deals were completed, according to [...]
Tech City UK: What London needs from the next mayor January 15, 2016 The race to become London’s next mayor has begun, and now more than ever we need a tech champion at the controls in City Hall. London is unquestionably the digital capital of Europe. Our fintech pioneers, app developers and software innovators are re-defining city life. Digital businesses employ over 250,000 people in the capital alone. [...]
Davos 2016: As technology absorbs our mundane and routine tasks, we must realise our own higher calling January 14, 2016 Today, bits are reshaping the atoms around us. Emerging technologies in artificial intelligence, deep neural networking, and machine learning enable us to reimagine the possibilities of human creativity, innovation and productivity. Research institutions, businesses and governments explore the great new frontiers of human possibility. So many of our systems have evolved beyond what we thought [...]