Meta’s billion-dollar AI talent hunt sparks broader jobs reckoning June 30, 2025 Meta is offering some of the most lucrative recruitment packages in tech history, as chief executive Mark Zuckerberg leads an aggressive hiring push to reposition the firm as a leader in generative artificial intelligence (AI). The member of the so-called magnificent seven has offered signing bonuses of up to $100 (£79m) to lure top talent [...]
Driverless taxis will make black cabs extinct – and that’s no bad thing June 25, 2025 The imminent advent of ‘robo taxis’ may well be the final nail in the coffin of the London cab trade, suggests James Ford By all accounts, a London cabbie’s lot is not a happy one. You may get to drive around the capital in one of the great transport icons (the black cab is up [...]
How much should you pay to see Billie Eilish? Don’t ask St Thomas Aquinas June 21, 2025 Thomas Aquinas argued for the concept of a “just price”, but when it comes to concert tickets the correct price is the one determined by the market, says Paul Ormerod Summer is in full swing, and with it the usual round of festivals and music gigs. Alongside these, another tradition is emerging. Namely, extensive whingeing [...]
Bolt vs Lime: Uber rival to launch e-bikes in London June 18, 2025 Bolt has unveiled plans to introduce electric bikes in London this summer, challenging Lime’s near-monopoly in the capital. The Estonian ride-hailer, which is the largest e-scooter and bike provider in Europe, will launch its London service in August under close supervision from Transport for London (TfL) and local councils. The move makes Bolt the first [...]
Has Klarna’s buy now, pay later bubble burst? June 6, 2025 Buy now, pay later services have exploded in the last decade and industry titan Klarna has spearheaded growth. The global BNPL market is expected to top $560.1bn (£412.8bn) in 2025 with 13.7 per cent annual growth. Swedish fintech Klarna has historically dominated the space, notching a net operating income of $1.087bn in 2020. The firm [...]
Uber unveils tie-up with Eurostar challenger May 21, 2025 Uber is planning a partnership deal with one of the firms seeking to oust Eurostar as the sole operator of the Channel Tunnel. Gemini Trains, spearheaded by the Labour peer Lord Berkeley, is one of several competitors looking to break Eurostar’s 30-year monopoly on cross-channel services. Passengers will be able to book tickets via the [...]
Can Airbnb become an everything app? May 20, 2025 Airbnb is undergoing a bold transformation from a travel platform to a daily-use “superapp” offering local services and experiences, but its success hinges on whether users adopt new habits outside of their holidays, says Paul Armstrong Airbnb is having a busy 2025. The company reported $2.27bn in revenue for Q1, a six per cent year-over-year [...]
Uber Boats by Thames Clippers nets £59m from Natwest and Santander May 19, 2025 Uber Boats by Thames Clippers has secured £59m in funding from Natwest and Santander after experiencing a surge in passenger numbers since the Covid-19 pandemic. The London river transport provider said the joint funding package would support plans for new vessels, pier upgrades and improvements to dry docking facilities. “It’s vital that we have funding [...]
Uber ready to go driverless in the UK May 19, 2025 Uber has declared itself “ready to go” with driverless taxi services in the UK, saying it could roll out the technology immediately if regulators give the green light. Andrew Macdonald, the taxi giant’s senior vice president of mobility, told the BBC the company is prepared to deploy robotaxis as soon as the “regulatory environment is [...]
Bolt: Uber rival appoints first UK boss May 8, 2025 Bolt, the Estonian ride-hailing platform, has appointed a new UK boss in a sign of its intention to double down on its second biggest market. Kimberly Hurd will join as the company’s first senior general manager for the UK, following stints in the fintech sector and at the Indian food delivery app Zomato. Top of [...]