Artificial intelligence: people – not robots – are in the driving seat December 15, 2020 Like it or not, artificial intelligence (AI) is already part of our daily lives. From smartphones to Alexa virtual assistants, AI and its applications are accepted norms today.While we appreciate that AI can automate repetitive workplace tasks or even drive a car, its implications are much further reaching. Luminaries including Elon Musk and Bill Gates [...]
Meet M Threadneedle’s newest member of staff: Marion the robot December 5, 2020 This has been a year of surprises, few of them very pleasant – especially when it comes to the hospitality sector. But being served a glass of Veuve Clicquot by a robot called Marion was an unexpected and welcome moment of levity, especially on the first day out of lockdown. Marion the champagne bot is [...]
Oppo Reno 4 Pro review: An all-rounder but no killer blow November 26, 2020 Last week I reviewed two new phones, one you’ve definitely heard of, and one you almost certainly haven’t. The latter was a handset from one of the biggest manufacturers in the world, Chinese firm Vivo, which has virtually no footprint in Europe (the camera-focused X51 is its first official launch over here). This week I’m [...]
PS5 fans fight scalpers by placing fake eBay bids November 26, 2020 PS5 fans are fighting back against scalpers by placing fake bids on eBay. Demand for the new PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X consoles has vastly outstripped supply, with outlets across the world, including Game and Amazon, currently out of stock. Sony this week joined Microsoft in warning that shortages could last for months. The [...]
Lockdown weekend #4: How to stay sane in the age of Covid November 21, 2020 The end of lockdown is – hopefully – in sight, if not quite within touching distance. As we enter the fourth (!) weekend of lockdown 2, here are some ways to keep yourself entertained. After all, you know what the devil does with idle hands… Eat like a Roman emperor Whether you’re in the mood [...]
iPhone 12 Pro Max review: A stunning redesign that recalls Apple’s finest November 20, 2020 The speed of progress in miniaturisation and micro processing mean it’s virtually a truism that the latest handset by any given manufacturer will be its “best ever”. Every time Tim Cook gets on stage and says “this is the best iPhone we’ve ever made”, he may as well be saying “today is the most recent [...]
Vivo X51 review: The gimbal-er’s fallacy November 19, 2020 Dongguan, located in the Guangdong province of China, is one of those places of international significance that you’ve probably never heard of. With a population of nearly 7.5m – which would comfortably make it the second largest city in the UK – it’s one of China’s many “global factories”, vast industrial zones from which companies [...]