World Mental Health Day: How can an app boost your wellbeing? October 8, 2019 This Thursday is World Mental Health Day. Now before you roll your eyes at yet another article discussing the importance of our mental wellbeing, it is worth remembering the massive cost of mental ill-health to society. According to the OECD, the direct and indirect costs of it – such as absences from work and decreased [...]
Lack of clarity over AI definition ‘will confuse’ regulators October 8, 2019 The lack of clarity over what technology is classed as artificial intelligence (AI) poses a major challenge to future regulation in the financial services industry, a new report has warned. Read more: UK must adapt to automation or firms will suffer, MPs warn Research by the International Regulatory Strategy Group (IRSG) found that the lack [...]
Number of deepfake videos online almost doubles October 7, 2019 The number of “deepfake” videos – which use artificial intelligence technology to superimpose images onto existing footage – on the internet has surged over the last nine months. Researchers at cyber security firm Deeptrace found 14,698 deepfake videos online last month, compared to 7,964 in December last year. Read more: The threat of deepfake videos [...]
Kaspi.kz IPO: Kazakh fintech postpones London float October 7, 2019 The London float of Kazakh fintech group Kaspi.kz has been postponed due to “unfavourable market conditions” in the technology sector. Read more: Fund veteran Martin Gilbert leaves Standard Life Aberdeen to join Revolut The initial public offering (IPO) was set to be the largest by a Central Asian company on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) [...]
Softbank boss Masayoshi Son ‘embarrassed’ by track record October 7, 2019 Softbank chief executive Masayoshi Son has admitted that he is “embarrassed and flustered” by his track record at the Japanese conglomerate. Read more: Softbank’s second fund hit by failed Wework listing In an interview with local media, Son said he felt that his accomplishments at Softbank had not yet lived up to his goals. “When [...]
Tech startups resilient on hiring potential despite political turmoil October 7, 2019 Around four-fifths of the UK’s tech leaders remain bullish on hiring top talent, as ongoing Brexit uncertainty fails to dampen employment and investment intentions. Seventy-nine per cent of young tech companies intend to increase staff numbers in the next three months, City PM can today reveal, rising six per cent from last quarter. According to [...]
UK energy boss conned out of £200,000 in ‘deep fake’ fraud October 6, 2019 A top energy executive has been conned out of £200,000 by cyber scammers who used artificial intelligence to mimic his boss’s voice. The UK boss of an unnamed energy firm was tricked into transferring the money following a phone call from that appeared to come from his boss at the German parent company, the Mail [...]
Paypal first firm to drop out of Facebook’s Libra cryptocurrency October 5, 2019 Paypal has pulled out of an alliance attempting to launch Facebook’s digital currency Libra. The payment firm announced its decision on Friday in a statement but did not reveal why the decision has been made. The cryptocurrency and its digital wallet, Calibra, were revealed by Facebook in June. Read more: Libra co-founder hits out at [...]
Softbank’s second Vision fund hit by failed Wework IPO October 4, 2019 Softbank founder and chief executive Masayoshi Son is struggling to raise money for a second technology investment fund following the failed public offering of office space provider Wework. Son is preparing to go-ahead with the Vision Fund 2, despite advice to delay, according to Reuters. However, the fund is likely to be smaller than the [...]
HP plans to cut up to 9,000 jobs October 4, 2019 HP plans to cut up to 9,000 jobs as the tech giant aims to lower costs and simplify its operating model. The computer firm said that it will reduce its global headcount by around 7,000 to 9,000 employees through redundancies and early voluntary retirements. Read more: HP buys supercomputer firm Cray HP said it expects [...]
