Google splashes $60m on Chinese AI startup Mobvoi signalling return to China after five years October 20, 2015 Google has splashed a reported $60m on a Chinese startup specialising in Artificial Intelligence, taking a minority stake in the company. Mobvoi, founded in 2012 by former Google employees, makes Chinese language voice recognition software which is available on Android, Android Wear, and Google Glass devices as well as iOS and Wechat. While the exact amount has not [...]
When did life begin on earth? New evidence shows it started 4.1bn years ago – much earlier than previously thought October 20, 2015 No one has been able to pinpoint the exact moment life sprung into existence on Earth, but scientists now estimate it happened much earlier than they previously thought. By analysing ancient minerals in western Australia, a team from the University of California identified signs of life inhabiting Earth around 4.1bn years ago – over 300m years [...]
US agent Carl Force caught stealing bitcoin on the Silk Road case sentenced to seven years in prison October 20, 2015 A US federal agent has been sentenced to more than six years in prison for stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of bitcoin, while he was supposed to be investigating the Silk Road case. Former Drug Enforcement Authority agent Carl Force was working to take down the infamous dark web drug trafficking site. But [...]
London’s digital economy could be worth £48.5bn – Oxford Economics and Virgin Media Business October 20, 2015 London’s businesses could be set to gain £48.5bn over the next two years if they fully harness the digital technologies available. Research from Oxford Economics and Virgin Media Business, seen exclusively by City A.M., shows that by going digital, London’s companies could increase their collective revenue by 3.6 per cent, and create around 171,000 jobs over [...]
Software giant IBM posts steep drop in revenue in third quarter but its cloud sales are growing October 19, 2015 IBM's revenue slumped 14 per cent to $19.3bn (£12.4) in the three months to September compared with the same period last year. It marks the 14th consecutive quarter of falling sales for the tech giant. Earnings per share was down nine per cent to $3.34. "In the third quarter we again made progress in the transformation of [...]
Now Virgin Money is getting into the money transfer business October 19, 2015 Challenger bank Virgin Money is expanding its services and getting into the money transfer business for the first time, underpinned by technology from fintech startup World First. The new service will let customers make international transfers with no transfer fees and Virgin promising to offer better rates than quotes offered by high street banks. Virgin Money [...]
Australian banks investigated by competition watchdog for closing bitcoin company accounts October 19, 2015 Australian banks have been closing bitcoin bank accounts – now they’re getting probed by the country’s competition watchdog who is getting on the case. Some 17 bitcoin companies received letters in September saying that their accounts were getting shut down, in what the companies themselves called a “crackdown” from the country’s banks. The Australian Competition [...]
Back to the Future 2 Day October 21, 2015: Five technologies and predictions that came true in reality – and what’s next? October 19, 2015 For over a hundred years, science fiction films have paved the way for society to dream about the potential of technology. From Fritz Lang’s Metropolis through to Star Trek, the Terminator and beyond, the silver screen has long been a canvas for our wildest dreams about what the future might hold. The geeks amongst you [...]
The spy who liked me: Facebook alerts users to snooping by governments October 19, 2015 Facebook is increasing its security measures with a new alert which tells users when their account is the target of spying by government authorities. In a post on Facebook, the company's head of security Alex Stamos said "we will notify you if we believe your account has been targeted or compromised by an attacker suspected of working on behalf of [...]
One in five cyber crime victims believe hackers targeted them specifically October 19, 2015 Cyber crime: It’s getting personal. One in five victims of cyber attacks think they were targeted specifically by hackers, as new figures show that Britons are becoming more cautious online. Some two in five victims lost money, according to a survey from non-profit organisation Get Safe Online. And we’re not talking small change, either. Over [...]