UK defence innovation strategy opens new doors for SMEs in AI and autonomous tech
Category: AI
Artificial intelligence coverage with the Business Matters filter: not the hype cycle, but what AI adoption actually looks like inside UK firms – the tools, the costs, the failures, and the regulation heading down the track.
London AI firm claims Getty copyright lawsuit is an ‘existential threat’ to generative tech industry
Stability AI calls Getty Images’ copyright case a direct threat to the future of generative AI, as the high-profile legal battle over intellectual property rights begins in the UK High Court.
Half of Brits would trust AI for legal advice, survey finds – but experts urge caution
A new survey reveals that 50% of Brits would trust AI for legal advice, yet lawyers warn of serious risks in relying on technology for nuanced legal decisions.
Starmer pledges £1bn investment to supercharge UK tech and AI infrastructure
Sir Keir Starmer has unveiled a £1 billion investment package aimed at scaling up the UK’s computing power twentyfold, in a major push to solidify Britain’s status as a global technology and artificial intelligence leader.
Wordsmith AI becomes fastest Scottish startup to hit $100m valuation
Legal tech startup Wordsmith AI has reached a valuation of more than $100 million just 18 months after its launch — a milestone it claims is the fastest ever for a Scottish-founded technology company.
AI architecture scale-up NavLive scoops £4m of funding to transform construction industry
NavLive, which has newly developed an AI-powered, handheld scanning tool offering architects and construction professionals the ability to create high precision building site scans in real time, launches today with £3.3m in Seed funding.
UK and EU to deepen AI collaboration with launch of new UK ‘AI Factory Antenna’
The UK government has announced a major step forward in its international artificial intelligence strategy, unveiling plans for a new UK-EU collaboration that could deliver breakthroughs in healthcare, energy and advanced technologies, while boosting British jobs and economic growth.
AI could consume nearly half of global datacentre power by year-end, new analysis warns
AI systems may account for up to 49% of datacentre electricity use by the end of 2025, with total demand set to rival that of Japan, according to new research.
Sir Jony Ive’s tech start-up to merge with OpenAI in $6.5bn deal
OpenAI acquires io, the design-led tech start-up founded by former Apple designer Sir Jony Ive, in a $6.5bn deal to accelerate its move into AI hardware.
AI cash boom masks rise of ‘zombiecorns’ as funding gaps widen in startup ecosystem
New SVB report reveals AI startups dominate venture funding, but warns of ‘zombiecorns’—overfunded companies with weak growth and poor unit economics.
House of Lords AI Summit warns of ‘relentless’ cyber threats as UK races to close digital skills gap
AI leaders at the House of Lords Summit warn of rising cyber threats and call for urgent investment in digital skills, ethical data use, and national infrastructure security.
Microsoft to cut nearly 3% of global workforce amid AI investment pressures
Microsoft is laying off around 6,000 employees—nearly 3% of its global workforce—as it manages rising AI infrastructure costs despite strong cloud growth.
Zendo Energy raises £1.75M to help data centres decarbonise amid AI energy boom
British energy software startup Zendo Energy has raised £1.75 million in pre-seed funding to accelerate development of its AI-powered platform designed to help data centres reduce energy costs and carbon emissions, as the sector grapples with soaring demand from artificial intelligence and cloud computing.
Duolingo to replace contract workers with AI in major shift to ‘AI-first’ strategy
Duolingo CEO Luis von Ahn says the company will phase out contract content creators and expand AI use across operations as part of a strategic pivot to become an “AI-first” platform.
One in four workers fear AI could cost them their jobs, Acas warns
More than 25% of UK workers fear AI could lead to job losses, prompting Acas to urge employers to develop clear policies and reassure staff over AI’s role in the workplace.
