Adopting robots makes profits drop before they rise, study finds

Aug04
by on August 4, 2023 at 2:23 pm
Posted In: Future of Work, Insider


As demand for industrial robots surges, new research suggests the rewards are slow to materialise. According to the Cambridge University study, robots typically cause early losses before they can yield a payoff. The researchers analysed industry data across 25 EU countries between 1996 and 2017. They found that when adoption levels are low, robots can have a negative effect on profit margins. As the uptake increases, however, automation drives the profits higher. This U-shaped effect was attributed to the integration process. At first, businesses using robots typically tend to focus on streamlining operations — an expensive and laborious task. But when automation…

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Airbus joins transatlantic mission to build ISS replacement

Aug03
by on August 3, 2023 at 4:22 pm
Posted In: Insider


As the International Space Station approaches retirement, a transatlantic team is creating a replacement: Starlab. Airbus and US startup Voyager this week announced a joint venture for the project. The two companies will develop, build, and operate Starlab, which aims to further unite the US and Europe in space. “This pioneers continued European and American leadership in space that takes humanity forward,” said Jean-Marc Nasr, Head of Space Systems at Airbus. “Together our teams are focused on creating an unmatched space destination both technologically and as a business operation.” The US-led venture plans to produce a commercial successor to the…

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France’s AFP sues Twitter over non-payments for displaying news

Aug03
by on August 3, 2023 at 12:02 pm
Posted In: Insider


A bad week for Elon Musk just got even worse. After enduring a scandal over Tesla’s driving ranges, a risible rebrand of Twitter, and a divisive feud with hate-speech researchers, Musk discovered yet another powerful enemy: Agence France-Presse (AFP). The French news agency announced on Wednesday that it’s suing X — Musk’s new name for Twitter — over alleged non-payments for displaying AFP content. The case stems from EU copyright reforms that became French law in 2019. Under the legislation, online platforms must remunerate publishers for distributing their content. The rules have proven controversial. Media outlets argue that their news provides…

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Or just read more coverage about: Twitter

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Meta succumbs to EU pressure, will seek user consent for targeted ads

Aug02
by on August 2, 2023 at 3:12 pm
Posted In: Uncategorized


Meta operates a highly targeted advertising model based on the swathes of personal data you share on its platforms, and it makes tens of billions of dollars off it each year.  While these tactics are unlikely to end altogether in the near future, the company could soon offer users in the EU the chance to “opt-in” to the ads, the Wall Street Journal reports.  Since April, Meta has offered users in Europe the chance to opt out from personalised ads but only if they complete a lengthy form on its help pages. That process has likely limited the number of…

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UK chipmaker Arm targets $60B-plus valuation for September IPO

Aug02
by on August 2, 2023 at 10:44 am
Posted In: Uncategorized


British chip maker Arm is targeting an initial public offering (IPO) at a valuation of between $60bn and $70bn as early as September, amid surging demand for semiconductors for cloud computing, AI, and EV applications.   The roadshow is scheduled to start the first week of September with pricing for the IPO the following week, Bloomberg reports, citing people familiar with the matter. A roadshow in this context is a series of lead-up events that give a company the chance to showcase its value proposition, wow potential investors, and ultimately, increase their buy-in.    Arm looks to raise as much as $10bn…

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