Technology

  Bloomberg Britain is betting that the rise of the machines will boost the economy as the country exits the European Union. As part of its strategy to champion specific industries, the UK government said in a statement on Sunday that it would invest 17.3 million pounds ($21.6 million) in university research on robotics and artificial intelligence. The government cited …

  Bloomberg Austria’s Chancellor Christian Kern said rapid advances in automation will threaten half of the world’s jobs as he backed calls by Bill Gates to fight inequality with measures such as a tax on robots. Disruption “starts at a slow pace and then comes a big step change. We have to prepare,” Kern said in an interview Thursday in …

  Bloomberg Ericsson introduces a 5G platform for the needs of the first movers in 5G. Communications are rapidly moving towards data-heavy applications like Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality everywhere. In light of that, Ericsson is now first to market with solutions to enable today’s networks to evolve smoothly to the next generation of networks. Ericsson’s new 5G platform comprises …

  Bloomberg It took Alphabet Inc.’s Waymo seven years to design and build a laser-scanning system to guide its self-driving cars. Uber Technologies Inc. allegedly did it in nine months. Waymo claims in a lawsuit that was possible because a former employee stole the designs and technology and started a new company. The complaint intensifies Alphabet’s rivalry with Uber, one …

  Bloomberg French fraud watchdogs are investigating potential abusive clauses in the terms and conditions applicable for users of Twitter Inc., WhatsApp, Alphabet Inc.’s Google + and Snap Inc.’s Snapchat. Facebook Inc. was the first social platform to come under scrutiny but the Menlo Park, California-based company amended its user terms in December after the watchdogs identified several issues, Nathalie …

  Bloomberg If you pull out your phone to check Twitter while waiting for the light to change, or read e-mails while brushing your teeth, you might be what the American Psychological Association calls a “constant checker.” And chances are, it’s hurting your mental health. Last week, the APA released a study finding that Americans were experiencing the first statistically …

    Emirates Business Businesses in Mexico, China and India are increasingly turning to technology to power successful growth, reveals new global research from Epicor Software Corporation, a global provider of industry-specific enterprise software to promote business growth. Around three quarters of Chinese and Indian firms (74% and 73% respectively) and 63% of Mexican firms cited IT investment as important, …

  Bloomberg Earlier this month, Apple Inc. poached the chief of Amazon’s Fire TV unit to run its television operations. Timothy D. Twerdhal brings hardware and content experience to his new gig, and his hiring suggests a renewed focus on the Apple TV set-top box. Twerdhal’s arrival comes as the company tests a new, fifth-generation Apple TV that it may …

  Bloomberg Fitbit Inc.’s fourth-quarter revenue fell 19 percent, hurt by fading consumer demand for its once-popular wearable fitness trackers. Revenue in the quarter — which includes the holiday shopping season — dropped to $573.8 million, the company said in a statement. Fitbit in January had forecast sales of $572 million to $580 million. Before then, analysts had been predicting …

  Dubai / Emirates Business The latest version of LG Electronics’ (LG) webOS 3.5 Security Manager smart TV platform has been certified for its effective cybersecurity capabilities by UL, the world’s foremost expert in safety and sustainability, a first in the smart TV category. Following in the footsteps of its expertise in smart TVs, LG intends to expand this level …