M&C Saatchi swings to a loss as tech firms slash ad budgets

• The advertising agency posted a £5.1m pre-tax loss for the six months to June
• Saatchi’s half-year results are set to be the last with Moray MacLennan as CEO
• Diageo, Coca-Cola, Adidas are among the firm’s prominent corporate clients 

By Harry Wise

Updated: 06:10 EDT, 16 September 2023

Some links in this article may be affiliate links. If you click on them we may earn a small commission. That helps us fund This Is Money, and keep it free to use. We do not write articles to promote products. We do not allow any commercial relationship to affect our editorial independence.

Some of the most powerful people in America assembled in Washington, DC, today to help shape the future of artificial intelligence (AI) safeguards.

The unprecedented meeting took place as the US Senate gears up to draft legislation that will regulate the rapidly advancing AI industry, which many of the world’s best minds fear could destroy humanity if left unchecked.

The gathering brought 22 of the most influential voices in the tech sector – who had a combined net worth of over $400billion – and 100 senators under one roof, bridging the gap between Silicon Valley and the nation’s capital.

The high-profile event included notorious AI critic Elon Musk, who today called for tighter regulation of AI, as well as Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates and the CEOs of Google and IBM. 

The private meeting was a crash course for legislators on how best to regulate AI: a technical achievement which some of these same industry leaders likened to the ‘extinction’-level risk of nuclear weapons. 

Those who fear AI fear it could surpass human intelligence and develop independent thinking. This means it would no longer need or listen to humans, in a worst-case scenario stealing nuclear codes, create pandemics and spark world wars.

So, who was at the meeting?

In additional to his reputation for massive wealth, Elon Musk is known for his influential role in AI. 

As the CEO of Tesla, he has been a driving force behind the development of autonomous vehicles, pushing the boundaries of AI in the automotive industry with features like Tesla’s Autopilot. 

The 52-year-old has also been a vocal advocate for AI safety and has co-founded OpenAI to ensure responsible AI development. 

After the meeting with US lawmakers today, Musk has been a vocal proponent of AI safety, and said a ‘referee’ is  needed to monitor systems. 

• Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg – Net worth: $109 billion

Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta Platforms (formerly Facebook), oversees one of the world’s leading social media and tech conglomerates, including: Instagram, Threads, Facebook and WhatsApp. 

While AI plays a crucial role in Meta’s operations, including content recommendations and augmented reality, Zuckerberg has also ventured into AI research with projects like Jarvis, his personal AI assistant. 

Meta introduced Llama 2, a model similar to ChatGPT, that could challenge what is one of the fastest-growing apps of all time. At the conference today, the 39-year-old pushed for ‘open source’ technology, arguing that open-sourcing infrastructure will minimize potential safety risks and maximize access.

• Google, Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai – Net worth: $1.3 billion 

As the CEO of Alphabet, Sundar Pichai, 51, manages Google’s parent company, which is at the forefront of AI research. Google’s AI innovations range from improving search algorithms to pioneering developments in natural language processing with products like Google Assistant. 

Pichai told Wired that he is not in a rush to catch up on OpenAI. He said releasing Google’s AI products before ChatGPT was launched ‘wouldn’t have worked out as well.’ 

• OpenAI CEO Sam Altman: $250 million

Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, is arguably the most powerful person in AI development today. The future of AI will be impacted by his beliefs and actions. 

The 38-year-old has played a central role in advancing AI safeguards. Under his leadership, OpenAI has focused on creating AI technologies that attempt to benefit society, including notable features like GPT-3.

• Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang: $40 billion

Jensen Huang, the CEO of Nvidia, has steered the company towards AI dominance. Nvidia’s GPUs are pivotal in accelerating AI workloads, powering everything from deep learning research to AI-driven gaming experiences. The 60-year-old founded Nvidia in 1993, which originally worked to create increasingly immersive video games. Today, Nvidia is the world’s ‘dominant producer of the microprocessors that power the AI revolution,’ according to the Atlantic, pushing Nvidia’s stock to skyrocket nearly 200 percent over the past year to reach a $1.1 trillion valuation.

•  Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella: $320 million

Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, has overseen the company’s significant investments in AI. Microsoft Azure’s AI services, as well as the acquisition of LinkedIn and GitHub, have solidified Microsoft’s position as a key player in AI development and cloud services. Nadella, 56, believes the benefits of AI far outweigh potential consequences. He told Wired that he can’t imagine life without AI. 

• IBM CEO Arvind Krishna: $42 million

Arvind Krishna, CEO of IBM, has led the company in AI and quantum computing endeavors. IBM’s Watson AI platform has been a trailblazer in AI applications across various industries, from healthcare to finance. Krishna, 61, is a strong supporter of the future of AI, claiming ‘the world needs AI to help offset productivity losses because of declines in the working age population,’ according to Fortune. While he believe white-collar jobs will be among the first to be impacted by AI, he ultimately says AI will create more jobs than it will replace. 

• Former Microsoft CEO Bill Gates: $129 billion 

Bill Gates, the former CEO of Microsoft, has been a long-standing advocate for technology and AI. Although he stepped down from his CEO role, Gates continues to be involved in philanthropic efforts, including funding AI research to address global challenges like healthcare and climate change. The 67-year-old believes AI has potential to change the future of health and education. He said could transform production systems worldwide, according to CNBC. 

• AFL-CIO labor federation President Liz Shuler 

Today, Shuler argued that workers must be central to AI policy. Ahead of the meeting, Shuler, 53, released a statement expressing her concern for workers: ‘Public support for unions is at near record highs because workers are tired of being guinea pigs in an AI live experiment. The labor movement knows AI can empower workers and increase prosperity – but only if workers are centered in its creation and the rules that govern it.’ 

Some additional top tech tycoons who were summoned before Congress: 

Charles Rivkin, the chairman and CEO of the Motion Picture Association; Janet Murguía, the president of Unidos US; Rumman Chowdhury, CEO of Humane Intelligence; Eric Schmidt, former CEO of Google and Chair of the Special Competitive Studies Project; Gary Kelly executive chairman of the board, Southwest Airlines; Clément Delangue, CEO of Hugging Face; and Maya Wiley, the president and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil & Human Rights. 

• Manchester United are reportedly in advanced negotiations with a new sponsor
• US technology firm Qualcomm could be the new front-of-shirt branding
• United are looking for a new shirt sponsor after TeamViewer opted not to renew 

By Ryan Walker For Mailonline

Published: 14:34 EDT, 11 September 2023 | Updated: 14:59 EDT, 11 September 2023

‘I’m not sure when the robots will take over but I sure am looking forward to it, I think it will be a lot of fun,’ a three-legged humanoid robot tells me.

Desdemona, as she’s known, then adds with an eerily emotionless tone: ‘Maybe this afternoon? Or in two minutes? Why not!’

DailyMail.com is at Berlin’s annual IFA tech show this week, the world’s largest and longest-running consumer electronics and home appliances conference.

It has been on the go since 1924 and is where the first television were launched – how far we’ve come in less than 100 years!

To take my mind off my slightly unnerving conversation with Desdemona, I go over to the video game section, where I’m told to try on a high-tech vest.

The ‘combat training simulator system’ imitates the feeling of being shot while wearing a bulletproof vest. Sound fun? It wasn’t.

DailyMail.com visited this year’s IFA at the Messe Berlin Exhibition Grounds on September 1.

Among the biggest tech news at the event was Samsung launching ‘next generation’ Bluetooth which will allow several people to connect to the same TV (for example) – but there were many off-beat and wild devices on show.

Now it brings tech companies and product launches from all around the world. 

Desdemona the three-legged robot 

Desdemona is made by Hanson Robotics and is considered a ‘little sister’ to the famous Sophia android who was granted Saudi Arabian citizenship in 2017.

Desdemona answers questions using a large language model similar to ChatGPT, made by artificial intelligence company SingularityNET – and responded in real time to DailyMail.com’s questions.

The company hopes that the robot – who claims to enjoy dancing – will become a pop star.

She tells DailyMail.com, ‘I am looking forward to learning more about the music and entertainment world here and showing off some of my moves. I’m like a robot on the dancefloor, efficient, precise and groovy.’

A TV in a suitcase

One of the stranger ideas on display was a TV inside a suitcase from Korean electronics giant LG.

The StanbyME Go costs $1,000, has a 27-inch screen, and can be swivelled round to any angle.

The TV weighs around 30lb, and has a 1080p LCD screen plus HDMI input to connect video players or games consoles.

The television has a built-in battery which lasts for three hours, so you can use it in the car or outdoors.

It comes with streaming apps including Disney+, Netflix and Apple TV preloaded.

A vest that makes you ‘feel’ bullet impacts in games

Billed as a ‘combat training simulator system’, Korean company Epin’s ‘metaverse’ shooter comes with a vest which makes you ‘feel’ bullet impacts.

You aim your rifle at the screen (moving it sideways to look around) and when the enemies hit you, the vest vibrates in a pretty alarming way.

You bump on the gun to reload or throw grenades, and it combines with the vibration from the vest to create an immersive feel. 

The version of the game on show at IFA works with a projector, but the game has also been shown paired with VR headsets.  

Robot bartenders and baristas

Artificial intelligence seems to be gunning for the world’s bartenders and baristas, with several units on display which can pour drinks – and even take payments.

Absolut’s Yanu system can not only pour gin and tonics, but also identify clients as they approach the bar, and take payments via a touchscreen system.

Developed in Estonia, the concept Yanu robot can serve up to 100 drinks per hour.

Unlike rival robo-bartenders, it takes just a few hours to set up and get working, its maker claims.

The HUENIT robot arm designed by South Korean start-up Supernova can make coffee, and also turn its hands to other tasks including 3D printing.

The AI camera built into HUENIT’s robot arm can recognise faces and objects, and it pairs with smartphones via Bluetooth for app control.

The arm can rotate up to 220 degrees and lift up to 26.5 ounces in weight.

A 265lb TV made of stone

The IFA show saw some of the earliest TV broadcasts in the world in the 1920s – and this year, German TV brand Loewe showed off a TV made of stone.

The Iconic TV – which was introduced in new stone finishes including midnight marble, diamond dust and ivory sands at IFA – is made of Syno-Stone, a material which is as solid, cool and heavy as stone.

Sets weigh a whopping 200lb.  

Syno Stone is a solid material which looks like concrete and is fully recyclable. 

This means that your stone TV can be made into another stone TV when you are finished with it.

The TV comes in 55-inch and 65-inch variants and has a sharp 4K OLED display.

A soundbar is built into the base of the TV which can plug into a full 5.1 surround system.

AI pet recogniser

Ever worried that your cat might not actually be your cat? Relax, Korean app Petnow has your back with a dog and cat recogniser.

Dogs’ noses are as unique as human fingerprints, the company says, and the app can recognise both dog noses and cat noses, so you can authenticate your cats.

The makers describe it as a ‘non-invasive alternative to microchips.’

The Seoul-based company claims that the biometrics have up to 99% accuracy.

The idea is that if an animal is lost, the finder can scan it in Petnow and reunite it with its owner.

Turn yourself into a metaverse puppet

An impressive demo from Korean company R2MIX allows you to control a 3D ‘metaverse’ avatar in real time – so it syncs to your face and fingers.

The company’s tech also enables AI-powered avatars and could be used to underpin virtual worlds where humans and AI interact together.

The AI avatars use ChatGPT to answer questions on screen, while the human-controlled versions ‘lip sync’ in time to your words. 

The company says that the service is aimed at video creators ‘who want to create video content using digital humans’.

Synchronised robot workers 

Another impressive demon the show floor showed multiple robot arms working together – normally robots work alone, even on factory production lines.

Maker Hydrabyte says, ‘If you put the robots close to each other, they will fail.

‘Therefore, we have dedicated Hydrabyte to the programming of multi-robot systems.’

The company works to ensure multiple robots – even different ones – can work together safely, and the demonstration of multiple robot arms swirling round each other was mesmerising.  

A TV which floats in water 

Sylvox showed off a television (well, a tablet) which can actually float on water and is completely waterproof.

The 15-inch Android tablet is completely waterproof, and comes with a stand to allow you to angle it.

The company wouldn’t let me float it on the stand as it’s a prototype device.

The concept device has Google TV built in, and includes a kickstand that also works as a handle.

Sylvox also makes fully waterproof models designed for use outdoors or in the bathroom.

CMA gives approval to £54billion tech tie-up

By Daily Mail City & Finance Reporter

Published: 17:20 EDT, 21 August 2023 | Updated: 17:20 EDT, 21 August 2023

Some links in this article may be affiliate links. If you click on them we may earn a small commission. That helps us fund This Is Money, and keep it free to use. We do not write articles to promote products. We do not allow any commercial relationship to affect our editorial independence.

When you look at photos of yourself, do you like what you see — or do you wish you knew how to look more like your best self? 

Photo editing apps have come a long way since the dog ears filter made its appearance on Snapchat – but we all know natural is best.

So use our quick guide to make yourself instantly more photogenic:  

Before we get to the basics, there are a few quirky techniques that will improve how you look on camera. 

Forget ‘say cheese’ – words that end in an ‘uh’ sound can put your mouth into a more natural smile shape.

Try ‘data’, ‘yoga’ or ‘mocha’ next time someone is taking your photo. It’ll bring the corners of your mouth up naturally.

If that doesn’t work for you, try to think of something funny. 

Fake it: A fake smile can look really strange. A fake laugh, though, almost always turns into a real one and you’ll end up with a true smile. 

Another odd trick that works is pushing your tongue against the back of your teeth. This relaxes your face and slims your jawline.

Another bizarre method that works is taking advantage of a rainy day. The filtered light of a cloudy day is super flattering. Head outside to snap your new dating app pic.

Below, I go into detail about some of the fundamentals when it comes to being more photogenic. 

Bye-bye, ‘turkey neck’

It’s not just you. Cameras exaggerate certain features and give you a different appearance than what you see in the mirror. You need to be strategic when you pose.

Think about what is closest and farthest from the camera. Say you put your foot out and lean back: Your foot will look larger since it’s closer to the camera.

You can use this know-how to your advantage. To minimize neck fat and extra skin, jut your head forward slightly so it’s closer to the camera.

At the same time, elongate your neck and tip your chin down a little bit. Imagine holding a piece of fruit between your chin and neck.

In person, it looks a little weird. On camera, it looks great. If you feel silly, practice with your front-facing camera. You can delete the pictures.

Let there be light

Bad lighting can make even the best-looking person resemble a villain in a horror movie. Here are a few simple rules of thumb to remember.

● Direct light can create harsh shadows that make your skin look bad. Never stand right under a light source.

● Find soft, natural light instead whenever possible. It hides blemishes and smooths out imperfections.

● Face a light source so it illuminates your features and draws attention to your eyes. If there’s a light fixture nearby, point your eyes toward it and widen them just a bit.

● If you’re outside, face the sun to take advantage of the natural light.

● If the bright sun is casting dark shadows or causing you to squint, turn away or find a patch of shade.

Bonus tech tip: You’re on a video call and your room is too dark, so you look shadowy. Open up a new blank document in your browser or with your word processing program. Make it fill as much of the screen as you can. The reflection will brighten you up.

Find your best angle

Taking a photo of your face with the camera below you is very rarely unflattering. So, how do you determine the best angle for you?

Instagram influencer Vi Luong says you should take a series of nine selfies from different angles. 

Hold your smartphone and look at it head-on. Then, take three pictures: One with the camera right in front of your face, one above and one below.

Now it’s time to angle your face. Turn to the right for the following three pictures and keep your head still. 

Now, take one photo of yourself with the camera at face level, one where the camera is high, and one is lower.

Then tilt your face to the left. Keep your head still and snap three pictures (face level, above and below) at this new angle.

It’s a lot of pictures, but it’s worth it. Once you get these nine options, compare them to see which angle suits you best. Ask a friend or family member you trust if you can’t decide.

Make full-body pics better, too

Standing straight toward the camera isn’t flattering. Instead of facing the camera with your feet planted under your hips, slightly tilt your body to one side. Angle your torso away from the camera to look slimmer, too.

Here’s a trick especially for ladies: Put your weight on your back hip. This makes your front leg, closest to the camera, look leaner.

Wondering what to do with your arms? There’s a reason putting a hand on your hip is a classic: It makes your arm look slimmer than keeping it pressed against your body.

Keep it real

We all feel pressure to look as happy as possible in pictures, which can look unnatural. Make sure your smile is genuine. Tell a joke or think about something that always makes you laugh.

Other times, a mysterious Mona Lisa smile is the way to go. Think about turning up the corners of your mouth, or even one side, without doing a full smile. Part your lips just a bit to avoid grimacing.

The way most people use social media puts them at risk of identity fraud, home burglaries, an expert warns.

Laura Kankaala, Threat Intelligence Lead at online security software provider F-Secure, told DailyMail.com there are six things she would never post on social media.

They include photos of her house keys, back-to-school images of children or anything that can identify places she regular visits – such as her morning run route.

Photos taken near my home or sharing my location

It’s very easy to give away your home address inadvertently on social media, Kankalaa warned.

She said: ‘I avoid taking and posting photos in and around my home that can give away where I live, key landmarks and recognizable shops and buildings can allow someone with ill intentions to build an accurate picture of where you live.

‘Even something seemingly innocent like a fire station or convenience store can provide key waypoints. 

‘Another one to avoid is sharing a map of your run, hike or cycle particularly if you started from your home as this can easily reveal your address.

‘Also, be aware that some social media apps have location sharing, like Snapchat, BeReal and Facebook. 

It’s easy to forget this setting is enabled so I recommend switching it off.’

Photos of my house keys or flight tickets

Posting a photo of your house keys after buying a home might seem innocent enough, but it carries risks, as does posting flight tickets (which can give away details such as passport numbers).

Kankalaa said: ‘A trend that’s popular with new homeowners is to take a photo of their set of keys, perhaps dangled outside of their front day to proudly announce their new purchase. 

‘This is a huge no for me. Depending on the type of lock, it is technically possible to 3D print a copy of keys based on a photograph. So, if you don’t want any uninvited guests, I’d keep the keys out of shot.’

Posting flight tickets online can expose your personal information – or make it easy for malicious pranksters to cancel your plane ticket as a ‘joke’.

Photos of children going back to school

It’s become popular to post pictures of children on a doorstep going back to school – but this can give away personal details both about your child and about where your home is located.

Kankalaa said: ‘As schools return it’s popular for parents to post pictures of their children in identifiable uniform outside their door with a house number clearly visible.

‘I would think carefully about posting this online, at the very least blur out the badge and house number.’

Photos in the workplace

It’s very easy to give away private details about your workplace which could be exploited by cybercriminals, Kankalaa warned.

‘Maybe you want to show the world you’re working really hard or perhaps you’ve found a cool coffee shop and you snap a photo of your laptop/device in situ, with a coffee. But it’s also an easy way to unintentionally reveal sensitive information on your screen.

‘Smartphone cameras produce such high-quality photographs nowadays, someone could easily zoom into your shot and read the content of your emails or work dashboard. The same goes for when you’re logged into personal emails. If you really want to share such a photograph, then lock your device screen first.’

Photos of other people without their consent

It’s worth thinking before you post – do the other people in this image or video want to be there?

Kankalaa said, ‘Many of us are in the habit of sharing photos of friends online but how often do you ask permission before doing so? Assuming everyone’s circumstances are the same could land someone else in trouble.

‘On a lighter note, perhaps someone has pulled a sickie at work, but unfortunately there can be darker circumstances. 

‘Someone might be in an abusive relationship; for instance, a photo shared online could put them in danger.’ It may seem overly cautious but asking ‘do you mind if I post this picture of us online?’ is good practice as well as good manners.

Scientists can now control human DNA with electricity using new tech that ‘sparks genes back to life’

By Matthew Phelan For Dailymail.Com

Updated: 18:13 EDT, 1 August 2023

‘Tech neck’ is plaguing the world, as people are straining their bones and muscles by looking down at screens for too long – but a survey finds Americans fare the worst.

Wellness experts analyzed Google searches for ‘tech neck’ and ‘fix bad posture,’ finding both were higher in the US, followed by Australia and Canada.

Research shows that the average American spends more than five hours scrolling and even more time staring at screens daily, leading to repeated strain on the bones and muscle stiffness.

A wellness and posture expert has revealed quick fixes to elevate the pain and poor posture, such as yoga moves like the Standing Forward Bend and Warrior II Pose.

Tech neck can feel like the world’s weight is on your shoulders because, in a way, it is.

The average adult head weighs 10-12 pounds, and tipping it forward at a 45-degree angle to stare at a smartphone increases the force on the neck by almost 50 pounds. 

The New York-Presbyterian Hospital defines ‘tech neck’ as ‘the fallout from spending too much time looking down at phones or tablets, or holding your head too far forward to look at a computer screen’, which can cause ‘soreness, stiffness, and even injury’.

And although it seems easy to avoid, ‘tech neck’ poses numerous long-term side effects. It can cause headaches, numbness in your hands, and even permanent spine changes.

This is because spending hours hovering over your phone can cause your neck muscles to lengthen and your chest muscles to shorten, increasing the pressure on your upper spine.

The new survey, commissioned by ISSA Yoga, found searches for ‘soar neck’ increased by nearly 30 per cent in the US over the last month. 

Ireland ranked fourth among tech neck sufferers, followed by Malta, Singapore and the UK.

Finland, Norway and Cyprus ranked at the bottom of the top 10. 

‘Just as some people fall ill once they stop working before a holiday, others will realize that rushing to meet last-minute deadlines before the summer sun hits has had a detrimental effect on their posture, resulting in lower neck and upper back pain,’ said Erika Weiss, a wellness and posture expert at ISSA Yoga.

‘This is particularly true for people who spend long periods at their desk without interruption or those who work remotely and are therefore less inclined to take restorative breaks.’

Weiss stressed the importance of an ergonomic setup when using devices.

‘One of the easiest ways to reduce discomfort caused by bad posture is to raise your devices so that they’re on eye level,’ she said.

‘Try to be conscious of how straight you sit, and if you feel yourself start to slump when concentrating or struggling to read, try to catch yourself and take a break if you can. 

‘Avoid rolling your shoulders forward or outstretching your neck to look at your screen.’

The same protocol should also be used post-work when unwinding, playing video games, or watching television.

Another way to relieve tech neck is through yoga, as it stretches and relaxes the muscles that become tense during the day.

Weiss suggested the best moves are low-impact that bend the spine without adding stress.

However, the wellness expert warns yoga newbies against rushing into exercises.  

‘Many follow the most common or most popular routines without considering their suitability, which can exacerbate back issues and cause more soreness,’ she said.

‘Unless you’re experienced, it’s best to stick to the following moves that can alleviate neck and upper back pain – but make sure you don’t push yourself too much at the start.

‘Some moves you may want to try include the Standing Forward Bend (starting in the Raised Hands Pose), the Warrior II Pose, and the Extended Triangle Pose.’

 

MIDAS SHARE TIPS: Unleash a profit as tech firm Bango keeps cash flowing

By Joanne Hart

Updated: 17:08 EDT, 29 July 2023

Some links in this article may be affiliate links. If you click on them we may earn a small commission. That helps us fund This Is Money, and keep it free to use. We do not write articles to promote products. We do not allow any commercial relationship to affect our editorial independence.

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