Do you have a favorite. I can't pick favorites at this point. So, Andrew, it's uh that time of year.It's the big reveal now of the long list for the FT Shroers Business Book Award. What can you tell us about the long list. So, we've got 16 books.I don't like to tip any particularly, but there are three main themes, three G's, I suppose. Geopolitics, genius, and growth. In geopolitics, we've got quite a few books about the US and the relationship of the US with the rest of the world, notably China.Breakneck ...

After welcoming a wave of tech industry investment, Bengaluru also still widely known by its former name Bangalore has become a focal illustration of India's struggles to build infrastructure needed to keep its economy growing at a brisk rate. Hailed as the country's Silicon Valley, the city houses campuses for the likes of Google and Microsoft. But outside their gates, the reality is stark.Endless traffic, daily water shortages, and crumbling infrastructure. The country's cheap, abundant tech talent is att ...

US President Donald Trump's fullthroated support for the digital asset industry has encouraged booming numbers of so-called crypto treasury companies to launch worldwide. Biotechs, gold miners, and hotelers are just some of the companies that are rushing to buy cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ether. Companies backed by Trump and his family are even racing to buy crypto themselves, too.The surge in hoarding crypto comes as the US has become incredibly friendly towards digital assets, sending the price o ...

[Music] Our world is aging. Between 2015 and 2050, the share of the world's population aged over 60 years will climb from 12% to 22%. That's one factor driving the growth in robotic healthcare.From 2023 to 2032, the global medical robotics market is predicted to almost quadruple to $63.8% billion. It's being boosted by artificial intelligence, which is generating the vast amounts of data needed to train robots. Robots are being developed across a wide variety of medical disciplines.In the UK, by 2035, 90% o ...

Chinese exporters are reassessing investment in offshore factories. A wave of new US tariffs against alternative hubs such as Southeast Asia and restrictions on the trans shshipment of goods through the region has reoriented its commercial landscape. Manufacturers have poured billions of dollars into Southeast Asia in recent years as part of a China plus one strategy to minimize their exposure to US tariffs in the wake of Trump's first trade war with Beijing.But the US has slashed additional duties on Chine ...

Agentic AI Overview - Agentic AI is described as AI that can perform multiple tasks and processes, potentially revolutionizing workplaces [1] - Gartner predicts a significant increase in Agentic AI adoption in the coming years [8] - The technology sector views Agentic AI as completely autonomous, requiring minimal human interaction to complete tasks like buying stock or interacting with customers [4] - Top tech firms have launched tools like Chat GPT agent, designed to complete complex tasks with minimal human instruction [5] Implementation & Strategy - Only 1% of companies report fully implementing their AI strategy, indicating early stages of adoption [8] - Nearly half of business leaders are planning a conservative investment in Agentic AI [9] - Companies are partnering with customers to refine AI use, often involving 50 to 100 customers testing systems at scale before market launch [24] Concerns & Challenges - There are concerns about job losses, job obsolescence, and privacy violations due to data scraping by AI agents [18] - The existence of truly autonomous AI is questioned, with current AI getting things wrong frequently [22][23] - The concept of "agentic washing" is highlighted, where companies may overstate the capabilities of Agentic AI to drive sales [20][21] - The high cost of AI research and development is noted, with revenue models still being developed [25][26] Impact on Workforce & Organizations - Agentic AI is expected to automate repetitive tasks, allowing employees to focus on creativity, complex judgment, and strategic thinking [12] - Experts suggest AI could disrupt traditional organizational charts, potentially replacing humans in certain roles [14] - There's a fear of missing out (FOMO) driving companies to adopt AI to avoid falling behind competitors [11] - Human ingenuity and creativity are still considered essential, suggesting humans won't be entirely replaced by AI [27][28]

Robo taxis are proving popular in cities like San Francisco, moving from concept to reality with the likes of Alphabet, Amazon, and Tesla all making significant investments in this space. Following the shuttering of General Motors cruise project, the US robo taxi market has fallen into the hands of just a few of the richest, most determined tech giants and a handful of startups bold enough to challenge them. Whimo, an autonomous driving tech company owned by Alphabet, Google's parent company, is now operati ...

Industry Overview - Lab-grown diamonds can be produced in 7 days, a stark contrast to the billion years required for natural diamonds [1] - The US sees around 50% of engagement rings now featuring synthetic stones [1] Market Dynamics - China, specifically Hernand province, is estimated to be the origin of 70% of lab-grown diamonds for jewelry [2] - The influx of synthetic stones is dragging down the prices of both lab-grown and small natural diamonds [2] Competitive Landscape - The natural diamond industry is attempting to differentiate itself by labeling synthetic stones as "fakes" and "dupes," but consumer adoption continues [3] - The future of the natural diamond industry is uncertain due to the market saturation of synthetic stones [3]

Environmental Impact of Road Transport - Road transport accounts for approximately 12% of global greenhouse gas emissions [1] - Globally, new road building projects are estimated to be worth $27 trillion [1] - Europe's highway length increased by 60% between 1995 and 2020, while railways shrank by 65% [3] Challenges and Alternatives - Many regions lack public transport infrastructure to replace private vehicles [2] - The transition to electric vehicles will reduce emissions, but projections indicate that half of cars sold globally will still be fossil fuel-powered by 2035 [2] - Highway expansion's emission reduction benefits are often temporary [3] Sustainable Approaches - Some governments are scrapping road construction programs for sustainability reasons [4] - Some transport departments are reallocating funds to eco-friendly transit projects like faster buses and better bike lanes [4] - Sustainable highway construction includes using recycled concrete and asphalt and employing less heavy machinery [5]

Retail Industry Challenges - Shoplifting has surged due to high inflation impacting consumer spending power [1] - Shoplifting in the UK reached a record 22 billion (2.2%) last year, accompanied by rising crime levels and violence against staff [1] - Retailers face the challenge of balancing security measures with customer experience and privacy [3] - Retailers must weigh the cost of interventions against losses from theft [4] Law Enforcement & Retailer Response - Many retailers express concern over the lack of enforcement from thinly resourced police, contributing to the shoplifting issue [2] - Early signs indicate that some recent policing initiatives are working to combat the escalating crisis [2] - Retailers are implementing new measures, such as computer vision at checkouts, to combat theft [3]