May 23Some thoughts on AI and tech for goodI’ve been working around the edges of machine learning and AI for many years now. We implemented some basic machine learning in the startup I was running in 2006 and I watched as many other startups implemented similar things during the 2010s. …Tech For Good3 min readTech For Good3 min read
Jan 4, 2019Bad BloodBad Blood is a fantastic book and an amazing journalistic feat. The drama is still playing out as I write this with the main characters facing criminal charges and likely to stand trial this year. Like Enron: the Smartest Guys in the Room it’s a brilliant set of lessons about…Startup3 min readStartup3 min read
Jan 3, 2019What will be interesting in tech for good in 2019?2018 was the year of tech for bad. An annus horribilis for the reputation of the big tech companies and mistrust of the technology industry. I fear there’s more of that to come this year with new revelations and scandals. But on a more positive note, we’ll see tech for…Fintech2 min readFintech2 min read
Jan 2, 2019Predictions for impact investing in 20192018 was the year impact investing started to reach a much wider audience in the investment world. It went from the occasional mention in the media in previous years to a torrent of speeches, events, announcements and even billboard advertising campaigns, particularly from big financial services companies. …Impact Investing3 min readImpact Investing3 min read
Dec 31, 2018Some good stuff from 2018In many ways it’s been a horrible year. The slow car crash of British politics, the gradual uncovering of how badly the tech sector has misjudged ethics and privacy concerns, the growing evidence that climate change is worse than we thought and the ongoing disaster in the White House have…Hong Kong2 min readHong Kong2 min read
Nov 16, 2018What does this button do?Believe it or not, I was a teenage heavy metal fan. Growing up in the Midlands I had the albums, the posters and the t-shirts, but never the long hair and tight trousers — I don’t think I could have pulled those off. It’s weird looking back and realising that…Music2 min readMusic2 min read
Nov 15, 2018The Fifth RiskAs I write this it’s unclear whether the current British Government will survive. Amidst the chaos, spare a thought for the civil servants who have to keep the show on the road. They’re incredibly important. For a description of why their expertise matters, read Michael Lewis’s new book The Fifth…Politics2 min readPolitics2 min read
Nov 14, 2018What impact investors can learn from journalistsIt’s struck me for a while that there are similarities between really good investors and great investigative journalists. The most obvious similarity is that they both ask good questions but I think there’s more to it than that. As a journalist you have to uncover a story that nobody else…Journalism2 min readJournalism2 min read
Nov 13, 2018Drinking problems (and some solutions)“It’s unpleasantly like being drunk.” “What’s so unpleasant about being drunk?” “You ask a glass of water.” ― Douglas Adams, The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy I’ve been thinking a lot about our relationship with alcohol recently. …Alcohol2 min readAlcohol2 min read
Nov 12, 2018Should we say hello to aliens?It’s an interesting, and possibly civilisation-ending, question. Should we go out of our way to let other alien civilisations know that we’re here, or try to remain very, very quiet? …Science Fiction2 min readScience Fiction2 min read
