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Tag - Money
Company says fungal chitosan, made from cell walls of oyster mushrooms, is
active ingredient in new hair products
Mushrooms are the wellness trend du jour, turning up in coffee, supplements and
even beer. Now, we are being told to slather them on our heads after Dyson
revealed they could be a secret weapon in the age-old battle with frizzy hair.
Dyson researchers have discovered that fungal chitosan – which is found in the
cell walls of oyster mushrooms and commonly used in skincare products – can be
used to tame unruly hair.
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Gig economy workers for Deliveroo and Uber Eats in the city are living in
appalling conditions, while putting in long hours, earning low pay and facing
mental health problems
Two lines of dirt-encrusted, ramshackle caravans stretch along both sides of a
road close to the motorway that winds its way into the heart of Bristol. Rats
dart between water-filled concrete sluices to rubbish-flecked mounds of
vegetation. Drug users stumble out of the nearby underpass while lorries thunder
overhead.
This is the grim encampment where about 30 Brazilian delivery riders working for
large companies such as Deliveroo and Uber Eats are forced to live to make ends
meet.
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It mistakenly entered all my business details in the search results for ‘How to
contact Google in the UK’
Four years ago, Google mistakenly published my restaurant business’s details,
including the phone number and address, in the search results for “how to
contact Google in the UK”.
At first I got just a few calls from people trying to get through to it but now
I receive up to 300 a week, including on my personal mobile, as well as messages
and letters. I have more than 130 voice messages.
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Company after company is swallowing the hype, only to be forced into
embarrassing walkbacks by anti-AI backlash
Earlier this month, a popular lifestyle magazine introduced a new “fashion and
lifestyle editor” to its huge social media following. “Reem”, who on first
glance looked like a twentysomething woman who understood both fashion and
lifestyle, was proudly announced as an “AI enhanced team member”. That is, a
fake person, generated by artificial intelligence. Reem would be making product
recommendations to SheerLuxe’s followers – or, to put it another way, doing what
SheerLuxe would otherwise pay a person to do. The reaction was entirely
predictable: outrage, followed by a hastily issued apology. One suspects Reem
may not become a staple of its editorial team.
This is just the latest in a long line of walkbacks of “exciting AI projects”
that have been met with fury by the people they’re meant to excite. The Prince
Charles Cinema in Soho, London, cancelled a screening of an AI-written film in
June, because its regulars vehemently objected. Lego was pressured to take down
a series of AI-generated images it published on its website. Doctor Who started
experimenting with generative AI, but quickly stopped after a wave of
complaints. A company swallows the AI hype, thinks jumping on board will paint
it as innovative, and entirely fails to understand the growing anti-AI sentiment
taking hold among many of its customers.
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The concept of a guaranteed income is gaining traction as a solution to the
impact of AI and way to encourage more rewarding and socially valuable work
When Elinor O’Donovan found out she had been randomly selected to participate in
a basic income pilot scheme, she couldn’t believe her luck. In return for a
guaranteed salary of just over €1,400 (£1,200) a month from the Irish
government, all the 27-year-old artist had to do was fill out a bi-annual
questionnaire about her wellbeing and how she spends her time. “It was like
winning the lottery. I was in such disbelief,” she says.
The income, which she will receive until September 2025, has enabled her to give
up temping and focus instead on her art. “It covers my living expenses, my rent,
food and day-to-day stuff.”
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Despite being told there was ‘no crossing to be paid’, a driver received 23
penalty notices
In November I had to start using my boss’s car for work. After making my first
journey across the Dartford crossing on the M25, I tried to pay the Dart charge.
I typed in the car’s details but the website clearly stated there was “no
crossing to be paid”.
I presumed that this meant my boss had the car on his own Dart account. As a
result, I did not add it to my own account.
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Switchee aims to protect health and cut bills by installing its technology in 1m
homes
A British startup which uses technology to prevent renters from living in cold,
damp homes has raised fresh funds to expand as landlords belatedly try to tackle
outbreaks of mould in crumbling social housing.
Switchee has secured £5m, split equally between an existing investor, Axa IM
Alts, and Octopus Ventures, part of the group which includes household gas and
electricity supplier Octopus Energy.
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They are essential tools but can be expensive. From trade-ins to refurb there
are ways to get a better deal
Prices for the same model regularly fluctuate between retailers. While
manufacturers typically only sell their phones at the recommended retail price,
third-party retailers can discount them depending on stock levels and age, so
shop around and check multiple price comparison tools such as Google Shopping,
Kelkoo, PriceRunner or Price Spy.
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