Fertiliser vendors could be put under the microscope as a complaint has been lodged against them by Supersoil, an organic producer, to the European Union authorities. Despite the decrease in energy costs over the past year, fertiliser prices in Ireland remain higher than the UK, raising concerns among farmers. This issue has been brought to the attention of politicians and regulators.
In other news, Ethos Engineering welcomed Exponent, a private equity player, as a supporter. This partnership will enable the data centre designer to hire an additional 250 employees. This follows the announcement of Exponent’s agreement to purchase Chanelle Pharma, owned by business mogul Michael Burke, for a sum that could potentially reach €300 million. Exponent is set to make a significant financial contribution to the engineering business enhancing its growth and the quality of service provided to customers.
Last week, the EU Parliament gave the green light to the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act, a pioneering EU regulation aiming to establish substantial controls on the AI sector. However, there are opinions that the AI Act is insufficient and more would be required to tackle deep-rooted structural issues. Until the AI Act’s efficiency is equal to its purpose, certain AIs should be limited.
The recent departure of Kenmare’s managing director after a 38-year tenure has led to speculations about its activist investor gaining power. In other developments, Simon Coveney experienced an unusual occurrence during his trip to Croke Park on Wednesday.
The US Federal Reserve officials asserted their expectation of a 75 basis point reduction in interest rates this year, citing this as an indication of their belief in inflation’s gradual decrease and consequent reduction in borrowing costs.
Annika Bizon, the newly appointed head of Samsung’s mobile experience for Ireland and the UK, views the role of artificial intelligence as primarily simplifying processes. The increased consumer interest in AI features coincides with her appointment, although this surge has also led to confusion. Bizon’s challenge, as heard by reporter Ciara O’Brien, is to demystify the ubiquitously used term ‘AI’.
Peter Blennerhassett and Bartlomiej Baran are the masterminds behind Blynksolve, a software programme designed to accelerate the adoption of novel manufacturing methodologies and diminish risk in the pharmaceutical industry, reports Olive Keogh. Blennerhassett explains that their system addresses the issue of ambiguity in complex manufacturing operations and the difficulty in marshalling teams to improve efficiency.
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Four years on from the start of Covid lockdowns, several pastimes adopted to pass time are still with us. Even though homemade banana bread or sourdough on Instagram may have faded, the craftsmanship craze seems to persist, with Cricut, a company that manufactures a variety of digital cutting devices, reaping the benefits. Ciara O’Brien reviews their latest creation, the Cricut Joy Xtra.
Steve Brierley didn’t face challenges settling intellectual property issues when he decided to leave his academic post at Cambridge University to launch his own technology venture. However, he appreciated the other perks offered by the university and was pleased to have established his company there. Andrew Jack investigates the benefits of forging links between universities and businesses.