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  • 🤖 AI Classrooms: Precision Learning or Soulless Future?

🤖 AI Classrooms: Precision Learning or Soulless Future?

Oil Giants Face Tax Tidal Wave

This is Cliff Equity, the UK’s business newsletter that keeps you informed on what’s important in tech, business and finance in less than 5 minutes

In today’s stories:

  • AI Classrooms: Precision Learning or Soulless Future?

  • £2.5M Secured: Signol Powers CO2 Reductions!

  • Oil Giants Face Tax Tidal Wave

The summary: David Game College is pioneering the UK’s first AI-led classroom, blending cutting-edge tech with human support to deliver bespoke learning, sparking excitement and debate about the future of education!

The details:

  • London's David Game College is launching the UK’s first AI-led classroom for 20 GCSE students, offering bespoke, hyper-personalised learning for a cool £27,000 a year. Human teachers? So last century.

  • AI will diagnose student weaknesses with surgical precision, while virtual reality headsets handle the rest. A few human "learning coaches" will still loiter to tackle tricky subjects like art, where machines apparently still struggle with ‘the human touch’.

  • Proponents hail this as a revolution in precision learning; detractors, however, worry it’s ushering in a "soulless, bleak future", where pupils learn from machines instead of teachers with charm (and flaws).

  • Despite critics’ cries of dehumanisation, AI is already creeping into classrooms nationwide, though David Game College is letting it drive. The government's happy with AI giving teachers a “helping hand”; here, it's full throttle.

Why it matters: The rise of AI in classrooms signals a shift where machines, not just tea-fuelled teachers, are shaping young minds—think algorithms over apple-for-the-teacher. While some celebrate tailored learning and relentless precision, others fear we’re trading human interaction for robotic routine. In a world where virtual reality headsets might teach art, the question is: can a machine truly inspire, or just mark your homework faster?

The summary: Signol is cleverly using behavioural science and a sprinkle of AI to help shipping and aviation giants cut emissions, proving that small human decisions can make a massive difference in saving the planet!

The details:

  • London-based startup Signol has raised a tidy £2.5 million to help the shipping and aviation sectors cut emissions—not with new tech, but by giving humans a nudge to make greener choices in their daily routines.

  • Leading the charge in this funding round was New York's TMV, with some heavyweight maritime backers like Ultranav and MOL PLUS on board, showing just how serious they are about cleaning up their carbon footprints.

  • TMV's Marina Hadjipateras believes Signol's clever mix of human behaviour and AI could revolutionise more than just ships and planes—think healthcare and beyond—making it the investment equivalent of a Swiss Army knife.

  • With 100,000 metric tonnes of CO2 already saved and a dash of AI on the horizon, Signol’s CEO Michael Fanning seems well on his way to proving that human decisions, not just tech, hold the key to a cleaner planet.

Why it matters: Signol is proving that a bit of brainpower can save the planet, one more thoughtful decision at a time, without overhauling entire industries. By getting shipping giants and aviation to reduce emissions through behavioural nudges, they’re turning sustainability into something even CEOs can’t avoid. With AI in the mix, they’re making sure humans are still top of the eco-hero chart, proving that tech doesn’t always have to steal the show.

The summary: It seems the windfall tax hike might just turn a thriving oil and gas sector into a damp squib, dampening the economy and job market, while business confidence slips faster than you can say "tea break."

The details:

  • Oil and gas firms aren’t amused by the proposed windfall tax hike, warning it could vaporise £13bn from the UK economy and potentially 35,000 jobs, which is hardly a recipe for economic growth.

  • The Treasury, ever diplomatic, promises “constructive dialogue” but seems intent on taxing North Sea firms to 78% on their profits – quite the catch, wouldn’t you say?

  • Offshore Energies UK laments this “temporary” windfall tax, suggesting it’s outstayed its welcome like a houseguest who keeps “tightening” their grip on your fridge.

  • Business confidence, once optimistic in July, has taken a nosedive with tax talks and “painful” budget forecasts, leaving investment intentions wilting faster than a British summer.

Why it matters: The proposed windfall tax hike is set to drain billions from the UK economy and jeopardise thousands of jobs, all while the government insists on a “constructive dialogue” that sounds more like a polite form of “we’re doing it anyway.” The increase in taxes for North Sea oil and gas firms could make them as welcome as a wet sock in a teacup, and undermine any hopes of a booming economy. As for business confidence, it's dropped faster than a flat pint, leaving investment prospects looking gloomier than a British summer holiday.

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