Paul Whiteside on LinkedIn: WSJ News Exclusive | ChatGPT...
The exponential growth in the power and valuation of AI has made it the next digital catalyst. Many are excited about the creative applications that AI could bring to consumers. Applications for consumers like Microsoft Office with ChatGPT is just the beginning. The excitement now lies in the industrial applications of AI. Industrial sectors like healthcare, manufacturing, farming, and energy are starting to see the potential of AI. Companies building applications related to Large Language Models (LLMs) have increased to over 400. OpenAI, which Google paid $500M for in 2014, is reportedly valued at $29B.
ChargeUK: A new association to be the voice of UK’s EV charging infrastructure
Paul Whiteside is excited to be one of the 18 founding members of ChargeUK. ChargeUK is a new association that aims to be the voice of the UK's EV charging infrastructure. It’s an exciting time to be part of this collaboration. There is currently a lot of momentum for installing and operating new infrastructure by 2030. As a united industry, the association can have a greater chance of moving the needle on climate change. Over 2 million EV miles have been delivered in just a year from a single GRIDSERVE Sustainable Energy Limited forecourt.
Bricks and Mortar Shops Outperform Online Shops
Physical stores outperformed online shops during the Christmas shopping season, with multi-channel retailers like Next and Seasalt reporting a better performance in physical stores. Online retailers like Asos and Boohoo experienced poor Christmas trading. Even online retail giant Amazon was less successful in the UK last year. The cost of living crisis may have been a factor, but the unexpected bump in activity for Christmas sales is more likely due to shops being open with no lockdowns or restrictions, postal strikes that made online deliveries less predictable, and concerns that online purchases might not make it under the tree by Christmas day.
While the figures for physical stores performing better than online shops are surprising, it does not mean the end for online retail. It just means that it’s time for online retailers to improve their delivery services and gain the trust of shoppers.
In conclusion, AI's disruptive advances, the growth of the EV charging infrastructure, and the rise of physical shops show that technology and the retail industry are constantly evolving.
