Innovators

McDonald’s acquires AI company for $300m to improve drive-thru service

The tech could be used to recommend customers buy a McFlurry on a sunny day

Profiling 7 start-ups to watch in Tech Nation’s Future Fifty 2025 programme

The latest cohort of Future Fifty tech start-ups includes fintech leaders, robotic entertainment companies, sustainable energy suppliers and quantum technology manufacturers

What is FNZ? The digital finance unicorn in Scotland’s thriving fintech hub

It is the first $1bn unicorn to emerge from the blossoming Scottish fintech scene, and Andrew Fawthrop takes a closer look at what has driven FNZ's success

Sharing economy companies list: From Airbnb and Uber to Omni and Hubble, 15 start-ups disrupting their industries

An ever-growing list of sharing economy companies are threatening to disrupt industries including transport, accommodation and office provision

From speedy boarding to protecting children online, here are some of the use cases for digital IDs

New uses for digital IDs promise to make boarding planes quicker, remove the need for ID checks at self-service supermarkets and aid recruiters

Water technology companies: Seven start-ups bringing tech to the tap

Water technology companies are increasing access to water, monitoring leaks and enabling communities to identify contamination in the supply before it becomes a catastrophe

Six cloud gaming companies pioneering a $140bn global industry as Google Stadia launches

Gaming as an industry is estimated to be worth $140bn and now multiple companies are attempting to bring it into the age of the cloud via a streaming service that lets users circumvent the need for expensive PCs and consoles - with the launch of Google Stadia thrusting it into the mainstream

How the Magic Table projector delivers happiness to dementia patients

The simple combination of a projector and an infrared sensor has had a huge impact on dementia patients' lives, according to John Ramsay, who distributes the Magic Table healthcare technology in the UK

Nine Irish tech start-ups turning the Emerald Isle into the AI Isle

From eco-apps and VR lessons to AI-powered shops and insect biotech, Ireland has a strong and diverse start-up ecosystem