Yearly Archives: 2023
It is starting to feel…
It has been a bit strange this year; I seem to have struggled to feel Christmassy for some reason. Maybe it’s because Christmas is on a Monday, and everything seems to have run much longer, busy until Friday. Maybe it’s … Continue reading
A plan for Jan… to carry on jingling
With the year winding down, in contrast, I have been finding that everything activity-wise has been winding up… getting busier rather than slowing down. This has meant a fair bit of rushing around, setting and meeting deadlines and of course … Continue reading
The MetaVerse is dead – Long live the Metaverse
Last week, I had the pleasure of chairing the Credit Connect Technology Think Tank, where we all gathered in Manchester to discuss the latest themes across Risk Operations, Credit, Collections, and Recoveries. It was an interesting and lively discussion with … Continue reading
The economy – maple icing or just thin ice
Travel has a way of broadening perspectives and this week I have been in Canada again, at the RMA conference in Niagara Falls, where I have been generally eating too many burgers, drinking too much coffee and wondering where the … Continue reading
The Dancing Team
Last week, I made the journey down to London to see ABBA Voyage. Beyond the music, which was a lot of fun, the staging and the show were outstanding… world-class, in fact… they threw everything at it. What made it … Continue reading
Be more dog… or more cat?
It is an age-old icebreaker question, one that is safe to discuss (unlike sport and certainly politics) and almost as classic as discussing the weather: ‘Are you a dog person or a cat person?’ Most people seem to identify with … Continue reading
A Prime Thanksgiving
Last weekend marked the celebration of Thanksgiving in Canada, a holiday we still celebrate even though we are in the UK. It is after all a great excuse to get people together. So it was the normal plan: roast turkey, … Continue reading
The Unseen Treadmill
The weekend stretched out before me as I sat there, my laptop humming softly, wearing comfy slippers, in my pajamas, and cradling a cup of coffee, pondering… I heard that I could install large language models on my PC at … Continue reading
Not Breaking the Bank
Conference season is well and truly upon us now… Last week, I found myself down at the FourNet event at Mansion House in London, talking about all things data and security. It was quite the venue and an interesting day … Continue reading
Does AI need demystifying… already?
Increasingly, the words ‘Artificial Intelligence’ (AI) are not limited to the realms of science fiction. They’re being used more frequently and interchangeably in the domains of technology, business, and even our everyday lives. The Hype and Its Ramifications The term … Continue reading
Post-Summer Rush: Acceleration and Impatience
As the last traces of summer begin to fade, the reality of returning to work seemed to be like pushing an immovable object last week. Trying to shake off that holiday vibe, especially when the weather was so nice, was … Continue reading
It’s not a great climate for… sure
Would you believe it… as soon as the school summer holidays are almost over, the chance of a break starts to recede and the weather here turns glorious. It does seem like there has been a break in the weather, … Continue reading
Machine vs human: Who needs that holiday anyway…
August can be a quiet month. Lots of us are on holiday, many for two weeks, and all at different times. It can feel like there is no-one in the office sometimes. And, despite our best efforts to move things … Continue reading
Let there be music… sparkles and value
This weekend I was formally initiated into the world of music summer festivals. Maybe it was not seemly to have a 50-year-old heading down the helter-skelter… and at speed, I might add… but no one seemed to mind really. So … Continue reading
All smoke no fire – Consumer Duty?
In case you hadn’t noticed the new Consumer Duty has gone live in the UK. I was away when this happened and since coming back I have been taking some polls around how people feel, 2 weeks in. Before launch … Continue reading
India Revisited: Shifting Dynamics in Economy, Technology, and Society
It can be difficult coming back especially straight after a couple of weeks away. There’s the bulging inbox, outstanding admin tasks, and that nagging feeling, “Yes I really should have mowed the lawn before I went away”, all added to … Continue reading
Rain Rain Go Away
This weekend a summer storm was forecast, dire warnings across the news, wind, rain… and of course I was booked to go camping. So, driving down Friday the mood, like the sky, was pretty dark just thinking about the weekend … Continue reading
A mean tail – Economic weather watching
Last week, I had the pleasure of chairing the Online Collections Technology Think Tank, sponsored by Credit Connect, something I always find enlightening. Reflecting on the conversation there were a couple of trends that really stood out this time around. … Continue reading
You cannot be serious…
Browsing Twitter this morning, all to make the most of my 600 tweets, I was greeted by the sight of early morning Wimbledon, the time-honoured sporting event that for me at least evokes being near the start of the school … Continue reading
Riding the Wave of Information Overload
This last week I was sitting at my desk, surrounded by what felt like a sea of information. Wave upon wave was crashing over me, economic video summaries, government announcements, regulator announcements, interest rate changes, vulnerability trend changes, and company … Continue reading
Sleepwalking with AI
As I sit here, reminiscing about the whirlwind of last week, I can’t help but smile at the peculiarities of a British summer. Picture this: it’s 3:30 in the morning, and the sun is already peeking over the horizon, casting … Continue reading
Barbeques – AI and the Great British Summer
With only a hint of sunshine, in Britain we normally get very excited, breaking out the shorts, T-shirts and start dreaming of barbecues. But, this weekend the flag was really raised, an Amber alert… this is it… the once-a-year event… … Continue reading
Interest rates – rollercoaster
Having had a complete switch off, for a week off – I am getting back in the swing of things this morning and catching up. Obviously, the debt packager restrictions have been a headline, as have the rumbling noises of … Continue reading
The cat’s whiskers- Content is a-changing
Being, yet another bank holiday and some great weather again, this weekend I felt the pressure to get outdoors… The garden office is now being opened (so if it rains next week it is all my fault of course). However … Continue reading
Still time for tea?
Summer seemed to arrive this week. No more hiding indoors huddled over a screen. With warmer weather, it’s the opportunity to get outside. So sitting outside this weekend, basking in the sun, my mind turned to the garden… Annoyance, that … Continue reading
AI emerging from the shadows – Friend or Foe?
Over the past week, I have found myself in repeated conversations about AI and large language models… it seems like interest in it continues to grow at pace, expanding beyond ChatGPT to other models and uses too. The rate of … Continue reading
A Royal Flush…
This weekend was the King’s coronation in the UK, with much pomp and circumstance to watch; tea and biscuits to consume. While the festivities were undoubtedly memorable, the event also heavily emphasized, a royal flush of ideas… inclusion, tolerance, and … Continue reading
The little big things
Last week, I was back in Toronto, Canada, in what was really beautiful spring weather, sunny, flowers starting and green grass (spring is after all short there – summer in a couple of weeks!). The trip not only offered me … Continue reading
How AI improved my holiday and can change the way we talk (for the better)
Last week I was off on holiday in Scotland. It was an opportunity to relax, reflect on things, have too much tea and cake, with some walking in between. Having spent the last few weeks experimenting with ChatGPT, this of … Continue reading
Different dynamics and different approaches evolving : Lending Technology Think Tank Summary
Like spring, there was a burst of energy in the Lending Technology Think Tank this week. Lots of new ideas and concepts coming through… Clearly Q1 has been super busy for most folks, and as we know plenty has been … Continue reading
Whatsup – Collections Think Tank summary themes
This last week was the Credit Connect Collections think tank. There was some good attendance which was great, and we were lucky enough to have some great speakers covering some new topics. On the day it is always busy, juggling … Continue reading
Even ChatGPT makes mistakes
A difficult start to this week. I seem to have managed to catch COVID, did not get to write my blog this week, and to top, it all have already had an argument with ChatGPT. COVID is really sneaky. I … Continue reading
It’s a small world after all
Last week was the first time in a long time I have been away long haul for work. Of course, I met some great people, had some interesting conversations, together with plenty of great food along the way too. However, … Continue reading
Risk on – Game on?
Being the start of the year it is a good time to think about goals… and it is also a good time to think about your sales pipeline too. One of the things that have always struck me, in the … Continue reading
Trends to watch: 2023
Humph, the new year starts for real this week; back to work and back to school. Like champagne, cold, fizzy, refreshing on New Years’ eve – already opened warm and flat it, the next day, somehow does not seem quite … Continue reading
2023 – repeat resolutions ready?
As the clock ticks over to 2023 goal setting season starts… or at least time for some new year resolutions. So… what do we all want to achieve this year? Outside regular personal resolutions… going to the gym, losing a … Continue reading
