Economy and Trading

UK Economy Shows Modest Growth Amid Budget Challenges

The UK economy expanded 0.1% in August, matching economist forecasts, while showing improvement from July’s revised contraction. Chancellor Rachel Reeves faces mounting pressure as she prepares for a challenging November budget amid significant fiscal constraints.

UK Economy Records Modest Growth in August

The UK economy grew 0.1 per cent in August, matching expectations, according to reports from the Office for National Statistics. The monthly gross domestic product figure aligned with forecasts from economists polled by Reuters and represented an improvement from the revised 0.1 per cent decline recorded in July.

AI AnalyticsCybersecurity

Shadow AI in UK Workplaces: £208 Billion Productivity Boost vs Critical Security Threats

Shadow AI usage among UK workers is saving billions in productivity while creating unprecedented security risks. New research shows 71% of employees use unauthorized AI tools despite potential data breaches and privacy concerns.

In a dramatic workplace transformation, UK employees are embracing artificial intelligence at unprecedented rates, generating an estimated £208 billion in productivity savings while simultaneously creating critical security vulnerabilities that threaten organizational integrity. This phenomenon, termed “Shadow AI” in a comprehensive Microsoft-commissioned study, represents both a massive economic opportunity and a pressing security crisis unfolding across British businesses.

The Shadow AI Epidemic: Scope and Scale