Issue #52 - The Tech Issue 🦾
ChatGPT and the jobs threatened by automation | Can tech and renewables help save energy and money? | Get your broadband up to speed | Meet the Man of Steel behind Heroez Gym | Tunes | Words | More
🦾 G O
Should we worry about the rise of the machines? 🤖
Welcome to Issue #52 of The Backbone - the fortnightly newsletter from Bionic.
Automation is everywhere. Any mechanical or electronic device that replaces human labour counts as automation - voice-activated assistants, self-parking cars, customer service chatbots, and (to a lesser degree), self-service checkouts. Even your oven is an example of automated tech.
ChatGPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) is the new(ish) kid on the automation block. It uses artificial intelligence (AI) to write natural and reasonable-sounding responses to inputs and questions.
Apparently, it can write emails and essays, poetry, answer questions, or generate lines of code based on a prompt.
But we wanted to push the tech to its limits - would it be able to write the intro to The Backbone?
After giving it the following instructions - Write an intro for an email newsletter targeted at small business owners in the UK, referencing relevant news from the last fortnight, in an irreverent and chatty style - it came up with this…
Hello there, small business heroes of the UK!
Can you believe it's already been two weeks since the world went back to work? Time flies when you're chasing that sweet, sweet cash, eh?
Anyway, in case you've been too busy hustling to keep up with the latest news, here's what you might have missed:
First up, did you hear that the Bank of England kept interest rates at a record low of 0.1%? That's good news for borrowers, but not so great for savers. Looks like we'll all have to keep working hard to make those pennies count.
In other news, the government has announced a £20 million scheme to help small businesses make the switch to electric vehicles. So, if you've been thinking about upgrading your company car, now might be the perfect time.
And finally, there's been a lot of talk about the shortage of HGV drivers in the UK. It's causing all sorts of problems for businesses that rely on deliveries, so fingers crossed the government comes up with a solution soon.
That's all for now, folks. Keep hustling and we'll catch up with you in another two weeks.
It’s a natural and reasonable-sounding enough response but its sources seem a little out of date - Bank of England interest rates haven’t been 0.1% for a while now!
So, does automation really pose a threat to people’s jobs?
According to ONS figures, the three occupations with the highest probability of automation are waiters and waitresses, shelf stackers, and ticket collectors.
The three occupations at the lowest risk of automation are medical practitioners, higher education teaching professionals, and senior professionals of educational establishments.
Should our resident writer of The Backbone be worried? Let us know 👇
📨 S U B S C R I B E
Subscribe to The Backbone to get each fortnightly edition into your inbox at 7 am every other Friday. Perfect for a quick read at breakfast or on the commute.
🗞 R E A D
Can you cut your bills with this energy-saving tech? 💡
If you’re looking to cut your energy bills, finding the best fixed-rate energy deal is a good place to start. But it also helps to be more energy-efficient. Click the buttons below to find out more about some easy-to-install energy-saving tech.
Are renewables the key to cutting business costs? 🌞
You might also save money by generating your own power - although this comes with an initial outlay, the savings you could make, along with money made back from schemes like the Smart Export Guarantee, could make it a cost-effective option. Click the buttons below to find out more about each.
Keep your business connected with the latest tech 🌐
There’ll be no more copper phone lines from 2025 when all UK landlines will need to be powered by an internet connection. This means you’ll need to make the switch to VoIP if you want to keep your current system. VoIP also comes with additional features and might even offer cheaper call costs.
How to make sure your broadband is up to speed 💻
Is your business broadband giving you the speeds you need? Or are you suffering from constant buffering and calls cutting out? Our guides can help with everything from boosting your WiFi speeds to beefing up security with VPN.
🗣 S H O U T O U T
#BionicBusinessStory - Heroez Gymnasium 🦸♀️
Not all heroes wear capes. Some wear gym gear. That’s why we sat down for a session with Tyrone Haughey who runs Heroez Gymnasium in Oxfordshire. He chatted about his goals for the future and how he’s achieved so much so far.
Bionic: What was the inspiration behind Heroez Gym?
Tyrone Haughey: I’d always wanted to open my own gym from the age of 18 and managed to achieve my goal by 30 in the end. We originally started as Evolutionz gym when we opened back in 2012. After a couple of years trading as Evolutionz gym I decided to change the name to Heroez to help make the gym more fun and less intimidating. I wanted a fun, light-hearted theme and what’s more fun than a superhero?”
B: Are there anything exciting planned for your business in the next year?
TH: After 10 years, I’m now updating the training brand I use. I take note of what fitness professionals around the world are using and which ones they are raving about on social media. I aim to supply equipment our members dream of using.
B: Do you use tech to help run or market your business?
TH: Social media is the way forward. I want to make sure I’m using these platforms to their full potential. It’s not always easy finding the time to post, but it’s a must for all businesses because it works and it’s free!
B: What would you say to someone wanting to start up their own business?
TH: Owning your own business is the most rewarding job, but it comes at a price. Unless you have the ability to pour your whole life into it then it’s best not to start. You might not be able to cope with what it takes to make it successful.
B: How did you find working with Bionic?
TH: Bionic were so quick and efficient, it wasn’t worth hunting for cheap deals yourself, you can spend your time doing something else as they do everything for you
Click on Clark Kent’s alter ego below to read more from Heroez Gymnasium, and head over to Bionic to check out more small business stories.
📩 J O I N
Get involved with our business community 🔊
Share your thoughts and tips to give other busy business owners a helping hand. Or ask a question to see if anyone can help you out.
📊 B U S I N E S S
Get your business costs sorted 💷
Bionic - the business price comparison experts - compare a range of business essentials to help you save time, money, and hassle.
Our tech-enabled team will answer all your questions in simple terms, and help you find the best deal on business energy, insurance, phone, broadband, or finance. No jargon. No-fuss. #BeABionicBusiness 🦾
We got top marks from Richard Markham 🎯
🎧 L I S T E N
Playlist 🎶
As you’re reading the tech issue, now seems as good a time as any to bless your ears with some techno beats. But to make sure we don’t alarm any of our early-bird 7 am readers, we thought a more mellow approach might be best. Minimal Techno Mix is five-and-a-half hours of chilled techno and melodic tech house from artists like Aphex Twin, Camelphat, Underworld, The Chemical Brothers, 808 State, and Boris Brejcha.
Podcast
Back to Work takes a look at a whole range of subjects that will resonate with all business owners, such as productivity, communication, work, barriers, constraints, tools, and how the relationships between technology, work, and people cross over. And the latest episode is all about home automation - this newsletter isn’t just thrown together you know.
👩🤝👩🏾 S H A R E
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🏡 H O U S E K E E P I N G
Check your folders 📁
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🚫 S T O P
Thanks for making it to the end of another Bionic small business bulletin 🤝🏻
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