Author: Colin Henderson

Progress in era of productivity
AI, Development

The death of “scrum” and its about time

Colin Henderson

I like this post. Agile and scrum to my mind creates a cottage industry in banks where practitioners and leaders tell each other how well they they are doing. But is the solution amassed from all those yellow notes the optimal solution and most effective for the dev team? Absolutely not. Product owners beware. Agile creates a false sense of power that micro-managers enjoy but not those who desire effective productivity and solutions. Thank you Sohail Saifi. This post and the background of actual behaviours is a welcome breath of fresh air. Banks take note. The Death of Agile: Why … Continue reading The death of “scrum” and its about time

AI

Memorandum of Understanding between UK and OpenAI on AI opportunities – GOV.UK

Colin Henderson

This Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) sets an agreement between the UK government and OpenAI on AI opportunities. Published 21 July 2025 Text of Agreement Introduction This Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) outlines the shared intent of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and OpenAI to establish strategic partnerships that accelerate AI-driven economic growth and deliver opportunities to materially improve people’s lives throughout the UK. Section 1: the transformative potential of AI Section 2: public and private sector adoption Section 3: infrastructure Section 4: technical information exchange This memorandum is voluntary, not legally binding, and without prejudice to any binding agreements. It does not … Continue reading Memorandum of Understanding between UK and OpenAI on AI opportunities – GOV.UK

AI

Making sense of the AI revolution

Colin Henderson

AUTHOR Iskander Rehman https://engelsbergideas.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9abbef4a5715ca7b3fef001ad&id=d1577c2abf&e=e1b990f871 Iskander Rehman is a Senior Political Scientist at the RAND Corporation. In order to understand the profound transformations, and boundless potential, unleashed by artificial intelligence, we need to expand our own intellectual horizons into the realms.The sense of being overwhelmed and constantly listracted is nothing new. Historians anc policymakers should look to the 17th century for guidance on how to grapple with information.. ——————————————– In 1961, the Brookings Institution produced an advisory report for NASA, which pondered, among other things, the societal ramifications of the discovery of intelligent extraterrestrial life. The announcement of such a dramatic … Continue reading Making sense of the AI revolution

AI

US AI strategy – the AI boom an “industrial revolution”

Colin Henderson

US releases a new AI plan intended to promote US leadership. This step anticipates the Sovereign AI concept I have written on here. —— Source The Rundown AI The Rundown: The Trump administration justreleased an AI Action Plan detailing 90+ policy actions to accelerate the country’s dominance in the sector, including details on AI infrastructure, regulation, and export policy shaped by 10K+ public comments. The details: Why it matters: The AI policy shift under the new administration is real, with the Trump administration’s Action Plan pushing an all-in growth strategy that aims to use deregulation and massive infrastructure investments to secure the lead … Continue reading US AI strategy – the AI boom an “industrial revolution”

AI1 Comment

Google is hiring Windsurf CEO Varun Mohan

Colin Henderson

© 2025 The Rundown AI, Inc The Rundown: Google is hiring Windsurf CEO Varun Mohan and several researchers in a $2.4B licensing deal, coming in the wake of the coding startup’s $3B acquisition deal with OpenAI collapsing over complications in its partnership with Microsoft. The details: Why it matters: The Windsurf deal was set to be one of OpenAI’s biggest acquisitions to date — now, it marks yet another headache in what has been a rocky summer for the AI giant. The fallout stemming from Microsoft complications also adds fresh strain to an already frigid relationship between the former AI power couple. Continue reading Google is hiring Windsurf CEO Varun Mohan

AI

OSFI: Financial Industry Forum on Artificial Intelligence II: A Collaborative Approach to AI Threats, Opportunities, and Best Practices, Workshop 1

Colin Henderson

To drive discussion and debate on this critical issue, in 2022, the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) and the Global Risk Institute (GRI) hosted the first Financial Industry Forum on Artificial Intelligence (FIFAI I) to promote the responsible use of AI in Canada’s financial sector. This initiative brought together AI experts from the financial industry, as well as policymakers, regulators, academics, and research institutes. The resulting report, “A Canadian Perspective on Responsible AI,”highlighted the need for financial institutions to adopt comprehensive risk management strategies to address the unique challenges posed by AI. It identified the four EDGE principles … Continue reading OSFI: Financial Industry Forum on Artificial Intelligence II: A Collaborative Approach to AI Threats, Opportunities, and Best Practices, Workshop 1

AI, Business Models, Innovation, productivity

Blackrock Investment themes 2025

Colin Henderson

In listening to Blackrock Jay Jacobs Head of ETF he mentioned the investment themes Blackrock has identified in the context of re-industrialisation of the economy. See below for detail, but the core three are: Mega Force Description & Investment Implications Demographic Divergence Aging populations in developed economies are expected to constrain growth and productivity, while emerging markets with younger populations and expanding middle classes may benefit from higher growth potential[3][5]. Digital Disruption & AI The rapid adoption of artificial intelligence and digital technologies is transforming productivity, business models, and entire industries. BlackRock sees AI as a foundational driver of future … Continue reading Blackrock Investment themes 2025

crypto, Stablecoin

Current Government and Reports on Stablecoin systemic problems

Colin Henderson

Here is an overview and summary of current views on Stablecoins based on research attributed to Perplexity.ai.. There are good reasons for USDC to be a legitimate Stable Stablecoin, but so many opinions and views often with proprietary positions to maintain, that the effect of the Genius act is being lost in that morass. This blog is about direction not particular stocks, but the freewheeling nature of crypto is winning the battle for clarity. And the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) report (attached below) is thrown into the mix taking the approach everyone is wrong except the author. It is … Continue reading Current Government and Reports on Stablecoin systemic problems

productivity, Profitability, regulation

StableCoin needs clear definition similar to Bretton Woods

Colin Henderson

The debate between USDC exemplified by Circle and USDT associated with Tether brings many of the realities of crypto into focus. The perennial debate has been whether Bitcoin is an asset class lke Gold or Silver or is it a useful alternative currency to fiat. Bankwatch Research Research and background on USDC and USDT. The recent Compass Point report made two points, and thus fails as an analytical support document: 1. Market Penetration – USDT has that 2. Additional cost structure for USDC (Circle ) associated with regulatry requirements similar to banking, will hinder profitability If we explore the second … Continue reading StableCoin needs clear definition similar to Bretton Woods

crypto, Payments, productivity, Risk2 Comments

Compare USDC (Circle) vs USDT (Tether) in 2025

Colin Henderson

The battle is now on. The newest StableCoin USDC offered by Circle is regulated with clearly defined regularly audited reserve requirements. Tender which has been around 5 years longer offers a StableCoin USDT. The challenge lies in the difference between the StableCoins and no regulation exists to define a StableCoin. USDT has loosely defined reserves comprising third party off balance sheet items and which can be deemed worthless to a banker. USDC on the other had requires US $ cash with no obtuse excuses for apparent reserve matching. I did some research across sites using Perplexity (not Google) and. here … Continue reading Compare USDC (Circle) vs USDT (Tether) in 2025