Technology and Finance

Ben Maruthappu The Doctor Transforming Health Care Through Technology By Peter Davis Ben Maruthappu is a British physician, entrepreneur, and one of the most prominent figures at the intersection of healthcare, technology, and social care. Over the last decade, he has moved from traditional medical training into founding and leading a major health technology organisation, advising government and health systems, and helping shape how care is delivered in the UK and beyond. His story offers a powerful example of how clinicians can leverage digital tools and systemic insight to transform health delivery. Maruthappu was born in London in 1988 to Sri Lankan Tamil parents. He studied medicine at the highest levels, earning a Triple First Class degree in pre-clinical medicine at the University of Cambridge, then completing his clinical training at the University of Oxford. He also went on to be a Kennedy Scholar in Global Health at Harvard University, engaging in research at the Center for Surgery and Public Health. In the early part of his medical career, he worked in hospital settings, practising as a physician and training in public health. Through these roles, he started to develop a deep interest in how health systems could be improved, especially via innovation, efficiency, and prevention rather than purely reactive care. Even while still relatively junior, Maruthappu’s ambition took him beyond the wards. In 2014, he was appointed as a Senior Fellow to the CEO of NHS England, advising on innovation, technology, and prevention. The following year, he co-founded the NHS Innovation Accelerator, a programme designed to spread and scale new healthcare technologies across the NHS. These roles gave him a strong grounding in both medical practice and the policy and system side of health care. Maruthappu’s most visible venture is Cera, a UK-based health technology and home-care company where he serves as Founder and CEO. Under his leadership, Cera has grown from a modest start-up to a major player in home-based care and technology-enabled health services. The origin of Cera was deeply personal, when his mother sustained a serious fall and the home-care arrangements were difficult to coordinate, Maruthappu and his sister experienced first-hand the gaps in social care and home health delivery. That experience spurred the idea of a digital platform to match people needing care with professional carers, with real-time tracking and data-driven support. Over time, Cera has scaled dramatically, delivering millions of home visits per month, serving large parts of the UK’s social care and health ecosystems, and using technology and AI to tackle issues such as hospital admission prevention, falls prevention, and early warning of risks in the home setting. The model is emblematic of the shift from hospital-centric care toward community and home-based care with strong digital tools. Maruthappu’s leadership at Cera has resulted in measurable outcomes. The company has reduced hospitalisations for its users, generated large savings for health systems, and helped address workforce shortages in home care by recruiting and training new carers. Beyond the provider angle, Maruthappu has been influential in shaping how health technology and social care innovation is thought about, showing how data, AI, and digital platforms can enable preventive care, how social care can be professionalised and scaled, and how health systems can partner with private innovation to deliver public benefit. Maruthappu also holds or has held numerous advisory, board, and thought leadership roles. He has served on boards of major NHS organisations covering large populations, and he is an advisor to major consulting firms and global entities, regularly contributing to discussions around health policy, innovation, and the future of care. He has received widespread recognition for his work, including being appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire for services to health and social care technology. He has been named overall winner of the UK’s EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award and Great British Entrepreneur of the Year, appeared on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 in Healthcare, and is listed in the Sunday Times Rich List for under-40s. Maruthappu’s story is significant because it bridges medicine and business, demonstrating how a practising doctor can become a technology entrepreneur and system innovator. He addresses the burden of ageing populations and social care by shifting care into people’s homes and using technology to make that care smarter. His approach embraces preventive and data-driven care, enabling early detection of risk, falls, and deterioration, potentially reducing higher-cost acute episodes. Under his leadership, Cera has launched programmes to recruit, train, and deploy large numbers of carers, providing employment opportunities and elevating the status of care work. Through his advisory roles and policy work, Maruthappu contributes not just to one company but to how health systems evolve, influencing how innovation is adopted, how regulation should adapt, and how technology and health delivery intersect. Of course, the work is complex and ongoing. Scaling while maintaining quality, navigating fragmented regulatory and funding environments, ensuring technology adoption and workforce engagement, staying ahead of competition, and adapting globally are all ongoing challenges. Maruthappu has already built solid momentum, and the next phases could involve continued growth of Cera’s reach, further international expansion, broader ecosystem leadership, advocacy and thought leadership, and demonstrating impact through improved health outcomes, cost savings, and quality of life improvements. Ben Maruthappu represents a new kind of health leader, medically trained, technologically fluent, system-wise, socially driven, and entrepreneurially bold. He has moved beyond treating patients to re-imagining how care is delivered, where it’s delivered, who delivers it, and how data drives it. His path from doctor to founder to system innovator is both inspiring and instructive, especially in a sector where transformation is desperately needed. In the coming years, his ability to scale, maintain impact, adapt, and lead in complex health environments will test how sustainable this model can be, and whether it can replicate in other countries. One thing is clear, Maruthappu is one of the health technology leaders to watch, someone who may help define the future of care for older populations, home-based services, and digitally enabled health systems.

The Human Canvas Painting a Future Where AI Enhances Art, Education & Work By Sidra Asif Imagine a world where a teacher crafts lessons with an AI that knows each student’s strengths, an artist collaborates with algorithms to sculpt visions beyond human hands, and a professional navigates complex decisions with machine precision. This isn’t a sci-fi script, it’s the reality unfolding as artificial intelligence weaves into the fabric of our lives. The arts, education, and professional spheres are no longer static domains; they’re dynamic canvases where human creativity and machine intelligence dance. As we stand at this crossroads, the question isn’t whether AI will change us, but how we’ll harness it to amplify what makes us uniquely human. The integration of AI into these fields sparks both excitement and unease. Can machines truly enhance creativity without diluting its soul? Will teachers and professionals become obsolete, or will they evolve into roles we can’t yet imagine? By blending innovation with the irreplaceable human touch, we’re redefining the future of human endeavor. Arts, Education, and the Future of Human Creativity in the Age of AI Creativity has always been humanity’s signature, a spark that turns blank pages into novels and empty canvases into masterpieces. Now, AI is stepping into the studio, offering tools that challenge our understanding of creation. Painters use generative algorithms to explore new forms, musicians compose with AI that mimics classical maestros, and writers brainstorm with language models that churn out ideas at lightning speed. In education, AI tailors lessons to individual minds, analyzing data to predict struggles and suggest solutions faster than any human could. But here’s the twist: AI’s power lies in its ability to augment, not replace, human creativity. A sculptor might use AI to simulate materials, iterating designs that once took months, but it’s their lived experience, i.e, grief, joy, rebellion that infuses the work with meaning. In classrooms, AI frees teachers from grading papers, letting them focus on sparking curiosity and teaching students to question the world, including the algorithms shaping it. The future of creativity hinges on this partnership, machines handle the mechanics, while humans supply the soul. This synergy isn’t without challenges. Artists worry about authenticity when an AI-generated piece wins acclaim, does it diminish human effort? Educators fear a digital divide, where only tech-savvy schools thrive. Yet, the solution lies in embracing AI as a tool, not a master. Art schools are teaching students to code alongside sketching, creating hybrid creators who blend bytes with brushstrokes. In education, pilot programs show teachers using AI to design immersive projects, like virtual debates on historical events, that blend data with human insight. By 2035, expect a creative renaissance where AI amplifies human expression, not overshadows it, as long as we prioritize the emotional and cultural depth only humans can provide. Teachers, Artists, and Professionals in the AI Era: Redefining Roles and Reimagining Futures The roles of teachers, artists, and professionals are morphing as AI reshapes their landscapes. Teachers, once tethered to lesson plans and grade books, are becoming mentors of the digital age. AI platforms track student progress with precision, suggesting tailored exercises or flagging when a child needs extra support. This frees educators to focus on what machines can’t replicate, inspiring critical thinking, fostering empathy, and guiding students through ethical dilemmas in an AI-driven world. In progressive schools, teachers lead interdisciplinary projects that prepare students for a future where adaptability is king. Artists, too, are redefining their craft. AI tools allow novices to experiment with professional-grade outputs, leveling the playing field. Seasoned creators, meanwhile, use algorithms to push boundaries, like a filmmaker generating surreal visuals that spark new storytelling techniques. The catch? Human oversight remains the differentiator. Galleries now showcase “AI-assisted” works, emphasizing the artist’s role in refining machine outputs. This shift celebrates the human journey, flaws, emotions, and all, over sterile perfection. Professionals across fields face a similar evolution. Lawyers use AI to sift through case law in seconds, doctors diagnose with predictive models, and marketers optimize campaigns with data-driven insights. But the heart of these roles lies in human judgment. A lawyer’s ethical reasoning, a doctor’s bedside manner, a marketer’s cultural savvy ,these are the intangibles AI can’t mimic. The future demands professionals who are tech-fluent yet deeply human, overseeing AI systems while honing skills like creative problem-solving and collaboration. This redefinition isn’t seamless. Job displacement fears persist, especially for roles heavy on routine tasks. Yet, history shows humans adapt. Just as the industrial revolution birthed new professions, the AI era will spawn roles we can’t yet name (think AI ethicists or creativity coaches). Companies are already investing in “human-AI teams,” where professionals train algorithms on domain expertise, creating a feedback loop that enhances both. Governments and industries must support this transition with up-skilling programs, blending technical training with soft skills to ensure no one is left behind. Crafting a Balanced Future The promise of AI lies in its potential to elevate, not erase, human contributions. In education, it means empowering teachers to inspire, not just inform, using AI to personalize learning while fostering wisdom. In the arts, it’s about celebrating human authenticity, curating exhibitions that highlight the collaborative process, not just the final product. For professionals, it’s about augmentation over automation, leveraging AI for efficiency while preserving the intuition that drives innovation. Safeguarding this future requires action. Schools must teach AI literacy alongside ethics, ensuring students question algorithms as much as they use them. Artists should lead cultural conversations, using AI to critique its own societal impact. Professionals need policies that promote transparency, ensuring AI serves humanity, not profit alone. By 2040, we could see a world where hybrid education models produce versatile thinkers, AI-assisted art redefines cultural value, and professions blend tech and empathy in ways we’re only beginning to imagine. The challenge is balance. Over-rely on AI, and we risk hollowing out the human essence of these fields. Ignore it, and we fall behind in a world that’s already moving forward. The solution lays in intentional

China’s Robotic Legs Point to a Future of Augmented Mobility By Hafsa Qadeer In the mist-draped mountains of Zhangjiajie in China’s Hunan province, a quiet technological shift is unfolding that could redefine how humans experience nature, movement, and even their own physical limits. It arrives not in the form of a dramatic megaproject or towering infrastructure but as something far subtler: a pair of robotic legs available to rent for the equivalent of $22 a day. At first glance, these wearable exoskeletons seem like a novelty for tourists navigating the steep trails and thousands of stone steps that crisscross one of China’s most iconic national parks. Yet beneath that simplicity lies a profound story about where technology, tourism, and human capability are headed, and how China is positioning itself at the center of that transformation. The concept of wearable robotics is not new. For decades, exoskeletons have existed largely within research labs, military programs, and rehabilitation centers. They were expensive, heavy, and limited to highly specialized use cases, helping patients recover from injuries or assisting workers with lifting heavy loads. What makes the situation in Zhangjiajie remarkable is that the technology has not only matured enough to leave the lab but has entered the public sphere in one of its most unassuming forms: leisure. Here, ordinary hikers, retirees, families, solo travelers are strapping on robotic devices that amplify their leg strength, reduce fatigue, and allow them to conquer terrain they might otherwise have avoided. At around $950 to purchase outright, the devices are still a luxury, but the rental option has made them accessible to a mass audience, and demand is reportedly outpacing supply in peak tourist seasons. The experience of using these robotic legs is described by many as surreal. Weighing less than two kilograms, the exoskeleton straps around the thighs and waist and uses sensors to detect the wearer’s motion, delivering just enough motorized support to make each step lighter. Users can adjust how much power the system provides, dialing up assistance on steep climbs or reducing it on gentler slopes. The technology doesn’t replace the act of walking; it enhances it, offering a subtle push that turns arduous ascents into something closer to a glide. Battery life typically lasts three to five hours, more than enough for a day’s hike, and the devices are designed to be intuitive, even for first-time users. What is happening in Zhangjiajie is more than a clever tourist gimmick. It reflects a broader experiment underway in China, where wearable robotics are being deployed beyond traditional domains into everyday life. Other mountain parks, such as Mount Tai and Huangshan, have already followed suit, offering similar exoskeleton rental services. The reasons are both practical and strategic. From a tourism perspective, the devices expand access. Steep trails that once deterred older visitors or those with limited mobility are suddenly within reach, broadening the appeal of the country’s natural attractions. This inclusivity is no small matter in a nation with an aging population; wearable robotics could help seniors remain active and engaged with outdoor recreation long after their physical strength might otherwise limit them. Economically, the introduction of exoskeleton rentals represents a new revenue stream and a testbed for domestic robotics companies. Tourism provides an ideal environment for experimentation: the devices are used intensively by a diverse cross-section of people, generating valuable data on performance, user preferences, and durability in real-world conditions. That feedback loop can then inform refinements in design, battery life, and usability, paving the way for broader applications in healthcare, logistics, and personal mobility. It is not difficult to imagine a future where the same technology that helps tourists climb a mountain also assists elderly city-dwellers in walking longer distances or enables warehouse workers to move heavy loads with less strain. Yet the rise of robotic legs also raises deeper questions, not just about technology, but about the evolving definition of human experience. Hiking has long been seen as a physical and mental challenge, a test of endurance that rewards effort with panoramic views and a sense of accomplishment. Does augmenting the body with machines diminish that achievement? Purists argue that it does, that part of the value of climbing a mountain lies in overcoming its difficulty. But others see the technology as a natural evolution, a tool that, like walking sticks or hiking boots, helps humans push further and experience more. After all, few would say that using a prosthetic limb diminishes the meaning of a walk; instead, it expands the possibilities of what is achievable. There is also the matter of equity. While $22 is a modest fee for many, it is not trivial for all. If exoskeletons become integral to accessing certain trails or attractions, there is a risk that those unable to afford them could be excluded from the full experience. Conversely, widespread adoption and falling production costs could one day make them as ubiquitous, and as unremarkable, as bicycle rentals or cable cars in tourist destinations. That tension between innovation and inclusivity will shape not only the future of robotic legs but the broader role of augmentation technologies in public life. From a geopolitical and industrial perspective, China’s embrace of wearable robotics in tourism is also revealing. It signals the country’s determination to lead not just in large-scale AI or autonomous vehicle development but in everyday technologies that interface directly with human bodies and behaviors. By normalizing exoskeleton use among ordinary people, China is accelerating public acceptance of robotics in daily life, an acceptance that could give its domestic companies an early advantage in global markets. What happens on a hiking trail today could inform how societies integrate wearable technology into workplaces, healthcare systems, and homes tomorrow. The significance of robotic legs, then, extends well beyond the slopes of Zhangjiajie. They are part of a broader cultural and technological shift toward what researchers increasingly refer to as “augmented mobility”, the seamless blending of human and machine capabilities. Unlike vehicles or lifts, exoskeletons do not replace the act

Fintech in 2025 The Friend, the Force, and the Fear By Jane Stevens In just a few short years, the fintech revolution has shifted from an innovation buzzword to a central pillar of modern economic life. In 2025, fintech, short for financial technology is no longer the future; it’s the present. From multinational corporations to a single mother transferring school fees via mobile wallet, the reach of fintech is universal and transformative. But with every revolution comes both liberation and uncertainty. While fintech has democratized finance, removed middlemen, and opened up opportunities, it has also introduced new risks: data breaches, overreliance on AI, and the ethical grey zones of digital credit systems. This article dives into how fintech is making life easier for organizations and individuals, the remarkable benefits it delivers, and the very real concerns that lie beneath the surface. The Fintech Ecosystem of 2025 Simpler, Smarter, Seamless Imagine a world where opening a business account takes five minutes, where employees are paid instantly across borders, where farmers in rural Africa get insured against climate risk with a few taps on a smartphone, and where teenagers invest in global stocks from their school desks. That world is now. For Organization 1. Real-Time Finance Management: Thanks to AI-powered dashboards and predictive analytics, businesses today enjoy real-time insights into their cash flows, liabilities, and forecasts. Tools like embedded finance and API-based platforms enable businesses to not just track but actively optimize their finances with minimal human intervention. 2. Streamlined Payments and Payroll: Cross-border payments, once plagued by delays and high fees, are now handled by blockchain-backed systems or neobanks with negligible latency and cost. Payroll systems powered by fintech can disburse wages in real-time, even adjusting taxes and compliance regulations per jurisdiction automatically. 3. Access to Capital: Where traditional banks hesitated, fintech lenders stepped in. Through peer-to-peer lending, invoice financing, and AI-based credit scoring, fintech firms offer faster, often fairer, access to credit. SMEs and startups, once starved for capital, now have alternative finance channels with customized terms. 4. Compliance and Risk Management: RegTech, regulatory technology has grown in tandem with fintech. Automated KYC/AML tools, fraud detection systems, and real-time compliance monitoring help organizations stay on the right side of regulation without building bloated back offices. For the Common Man: 1. Financial Inclusion: In developing countries, fintech is closing the financial access gap. Mobile money platforms have replaced the need for physical banks, enabling millions to save, borrow, invest, and insure without ever entering a branch. 2. Personal Finance Tools: Budgeting apps, robo-advisors, and open banking tools empower individuals to control their finances with unprecedented ease. AI-based assistants can now monitor spending, warn of upcoming bills, suggest savings strategies, or even invest surplus cash intelligently. 3. Access to Microcredit and BNPL: Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) and microloan platforms have made it possible for people to access goods and services even with limited cash on hand ideal for emergencies, essential purchases, or building credit histories. 4. Borderless Remittances: Migrant workers no longer need to rely on expensive and delayed remittance services. Blockchain-backed or decentralized platforms offer near-instant international transfers with tiny fees impacting entire families and communities back home. The Fruits of Fintech Tangible Benefits Redefining Finance Fintech has matured into more than just a technological layer; it’s now a socio-economic catalyst. The fruits of fintech are many, but here are the most important: 1. Democratization of Financial Services Traditional financial institutions often catered to the wealthy or the well-documented. Fintech broke that model. Whether you’re an unbanked laborer in Bangladesh or a solopreneur in Ukraine, fintech opens the gates of modern finance through mobile apps and biometric authentication. 2. Enhanced Customer Experience Gone are the days of waiting in bank lines or navigating complex forms. User-first design, AI chatbots, and instant support have made banking feel more like streaming a movie, quick, intuitive, and on-demand. 3. Innovation in Credit Scoring Conventional credit systems relied heavily on historical debt behavior. In 2025, fintech uses alternative data: utility payments, mobile usage, social behavior, and real-time earnings to assess creditworthiness. This has created new pathways to borrowing for those once deemed “risky.” 4. Financial Literacy Through Gamification Fintech firms have increasingly turned to gamification rewards, challenges, and progress trackers to teach users how to save, invest, and manage debt. It’s finance education, disguised as fun. 5. Ecosystem Integration Fintech doesn’t work in isolation. It’s now part of super apps, e-commerce platforms, insurance companies, real estate apps, and even dating apps. Whether you’re ordering groceries or looking for a mortgage, fintech quietly handles the backend—making every transaction smoother. The Scare of Fintech Under the Hood of the Hype Fintech’s glossy interface often masks serious risks that regulators, users, and developers must now confront. 1. Data Privacy & Surveillance Capitalism The more personalized fintech becomes, the more data it gathers. Every click, transaction, and hesitation is logged and analyzed. This deep surveillance raises ethical concerns: who owns this data? Can it be sold, misused, or manipulated? 2. Algorithmic Bias AI and machine learning are only as good as their training data. Several fintech systems have come under fire for discriminating against certain demographics, genders, or regions. The risk? Financial exclusion gets automated and scaled. 3. Overreliance on Digital Systems The convenience of fintech can lead to dangerous dependence. In outages, cyberattacks, or internet blackouts, entire economies can grind to a halt. People may find themselves unable to access funds, pay bills, or prove identity. 4. Rise of Digital Debt BNPL and microcredit systems, while empowering, have also led to rising levels of consumer debt, especially among younger users. With little financial education and easy credit, some fall into debt traps, digital in origin, but very real in consequence. 5. Regulatory Grey Zones Fintech often innovates faster than laws can keep up. Crypto platforms, DeFi protocols, and digital asset firms operate in a murky legal space. Consumers may not always be protected, and systemic risks could emerge unchecked. 6. Cybersecurity Threats With great digitization comes

Muboriz Muborakshoev Redefining Investment Intelligence Through AI at Astel Ventures By Jane Stevens In the fast-evolving world of finance and technology, Astel Ventures has emerged as a force of innovation, promising to reshape how investment firms, exchanges, and startups conduct research, due diligence, and investor relations. At the helm is Muboriz Muborakshoev , a Central Asian entrepreneur whose journey from humble beginnings to launching a cutting-edge AI company epitomizes vision, resilience, and deep market insight. Astel Ventures was founded to solve one of the most pressing challenges in investment advisory and business development: the inefficiency of manual data analysis. In a typical investment environment, pattern recognition, research, and due diligence are time-intensive tasks that can take analysts three to four days to complete. Astel’s platform reduces that process to just three to four hours. Through the integration of artificial intelligence and big data, Astel empowers its users to perform tasks faster and more accurately, transforming average team members into superhumans of productivity. Muboriz and his team have designed their internal systems to mandate the use of AI across all workstreams. Central to their performance is expertise in prompt engineering, knowing the right questions to ask and the right tools to deploy for each use case. The system doesn’t just assist analysts; it becomes an extension of their thought process, consuming vast datasets, identifying critical patterns, and accelerating decision-making in a way humans alone cannot match. At its core, Astel is enabling organizations to scale operations without increasing headcount. The platform allows existing teams to handle volumes of work that would traditionally require several new hires. This shift mirrors a broader trend among large corporations such as Salesforce, where leaders publicly state they are no longer expanding teams and instead lean into AI for efficiency and cost management. One of Astel’s standout features is its ability to conduct detailed due diligence by analyzing 40 to 50 documents and producing high-quality investment reports in a matter of hours. This speed advantage is critical in a competitive investment landscape where being faster often means winning the deal. Another key capability is relationship mapping. Astel can help clients identify their warmest investor connections in mere hours, a task that would otherwise take weeks, making fundraising and networking smarter and more targeted. Muboriz brings years of relevant industry experience to the venture. Prior to founding Astel, he served as Head of Venture Capital for a global platform that supported fund managers in raising institutional capital. Before that, he held leadership roles in corporate finance and as a commercial director for a firm that connected non-executive directors, investors, and company founders. These experiences were instrumental in shaping his understanding of what works, what doesn’t, and what the market truly needs.  The company’s mission goes far beyond technology. It is driven by a desire to help clients grow, increase economic output, and make better decisions at greater speed. Astel doesn’t just serve customers; it partners with them long term. By continuously gathering feedback and staying close to the evolving needs of users, the team ensures the platform remains relevant, effective, and ahead of the curve. The United Arab Emirates serves as the company’s strategic launchpad. With its influx of ultra-high-net-worth individuals, business-friendly policies, and over $22 billion in foreign direct investment last year, the UAE provides fertile ground for innovation and scale. Compared to the UK or Europe, where regulatory complexity and slower growth can present challenges, the UAE offers speed, access to capital, and a future-focused ecosystem, particularly for sectors like fintech, AI, and sustainability. Despite global advancements in AI, many companies still struggle with outdated, manual processes in their investor relations. Astel addresses these gaps by offering tools that automate the identification of warm investor leads, hyper-personalize outreach, and perform investor profiling in a fraction of the time traditional methods would take. For companies that need to research 100 potential investors, what would normally take several days can now be completed within hours through Astel’s platform, freeing teams to focus on more strategic initiatives. What truly differentiates Astel is its proactive approach to innovation. The team constantly evaluates AI advancements, fine-tunes its prompt engineering, and maintains the highest standards of data quality. Weekly client interviews ensure that every product update is aligned with actual market needs. Looking ahead, Astel Ventures is working on developing an AI assistant that functions like a fully capable investment analyst. This AI would not only execute commands but also offer intelligent reasoning, much like a senior team member. It could question instructions, assess their relevance, and even reject tasks if they don’t align with data-backed logic. That kind of self-regulating AI support is shaping the next frontier of intelligent automation. Ultimately, Astel aims to deliver up to 60 percent efficiency gains in analytical and pattern-recognition tasks across sectors. In a world where being AI-enabled is quickly becoming non-negotiable, Astel Ventures offers a compelling path forward, one where intelligence, both human and artificial, works seamlessly together to define the future of investment.