Singing Waiters, Shopping with AI and Preppers
An Insolvency Service investigation confirms what listeners told us about The Best Singing Waiters. We meet the man who led the official probe. Plus, tips for shopping with AI.
The Best Singing Waiters promised spectacular displays of ordinary table staff who suddenly burst into song at weddings. In December, we heard from couples across the UK who said they lost thousands of pounds when singers booked by the company didn't turn up. Performers it used were also out of pocket after their gigs were either cancelled or went unpaid. Back then we revealed how the firm was trading while insolvent. Now that's been confirmed by an official investigation by the Insolvency Service. We meet the man who led the probe to find out the scale of the story along with reaction from someone who lost out.
When it comes to shopping and AI, most of us think of those customer service chatbots and all the frustration they can bring. Now, a growing body of evidence shows around a third of us are using AI to find products, plan holidays and get the best deals. That's become even easier after three major AI services have incorporated tools to make online shopping easier. We discover what they can do, how you can make the most of them and what it means for your data.
Finally, we take a look at the rise of "prepping" shops. They sell things like wind up solar radios and long life ration packs that last 25 years. The numbers of these online and on our streets have been growing over the last decade. Their owners say they equip their customers for disasters before they happen. We meet the owner of one to find out what people buy from him and why.
Presenter: Winifred Robinson
Producer: Julian Paszkiewicz