White House rolls out ‘concrete safeguard’ policies for federal AI
Washington, US - "Concrete safeguards" for government use of artificial intelligence were announced by the White House on Thursday, as it...
Geostrategy
Business
Google CEO says more layoffs are likely this year
SAN FRANCISCO, US - Google CEO Sundar Pichai has warned employees that more layoffs are in store at the search engine...
- Google laid off around 12,000 people this time last year, about six percent of its workforce, in the face of inflation and rising interest rates.
- The company confirmed it is eliminating "a few hundred" positions from its global ad team, amid a push to use AI for efficiency and creativity.
Arts & Culture
Japan literary laureate admits using ChatGPT for her novel
TOKYO, JAPAN - The winner of Japan's most prestigious literary award has acknowledged that about "five percent" of her futuristic novel...
- The 33-year-old author of Tokyo-to Dojo-to openly admitted that AI heavily influenced her writing process as well.
- Set in a futuristic Tokyo, the book revolves around a high-rise prison tower and its architect's intolerance of criminals.
Business
Aramco Digital, Intel to join hands
The aim is to help develop of Open RAN technologies.
- The facility is expected to drive innovation, foster technological advancements and contribute to the digital transformation landscape in the Kingdom.
- This collaboration aims to align with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, which focuses on technological advancements and economic diversification.
World Economic Forum
IMF chief at Davos: AI holds risks, opportunity for global economy
Artificial intelligence poses risks to job security around the world but also offers a "tremendous opportunity" to boost flagging productivity...
- "We must focus on helping low-income countries in particular to move faster to be able to catch the opportunities that artificial intelligence will present," Georgieva told AFP.
- Georgieva said 2024 is likely to be "a very tough year" for fiscal policy worldwide, as countries look to tackle debt burdens accumulated during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Business
Global personal computer shipments decline 14.8 percent in 2023
DUBAI, UAE - Worldwide PC shipments totaled 63.3 million units in the fourth quarter of 2023, a 0.3 percent increase...
- PC shipments reached 241.8 million units in 2023, a 14.8 percent fall from 2022.
- This is the first time that shipment volume has dipped below 250 million since 2006.
Business
EU court’s adviser says $2.6bn fine on Google be upheld
Google suffered a legal blow at the European Court of Justice when the body's adviser recommended that a US$2.6 billion...
- The opinion will feed into a legal battle Google has been waging to overturn the fine the European Commission hit it with in 2017.
- The commission determined that Google abused its dominant position by favoring its own Google Shopping service.
Business
Chinese experts decode Apple’s encrypted AirDrop messaging
Beijing, China - Chinese state-backed experts have found a way to identify people who use Apple's encrypted AirDrop messaging service, according...
- AirDrop allows users to send content to Apple devices in close proximity without an internet connection, encoded so they cannot be viewed by other people
- Chinese officials said experts "cracked the tough technological problem of the transmission of inappropriate information with anonymous traceability via AirDrop"
Science
CES2024 pet tech: Throw a dog a bone – or an AI collar
Las Vegas, United States - They don't own smartphones and can't go online, but that doesn't prevent them from being connected:...
- The Smart Dog Collar not only helps owners locate their pet in real time, but also monitors its activity -
- The technology was developed by French GPS specialist Invoxia, which now also offers a mini version for cats called Minitailz
Business
EU examines Microsoft large investment in OpenAI
Brussels, Belgium - The EU, racing to regulate the fast-moving world of artificial intelligence, said on Tuesday it has started a...
- The early-level examination is "checking whether Microsoft's investment in OpenAI might be reviewable under the EU Merger Regulation," the European Commission said.
- The move is part of efforts by Brussels to make sure its regulatory oversight can catch up with AI developments and stop major players shutting out competitors.
Business
CES gadget fest a showcase for AI-infused lifestyle
The annual Consumer Electronics Show gathering boasts more than 3,500 exhibitors and is expecting some 130,000 visitors. Companies big and...
- CES exhibitor and attendee numbers have jumped each year since the Covid-19 pandemic caused it to be an online-only event in 2021
- While the show is increasingly a showcase for startups, big brands such as Amazon, Google, Intel, Netflix, Samsung, SonY will also be there
Company News
Latest News
Italy begins probe into OpenAI’s new video tool Sora
ROME, ITALY – The European country's data protection watchdog - Italian Data Protection Authority - said on Friday it has launched...
Geostrategy
AI tools still permitting political disinfo creation, NGO warns
The success of ChatGPT, from Microsoft-backed OpenAI, has over the last year ushered in an age of popularity for generative...
Scientists launch hub to channel quantum power for good
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – Scientists will work to channel the huge emerging power of quantum computers for the common good at a...
Science
Most Read
Australian media hits back as Facebook scraps news deals
Meta said on Friday it would scrap the Facebook News tab in Australia and would not renew deals with news...
- News Corp Australasia executive chairman Michael Miller said Meta's decision put hundreds of jobs at risk and would expose Australians to more scams and misinformation
- "Australia must not surrender its leadership in being a country that is prepared to stand up to tech giants," he said in comments to one of the company's newspapers
Business
Apple’s changes contradicts European rules, 34 firms complain
Brussels, Belgium - Changes Apple is making to its services in the European Union "make a mockery" of new antitrust rules...
- Companies have expressed doubts about how much Apple's changes would ultimately broaden consumer choice and digital competition.
- Apple in January announced it was modifying how its iOS operating system, Safari browser and App Store operate in the 27-nation EU.
Economy
Web Summit: 24 MoUs signed between Qatari institutions and global tech firms
Doha, Qatar - Web Summit Qatar 2024, the world's largest tech events debut in the Middle East and Africa, ended...
- The MoUs included the one between and the Web Summit whereby the former will sponsor the summit over the next four years
- Over four days, the summit hosted 15,453 attendees from 118 countries, who witnessed the tech innovations, 10 percent of which came from Qatar