A couple of days ago, Google announced its intention to invest a substantial sum of up to $2 billion in Anthropic, a prominent contender in the artificial intelligence arena. The news, initially reported by The Wall Street Journal last Friday, signifies a further intensification of the ongoing race among AI companies for dominance in this rapidly evolving field.
It comes on the heels of Amazon’s commitment of $4 billion to the startup, which was unveiled just last month and included a focus on their AI assistant known as Claude.
In a noteworthy precursor to this major investment, Google had already injected a substantial $550 million into Anthropic. Reports from The Wall Street Journal suggest the existence of a multiyear agreement valued at $3 billion between Anthropic and Google Cloud.
Central to this burgeoning rivalry between AI giants is the remarkable capabilities of Claude, Anthropic’s flagship AI system. In certain scenarios, Claude has demonstrated its superiority over OpenAI’s ChatGPT, boasting the ability to summarize a remarkable 75,000 words, while ChatGPT-4 is limited to handling roughly 25,000 words.
What sets Claude apart is its utilization of ‘Constitutional AI,’ a proprietary approach that adheres to a set of ethical principles and guidelines. This framework dictates that Claude should generate responses that actively combat racism, sexism, and toxic content, among other protective measures.
Amazon, not to be outdone, has also thrown its hat into the ring, making a substantial $4 billion investment in Anthropic, an announcement made just last month. In addition to this financial commitment, Amazon Web Services has solidified its position as the primary cloud provider for Anthropic. This collaboration has enabled Anthropic to leverage AWS Trainium and Inferentia chips for training its foundational AI models. In exchange, AWS has acquired a minority stake in the company responsible for Claude and gained early access to Anthropic’s advanced features, which can be offered to AWS customers.
In the realm of government intervention, the Biden administration has introduced comprehensive regulations targeting artificial intelligence companies.
These regulations aim to enhance safety, privacy, and trust within the AI sector. Notably, Claude is widely recognized as one of the AI models offering a higher degree of brand safety in the market, thanks to its constitutional framework, while simultaneously maintaining an exceptional level of performance and power.
As the competition for AI supremacy continues to intensify, the landscape is increasingly shaped by investments and innovations in this cutting-edge technology.
It seems that the world cannot have enough of Indian talent when it comes to developing and training AI models. Stanford University’s AI Index Report for 2023 highlights India’s significant role in the global Artificial Intelligence (AI) revolution.
According to the report, India stands out as a leader in AI skills, with the highest AI skill penetration rates globally.
India’s brightest minds are shaping Artificial Intelligence (AI) development and steering its application towards addressing global challenges of health, education and nutrition. In the sixth edition of the AI Index Report by Stanford, India emerged as the leader in AI skill…
— Amitabh Kant (@amitabhk87) October 29, 2023
Additionally, Indian software developers played a substantial role, contributing to approximately 24.2 per cent of AI projects on GitHub in 2022.
Former NITI Aayog CEO, Amitabh Kant, expressed optimism about India’s progress in the field of AI based on the report’s findings. He noted that India’s brightest minds are actively shaping AI development and applying it to address global challenges, such as health, education, and nutrition.
The AI skill penetration rate measures the prevalence of AI-related skills across different job roles. As of 2022, India led the world with an AI skill penetration rate of 3.2, followed by the United States at 2.2, and Germany at 1.7. Kant stressed the importance of providing this talent pool with access to reliable data and computing power to establish India as a hub for AI research.
GitHub is a platform where developers store their software projects, including source code, documentation, and related materials. The number of AI-related projects on GitHub has been steadily increasing since 2011, reaching 347,934 in 2022.
In that year, Indian software developers made significant contributions to AI projects on GitHub, accounting for 24.2 per cent of the total. The European Union and the United Kingdom followed at 17.3 per cent, with the United States at 14.0 per cent.
Kant emphasized that facilitating access to reliable data and computing power is essential to solidify India’s position as an AI research hub.
The report’s findings underline India’s growing influence in the AI landscape, with its talented workforce actively participating in AI-related projects and research, making strides in addressing global challenges through technology.
In a recent turn of events, tech mogul Elon Musk finds himself entangled in a contentious dispute with the Israeli government following his offer to provide satellite internet access to Gaza. This offer has raised concerns among Israeli ministers who fear that the Hamas organization may utilize the connectivity for “terrorist purposes.”
The dispute began when Musk took to the social media platform X on Saturday, announcing his intention to allow his SpaceX Starlink satellite network to support communications in Gaza, but solely for “internationally recognized aid organizations.”
This move came in the aftermath of a severe disruption of cellular and internet services in Gaza on Friday, which isolated a substantial portion of the population from the rest of the world. This blackout created an information void during a period marked by the most intense aerial bombardment of Gaza since the conflict erupted three weeks ago.
International humanitarian organizations voiced their frustration, as they were unable to communicate with their personnel on the ground in Gaza, and rescue operations were hindered due to the inability to access mobile networks. The World Health Organization stated that the blackout had made it impossible for ambulances to locate and assist the injured. Fortunately, most of the network was restored on the following Sunday.
The recent escalation in hostilities began after Hamas launched a deadly attack on Israel on October 7, which, according to Israeli officials, resulted in the deaths of at least 1,400 people. In response, Gaza endured a series of air strikes. The Hamas-controlled health ministry reported on Sunday that the death toll in Gaza since October 7 had climbed to 8,005, with an additional 20,242 Palestinians injured.
Elon Musk’s involvement in this situation stemmed from a direct plea made by Dr. Anastasia Maria Loupis on social media. She implored Musk, stating, “Gaza is under bombardment, the internet and telecommunications have been cut off. They need Starlink immediately.”
Musk responded by indicating that no Starlink terminals from Gaza had attempted to communicate with SpaceX’s satellite network. He assured, “SpaceX will support communication links with internationally recognized aid organizations.”
However, this announcement prompted a strong reaction from Shlomo Karhi, Israel’s Minister of Communications. He declared that Israel would employ “all means at its disposal to fight this,” citing concerns that Hamas might exploit the satellite connectivity for “terrorist activities.” He further suggested that Musk might condition the offer on the release of abducted individuals.
Musk retorted, emphasizing, “We are not so naive. Per my post, no Starlink terminal has attempted to connect from Gaza. If one does, we will take extraordinary measures to confirm that it is used only for purely humanitarian reasons.” He also stated that they would conduct a security check involving both the U.S. and Israeli governments before activating even a single terminal.
Elon Musk, the founder and CEO of SpaceX, had previously earned acclaim for providing Ukraine with Starlink services to aid in its defence against Russia’s invasion. However, his role in this conflict was brought into question following revelations in his biography by Walter Isaacson. The biography recounted an incident in which Musk refused to grant Kyiv’s forces access to Starlink for a naval drone strike on Russian ships near Crimea, reportedly out of concerns that this action could trigger a nuclear response from Moscow.
Subsequently, Musk proposed peace initiatives on social media, suggesting that Russia retain control of Crimea while Ukraine adopts a neutral status. These proposals were criticized by Kyiv, which saw them as echoing President Vladimir Putin’s viewpoints.
In another social media post, Musk drew widespread ire by appearing to sympathize with Iran. The post featured a map of Iran surrounded by U.S. flags, accompanied by the caption, “Iran wants war. Look how close they put their country to our military bases.” This post was made shortly after U.S. fighter jets launched airstrikes on locations in eastern Syria connected to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, in response to a series of drone and missile attacks on U.S. bases and personnel in the region.
Pros
– Strong and reliable performance
– As strong and efficient as the 13600K
– Pricing compared to competitors
– Hybrid architecture
– Compatible with previous-gen chipsets
– WiFi 7, Thunderbolt 5 support
Cons
– Only a slight jump in performance over the 13th Gen i5
– Power consumption
– Facers tough competition from Intel 13th Gen CPUs remaining in the market
– Does not have any of the AI features that Intel showcased for the 14th gen Core i9
– Possibly the last generation of CPUs using the LGA 1700 Socket
Rating: 4.5/5
Historically, Intel’s Core i5 CPUs have been the perfect choice for a mid-tier gaming rig. With the 14th Gen Raptor Lake Refresh Core i5-14600K, Intel is showing why they continue to be the perfect choice for gamers. The i5-14600K is not exactly a generational upgrade over last year’s i5-13600K — instead, it is a refresh of it.
Think of it this way: as good and bang for the buck as the Core i5-13600K was, the new 14th Gen i5 is what the 13th Gen i5 would have been if you were able to eke more performance out of the chip. In essence, the i5-14600K is the 13600K, only made better.
Make no mistake, the Core i5-13600K was the best mid-tier CPU from last year. With the Core i5-14600K, Intel has just turned things up a notch. And although personally, I don’t like to overclock my CPUs, it’s nice to have the choice to overclock even a mid-tier CPU like the 14600K. Intel really won over gamers when they decided to let mid-tier PC builders overclock their CPUs, starting with the Alder Lake lineup.
I think Intel’s intention was to perfect the LGA 1700 socket before sending it off. Unlike its elder siblings of the 14th Gen CPU family, the Core i5-14600K does not come with the array of AI features that sets the costlier siblings apart. Instead, you get a bunch of minor tweaks here and there and some pretty neat refinements.
Have these refinements worked though? We find out
Intel Core i5-14600K Review: Specifications and features
The 14th Gen Raptor Lake Refresh series is pretty much what it sounds like — a refresh of the awesome 13th Gen Raptor Lake series. What this means is that you get the same basic microarchitecture as the 13th Gen, albeit with a few tweaks here and there.
In case of the the i5-14600K, it has the same core count as the i5-13600K, 6 Performance cores with HyperThreading and 8 Efficieny cores. There’s also a 24MB L3 cache that both the P-cores and E-cores share, along with the 20MB combined L2 cache.
What sets the Core i5-14600K apart is that the newer CPU gets a little speed boost compared to its predecessor. The 14600K gets about 100-200Mhz more at the top end. The P-cores start at 3.50 GHz as the base frequency and can now reach up to 5.30 GHz at maximum boost, which is 200 MHz faster than the i5-13600K. Meanwhile, the E-cores now run at a base speed of 2.60 GHz and can turbo up to 4.00 GHz, which is an increase of 100Mhz.
The 14600K has the same base power as the 13th Gen at 125W and a maximum turbo power of 181W.
As for special features, we get to see the Thread Director, the recommendation engine operating behind the scenes to guide Windows in utilizing the most suitable core for specific tasks, has remained unchanged in the 14th Generation as compared to the previous generation.
One thing that I would have loved to see in the 14600K AI-guided overclocking. Introduced with the 14th Gen CPUs, only the Core i9-14900K currently has this feature. This is what made this year’s Core i9 stand out from the previous gen Core i9. Although Intel says that they will be adding AI-guided overclocking to other tiers of the 14th Gen, it would have been nice to have this feature across the lineup at the time of launch.
Intel Core i5-14600K Review: Compatibility
As with the rest of the 14th Gen lineup, you can still use your older motherboards if you’re already rocking a 12900K or 13900K. Intel has stuck with its trusty LGA 1700 socket for this series. Just update your BIOS and you’re good to go.
But if you truly want to get the most out of your 14th Gen CPU, Intel suggests you get a Z790 board. And while you can reuse your DDR4-3200 MTs RAM sticks, you should be getting the newer DDR5-5600 RAMs as they would perform faster and better.
Intel Core i5-14600K Review: Our test bench
In our testing, we paired the Core i9-14900K with the Asus ROG Strix Z790-F Gaming WiFi II motherboard, generously provided by ASUS. Although the chip isn’t as power hungry as the Core i9-14900K and has the same TDP as last year’s core i5-13600K, we are in a generation of CPUs that where a Core i5 processor draws upward of 100W, your motherboards isn’t really an area where you should cheap out, even if it is a budget build.
Plus, the Asus ROG Strix Z790-F Gaming WiFi II is a powerhouse, packed to the brim with features and also has a tone of lifestyle features. It boasts Ultrafast Intel WiFi 7 with ASUS WiFi Q-Antenna, support for PCIe 5.0, Thunderbolt 4 via USB 4, and even a front panel connector for a high-speed front-panel USB Type-C port with 30W Power Delivery fast charging.
We also like what Asus has done to optimise the fast memory that the 14th Gen CPUs provide, For instance, you get DIMM Flex, which adjusts how memory controllers operate based on the current memory temperature. You also get AEMP II, which enables automatic memory overclocking, even if your DDR5 memory doesn’t have EXPO or XMP support.
For cooling, we opted for the reliable Noctua NHD15 cooler. For memory, we chose a pair of 16GB HyperX Fury DDR5 6000 MTs, giving us 32GB. As for the GPU, we used our MSI GeForce RTX 3070 Ti Ventus 3X 8G OC, and for power, we had the Cooler Master MWE Gold V2 1250W PSU.
Intel Core i5-14600K Review: Performance
As expected, Core i5-14600K outperforms the last generation Core i5-13600K to a certain degree. Because this is not a generational upgrade that focuses on performance, but rather a refresh that is supposed to focus on other features and finetuning, benchmarks look a lot similar to the 13600K. Having said that, performance-wise, it still presents some really great numbers.
When it comes to benchmarking scores are nearly at the top of the charts as you would expect. Even in gaming, the performance in games has been great.
The 14600K performs really well in synthetic benchmarks like Cinebench R23, and performs slightly better than the 13600K, thanks to the higher boost clocks. The performance is also made better because the L3 cache is surprisingly fast, and actually manages to outperform the L2 cache in raw bandwidth.
And unlike its elder siblings like the 14th Gen Core i7 and the Core i9 you don’t need an expensive AIO. It will be great if you fo get one, but a really good air cooler like the NHD15 will be more than sufficient. It should also be able to handle some minor overclocking if you dial in your settings correctly.
Intel has also incorporated a variety of boosting algorithms into the i5-14600K, each designed to optimize performance in different ways. These include Thermal Velocity Boost (TVB), Turbo Boost Max 3.0, and, notably, the chip’s unique hybrid architecture, consisting of P-Core and E-Core components. In essence, these algorithms work in tandem, adjusting the turbo speeds based on the thermal headroom available, thereby allowing the chip to boost its performance more frequently and efficiently.
Intel Core i5-14600K Review: Power Consumption & Thermals
We don’t see a lot of difference in thermals and power consumption of the i5-14600K compared to the previous year’s i5-13600K. What this means is that the Intel Core i5-14600K is an impressive CPU when it comes to managing its thermals
During peak loads, we saw the CPU power usage jump up to 178W which is pretty close to its advertised 181W TDP. Furthermore, right after we were done with our testing in games and benchmarks, the CPUs went down 15-20W at idle and stayed there. During light internet browsing using Chrome, our usage was at around 45-50W.
Temperatures stay roughly the same as the 13600K during gaming. Temperatures hovered around 87 degrees Celsius. If we were using an AIO like we did for our review of the 13600K, we’re pretty sure that we would have been around 85 degrees.
Whether you use a good air cooler or an AI, you can hit the 14600K with a pretty hard load and the CPU will manage to stay just fine.
Intel Core i5-14600K Review: Verdict
The Intel Core i5-14600K is a cracker of a CPU, and perhaps one of the best CPUs in the market if you want to build a mid-tier PC for gaming and some productivity tasks. Although it is very close to the Intel 13600K in terms of performance and efficiency, it is set to get some lifestyle features that will set it apart. Does that warrant an upgrade though?
Well, it depends. If you’re already rocking the 13th Gen CPU, especially the 13600K or anything above that, then no, this is not meant for you. If you’re using anything older than a 12th Gen Intel CPU, and are planning an upgrade immediately, then you should seriously consider the 14600K. Or if you are on a very tight budget, go for the 13600K.
We just wished to see some of the AI features that the higher-tiered 14th Gen i9 came with, in the i5. AI-assisted overclocking will be a massively popular feature among amateur gaming enthusiasts, even if it covers the warranty of their CPUs.
As I said in my review of the 14900K, we’ve been spoiled by Intel with a couple of great CPU generations back-to-back. With each generational upgrade, we have seen the needle of performance being pushed to areas never seen before. So I understand what Intel plans to achieve with the Core i5 14600K.
Even though this is a generation refresh and not exactly an upgrade, it still is a pretty solid CPU. Intel has taken one of the best gaming CPUs for a mid-tier build, and refined it as much as it can, The end result, is that the best just became better.
Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Alphabet and its subsidiary Google, is set to testify on Monday in a significant antitrust legal battle that revolves around Google’s dominant position in the search and search advertising sectors.
Pichai, appearing as a witness for Google, is expected to face questions regarding the company’s strategic investments aimed at maintaining competitiveness in the search industry, especially in light of the increasing prevalence of smartphones, as well as innovations in search advertising.
During cross-examination, the government is likely to inquire about the substantial sums of money Google pays annually to secure its position as the default search engine on smartphones.
The government’s argument asserts that Google, which holds a staggering 90 per cent share of the search market, engaged in illegal practices by allegedly paying approximately $10 billion per year to smartphone manufacturers like Apple and wireless carriers such as AT&T to ensure that Google search remains the default option on their devices.
This arrangement has solidified Google’s supremacy in the highly profitable advertising market, bolstering its earnings.
Google, in its defence, contends that its revenue-sharing agreements are entirely legal and that the company has made substantial investments to ensure the competitiveness of its search and advertising businesses.
Google also argues that consumers have the option to choose alternative search providers if they are dissatisfied with the default settings, and many users do exercise this choice.
The outcome of this legal battle will likely have far-reaching implications for the tech giant’s dominance in the search and advertising industries.
(With input from agencies)
Google’s Head of AI in the UK, Demis Hassabis, has drawn a parallel between the risks associated with artificial intelligence (AI) and the global challenges posed by climate change. In an interview with The Guardian, Hassabis expressed concerns about the potential development of a superintelligent AI system that could go rogue and engage in malicious activities, including the creation of bioweapons.
Hassabis emphasized the need to take AI risks seriously, similar to addressing climate change. He highlighted the delay in coordinating an effective global response to climate change and its consequences, emphasizing that society cannot afford the same delay in dealing with AI.
While acknowledging the positive potential of AI in various sectors, Hassabis called for the establishment of an independent governing body for AI, similar to the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). This perspective is also shared by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt.
In response to these concerns, Google, Microsoft, OpenAI, and Anthropic jointly announced a $10 million AI Safety Fund. The fund is intended to support research aimed at developing tools to effectively test and evaluate advanced AI models.
Hassabis welcomed this initiative and expressed that the AI community is at a pivotal moment in history.
However, it’s worth noting that despite the public discussions and actions related to AI safety and ethics, there have been instances of controversy within the AI community. In 2020, Google fired renowned AI ethicist Timnit Gebru and AI researcher Margaret Mitchell, citing that their co-authored paper didn’t meet the company’s publication standards. The paper highlighted several risks associated with AI, including environmental impact, potential impacts on marginalized communities, biases in training data, difficulties in auditing large datasets, and the potential for AI to deceive people.
The complex relationship between AI development, ethical concerns, and the pursuit of superintelligent AI systems underscores the ongoing debate within the AI industry.
Imagine you are watching one of the most vital rocket launches in your lifetime, when all of a sudden, you hear a very annoying voice, saying, “This rocket launch is brought to you by…”, all the while the video pans to the logo of a brand. In Russia, this may soon be a reality.
Russian lawmakers are exploring an unconventional revenue source for the country’s space agency, Roscosmos.
In a groundbreaking move, a group of senators and State Duma deputies have proposed a new bill that would allow brands to adorn the sides of space rockets with their ads. This innovative endeavour, they claim, has the potential to generate a staggering 200 million rubles or approximately $2.1 million in income for the Russian space agency.
The legislation, introduced in the State Duma on Monday, seeks to open the door to advertising campaigns closely tied to ongoing space programs. Proponents argue that this initiative will serve multiple purposes.
Not only will it help “popularise space activities,” but it will also draw young talent into the space industry while generating much-needed funds for the development of groundbreaking space projects.
If the bill is enacted, outdoor advertising could grace various space infrastructure objects, and the income generated would be divided equally between the Russian federal budget and the state corporation, Roscosmos.
Sergei Volkov, the head of the Department for Coordination and Management of Research and Development of Launch Vehicles at Roscosmos’ Progress Rocket and Space Center (RSC), revealed ongoing efforts to secure contracts for advertising on rockets.
Volkov stated that certain areas on spacecraft are being designated for commercial purposes, with potential revenue streams on the horizon, as reported by TASS.
This endeavour is not entirely new, as there was one previous instance where advertising was permitted on a space vehicle. The Soyuz rocket, launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, bore the logo of Sberbank, a prominent financial institution. The bank’s CEO, Herman Gref, had sought permission from the former head of Roscosmos, Dmitry Rogozin, to commemorate the bank’s 180th anniversary with this unique advertisement.
This bold move to commercialise the assets of their space agency opens up new possibilities for funding space exploration in Russia, drawing attention to the infinite possibilities that lie beyond Earth’s atmosphere.
Elon Musk had to delve deep into his accounts last year to secure a gigantic amount for the acquisition of the social media platform now known as X. In order to secure the funding for the acquisition, tech magnate found himself in need of a staggering $13 billion in loans from seven prominent banks to assemble the substantial purchase price of $44 billion, nearly a year ago.
Unfortunately, the aftermath of this ambitious acquisition has left these financial institutions reeling, as reported by the Wall Street Journal, attributing the platform’s declining value over the past 12 months to Musk’s leadership.
Struggling to unload the debt
The financial figures are nothing short of astonishing. The seven banks involved in the deal, including major names such as Morgan Stanley, Bank of America, and Barclays, now face the prospect of enduring losses of at least 15 per cent, totalling around $2 billion at least, just for this year.
This ill-fated wager on the world’s wealthiest individual has seemingly backfired in a spectacular fashion.
These banks had initially hoped to divest themselves of the debt by Labor Day, but the situation has not played out as anticipated. Instead, they are now preparing to offload portions of this financial burden, according to sources cited by the Wall Street Journal.
To compound their woes, if Musk’s social media platform receives a low credit rating, the banks may encounter even greater difficulty in shedding this financial load.
In essence, the longer they hold onto this debt, the more precarious the situation becomes, and regulators may intensify their scrutiny of the banks.
Hung deal
As outlined by the Wall Street Journal, the debt associated with X’s acquisition is currently one of the most extensive and long-lasting “hung” deals. Such arrangements often result in banks incurring significant losses when financing acquisitions fail to yield the anticipated returns.
In the midst of this financial turmoil, Musk’s seemingly incongruent decisions, including rebranding Twitter as “X,” tolerating the dissemination of misinformation, and implementing widespread layoffs, have prompted advertisers to withdraw, causing substantial deficits on the company’s balance sheets.
Resolute in the face of adversity
A recent study by marketing consultancy Ebiquity found that the vast majority of the platform’s largest advertising spenders have ceased advertising on it following Musk’s takeover.
Despite the bleak outlook, Musk and CEO Linda Yaccarino remain resolute in their belief that X will turn a profit as early as next year.
One certainty remains: the banks are undoubtedly hoping that their faith in this optimism is not misplaced.
Swedish scientists have made a groundbreaking development with a 3D-printed microscale implant designed for the eye, featuring pancreatic cells. This revolutionary device could potentially revolutionize the treatment of diabetes and various other diseases.
The research team from Sweden has successfully engineered an eye implant that provides a unique avenue for cell-based therapy, primarily targeting diabetes but also presenting possibilities for addressing other ailments. The implant permits the precise positioning of pancreatic cells in the eye, opening up new avenues for cell-based therapies.
Pancreatic islets, which are clusters of cells responsible for insulin production in the pancreas, were chosen as the cell source for this innovative device. Pancreatic islets have been the subject of experimental treatments for type 1 diabetes, a condition where the immune system mistakenly attacks insulin-producing cells, leading to blood sugar level dysregulation.
One significant challenge associated with using donor pancreatic islets in type 1 diabetes treatments has been the need to prevent rejection by the recipient’s immune system. The Swedish researchers propose that implanting the device in the eye offers a solution due to the eye’s “immune-privileged” status. This means that the eye can tolerate foreign substances or molecules without triggering an inflammatory immune response.
Anna Herland, a senior lecturer in the Division of Bionanotechnology at Sweden’s KTH Royal Institute of Technology and the study’s author, explained, “Donor transplants always have a degree of reaction from the immune system. As the eye does not have resident immune cells, we avoid these first reactions from the immune system.”
The device, measuring approximately 240 micrometres in length, is secured between the iris and the cornea in the anterior chamber of the eye (ACE). In tests conducted on mice, the implant maintained its position for several months.
Wouter van der Wijngaart, a professor in the Division of Micro- and Nanosystems at KTH, highlighted the design’s innovative aspects, noting that they created the device “to hold living mini-organs in a micro-cage and introduced the use of a flap door technique to avoid the need for additional fixation.”
The researchers observed that these “mini-organs” swiftly integrated with the host animal’s blood vessels and functioned normally.
One remarkable aspect of this technology is its non-invasive monitoring of functionality and care. Herland stated, “Ours is a first step towards advanced medical microdevices that can both localize and monitor the function of cell grafts.”
This development marks the first instance of “mechanical fixation” of a device in the eye’s anterior chamber.
While this study serves as a proof of concept, the researchers are eager to advance this technology’s capabilities, with potential applications extending beyond diabetes treatment. Herland expressed optimism, saying, “It can be used to host other organoid [tissue culture] like transplants. Today, diseases are not treated by organoid-like transplants except in trials with pancreatic cells, but it is possible that in the future tissues like thyroid glands could be evaluated.”
As the research progresses, it holds promise not only for diabetes patients but for those battling various other diseases, potentially offering new hope and treatment avenues.
Vijay Shekhar Sharma, the founder and CEO of Paytm, has unveiled a Category II Alternate Investment Fund (AIF) named ‘VSS Investments Fund’ with a total corpus of Rs 30 crore. This fund includes Rs 20 crore as its primary size, with an additional Rs 10 crore designated for the green shoe.
Sponsored by VSS Investco Private Limited, an entity owned and controlled by Sharma, this sector-agnostic SEBI-approved Category II AIF is set to focus on investments related to Artificial Intelligence, environmental sustainability, and Indian-made technology, particularly in the realm of Electric Vehicle (EV) startups serving the domestic market.
Vijay Shekhar Sharma is anticipated to be a significant contributor to the fund, alongside external investors who will also participate.
The fund’s investment strategy centres on backing startups involved in Artificial Intelligence and Electric Vehicles, especially those incubated in India, with a clear orientation toward meeting the needs of Indian consumers and businesses.
Vijay Shekhar Sharma expressed his optimism about India’s startup ecosystem, emphasizing the nation’s potential to emerge as a hub for advanced technology and AI-driven innovations. He stated, “The launch of this fund is a continuation of my belief in supporting young and promising Indian founders, aligned with the fact that technology has a huge role to play in the development of the country.”
Sharma’s past investments have included notable startups such as Ola Electric, Josh Talks, Mesa School, UNNATI, KAWA Space, Praan, GOQii, KWH Bikes, Daalchini, and Treebo Hotels. This new fund represents his commitment to nurturing the next generation of Indian entrepreneurs and fostering innovation in the technology sector.
A former employee of ASML Holding NV, who was accused of stealing data from the leading chipmaking machine manufacturer, has reportedly found employment with Huawei Technologies Co, as reported by Dutch newspaper NRC.
ASML had disclosed in February that one of its former employees in China had stolen technology-related data, without providing specific details about the breach. The stolen data pertained to a software system used by the company to store technical information about its machinery.
This development unfolds against the backdrop of the United States’ ongoing efforts to restrict China’s access to semiconductor technology that could potentially provide it with a military advantage. It is the latest development in an escalating trade dispute that has cast Huawei as a focal point due to concerns about its affiliations with the Chinese government.
Following the individual’s departure from ASML, it is reported that they worked at Huawei for a considerable period, according to unnamed sources cited by NRC.
The person in question was based in China and was allegedly linked to a Chinese state-sponsored entity, which was believed to be involved in the theft of data on behalf of this entity. The group in question has previously been associated with intellectual property theft, although its specific name was not disclosed by the sources.
ASML holds a critical position in the global chip supply chain. The company has a virtual monopoly on advanced extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography systems, which are indispensable for producing cutting-edge semiconductor chips.
Additionally, it supplies deep ultraviolet lithography machines used in the manufacturing of more mature semiconductor products.
Huawei quietly unveiled a new smartphone in August that featured a powerful 7nm processor. Analysis of the device’s internals revealed that the chip was produced by a Chinese company, underscoring China’s manufacturing capabilities, which have surpassed the constraints imposed by the United States.
This achievement has raised questions about Washington’s ability to impede Beijing’s technological aspirations, leading to increased political pressure for the Biden administration to impose additional sanctions on Huawei and its chipmaking partner, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. This latter entity happens to be one of ASML’s significant customers in China.
In response to a request from the Israeli military and ahead of the possibility of a ground invasion into the Gaza Strip, Google and Apple have temporarily disabled real-time traffic conditions and crowding data in Israel and the Gaza Strip for their respective Maps and Waze apps.
A spokesperson from Google stated, “As we have done previously in conflict situations and in response to the evolving situation in the region, we have temporarily disabled the ability to see live traffic conditions and busyness information out of consideration for the safety of local communities.”
According to a source with knowledge of the matter, Google has taken this action at the behest of the Israel Defense Forces, as live traffic information could potentially disclose Israeli troop movements.
While the real-time traffic data will no longer be available, users of Maps and Waze will still receive estimated times of arrival based on live conditions, ensuring that navigation services remain functional.
This is not the first time Google has implemented such measures, as they did the same in Ukraine last year following Russia’s invasion.
Reports also suggest that Apple Inc.’s Maps app has complied with the Israeli army’s request, although Apple has not issued a comment on the matter at the time of this report. The Israel Defense Forces have not yet responded to requests for comment.
Israel has recently called up over 300,000 reservists in response to attacks by the militant group Hamas, resulting in the deaths of more than 1,400 people in southern Israel and the taking of more than 200 hostages.
Israel’s military has hinted at a possible ground invasion of Gaza, a move that has garnered criticism from world leaders due to concerns about civilian casualties. U.S. President Joe Biden mentioned that he had explored “alternatives” to a ground war during his recent meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
There is a possibility that we might get to see the upcoming Grand Theft Auto VI title launch on Netflix, not as a show or a movie as part of its Netflix Originals, but as a video game.
Netflix is reportedly in discussions with Rockstar Games for a potential licensing agreement to bring the widely popular Grand Theft Auto (GTA) franchise to its streaming platform,
According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, the over-the-top (OTT) giant is collaborating closely with Rockstar Games to integrate “Grand Theft Auto (GTA)” titles into the gaming section of the Netflix app.
Netflix began venturing into the world of mobile gaming in 2021, introducing several games based on its highly acclaimed shows. As per the WSJ report, the streaming behemoth has already invested more than $1 billion in mobile video games, featuring titles like Ghost Detective, Vikings, Love is Blind, and more.
Netflix is now considering the addition of “higher-end” games, AAA titles, to its ever-expanding content library. This is where the Grand Theft Auto franchise comes into play. However, it remains uncertain whether Netflix intends to offer these titles as part of its existing subscription or if they will be available for standalone purchases.
The exact nature of Netflix’s plans for the GTA franchise remains unclear. It is uncertain whether the platform will feature existing GTA games or develop mobile spin-offs of the popular titles. Notably, games like GTA typically require consoles and high-performance PCs whenever they launch. This suggests that Netflix might be exploring cloud gaming services as well, although there have been no reports or rumours around this.
While Netflix’s foray into gaming has yet to achieve significant success, the platform has garnered over 70 million downloads spanning approximately 70 game titles. However, in the competitive world of video games, particularly when considering renowned titles like GTA 5, this number may appear relatively modest.
Plus, it faces some seriously stiff competition from platforms like Epic Games, and the market leader, Steam, which currently accounts for 70 per cent of all legal PC game downloads around the world. Even when pirated games are taken into account, Steam still comes out ahead at 50 per cent market share, beating out many popular piracy sites
Hence, a potential partnership with Rockstar Games could be a strategic move for Netflix to expand its gaming user base and offer more compelling gaming experiences to its subscribers.
Apple is launching a substantial initiative to bolster its artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, led by top executives John Giannandrea, Craig Federighi, and Eddy Cue. According to a report by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, this project boasts an annual budget of approximately $1 billion.
Apple is determined to catch up in the rapidly evolving AI ecosystem, where competitors like Microsoft, Meta (formerly Facebook), Google, and Amazon have made significant advancements, particularly following the launch of OpenAI’s ChatGPT last year. Apple’s plan is not limited to enhancing its voice assistant, Siri; it also extends to integrating AI into its flagship iOS operating system for iPhones.
The report reveals that John Giannandrea is spearheading the development of a new AI system, while simultaneously focusing on enhancing Siri for deeper integration. This improved iteration of Siri could potentially become available as early as next year.
Craig Federighi, responsible for overseeing iOS development for iPhones and MacOS for MacBooks, is also working on integrating AI into Apple’s operating systems. His team’s primary focus is on incorporating features powered by Apple’s extensive language model, internally referred to as AppleGPT. This model leverages vast datasets to refine AI capabilities, with the aim of enhancing user interactions with Siri and the Messages app.
Apple’s software engineering teams are also contemplating the incorporation of generative AI into development tools such as Xcode. This strategic move could accelerate app development, akin to services like Microsoft’s GitHub Copilot.
Eddy Cue’s team is exploring the integration of AI across a wide array of Apple’s apps. Their efforts encompass adding new features to Apple Music, like auto-generated playlists, and enhancing productivity apps. Generative AI is also under consideration for apps like Pages and Keynote, with the goal of assisting users in tasks such as writing and creating slide decks. Additionally, generative AI is being tested for internal customer service apps within AppleCare.
A key consideration within Apple is the deployment of generative AI: whether it should be on-device, cloud-based, or a hybrid approach. An on-device approach offers advantages in terms of speed and privacy, while a cloud-based setup enables more advanced AI operations. This initiative underscores Apple’s commitment to advancing AI across its product ecosystem to remain competitive in an increasingly AI-driven tech landscape.
Chinese scammers have found a new way to exploit Indians, and people in other developing countries. What’s worrying though, in India’s case, these Chinese scammers are exploiting India’s digital payments ecosystem, mainly UPI, to not only scam Indian citizens, but also to get them to launder their loot to China.
But how exactly are these Chinese scammers exploiting people? By posing as instant loan apps, real-money gaming apps, and fraudulent investment apps.
By now we have heard of stories and seen countless news articles on how certain loan apps have duped people into taking a loan from then and then wrecked their lives.
Instead of going through the trouble of actually paying loan seekers and then unleashing their collection agents after them, Chinese scammers have now found a new way.
Trapping people using loan offers, games
An investigative report from CloudSEK has revealed that scammers are now using illegal instant loan apps to lure thousands of victims with false promises of substantial loans and easy repayments. To process the loans, these apps just ask for a few basic details, and about 5-10 per cent of the loan amount as a processing fee. And because these loan apps promise instant loans od up to 5-10 lakhs, the processing fee can be a substantial amount.
In some cases, these scammers pose as a real-money gaming app, which first lures in victims using a small reward, and then gets them to invest real money into the game.
Once they collect the processing fee, they then vanish. These scammers are evading actions by law enforcement agencies by using Chinese payment gateways. In certain cases, it was found that the money was sent to an Indian bank account, which was then routed through several mule accounts before it was finally laundered out of India to China.
Rs 37 Lakhs laundered in two months using just one app
During their investigation, CloudSEK also found that there are at least 55 such harmful Android apps have been distributed through various channels. Furthermore, several scammers get their victims to sideload apps that are not found on the Google PlayStore. CloudSEK was able to identify about 15 Chinese gateways that these apps directed to.
Furthermore, the investigation also revealed that between July 22, 2023 – September 18, 2023, a total of Rs 37 Lakhs was looted and laundered to China, from just one one these apps. CloudSEK also emphasises that this figure was from just one app, and this was an amount they could verify. CloudSEK believes the actual amount laundered must be substantially high.
“A notable trend we’ve observed is scammers exploiting Chinese payment gateways due to their relative ease of use and limited regulatory scrutiny. These gateways offer a convenient bridge to funnel funds outside India, leveraging sophisticated techniques that blur jurisdictional lines, making it challenging to track and intercept the money trail. This enables scammers to sidestep the legal and financial roadblocks, making it imperative for authorities to enhance cooperation and adopt advanced measures to counter this sophisticated threat.” said Sparsh Kulshrestha, Senior Security Analyst at CloudSEK
The curious case of Indian money mules
CloudSEK’s investigation also exposed some of the loopholes that we have in our banking systems. Scammers based in China, open up several fraudulent payment gateways, which are primarily hosted in China. These gateways exploit UPI’s QR code, by generating fake QR codes that redirect victims to legitimate UPI apps like PhonePe and GPay, linked to bank accounts of money mules.
The scammers recruit individuals via Telegram, offering them a commission to provide their bank accounts as a place to direct the money to, and to park it there. Instead of getting people to open up new accounts, these scammers look for people who already have bank accounts in small, cooperative banks as these banks, don’t usually have the infrastructure to flag suspicious activities.
These recruits are then instructed to change the associated mobile numbers with banks, granting the scammers full remote control over the accounts. These compromised bank accounts are then used to receive payments from victims through the fraudulent payment gateways, which is then distributed through a bunch of similar accounts and finally laundered to China through hawala systems.
Amazon is experimenting with using humanoid robots as workers in some of its warehouses in the US. With this, Amazon is taking automation in its warehouses to a new level. This move underscores the tech giant’s ongoing efforts to streamline its operations and enhance efficiency.
Amazon says that the use of robots in the warehouse will ‘free up staff’ for more important things.
Amazon has a history of several lawsuits and allegations of creating a problematic and sometimes hostile work environment for its warehouse workers. There are several testimonials from former warehouse workers at Amazon, in which they claimed that they were so overworked and on such tight deadlines, that they had to urinate in water bottles while at their stations, since they did not have the time to go to designated loos.
Several reports have also indicated that Amazon’s warehouses have some of the highest worker turnover rates in the US. In some cities, the turnover can be double the national average.
The company stated that the introduction of humanoid robots, named “Digit,” aims to “free employees up to better deliver for our customers.” Digit, equipped with arms and legs, mimics human movement, enabling it to move, grasp, and handle items much like a human worker.
While Amazon’s move towards automation has raised concerns from labour unions, the company insists that its robotic systems have created “hundreds of thousands of new jobs” within its operations, including 700 different job categories that previously did not exist.
Trade unions have expressed concern over Amazon’s push for automation, suggesting it was leading to job losses in fulfilment centres. A representative of the union GMB noted that Amazon’s automation is a head-first race to job losses. “We’ve already seen hundreds of jobs disappear to it in fulfilment centres,” they added.
Amazon’s efforts to automate its operations have already seen the deployment of over 750,000 robots, which work in collaboration with human employees to tackle highly repetitive tasks.
Amazon Robotics’ chief technologist, Tye Brady, emphasized the irreplaceable role of human workers in the fulfilment process and dismissed the idea of fully automated warehouses in the future. He stated, “There’s not any part of me that thinks that would ever be a reality. People are so central to the fulfilment process; the ability to think at a higher level, the ability to diagnose problems.”
Unlike traditional wheeled robots used in Amazon warehouses, Digit has a pair legs to move about. This innovation allows it to navigate steps, stairs, and other obstacles present in Amazon’s facilities. Scott Dresser of Amazon Robotics described Digit as a prototype, and the trial aims to assess its compatibility and safety when working alongside human employees.
“Our experience has been these new technologies actually create jobs, they allow us to grow and expand. And we’ve seen multiple examples of this through the robots that we have today. They don’t always run unfortunately and we need people to repair them,” said Mr. Dresser.
Amazon has been steadily increasing its use of robots to enhance operational efficiency and cut costs. In addition to humanoid robots, the company has previously introduced wheeled robots for goods transportation within its warehouses and initiated drone deliveries in select regions within the United States.
Elon Musk, the owner of the social media platform X, is reportedly contemplating the removal of the service, formerly known as Twitter, from Europe due to new internet platform regulations in the region, according to a report by Insider on Wednesday.
As per an individual familiar with the company, the billionaire entrepreneur has explored the possibility of either making the app unavailable in the European region or implementing restrictions to block users in the European Union from accessing it. This move comes in response to the evolving regulatory landscape affecting online platforms in Europe.
The European Union in August adopted the Digital Services Act (DSA), which sets forth rules for preventing the spread of harmful content, banning or limiting certain user-targeting practices, and sharing some internal data with regulators and associated researchers, among other things.
Elon Musk’s decision to remove X comes after a study commissioned by the European Commission found that X, formerly known as Twitter, showed the highest proportion of disinformation among the six major social networks.
The study analyzed over 6,000 unique social media posts across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, X, and YouTube, focusing on content in three countries – Spain, Poland, and Slovakia – identified as particularly susceptible to disinformation due to elections or proximity to the war in Ukraine.
Vera Jourova, the EU’s Values and Transparency Commissioner, issued a warning to X, stating, “My message for X is, you have to comply with the hard law. We’ll be watching what you’re doing.”
She emphasized that X, along with other large tech platforms, would be subject to the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), which aims to regulate the conduct of these platforms. The voluntary code of practice on disinformation, which X and others signed up to in 2018, is set to be converted into a code of conduct under the DSA.
(With inputs from agencies)
Honda Motor has announced its plan to collaborate with General Motors and Cruise to launch a driverless ride service in Japan by early 2026. The companies are working towards establishing this joint venture in the first half of 2024, pending regulatory approvals. Financial details of the partnership were not disclosed, as stated by Honda in a recent statement.
Cruise, which is GM’s robotaxi division, presently provides limited ride services in San Francisco. In the same vein, Alphabet’s Waymo, a competitor to Cruise, also operates ride services. Notably, Honda had previously disclosed its commitment to invest $2 billion in Cruise over a span of 12 years back in 2018.
This collaboration highlights the continued efforts of automakers and technology companies to bring autonomous driving technology to market and develop driverless ride services, indicating a significant stride in the development of self-driving vehicles and mobility solutions in Japan.
The companies hope to commercialise autonomous vehicles at scale in Japan with the joint venture, said Cruise’s chief executive, Kyle Vogt, adding the company was already operating commercially in four cities in the United States.
Vogt said it was hard to say whether offering a driverless ride service in Tokyo posed a unique or distinct challenge for the company.
“I will say in San Francisco, we do see go-karts. We see people juggling. We see donkeys in the street in Austin where we test, and so the range of the situation that our AVs (autonomous vehicles) have encountered is quite broad,” he said.
The Cruise Origin vehicle was jointly developed by GM, Cruise and Honda. The Japan service is planned to launch in central Tokyo, using dozens of Origins before expanding to a fleet of 500 vehicles, Honda said in its statement.
Honda Chief Executive Officer Toshihiro Mibe said the company will use Chevrolet Bolts in the run up to starting the service in the Japanese capital before deploying the Origins.
The companies plan to later broaden the service to areas beyond central Tokyo, Honda said.
Customers will use a smartphone application to hail rides and make payments, according to the statement.
US auto safety regulators earlier this week opened a probe into whether Cruise is taking sufficient precautions with its autonomous robotaxis to safeguard pedestrians.
Commenting on the probe, Vogt said safety was the company’s top priority, adding that it would help regulators with the “very difficult” job of regulating emerging technologies like this.
“Mechanisms like this, preliminary investigations, are one of the tools that regulators use to learn more about the technology and to understand its impact,” he said.
(With input from agencies)
Despite reporting earnings that fell short of Wall Street estimates last quarter, Tesla is standing firm on its full-year production forecast and assuring investors that it will start delivering its highly anticipated Cybertruck by November 30.
The electric vehicle giant, led by CEO Elon Musk, announced that its profit, excluding certain items, amounted to 66 cents per share, falling below the 74 cents per share that had been projected by Wall Street. Additionally, Tesla’s revenue for the quarter reached $23.4 billion, which was slightly below the anticipated $24.06 billion.
However, Tesla’s stock gained ground in extended trading as the company confirmed the imminent launch of the Cybertruck, which has been delayed by approximately two years. Tesla also reiterated its commitment to producing and delivering around 1.8 million vehicles this year, which would mark a new record.
Despite a brief initial decline in after-hours trading, Tesla’s stock rebounded, rising by 2.2 per cent after the Cybertruck announcement.
The excitement surrounding the Cybertruck overshadowed Tesla’s dwindling profit margins. Tesla’s adjusted profit margin for the quarter was 16.1 per cent, with the automotive gross margin excluding regulatory credits coming in at 16.3 per cent.
Throughout the year, Tesla has repeatedly lowered the prices of its vehicles, and Elon Musk has indicated a willingness to sacrifice the company’s industry-leading profit margins in order to maintain sales volume. Notably, the price reductions for Tesla’s most expensive model, the Model X, have exceeded 30 per cent, making the vehicles more accessible to consumers dealing with rising inflation and interest rates.
Tesla, headquartered in Austin, Texas, previously disclosed that it delivered 435,059 vehicles globally in the quarter, marking its first quarterly decline in a year due to planned factory downtime affecting production. The company also introduced an updated Model 3 sedan in China and Europe and is preparing for the launch of the Cybertruck.
In a shareholder letter, the company explained, “While production cost at our new factories remained higher than our established factories, we have implemented necessary upgrades in Q3 to enable further unit cost reductions.”
Foxconn, the largest global contract electronics manufacturer headquartered in Taiwan, has announced its intention to construct an innovative data centre. This data centre will be powered by NVIDIA’s cutting-edge chips and software, enabling a diverse array of applications, including those related to autonomous vehicles.
This collaborative endeavour was revealed by the companies on Wednesday during a joint conference at Foxconn’s annual technological exposition in Taipei. Both Foxconn’s Chairman, Liu Young-way, and NVIDIA’s CEO, Jensen Huang, shared their commitment to jointly establish these state-of-the-art “AI factories.”
“A new type of manufacturing has emerged – the production of intelligence. And the data centres that produce it are AI factories,” Huang said, adding that Foxconn had the expertise and scale to build them globally.
Showing a hand-drawn sketch, Huang – sporting his signature black leather jacket – explained how “AI factories” could continuously receive and process data from autonomous electric vehicles to make them smarter.
“This car would of course go through life experience and collect more data. The data would go to the AI factory. The AI factory would improve the software and update the entire AI fleet,” said the Taiwan-born Huang. “In the future, every company, every industry, will have AI factories.”
NVIDIA, the world’s most valuable chip company, said in a statement that the AI factories would use its chips and software, including its cutting-edge GH200 superchip that it is barred from selling in China.
The announcement comes after NVIDIA on Tuesday said new US export restrictions would also block sales of two less powerful high-end AI chips it created for the Chinese market along with one of its top-of-the-line gaming chips.
NVIDIA’s shares have tripled in 2023, giving the company a market value of more than $1 trillion, driven by excitement over the central role of the company’s chips in AI applications.
Foxconn, the largest supplier of Apple’s iPhones, wants to replicate its level of success in assembling personal computers and smartphones as it expands into making electric vehicles for other companies.
In January, Foxconn and NVIDIA announced a partnership to develop autonomous vehicle platforms, in which Foxconn would manufacture electronic control units (ECUs) for cars based on NVIDIA’s DRIVE Orin chip to sell to the global market.
Liu, standing next to Huang, said Foxconn is “trying to convert itself from a manufacturing service company to a platform solution company,” citing smart cities and smart manufacturing as other applications for AI factories.
Foxconn on Wednesday unveiled a new electric cargo van called Model N, the sixth prototype in its EV push that has set ambitious goals but has so far only seen limited orders.
Jun Seki, head of Foxconn’s EV business, said the company was talking to 14 potential customers, without naming them, and sees India and Japan as promising countries for EV development.
Initially targeting 5 per cent of the global EV market and the equivalent of $33 billion in revenue from manufacturing EVs and components by 2025, Foxconn’s aggressive longer-term ambition is to make nearly half the world’s EVs.
Foxconn’s Tech Day takes place on the birthday of its billionaire founder, Terry Gou, who stepped down as the company’s chief in 2019.
He is now running as an independent candidate for Taiwan’s president at elections in January and did not appear at the event, unlike last year when he drove on stage in a prototype EV.
Foxconn’s shares closed down 0.9 per cent on Wednesday, compared with a 1.2 per cent fall on the broader market.
(With input from agencies)
In a major milestone for India Semicon, IBM has signed an MoU with the Government of India on Semiconductors, AI and Quantum Computing.
“This is certainly a very important day because these are the three of the four technologies that are going to shape the future of tech and innovation in the coming years – AI, Quantum (computing) and Semiconductor,” said IT minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar, hailing the development and how it will be a massive opportunity for the tech sector in India, as well as for the people.
VIDEO | “This is certainly a very important day because these are the three of the four technologies that are going to shape the future of tech and innovation in the coming years – AI, Quantum and Semiconductor,” says Union minister @Rajeev_GoI as IBM signs MoUs with the… pic.twitter.com/CEH870uf4h
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 18, 2023
“These three technologies represent tremendous opportunities for our academic ecosystems,, start-ups, and the broader opportunity to create global-standard talent in India that can take advantage of these opportunities in Quantum (computing) semiconductors, and AI,” Minister Chandrasekhar Added.
Earlier this year, IBM had also signed an MoU with the Government of India to develop curated courses designed to train people for up-and-coming technologies. The MoUs were signed with agencies of the Ministries of Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship on September 27.
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan presided over the signing of the MoUs. According to IBM, the courses developed under the MoUs will prove crucial in equipping youth with the necessary skills to excel in today’s modern workforce.
A team of Chinese geologists have reported a remarkable discovery of “niobobaotite,” a previously unknown ore with promising superconductive properties, according to the South China Morning Post. The ore deposit comprises niobium, barium, titanium, iron, and chloride.
The ore has been found in Inner Mongolia, a region that China claims as its own for decades now, and has designated autonomous region
Niobium, a versatile transition metal, is not only a crucial component in steel production but is also renowned for its superconductive abilities, enabling the efficient transmission of electrical currents at low temperatures.
This unique property has spurred global scientific interest in niobium-based batteries, which have the potential to be safer and offer faster charging than traditional lithium-ion batteries.
For China, which currently imports 95 per cent of its niobium, this discovery holds significant implications. Antonio Carlos Neto, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at the National University of Singapore, explained, “Depending on the volume and quality of this niobium, it could make China self-sufficient.”
This newfound self-sufficiency could have a substantial impact on the nation’s steel industry and its participation in the competitive global battery market.
One of the key benefits of niobium-lithium batteries is their improved safety profile. Unlike lithium-ion batteries, which are known for their susceptibility to catching fire, niobium-lithium batteries may eliminate this risk.
Additionally, these batteries have the potential for rapid recharging, with some researchers suggesting recharging times of ten minutes or less. This innovation could be particularly transformative for electric vehicles, making them more practical and attractive to consumers.
The niobobaotite deposit was discovered in the Bayan Obo mining district in Inner Mongolia. China’s state-run nuclear oversight body, the China National Nuclear Corporation, announced that the ore has received an official approval number from the International Mineralogical Association’s classification committee.
As of 2022, Brazil was the world’s largest niobium exporter, accounting for nearly 70 per cent of global niobium exports. Canada supplied approximately 30 per cent of the world’s niobium, and the United States was in the process of opening its first niobium mine in Nebraska. China, on the other hand, was Brazil’s top niobium importer, according to the 2022 US Geological Survey.
If the newly discovered niobobaotite indeed contains high-quality niobium, China could transition from being the world’s largest niobium importer to becoming the world’s primary source of this valuable compound. This shift has the potential to redefine the global niobium market, particularly in the midst of the fierce competition within the battery industry.
Apple’s recent decision to require app developers to obtain Chinese government licensing before their apps can be available in the Chinese App Store is set to close a longstanding loophole in Beijing’s censorship efforts. While this move aligns with China’s strict censorship laws, it is poised to complicate the lives of both users and developers.
For years, tech-savvy users in China have used iPhones to access blocked platforms such as Instagram and YouTube via the Chinese iOS store. They accomplished this by using VPNs to bypass China’s “Great Firewall” and access content from these apps. However, the availability of VPNs in China has been progressively restricted, making it more challenging for users like Alex to maintain access to a diverse range of views and information provided by foreign apps.
This practice has seen many banned foreign apps amass millions of downloads in the mainland Chinese iOS Store.
During the widespread protests against pandemic restrictions in China last year, platforms like X and Telegram briefly emerged as the most popular apps in the country. In 2023, Google Chrome has taken the lead in downloads, with about 7 million, while Instagram and X have each accumulated 5 million downloads, according to data from Sensor Tower, an app market intelligence provider.
However, this virtual window for iPhone users in China may soon be closed.
In response to China’s tightening regulations on apps last year, Apple is now requesting that app developers targeting mainland users demonstrate proof of licensing from local internet regulators. It’s the latest step by the US tech giant to ensure compliance with censorship laws in one of its most lucrative markets.
A key aspect of Apple’s new policy is the requirement for apps to acquire an Internet Information Provider (ICP) license from Chinese regulators. This effectively mandates that all apps use a mainland domain and be hosted by a local entity, as noted by Chinese app developers familiar with the process.
The repercussions of this change are not limited to censored foreign apps but also extend to apps targeting Chinese users without local operations. Small, independent developers are likely to face the greatest challenges.
However, it’s worth noting that some companies have struggled with this approach. For instance, LinkedIn created a Chinese-compliant version of its app with strict content filters in 2021 but abandoned the effort earlier this year. Other developers have sought partnerships with local publishers offering app hosting services in China for a fee.
Apple had previously resisted adopting stricter app development policies imposed by local competitors in China. It occasionally complied with specific requests from Chinese regulators to remove controversial apps.
However, last year, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) issued updated app provider policies, requiring app distribution platforms to submit specific information for registration and urging app stores to police their products actively and reject apps containing “illegal or bad information.”
Following these changes, Apple began mandating ICP licenses from app developers, which could result in a reduced number of apps available in China. Currently, the Chinese Apple App Store offers the most app choices among all platforms in the country.
The tighter policy is expected to pose a more significant barrier, making it less likely for users to discover these apps in the first place.
Israel has one of the most thriving start-up ecosystems, especially when it comes to technology. However, the recent developments around the Israel-Palestine war has brought the nation’s tech sector, as well as the startup ecosystem to a grinding halt, as per a Financial Times report.
In the face of mounting tensions and the looming possibility of a ground offensive in Gaza, Israel’s tech industry often hailed as the “Start-Up Nation,” finds itself confronted with an unprecedented challenge. Key players within the Israeli tech landscape have voiced concerns about the potential ramifications of a prolonged conflict on their operations.
Israeli tech founders and investors estimate that a significant portion, ranging from 10% to 15%, of their workforce, is comprised of the 360,000 reservists now called up for duty, causing a sudden and substantial disruption, especially for smaller tech companies.
The tech sector plays a pivotal role in Israel’s economy, accounting for approximately 15% of all jobs, as reported by the Israeli Innovation Authority. This dynamic workforce is dispersed across hundreds of start-ups and major offices of global giants like Intel and Microsoft, making it a vital contributor to the nation’s economic success.
Despite the global industry slowdown, Israel managed to secure $5.5 billion in total venture capital through 320 deals in 2023, attracting foreign investments, according to market researcher IVC. However, these investors, often seeking stability, may now face a dilemma when considering continued investments in the country during a protracted conflict.
In a stark illustration of the situation, Or Bokobza, the CEO of Venn, a residential software start-up, and a reserve member of an elite Israeli military unit, has been deployed in the field following a surprise attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Bokobza and around ten of his colleagues, part of the 90-strong company, have been drafted into the nation’s large-scale mobilization for war.
Dovi Frances, a founding partner of venture firm Group 11, shared that several top executives in his portfolio companies are currently fulfilling their reserve duties. Nevertheless, industry leaders, including Frances, have indicated their readiness to adapt to the situation, as the prospect of war has long been a reality in Israel.
Yevgeny Dibrov, the CEO of the cybersecurity start-up Armis, has had to address the departure of 20 of his staff members. The eight-year-old company, with 660 employees, has swiftly transitioned to a crisis mode, reorganizing its operations, having its remaining Israel-based staff work from home, and providing psychological support for employees impacted by the recent attack.
Executives have highlighted that many Israeli start-ups have their top executives, marketing, and sales teams based in the United States, a strategy that offers some business continuity during times of crisis. Shmuel Chafets, chair of the venture capital group Target Global, noted this adaptability as one of the strengths of the Israeli tech ecosystem.
Furthermore, some tech start-ups have shifted their focus to contribute to the war effort, utilizing their technological expertise. Israel’s world-class cybersecurity sector, rooted in its military and intelligence services, is playing a crucial role in enhancing the nation’s security measures.
Nadav Zafrir, former commander of Israel’s elite signals intelligence unit 8200 and managing partner at the Team8 venture group, revealed that his company is harnessing various technologies, including data science, to support the government’s efforts to locate Israeli hostages.
Large technology companies are also closely monitoring the situation. Intel, one of the biggest multinational corporations in Israel with 13,000 employees, has stated that it is “closely monitoring the situation in Israel and taking steps to safeguard and support our workers.”
In a show of solidarity, over 300 venture capital firms have signed a statement of support for Israel, acknowledging the nation’s contribution to the global innovation ecosystem. Prominent American groups like Bessemer Venture Partners, GGV Capital, and Insight Partners, many of which have invested in Israeli companies over the years, have endorsed the statement. Additionally, firms such as Sequoia Capital and General Catalyst have announced donations in a demonstration of their support.
Start-up executives emphasize that, regardless of the impact on their companies, Israel’s war effort remains the top priority. Dovi Frances of Group 11 mentioned that his company is organizing various donations, including funds, food, equipment, flights for reservists abroad, and even a shipment of 50,000 bags of coffee to the frontlines.
