Briefing Desk
Latest Briefings
Concise reporting on the developments shaping internet governance and infrastructure. Browse each area for recent news, context and watchpoints.
ATEL: Providing quality internet services to Mali
ATEL is committed to driving connectivity and growth in Mali and West Africa, serving and empowering communities.
Delta IT Network boosts Suzuki Motors with new infrastructure
Delta IT Network provided a Rs 2 crore IT infrastructure solution to Suzuki Motors for its Gurugram Plant.
U.S. awards HP $50M to advance semiconductor tech projects
OUR TAKEThe U.S. Commerce Department wants to provide $50 million in funding to HP for the expansion and modernisation of its Oregon facility. This investment aims to enhance HP’s semiconductor technologies, particularly in life sciences and artificial intelligence. The initiative is part of a broad…
Apple to unveil iPhone 16 lineup on September 9, teases ‘Glowtime’ event
The “It’s Glowtime” event at Steve Jobs Theatre will feature iPhone 16 Pro models with larger screens and a new photo button.
Top tech news stories today: August 28, 2024
IT infrastructure 1. CrowdStrike earnings to shed light on fallout from global Windows outage CrowdStrike’s results on Wednesday will offer a first look at the financial implications of the global cyber outage that paralyzed Microsoft Windows operating system last month, with investors keen to under…
What is automated machinery and what does it bring to our lives?
Automation is the application of technology, procedures, robots or processes to achieve results with minimal human input.
Elon Musk backs California bill to regulate AI
OUR TAKEElon Musk is advocating for California’s SB 1047 bill, which would mandate safety testing for AI models. He supports the bill’s aim to mitigate catastrophic risks, despite criticism from tech giants and some lawmakers who argue it may hinder innovation. Musk’s stance on AI regulation, especi…
OpenAI supports California bill requiring watermarking of AI content
OUR TAKEOpenAI’s support for California’s AB 3211 highlights the growing concern over AI transparency, especially in election years. By mandating labels for AI-generated content, the bill aims to clarify the origin of digital media and combat misinformation. With the measure advancing through the le…
Macron says arrest of Telegram’s CEO has no political purpose
Durov was detained Saturday in a judicial investigation that began last month into 12 alleged criminal offences.
SingTel and Hitachi collaborate to build innovative data centres
SingTel and Hitachi have agreed to collaborate on the development of data centres and GPU clouds in Japan and the wider Asia-Pacific region.
Canada imposes tariffs on imports of Chinese-made electric cars
Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland says China intends to adopt a state-led policy of overcapacity and oversupply.
Meta’s first large-scale use of geothermal power at the Rockies
Meta has reached an agreement to power data centres using geothermal energy storage at scale for the first time east of the Rockies by 2027.
Globe partners with Red Hat to revamp IT systems
Globe collaborates with Red Hat Open Innovation Labs to modernise its IT infrastructure using open-source solutions, enhancing agility.
DIU seeks AI tools to supercharge military planning
DIU is soliciting generative AI technologies to enhance joint military planning and wargaming efforts through its Thunderforge initiative.
Korea Blockchain Week launches institutional stage
Korea Blockchain Week 2024 introduces an Institutional Stage at the IMPACT Conference, focusing on institutional investments in Web3.
OpenAI backs California bill for AI content labels
OpenAI supports AB 3211, requiring tech companies to label AI-generated content while SB 1047, faces industry backlash.
Apple set to unveil AI-powered iPhone 16
Apple will introduce its first generative AI iPhone during the September 9 event, with features like enhanced Siri and personalised Genmoji.
IETF email service to experience a planned outage for infrastructure upgrade
The IETF has scheduled an email service outage for 27 August 2024, from 1200 UTC to 1400 UTC, to upgrade its IT infrastructure. During this period, email delivery to addresses at ietf.org, iab.org, irtf.org, iesg.org, and rfc-editor.org will be paused. The transition, managed by Sirius, involves mov…
Silicone Connect expands Congo’s digital infrastructure network
Silicone Connect enhances Congo’s digital capacity with advanced Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) technology.
MTN Business provides communications services
MTN Business Botswana, part of the MTN Group, has been committed to helping businesses and governments achieve a full range of communications services by providing advanced communications and internet solutions to contribute to the success of their businesses. MTN Business serves businesses and gove…
The first step in creating effective cybersecurity controls
With increasing threats and evolving attack vectors, organisations must take a strategic approach to safeguard their assets and data. But where should they start? The answer lies in a fundamental yet often overlooked process: conducting a thorough risk assessment. This initial step is critical in de…
What is automation and why do we use it?
What is automation? Automation refers to the application of technology to perform tasks or processes with minimal or no human intervention. This involves the use of various control systems, such as computers, software, robotics, and machinery, to operate equipment, process data, and manage workflows…
2 applications of automated planning
What is automated planning? Automated planning refers to the process by which an artificial intelligence (AI) system or software generates a sequence of actions to achieve a specific goal, without requiring human input during the decision-making process. The system takes into account the current sta…
2 applications of automated enforcement
What is automated enforcement? Automated enforcement refers to the use of technology-driven systems to detect and penalise violations of laws, regulations, or policies without direct human involvement. These systems utilise tools such as cameras, sensors, and software algorithms to monitor environme…
Why do we use activation functions in neural networks?
Understanding the role of activation functions In a neural network, each neuron processes input data and produces an output. If we only relied on linear transformations (multiplying inputs by weights and summing them), the network would essentially function as a single-layer linear model, no matter …
What is the artificial neural network?
Understanding artificial neural networks (ANNs) Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) are computing systems modelled after the way biological brains work. They consist of nodes, often referred to as neurons, that are interconnected to form a network. These networks process data and learn to recognise pa…
Court revives Tesla’s challenge to Louisiana sales ban
OUR TAKE The recent decision by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals represents a significant development in Tesla’s ongoing battle to establish its direct sales model in states with restrictive dealership laws. This ruling could have broader implications for the automotive industry, as it challeng…
User acceptance testing: The gateway to user satisfaction
User acceptance testing ensures software meets user needs, with a mix of automation and human insight for effective testing.
What is automation and why is it important?
Automation uses technology and processes to achieve outcomes with minimal human input, driving growth and transformation.
What are RFCs internet standards and why are they important?
RFCs internet standards provide uniformity and reliability, crucial for the internet’s stability and growth.
Interview with Chen Jiaquan, head of Antwork’s Deqing area: ‘We don’t just deliver packages, we save lives’
Chen Jiaquan, the city manager of Antwork’s Deqing area, is driving innovation in drone logistics for food delivery and medical supply transport.
Nvidia’s Clara: AI for personalised healthcare
OUR TAKENvidia Clara is driving a transformative shift in healthcare by integrating AI into critical areas such as medical imaging, personalised medicine, remote patient monitoring, and drug discovery. By leveraging advanced GPU technology and deep learning, Clara accelerates data processing, enhanc…
The most common example of marketing automation
Marketing automation involves using technology to automate repetitive marketing tasks and manage marketing campaigns more effectively. One popular example of marketing automation is personalised email campaigns. This approach leverages automation to deliver tailored email content to individual recip…
Canada joins U.S. in imposing heavy tariffs on Chinese imports
OUR TAKECanada has announced high tariffs on Chinese-made electric cars, steel and aluminium in response to Beijing’s subsidy policies, which it argues give Chinese companies an unfair competitive advantage in the global market. The move is in line with similar measures in the U.S. and is meant to b…
Intel and Microsoft joint developer day highlights OpenVINO toolkit’s impact on small language model deployment
OUR TAKEThe Joint Developer Day, which was held in Shanghai by Intel and Microsoft Reactor, was focused on making small language models (SLM) more widely used and more effective by using Intel’s OpenVINO toolkit. This event brought together top technical experts from both companies, offering in-dept…
Nigerian judge to hear money laundering case against Binance next week
OUR TAKEA Nigerian judge has set a new date for the trial of a major case against Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange. The case involves accusations of money laundering totalling over $35 million. This is part of Nigeria’s wider crackdown on cryptocurrency exchanges, which the gover…
Apple names insider Kevan Parekh as new CFO, replacing Maestri
Tech giant Apple has appointed Kevan Parekh as its new CFO, succeeding long-standing executive Luca Maestri, who will step down on January 1, 2025.
MercadoLibre slams Argentine banks for ‘cartel’ tactics
OUR TAKE Founded in 1999, MercadoLibre is currently the most valuable public company in Latin America with a market capitalisation of $101.4 billion. While it started as an e-commerce platform, its payments and financial services segment has grown to account for more than 40% of revenue.–Zora Lin, B…
Nvidia’s Q2 sales set to double, but any miss could hurt shares
Nvidia is set to report a 112% revenue increase, driving a 150% stock surge, but investors worry about sustained growth.
AIC urge Malaysia to suspend social media platform licensing
In an open letter, AIC urged Malaysia to suspend a plan to require social media services to apply for licences.
OpenAI hires former Meta executive to lead strategic initiatives
OUR TAKEOpenAI’s recent hire of Irina Kofman from Meta highlights its strategy to enhance its leadership with seasoned tech professionals. Kofman’s expertise in generative AI, gained during her tenure at Meta, will focus on safety and preparedness at OpenAI. This move underscores the trend of AI sta…
Apple plans to unveil new range of products next month
OUR TAKEApple’s efforts to invigorate its product lineup with these updates are crucial in a competitive market. The company’s ability to generate interest and sales with these updates could be a key factor in its financial performance over the next year.Transitioning to M4 processors represents a s…
Japanese chipmaker Kioxia aims to list in October amid AI boom
OUR TAKEKioxia’s IPO is a major event in the Japanese financial markets and the tech sector. Its success could signal robust investor confidence in semiconductor companies and reflect broader trends in the tech industry, particularly the growing influence of AI on demand for memory technology.The co…
Hugging Face democratises AI-powered robotics with new tutorial
OUR TAKEHugging Face’s open-source approach is a key factor in democratising AI-powered robotics. By making advanced tools and models accessible to a broader audience, they’re fostering collaboration and enabling developers, researchers, and companies to contribute to and benefit from these advancem…
Kim Jong Un pushes AI drones and economic development
Kim Jong Un emphasises the integration of AI in developing “suicide drones” for military use and oversees the national “20×10” project.
Voice bots revolutionise India’s AI landscape
Sarvam AI introduces affordable voice bots designed for Indian languages, aiming to improve customer interactions and accessibility.
Tech Mahindra and Google Cloud join forces to develop AI
Mahindra partnered with Google Cloud to adopt generative AI in M&M operations and improve engineering and supply chain processes.
China’s big tech boosts AI spending amid US limits
Despite US export restrictions, Chinese tech companies, like Alibaba and ByteDance are increasing investments in AI infrastructure.
Meta says Iranian hackers targeted WhatsApp accounts of Biden
Meta’s investigators linked the activity to the same network blamed for the hacks reported by the Trump campaign.
Anthropic thinks benefits of California’s AI bill may outweigh costs
San Francisco-based Anthropic is a competitor to ChatGPT maker OpenAI and is backed by Amazon and Alphabet.