Briefing Desk
Latest Briefings
Concise reporting on the developments shaping internet governance and infrastructure. Browse each area for recent news, context and watchpoints.
Argentina tightens crypto rules amid money-laundering worries
The Argentine government has introduced a fiscal package that includes tax amnesty for undeclared crypto assets, permitting individuals to disclose holdings of up to $100,000 without facing penalties.
NTT Data launches Edge AI platform for IoT and manufacturing
NTT Data has debuted its Edge AI platform, a transformative solution that accelerates AI processing at the data source, managing IoT devices and data for real-time decisions and secure AI integration.
Cybersecurity threats: The shadowy realities of digital espionage
Cybersecurity threats are perpetrated by actors with malicious intentions, aimed at compromising data integrity, disrupting operational continuity or pilfering sensitive information.
6 most common types of cyber security attacks
A cyber assault is a malicious endeavour initiated by digital malefactors, including cybercriminals and hackers, aimed at breaching the security of a computer network or system.
BTW debates: The Trump shooting
On July 13, 2024, at approximately 18:15 local time, former U.S. President Donald Trump was delivering a speech at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania when a gunman from a high point outside the venue fired several shots towards the podium where Trump was speaking. Reporters Jennifer Yu and Miurio Huan…
Chaotic scenes as global IT outage hits airports, banks and media
OUR TAKEIt’s literally a modern-day “Butterfly Effect”. So many industries worldwide, from airlines to banks and even our daily news channels, have all stumbled over a massive IT failure. Airports in Sydney, Berlin, and Edinburgh are in chaos, with passengers as anxious as ants on a hot pan, facing …
OpenAI releases GPT-4o Mini, a cheaper version of AI model
OUR TAKE OpenAI, a leader in the field of artificial intelligence, has introduced a new, more cost-effective version of its latest AI model called GPT-4o Mini. The move aims to broaden its appeal and accessibility to developers and businesses, and provides a practical option for those requiring less…
Netflix adds 8M subs in Q2, but cautious on ad growth
Netflix added over 8 million subscribers in Q2, driven by a crackdown on password sharing and the popularity of hit shows. Netflix maintains a conservative stance on the potential for advertising revenue, projecting that it will not become a primary revenue driver until at least 2026.
Google to enhance Paris Olympics broadcast with AI for US viewers
Google will use AI for Paris Olympics broadcast, partnering with Team USA; NBC to offer personalised AI recaps.
VinFast decides to postpone its EV plant in US
VinFast, the Vietnamese EV manufacturer, has announced a delay in the launch of its planned $4 billion factory in North Carolina to 2028.
What is network address translation? Details you should know
Network Address Translation is used in networking to remap IP address space, which is essential for managing IP address allocation.
3 recommended secure protocols for network address translation
Network address translation (NAT) facilitates efficient use of IP addresses, enhances security, and provides flexibility in network management.
6 reasons to use network address translation
Network Address Translation (NAT) enables multiple devices on a local network to share a single public IP address.
EU antitrust regulators investigate Google and Samsung’s AI deal
OUR TAKE EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager sent questionnaires in March to Microsoft, Google, Meta, Facebook, TikTok, and other large tech companies involved in AI collaboration. Previously, Microsoft’s partnership with OpenAI sidestepped EU merger rules, and she expressed concern that …
What is IPv6 and What are Its Features?
The internet’s backbone lies in its protocols, and IPv6 emerges as a groundbreaking evolution addressing the shortcomings of IPv4. With the exponential growth of devices and interconnected technologies, the need for an advanced, scalable, and secure protocol became paramount. This article delves int…
Deel acquires Hofy to launch Deel IT
OUR TAKE Deel’s primary business is processing international payroll and employing employees on behalf of the organisation through one of its local entities. The company also assists in developing contracts that comply with local labor laws, helps workers get health insurance and provides immigratio…
Brightfin debuts its Gen Z-focused financial wellness app
OUR TAKE “Spending by Gen Z consumers is expected to increase sixfold by 2030,” PYMNTS Intelligence study states. As incomes rise, financial institutions are developing new products for Gen Z, and 95% of credit unions are committed to increasing Gen Z membership. The launch of this app can help youn…
Ukraine Advances AI Drones Amidst War
Ukrainian startups are advancing AI drone technology in the face of Russian conflict, aiming for a strategic edge on the battlefield. Efforts are underway to develop AI drones that can operate independently of human control, reducing vulnerability to Russian electronic jamming.
German government’s bitcoin sales cause market turmoil
OUR TAKEThe German government’s decision to offload its bitcoin reserves has had a pronounced effect on the cryptocurrency market, shaking investor confidence and triggering a notable price decline. While some view these sales as a pragmatic approach to asset liquidation, others see it as a missed o…
HSBC names Georges Elhedery CEO to keep strategic continuity
OUR TAKEHSBC’s decision to promote Georges Elhedery as CEO is a bold move, but also a safe bet. Continuity in leadership can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, it shows stability and trust in the current strategy. But on the other, it could stifle innovation if Elhedery just maintains the status …
Samsung snags startup Oxford Semantic for smarter devices
OUR TAKESamsung recently acquired Oxford Semantic Technologies, a UK-based AI rising star. It’s a big deal because Oxford Semantic is a pro in knowledge graph technology. Remember when Apple also invested heavily in AI and launched many intelligent features? Samsung’s move is clearly aimed at compet…
IX Telecom: Telecom industry fortifies cybersecurity against rising threats
Increasing importance of cybersecurity Since digital connectivity is integral to our daily lives, the importance of cybersecurity cannot be overstated. This is particularly true for the telecommunications industry, which forms a critical part of the infrastructure supporting numerous other sectors. …
Nokia sees lowest quarterly revenue since 2015 amid 5G slump
OUR TAKENokia, the Finland-based telecommunications and electronics company, reported a sharp decline in second-quarter revenue. The 18% year-on-year fall to $4.9 billion was below analysts’ expectations of $5.22 billion. In response, Nokia is diversifying its business, including a $2.3 billion inve…
BlackBerry debuts ‘CylanceMDR Pro’, advancing AI-driven security
BlackBerry, a cybersecurity leader, has introduced CylanceMDR Pro, an advanced managed detection and response service.
Google, Microsoft offer Nvidia AI chips to China
Google and Microsoft are sidestepping U.S. sanctions by offering Nvidia’s powerful AI chips to Chinese companies via overseas data centres.
Top tech news stories today: July 18, 2024
Fintech 1. Russia weighs risk of embracing crypto for international payments Russia should accelerate the creation of infrastructure for payments in cryptocurrencies but carefully weigh the associated risks, its money laundering watchdog said on Wednesday, ahead of a parliamentary vote on digital as…
OpenAI goes ‘Strawberry’, a new reasoning technology
OpenAI is projecting a groundbreaking plan called “Strawberry”, aiming to demonstrate advanced reasoning capabilities in its AI models,
ByteDance vs. EU: The gatekeeper battle lost in Court
The CJEU ruled on 17 July to reject ByteDance’s appeal against the EU’s decision to recognise it as a “gatekeeper”. The court said ByteDance met the DMA’s quantitative criteria of global market capitalisation, the number of users in the EU and the number of years since the threshold was reached.
UK watchdogs probe competitiveness of big tech’s digital wallets
OUR TAKEUK regulators are conducting an in-depth investigation into the competitiveness of digital wallets offered by major tech companies such as Apple, Google and PayPal. The inquiry focuses on analysing the fee structures and potential operational risks associated with these digital wallets. It a…
Tech giants accused of using unauthorised YouTube transcripts to train AI models
OUR TAKEThe development of AI technology is certainly promising, but its creation and advancement are built on databases. The lack of transparency in these databases is bound to cause controversy. The affected parties and the infringing companies often hold conflicting views, with no definitive reso…
Anthropic launches Claude on Android
OUR TAKEClaude’s entry into the Android market reshapes the AI app landscape dominated by ChatGPT. This move will expand the AI user base, enhancing the potential for widespread AI adoption and proficiency, ultimately fostering industry growth through education and training.— Yasmine Luo, BTW report…
Amazon Prime Day sales up 12% in first 7 hours
OUR TAKEAmazon Prime Day 2024 started strong with a 12% increase in sales in the first seven hours compared to last year. The event, designed to attract new subscribers and ensure customer loyalty, presents a wide range of items from protein shakes to tech gadgets such as the Amazon Fire TV stick. D…
US mulls tougher trade curbs in chip crackdown on China
OUR TAKEThe Biden administration is considering imposing tough new trade restrictions on foreign companies that supply semiconductor technology to China. The potential move, known as the Foreign Direct Product Rule (FDPR), is aimed at curbing the activities of companies such as Tokyo Electron and AS…
ASML orders beat estimates as AI boom fuels chip giant
OUR TAKEASML reported a significant 54% increase in second-quarter orders to $6.1 billion, driven by the boom in artificial intelligence and its impact on demand for advanced chip-making machines. This beat analyst expectations of $4.85 billion. Despite strict US export controls, ASML recorded a sub…
ASML shines bright in Q2 with bookings rise on AI demand
ASML announced better-than-expected earnings for Q2 of 2024 today on strong sales to China and with an increase in new bookings. Fouquet said 2024 is embarked as a “transition year” where ASML aims to maintain steady performance in preparation for a robust 2025.
Former OpenAI, Tesla exec Andrej Karpathy launches AI education platform
Former OpenAI, Tesla engineer Andrej Karpathy is developing an educational platform to create AI teaching assistants to improve learning.
Elon Musk relocates X and SpaceX headquarters to Texas
Elon Musk said he is moving the headquarters of X and SpaceX, from California to Texas, citing a newly gender identity law in California.
AT&T’s 109M customer accounts are breached
AT&T says data from 109 million US consumer accounts were illegally downloaded in April, involving records of calls and texts from 2022.
Kaspersky Lab ceases its US operations following a ban
Russian cybersecurity firm Kaspersky Lab will gradually cease its US operations due to a ban imposed by the US Department of Commerce.
Alphabet plans to acquire cybersecurity startup Wiz for $23B
Alphabet is in advanced talks to acquire cybersecurity startup Wiz for $23B, a move that would mark its largest acquisition to date.
Docyt AI unveils world’s first AI bookkeeper ‘GARY’
Docyt AI, a pioneer in AI-powered accounting automation, has introduced GARY, the world’s first AI bookkeeper, currently in beta testing.
ASML Q2 profits and bookings surge on AI demand
ASML, the Dutch titan in semiconductor equipment, reported a robust second quarter of 2024 with a net profit of $1.74 billion on revenues of $6.76 billion, exceeding analyst predictions and showcasing a recovery despite annual declines.
Google-based GitLab ‘s $8B future: Datadog eyes giant acquisition
OUR TAKEIt looks like GitLab, that cool cloud-based dev tool provider, is getting some serious offers on the table. With Datadog, the cloud monitoring biggie, showing interest, it’s like a tech M&A drama in the making. But remember Slack’s $27.7 billion acquisition to Salesforce? It took months of w…
Taboola scores major deal with Apple, shares surge by 11%
OUR TAKETaboola landing that Apple partnership is huge news. It’s like the underdog of digital ads just got a major boost from the tech giant. I mean, Apple is notoriously tight-lipped about their ad revenue, but with eMarketer projecting them to hit $10 billion by 2024, you can see why Taboola woul…
America Movil loses $60M, gains millions in subscribers
OUR TAKEAmerica Movil taking a $60 million hit? That’s gotta sting, especially after last year’s windfall. But hey, they didn’t let the peso’s tumble bring them down completely. They still managed to boost their subscriber base and broadband access, which is no small feat. And talk about being proac…
ASML Q2 results show massive new orders for chips
OUR TAKEThe surge in ASML’s new orders, fueled by the booming demand for AI chips, highlights the intense race for technological dominance in the global semiconductor market. While China’s robust appetite for older-generation equipment showcases resilience in the face of restrictions, TSMC’s increas…
5 formidable challenges of big data analytics
Big data analytics faces formidable challenges, including scale, quality, skills, ethics, legality, and tech-business alignment.
Shopee Thailand enhances shopping experience with Meta partnership
Shopee Thailand and Meta integrate Shopee’s catalogues into Messenger, enhancing sales and customer engagement with AI for Thai language.
U.S. to target Chinese vehicle components and software
OUR TAKEThe surge in affordable Chinese car sales in the U.S. has prompted bans on Chinese components, increased tariffs, and data security measures, reflecting a mix of economic protectionism and geopolitical concerns, and potentially leading to U.S.-China negotiations.— Yasmine Luo, BTW reporter W…
New Ray-Ban Meta glasses smash sales records, Milleri says
New Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, created by Meta Platforms and EssilorLuxottica, have seen a surge in sales, exceeding their predecessors. The success of Ray-Ban Meta glasses can’t be separated from its pricing, features, and form factor.