Briefing Desk
Latest Briefings
Concise reporting on the developments shaping internet governance and infrastructure. Browse each area for recent news, context and watchpoints.
Coverage
Market / Trends / Global Trends / Global Cloud Services Trends
In this section: 40 briefingsWho is John Hood? CEO of Endeavor Biomedicines and his mission to beat myelofibrosis
Endeavor Biomedicines is a biopharmaceutical company that focuses on developing precision oncology therapies for cancer patients with rare and aggressive forms of the disease. The company uses advanced genomic profiling, targeted therapeutics, and personalised treatment strategies to address the spe…
How countries deal with sovereign debt
Sovereign debt allows governments to fund public investments and manage economic stability but can lead to financial issues.
What can you do with VBScript?
VBScript is a versatile scripting language primarily used for automating tasks and manipulating data within Windows environments.
How does space weather affect satellites?
By understanding the intricate interplay between these celestial forces, we can better prepare for the challenges that lie ahead.
Russia considers charging companies for foreign software usage
In an effort to reduce reliance on foreign technology and boost the adoption of Russian-made software, Russia is contemplating imposing charges on domestic companies for using foreign software. This move comes as President Vladimir Putin prioritises achieving technological independence amidst Wester…
AI Summit spotlights business innovations and sustainability
Panel participation at AFR AI Summit AirTrunk’s Chief Customer & Innovation Officer, Damien Spillane, was a key entity in the ‘AI making big businesses better’ panel at the inaugural Australian Financial Review AI Summit held in Sydney. He was joined by industry leaders such as Melanie Silva fr…
AliExpress signs David Beckham as ambassador to boost sales
AliExpress, a key player in the global e-commerce area, is ramping up its competitive efforts against rivals like PDD Holdings’ Temu. In a strategic move to bolster its international sales and brand presence, AliExpress has enlisted former England soccer captain David Beckham as a brand ambassador. …
What is stability AI?
Stable Cascade, an innovative text-to-image model uses a unique three-stage approach to simplify training.
Exploring Bing: Microsoft’s search engine evolution
Bing, Microsoft’s search engine, stands out as a significant contender, continually evolving to enhance user experience and compete with industry giants like Google. This blog explores Bing’s journey, its features, and its impact on the digital ecosystem. The genesis of Bing Launched on June 3, 2009…
Why does Google search redirect to Bing?
Many users have experienced a curious phenomenon: they enter a search query on Google, but somehow, Bing opens instead. This unexpected switch can be perplexing and frustrating, especially for those who prefer Google’s search capabilities. Several factors could cause this redirection, ranging from b…
The invention of Bing search: Impact and legacy
Bing, launched by Microsoft, represents a major milestone in the company’s efforts to innovate and reshape the digital search landscape. This blog explores the origins of Bing, the vision behind its creation, and the key individuals and teams responsible for bringing it to life. The birth of Bing Bi…
Microsoft phone link adds text extraction from images
The new feature is currently available in Release Preview Insider builds and will be rolled out to all users soon.
Google AI gives bizarre advice, prompting fixes
Google is addressing these issues by manually disabling AI Overviews for specific searches and refining the product based on these isolated incidents.
Google eyes $31B HubSpot deal to rival Microsoft in cloud
Acquiring HubSpot would provide Google with valuable first-party data as it phases out third-party cookies.
Why you need to understand the seriousness of data leaks
Data leaks are serious issues that can have significant consequences for individuals, organisations, and society. They can lead to identity theft, financial fraud, reputational damage, legal implications, customer trust loss, and cybersecurity threats. Identity theft can result in financial losses a…
Who is Pawel Czech? Co-founder of New Native was a 2023 Europas winner
Pawel is spearheading New Native’s mission to revolutionise the integration of AI across diverse organisational lifecycles.
Who is Lior Yogev? CEO of FundGuard is an instrumental fintech innovator
Lior Yogev is a visionary leader in the financial technology sector, renowned for his groundbreaking contributions to investment management solutions. With a career spanning over two decades, Lior Yogev has established himself as a key player in revolutionising the way financial institutions navigat…
Who is R.J. Scalinger? Founder of Rivian, an engineer with a conscience
R.J. Scaringe, an American entrepreneur and engineer, founded Rivian in 2009, an electric vehicle manufacturer based in Plymouth, Michigan. As CEO, he oversees strategic direction, product development, and market expansion. Rivian has gained global recognition for its pioneering work in electric veh…
Google’s AI overview product faces criticism over unusual responses
Google’s new AI Overview product has stirred controversy and garnered attention on social media platforms for generating peculiar and sometimes nonsensical responses. Users have reported instances where the AI suggests unusual actions like putting glue on pizza or eating rocks, leading to a flurry o…
Sphere Labs unveils bank-to-wallet extension for Telegram
Users can now transfer money directly between bank accounts and wallets within the app, which is available to users from May 27.
Chinese tech giants announce reductions for LLMs
Chinese tech titans Alibaba and Baidu embarked on an aggressive pricing strategy, slashing the costs of their large-language models.
AWS clarifies: NVIDIA advanced chip order is not cancelled
These NVIDIA’s Hopper chips, as the flagship model for AI training, remain integral to AWS’s comprehensive cloud offerings.
Are quantum computers faster than supercomputers?
Although quantum computers are still in the prototype stage, Google’s Sycamore has demonstrated its potential for handling calculations.
Google is using AI to answer search queries
Google already uses AI for many search functions, including understanding your search query and assessing the most relevant results.
Does AI offer uniform answers to everyone?
The inquiry into whether AI furnishes identical responses to all individuals encompasses various dimensions.
Understanding supercomputers and their functions
Supercomputers represent the pinnacle of modern computing, capable of processing quintillions of calculations per second. These powerful machines utilize parallel processing to tackle complex, data-intensive tasks much faster than conventional computers. Widely used in scientific research, they help…
Dell leads AI craze and AI stock price hits record
Dell recently partnered with Nvidia to launch AI-focused PCS and enhanced servers, a partnership that has boosted investor confidence.
DeFi: Why you can’t afford to ignore this sector
DeFi is an emerging financial technology based on secure distributed ledgers, similar to those used by cryptocurrencies.
3 AI websites that answer questions
AI-driven Q&A websites are online platforms that use artificial intelligence technologies to analyse user queries and provide accurate, relevant answers. These platforms use machine learning algorithms, natural language processing techniques, and data analytics to understand the context of questions…
Who is Joshua Xu? Co-founder of HeyGen creating new era of AI video generation
Joshua Xu leads HeyGen’s advanced AI advancements in visual storytelling, backed by substantial funding for expansion and innovation.
Amazon to charge for new AI Alexa
Amazon is poised to revolutionize its Alexa voice assistant with a advanced AI upgrade, set to launch later this year. This revamped Alexa will not be part of the Amazon Prime suite but will instead require a new, separate subscription fee. The move is aimed at offsetting the high costs of incor…
Stock grow rapidly, prospect of NVIDIA AI market is bright
NVIDIA’s first quarter results showed adjusted earnings on revenue of $26 billion, a jump of 461% and 262% from a year ago.
Mastercard AI doubles fraud detection speed
Mastercard’s generative AI solution has reduced false positive reports by 200%, enhancing customer experience.
Samsung’s HBM chips failing Nvidia tests: Heat, power issues
The importance of aligning with Nvidia’s requirements highlights the competitive pressures in the semiconductor industry.
$6M fine for Robocaller who cloned Biden’s voice using AI
The $6 million fine proposed by the FCC sets a precedent for financial penalties in AI-related illegal activities.
Artists fight back against generative AI tools
Artists are using strategies such as raising awareness, and pushing for AI transparency to mitigate the negative effects of generative AI.
5 of the best home voice assistants
Assess the range of features and skills offered by each voice assistant, such as smart home control, productivity tools.
7 power uses of Natural Language Processing
NLP application holds significant value for businesses by dissecting human language, thereby facilitating automated analysis by machines.
5 steps in Natural Language Processing
Natural language processing consists of 5 steps machines follow to analyse, categorise, and understand spoken and written language.
Understanding supervised vs. unsupervised nature of NLP
The question of if NLP is supervised or unsupervised is not a binary one; it’s a spectrum with various tasks falling along different points.
Coverage
Market / Trends / Europe and Middle East Trends / Europe and Middle East Cloud Services Trends
In this section: 3 briefingsEU approves law to boost domestic green tech production
The European Union passed a net zero industrial bill to simplify project permits and boost local manufacturing in a bid.
IBM to add 800 AI roles in Ireland
The long-standing presence of IBM in Ireland, which hasn’t stopped developing, ultimately reflects the company’s global strategy.
AWS eyes major cloud investment in Italy
AWS has launched significant cloud regions in Europe, including Germany and Italy, and is focusing on infrastructure for telecom and other regulated industries.
Coverage
Market / Trends / North America Trends / North America National Telecom Trends
In this section: 1 briefingT-Mobile acquires most of US Cellular in $4.4 billion deal
This deal is expected to boost competition in the telecom industry, potentially lowering prices and fostering innovation.
Coverage
Market / Trends / Global Trends / Global Regional ISP Trends
In this section: 1 briefingLARUS launches auction platform for IPv4 Address Transactions
LARUS has introduced a new platform designed to simplify the buying and selling of IPv4 addresses, ensuring the process is both efficient and transparent. This new service streamlines the way industry players such as internet service providers and telecoms handle IP address transactions. “Acquiring …
Coverage
Market / Trends / North America Trends / North America Cloud Services Trends
In this section: 1 briefingAre supercomputers still used?
The US General Services Administration is auctioning off Cheyenne, a powerful supercomputer from the National Center.
Coverage
Market / Trends / Asia-Pacific Trends / Asia-Pacific Cloud Services Trends
In this section: 1 briefingChina leads in global supercomputing
China has overtaken the United States in the number of supercomputers, claiming the top spots with the Sunway TaihuLight and Tianhe-2. This shift underscores China’s growing dominance in high-performance computing, highlighting significant advancements and increasing its share on the global list of …
Coverage
Market / Trends / Global Trends / Global Datacenter Trends
In this section: 1 briefingTesh Durvasula named CEO of AtlasEdge
Tesh Durvasula has taken the helm as CEO of AtlasEdge, succeeding Giuliano Di Vitantonio who now chairs the board. With a strategic vision focused on expanding the European Edge data center market, Durvasula’s appointment marks a pivotal step for AtlasEdge as it aims to capitalize on growing market …
Coverage
Market / Trends / Africa Trends / Africa Cloud Services Trends
In this section: 1 briefingStarlink gets approval for operations in Zimbabwe
Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe recently announced the approval of Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite business to operate in the southern African country, following the endorsement by a telecom regulator. This decision is poised to bring about a transformation in internet connectivity, particularly focus…
Coverage
Market / Trends / North America Trends / North America Institutional Trends
In this section: 1 briefingCryptocurrency: Policy shifts and market trends
Explore the latest developments in cryptocurrency as we delve into the significant shifts in U.S. policy, analyze market dynamics, and unpack legal challenges. This overview provides insights into the evolving landscape of digital finance, highlighting how bipartisan support, market trends, and lega…
