Briefing Desk
Latest Briefings
Concise reporting on the developments shaping internet governance and infrastructure. Browse each area for recent news, context and watchpoints.
Foxconn considers rotating CEOs in management reshuffle
Foxconn, considering a rotating CEO system, aims to develop future leaders and enhance governance, responding to investor demands.
LunarCrush CEO: Crypto action not as busy as previous spikes
LunarCrush CEO Joe Vezzani predicts that even with the upcoming bitcoin halving, there might not be a significant shift in retail engagement. The enthusiasm among retail investors is inversely proportional to the crypto market As bitcoin and other digital asset prices continue their upward trajector…
LACNIC migrates to new RPKI system
LACNIC’s April migration to a new RPKI system promises stability, incorporating IETF standards and open-source tech.
2024 ICANN Middle East DNS Forum: What to expect
ICANN announces 10th anniversary of MEDNSF on April 24-25, 2024, online and in Rabat, Morocco, aiming to shape the future of the DNS.
What is the Open Source Ecosystem Enabler (OSEE)?
At the recent Open Source Policy Summit, ITU, UNDP, and EU introduced ‘Open Source Ecosystem Enabler’ to promote digital public services through open-source tech adoption, aiming to enhance capacity and inclusivity in digital systems. Everything you need to know about Resource Public Key …
Google introduces Vids, an AI-driven video production tool
Vids empowers users to effortlessly generate content and customise every aspect of their videos, from style to soundtrack.
Ethena to integrate with exchange wallets, a new way to earn
Ethena developers have introduced a 20% reward boost for users who lock USDe stablecoins for at least seven days using exchange Web3 wallets.
104 Employees in the US Apple petition to unionise
OUR TAKEThe report of employees petitioning to unionise could reflect the worse global employment environment to some extent that employees must be unionised to maintain their rights and interests. However, according to a [2022] statement to Bloomberg News, the salary and benefits are already among…
Intel shakes the AI market with its latest AI chip
Intel has unveiled its latest artificial intelligence chip, Gaudi 3, competing with Nvidia in the background of the AI market boom. Intel has unveiled its latest artificial intelligence chip, Gaudi 3, competing with Nvidia in the background of the AI market boom. Gaudi 3 vs Nvidia Gaudi 3 is highly …
Google invests US$1billion to boost connectivity with Japan via two undersea cables
Google will invest US$1 billion to improve digital connectivity between the United States and Japan through two new subsea cables, the Alphabet-owned firm said on Wednesday amid a visit by the Japanese prime minister to boost ties between the countries. Cooperation with Japan Google says the Proa an…
To compete with OpenAI, Symbolica is raising £24.5 million to create AI systems
Artificial Intelligence startup Symbolica secures £24.5 million Series A funding, its CEO Morgan cites co-authored paper with DeepMind, industry debate over AI performance gains Symbolica’s first product is a coding assistant, due in early 2025. Access to financing Artificial intelligence startup S…
Analysts credit AI for the increase in PC shipments during the first quarter
AI PC shipments edged up in the first quarter of this year. Analysts estimate that PC hardware sales rose, but the organisation of sales estimates varies. The Intel Core Xeon processor AI PC boom is expected to be followed by accelerated shipments. Shipment growth will boost AI PC prices, which will…
Beeper’s Future: Growing Up at Automattic
OUR TAKEBeeper was recently acquired by Automattic. Firstly, Automattic has a wealth of technology and resources as the company behind WordPress, which means Beeper is expected to receive better technical support and growth. Secondly, Beeper is open to everyone and has completely revamped its Androi…
ARIN improves RPKI services to enhance routing security
ARIN is intensifying efforts to boost routing security, streamlining RPKI and IRR services. Future initiatives include a new BGP security tool. ARIN 53 conference set to take place in Bridgetown, Barbados Enhancing routing security: ARIN’s ongoing efforts Encouraging and enhancing routing…
Meta reveals latest AI Chip in race to keep pace
Meta introduces MTIA, its latest custom AI chip, promising improved performance. Move signals shift towards in-house hardware for AI tasks while still leaning on GPUs. Meta’s latest advancement: Unveiling MTIA chip Meta, determined to rival others in generative AI, invests billions in AI. Funds are …
Solana rival Base hits 400 TPS, claims core contributor
Impressive TPS figures are being shared by Base proponents, but critics say they may be skewed unfairly in the network’s favour by including failed transactions. The surging throughput of Base is under scepticism In the dynamic landscape of blockchain technology, Coinbase’s Ethereum layer-2 network,…
Google introduces first ARM-based custom data centre processor
Google Cloud joined AWS and Azure on Tuesday to announce its first custom Arm processor, called Axion, but nothing else was available.
Wiki Finance Expo Hong Kong 2024 arrives in May
Hong Kong gears up for Wiki Finance Expo 2024, a premier fintech event featuring industry leaders, innovative companies, and networking opportunities. Regulation, Forex, Crypto, Web 3.0, NFTs, Metaverse, ESG, AI will take centre stage. About Wiki Finance Expo Hong Kong 2024: Scheduled for May 17, 20…
Korea’s first two-armed robot has been released
Rainbow Robotics of Korea has released details of its dual-arm mobile robot, the RB-Y1. The first of its kind in Korea, the robot features a wheeled dual-arm and single-leg design that adapts to a wide range of environments with high reliability and performance. The company has previously signed a m…
Poe introduces paid-per-message revenue model for AI bot creators
Poe introduced a price-per-message model for AI bot creators, which is expected to spur the development of new bots.
ASUS launches new laptop models with AI tools
ASUS has released two new laptop models, the ASUS Vivobook S series and the Zenbook 14 OLED (UM3406), equipped with AI-capable chips and keyboard shortcuts to access AI tools, aiming to bolster its AI services. Chinese tech giant Lenovo boosts AI efforts with Nvidia’s new servers Also rea…
SecureBrain merger gives Hitachi Systems a larger cybersecurity bench
Hitachi Systems completed its SecureBrain merger on April 1, 2024, folding a cybersecurity subsidiary known for PhishWall and GRED into a broader managed security push.
Virtusa’s IaC on Google Cloud unleashes the true power of cloud
Utilising Infrastructure as Code (IaC) as the standard approach on Google Cloud can drive consistent productivity across enterprises. Cloud transformation gains momentum in 2024, introducing uncertainties during implementation. Alongside finalising strategy, teams tackle decisions on cloud selection…
Two Sandians win the 2024 Women in Technology Award
OUR TAKE:In the high-tech, fast-paced, high-pressure world of IT, women have become a force not to be underestimated, and this force has changed almost the entire IT world. Now, some women are emerging, deeply integrated into the innovation and change of the digital age. Their good qualities fit the…
UK fintech TransferGo secures $10M investment, eyeing expansion
TransferGo’s $10m investment marks an Asia-Pacific expansion, doubling valuation and emphasising profitability and consumer-centric growth.
Spotify will now build full playlists from a simple prompt
Spotify’s AI-powered playlist feature, now in beta for Premium subscribers in the UK and Australia, personalizes the user experience.
Korea politicians fight over crypto to woo voters
South Korean candidates leverage crypto policies: People Power Party delays digital asset tax, Democratic Party eases ETF restrictions.
Google’s Gemini 1.5 Pro can now hear
Capable of processing text, code, video, and now uploaded audio streams, including audio from video, Gemini 1.5 Pro can listen, analyse and extract information without a corresponding written record. Gemini 1.5 Pro Gemini is Google’s rebranded bot, previously called Bard, and Gemini 1.5 Pro is the l…
Intel expects to ship 40 million AI PCs in 2024
Intel aims to ship 40 million AI PC chips by 2024 and supply processors for over 100 million AI PCs by 2025.
Microsoft to invest $2.9 bln to expand AI, cloud infra in Japan
Microsoft pledges $2.9B investment in Japan for cloud, AI infrastructure, including training 3 million in AI and setting up a research lab.
Intel unveils latest AI chip as competition with Nvidia heats up
Intel unveils Gaudi 3, a powerful AI chip rivalling Nvidia, with superior efficiency and speed, poised to compete in the market.
ARIN 53 conference set to take place in Bridgetown, Barbados
ARIN 53 conference in Bridgetown, Barbados, from April 14-17, 2024, focuses on internet governance and policy updates.
Microsoft is opening an AI hub in London
Microsoft is expanding its AI efforts in the UK with a new AI hub in London, focused on product development and research. Microsoft AI in London Microsoft AI London will focus on developing state-of-the-art language models and the infrastructure to support them, as well as “creating high-capacity tool…
ICANN seeks NextGen@ICANN Program applications from universities
ICANN is currently seeking applications for the NextGen@ICANN Program, targeting university students aged 18 to 30 in the Asia Pacific region.
Who is Michelle Zatlyn? Co-founder of Cloudflare
Michelle Zatlyn is the co-founder and chief operating officer of cybersecurity firm Cloudflare. She brought cyber protection to vulnerable institutions from K-12 schools to local elections, while leading Cloudflare to its first US$1 billion year. She works with the White House on Project Cybersafe S…
Top tech news stories today: April 10, 2024
Follow us to see the latest tech news today. Dive into Wiki Finance Expo Hong Kong 2024 is coming in May, migration to LACNIC’s new RPKI system, Blue Planet launches industry’s only multi-cloud native OSS platform, Google’s Gemini 1.5 Pro just got ears, and Finnish startup Basemark secures €22 milli…
Richard Teng: Post-DOJ focus on compliance & sustainability
Binance has matured since DOJ $4.3B settlement: CEO Richard Teng said Binance is now looking at sustainability and more compliance; hence the company’s focus on building a robust compliance program. Binance stops bitcoin NFT support to streamline offerings Evolving beyond cultural challen…
AI-capable CPUs power the latest Asus OLED laptops
Asus unveils two new laptops with the latest processors and keyboards with Copilot keys; the Vivobook S series comes in different sizes and configurations; the Zenbook 14 OLED lacks a microSD card reader; Apple’s Mac owes a lot to Lisa; and whether it’s time to ditch Lisa’s legacy in the face of new…
Migration to LACNIC’s new RPKI system
In April, LACNIC will migrate to the new RPKI resource authentication system, which has already reached a 50% adoption rate in IPv4 and nearly 40% in IPv6. The new RPKI system LACNIC’s new RPKI system will be operational during the week of 15 to 22 April and will incorporate the standard elements de…
NTT warns AI may undermine democracy and lead to wars
NTT has issued an apocalyptic warning about the looming dangers of AI, calling for creation of ecosystems that allow AI to control other AIs.
Should dead children be given an AI ‘afterlife’?
A Taiwanese musician has spurred debate on ethics, consent and grief after bringing his daughter back from the dead using AI.
Andrew Aude: Apple sues ex-iOS engineer for 5-year data leak
Apple is taking legal action against a former employee for allegedly leaking confidential information, including details about products he disliked, from his company-issued iPhone. In a lawsuit filed on March 18 in a California court, Apple accused ex-software engineer Andrew Aude of sharing informa…
Jordan Hoffmann, DeepMind scientist, to lead Microsoft AI’s new London hub
Microsoft has announced a new London hub for its consumer AI division, led by Jordan Hoffmann, an AI scientist and engineer from high-profile startup Inflection AI. This comes three weeks after Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella unveiled a new division led by founders of Inflection AI, including Mustafa Su…
Google releases Gemini in Android Studio to help with development
Google announced on 9 April that Android Studio’s bots will be upgraded to Gemini Pro. Users will be able to easily access Gemini API launch templates through Android Studio to add generative AI capabilities to their apps. Upgrade the new model Google introduced Studio Bot and Gemini in May 2023, bo…
HGC Macroview wins Fortinet’s Top Advanced Partner award
HGC Macroview Telecom, a division of HGC Group, has been awarded Fortinet‘s Top Advanced Partner for three consecutive years, highlighting its steadfast commitment to delivering top-tier cybersecurity solutions. This recognition underscores the dedication and hard work of the team in supporting cust…
Elon Musk says electricity is key constraint for AI development
Elon Musk predicted in an interview on April 8 that while a shortage of chips were a big constraint for the development of AI so far, electricity supply will be crucial in the near future. The tycoon Musk took an interview by Norway wealth fund CEO Nicolai Tangen on X spaces on this Monday and revea…
RoboVision secures $42M to enhance AI integration in manufacturing
Computer vision company RoboVision raised $42M for its AI-enabled vision platform, aimed at simplifying AI integration into manufacturing.
European Central Bank trial to explore DLT for wholesale transactions
The European Central Bank has initiated a trial into the application of distributed ledger technology for settling wholesale transactions.
Australia to launch own spot bitcoin ETF in 2 months
Monochrome’s inaugural Bitcoin ETF, filed with Cboe Australia, marks the country’s first to hold physical bitcoin in its ETF.
South Korea plans US$7B investment in AI
In a bid to consolidate its leadership in semiconductor chips, South Korean President Yoon Seok Yeol on Tuesday unveiled a plan to pump 9.4 trillion won (US$6.94 billion) into artificial intelligence programmes by 2027. Semiconductors as a key foundation of South Korea’s export-driven economy The in…