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: 33 briefings5 top tech stories this week: December 29, 2023
Get up to speed on the most important technology stories of the week in our 2-minute video rundown.
Elon Musk’s X faces legal hurdles: Content moderation law sparks social media dilemma
The ongoing legal clash between X and California unravels the complexities of free speech and social responsibility in the digital era.
Amazon takes further steps toward green operation with hydrogen fuel ambitions
Amazon partners with Plug Power to produce on-site hydrogen fuel at fulfillment centers.Challenges include hydrogen’s flammability, inefficient energy use, and infrastructure limitations.
Terran’s fate hangs in the balance as Rivada near funding decision
Rivada Space Networks is in the final stages of closing funding for Terran’s $2.4 billion mega-constellation project.
Top tech stories today: December 28, 2023
Skip the online search; we’ve curated the essential global tech updates for December 28, 2023. Stay informed with these key highlights.
Apple faces uphill battle as Apple Watch sales resume amidst patent dispute
Apple resumes Watch sales despite patent ban.
Samsung Galaxy S24 camera leaks spark pixel, zoom debates
Explore the leaked details of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra’s camera changes, hinting at a shift in zoom capabilities and promising enhanced imaging features.
Yandex’s restructuring deal expected to be delayed into next year
Yandex’s restructuring deal expected to be delayed into next year.
Google’s Pixel 8 Pro: A glimpse into the future of smartphone photography
Pixel 8 Pro’s Video Boost, an AI-driven breakthrough, redefines low-light smartphone videography and sets an opportunity in the era of UGC.
Dazheng’s billion-dollar gambit harnesses the nexus of technology, power and global influence
Dazheng Group’s $1.8B bid for Hollysys symbolizes focus on automation.
Does the revolutionary Ai Pin mean wearable AI tech will become commonplace?
The Ai Pin signifies a human-computer interaction shift, priced at $699 with a $24 monthly subscription for a wearable tech experience.
OpenAI’s $100 billion target: Realistic valuation or VC madness?
Explore OpenAI’s strategic moves with billion-dollar valuation pursuits, chip ventures, and Microsoft’s role. Join the discussion on the future of AI innovation.
Is Apple’s AI partnership with news outlets risking independence and market control?
Apple’s AI negotiations with news outlets face publisher hesitation, as concerns rise over media independence and potential market risks.
Intel, Nvidia, AMD: Who is going to win the AI chip race?
Intel’s fifth-gen Xeon and Core Ultra processors, unveiled at AI Everywhere, intensify the competition with AMD and Nvidia in AI chips.
IDCC 2023: New vision for the intelligent computing industry
The IDCC 2023 not only unveiled leading research outcomes but also outlined a clear blueprint for the industry’s development direction.
PS5 hits 50 million sales, overcoming supply chain issues
The milestone comes despite supply chain issues, and Sony says 25 million more unit sales are coming as it embraces a sustainable strategy.
Apple’s next-gen carplay for Porsche and Aston Martin
Apple’s next-gen CarPlay offers unique displays for Porsche and Aston Martin, enhancing data privacy in connected cars.
Samsung’s self-repair initiative: A green move or a business quandary?
Samsung’s self-repair initiative aims to reduce e-waste, but introduces challenges as users navigate complex repairs.
How does Alphabet plan to thwart AI manipulation in elections?
Alphabet limits election queries, seeking a comprehensive strategy to mitigate AI risks in elections.
Alibaba trims stake in Xpeng for second time in December
XPeng, sustaining losses caused by Alibaba’s strategic investment changes, is seizing new opportunities created by its counterpart.
Why did Adobe abandon the deal of the year with Figma?
Adobe and Figma jointly declared the termination of their highly anticipated $20 billion merger, succumbing to mounting regulatory pressure.
Imran Khan fakes voice, sparks ethical debate: Is it ok for politicians to use AI?
When Imran Khan used an AI voice to campaign from jail, we need to ask about the delicate balance between control and freedom of speech.
Top tech stories today: December 20, 2023
The state of Generative AI and Machine Learning at the end of 2023 and other key tech stories today – December 120, 2023.
Expedia adds AI, but personalised travel still won’t beat search engines
Expedia’s AI-driven revolution in travel planning personalises recommendations.
Ego-Exo4D: Meta’s new video dataset is going to change video creation forever
Meta’s Ego-Exo4D, a revolutionary AI video learning dataset, features diverse human skills and advanced multimodal perception.
Top tech stories today: December 18, 2023
No need to sift through the web for crucial stories – we’ve got you covered. Here are the key global technology highlights for December 18, 2023. 1. ByteDance is secretly using OpenAI’s tech to build a competitor Now mega-company TikTok is so far behind in the generative A.I. race that it has been s…
Worldcoin: Innovating global finance or invading personal privacy?
Worldcoin’s bid for global finance innovation through iris scans faces regulatory scrutiny and privacy concerns.
Google to test new browser feature limiting use of tracking cookies
Google tests its Tracking Protection in Chrome to limit third-party cookies, impacting digital advertising and raising privacy concerns.
Google’s project Ellmann applies Gemini AI to personalise AI storytelling
Google has unveiled “Project Ellmann,” a visionary initiative aimed at utilising AI technology to process user photos and search engine queries. The project, which envisions the creation of a “personal life storyteller,” leverages large language models (LLMs) such as Gemini AI to extract information…
French AI startup Mistral shakes things up with surprise release of LLM that’s better than ChatGPT
In a surprising move that has raised eyebrows across the tech community, French AI startup Mistral has dumped its latest large language model (LLM) into the digital domain without fanfare, releasing it through a nondescript Torrent link on the popular forum X. This unorthodox approach starkly contra…
Top tech stories today: 15 Dec, 2023
No need to sift through the web for crucial stories – we’ve got you covered. Here are the key global technology highlights for December 15, 2023. 1. Intel says dozens of PC makers are using its new AI-enabled chip Intel claimed on Dec. 14 that dozens of PC makers are using its latest chips, as
Bezos vs Musk: Space race CEOs are vying for history, but only the 1% will benefit
Blue Origin, led by Jeff Bezos, resumes New Shepard launches, competing with SpaceX. Success depends on diversification.
Top tech stories today: December 13, 2023
Meta’s glasses come with translation, Bezos aims for space again, and other big tech stories today – December 13, 2023.
Coverage
Governance / RIR Watchdog / AFRINIC / Story
In this section: 1 briefingICANN’s Africa DNS report barely mentions the AFRINIC problem
ICANN has invited comments on its 2023 Africa Domain Name Industry Study, but the report appears to gloss over a significant event.
Coverage
Market / Trends / Europe and Middle East Trends / Europe and Middle East Cloud Services Trends
In this section: 3 briefingsIsrael commits $3.2 billion to propel Intel’s $25 billion chip plant
Israel has agreed $3.2 billion for a new $25 billion Intel chip plant, marking the largest investment ever by a company in the country.
OpenAI partners with Germany’s biggest publisher, but faces financial, ethical, and cultural challenges
How can AI-driven news collaboration overcome the financial, ethical, and cultural challenges of this kind of partnership?
RIPE internet registry faces losses, needs to increase fees, but how?
As losses are forecast for Europe’s regional internet registry, could a GDP-based formula be the fairest way to increase fees?
Coverage
Market / Trends / Asia-Pacific Trends / Asia-Pacific Cloud Services Trends
In this section: 5 briefings$20 billion in 10 years: How did MiHoYo become one of China’s biggest gaming companies?
How do you turn a $1 billion into $20 billion in 10 years? MIHOYO did it. Here’s how.
Is big data the future of AI?
Jiang Chunyu said that China’s AI development urgently needs high-quality data sets and a white paper on AI data will be released soon.
Huawei in talks with Audi, Mercedes to invest in smart car firm
China’s Huawei is said to have invited a number of auto companies to join a business venture targeting smart car development.
5 top tech stories this week: December 14, 2023
Including: our exclusive interview with Martin Winter, NetDEF founder; and insights from China’s IDCC conference and Capacity Asia in SG.
Liquid cooling tech from China: Saviour of the AI industry?
As a key report on liquid cooling technology suggests this is the future, we ask two top industry players to give their views.
Coverage
Market / Trends / Global Trends / Global Datacenter Trends
In this section: 2 briefingsMicrosoft acquires pumpkin farm for $76 million – find out why
Microsoft spent a small fortune on a pumpkin farm, preparing to build a massive data center in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin.
Top tech stories today: December 25, 2023
No need to sift through the web for crucial stories – we’ve got you covered. Here are the key global technology highlights for December 25, 2023. 1. Microsoft just paid $76 million for a Wisconsin pumpkin farm The tech company is planning to use the land to build its new data center .As Microsoft pr…
Coverage
Market / Trends / Global Trends / Global Institutional Trends
In this section: 1 briefingCan we fully trust Intel’s report at the end of 2023?
In a speech at Northwestern University, AI expert Kai-Fu Lee championed AI technology and its upcoming impact, while also pointing out its side effects and limitations. “The bottom 90 per cent, especially the bottom 50 per cent by income and education, will be badly hurt by job losses… Sorting thing…
Coverage
Market / Trends / Global Trends / Global Regional ISP Trends
In this section: 1 briefingWhat is open-source routing?
What is open-source routing? How does it differ to regular routing connectivity? Which are the best open-source routers?
Coverage
Market / Trends / Latin America and Caribbean Trends / Latin America and Caribbean Cloud Services Trends
In this section: 1 briefingBrazilian first lady Janja sues Elon Musk’s X over hacked account: A look at global social media regulation
As Brazil’s First Lady sues Elon Musk’s X over account breach, how should global social media platforms regulate themselves?
Coverage
Governance / RIR Watchdog / ARIN / Story
In this section: 1 briefingAnita Nikolich, ARIN: Cyber security is based on diverse teams
Anita Nikolich from ARIN, the Advisory Council, in an exclusive interview with BTW- Having good, strong security in any type of network requires a diverse team. Anita says that because she works in cyber security, she pays more attention to security and privacy. But in terms of diversity, getting mo…
Coverage
Market / Trends / North America Trends / North America Cloud Services Trends
In this section: 1 briefingApple users can now buy the USB-C charging case separately
Apple at last offers a MagSafe charging case (USB-C) for the second-generation AirPods Pro, priced at $99 in the US.
Coverage
Market / Trends / Asia-Pacific Trends / Asia-Pacific Institutional Trends
In this section: 1 briefingChina’s chip revolution: Groundbreaking advances revealed at DOEC conference in Beijing
In a conference in Beijing, one academic revealed how China could solve the AI chip shortage, by overcoming Moore’s Law.