Briefing Desk
Latest Briefings
Concise reporting on the developments shaping internet governance and infrastructure. Browse each area for recent news, context and watchpoints.
Capacity Asia 2023: Who’s attending, and what can we expect?
Capacity Asia 2023, held on December 12-13 in Singapore, promises to help shape the future of the global connectivity network.
Stars without scandals: Are AI pop stars as good as the real thing?
US rockers KISS recently announced their second AI lives, but the K-pop world is already ahead of the game. Will all future idols be digital?
Google launches AI-driven NotebookLM for enhanced note-taking
Google launches AI-driven note-taking NotebookLM
Does Apple’s M3 chip represent the upgrade everyone is hoping for?
Apple’s spring 2024 lineup is looking fine, with M3 chips in the new iPads and MacBook Air models, but the question is: is it a true upgrade?
A look at Alphabet’s Gemini, the AI model aiming to challenge ChatGPT-4
What happened? Google’s CEO, Sundar Pichai, has announced the launch of Gemini, a new large language model that aims to compete with OpenAI’s GPT-4. Gemini is a versatile AI model that is expected to have a significant impact on various Google products. It comes in three versions: Gemini Nano, a li…
Apple’s blocks Beeper citing illicit access to iMessage
Apple has blocked Beeper Mini, an iMessage-compatible app that was released last week, claiming it “uses false credentials”.
Amazon and Venmo part ways due to unspecified ‘recent changes’
Amazon will no longer list Venmo as a payment option from January 10, 2024, due to unspecified “recent changes”.
Top tech stories today: December 11, 2023
No need to sift through the web for the essential stories—we’ve got you covered. Presenting the key global technology highlights for December 11, 2023.
Call that a cybertruck? THIS is a cybertruck…. Hyundai’s new driverless, AI-driven, hydrogen-powered container truck is the future, today
Discover Hyundai’s Trailer Drone – a game-changer in logistics. Autonomous, hydrogen-powered, and versatile, it’s reshaping cargo transport for a sustainable future.
AMD unveils MI300 series intensifying rivalry with Nvidia
AMD claims its MI300 series is world’s best AI chip with 1.5 trillion transistors, directly challenging NVIDIA for market dominance.
Windows 10 ESU is an unexpected move, but is it a blessing or a burden?
Microsoft’s decision to offer ESU for Windows 10 after 2025 raises concerns about costs and pressures to adopt Windows 11.
ExpressVPN releases a new native VPN app for Apple TV
What happened？ ExpressVPN has launched a new app for Apple TV, providing users with an enhanced streaming experience while ensuring privacy and security. The app allows users to connect to servers in 105 countries, offering a wide range of content options. Signing in is made easy with the option to…
TikTok enhances live event experiences
TikTok are expanding their ticketing partnership to over 20 new markets, enabling artists to sell tickets directly through the TikTok app.
Intel wins appeal as court overturns $2.18 billion VLSI patent infringement verdict
Intel wins appeal of VLSI patent.
Top tech stories today: December 5, 2023
No time to scour the web for the stories that matter? We’ve done that so you don’t have to. Here are the top technology stories around the world for December 5, 2023. Electric cars face more problems, but not because they’re electric The challenges faced by electric cars, debunking the misconception…
General AI apocalypse? Relax, it’s more hype than reality
Fears of generative AI are grossly exaggerated, and we need to discern fact from fiction if this era-changing technology is to be used.
Cash now, chaos later: VC-fueled startups play a dangerous game
So many startups are desperate for VC funding, but many young companies should have gone a different route. Here’s a list.
Tesla Cybertruck finally arrives 4 years late, price double expectations
The Cybertruck’s unique design and performance impressed worldwide.
5 top tech stories this week: November 30, 2023
Including: Randy Bush honoured at RIPE 87 and F1 has ventured into AI-Powered enforcement to revolutionise track control.
RIPE 87: ‘Something needs to change’ – ‘chief frugal officer’ describes a problematic future
RIPE has a tricky few years ahead as income reduces and inflation rises, and high-risk countries continue to delay fee payments.
Google launches first pioneering geothermal venture in Nevada
Google’s first geothermal project in Nevada, cooperates with Fervo Energy.
Amazon Q AI assistant: AWS launches a revolutionary data query approach
Amazon’s Q AI assistant, launched by the company’s cloud business AWS, allows users to ask questions about their company’s data.
Where can you pay with bitcoin? The brands and platforms that accept crypto payments
Many of the shops, e-comm platforms and brands that accept bitcoin have been revealed, but pundits say mainstream adoption is a long way off.
Switch off to switch on: The internet’s eco-conscious wake-up call from RIPE 87
Insights at RIPE 87 showed how to create a greener web future that embraces easy actions that help, not hinder, sustainable goals.
Abkhaz to Zulu: Amazon Transcribe can now recognize 100 languages
Amazon Transcribe has added 21 languages to its platform, taking the total to 100 while also improving accuracy and enhancing readability
China’s ride-hailing app DiDi loses $56 million after 12-hour outage
Didi’s 12-hour outage on Monday caused losses of around $4.6 million per hour, while Alibaba Cloud also faced an interruption.
Randy Bush honoured at RIPE 87 after calling RIRs a ‘monopoly’
The internet veteran Randy Bush unleashed a list of failings of the world’s Regional Internet Registries, before being handed an award by one of them.
Mobile data in Europe to triple by 2028 and big tech should pay the bill
The upgrade will require more than $216 billion in investment, and it should be shouldered by those using it most – the tech giants.
Is Formula One’s use of AI for track limits enforcement better than using humans?
Formula One plans to utilize AI to detect track limit infractions.
Is OpenAI’s rush for revenue a threat to humankind?
Altman’s return to OpenAI after an attempted coup means the chase for general AI can now fly unhindered. Watch our short video for a summary.
Grok to launch for X Premium Plus users, but will they think it’s any good?
Grok will finally be available to X Premium subscribers, but only at the standard of ChatGPT3.5, leaving room for doubt and disappointment.
Google Bard can now answer questions about YouTube videos
The YouTube extension of Google Bard can now understand video content, providing users with a richer conversation experience.
Nissan announces $1.25 billion UK move for new electric Qashqai and Juke models
Nissan announces that its new electric models of Qashqai and Juke will be manufactured at its Sunderland site, with an investment of $1.25bn.
OpenAI releases ChatGPT voice capabilities, jokes about its CEO drama, as letter emerges voicing AGI concerns
OpenAI introduces free voice feature for ChatGPT just as a letter is revealed, sent by researchers, voicing concern about an AGI discovery.
5 top tech stories this week: November 23, 2023
Sam Altman is returning as CEO of OpenAI just days after his ouster and YouTube test AI tools that mimics famous singers with select creators. We have a bunch of other great tech stories too. Here’s our rundown of the top stories this week. about each story on the links below: OpenAI board…
Sam Altman returns to OpenAI as board moves out
After five days of leadership chaos, Sam Altman returns to lead OpenAI having been fired by the board and named CEO of a Microsoft AI lab.
China electric vehicle marques Nio and Changan Auto make battery-swapping move in alternative to charging stations
Nio’s collaboration with Changan to drive battery-swapping standards, promote broader adoption, and enhance Nio’s profitability in a competitive market.
CZ quits as Binance CEO after $4.3 billion fine for money laundering
Changpeng Zhao has stepped down after allowing hundreds of millions of dollars-worth of criminal transactions to take place on his crypto exchange.
OpenAI boardroom coup: Sam Altman fired, hired by Microsoft to head new advanced AI research unit
In one of the most dizzying weekends Silicon Valley has ever seen, Sam Altman was fired from OpenAI, entered talks to be rehired, then was hired by Microsoft to lead a new advanced AI research team.
Meta releases new text-prompt Emu AI image and video editing tools
Meta Platforms just launched two new impressive AI-based video editing tools, Emu Video and Emu Edit, to simplify the editing process.
Alibaba’s reversal cuts $20B from market value
Alibaba’s stunning reversal on its cloud unit spin-off caused a massive $20 billion market value drop, shaking the markets.
Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 N electric vehicle coming in March 2024
Hyundai revealed the Ioniq 5 N and announced its market availability in March 2024.
YouTube tests AI tool that mimics famous singers with select creators
YouTube is testing its Dream Track AI tool that creates music that mimics famous artists, using Lyria, from Google’s DeepMind.
Baidu CEO Robin Li warns China’s AI boom risks resource crisis
Baidu CEO warned on China’s AI large language model risk.
AWS to build data centre in Thailand as other tech giants consider investing
Thailand is set to receive investments worth $8.46 billion from Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google, and Microsoft. This initiative is expected to drive the digital economic development in Thailand and support the country’s efforts in digital transformation. The investment plans of Amazon Web Services…
OpenAI Data Partnerships hope to bridge gaps in AI training
OpenAI’s Data Partnerships initiative aims to diversify AI training data sets, addressing biases, and facing criticism over unauthorized use of creative works.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japan’s Fumio Kishida set for tech cooperation roundtable
The leaders of Japan and South Korea are going to participate in a roundtable.
Microsoft adds Copilot AI to Windows 10, potentially overhauling how we use computers
Microsoft could bring Copilot AI to Windows 10 in an upcoming update.
ChatGPT went down due to DDoS attack, not its popularity
OpenAI stated that the outage of ChatGPT was due to a DDoS attack. It did not result in any leakage of user information.
Google’s Epic $147 million offer, and how it could change gaming apps
Google had offered $147 million to Epic Games to launch Fortnite on the Google Play Store.