Briefing Desk
Latest Briefings
Concise reporting on the developments shaping internet governance and infrastructure. Browse each area for recent news, context and watchpoints.
VR Company Transfr raises $40M to Change How We Train Our Workforce
Transfr, a VR solution provider focused on secondary vocational skills training, announced that it has raised $40 million in Series C growth capital investment. The round was led by ABS Capital alongside JPMorgan Chase Impact Finance and Advisory, and existing investors – Lumos Capital Group, Akkadi…
2015 Apple Watches Tagged “Obsolete”, Including the 17k Hermes Version
According to an internal memo obtained by MacRumors, all first-generation Apple Watches released by Apple in 2015 have been added to the “obsolete products” list as of September 30. The original Apple Watches (widely referred to as Series 0) never updated beyond watchOS 4.3.2 in 2018. It means the e…
Elon Musk’s X Corp Faces Trademark Lawsuit Over Rebranding
Image credit: X Social Media In a legal twist befitting the turbulence of social media, X Corp., the once-iconic Twitter, now finds itself at the center of a trademark lawsuit. The plaintiff? X Social Media, an ad agency based in Florida. They contend that X Corp.’s recent rebranding has caused sign…
Kenya Calls for Immediate Halt to Worldcoin Project
Image credit: Raw Pixel via Freepik Kenya’s Parliamentary Committee has issued a strong recommendation to halt the controversial Worldcoin cryptocurrency initiative. This comes due to privacy concerns and the urgent need for robust regulations. The move comes after a series of disputes over the proj…
Unitary Secures $15 Million to Revolutionize Content Moderation with AI
Image credit: Unitary homepage Unitary, the London-based startup specializing in AI-driven visual content moderation, has just raised an impressive $15 million in a Series A funding round. The company has demonstrated the promise of using contextual AI to automate content moderation. It effectively …
Tinder Offers Super VIP Experience for $500 a Month
Image credit: cottonbro studio via Pexels Tinder is tailoring a premium plan to its most dedicated users with a new VIP subscription tier. Tinder Select, this exclusive service, is priced at a staggering $499 per month and promises a range of “VIP” features designed to enhance the dating experience.…
FBI Alerts on Escalating Threat of Dual Ransomware Attacks
Image credit: Anete Lusina via Pexels The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has issued a stark warning concerning a concerning surge in dual ransomware attacks on American companies. This trend dates back to July 2023. Twin Assaults: A Disturbing Trend Cybercriminals have adopted an unsettl…
Apple’s Search Engine Update Could Challenge Google’s Dominance
Image credit: Apple App Store Apple is gearing up for a dramatic transformation in its quest for search engine supremacy. This move pits itself against the reigning giant, Google, and aims to revamp the App Store’s search engine. If reports hold true, Apple may have grander plans beyond a standard i…
Volkswagen Abandons $2.1 Billion EV Plant in Germany Amidst Shifting Auto Market Dynamics
Volkswagen has dropped its plan for a $2.1 billion EV plant in Germany. Sales in the global auto market have generally increased as challenges such as the spread of COVID-19, parts shortages, and production cuts by automakers have eased. In the first half of 2023, the global sales volume of new ener…
Tesla Accelerates Full Self-Driving Campaign with Pre-Installed FSD Beta
Tesla has already started shipping models with FSD Beta pre-installed. This means that FSD users can experience FSD functionality immediately upon receiving their cars, without needing to request a test or wait for an update to download. Vehicle owners who purchase a new FSD or transfer FSD from ano…
Billionaire Investor Rings the Warning Bell Over Mounting US Debt
Billionaire investor Ray Dalio is sounding the alarm on the U.S. ever-growing debt, warning of a looming fiscal crisis. With U.S. debt levels surging past $33 trillion and lawmakers racing against the clock to negotiate a spending bill, Dalio is concerned about the possibility for a government shutd…
Raspberry Pi 5 Unveiled: A Breakthrough in Microcomputing with Enhanced Performance and Innovative Features
In a long-awaited and highly anticipated release, the Raspberry Pi Foundation has unveiled the Raspberry Pi 5 four years since the launch of its predecessor, the Raspberry Pi 4. This latest iteration comes with a performance boost that promises to redefine what we can achieve with a tiny yet powerfu…
Your Website Can Now Say “No Thanks” to ChatGPT and Google Bard
As generative AI services such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Microsoft’s Bing Chat, and Google Bard are increasingly used as alternatives to search engines, they are also encountering resistance from individuals and companies who don’t want their website data to be used for AI model training. Large language …
Quest Store Hits $2 Billion in Sales But Has Been Riding a Downward Trend
On stage at Meta Connect 2023, Meta’s Head of Developer Relations Melissa Brown announced that Quest Store games and apps have generated more than $2 billion in revenue. In addition, more than 100 new games and upgrades will be released for Quest 3 this year, and more than half of them will include …
Honda and Acura Forge New Partnerships to Supercharge the EV Experience
Image credit: Rathapon via Pexels American Honda Motor Co., Inc. is revving up the electric vehicle (EV) game with agreements that promise to improve charging facilities for Honda and Acura EV owners. Expanding Charging Horizons Honda announced partnerships with EVgo and Electrify America. These all…
Epic Battle: Apple Seeks Supreme Court Reversal
Image credit: Epic Games Apple has turned to the Supreme Court to challenge a previous ruling in its dispute with Epic Games. The tech giant aims to maintain control over its platform, and the outcome could change the rules for all app developers. Apple Against Alternate Payment on Platform Apple’s …
The Government Shutdown May or May Not Affect You. Here’s What to Expect
As the clock ticks towards September 30th, the nation braces itself for the possibility of yet another government shutdown. The deadline looms for Congress to agree on federal funding for the upcoming fiscal year, but the heated debate over where the money should go has led to a stalemate. Remember …
Palantir and US Defense Department Close $250 Million AI Deal
Palantir Technologies Inc., known for its innovations in the tech and defense sectors, has clinched a substantial $250 million contract with the US Defense Department. This three-year commitment reflects Palantir’s deepening connections within the US government and its expanding footprint in the ex…
Cash Automation Platform Slope Secures $30M in Funding
Slope recently closed $30 million in equity funding. Led by Lawrence Lin Murata, CEO, Slope is a B2B payments platform offering order-to-cash workflow automation for enterprise companies. It enables businesses to manage transactions, optimize payment processes, and enhance customer experiences by i…
Google Cites to Taylor Swift’s Dating Life with Travis Kelce as Proof that ChatGPT is Nowhere Close
In the ongoing US Justice Department’s landmark antitrust trial against Google, an intriguing example involving Taylor Swift and NFL star Travis Kelce highlights a key challenge faced by AI technology like ChatGPT. The case underscores how Google’s dominant search engine can’t be easily replaced or …
Meta Unveils Exciting New AI Features: From Smart Glasses to AI-Generated Stickers
Meta’s Annual Connect Conference Reveals a Slew of Innovative AI-Powered Offerings At Meta’s annual Connect conference, the tech giant dropped a bombshell of new AI-powered features set to transform our digital experiences. These advanced offerings span across Meta’s messaging apps, the Meta Que…
Morgan’s UK digital bank blocks customers from buying crypto
Chase UK Blocks Customers from Transacting Crypto Chase UK, a part of the JPMorgan family, is blocking its customers in the U.K. from engaging in cryptocurrency transactions. Starting from October 16th, they are prohibiting the use of debit cards or bank transfers for cryptocurrency transactions. …
Foreign Companies are Facing a Worsening Business Environment in China
As a major importer and exporter, China has drawn many foreign companies to explore the unique development vitality and potential of this mysterious eastern power. However, surveys show that fewer Americans are coming to China to explore business, and many foreign executives have left China during t…
Peloton’s co-founder and Chief Product Officer, Tom Cortese, Announces Exit
A huge leadership transition takes place in Peloton, with Tom Cortese stepping down as Chief Product Officer to welcome Nick Caldwell, a Silicon Valley veteran, to take the helm. Need for Fresh Perspective Cortese, who played a pioneering role in establishing Peloton in 2012, will assume an adviso…
Meta’s Quest 3: A Make-or-Break Moment in the VR Battle
Virtual reality’s future rests in the hands of Meta as it unveils the Quest 3—a potential turning point in the quest for dominance in the virtual realm. The Quest for Dominance in the Virtual Realm Meta, previously known as Facebook, is gearing up for a pivotal moment in the world of virtual reality…
Paris Fashion Week Showcases AR Kiosk at Allow Visitors to “Try” Designer Clothes
Paris Fashion Week has adopted AR kiosks that offer visitors a digital version of the look. In addition to attending the physical shows and presentations of Fashion Week, guests can now experience the digital version of the designer’s look through the AR kiosk at the Sphere showroom in the Palais de…
ML Firm Kolena Closes $15 Million in a Series B Bid
Machine learning comppany Kolena announced that it has closed a $15 million Series B funding round led by venture capital firm Lobby Capital. Participating in the round are participation from SignalFire and Bloomberg Beta. This round brings Kolena’s total funding to $21 million. The funds will be us…
Vuzix Corporation Expands Manufacturing Facility
Vuzix Corporation, a prominent manufacturer of Smart Glasses and Augmented Reality (AR) technology, is expanding its manufacturing facility by tens of thousands of square feet. The company is renowned for its innovative products catering to enterprise, medical, defense, and consumer markets. The exp…
Tech Giants in South Korea Cut Down on Labor Forces Following Losses
South Korea’s top Internet company Kakao and leading game developer Com2uS are reducing the size of their virtual world teams after their virtual world platform posted huge losses in the first half of 2023, according to a local news agency. South Korea’s Kakao, Com2Us Wind Down Metaverse Units Com2u…
Nissan is Going All-Electric in Europe: It’s Waving Petrol Goodbye by 2030
Image credit: DayronV via Pixabay In a race against the European Union’s ambitious 2035 deadline for zero-emission vehicles, Nissan Motor has declared its intent. It aims to exclusively sell electric vehicles (EVs) in Europe by the end of this decade. The announcement was made by Nissan’s President …
Amazon Invests $4 Billion in AI Startup Anthropic
Image credit: Freepik Amazon has announced a $4 billion investment in the AI startup, Anthropic. The fund is set to catalyze the development of high-performing foundation models. Anthropic is based in San Francisco, California and specializes on AI safety and research. Anthropic to Add to Amazon’s A…
How important is cybersecurity nowadays |Interview with Mohamed Abdelmagid
Mobilephone has changed and become a significant part of people’s daily lives and work in the modern day. However, while networks tremendously aid in economic and social progress, they also provide previously unheard-of risk concerns, leaving hazards that cannot be ignored. What are the typical cybe…
APNIC 30th Anniversary
This video tells a straightforward tale of apnic’s 30-year history. APNIC, a global academic networking organization, has celebrated its third decade in existence. Originally founded in Tokyo in 1992, it has grown to serve 2.6 billion Internet users and more than half the global Internet. APNIC econ…
Apple Partners with SpaceX to Supercharge iPhone SOS
Apple introduced the iPhone 14 with Emergency SOS via Satellite nearly a year ago, enabling users to access emergency services in areas with no cellular coverage. Globalstar, Apple’s satellite partner for this technology, has recently signed a $64 million deal with SpaceX to launch satellites in 202…
Mixin Network Hit By $200 Million Hack: Operations Halt
Image credit: Freepik Mixin Network has fallen victim to a devastating hack that resulted in the loss of nearly $200 million in digital assets. Mixin’s vulnerability could be attributed to its centralized approach. This has sparked concerns over the safety of centralized databases in blockchain. The…
What is going on with online privacy
This video discusses online privacy concerns. Some people worry that many companies are continuously tracking users’ online activities, analyzing their browsing history, and using this data, particularly for personalized advertising. However, others believe that such tracking only results in more pe…
Bluesky Surges as Elon Musk Announces Fees for X Users
Social media platform Bluesky experiences record-breaking user surge following Elon Musk’s subscription fee announcement for X. The social media landscape witnessed a seismic shift as Bluesky, the budding rival to Twitter’s rebranded X, soared to new heights in user engagement. Elon Musk’s recent de…
OpenAI Is Now Capable of Voice and Image Recognition
Image credit: Rawpixel via Freepik OpenAI has introduced a series of game-changing enhancement, including two standout features: voice interaction and image recognition. Literally Chatting with ChatGPT One of the most significant upgrades is the addition of voice interaction to ChatGPT which allows…
Resident Evil Village: Coming to iPhone and iPad End of October
Image credit: Mac App Store The highly anticipated Resident Evil Village is making its way to iPhones and iPads this October. The news, which coincided with the announcement of the iPhone 15, has sparked both excitement and skepticism among gamers. Can it Measure Up vs. a PC? Maybe Not Equipped with…
Meta is Unboxing “Sassy” Bots to Win Gen Z Over
Image credit: Freepik Meta is gearing up to launch “Gen AI Personas.” These chatbots are designed distinct and colorful personalities. The parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is taking these steps with the goal of capturing the attention of younger audiences, particularly Gen Z. A Colorful Cas…
Miss Universe Organization Takes Legal Action Against Unauthorized Crypto Coin
Image credit: Freepik The Miss Universe Organization (MUO) has issued an official statement disavowing any connection with the “Miss Universe Coin” introduced during the Philippine Blockchain Week. In a move reminiscent of classic legal drama, they have declared their intention to pursue all availab…
Amazon Unveils a ‘Smarter and More Conversational’ Alexa amid AI Race Among Tech Companies
Amazon held this year’s new products conference, unveiled a slew of gadgets and an update to its popular voice assistant Alexa, infusing it with more generative AI features to better compete with other tech companies who’ve rolled out flashy chatbots. Massive Offerings During Product Release Besid…
Microsoft’s $69 Billion Activision Blizzard Deal Edges Closer to Approval
Image credit: Activision Microsoft’s ambitious $69 billion acquisition of gaming giant Activision Blizzard is one step closer to realization. The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has granted preliminary approval for the deal. The CMA had initially raised concerns over cloud gaming when t…
GitHub Makes Passkey Available to Everyone
Image credit: Silmnhyt via Pixabay GitHub announcted that Passkey authentication is now accessible to all users. Following in the footsteps of industry leaders like TikTok and Google, GitHub is shifting away from traditional passwords in favor of Passkeys, which offer superior protection. Moving Out…
Windows 11 Rolls Out Copilot and AI Enhancements
Image credit: Microsoft Microsoft is gearing up to release its long-awaited Copilot digital assistant alongside an array of AI-powered features in the upcoming Windows 11 23H2 update, scheduled for September 26th. Copilot takes its place as a central offering: a context-aware digital assistant that …
FinTech Platform ZayZoon raised $34.5 million in Series B funding
ZayZoon, a platform that allows employees to access their paycheck ahead of time, has recently closed $34.5 million in a recent funding. Led by co-founder and CEO Darcy Tuer it caters specifically to small and medium-sized businesses in the hospitality, retail, food service and other industries. Emp…
Petra Enhances Web3 User Experience with Coinbase Pay Integration
Image credit: Sergei Tokmakov via Pixabay Petra, the crypto wallet developed by Aptos Labs, has revealed its integration of Coinbase Pay into both its desktop and mobile applications. This partnership aims to address the growing challenges faced by web3 users, particularly in the areas of onramps an…
Shaquille O’Neal Backs EdTech Startup Edsoma with Undisclosed Amount
Image credit: Edsoma NBA superstar and philanthropist Shaquille O’Neal is stepping into the world of education technology with a $2.5 million investment in Edsoma. This AI-driven platform is focused on enhancing children’s reading, communication, and educational skills. O’Neal hints that he was not …
AFRINIC elections to be held within six months
The September 2023 Mauritius receiver order made AFRINIC's board-election restoration a court-supervised governance event.
Snap Launches New Tools to Entice More Brands to Invest in AR Experiences
Snap is rolling out a batch of new advertising and marketing tools for beauty brands to help them connect more with key audiences on Snapchat. At the 2023 Beauty Summit in New York, Snap revealed that it will soon launch non-live beauty Lenses, Bitmoji’s Beauty Drops feature, and an advertising tool…