IT infrastructure
1. FDA authorizes first OTC hearing aid software to be used in Apple’s AirPods Pro
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday authorized the first over-the-counter hearing aid software that is intended to be used with compatible versions of the Apple AirPods Pro headphones. (Reuters)
2. Google knew publishers would dislike ad tech change that helped it profit
Google knew publishers would balk when it took measures in 2019 to keep them from diverting ad sales to competitors, prompting it to try to make the change look more palatable, according to internal documents shown at the tech titan’s antitrust trial on Thursday. (US News)
3. Australia threatens fines for social media giants enabling misinformation
Australia said it will fine internet platforms up to 5% of their global revenue for failing to prevent the spread of misinformation online, joining a worldwide push to rein in borderless tech giants but angering free speech advocates. (CNBC)
4. UK to class data centres as ‘critical national infrastructure’
On September 12, 2024, the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology (DSIT) announced that the Government had now classed UK data centers, the buildings that store the data generated in the UK, as Critical National Infrastructure (CNI). The DSIT noted that CNI classification will include both the physical data centers and the cloud operators that use them to supply ordinary services. (Data Guidance)
5. Sam Altman-backed startup launches renewable energy service for data centres
Exowatt, the Sam Altman-backed renewable energy company, has launched its flagship product, a modular energy solution to power data centres. The Exowatt P3 provides both electricity and high-temperature thermal energy, generating power for data centre sites at a cost of just under $0.04 per kWh. (Capacity media)
6. Global telecom giants unite to revolutionise industry with network APIs
In a landmark move, some of the world’s leading telecom operators, including América Móvil, AT&T, Bharti Airtel, Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Reliance Jio, Singtel, Telefonica, Telstra, T-Mobile, Verizon, and Vodafone, along with Ericsson, have announced a new venture aimed at accelerating the adoption and innovation of network Application Programming Interfaces (APIs). (Capacity media)
7. SoftBank and Nokia partner for AI-RAN and 6G research
SoftBank has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Nokia for joint research on cutting-edge communication technologies on September 10, 2024. This agreement scope includes the development of a communication system that utilises AI aimed at the development of AI-RAN and 6G technology. (Vanillaplus)
Tech trends
8. Samsung senior adviser Young Sohn to rejoin Arm’s board
British chip firm Arm Holdings said on Thursday that Young Sohn, a senior adviser at Samsung Electronics, will rejoin its board. Having previously served on Arm’s board, Sohn said that his history with the company has “provided unique perspective into how critical Arm technology is to the world that relies on it.” (CNA)
9. Nokia denies report on moves to replace president, CEO Pekka Lundmark
Nokia is not undertaking a process to replace President and CEO Pekka Lundmark, the company told Reuters on Thursday, denying an earlier Financial Times report saying it is looking for a new chief executive. (Business Standard)
10. Google tests desktop windowing for Android tablets
Google is testing a new feature for Android tablets that will let you resize apps freely and arrange them on your screen at will, making it easier to juggle multiple tasks. The “desktop windowing” feature is now available as a developer preview, and for apps that support it, you could even have more than one instance open. (The verge)
AI
11. OpenAI launches new series of AI models with ‘reasoning’ abilities
Microsoft-backed OpenAI said on Thursday it was launching a series of AI models designed to spend more time processing to solve hard problems.The models, dubbed o1 and o1-mini, can reason through complex tasks and solve harder problems than previous models in science, coding and math, the AI firm said. (WSAU)
12. OpenAI fundraising set to vault startup’s valuation to $150B
OpenAI is in talks to raise $6.5 billion from investors at a valuation of $150 billion, according to people familiar with the situation. The new valuation, a figure that doesn’t include the money being raised, is significantly higher than the $86 billion valuation from the company’s tender offer earlier this year, and cements its place as one of the most valuable startups in the world. (Bloomberg)
13. Tech, US officials to discuss AI development, White House says
The White House announced a new task force to deal with the growing needs of AI infrastructure after a meeting on Thursday between senior U.S. officials and top technology and power company executives. (Microsoft Start)
14. Microsoft hires former GE CFO in chief operations officer role
Microsoft has hired Carolina Dybeck Happe as an executive vice president and chief operations officer, a role created for the former GE chief financial officer, according to a memo sent to employees Thursday. (Seattle times)
