The White House has surprised many by using Reddit to communicate its response to Hurricanes Helene and Milton, with posts appearing in subreddits like r/NorthCarolina and r/Georgia. Although government updates are more commonly shared on platforms like Instagram and X, the Biden administration has taken a new approach with Reddit to reach a broader and more engaged audience.
The US White House’s Reddit account, ‘whitehouse,’ was confirmed to be legitimate by Reddit’s Gina Antonini, who also mentioned the account’s “Official” badge as part of Reddit’s Pro program. Interestingly, the account’s creation date was 7 January 2021, raising questions about whether it had been used before. While some posts initially faced moderation issues, they were later restored as the federal government continues to explore innovative ways to engage with the public.
Deputy Director of Platforms Megan Coyne shared on X that the Reddit account was launched for this purpose. This marks a shift in how the government communicates with citisens, using more unconventional platforms to provide real-time updates on emergencies.
Uber is set to launch an AI assistant for its drivers in the United States in early 2025, powered by OpenAI’s GPT-4.0, aimed at supporting drivers with queries related to electric vehicles (EVs). The assistant will initially help answer questions on topics such as where to charge EVs and which models to buy. In time, the AI may expand its capabilities to include other uses.
The assistant will be accessible from the Uber driver app and will offer personalised responses based on a driver’s location, needs, and available government incentives. Future updates are expected to include voice interaction, allowing drivers to speak directly to the AI, with audio responses.
Uber also announced an ‘EV mentorship program’ to encourage experienced EV drivers to help guide others interested in making the switch to electric vehicles. Mentors will receive financial incentives for sharing their knowledge and insights about owning and driving EVs.
As part of its broader focus on climate action, Uber is enhancing its Uber Green service, with an EV-only option in 40 cities. Riders can now choose electric vehicles in cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Paris.
Companies in Japan are increasingly turning to AI to manage customer service roles, addressing the country’s ongoing labour shortage. These AI systems are now being used for more complex tasks, assisting workers across various industries.
Ridgelinez Ltd, a Fujitsu subsidiary, and Autobacs Seven Co have launched trials for ‘Rachel,’ an AI assistant that recommends products based on customer needs, specific car models, and available stock. The system, developed by Tokyo-based Couger Inc, is designed to ease the burden on car sales staff, allowing them to focus on more specialised tasks while the AI handles routine queries.
In other sectors, Oki Electric Industry and Kyushu Railway have introduced a trilingual AI assistant capable of speaking Japanese, English, and Chinese. This system provides passengers with station maps and assists with transfer information. Meanwhile, Tokyo startup Sapeet Co has developed an AI system that simulates customer interactions for training staff at jewellery stores, helping to improve customer service skills.
These AI solutions are playing a key role in addressing the labour shortage, allowing human employees to focus on more advanced tasks while AI systems manage routine customer service functions.
Duos Technologies Group, through its subsidiary Duos Edge AI, has entered a strategic partnership with Accu-Tech to expand the deployment of edge data centres across the US. This collaboration aims to meet the rising demand for faster data processing and improved connectivity in underserved areas.
With Accu-Tech’s established distribution network, Duos Edge AI plans to accelerate the rollout of its advanced computing solutions. President Doug Recker sees this as a key moment in providing critical technology to local communities. The growing edge computing market, expected to reach $43.4 billion by 2027, highlights the importance of this venture.
CEO Chuck Ferry emphasises the alignment between Duos’ vision and the need for innovative infrastructure to support local businesses. By partnering with Accu-Tech, Duos ensures both reliable installation and efficient operation of its edge data centres.
The first edge data centres are expected to be operational by Q4 2024. The collaboration is set to improve connectivity and optimise performance, bringing advanced technology to underserved regions across the country.
Foxconn is constructing the world’s largest facility in Mexico for bundling Nvidia’s GB200 superchips, a crucial component of Nvidia’s upcoming Blackwell computing platform. The Taiwanese electronics giant, known for assembling Apple’s iPhones, has been capitalising on the surge in demand for AI technology by manufacturing servers designed for AI processing.
Nvidia has already started shipping samples of its Blackwell chips and expects substantial revenue from these in the coming months. Foxconn executives highlighted the enormous demand for Nvidia‘s Blackwell platform, with many industry players seeking to adopt this next-generation AI computing technology.
The manufacturing plant in Mexico will have substantial capacity, building on Foxconn’s existing investments in the country. The company’s production capabilities are equipped with advanced liquid cooling technologies necessary for supporting AI servers, ensuring they meet the growing needs of the AI sector.
In addition to its focus on AI, Foxconn is diversifying its operations by expanding into the electric vehicle market. The company plans to leverage its technological expertise to become a leading EV contract manufacturer, producing vehicles under its Foxtron brand while helping automakers with manufacturing.
Google is gradually rolling out new security features to protect user data, focusing on preventing unauthorised access in cases of theft. The latest tools, which include Theft Detection Lock, Offline Device Lock, and Remote Lock, were announced in May and are becoming available on various Android devices.
Theft Detection Lock uses AI to lock the screen when it detects movement commonly associated with theft, such as someone snatching the phone. Offline Device Lock automatically secures the screen if a phone remains offline for a while, while Remote Lock allows users to lock their phone remotely using only their phone number, even if they can’t log into Find My Device.
Some users have reported seeing the features on devices like the Xiaomi 14T Pro, though others may need to wait as Google rolls out these updates over time. Users are encouraged to ensure their Google Play Services are updated to potentially access these features sooner.
The new security options are supported on Android 10 and up for Theft Detection Lock and Offline Device Lock, while Remote Lock works on devices running Android 5 and higher.
Vodafone has announced a significant development in its Giga TV service, as part of a renewed billion-dollar partnership with Google Cloud. Over the next ten years, Google’s artificial intelligence capabilities will be integrated into the platform to enhance personalisation and content discovery for its users.
The companies plan to leverage Google Cloud’s AI to improve Vodafone’s Android-based TV system in Germany. New features will help users find content more easily and deliver a more tailored viewing experience. Additionally, Google Ad Manager will be integrated into Giga TV, enhancing the advertising landscape within the platform.
Further collaboration will see YouTube become more deeply embedded in Vodafone’s TV devices, providing a richer video experience. These improvements are set to bring significant advancements in how viewers engage with television content, both in entertainment and beyond.
Margherita Della Valle, Vodafone Group CEO, expressed excitement about the partnership, emphasising how these AI-driven innovations will transform communication and learning. She highlighted the unprecedented scale on which the new content and services will be delivered to millions of users.
Vodafone has announced a significant expansion of its partnership with Google in a ten-year deal worth over a billion dollars. This agreement aims to introduce Google’s generative AI-powered devices to customers in Europe and Africa, capitalising on the 5G network. The collaboration will also promote the Android ecosystem in these regions.
Vodafone intends to extend the availability of Google’s AI-powered Pixel devices, enhancing customer access to innovative technology. By 2025, the company will begin offering Google One AI Premium subscription plans, which include advanced features such as Gemini Advanced.
In addition to customer-focused advancements, this multinational telecommunications company will use Google Cloud’s AI platform for enterprise-level applications. The integration of AI will streamline operations and enhance services within the company.
Google remains in fierce competition in the AI sector, vying against other major tech companies like OpenAI, Microsoft, and NVIDIA. The partnership with Vodafone strengthens its position in this fast-evolving market.
A US House committee revealed on Monday that it is investigating the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) decision to deny SpaceX’s satellite internet division, Starlink, $885.5 million in rural broadband subsidies. The FCC had reaffirmed in December that the denial stemmed from Starlink’s failure to meet essential program requirements and its inability to demonstrate that it could deliver the promised services, following SpaceX’s challenge to the decision made in 2022.
House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, a Republican, has requested the FCC provide relevant documents by October 21 to ensure that the regulatory process was followed properly and not influenced by political motives. The FCC acknowledged receipt of the letter and will respond accordingly.
In December 2020, the FCC initially awarded $9.2 billion to more than 300 bidders for high-speed broadband deployment, with Starlink securing $885.5 million in a 2020 auction aimed at serving rural areas. However, in August 2022, the FCC revoked this funding, citing speed-test data that showed Starlink struggled to meet the program’s basic requirements, despite its commitments to provide high-speed service to 642,000 rural homes and businesses in 35 states.
Musk has strongly criticised the FCC’s ruling, calling it “illegal” and claiming that the funding could have saved lives during Hurricane Helene in North Carolina. FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel stated that Starlink’s performance data confirmed the agency’s findings about its uplink and downlink speed issues, adding that the proposal required subscribers to purchase a $600 dish to start service. Two Republican commissioners dissented, arguing that SpaceX was unfairly held to future performance targets. Rosenworcel has since expressed a desire for increased competition in the satellite internet market, emphasising the need to welcome additional companies to promote innovation and reduce monopolistic control.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has granted permission to SpaceX and T-Mobile to activate Starlink’s direct-to-cell capability for hurricane-hit regions in North Carolina. This emergency measure aims to restore communication services in areas heavily impacted by Hurricane Helene, where over 74% of cell towers were initially knocked out.
SpaceX’s satellites have already begun transmitting emergency alerts to mobile networks across the state. Basic texting on T-Mobile’s network is also under testing as part of efforts to reconnect people in affected areas. According to the FCC, only 17% of cell towers now remain offline as restoration teams work to bring the infrastructure back online.
T-Mobile noted that, while the full deployment of Starlink’s direct-to-cell constellation has not yet occurred, even early access to the system is aiding first responders in their rescue missions. Their network is almost fully restored, with minimal disruptions persisting in some remote areas.
Although Starlink’s full capabilities are still under development, FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr emphasised the critical need to manage expectations. The system is offering partial but vital assistance to communities as recovery efforts continue.
