FedEx has made a strategic investment in AI robotics and automation company Nimble to enhance its fulfilment services for small and medium-sized businesses. The investment aims to support FedEx’s Fulfilment unit, which assists businesses with order fulfilment and inventory management.
The investment comes as parcel delivery companies increasingly turn to automation to reduce costs and improve efficiency, particularly during periods of lower freight demand. FedEx believes Nimble’s automated third-party logistics solutions will help optimise supply chain operations across North America.
Scott Temple, president of FedEx Supply Chain, stated that the alliance with Nimble will expand the company’s presence in e-commerce, allowing FedEx to scale its fulfilment offerings throughout North America. The exact size of the investment has not been disclosed.
Nimble’s AI robotics technology is expected to help FedEx improve the efficiency of its fulfilment operations and further strengthen its position in the e-commerce sector.
OpenAI announced on Thursday that it now has over 1 million paying users across its ChatGPT business products, including Enterprise, Team, and Edu. The increase from 600,000 users in April highlights CEO Sam Altman’s success in driving enterprise adoption of the AI tool.
Recent reports suggest OpenAI executives are discussing premium subscriptions for upcoming large-language models, such as the reasoning-focused Strawberry and a new flagship model called Orion. Subscription prices could reach as high as $2,000 per month for these advanced AI tools.
ChatGPT Plus currently costs $20 per month, while the free tier continues to be used by hundreds of millions every month. OpenAI is also working on Strawberry to enable its AI models to perform deep research, refining them after their initial training.
The discussion around premium pricing follows news that Apple and Nvidia are in talks to invest in OpenAI, with the AI company expected to be valued at over $100 billion. ChatGPT currently has more than 200 million weekly active users, doubling its user base since last autumn.
US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has released a new draft of its Digital Identity Guidelines, introducing updates for government contractors in cybersecurity, identity verification, and AI use. The guidelines propose expanded identity proofing methods, including remote and onsite verification options. These enhancements aim to improve the reliability of identity systems used by government contractors to access federally controlled facilities and information. By providing different assurance levels for identity verification, NIST ensures that contractors can implement secure and appropriate measures based on the context and location of the verification process.
A significant focus of the guidelines is on continuous evaluation and monitoring. Organisations are now required to implement ongoing programs that track the performance of identity management systems and evaluate their effectiveness against emerging threats. The guidelines also emphasise the importance of proactive fraud detection. Contractors and credential service providers (CSPs) must continuously assess and update their fraud detection methods to align with the evolving threat landscape.
One of the notable updates in the guidelines is the introduction of syncable authenticators and digital wallets. This allows contractors to manage their digital credentials more efficiently by storing them securely in digital wallets. These wallets provide flexibility in how contractors present their identity attributes when accessing different federal systems.
The guidelines also introduce a risk-based approach to authentication, where authentication levels are tailored to the sensitivity of the system or information being accessed. That gives government agencies the flexibility to assign different authentication methods depending on the security needs of the transaction. For example, accessing highly sensitive systems would require stronger multi-factor authentication (MFA) measures, including biometrics, while less critical systems may have less stringent requirements.
Why does this matter?
The use of AI and ML in identity systems is another key aspect of the Draft Guidelines. NIST emphasises transparency and accountability in integrating AI and ML into these systems. Organisations must document how AI is used, disclose the datasets for training models, and ensure that AI systems are evaluated for risks like bias and inequitable outcomes. The guidelines address the concern that AI technologies could exacerbate existing inequities or produce biassed results in identity verification processes. Organisations are encouraged to adopt NIST’s AI Risk Management Framework to mitigate these risks and consult its guidance on managing bias in AI.
Lastly, the guidelines highlight the importance of privacy, equity, and usability in digital identity systems. Ensuring broad participation and access to digital services, especially for individuals with disabilities, is a core requirement. NIST stresses that digital identity systems must be designed to be inclusive and accessible to all contractors, addressing any potential usability challenges while maintaining security.
Qualcomm is exploring the possibility of acquiring parts of Intel’s design business to enhance its product lineup, according to sources familiar with the discussions. The mobile chipmaker is particularly interested in Intel’s client PC design business but also considers other segments. Intel, currently facing financial difficulties and seeking to offload assets, has not been approached by Qualcomm and has stated its commitment to its PC business.
Qualcomm, known for its smartphone chips and a major Apple customer, has been contemplating the acquisition for several months. However, the company’s plans remain uncertain and could evolve. Intel recently reported a significant drop in PC business revenue and has implemented cost-cutting measures, including staff reductions and a dividend pause, as it struggles to fund its manufacturing operations.
Intel’s board will meet next week to review options for trimming operations, which may include selling its programmable chip unit, Altera. Meanwhile, Intel recently launched a new AI-focused PC chip called Lunar Lake, signalling its continued push to innovate despite financial challenges.
Ilya Sutskever, OpenAI’s former chief scientist, has launched a new company called Safe Superintelligence (SSI) to develop safe AI systems that significantly surpass human intelligence. In an interview, Sutskever explained that SSI aims to take a different approach to AI scaling compared to OpenAI, emphasising the need for safety in superintelligent systems. He believes that once superintelligence is achieved, it will transform our understanding of AI and introduce new challenges for ensuring its safe use.
Sutskever acknowledged that defining what constitutes ‘safe’ AI is still a work in progress, requiring significant research to address the complexities involved. He also highlighted that as AI becomes more powerful, safety concerns will intensify, making it essential to test and evaluate AI systems rigorously. While the company does not plan to open-source all of its work, there may be opportunities to share parts of its research related to superintelligence safety.
SSI aims to contribute to the broader AI community’s safety efforts, which Sutskever views positively. He believes that as AI companies progress, they will realise the gravity of the safety challenges they face and that SSI can make a valuable contribution to this ongoing conversation.
The UK has become one of the first signatories of an international treaty designed to regulate AI and prevent its misuse. This legally binding agreement, drafted by the Council of Europe and signed by countries including the EU, US, and Israel, mandates safeguards to protect human rights, democracy, and the rule of law from potential AI threats. Governments are expected to tackle risks such as AI-generated misinformation and the use of biassed data in decision-making processes.
The treaty outlines several key principles, including ensuring data protection, non-discrimination, and the responsible development of AI. Both public and private sector AI users will be required to assess the impact of AI systems on human rights and provide transparency to the public. Individuals will also have the right to challenge AI-made decisions and file complaints with relevant authorities, ensuring accountability and fairness in AI applications.
Historic moment! The #CoE opens the first-ever legally binding global treaty on #AI and human rights.
Signed by EU 🇦🇩 🇬🇪 🇮🇸 🇳🇴🇲🇩🇸🇲 🇬🇧 🇮🇱 🇺🇸, this Framework Convention ensures AI aligns with our values.
In the UK, the government is reviewing how to implement the treaty’s provisions within existing legal frameworks, such as human rights laws. A consultation on a new AI bill is underway, which could further strengthen these safeguards. Once ratified, the treaty will allow authorities to impose sanctions, including bans on certain AI uses, like systems utilising facial recognition from unauthorised data sources.
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is harnessing generative AI to accelerate development in the rapidly growing field of engineering research and design, according to a senior executive. Sreenivasa Chakravarti, vice president of IoT and digital engineering at TCS, revealed that development cycles for clients such as Rolls Royce, Jaguar Land Rover, and Siemens have shortened by up to 20% thanks to AI integration.
Generative AI is being widely adopted by engineering-related clients to boost efficiency in code generation, testing, and quality assurance. This trend is reshaping budget allocations and product development strategies across industries. Engineering, research, and design services, which support sectors like self-driving technology and sustainability solutions, represent a significant portion of India’s $254 billion tech industry.
The engineering research and design niche is the fastest-growing sector in the Indian tech industry, with projections indicating it will quadruple in size to $170 billion by 2030. Pure-play software companies like TCS, Infosys, and Wipro are competing alongside specialised firms such as Tata Elxsi, Cyient, and L&T Technology Services in this booming sector.
As the core software services sector faces challenges, large IT firms are increasingly investing in the engineering space through acquisitions. Cognizant recently acquired Bulcan for $1.3 billion, while Infosys purchased German firm in-tech for $480 million.
Australia’s government is advancing its AI regulation framework with new rules focusing on human oversight and transparency. Industry and Science Minister Ed Husic announced that the guidelines aim to ensure that AI systems have human intervention capabilities throughout their lifecycle to prevent unintended consequences or harm. These guidelines, though currently voluntary, are part of a broader consultation to determine if they should become mandatory in high-risk settings.
The following initiative follows rising global concerns about the role of AI in spreading misinformation and fake news, fueled by the growing use of generative AI models like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini. In response, other regions, such as the European Union, have already enacted more comprehensive AI laws to address these challenges.
Australia’s existing AI regulations, first introduced in 2019, were criticised for being insufficient for high-risk scenarios. Ed Husic emphasised that only about one-third of businesses use AI responsibly, underscoring the need for stronger measures to ensure safety, fairness, accountability, and transparency.
The US National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has launched an inquiry to address the challenges surrounding US data centres’ growth, resilience, and security. This initiative is crucial in light of the increasing demand for computing power driven by advancements in AI and other emerging technologies. Currently, the US has over 5,000 data centres, with demand projected to grow by approximately 9% annually through 2030, highlighting their role as foundational elements of a secure technology ecosystem.
To effectively tackle these challenges, the NTIA has issued a Request for Comment (RFC) to solicit stakeholders’ input on various data centre growth issues. Key focus areas include supply chain resilience, access to trusted equipment, energy demands, and the need for a specialised workforce. The RFC also explores the implications of data centre modernisation on society and the necessary data security practices for facilities hosting AI models. Insights from this inquiry will help develop comprehensive policy recommendations supporting sustainable and resilient data centre growth.
The inquiry is being conducted in coordination with the Department of Energy (DOE), highlighting the importance of addressing energy challenges associated with data centres. The collaboration aims to ensure the US can meet the energy demands of expanding data centre infrastructure while promoting clean energy solutions. The feedback received from the RFC will inform a report that outlines actionable recommendations for the US government, ultimately fostering a robust data centre ecosystem capable of supporting future technological advancements.
Ericsson, Nokia, and Vodafone have united in a call to action for European policymakers to enhance digital competitiveness through advanced connectivity and digitalisation. They argue that achieving a true Digital Single Market is essential for fostering innovation and ensuring Europe can compete globally. The following initiative emphasises the need for coherent implementation of existing regulations and the avoidance of unnecessary regulatory burdens that could hinder the rapid deployment of digital infrastructure.
Ericsson, Nokia, and Vodafone highlight the importance of incentivising investment in advanced connectivity solutions, such as 5G and future 6G technologies. They stress that a modernised regulatory framework is crucial for maintaining healthy telecom operators capable of making substantial investments in infrastructure. This includes advocating for longer spectrum licenses and harmonised rules across the EU member states, facilitating a more robust telecommunications landscape.
Ericsson, Nokia, and Vodafone also propose that policymakers differentiate between business-to-business (B2B) and consumer-facing technologies when crafting regulations. Tailoring regulations to these sectors’ specific needs and operational structures will help create a more level playing field and address market failures effectively. This distinction is vital for fostering an environment where trusted companies can thrive and innovate.
Ericsson, Nokia, and Vodafone highlight the need for Europe to prepare for emerging technologies like quantum computing and AI. They advocate for policies encouraging experimentation and attracting private investment, ensuring Europe can leverage these advancements while addressing security challenges.
