Artificial intelligence Archives | Page 471 of 695

Alphabet invests big in AI and data centres

Alphabet has confirmed it will proceed with a planned US$75 billion investment this year to expand its data centre infrastructure, reinforcing its push into generative AI.

CEO Sundar Pichai reiterated the company’s commitment at Google Cloud’s annual conference, describing AI as ‘the biggest opportunity’ yet for the tech giant.

The funds will go towards essential hardware such as chips and servers that underpin Alphabet’s core services, including Search, and power its AI models like Gemini.

The investment figure, first revealed in February, exceeded market expectations by nearly 30 percent and reflects the intensifying race among major tech firms to dominate the AI space.

Despite the ambitious scale, Alphabet’s strategy faces uncertainty. Rising geopolitical tensions risk inflating supply chain costs, and investors remain cautious as they wait for clearer returns on such massive outlays.

Market pressure continues to mount on Big Tech to turn AI enthusiasm into tangible financial performance.

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AI giant Nvidia rebounds but challenges remain

Shares in Nvidia soared by nearly 20 per cent following a 90-day suspension of new US tariffs, lifting Wall Street to one of its strongest single-day performances in decades. The tech giant, whose chips underpin much of the AI boom from tools like ChatGPT to drone technologies, added $440bn to its market value in just one session, underlining its pivotal role in the global AI race.

Despite the rally, serious concerns remain. While some tariffs were temporarily halted, President Donald Trump raised levies on Chinese imports to as high as 125 per cent. For Nvidia, whose supply chain relies heavily on advanced manufacturing in Asia, particularly Taiwan and South Korea, the move threatens to disrupt both costs and production timelines. Analysts caution that such trade friction could deter investment in AI infrastructure, which is still in early stages of commercial return.

Even with strong revenues and continued dominance in AI hardware, Nvidia faces growing headwinds. The firm’s recent share slump reflected broader anxiety over whether AI spending is peaking, alongside the rise of cheaper, open-source alternatives. Added pressure from high energy demands, regulatory risks, and tighter capital markets could further complicate growth. Industry watchers warn that tariffs may undermine the very conditions AI needs to flourish: stable supply chains, affordable power, and investor confidence.

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AI boom drives TSMC revenue surge

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) reported record-breaking sales for March and the first quarter of the year, driven by robust demand for AI technologies.

March revenue reached NT$285.96 billion (US$8.70 billion), while quarterly revenue climbed to NT$839.25 billion, reflecting a 41.6 percent year-on-year increase.

The chipmaker confirmed that the sales performance aligned with internal expectations, attributing the surge largely to continued global investment in AI development.

Despite a temporary production setback caused by the Jan. 21 earthquake in southern Taiwan, which forced the scrapping of some wafers, the company’s growth momentum remained strong.

TSMC is set to provide further financial details and its second-quarter outlook at an investor conference on 17 April. Meanwhile, the company has announced an additional US$100 billion in United States investment, building on its ongoing US$65 billion expansion in Phoenix, Arizona.

However, its stock price has dropped below NT$1,000, closing Thursday at NT$863, amid a strengthening US dollar and broader economic uncertainties.

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Nissan backs Wayve to power self-driving tech

Nissan Motor has partnered with UK-based AI company Wayve to develop the next generation of its autonomous driving technology, marking the first time a major automaker has publicly backed the start-up.

The carmaker intends to integrate Wayve’s AI Driver software into its ProPilot system, with a launch targeted for its fiscal year 2027, ending in March 2028.

Wayve claims the AI Driver platform, built on its embodied AI foundation model, will significantly enhance collision avoidance and overall safety.

Designed to navigate complex real-world conditions in a human-like way, the software will work in tandem with next-generation Lidar to deliver a more advanced driver assistance system.

The collaboration follows a $1.1 billion Series-C funding round led by SoftBank in 2024, which also saw support from Microsoft and NVIDIA.

Nissan’s endorsement signals a major leap forward for Wayve’s technology, as the race to commercialise autonomous driving intensifies across the automotive industry.

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AI site faces backlash for copying Southern Oregon news

A major publishing organisation has issued a formal warning to Good Daily News, an AI-powered news aggregator, demanding it cease the unauthorised scraping of content from local news outlets across Southern Oregon and beyond. The News Media Alliance, which represents 2,200 publishers, sent the letter on 25 March, urging the national operator to respect publishers’ rights and stop reproducing material without permission.

Good Daily runs over 350 online ‘local’ news websites across 47 US states, including Daily Medford and Daily Salem in Oregon. Though the platforms appear locally based, they are developed using AI and managed by one individual, Matt Henderson, who has registered mailing addresses in both Ashland, Oregon and Austin, Texas. Content is reportedly scraped from legitimate local news sites, rewritten by AI, and shared in newsletters, sometimes with source links, but often without permission.

News Media Alliance president Danielle Coffey said such practices undermine the time, resources, and revenue of local journalism. Many publishers use digital tools to block automated scrapers, though this comes at a financial cost. The organisation is working with the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association and exploring legal options. Others in the industry, including Heidi Wright of the Fund for Oregon Rural Journalism, have voiced strong support for the warning, calling for greater action to defend the integrity of local news.

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Fujitsu launches AI scanner to assess tuna fat

Fujitsu has developed a new AI-powered inspection device that determines the fat content of frozen albacore tuna with unprecedented speed and accuracy. Replacing the traditional practice of slicing and thawing tuna tails for human evaluation, the technology uses ultrasonic waves and artificial intelligence to analyse the internal marbling of the fish without causing damage.

The system scans each tuna from four angles, generating waveforms that an AI algorithm interprets to assess fat levels. Results are displayed in seconds with labels such as ‘highly marbled’ or ‘low fat’, dramatically reducing the time required compared to manual inspection. While visual assessment typically takes around a minute, Fujitsu’s device completes the process in just 12 seconds.

Developed in partnership with Tokai University and with support from machinery firm Ishida Tech, the device promises greater consistency and the ability to inspect every fish in a catch, something previously considered too labour-intensive. Scheduled to launch in June, it will be priced between 30 million and 35 million yen (£160,000–£187,000). Fujitsu aims to expand the system to evaluate additional species like yellowfin and bonito, and to assess freshness and texture in future updates.

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Google offers steep discounts to US federal agencies

Google is offering a 71% discount on its business apps package to US federal agencies as part of a new agreement with the General Services Administration (GSA).

The move is aimed at capitalising on President Trump’s cost-cutting efforts, which include reducing government contracts. If fully adopted by federal agencies, the deal could save up to $2 billion.

The pricing structure will now be based on government-wide usage, rather than the individual agency agreements that previously offered smaller discounts. The GSA views the agreement as part of its broader strategy to create cost savings for the federal government.

A shift like this could help Google expand its presence in the government sector, where Microsoft currently holds an 85% market share.

As part of its push, Google has enhanced its Workspace suite with AI-driven features from its Gemini model. The platform has already been used by some government entities, including the US Air Force’s Air Force Research Laboratory, since 2021.

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Gerry Adams targets Meta over use of his books

Gerry Adams, the former president of Sinn Féin, is considering legal action against Meta for allegedly using his books to train AI. Adams claims that at least seven of his books were included in a large collection of copyrighted material Meta used to develop its AI systems.

He has handed the matter over to his solicitor. The books in question include his autobiography Before the Dawn, prison memoir Cage Eleven, and reflections on Northern Ireland’s peace process Hope and History, among others.

Adams is not the only author voicing concerns about Meta’s use of copyrighted works. A group of writers filed a US court case in January, accusing Meta of using the controversial Library Genesis (LibGen) database, which hosts over 7.5 million books, many believed to be pirated.

The discovery followed a searchable database of titles from LibGen being published by The Atlantic, which led several authors to identify their works being used to train Meta’s Llama AI model.

The Society of Authors has condemned Meta’s actions, with chair Vanessa Fox O’Loughlin calling the move ‘shocking and devastating’ for authors.

Many authors are concerned that AI models like Llama, which power tools such as chatbots, could undermine their work by reproducing creative content without permission. Meta has defended its actions, claiming that its use of information to train AI models is in line with existing laws.

Adams, a prolific author and former MP, joins other Northern Irish writers, including Booker Prize winner Anna Burns, in opposing the use of their work for AI training without consent.

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Rapid AI growth raises global energy demands

The global demand for AI technology is set to consume nearly as much energy by 2030 as Japan does today, with much of that coming from data centres. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), electricity demand from data centres will more than double by 2030, driven largely by AI.

Some AI data centres will require up to 20 times more energy than the average one, raising concerns about the environmental impact.

While AI’s rapid adoption could increase energy consumption, the IEA believes it also holds the potential for reducing overall greenhouse gas emissions. AI could improve energy efficiency, assist in designing grids for renewable energy, and optimise industrial processes.

However, the report warns that without careful regulation, AI’s growth could strain energy systems and harm the environment, particularly if fossil fuel-powered plants are used to meet energy demand.

Efforts to mitigate the impact of AI include harnessing its capabilities to design energy-efficient systems, optimise transport, and assist in critical infrastructure management. Yet, some experts argue that AI’s energy demands might outpace these benefits unless governments take proactive steps.

Claude Turmes, former Luxembourg energy minister, warned that the IEA’s optimistic outlook overlooks the severe risks to energy systems, urging stronger regulatory measures.

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EU prepares new data strategy for AI growth

The European Commission will soon launch a consultation on its upcoming Data Union Strategy, a key part of efforts to boost Europe’s leadership in AI.

The strategy, set to be published by the end of the year, aims to make it easier for businesses and public bodies to share data securely and efficiently across the EU.

The initiative supports the broader AI Continent Action Plan, expected to be unveiled this week, which seeks to encourage faster adoption of AI technologies by European companies.

Instead of relying on fragmented systems, the Commission wants to improve data access, digital infrastructure, and cloud capabilities while investing in talent and streamlining complex processes.

The plan includes the creation of AI factories where companies can train models using EU-based resources, and a separate Cloud and AI Development Act later this year will promote energy-efficient investments to support these goals.

Public feedback on the Data Union Strategy will be gathered from April to June as part of the consultation process.

Despite the ambition, the Commission acknowledges ongoing concerns such as uncertainty around international data flows and challenges accessing suitable data for generative AI.

Strict privacy laws like the GDPR, instead of enabling wider AI training, have led to frustration from major tech firms over regulatory delays in Europe.

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