Artificial intelligence Archives | Page 489 of 695

Ampere Computing joins SoftBank in AI-focused expansion

SoftBank has announced a $6.5 billion acquisition of US chip startup Ampere Computing, marking a major step in its investment in AI infrastructure.

The deal, paid entirely in cash, reflects founder Masayoshi Son’s growing focus on AI as a transformative technology. Ampere produces data centre CPUs based on an architecture from SoftBank’s majority-owned Arm Holdings, with customers including Oracle.

The acquisition follows a series of multi-billion-dollar AI investments by SoftBank, including funding for OpenAI, the Stargate AI data centre project, and Cristal, an AI services joint venture in Japan.

Ampere, founded in 2018 by former Intel president Renee James, developed its own custom CPU cores—an approach typically seen in larger firms like Apple and Qualcomm.

Under SoftBank’s ownership, the company will operate alongside Arm, strengthening SoftBank’s growing collection of AI-focused chip technology firms.

Masayoshi Son described the move as part of his vision for ‘artificial super intelligence,’ highlighting the need for advanced computing power.

While SoftBank has seen mixed results in past investments, such as its troubled backing of WeWork, the company continues to place high-stakes bets on emerging technologies.

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AI-powered robot dog mimics human learning process

Swedish AI startup IntuiCell has introduced Luna, a robot dog with a functional digital nervous system that enables it to learn and adapt like humans and animals.

Unlike traditional AI models that rely on vast datasets and pre-training, Luna learns through real-world interactions.

The company has even hired a professional dog trainer to teach Luna how to walk, mimicking the way neurons process information in biological systems.

CEO Viktor Luthman described Luna as a breakthrough in AI, allowing machines to learn without requiring high-powered data centres or offline simulations.

The technology, he says, could eventually lead to advanced autonomous robots capable of operating in unpredictable environments such as space and deep-sea exploration.

Future iterations could assist in disaster response or even contribute to constructing habitats on Mars.

Founded as a spin-off from Lund University in 2020, IntuiCell has received funding from Sweden’s Navigare Ventures, Norway’s SNÖ Ventures, and the European Union.

The company believes that Luna’s capabilities could mark a significant step forward in the development of humanoid and autonomous robots, with applications far beyond current AI-powered machines.

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AI firm Cognite targets India as global tech hub

Cognite, the Saudi Aramco-backed industrial software company, has launched an AI services centre in Bengaluru as part of its global expansion strategy.

The firm, which specialises in optimising industrial operations, is seeking contracts with major Indian conglomerates and has already secured deals with a leading cement manufacturer and a major automotive firm.

While declining to name the companies, Cognite’s executives confirmed significant investments in the Indian market, with plans for further expansion.

Chief Executive Girish Rishi described India as a key growth destination, highlighting its appeal as an alternative to China for global tech firms.

Cognite’s parent company, Aker ASA, and major shareholders like Saudi Aramco have been supporting its global push, as AI-driven solutions increasingly play a role in industrial automation, safety, and efficiency.

The company, which recently relocated its headquarters to the US, counts AkerBP, Japanese refiner Cosmo Energy Holdings, and US-based Koch Chemical among its major clients.

India’s rapidly expanding technology sector has drawn interest from several global giants, including Apple, Tesla, and Jabil, following the Indian government’s incentives to attract international firms.

With AI transforming industries worldwide, Cognite’s move signals growing confidence in India’s capabilities as a major player in the global tech ecosystem.

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Nvidia CEO predicts humanoid robots will revolutionise manufacturing

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang believes that humanoid robots will soon be widely used in manufacturing, possibly within the next five years.

Speaking at the company’s annual developer conference, Huang unveiled new software tools designed to improve robots’ ability to navigate the world.

Huang stated that the manufacturing industry would likely lead the way in adopting humanoid robots, due to its controlled environment and well-defined tasks.

He emphasised the economic value, with robots potentially costing around $100,000 to rent, making them a good investment.

The CEO’s predictions highlight the growing role of AI in automation, with Huang confident that humanoid robots will soon be an integral part of factory operations.

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Microsoft invests $2.2 billion in Malaysian cloud expansion

Microsoft is set to launch its first cloud region in Malaysia, featuring three data centres in the greater Kuala Lumpur area.

The centres, known as Malaysia West, will begin operations by mid-year, marking a significant step in the company’s $2.2 billion investment in the country.

However, this move is part of Microsoft’s broader plan to expand its cloud and AI services in Southeast Asia. Microsoft estimates the investment will generate $10.9 billion in revenue and create over 37,000 jobs in Malaysia over the next four years.

Laurence Si, managing director of Microsoft Malaysia, stated that the company’s operations in Malaysia remain on track despite concerns over US export controls on semiconductor chips.

Microsoft remains confident in its relationships with stakeholders and its ability to meet its investment commitments.

Local businesses are expected to benefit from enhanced cloud and AI capabilities, with the country aiming to become a leading hub for technological innovation in the region.

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AI Infrastructure Partnership expands with new key players

Nvidia and Elon Musk’s xAI have joined the AI Infrastructure Partnership, a consortium backed by Microsoft, MGX, and BlackRock, to expand AI infrastructure in the United States.

Originally formed last year with a commitment to invest over $30 billion, the group aims to fund data centres and energy projects essential for AI applications. Investors have already pledged $100 billion for immediate deployment, with further capital expected over the next four years.

The partnership, formerly known as the AI consortium, is focused on raising funds from investors, corporations, and asset owners to support AI’s growing energy and computing demands.

Nvidia will continue in its role as a technical advisor, while GE Vernova and NextEra Energy will contribute expertise in supply-chain planning and high-efficiency energy solutions.

The initiative aligns with a global push to secure AI dominance and meet the increasing demand for computational power.

AI training and large-scale data processing require vast amounts of energy, driving demand for specialised infrastructure. The consortium’s investments will prioritise projects within the United States and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries.

The announcement follows the launch of Stargate, a separate AI infrastructure initiative backed by SoftBank, OpenAI, and Oracle, with plans to mobilise up to $500 billion.

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AI firm Prezent aims for global expansion after securing fresh investment

AI startup Prezent has raised $20 million in fresh funding to refine its AI-powered slide deck creation platform and expand into new markets.

The Los Altos-based company, which also operates in Bengaluru, aims to help businesses create high-quality presentations tailored to industry-specific language and terminology.

Founded in 2021 by Rajat Mishra, Prezent combines generative AI with proprietary data from millions of slide decks to offer customised business communication solutions.

The company’s AI assistant, Astrid, enables users to upload documents such as Excel files and PDFs while providing relevant company-specific context. Prezent’s technology suggests layouts and formats for presentations, helping users streamline their workflow.

For those on tight deadlines, an expedited service combines AI with human reviewers to deliver polished, professional-grade decks overnight. The platform currently serves around 150 Fortune 2000 companies, particularly in biopharma and tech, and is now targeting financial services and manufacturing.

With plans to expand into Europe, Japan, and Singapore, Prezent is also developing APIs to allow developers to generate presentations directly from chatbots, apps, and search engines.

Last year, the company reported over $10 million in annual recurring revenue and now has nearly 200 employees, most of whom work remotely from India.

The latest investment, led by Greycroft with participation from Zoom Ventures and others, values Prezent at well over $100 million.

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OpenAI and Google face lawsuits while advocating for AI copyright exceptions

OpenAI and Google have urged the US government to allow AI models to be trained on copyrighted material under fair use.

The companies submitted feedback to the White House’s ‘AI Action Plan,’ arguing that restrictions could slow AI progress and give countries like China a competitive edge. Google stressed the importance of copyright and privacy exceptions, stating that text and data mining provisions are critical for innovation.

Anthropic also responded to the White House’s request but focused more on AI risks to national security and infrastructure rather than copyright concerns.

Meanwhile, OpenAI and Google are facing multiple lawsuits from news organisations and content creators, including Sarah Silverman and George R.R. Martin, who allege their works were used without permission for AI training.

Other companies, including Apple and Nvidia, have also been accused of improperly using copyrighted material, such as YouTube subtitles, to train AI models.

As legal challenges continue, major tech firms remain committed to pushing for regulations that support AI development while navigating the complexities of intellectual property rights.

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New AI model by Stability AI creates 3D videos from images

Stability AI has unveiled its latest AI model, Stable Virtual Camera, designed to convert 2D images into dynamic 3D video scenes. Announced in a company blog post, the model enables users to create immersive videos with realistic depth and perspective using up to 32 input images. It generates ‘novel views’ of a scene, offering various preset camera movements, including Spiral, Dolly Zoom, Move, and Pan.

The tool is currently available as a research preview and allows users to generate videos in square (1:1), portrait (9:16), and landscape (16:9) formats, with a maximum length of 1,000 frames. However, Stability AI warns that certain images, such as those with people, animals, or complex textures like water, may produce lower-quality results. Highly ambiguous or irregularly shaped objects may also lead to visual artifacts.

Stable Virtual Camera is available for research use under a non-commercial license and can be downloaded from AI development platform Hugging Face. The launch follows a turbulent period for Stability AI, which has recently undergone leadership changes, secured new investments, and expanded into new AI applications, including generative audio. With this latest innovation, the company aims to solidify its position in the competitive AI market.

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Italian newspaper ‘Il Foglio’ has published the world’s first AI-generated edition

The Italian newspaper ‘Il Foglio’ has released an edition entirely generated by AI, marking (as far as we know) an unprecedented step in journalism. This four-page supplement, ‘Il Foglio AI,’ accompanies the regular print edition and is accessible online.

The initiative is part of a month-long experiment led by editor Claudio Cerasa, aiming to explore AI’s impact on journalistic practices and daily life. Cerasa emphasised that AI was utilised for all aspects of the edition, including writing, headlines, quotes, and summaries, with journalists’ roles limited to inputting questions and reviewing AI-generated responses.

The AI-generated content covers a range of topics. The front page analyses US President Donald Trump’s Italian supporters, highlighting contradictions in their stance on ‘cancel culture.’ Another prominent article examines Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ’10 betrayals,’ detailing two decades of unfulfilled promises and broken agreements. Additionally, an economic piece discusses Italy’s recent income tax reforms, noting salary increases for approximately 750,000 workers.

The edition addresses contemporary social issues, such as young Europeans’ shift away from traditional relationships, coining the term ‘situationships.’ The final page includes AI-generated letters to the editor, one of which humorously questions whether AI will render humans ‘useless’ in the future.

The AI responds wittily, acknowledging its limitations by stating it ‘doesn’t yet know how to order a coffee without getting the sugar wrong.’

While the articles are clear and free of grammatical errors, they notably lack direct human quotations, showing current limitations in AI-generated journalism.

Cerasa describes ‘Il Foglio AI’ as a genuine newspaper, embodying news, debate, and provocation. He views it as a practical test to understand how AI can be integrated into daily journalistic routines, encouraging contemplation of the broader questions this technology raises.

Cerasa concludes by suggesting that this edition represents ‘just another Il Foglio made with intelligence,’ challenging readers to reconsider the definition of AI.

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