The US government is reportedly considering allowing Nvidia to export advanced AI chips to Saudi Arabia. These chips would assist the kingdom in developing and operating cutting-edge models. The move could play a crucial role in Saudi Arabia’s AI strategy, which was a key focus at the recent GAIN summit.
Efforts are underway in Saudi Arabia to meet US security requirements, which could expedite the acquisition of Nvidia’s H200 chips. These chips are expected to boost Saudi Arabia’s capabilities, as they are also used in advanced platforms like OpenAI’s GPT-4. Saudi officials have expressed their intention to comply with US regulations.
The Biden administration had imposed restrictions on AI chip exports, particularly targeting China, but also extending to the UAE and other Middle Eastern countries. However, Saudi Arabia has been careful to manage its relationship with both the US and China, ensuring access to key technologies remains open.
Nvidia and the US Department of Commerce declined to comment on the potential chip sales. The Department of Commerce noted that export control decisions involve multiple government departments, including Defense, State, and Energy.
Top executives from OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic are set to meet with senior US officials at the White House to discuss the energy infrastructure needed to support the growing demand for AI. The meeting will bring together key figures like OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Google’s Ruth Porat, and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, along with government representatives such as Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. Discussions are expected to focus on how the US can strengthen its AI leadership while managing the strain on energy resources.
The Biden administration, led by National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and other top officials, is pushing for the construction of more data centres in the US while ensuring that AI is developed responsibly. A White House spokesperson emphasised the government’s commitment to balancing technological advancement with national energy demands.
The rise of generative AI, which can produce text, images, and videos, has highlighted its potential benefits and risks. As AI becomes more integrated into everyday tasks, it raises concerns about energy consumption, with technology companies vying for an increasingly limited supply of electricity to fuel their AI and cloud computing operations.
Salesforce has launched its Hyperforce cloud platform in Israel, marking its 17th global cloud location. The new platform will allow sensitive data from government entities and regulated companies to remain within Israel, ensuring compliance with local privacy laws. Initially, Hyperforce will operate on Amazon Web Services (AWS), with plans to potentially expand to Google Cloud in the future.
Before the launch, Israeli companies stored data at Salesforce’s Frankfurt facility, which had been approved for government use. The local cloud platform will now provide a more secure and convenient option for Salesforce’s customers in Israel, with all companies set to migrate soon.
Salesforce, which employs 750 people across three sites in Israel, has been heavily investing in AI. Its Israeli R&D centre plays a key role in developing AI and other advanced technologies, positioning the country as one of the company’s three major development hubs alongside the U.S. and India.
The company’s move to expand its cloud services in Israel aligns with its broader strategy to integrate AI into its product offerings and drive future growth in revenue and profitability.
Apple’s iPhone 16 has struggled to generate excitement as its long-anticipated AI features remain in the testing phase. Meanwhile, Huawei is gaining momentum, unveiling a tri-fold smartphone that has attracted significant attention in the competitive global market.
After the release, Apple’s shares fell by 1.7%, reflecting concerns over the limited upgrades to the phone’s design and AI technology, which will only be available in beta next month. The lack of full AI integration has led to dissatisfaction in China, where users expressed frustration over missing features.
Huawei’s latest Mate XT smartphone, boasting advanced AI capabilities and priced at $2,800, has already secured over 4 million pre-orders. Analysts predict that, despite production constraints, the Mate XT’s innovative design could present a significant challenge to Apple.
As Huawei continues its resurgence following US sanctions, its dominance in China grows. In contrast, iPhone sales in China have dropped, and Apple now faces increased pressure from Huawei’s cutting-edge technologies in the high-end market.
DISG and AI Singapore are spearheading an expanded phase of the ‘Upskill with Meta’ programme, which now emphasises AI to support better small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and students. The initiative, aligned with the Digital Enterprise Blueprint launched by Singapore’s Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI), aims to empower 500 businesses and 4,500 students with advanced digital skills.
The programme is designed to address SMBs’ challenges in effectively leveraging AI and machine learning technologies, offering targeted training to help them integrate these tools into their operations.
The initiative by DISG and AI Singapore is part of a broader effort to demystify AI for SMBs. The goal is to make AI more accessible and less intimidating for non-technical users, thereby fostering confidence in using these technologies. The expanded programme includes masterclasses on AI-driven strategies for marketing, customer support, and business messaging tools, providing practical skills that SMBs can directly apply to enhance their capabilities and innovate within their industries.
This expansion complements other government-led efforts, such as the generative AI (GenAI) Sandbox programme, which allows SMEs to gain hands-on experience with AI technologies. By supporting these initiatives, DISG and AI Singapore aim to build a digitally resilient workforce and ensure that every sector is included in the digital transformation process.
SoftBank Corp. and Nokia have embarked on a groundbreaking partnership to advance communication technologies, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on 10 September 2024. This collaboration focuses on developing AI-driven Radio Access Networks (AI-RAN) and exploring 6G technologies. Leveraging Nokia’s virtualised Cloud RAN platform and conducting field tests with centimetre waves, which are crucial for 6G, the partnership aims to push the boundaries of current communication systems.
The joint effort by SoftBank and Nokia is set to transform connectivity by delivering faster, more flexible, and wider-range solutions. This innovation could revolutionise various sectors, such as smart cities, industrial automation, and new business models. The goal is to address the growing demand for high-speed and adaptable communication networks, significantly impacting societal and economic landscapes.
In this collaboration, SoftBank will apply its extensive experience as a network operator, while Nokia will contribute its global leadership in network technologies. Together, they aim to achieve high-speed, reliable, and elastic communication networks, addressing the challenges of the digital society and advancing the telecommunications industry.
European Commission recommendations from Mario Draghi’s report focus on transforming the telecom sector through regulatory and financial reforms. The report advocates for easing mergers and acquisitions (M&A) to enable market consolidation, expected to drive economies of scale and enhance investment capacity.
It also proposes redefining telecom markets at the EU level and standardising spectrum licensing rules to improve efficiency and competition across Europe. These changes aim to create a more robust and innovative telecom environment that can better meet the demands of the digital age.
In addition to telecom sector reforms, the European Commission report highlights the need for ‘commercial investment sharing’ to address the financial impact of high data traffic from major tech firms. It suggests that large online platforms, such as Amazon and Google, should contribute to the costs of telecom infrastructure investments. That proposal seeks to balance the burden on telecom operators with the benefits derived from these tech giants’ extensive use of their networks. By implementing this approach, the report aims to ensure that the costs of maintaining and expanding network capacity are more equitably shared.
Furthermore, the European Commission outlines strategies for advancing digital infrastructure and technology. The report calls for creating an EU-level body to develop uniform technical standards for network APIs and edge computing. It also recommends expanding high-performance computing (HPC) resources and investing in AI through public-private partnerships. These measures are designed to enhance Europe’s technological capabilities and foster innovation. Additionally, the report emphasises the need for sovereign cloud solutions and reducing dependencies on non-EU tech providers by boosting domestic production in critical areas such as semiconductors. These initiatives aim to strengthen Europe’s digital infrastructure and ensure a more resilient and competitive tech ecosystem.
Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DPC), the leading privacy watchdog for many US tech firms in the EU, is investigating Google’s handling of user data. The inquiry will examine whether Google sufficiently protected the personal information of the EU citizens before using it to develop its advanced AI model, Pathways Language Model 2 (PaLM 2). The investigation is part of a broader effort by the DPC, working alongside other EU regulators to ensure compliance with data protection laws, especially in developing AI technologies.
A group of Democratic senators, led by Amy Klobuchar, has called on the United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate whether AI tools that summarise online content are anti-competitive. The concern is that AI-generated summaries keep users on platforms like Google and Meta, preventing traffic from reaching the original content creators, which can result in lost advertising revenue for those creators.
The senators argue that platforms profit from using third-party content to generate AI summaries, while publishers are left with fewer opportunities to monetise their work. Content creators are often forced to choose between having their work summarised by AI tools or opting out entirely from being indexed by search engines, risking significant drops in traffic.
There is also a concern that AI features can misappropriate third-party content, passing it off as new material. The senators believe that the dominance of major online platforms is creating an unfair market for advertising revenue, as these companies control how content is monetised and limit the potential for original creators to benefit.
The letter calls for regulators to examine whether these practices violate antitrust laws. The FTC and DOJ will need to determine if the behaviour constitutes exclusionary conduct or unfair competition. The push from legislators could also lead to new laws if current regulations are deemed insufficient.
OpenAI is set to launch its new AI model ‘Strawberry’ within the next two weeks as part of its ChatGPT service. The model is designed to focus on reasoning rather than instant responses, could offer a more thoughtful conversational experience.
Led by Sam Altman, OpenAI has generated strong interest and investment in AI technology. Businesses are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence to enhance their products, with OpenAI reporting over one million paying users across its services.
