China Telecom Global has recently inaugurated two significant centres in Hong Kong: the Artificial Intelligence Innovation Center and the Security Business Innovation Center. That development marks a crucial step in China Telecom’s strategy to enhance its high-quality development, cloud capabilities, and digital transformation initiatives.
By establishing these centres, the company aims to leverage China’s high-level opening-up policy to strengthen its international presence and drive global business growth through advanced technology and innovation. Furthermore, these centres are designed to optimise the business structure, integrate internal and external resources, and accelerate the global deployment of China Telecom’s capabilities in AI and security, thereby reinforcing its position as a leading global telecom player.
Additionally, China Telecom Global is placing a strong emphasis on research and collaboration. The focus is advancing cutting-edge technology and fostering partnerships between industry, academia, and research institutions. As a result, these centres are poised to become central hubs for developing AI and security talent, which will support Hong Kong’s evolution into an international centre of innovation and technology.
OpenAI’s latest version of ChatGPT, GPT o1, a nomenclature indicative of resetting the counter clock to 1, and its less costly mini version, represents a watershed moment in the company’s LLM stockpile. Designed to replicate superhuman-level intelligence, the models can already answer questions a lot faster than humans. This series of models will be unlike previous ones. In responding to queries, they utilise a human-like ‘chain of thought’ processing combined with reinforcement learning on specialised datasets and optimisation algorithms.
The model outperforms older models by a significant margin. For example, when tested against GPT-4o at the International Mathematics Olympiad, it scored 83 percent to GPT-4o’s 13 percent. What’s unique about the model is its ability to not only provide step-by-step reasoning for outputs but to show human-like patterns of hesitation during the process, ‘I’m curious about…’ and ‘Ok, let me see’ or ‘Oh, I’m running out of time, let me get to an answer quickly’. The new design has also resulted in a reduced occurrence of hallucinations. Yet, despite their many pros, the models have limitations. For instance, they cannot browse the internet, lack world knowledge, and cannot process files and images.
According to the lead researcher on the project, Jerry Tworek, the next level is for the models to perform similarly to PhD students on challenging benchmark tasks in areas such as physics, chemistry and biology. He assures that the intention here is not to equate AI with human thinking but rather to illustrate the model’s ability to dive cognitively deep. For the company, reasoning is a step up from pattern recognition, which is the design model used with previous versions. Ultimately, OpenAI aims to develop a product that can make decisions and take action on behalf of humans, a venture estimated to cost a further $USD 150 billion. Removing the current kinks in the system will mean that the models can work on complex global problems we face today in areas such as engineering and medicine.
More breakthroughs will also mean reduced access costs for developers and users. According to Chief Research Officer Bob McGrew, developer access to o1-preview is currently $15 per 1 million input tokens (chunks of text parsed by the model) and $60 per 1 million output tokens. GPT -o4 costs $5 per 1 million input tokens and $15 per 1 million output tokens.
WhatsApp is set to enhance its AI features with a two-way voice chat option. Users will soon interact with the Meta AI chatbot using voices of public figures, including well-known celebrities. The update will allow for more personalised and engaging communication experiences.
A recent beta update revealed that the voice feature will offer a range of options, including different accents and pitches. Users can select from various voices, possibly from both UK and US accents, though exact details remain unclear. The feature is designed to add a custom touch to AI interactions.
Meta previously introduced AI personalities on Messenger that mirrored celebrities and influencers. The new voice chat feature on WhatsApp builds on those efforts, bringing further AI-driven experiences to its user base.
Upon launch, the feature will display a simple interface with a prominent ‘Meta AI’ label, providing easy access to the voice options. Lastly, this marks another step forward for WhatsApp in delivering innovative AI solutions for users.
O’Reilly has launched its AI Academy, designed to help businesses upskill their workforce in generative AI technology. The Academy offers hundreds of learning materials, including books, live events, and on-demand courses, to enhance productivity through GenAI tools.
The demand for GenAI skills has surged, with global executives planning to invest more in AI technologies. Despite this, a vast number of workers remain untrained in the tools required to implement GenAI. Only 10% of workers have gained these skills, and confidence in executives’ understanding of AI remains limited, highlighting a clear need for upskilling.
O’Reilly’s AI Academy addresses this gap, providing tailored learning tracks to meet specific industry needs. Courses focus on essential skills such as productivity enhancement and AI integration, covering roles from HR to project management. Additional role-specific tracks will be introduced, enabling even greater personalisation.
Completing these learning tracks earns participants badges and certificates, which can be shared on platforms like LinkedIn. This helps employees showcase their expertise in GenAI, empowering them to adapt and drive business outcomes in an AI-driven world.
Jabil, a US-based electronics components manufacturer and supplier to Apple, will establish a new manufacturing facility in Tamil Nadu, India, with an investment of approximately 20 billion rupees ($238.2 million). The plant, located near the city of Trichy, will create around 5,000 jobs, according to Tamil Nadu’s Industries Minister T R B Rajaa, who announced the deal on social media following its signing in Chicago.
Matt Crowley, Jabil’s executive vice president, emphasised India‘s growing importance as a manufacturing hub, stating that the expansion would enable the company to better serve its customers. This new facility will complement Jabil’s existing operations in Pune, located in western India.
The government of Tamil Nadu has also signed an agreement with Rockwell Automation worth 6.66 billion rupees to expand manufacturing in the state. Another agreement, with Autodesk, has been signed, though its value has not been disclosed, according to Chief Minister M K Stalin.
Tamil Nadu is rapidly becoming a preferred destination for global manufacturing, with significant investments boosting the state’s role in India’s growing industrial sector.
Huawei is significantly contributing to Malawi’s digital transformation through its comprehensive Smart Village Program, which aims to bridge the digital divide in rural areas. This program integrates smart agriculture technologies, expands access to financial services, and enhances education and healthcare through digital solutions.
As part of this initiative, Huawei will establish technical training centres in rural regions to equip young people with crucial digital skills in AI, cybersecurity, and smart agriculture. That effort is a key component of Huawei’s larger $430 million investment plan for Africa, which includes funding for cloud development, talent development, and long-term technological progress.
The initiative supports Malawi’s MW2063 agenda, which envisions transforming the country into an industrialised upper-middle-income nation by 2063. It also builds on previous collaborations, such as the launch of Malawi’s National Data Centre in 2022, marking a significant advancement in the nation’s digital infrastructure.
In addition to Malawi, Huawei’s regional impact extends to other African countries, including Zambia and Uganda, where it is involved in smart village projects, and Kenya, where it contributes to smart city initiatives. These efforts aim to enhance connectivity and drive technological innovation across the continent.
Apple’s upcoming iPhone, featuring the A18 chip, has been developed using Arm’s latest V9 chip design, according to a report from the Financial Times. The device is expected to be unveiled at Apple’s event in Cupertino, California, on Sept. 9, where updates to other products and apps will also likely be revealed.
Apple and Arm have a longstanding partnership, with the two companies recently signing a deal that extends beyond 2040. Arm’s V9 chip technology has played a crucial role in powering Apple’s custom chip designs for iPhones, iPads, and Macs.
Arm, owned by SoftBank, controls the intellectual property behind much of the world’s smartphone chip architecture. The company’s V9 design accounts for half of global smartphone revenue, making it an industry leader in chip innovation.
Apple’s history with Arm dates back to the early 1990s when it helped found the firm. Despite the failure of the Newton handheld computer, which used an Arm-based processor, the collaboration evolved into the development of highly successful mobile devices.
u-blox and Wireless Logic Ltd has announced a strategic partnership to enhance IoT devices’ capabilities by integrating Wireless Logic’s IoT network, Conexa, with u-blox’s advanced cellular modules. The collaboration is designed to provide seamless, robust, and scalable connectivity solutions, addressing the increasing demand for reliable IoT deployments across various sectors, including automotive, industrial, healthcare, and smart cities. By combining their expertise, both companies aim to empower businesses and developers to manage their IoT solutions effectively.
u-blox and Wireless Logic Ltd will enhance IoT connectivity by integrating Wireless Logic’s industry-leading network into select u-blox cellular modules. This integration will offer customers superior network reliability, extensive global coverage, and the flexibility to switch between multiple mobile networks using eSIM technology. This eliminates the need for physical SIM card changes, making deployments more efficient and adaptable to changing requirements.
u-blox and Wireless Logic Ltd are committed to providing unparalleled scalability and flexibility in their combined offerings. The partnership will enable businesses to deploy IoT solutions at scale more efficiently. At the same time, Wireless Logic’s intuitive platform will allow users to manage and monitor their connectivity, providing greater control and visibility over their IoT deployments.
The government of Mauritius has launched an innovative initiative to provide free mobile internet services to citizens aged 18 to 25, with the primary goal of empowering the younger generation. Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth articulated that this program aims to equip youth with essential digital tools, information, and educational resources necessary for thriving in an increasingly digital world.
By facilitating access to online platforms, the initiative seeks to enhance employment opportunities in the IT sector and support around 100,000 young individuals in their pursuit of personal and professional growth. To participate, eligible youth must register through the Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA) website and submit their national identity card and mobile phone numbers. Once approved, they will receive a generous, renewable monthly package of 200GB from one of the three mobile operators in the country: My.t Mobile, Emtel, or Chili Mauritius.
These mobile packages provide substantial data allowances, including access to 4G and 5G connectivity and 350 Wi-Fi hotspots across the island. While the initiative has garnered enthusiasm among the youth, it has also sparked lively discussions on social media, with some questioning whether it serves as a strategic move to encourage young people to register their SIM cards. Concerns have been raised regarding the program’s implementation and whether it is an attempt to sway first-time voters ahead of upcoming elections.
Huawei Cloud introduced advanced AI technologies at the Saudi Arabia 2024 Summit, aiming to accelerate the country’s digital transformation and support Vision 2030. This new infrastructure promises ultra-low latency and robust AI model training and inference capabilities, enhancing various sectors nationwide. The company is also the first cloud provider in Saudi Arabia to fully comply with local data security policies, ensuring high levels of data protection and aligning with the country’s digital sovereignty strategy.
The impact of Huawei Cloud is significant, with a tenfold increase in public cloud revenue over the past year. It serves a diverse client base, including government bodies, telecom carriers, FinTech firms, and media organisations, highlighting its role in the digital economy. Sector-specific solutions include supporting smart city projects for the government, market expansion for local e-commerce businesses like Zode, and advanced digital banking services.
Technological innovations, such as the Pangu model and CodeArts, drive industry advancements and accelerate software development. Additionally, Huawei Cloud invests in the local ecosystem by training over 3,000 university students and partnering with over 100 local businesses, fostering a thriving digital landscape in Saudi Arabia
