Capacity development

LatAm moves to speed up telecom infrastructure deployment

The LatAm region is actively implementing policies to streamline permitting and environmental licensing processes to facilitate the deployment of telecom infrastructure.

El Salvador recently approved a decree to accelerate permitting for passive infrastructure, including towers and low-income housing, requiring companies to submit applications through a single platform with unified fees.

Peru’s transport and communications ministry is drafting proposals to exempt more low-impact projects from submitting environmental technical reports, update criteria for environmental impact assessments to reduce approval times, simplify ecological regulations, and extend deadlines for adapting existing projects.

In Chile, a newly approved law aims to reduce processing times for telecom permits by 30 to 70 percent, simplify procedures based on associated risks, and introduce ‘positive administrative silence,’ meaning permits are automatically granted if authorities do not respond within a specified period.

The LatAm judicial landscape is evolving to support telecom infrastructure deployment. Mexico’s Supreme Court ruled that only the federal government can tax permits for telecom installations, settling conflicts with municipalities.

In Argentina, courts have invalidated local rules and actions that block infrastructure projects, promoting smoother cross-jurisdictional telecom services.

LatAm governments have also encouraged infrastructure sharing to tackle network deployment challenges, especially in remote areas. Brazil introduced mandatory tower sharing in 2009 but abolished it in 2021.

Tower Group Abrintel opposes this repeal, citing risks to competition, consumer costs, and smaller providers. These legal and policy shifts highlight the region’s push to improve telecom connectivity.

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Nvidia to restart China AI chip sales after US talks

Nvidia has announced plans to resume sales of its H20 AI chip in China, following meetings between CEO Jensen Huang and US President Donald Trump in Beijing.

The move comes after US export controls previously banned sales of the chip on national security grounds, costing Nvidia an estimated $15 billion in lost revenue.

The company confirmed it is filing for licences with the US government to restart deliveries of the H20 graphics processing unit, expecting approval shortly.

Nvidia also revealed a new RTX Pro GPU designed specifically for China, compliant with US export rules, offering a lower-cost alternative instead of risking further restrictions.

Huang, attending a supply chain expo in Beijing, described China as essential to Nvidia’s growth, despite rising competition from local firms like Huawei.

Chinese companies remain highly dependent on Nvidia’s CUDA platform, while US lawmakers have raised concerns about Nvidia engaging with Chinese entities linked to military or intelligence services.

Nvidia’s return to the Chinese market comes as Washington and Beijing show signs of easing trade tensions, including relaxed rare earth export rules from China and restored chip design services from the US.

Analysts note, however, that Chinese firms are likely to keep diversifying suppliers instead of relying solely on US chips for supply chain security.

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EU bets on quantum to regain global influence

European policymakers are turning to quantum technology as a strategic solution to the continent’s growing economic and security challenges.

With the US and China surging ahead in AI, Europe sees quantum innovation as a last-mover advantage it cannot afford to miss.

Quantum computers, sensors, and encryption are already transforming military, industrial and cybersecurity capabilities.

From stealth detection to next-generation batteries, Europe hopes quantum breakthroughs will bolster its defences and revitalise its energy, automotive and pharmaceutical sectors.

Although EU institutions have heavily invested in quantum programmes and Europe trains more engineers than anywhere else, funding gaps persist.

Private investment remains limited, pushing some of the continent’s most promising start-ups abroad in search of capital and scale.

The EU must pair its technical excellence with bold policy reforms to avoid falling behind. Strategic protections, high-risk R&D support and new alliances will be essential to turning scientific strength into global leadership.

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Malicious Gravity Forms versions prompt urgent WordPress update

Two versions of the popular Gravity Forms plugin for WordPress were found infected with malware after a supply chain attack, prompting urgent security warnings for website administrators. The compromised plugin files were available for manual download from the official page on 9 and 10 July.

The attack was uncovered on 11 July, when researchers noticed the plugin making suspicious requests and sending WordPress site data to an unfamiliar domain.

The injected malware created secret administrator accounts, providing attackers with remote access to websites, allowing them to steal data and control user accounts.

According to developer RocketGenius, only versions 2.9.11.1 and 2.9.12 were affected if installed manually or via composer during that brief window. Automatic updates and the Gravity API service remained secure. A patched version, 2.9.13, was released on 11 July, and users are urged to update immediately.

RocketGenius has rotated all service keys, audited admin accounts, and tightened download package security to prevent similar incidents instead of risking further unauthorised access.

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Asia’s humanities under pressure from AI surge

Universities across Asia, notably in China, are slashing liberal arts enrollments to expand STEM and AI programmes. Institutions like Fudan and Tsinghua are reducing intake for humanities subjects, as policymakers push for a high-tech workforce.

Despite this shift, educators argue that sidelining subjects like history, philosophy, and ethics threatens the cultivation of critical thinking, moral insight, and cultural literacy, which are increasingly necessary in an AI-saturated world.

They contend that humanistic reasoning remains essential for navigating AI’s societal and ethical complexities.

Innovators are pushing for hybrid models of education. Humanities courses are evolving to incorporate AI-driven archival research, digital analysis, and data-informed argumentation, turning liberal arts into tools for interpreting technology, rather than resisting it.

Supporters emphasise that liberal arts students offer distinct advantages: they excel in communication, ethical judgement, storytelling and adaptability, capacities that machines lack. These soft skills are increasingly valued in workplaces that integrate AI.

Analysts predict that the future lies not in abandoning the humanities but in transforming them. When taught alongside technical disciplines, through STEAM initiatives and cross-disciplinary curricula, liberal arts can complement AI, ensuring that technology remains anchored in human values.

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Zuckerberg unveils Meta’s multi-gigawatt AI data clusters

Meta Platforms is building several of the world’s largest data centres to power its AI ambitions, with the first facility expected to go online in 2026.

Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg revealed on Threads that the site, called Prometheus, will be the first of multiple ‘titan clusters’ designed to support AI development instead of relying on existing infrastructure.

Frustrated by earlier AI efforts, Meta is investing heavily in talent and technology. The company has committed up to $72 billion towards AI and data centre expansion, while Zuckerberg has personally recruited high-profile figures from OpenAI, DeepMind, and Apple.

That includes appointing Scale AI’s Alexandr Wang as chief AI officer through a $14.3 billion stake deal and securing Ruoming Pang with a compensation package worth over $200 million.

The facilities under construction will have multi-gigawatt capacity, placing Meta ahead of rivals such as OpenAI and Oracle in the race for large-scale AI infrastructure.

One supercluster in Richland Parish, Louisiana, is said to cover an area nearly the size of Manhattan instead of smaller conventional data centre sites.

Zuckerberg confirmed that Meta is prepared to invest ‘hundreds of billions of dollars’ into building superintelligence capabilities, using revenue from its core advertising business on platforms like Facebook and Instagram to fund these projects instead of seeking external financing.

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How AI agents are reshaping the marketing landscape

Marketers have weathered many disruptions, but a bigger shift is emerging—AI agents are starting to make purchasing decisions. As machines begin choosing what to buy, brands must rethink how they build visibility and relevance in this new landscape.

AI agents do not shop like humans. They use logic, structured data, and performance signals—not emotion, nostalgia or storytelling. They compare price, reviews, and specs. Brand loyalty and lifestyle marketing may carry less weight when decisions are made algorithmically.

According to Salesforce, 24% of people are open to AI shopping on their behalf—rising to 32% among Gen Z. Agents interpret products as data tables. Structured information, such as features and sentiment analysis, guide choices—not impulse or advertising flair.

Even long-trusted household brands may be evaluated solely on objective criteria, not reputation or emotional attachment. Marketers must adapt by preparing product data for machine interpretation—structured content, live feeds, and transparent performance metrics.

AI agents may also disguise themselves, interacting via email or traditional channels. Systems will need to detect and respond accordingly. Machine-to-machine buying is likely to rise, requiring cross-team coordination to align digital, data and marketing strategies.

Winning with AI agents means making products visible, verifiable, and understandable to machines—without compromising human trust. Those who act now will lead in a market where machines increasingly choose what consumers consume.

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AI could save billions but healthcare adoption is slow

AI is being hailed as a transformative force in healthcare, with the potential to reduce costs and improve outcomes dramatically. Estimates suggest widespread AI integration could save up to 360 billion dollars annually by accelerating diagnosis and reducing inefficiencies across the system.

Although tools like AI scribes, triage assistants, and scheduling systems are gaining ground, clinical adoption remains slow. Only a small percentage of doctors, roughly 12%, currently rely on AI for diagnostic decisions. This cautious rollout reflects deeper concerns about the risks associated with medical AI.

Challenges include algorithmic drift when systems are exposed to real-world conditions, persistent racial and ethnic biases in training data, and the opaque ‘black box’ nature of many AI models. Privacy issues also loom, as healthcare data remains among the most sensitive and tightly regulated.

Experts argue that meaningful AI adoption in clinical care must be incremental. It requires rigorous validation, clinician training, transparent algorithms, and clear regulatory guidance. While the potential to save lives and money is significant, the transformation will be slow and deliberate, not overnight.

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Latin America struggling to join the global AI race

Currently, Latin America is lagging in AI innovation. It contributes only 0.3% of global startup activity and attracts a mere 1% of worldwide investment, despite housing around 8% of the global population.

Experts point to a significant brain drain, a lack of local funding options, weak policy frameworks, and dependency on foreign technology as major obstacles. Many high‑skilled professionals emigrate in search of better opportunities elsewhere.

To bridge the gap, regional governments are urged to develop coherent national AI strategies, foster regional collaboration, invest in digital education, and strengthen ties between the public and private sectors.

Strategic regulation and talent retention initiatives could help Latin America build its capacity and compete globally.

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Samsung confirms core Galaxy AI tools remain free

Samsung has confirmed that core Galaxy AI features will continue to be available free of charge for all users.

Speaking during the recent Galaxy Unpacked event, a company representative clarified that any AI tools installed on a device by default—such as Live Translate, Note Assist, Zoom Nightography and Audio Eraser—will not require a paid subscription.

Instead of leaving users uncertain, Samsung has publicly addressed speculation around possible Galaxy AI subscription plans.

While there are no additional paid AI features on offer at present, the company has not ruled out future developments. Samsung has already hinted that upcoming subscription services linked to Samsung Health could eventually include extra AI capabilities.

Alongside Samsung’s announcement, attention has also turned towards Google’s freemium model for its Gemini AI assistant, which appears on many Android devices. Users can access basic features without charge, but upgrading to Google AI Pro or Ultra unlocks advanced tools and increased storage.

New Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 handsets even come bundled with six months of free access to premium Google AI services.

Although Samsung is keeping its pre-installed Galaxy AI features free, industry observers expect further changes as AI continues to evolve.

Whether Samsung will follow Google’s path with a broader subscription model remains to be seen, but for now, essential Galaxy AI functions stay open to all users without extra cost.

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