Capacity development Archives | Page 241 of 332

AI rock band’s Spotify rise fuels calls for transparency

A mysterious indie rock band called The Velvet Sundown has shot to popularity on Spotify, and may be powered by AI. Their debut track, Dust on the Wind, has racked up over 380,000 plays since 20 June and helped attract more than 470,000 monthly listeners.

The song bears a resemblance to the 1977 Kansas hit Dust in the Wind, prompting suspicion from Reddit users. The band’s profile picture and Instagram photos appear AI-generated, while the band members listed — such as ‘Milo Rains’ and ‘Rio Del Mar’ — have no online trace.

Despite the clues, Spotify does not label the group as AI-generated. Their songs are appearing in curated playlists like Discover Weekly. Only Deezer, a French streaming service, has identified The Velvet Sundown as likely created by generative AI models like Suno or Udio.

Deezer began tagging AI music in June and now detects over 20,000 entirely artificial tracks each day. Another AI band, The Devil Inside, has also gained traction. Their song Bones in the River has over 1.6 million plays on Spotify, but lacks credited creators.

On Deezer, the same track is labelled as AI-generated and linked to Hungarian musician László Tamási — a rare human credit for bot-made music. While Deezer takes a transparent approach, Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music have not announced detection systems or labelling plans.

Deezer CEO Alexis Lanternier said AI is ‘not inherently good or bad,’ but called for transparency to protect artist rights and user trust. Legal battles are already underway. US record labels have sued Suno and Udio for mass copyright infringement, though the companies argue it falls under fair use.

As AI-generated music continues to rise, platforms face increasing pressure to inform users and draw more precise lines between human and machine-made art.

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Apple may use ChatGPT or Claude to power Siri

Apple is reportedly in talks with OpenAI and Anthropic as it considers outsourcing AI technology for its voice assistant, Siri.

The discussions are said to include the possibility of training versions of ChatGPT or Claude to run on Apple’s cloud infrastructure. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is currently leaning towards Anthropic’s Claude as a better fit for Siri, although no final decision has been made.

While Apple already allows users to access ChatGPT through its Apple Intelligence platform, the integration is currently optional and user-driven.

What is now under consideration would mark a significant shift, such as choosing a third-party model to power Siri directly. The initiative comes as the company struggles to keep pace in a rapidly advancing AI market dominated by Google, OpenAI, and others.

Apple is still developing its large language models under a project codenamed LLM Siri. However, these in-house systems are reportedly lagging behind leading models already available.

Should Apple proceed with a third-party integration, it would signal a rare admission that its internal AI efforts are not enough to compete at the highest level.

Once celebrated for breakthrough innovations like the iPhone, Apple has faced growing criticism for a lack of fresh ideas. With rivals embedding generative AI into everyday tools, the pressure is mounting.

If Siri remains limited — still unable to answer basic questions — Apple risks alienating even its most loyal users. Whether through partnership or internal progress, the company now faces a narrowing window to prove it still leads, instead of follows.

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Africa risks being left behind in global AI development

Africa is falling far behind in the global race to develop AI, according to a new report by Oxford University.

The study mapped the location of advanced AI infrastructure and revealed that only 32 countries — just 16% of the world — currently operate major AI data centres.

These facilities are essential for training and developing modern AI systems. In contrast, most African nations remain dependent on foreign technology providers, limiting their control over digital development.

Rather than building local capacity, Africa has essentially been treated as a market for AI products developed elsewhere. Regional leaders have often focused on distributing global tech tools instead of investing in infrastructure for homegrown innovation.

One notable exception is Strive Masiyiwa’s Cassava Technologies, which recently partnered with Nvidia to launch the continent’s first AI factory, which is located in South Africa. The project aims to expand across Egypt, Kenya, Morocco and Nigeria.

Unlike typical data centres, an AI factory is explicitly built to support the full AI lifecycle, from raw data to trained models. Nvidia’s GPUs will power the facility, enabling ‘AI as a service’ to be used by governments, businesses, and researchers across the continent.

Cassava’s model offers a more sustainable vision, where African data is used to create local solutions, instead of exporting value abroad.

Experts argue that Africa needs more such initiatives to reduce dependence and participate meaningfully in the AI economy. An AI Fund supported by leading African nations could help finance new factories and infrastructure.

With time running out, leaders must move beyond surface-level engagement and begin coordinated action to address the continent’s growing digital divide.

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Balancing security and usability in digital authentication

A report by the FIDO Alliance revealed that 53% of consumers observed an increase in suspicious messages in 2024, with SMS, emails, and phone calls being the primary vectors.

As digital scams and AI-driven fraud rise, businesses face growing pressure to strengthen authentication methods without compromising user experience.

No clear standard has emerged despite the range of available authentication options—including passkeys, one-time passwords (OTP), multi-factor authentication (MFA), and biometric systems.

Industry experts warn that focusing solely on advanced tools can lead to overlooking basic user needs. Minor authentication hurdles such as CAPTCHA errors have led to customer drop-offs and failed transactions.

Organisations are exploring risk-based, adaptive authentication models that adjust security levels based on user behaviour and context. The systems could eventually replace static logins with continuous, behind-the-scenes verification.

AI complicates the landscape further. As autonomous assistants handle tasks like booking tickets or making purchases, distinguishing legitimate user activity from malicious bots becomes increasingly tricky.

With no universal solution, experts say businesses must offer a flexible range of secure options tailored to user preferences. The challenge remains to find the right balance between security and usability in an evolving threat environment.

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Meta expands AI ambitions with more OpenAI hires

According to a report published by The Information on Sunday, Meta Platforms has hired four additional researchers from OpenAI.

The researchers—Shengjia Zhao, Jiahui Yu, Shuchao Bi, and Hongyu Ren—are set to join Meta’s AI team as part of a broader recruitment drive. All four were previously involved in AI development at OpenAI, the Microsoft-backed company behind ChatGPT and other generative models.

Earlier in the week, The Wall Street Journal reported that Meta had hired three more OpenAI researchers—Lucas Beyer, Alexander Kolesnikov and Xiaohua Zhai—based in the firm’s Zurich office.

The hires reflect Meta’s increased investment in advanced AI research, particularly in ‘superintelligence’, a term CEO Mark Zuckerberg has used to describe future AI capabilities.

Meta and OpenAI have not yet responded to requests for comment. Reuters noted that it could not independently verify the hiring details at the time of reporting.

With growing competition among tech giants in AI innovation, Meta’s continued talent acquisition suggests a clear intention to strengthen its internal capabilities through strategic hiring.

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Sam Altman reverses his stance on AI hardware as current computers can’t meet the demands

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, has returned from his earlier position, saying that AGI would not need new hardware.

Speaking on a podcast with his brother, Altman said current computers are no longer suited for the fast-evolving demands of AI. Instead of relying on standard hardware, he now believes new solutions are necessary.

OpenAI has already started developing dedicated AI hardware, including potential custom chips, marking a shift from using general-purpose GPUs and servers.

Altman also hinted at a new device — not a wearable, nor a phone — that could serve as an AI companion. Designed to be screen-free and aware of its surroundings, the product is being co-developed with former Apple design chief Jony Ive.

The collaboration, however, has run into legal trouble. A federal judge recently ordered OpenAI and Ive to pause the promotion of the new venture after a trademark dispute with a startup named IYO, which had previously pitched similar ideas to Altman’s investment firm.

OpenAI’s recent $6.5 billion acquisition of io Products, co-founded by Ive, reflects the company’s more profound commitment to reshaping how people interact with AI.

Altman’s revised stance on hardware suggests the era of purpose-built AI devices is no longer a vision but a necessary reality.

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Dutch government to build AI plant with €70 million pledge

The Dutch government has pledged €70 million to build a new AI facility in Groningen to establish a European hub for AI research and development.

A consortium of Dutch organisations will manage the plant and focus on healthcare, agriculture, defence and energy applications.

The government is also seeking an additional €70 million in EU co-financing and has welcomed a separate €60 million contribution from the Groningen regional administration.

The plant is expected to be commissioned in 2026 and reach operation by early 2027 if funding is secured.

Minister of Economic Affairs Vincent Karremans emphasised the need to develop domestic AI capacity, warning that dependence on foreign technologies could threaten national competitiveness and digital independence.

‘Those who do not develop the technology themselves depend on others, ’ Karremans said on the government’s website.

European countries have grown increasingly concerned over their reliance on AI technologies developed by US companies.

The Groningen initiative marks a broader effort by the EU to build its own AI infrastructure instead of leaving strategic control in foreign hands.

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Path forward for global digital cooperation debated at IGF 2025

At the 20th Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in Lillestrøm, Norway, policymakers, civil society, and digital stakeholders gathered to chart the future of global internet governance through the WSIS+20 review. With a high-level UN General Assembly meeting scheduled for December, co-facilitators from Kenya and Albania emphasised the need to update the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) framework while preserving its original, people-centred vision.

They underscored the importance of inclusive consultations, highlighting a new multistakeholder sounding board and upcoming joint sessions to enhance dialogue between governments and broader communities. The conversation revolved around the evolving digital landscape and how WSIS can adapt to emerging technologies like AI, data governance, and digital public infrastructure.

While some participants favoured WSIS as the primary global framework, others advocated for closer synergy with the Global Digital Compact (GDC), stressing the importance of coordination to avoid institutional duplication. Despite varied views, there was widespread consensus that the existing WSIS action lines, being technology-neutral, can remain relevant by accommodating new innovations.

Speakers from the government, private sector, and civil society reiterated the call to permanently secure the IGF’s mandate, praising its unique ability to foster open, inclusive dialogue without the pressure of binding negotiations. They pointed to IGF’s historical success in boosting internet connectivity and called for more tangible outputs to influence policymaking.

National-level participation, especially from developing countries, women, youth, and marginalised communities, was identified as crucial for meaningful engagement.

The session ended on a hopeful note, with participants expressing a shared commitment to a more inclusive and equitable digital future. As the December deadline looms, the global community faces the task of turning shared principles into concrete action, ensuring digital governance mechanisms remain cooperative, adaptable, and genuinely representative of all voices.

Track all key moments from the Internet Governance Forum 2025 on our dedicated IGF page.

Digital rights under threat: Global majority communities call for inclusive solutions at IGF 2025

At the Internet Governance Forum 2025 in Lillestrøm, Norway, a pivotal session hosted by Oxfam’s RECIPE Project shed light on the escalating digital rights challenges facing communities across the Global majority. Representatives from Vietnam, Bolivia, Cambodia, Somalia, and Palestine presented sobering findings based on research with over 1,000 respondents across nine countries.

Despite the diversity of regions, speakers echoed similar concerns: digital literacy is dangerously low, access to safe and inclusive online spaces remains unequal, and legal protections for digital rights are often absent or underdeveloped.

The human cost of digital inequality was made clear from Bolivia to Palestine. In Bolivia, over three-quarters of respondents had experienced digital security incidents, and many reported targeted violence linked to their roles as human rights defenders.

In Somalia, where internet penetration is high, only a fraction understands how to protect their personal data. Palestine, meanwhile, faces systematic digital discrimination, marked by unequal infrastructure access and advanced surveillance technologies used against its population, exacerbated by ongoing occupation and political instability.

Yet amidst these challenges, the forum underscored a strong sense of resilience and innovation. Civil society organisations from Cambodia and Bolivia showcased bottom-up approaches, such as peer-led digital security training and feminist digital safety networks, which help communities protect themselves and influence policy.

Vietnam emphasised the need for genuine participation in policymaking, rather than formalistic consultations, as a path to more equitable digital governance. The session concluded with a shared call to action: digital governance must prioritise human rights and meaningful participation from the ground up.

Speakers and audience members highlighted the urgent need for multistakeholder cooperation—spanning civil society, government, and the tech industry—to counter misinformation and protect freedom of expression, especially in the face of expanding surveillance and online harm. As one participant from Zambia noted, digital safety must not come at the expense of digital freedom; the two must evolve together.

Track all key moments from the Internet Governance Forum 2025 on our dedicated IGF page.

DeepSeek struggles to launch R2 amid NVIDIA chip shortage

The launch of DeepSeek’s next-generation AI model, R2, is expected to face delays due to a shortage of NVIDIA H20 chips in China.

These chips, designed specifically for the Chinese market following US export restrictions, are essential for running DeepSeek’s highly optimised models.

The ban on H20 shipments in April has triggered widespread concern among cloud providers about the scalability of R2, especially if it outperforms existing open-source models.

CEO Liang Wenfeng has reportedly held back the model’s release, expressing dissatisfaction with its current performance.

Engineers continue refining R2, but the lack of compatible hardware poses a deeper challenge. DeepSeek’s reliance on NVIDIA architecture makes switching to Chinese chips inefficient, as the models are tightly built for NVIDIA’s software and hardware ecosystem.

Some Chinese firms have begun using workarounds by flying engineers to Malaysia, where NVIDIA chips are still available in local data centres.

After training their models abroad, teams return to China with trained systems. Others rely on gaming GPUs like the RTX 5090, which are easier to access via grey markets despite restrictions.

While Chinese tech giants ordered 1.2 million H20 chips earlier in 2025 to meet demand sparked by R1’s success, inventory is still unlikely to support a full R2 rollout.

Companies outside China may launch R2 more easily without facing the same export hurdles.

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