Nvidia reported a staggering $19B in net income last quarter but faced questions about sustaining its rapid growth amid shifts in AI development methods. Analysts questioned CEO Jensen Huang on how Nvidia’s position might evolve with trends like ‘test-time scaling,’ a method that enhances AI responses by increasing computing power during inference, the phase when AI generates answers.
Huang described test-time scaling as a groundbreaking development and emphasised Nvidia’s readiness to support it. He noted that while most of the company’s focus remains on pretraining AI models, the growing emphasis on inference could transform the AI landscape. Nvidia’s dominance in pretraining has propelled its stock up 180% this year, but competition in AI inference is heating up, with startups like Groq and Cerebras offering alternative chip solutions.
Despite concerns about diminishing returns from traditional AI scaling, Huang remains optimistic, asserting that foundational AI development continues to advance. He reiterated Nvidia’s advantage as the largest AI inference platform globally, citing the company’s scale and reliability as critical factors in maintaining its edge.
New Lantern, a startup founded by engineer Shiva Suri, has raised $19M in Series A funding led by Benchmark. Inspired by observing his mother’s work as a radiologist, Suri created the platform to address inefficiencies in the field. New Lantern combines two core radiology tools, PACS, which stores medical images and reporting software, into a streamlined system powered by AI.
Unlike other AI solutions that focus on replacing radiologists, New Lantern enhances productivity by automating repetitive tasks like measurements and report generation. This approach allows radiologists to focus on analysing scans, which Benchmark’s Eric Vishria praised for doubling efficiency. The startup’s software is already being used by some radiology practices, although specifics remain undisclosed.
Suri envisions New Lantern as the next major evolution in radiology, akin to the industry’s shift from physical film to digital PACS. With plans to fully modernise the field, including cloud-based data storage, the company aims to disrupt entrenched players like GE Healthcare and Microsoft’s Nuance. For Suri, the personal stakes are high as his mom is an avid supporter of the platform she inspired.
SK Square, the holding company of AI chipmaker SK Hynix, unveiled plans to enhance shareholder value through a share buyback and other measures. The company will repurchase 100 billion won ($71.51 million) worth of shares within three months and cancel them, following a similar cancellation of shares bought in April.
The move comes after London-based hedge fund Palliser Capital proposed strategies to address SK Square’s undervaluation, with the company’s market value currently less than half the $18 billion worth of its 20% stake in SK Hynix. Palliser, which acquired a 1% stake in SK Square this year, has been in talks with the firm to improve shareholder returns.
This initiative aligns with South Korea‘s “Value-Up” program, designed to encourage companies to increase market value. SK Hynix, a key asset of SK Square, recently reported record profits driven by soaring AI chip demand from Nvidia, adding to the company’s potential for growth.
Alibaba Group is merging its domestic and international e-commerce platforms into a single business unit for the first time, the company announced on Thursday. The new unit, Alibaba E-Commerce Business Group, will combine the Taobao and Tmall Group with the Alibaba International Digital Commerce (AIDC) Group, which oversees platforms like AliExpress and Alibaba.com.
Jiang Fan, who previously headed Tmall, will lead the newly formed unit. Jiang, who faced a demotion in 2020 following an online scandal, will report directly to Alibaba’s CEO, Eddie Wu. Wu emphasised that the future competitive landscape in e-commerce will be shaped by global supply chain capabilities, fulfilment, and consumer service.
This move is part of Alibaba’s larger restructuring, which saw the company split into six business units last year. While Alibaba has faced increased competition from platforms like Pinduoduo, Temu, and TikTok, the company’s international division, under Jiang’s leadership, has posted strong growth, including a 29% increase in the September quarter.
Despite challenging market conditions in China, Alibaba has shown signs of stabilising its position. The company reported strong results during this year’s Singles Day sales, with robust growth in sales and a record number of shoppers, surpassing analyst expectations.
Meta is enhancing its Messenger app with a range of new features, including HD video calls, voice isolation, and AI-powered backgrounds. HD calls are now the default for Wi-Fi users and can also be enabled for cellular calls. Voice isolation reduces background noise during calls, improving clarity.
The app also introduces video and audio voice messages, allowing users to leave recordings when their contacts are unavailable. iOS users gain the ability to send messages and make calls through Siri, offering hands-free convenience.
Another highlight is the AI-generated backgrounds for video calls. Users can select this feature via the “effects” icon during calls, adding a creative, customisable touch to their conversations. These updates follow recent improvements, such as end-to-end encryption by default and the addition of a Meta AI chatbot in Messenger. Meta continues to evolve Messenger into a versatile communication platform, blending functionality with cutting-edge technology to enhance the user experience.
Ghana and Gambia are working together to implement the ECOWAS Free Roaming Initiative to reduce telecommunications costs for citizens travelling between the two countries and foster stronger economic and social ties. Spearheaded by Ghana’s National Communications Authority (NCA), Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation, and mobile network operators (MNOs), the initiative aligns with ECOWAS’s broader regional integration and economic self-sufficiency goals.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) will emerge from ongoing negotiations, enabling technical and regulatory discussions. Full implementation of the roaming regulations is planned for the first half of 2025, following the success of Ghana’s similar agreements with Côte d’Ivoire (February 2024), Benin (July 2024), and a trilateral deal with Togo and Benin (October 2024), which have already reduced costs and enhanced connectivity across the region.
Why does it matter?
That partnership highlights ECOWAS’s commitment to creating a seamless communication network and unified trade zone across West Africa. By expanding affordable cross-border telecommunications, such initiatives aim to build a robust digital infrastructure that fosters economic growth and regional cohesion. As Ghana and Gambia take steps to implement this initiative, they contribute to the broader vision of improving connectivity and integration across the ECOWAS region.
The Philippines’ Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) have formalised a strategic partnership to enhance social protection and poverty reduction efforts in the Philippines. Through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed on 15 November at the DSWD Central Office in Quezon City, the collaboration focuses on advancing digitalisation, improving monitoring and evaluation systems, and fostering data governance within the DSWD.
As a result, the partnership aims to strengthen digital infrastructure, enhance evidence-based decision-making, and expand social protection services for the country’s poor and vulnerable communities. Additionally, the collaboration will leverage digital tools and robust evaluation practices to ensure that social programs are effective and adaptable to evolving societal needs.
Furthermore, the MOU outlines initiatives to support multistakeholder collaborations, promote continuous learning among government agencies, and improve the DSWD’s capacity to deliver responsive and effective social protection programs. In conclusion, this partnership represents a pivotal step toward institutional development and underscores the commitment of both organisations to building a stronger framework for social development programs and services in the Philippines.
The Singapore National University Health System (NUHS), Sweden Sahlgrenska University Hospital, AstraZeneca, and Business Sweden are partnering through the Global Health Innovation Network (GHIN) to advance global healthcare innovation. That strategic initiative, therefore, aims to drive progress in screening, diagnosis, and monitoring technologies by combining expertise from the healthcare, pharmaceutical, and technology sectors.
Specifically, NUHS and Sahlgrenska University Hospital will provide clinical expertise, hospital resources, and research collaboration, while AstraZeneca, Ericsson, and Business Sweden will contribute their strengths in pharmaceutical innovation, technological connectivity, and project management. The partnership was formalised by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Singapore-Sweden Royal Business Forum, marking the first project under the government-to-government MoU on healthcare innovation between Singapore and Sweden.
As a result, GHIN’s goal is to accelerate the development and global implementation of innovative healthcare solutions, addressing the evolving needs of healthcare systems worldwide. By bringing together diverse industry leaders, the initiative aims to improve healthcare outcomes globally and ensure that both technological and clinical advancements are integrated into scalable solutions. Ultimately, this collaboration is set to make cutting-edge healthcare innovations more accessible to populations worldwide.
Reddit has restored access to its platform following a software bug that disrupted services for tens of thousands of US users. The outage, starting at 3 pm ET, affected many who rely on the platform for social interaction and information.
Reports of issues peaked at around 49,000 users, according to monitoring service Downdetector. By 4:32 pm ET, the number of affected users dropped significantly to just over 14,500 as the platform began recovering.
The company acknowledged the issue stemmed from a recent update. A spokesperson confirmed, ‘A fix is in place, and we’re ramping back up.’ Operations were progressively restored, easing concerns among users.
Reddit’s swift action underscores the challenges of maintaining seamless services on social media platforms. Temporary glitches, however, highlight the importance of quick and efficient response strategies.
Huawei plans to begin mass-producing its Ascend 910C AI chip in early 2025, despite ongoing struggles to achieve sufficient production yields due to US trade restrictions. The Chinese telecom giant has already sent samples to tech firms and started taking orders for the chip, designed to rival Nvidia’s high-performance processors. The company faces significant challenges, as restrictions on advanced manufacturing technologies have limited its chip-making efficiency.
The Ascend 910C is produced by Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC) using an N+2 process but suffers from a yield of just 20%—far below the 70% required for commercial viability. Previous Huawei processors, including the 910B, achieved yields of around 50%, leading to delays in fulfilling orders from major clients like ByteDance. Washington’s restrictions, which prevent access to critical Dutch lithography equipment, have further constrained China’s ability to produce advanced semiconductors.
Huawei’s reliance on SMIC has been costly, with chips produced on its advanced nodes priced up to 50% higher than alternatives. While the company has sought supplemental production from Taiwan’s TSMC, US authorities have tightened export controls, limiting access to cutting-edge chips and forcing Huawei to prioritise strategic government and corporate orders. The escalating trade tensions underscore the geopolitical struggle between the US and China over technological dominance, with both nations doubling down on policies to secure their interests.
As Beijing pushes for self-reliance in semiconductors, Huawei’s production challenges reflect the broader impact of US restrictions on China’s tech sector. With further curbs on the horizon, Huawei’s success in advancing its AI chips may shape the next phase of the US -China tech rivalry.
