SoftBank is making strides in Japan’s AI landscape, using Nvidia’s latest Blackwell chip technology to drive advancements in artificial intelligence and telecommunications. The telecom giant plans to construct Japan’s most powerful AI supercomputer, integrating Nvidia’s Blackwell and Grace Blackwell platforms to create a robust system for advanced AI applications.
In a pioneering trial, SoftBank tested an AI-enabled 5G network that utilises Nvidia’s AI Aerial platform, potentially unlocking new revenue streams for telecom providers. By converting telecom base stations into AI-ready infrastructure, SoftBank demonstrated how its AI-RAN technology can optimise both 5G network performance and support for AI services, allowing for the monetisation of unused network capacity.
Through this collaboration, Nvidia and SoftBank foresee telecom operators generating substantial returns, estimating up to $5 in AI revenue for every $1 invested in AI-RAN infrastructure. SoftBank’s energy-efficient AI network is designed for real-time AI inference, supporting applications like autonomous vehicle operations and robotics, and transforming Japan’s telecom industry into a global AI leader.
A future Nvidia-powered AI marketplace aims to broaden access to AI services across various sectors in Japan. By enabling localised, secure, and low-latency AI solutions, SoftBank is set to provide innovative AI support for sectors from healthcare to research, positioning Japan at the forefront of the AI revolution.
Amazon Web Services (AWS) is offering $110 million in free computing power to researchers to promote its custom AI chips. The programme provides credits for the use of AWS’s Trainium chips, which are designed to compete with Nvidia’s widely-used hardware, as well as Advanced Micro Devices and Alphabet’s cloud technology. Researchers from Carnegie Mellon University and the University of California, Berkeley, are already participating, with AWS planning to make 40,000 Trainium chips available.
AWS, the world’s leading cloud provider by sales, is facing intensified competition from Microsoft, especially as the demand for cutting-edge AI hardware grows. The company is taking a novel approach to lure AI developers by offering detailed documentation for Trainium’s instruction set architecture. This will allow researchers to program the chip directly, unlike Nvidia‘s chips, which usually require the use of proprietary Cuda software.
Gadi Hutt, head of business development for AI chips at AWS, said this strategy is aimed at customers with large-scale operations. Even minor programming adjustments could yield significant performance and cost advantages when using tens of thousands of chips. Hutt emphasised that companies investing hundreds of millions in computing infrastructure would welcome opportunities to improve efficiency and reduce expenses.
The US Commerce Department has pledged up to $18.2 million in funding to California-based Akash Systems to build a 40,000-square-foot cleanroom facility dedicated to advanced semiconductor manufacturing in West Oakland, California. This funding, part of the $52.7 billion semiconductor subsidy program, will be combined with Akash’s own investments and venture capital to create a $121 million production site for Diamond Cooling substrates and systems designed to enhance thermal management in AI-driven data centres.
Akash CEO Felix Ejeckam highlighted this investment as a significant step in meeting the challenges of high-performance computing. Last year, the company also established a landmark labor neutrality agreement for West Oakland semiconductor production workers in partnership with the IUE-CWA union, covering both construction and production roles.
The announcement comes as the Commerce Department works to finalise semiconductor grants under the 2022 Chips and Science Act, aimed at bolstering US-based chip production to reduce reliance on Asia. Thus far, around 20 companies have been awarded 36 billion in preliminary agreements, including a finalised $123 million deal with Polar Semiconductor to modernise its facility in Minnesota. Additional awards for major chipmakers, including Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. and GlobalFoundries, are expected before the administration transition in January.
Google Cloud has partnered with ZetaChain to support its Universal Blockchain, which aims to foster broader adoption of Web3 technology. The collaboration will allow decentralised apps, known as Universal Apps, to operate across multiple blockchain networks such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. The innovation breaks from traditional blockchains that are isolated and unable to interact with other networks.
As part of the deal, Google Cloud will act as a validator for ZetaChain, helping to secure the blockchain and support its growth. Google Cloud’s infrastructure will verify transactions and maintain a reliable ledger for the platform. ZetaChain is also delegating 1 million tokens to strengthen the network by incentivising validator activities.
Additionally, developers working on ZetaChain will gain access to Google Cloud’s Web3 Startups Program, which includes cloud credits to offset infrastructure costs and a testnet faucet to streamline app development and testing. This collaboration marks another significant move by Google Cloud to support Web3 and decentralised application development.
Elon Musk’s Starlink has received government approval to provide satellite internet in Chad, aiming to bridge the country’s significant connectivity gap. With only 12% of the population online as of 2022, the move is expected to bring internet access to remote regions lacking fiber-optic coverage. Communications Minister Boukar Michel confirmed the agreement, noting that better connectivity could spur public service digitalisation and tech start-up growth.
The satellite internet provider, a division of SpaceX, operates in several African nations, including Nigeria and Madagascar, though it has encountered regulatory hurdles elsewhere. In Chad, Starlink’s deployment is seen as a solution to the nation’s limited infrastructure. Elon Musk celebrated the expansion with an announcement on social media, declaring, ‘Starlink now available in Chad!’.
Despite its growing presence, Starlink has faced resistance from state-run telecom monopolies in some regions. In Cameroon, its equipment was seised earlier this year due to licensing issues. Meanwhile, local telecom operators in countries like Kenya are urging regulators to require partnerships between satellite services and national mobile providers.
Israeli startup Panjaya.ai has raised $9.5 million in funding to develop BodyTalk, an AI-powered platform that translates content while synchronising lip movements and body gestures. The platform offers natural, accurate translations in any language, creating a seamless viewing experience across cultures. The funding was provided by Viola Ventures, R-Squared Ventures, GroundUp Ventures, and a number of notable angel investors.
Co-founded by Hilik Shani and Ariel Shalom, Panjaya aims to revolutionise AI translations. In 2023, the company was joined by Guy Piekarz, former Match co-founder and Apple executive, who now serves as CEO. By blending neural voice synthesis, computer vision, and Natural Language Processing (NLP), the platform enables organisations to provide culturally authentic experiences to diverse audiences.
The pilot programme of BodyTalk has already proven successful, with TED integrating the platform into its global content strategy. TED has used BodyTalk to translate Talks into multiple languages, including Portuguese, French, German, Italian, and Spanish. The AI ensures that translated content feels authentic to the original message, enhancing engagement for international audiences.
Panjaya’s platform is designed to offer something rare in digital communication: an authentic, culturally nuanced translation experience. CEO Guy Piekarz highlighted the significance of synchronisation in delivering content that truly resonates with global audiences. BodyTalk aims to set a new standard for multilingual communication, making it more impactful and inclusive.
VVDN Technologies has partnered with SecureThings.ai to enhance cybersecurity across various industry sectors, primarily focusing on the connected vehicle ecosystem. Through this collaboration, SecureThings.ai’s advanced cybersecurity solutions will be integrated into VVDN’s automotive products and services, including vehicle connectivity, in-vehicle infotainment systems, instrument clusters, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), and software-defined vehicle (SDV) solutions.
As a result, this partnership ensures that VVDN meets global cybersecurity standards, such as ISO 21434, while providing robust security for connected vehicles and IoT ecosystems. Specifically, key initiatives include intrusion detection and protection systems, real-time threat intelligence services, the establishment of a security research lab, and the provision of a red team as a service for independent cybersecurity assessments.
These efforts will help VVDN fortify connected devices, comply with evolving regulations like R 155/156 and AIS 189/190 in India, and offer comprehensive protection against cyber threats. Moreover, this partnership strengthens both companies’ positions in the cybersecurity market, with VVDN emphasising its commitment to delivering secure, reliable solutions globally.
Furthermore, SecureThings.ai’s expertise in cutting-edge security research and technologies will empower OEMs and tier-1 suppliers to combat emerging threats and adhere to stringent regulatory standards. The collaboration also leverages VVDN’s product engineering capabilities, thus driving innovation and setting new standards for cybersecurity in the automotive and IoT industries.
Ericsson and e& UAE have collaborated to advance the development of 6G technology through a newly signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), marking an early initiative to shape the future of mobile networks. By engaging in technical discussions and exploring key 6G concepts, both companies aim to lay a strong foundation for next-generation connectivity.
That partnership aligns with a shared vision of digital transformation and reinforces their commitment to positioning the UAE as a leader in telecommunications innovation. Furthermore, e& UAE is advancing its 5G capabilities, recently achieving a record-breaking 5G speed of 62 Gbps by aggregating multiple frequency bands with advanced MU-MIMO algorithms.
Additionally, they showcased Low Latency, Low Loss, Scalable Throughput (L4S) technology at GITEX Global 2024, significantly enhancing the 5G Standalone network’s latency for critical applications in industrial automation, cloud gaming, and extended reality (XR). These efforts highlight their leadership in 5G and set a foundation for the shift to 6G, supporting the high demands of ultra-reliable, low-latency applications.
At the same time, that collaboration underscores e& UAE’s vision to lead the nation’s digital future and establishes a benchmark for regional advancement in telecommunications. By combining Ericsson’s global expertise with e& UAE’s commitment to innovation, the companies are strategically preparing to transition from 5G to 6G, ensuring that the region remains at the forefront of mobile network evolution.
China Mobile and ZTE have launched an AI-driven Green Telco Cloud solution designed to optimise energy consumption in telecom networks while maintaining business continuity and a high-quality user experience. The solution monitors and analyses key parameters such as server load and network traffic in real-time, dynamically adjusting computing resources like CPU frequency and sleep modes by utilising advanced deep neural networks.
The energy-saving approach has been successfully validated on both X86 and ARM cloud platforms, with notable results in China Mobile’s Hunan and Anhui branches, demonstrating up to a 25% reduction in energy consumption. As a result, the solution lowers operational costs through improved resource utilisation and reduced equipment maintenance and contributes to global sustainability efforts by reducing carbon emissions. Therefore, that technology represents a significant step toward transforming the telecom industry into a more energy-efficient, green sector as 4G and 5G networks expand.
Furthermore, China Mobile and ZTE are committed to further optimising and expanding their AI-driven Green Telco Cloud solution to promote long-term sustainability in the telecom sector. Through their collaboration, both companies emphasise the importance of technological innovation in achieving environmental goals while simultaneously enhancing telecom operators’ corporate image and competitiveness. Additionally, they plan to drive the widespread adoption of energy-saving technologies, ensuring that the telecom industry contributes to a greener, low-carbon future.
AI-powered search engine Perplexity has started testing advertisements in the US, marking its first foray into ad-based monetisation. These ads appear as ‘sponsored follow-up questions,’ offering suggestions like ‘How can I use LinkedIn to enhance my job search?’ They are labelled and displayed alongside AI-generated answers without altering the platform’s objectivity or user privacy.
The company views advertising as essential for sustainable revenue growth, complementing its premium subscription service. Perplexity is partnering with brands like Indeed and Whole Foods, emphasising its ability to connect advertisers with high-income, educated audiences. However, critics have raised concerns about the platform’s reach and allegations of plagiarism, including lawsuits from major publishers like Dow Jones and The New York Times.
With pressure to diversify income streams, Perplexity is exploring ad formats as it approaches a potential $9B valuation. It remains committed to refining its tools and addressing industry concerns while adapting its platform for broader monetisation.
