San Francisco-based startup Untether has unveiled a new artificial intelligence chip, the 240 Slim, tailored for energy-efficient use in edge applications like autonomous vehicles and agricultural equipment. Unlike the large-scale data center chips produced by giants like Nvidia and AMD, Untether’s product is optimised to run pre-trained AI models, which means it focuses on inference, the process of applying existing AI models rather than training new ones.
As AI becomes more embedded in everyday technologies, demand for inference-focused chips is skyrocketing. Untether’s VP of product, Bob Beachler, anticipates the inference chip market to expand to $102B by 2027, far surpassing the training sector. The 240 Slim chip is built on the open-source RISC-V architecture, positioning it as a competitor to chips using Arm Holdings’ technology. Early tests by nonprofit MLCommons have shown promising performance results for Untether’s hardware.
Untether has already gained traction in the automotive sector; Mercedes-Benz plans to use Untether’s chips in its future autonomous vehicles. With these chips, the company aims to deliver cutting-edge performance with minimal power demands, a combination that could help drive innovation in autonomous tech, agriculture, and select data center applications.
The surge in AI exchange-traded funds (ETFs) reflects the growing investor enthusiasm for AI as fund managers launch new options to capture market interest. According to Morningstar, over a third of the AI-focused ETFs on the market were introduced in 2024, raising total assets in this category to $4.5 billion—close to the $5.5 billion held by nuclear-themed ETFs and far outpacing the $1.37 billion in cannabis funds. This growth is partially driven by high-profile gains, like chipmaker Nvidia’s stock surge of over 200% in the last year, which underscores AI’s profit potential, said Morningstar senior analyst Daniel Sotiroff.
BlackRock has added two new actively managed AI ETFs to its lineup, aiming to capture emerging opportunities in AI as the technology evolves. “The AI market is going to change dramatically,” noted Tony Kim of BlackRock, highlighting that what AI represents today will continue to shift. Bank of America analysts agree, describing the competition in AI among tech giants like Microsoft and Amazon as an “arms race.” This year, capital spending on AI by these firms is expected to total $206 billion, marking a 40% increase over last year, while venture capital funding for AI startups is projected to rise 27%, reaching $79.2 billion.
Despite the enthusiasm, AI-focused funds haven’t consistently outperformed the broader market; for instance, the Global X Artificial Intelligence & Technology ETF has gained about 20% in 2024, trailing the S&P 500’s 22% rise. Amplify ETFs recently shifted an existing cloud-computing ETF to focus on AI opportunities, illustrating the industry’s shift toward differentiating AI investment strategies. Nathan Miller of Amplify said that capturing the potential of AI-related capital spending remains a priority for long-term growth.
A new app called Loops is aiming to be the TikTok of the fediverse, an open-source social network ecosystem. Loops, which just opened for signups, will feature short, looping videos similar to TikTok’s format. Although still in development, the platform plans to be open-source and integrate with ActivityPub, the protocol that powers other federated apps like Mastodon and Pixelfed.
Loops is the latest project from Daniel Supernault, creator of Pixelfed, and will operate under the Pixelfed umbrella. Unlike mainstream social media, Loops promises not to sell user data to advertisers, nor will it use content to train AI models. Users will retain full ownership of their videos, granting Loops only limited permissions for use.
Like other fediverse platforms, Loops will rely on user donations for funding rather than investor support, with plans to accept contributions through Patreon and similar platforms. The app will also allow users on other federated networks, like Mastodon, to interact with Loops content seamlessly. Loops is currently seeking community input on its policies and looking for moderators to guide the platform’s early stages.
Meta has launched NotebookLlama, an ‘open’ version of Google’s NotebookLM generate-a-podcast tool, but using Meta’s Llama AI models. NotebookLlama processes uploaded text files, such as PDFs or blog posts, creating a podcast-style summary with dramatisation and interruptions, followed by conversion to speech through open text-to-speech models. However, early feedback highlights a robotic, less natural sound, with voices sometimes overlapping awkwardly.
Meta’s researchers acknowledge the audio limitations and suggest that quality could improve with better text-to-speech models. They also propose evolving the format to feature two AI agents debating topics rather than a single model handling the outline.
Despite various efforts to replicate NotebookLM’s podcast capabilities, all still struggle with AI ‘hallucinations,’ making the generated content prone to inaccuracies.
Google is working on a new AI technology that can take control of web browsers to perform tasks like research and online shopping, according to a report by The Information. The project, code-named ‘Project Jarvis,’ is expected to be showcased in December alongside Google’s upcoming Gemini large language model.
This initiative is part of a growing trend, with competitors like Microsoft-backed OpenAI also aiming to develop AI agents capable of navigating the web autonomously. Unlike current AI models, Google’s new software is designed to interact directly with a person’s computer or browser, potentially handling complex tasks more seamlessly.
The development reflects a broader industry push to create AI systems that can perform internet-based tasks independently, potentially transforming how users interact with technology. Google has not yet commented on the report, but the anticipated December demonstration could offer a glimpse into the future of automated online assistance.
Apple’s iPhone 16 will not be available for sale in Indonesia after the tech company failed to meet the country’s local content requirements. According to the Indonesian industry ministry, smartphones sold domestically must contain at least 40% locally made components, a threshold the iPhone 16 did not meet. Ministry spokesperson Febri Hendri Antoni Arief confirmed that while imports of the device for personal use are permitted if proper taxes are paid, Apple has not secured the necessary local content certification to market the phone widely in Indonesia.
Apple’s absence from the market could give a further edge to leading competitors OPPO and Samsung, who hold the top two positions in Indonesia’s smartphone market. The country’s large, tech-savvy population makes it a critical market for tech investment, and Indonesian officials have encouraged Apple to partner with domestic firms to meet local content requirements.
While Apple has no manufacturing plants in Indonesia, it has invested in app developer academies since 2018, amounting to around $101.8 million to support local talent and development.
Microsoft shareholders will vote on 10 December on whether the tech company should assess adding Bitcoin to its balance books, following a proposal filed with the US securities regulator. While the National Centre for Public Policy Research (NCPPR) urged Microsoft to consider Bitcoin investments, highlighting MicroStrategy’s profitable strategy and rising corporate adoption, Microsoft’s board advised against it.
The board argued that they already reviewed various assets, including Bitcoin, as part of their investment evaluations. The NCPPR, however, stated that Bitcoin could act as an inflation hedge, suggesting that even a small investment—around 1% of assets—might offer long-term benefits.
Despite interest from some shareholders, Microsoft’s current focus remains on artificial intelligence rather than blockchain or cryptocurrency investments. Though it once accepted Bitcoin payments for its Xbox store, this practice was discontinued in 2018, and Bitcoin investment is viewed as unlikely at present.
Bayt.com and Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to launch the Tech Talent Hub, an initiative aimed at identifying, developing, and retaining top technology talent within the Kingdom. Aligned with Saudi Vision 2030, this project seeks to strengthen the tech and telecommunications workforce, fostering a knowledge-based economy.
The Tech Talent Hub, supported by Bayt.com’s extensive network of over 52 million job seekers, will offer tailored recruitment services, workshops, and ongoing support to connect skilled talent with industry opportunities. MCIT will lead the Hub’s establishment in partnership with Talentera, Bayt.com’s recruitment platform with an Applicant Tracking System (ATS), and provide essential job seeker data to optimise recruitment efforts.
The initiative, scheduled to roll out in three phases over one year, underscores both organisations’ commitment to a sustainable approach to meeting workforce demands and adapting to advancements in the tech sector. Leadership from both MCIT and Bayt.com have expressed commitment to the Tech Talent Hub, recognising its significance for Saudi Arabia’s economic transformation and growth within the technology sector.
They emphasised that the Hub will be critical in nurturing the Kingdom’s tech talent and connecting job seekers with valuable opportunities. This initiative promises to benefit job seekers and employers by enhancing the talent pool, supporting career development, and contributing to the Kingdom’s digital transformation goals under Vision 2030.
INTRO Technology has entered into a strategic partnership with Sterling and Wilson Data Center (SWDC) by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on the Kemet Data Center project located in the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE). Under this agreement, SWDC will serve as the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contractor, overseeing key responsibilities such as design, planning, budgeting, and timeline management.
That partnership is significant for enhancing Egypt’s digital infrastructure and solidifying the country’s role as a leader in the data centre and cloud services industry. The Kemet Data Center is designed to meet the growing demand for cloud services, the Internet of Things (IoT), and digital transformation across the Middle East and Africa, providing secure and scalable data storage solutions.
Both Hatem Suliman, Vice Chairman and Group CEO of INTRO Holding, and Prasanna Sarambale, CEO of SWDC, expressed their enthusiasm for the collaboration, emphasising their commitment to international standards and alignment with Egypt’s Vision 2030. The partnership is crucial as it combines the technological expertise of INTRO Technology with SWDC’s extensive experience in constructing high-quality data centres.
Why does it matter?
By enhancing the digital infrastructure in Egypt, the Kemet Data Center will position the country as a competitive hub for international investments, foster economic growth, and support job creation. Ultimately, this collaboration will facilitate access to advanced digital solutions, driving innovation and contributing to Egypt’s strategic vision for a digitally transformed economy.
CelcomDigi and AmBank have formed a strategic partnership to revolutionise digital healthcare in Malaysia through a newly signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). That collaboration will deliver affordable digital healthcare solutions over the next three years, empowering healthcare providers with advanced tools and services that leverage AI to enhance patient care and healthcare delivery.
Under this partnership, CelcomDigi will provide essential connectivity, while AmBank will offer financial services such as specialised medical financing, loans, insurance, and payment solutions, making these innovations more accessible to healthcare institutions. The initiative will introduce various solutions, including Smart Health Kiosks for monitoring vital health metrics and Medi-Scan technology, which utilises AI for biometric assessments. The focus is particularly on improving healthcare access in underserved areas, addressing the historical limitations of quality healthcare in these regions.
The commitment to enhancing healthcare accessibility for all Malaysians aligns with the initiatives of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission to elevate the country’s healthcare system to a global standard. Integrating telecommunications and digital infrastructure is deemed essential to achieve this goal. Together, the organisations aim to create a more connected and inclusive healthcare ecosystem that supports predictive, preventive, and precision treatments, ultimately improving clinical outcomes for patients.
