Digital business models Archives | Page 384 of 569

OpenAI launches advanced coding assistant Codex

OpenAI has launched Codex, a new AI coding agent designed to streamline software development by automating routine tasks and improving code reliability.

Built on a version of its o3 model known as codex-1, the agent uses reinforcement learning to generate high-quality code and test it before output.

Codex operates in a secure, cloud-based sandbox that mirrors a user’s environment and integrates with GitHub for real-time access to repositories.

It logs every step, provides test results, and supports customisation through AGENTS.md files, allowing developers to guide the AI.

Currently available to ChatGPT Pro, Enterprise, and Team subscribers, Codex is being piloted by major firms like Cisco, Superhuman, and Kodiak.

OpenAI plans wider access and future upgrades for more complex, asynchronous collaboration, though limitations like lack of image input support remain.

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Dubai sets June deadline for crypto firms

Dubai’s crypto regulator has given virtual asset service providers (VASPs) until 19 June to comply with a new set of rules designed to improve transparency and oversight. VARA released Version 2.0 of its Rulebooks, adding stricter oversight and updated standards across key activities.

The changes include stricter requirements for margin trading, clearer definitions for terms such as ‘client assets’ and ‘qualified custodians,’ and consistent risk management obligations.

VARA aims to reduce regulatory uncertainty and make it easier for companies to meet cross-functional compliance.

The rules also introduce tougher conditions for token distribution and new restrictions on marketing, particularly for retail-facing offers. All licensed crypto firms must complete the transition within the 30-day window to avoid penalties.

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JPMorgan to allow clients to buy Bitcoin

JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon announced plans to let the bank’s customers buy Bitcoin, though the firm will not hold the cryptocurrency on their behalf. Instead, Bitcoin purchases will be reflected in client statements, without JPMorgan providing custody services.

Dimon has long expressed scepticism about Bitcoin. He defended clients’ right to buy the asset despite concerns over its use in illegal activities like money laundering and trafficking.

Until now, JPMorgan’s crypto exposure was limited to futures products rather than direct digital asset ownership.

The move follows similar steps by Morgan Stanley, which recently offered spot Bitcoin ETFs to select clients. Spot Bitcoin ETFs have gained traction in the US, attracting nearly $42 billion in inflows since their January 2024 debut.

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Half of Japan’s municipalities adopt or plan generative AI use

Nearly 30% of local governments in Japan had introduced generative AI into their operations by December 2023, according to a government survey.

When including those planning or seriously considering its use, that figure rises to 50.8%, marking a 10-point increase from the previous year.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications surveyed 1,721 municipalities. Common use cases included drafting speeches and summarising meeting minutes. However, 21.5% of municipalities said they had no plans to use the technology.

Concerns remain over the lack of usage guidelines, with around 1,000 municipalities still developing policies. Experts warn of risks like biased outputs and mismanagement.

The ministry of Japan plans to issue a report this summer to help shape best practices for generative AI use in local governance.

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Google releases NotebookLM app early

Google has launched its AI-powered research assistant, NotebookLM, on Android and iOS a day earlier than expected and just ahead of its annual I/O developer conference.

Until now, the service was only available on desktop, but users can now access its full features while on the move.

NotebookLM helps users understand complex content by offering intelligent summaries and allowing them to ask questions directly about their documents.

A standout feature, Audio Overviews, creates AI-generated podcast-style summaries from uploaded materials and supports offline listening and background playback.

Mobile users can now create and manage notebooks directly from their devices. Instead of limiting content sources, the app enables users to add websites, PDFs, or YouTube videos by simply tapping the share icon and selecting NotebookLM.

It also offers easy access to previously added sources and adapts its appearance to match the device’s light or dark mode settings.

With the release timed just before Google’s keynote, it’s likely the company will highlight NotebookLM’s capabilities further during the I/O 2025 presentation.

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Democrats shift stance on GENIUS Act

Senators voted 66-32 to advance the GENIUS Act, a bill aimed at regulating stablecoins. Sixteen Democrats joined Republicans in backing the measure, reversing a previous block.

The legislation introduces the first formal rules for stablecoin issuers, a move seen as vital for consumer protection and financial clarity.

Bipartisan negotiations helped push the bill forward. A new amendment addresses key Democratic concerns, including tougher consumer safeguards and limits on stablecoin issuance by tech firms.

It also extends ethics rules to figures like Elon Musk and David Sacks, at least temporarily. Despite the uncertainty over whether the amendment will pass, Democrats agreed to support the bill either way.

The Senate had stalled the proposal two weeks earlier over demands for stronger national security provisions. While Republicans have yet to back the amendment, more Democrats are now expected to vote for the bill.

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Buterin suggests lightweight Ethereum nodes

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has proposed a major update to make running a node more accessible to ordinary users. His idea aims to reduce the hardware and storage needed to run a full Ethereum node.

Instead of storing Ethereum’s full history—now over 1.3 terabytes—users would only keep data relevant to them and request older records when needed. The approach, similar to how library branches share books, would bring Ethereum nodes to standard devices, including smartphones.

Buterin says this shift reduces reliance on powerful cloud services and avoids centralised risks. The proposal arrives just ahead of Ethereum’s ambitious Pectra upgrade, which will lay the foundation for better scalability and decentralisation.

Meanwhile, other voices in the Ethereum space are pushing bold ideas. Researcher Dankrad Feist has proposed boosting the network’s gas limit by 100 times to handle up to 2,000 transactions per second.

Former developer Eric Connor believes Ethereum could help solve AI’s centralisation issues. But critics like Nic Carter warn that layer-2 networks and excessive token creation are diluting Ether’s value.

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Taiwan boosts AI power with Nvidia supercomputer

Nvidia and Foxconn have announced plans to build a major AI factory supercomputer in Taiwan, backed by the Taiwanese government.

The facility, powered by 10,000 of Nvidia’s Blackwell GPUs, will be delivered through Foxconn’s Big Innovation Company and will support researchers, start-ups, and industry.

Taiwan’s National Science and Technology Council will use the platform to provide real-time AI cloud computing resources across its tech ecosystem. TSMC researchers also plan to utilise the infrastructure to drive innovation in semiconductor development.

The announcement highlights Nvidia’s growing ties with Taiwanese companies and reflects the strategic importance of AI to Taiwan’s technological ambitions. Leaders from Nvidia, Foxconn, and TSMC described the project as a step towards creating a smarter, AI-enabled island economy.

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Lords reject UK AI copyright bill again

The UK government has suffered a second defeat in the House of Lords over its Data (Use and Access) Bill, as peers once again backed a copyright-focused amendment aimed at protecting artists from AI content scraping.

Baroness Kidron, a filmmaker and digital rights advocate, led the charge, accusing ministers of listening to the ‘sweet whisperings of Silicon Valley’ and allowing tech firms to ‘redefine theft’ by exploiting copyrighted material without permission.

Her amendment would force AI companies to disclose their training data sources and obtain consent from rights holders.

The government had previously rejected this amendment, arguing it would lead to ‘piecemeal’ legislation and pre-empt ongoing consultations.

But Kidron’s position was strongly supported across party lines, with peers calling the current AI practices ‘burglary’ and warning of catastrophic damage to the UK’s creative sector.

High-profile artists like Sir Elton John, Paul McCartney, Annie Lennox, and Kate Bush have condemned the government’s stance, with Sir Elton branding ministers ‘losers’ and accusing them of enabling theft.

Peers from Labour, the Lib Dems, the Conservatives, and the crossbenches united to defend UK copyright law, calling the government’s actions a betrayal of the country’s leadership in intellectual property rights.

Labour’s Lord Brennan warned against a ‘double standard’ for AI firms, while Lord Berkeley insisted immediate action was needed to prevent long-term harm.

Technology Minister Baroness Jones countered that no country has resolved the AI-copyright dilemma and warned that the amendment would only create more regulatory confusion.

Nonetheless, peers voted overwhelmingly in favour of Kidron’s proposal—287 to 118—sending the bill back to the Commons with a strengthened demand for transparency and copyright safeguards.

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AI at 45W: Neuchips showcases energy-saving chips for LLMs

As global energy demand surges alongside AI growth, Neuchips is stepping up with energy-efficient solutions that deliver high performance while reducing power consumption.

The company will showcase its latest innovations at COMPUTEX 2025, including its Viper series AI accelerator cards, capable of running a 14-billion parameter model at just 45 watts — roughly the same power as a standard light bulb.

The announcement follows an International Energy Agency (IEA) report projecting that electricity demand from AI-powered data centers will more than quadruple by 2030. Neuchips CEO Ken Lau emphasised that power-efficient AI is now a necessity, not a luxury.

Neuchips’ hardware supports models like Mistral Small 3, Llama 3.3, and Gemma 3, offering offline LLM inference that enhances data privacy. Its solutions are compatible with both Intel and AMD CPUs, and run on Ubuntu and Windows.

The company is expanding its reach through several key partnerships. With Taiwan’s National Center for High-performance Computing (NCHC), Neuchips is delivering energy-efficient AI to the cloud while ensuring data security and cost efficiency.

Collaborating with MAPLE LEAF INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY and Vecow, the company offers compact AI systems that operate without requiring additional power infrastructure.

In partnership with GSH’s ShareGuru SQLPilot, Neuchips is showcasing advanced agentic AI applications for business intelligence and customer service. Additionally, through integration with myLLM’s myPDA platform, Neuchips is enabling hybrid cloud-edge AI deployments using its hardware.

With its efficient AI acceleration chips and strategic collaborations, Neuchips is advancing sustainable AI across edge and data center environments.

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