Scale AI has secured a multimillion-dollar contract with the US Department of Defense to develop AI tools for military operations. The project, named Thunderforge, is the Pentagon’s flagship AI initiative aimed at enhancing decision-making, simulation, and operational planning. Led by the Defense Innovation Unit, the programme will see collaboration with technology partners such as Microsoft and Anduril, initially focusing on the Indo-Pacific and European Commands before expanding further.
Thunderforge represents a shift towards AI-driven military strategies, promising increased speed and efficiency in modern warfare. The Department of Defense and Scale AI have emphasised the importance of rapid response times, with the technology designed to process vast amounts of information quickly. However, while Scale AI has assured that human oversight will be maintained, the Defence Innovation Unit has not explicitly highlighted this aspect in its communications.
The deal comes as more AI firms reconsider their stance on military applications. Companies like OpenAI, Microsoft, and Google have altered policies that previously restricted AI development for defence purposes. Critics argue that these technologies could be used for harmful applications despite company assurances, raising ethical concerns about the potential for AI in warfare. Some experts warn that firms may have limited control over how their AI is ultimately deployed.
This latest partnership highlights the growing integration of AI into defence strategies, despite previous pushback from tech industry employees. While firms insist their technologies will be used responsibly, concerns remain over the long-term implications of AI-driven warfare and the ability to ensure its ethical use.
For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.
Blackstone’s ambitious $13 billion ‘hyperscale’ data centre project in North East England has been given the green light by Northumberland County Council. The plan, which spans 540,000 square metres, was approved after a unanimous vote and is expected to represent an investment of up to £10 billion. The data centre will provide essential data storage and cloud computing services to businesses, addressing the rising demand in sectors such as AI.
The development is expected to generate substantial economic benefits, including up to 1,200 long-term construction jobs and hundreds of operational roles once the centre is running. Additionally, it could support up to 2,700 indirect jobs. As part of the agreement, Blackstone will contribute to a £110 million fund that will help drive growth along the Northumberland Line, a new railway route opened in December 2024.
This development follows the collapse of a previous plan to use the site for a Britishvolt facility, after the UK startup’s failure last year. With demand for data centres escalating, particularly due to AI advancements, this project is poised to play a crucial role in meeting growing technological needs across Europe.
For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.
Nvidia’s shares plummeted nearly 9% on 3 March following an announcement by US President Donald Trump confirming new tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico, set to take effect on 4 March. The decline contributed to a broader market downturn, with the Dow Jones falling by 800 points and the Nasdaq dropping by over 3%. Nvidia’s market value took a sharp hit, losing around $265 billion and falling to $2.79 trillion, a steep drop from its previous $3 trillion valuation.
Despite reporting strong earnings, with revenue surging 78% year-over-year to $39.33 billion, Nvidia’s stock has lost 13% since 26 February. The 25% tariffs could affect the company’s operations, particularly as some of its systems are manufactured in the US and Mexico. However, CEO Jensen Huang remains optimistic, highlighting Nvidia’s AI advancements and the upcoming Blackwell chips, which he says will drive strong performance in the next quarter.
Nvidia also plans to play a key role in Taiwan Semiconductor’s $100 billion expansion in the US, a project mentioned by Trump. While the company faces short-term market volatility and policy challenges, its long-term strategy remains focused on technological growth and innovation.
For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.
A new proposal by the UK government to alter copyright laws has sparked significant concern among artists, particularly in Devon. The changes would allow AI companies to use the content found on the internet, including artwork, to help train their models unless the creators opt-out. Artists like Sarah McIntyre, an illustrator from Bovey Tracey, argue that such a shift could undermine their rights, making it harder for them to control the use of their work and potentially depriving them of income.
The Devon Artist Network has expressed strong opposition to these plans, warning that they could have a devastating impact on creative industries. They believe that creators should retain control over their work, without needing to actively opt out of its use by AI. While some, like Mike Phillips from the University of Plymouth in the UK, suggest that AI could help artists track copyright violations, the majority of artists remain wary of the proposed changes.
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has acknowledged the concerns and confirmed that no decisions have yet been made. However, it has stated that the current copyright framework is limiting the potential of both the creative and AI sectors. As consultations close, the future of the proposal remains uncertain.
For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.
Google has urged the Trump administration to reconsider efforts to break up the company as part of ongoing antitrust lawsuits.
The meeting with government officials took place last week, according to a source familiar with the matter. The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) is pursuing two cases against Google, focusing on its dominance in search and advertising technology.
Executives at Google have expressed concerns that proposed remedies, including the potential divestment of the Chrome browser and changes to search engine agreements, could negatively impact the American economy and national security.
The DOJ has not yet commented on the discussions. A trial to determine appropriate remedies is set for April, with a final ruling expected in August.
President Trump’s administration is expected to take a softer approach to antitrust enforcement compared to his predecessor.
Industry experts believe this could lead to adjustments in the DOJ’s stance on breaking up Google, potentially reshaping the legal battle over its market power.
For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.
China has announced plans to increase support for AI development and boost venture capital investment as part of its broader strategy to drive technological breakthroughs and self-reliance.
The initiative was outlined in a government report presented at the annual National People’s Congress, highlighting AI, biomanufacturing, quantum technology, and 6G as key areas for future growth.
Authorities plan to encourage the application of large-scale AI models and the advancement of next-generation intelligent terminals and smart manufacturing systems.
The report also emphasised the importance of creating an environment that supports innovation, allowing for exploration and tolerating failure. Young scientists and engineers will be given significant roles in national laboratories to accelerate progress in emerging industries.
China intends to improve its data infrastructure and facilitate cross-border data flows to strengthen its technological capabilities.
The inclusion of AI in the government’s work report for the first time comes amid growing interest in Chinese AI startups such as DeepSeek, signalling Beijing’s intent to remain at the forefront of AI development.
For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.
Amazon has created a new division focused on agentic AI to enhance automation for users and businesses. The initiative will be led by AWS executive Swami Sivasubramanian.
WS CEO Matt Garman described agentic AI as a potential multi-billion-dollar business, with the goal of enabling systems to take proactive actions without user prompts.
The announcement follows Amazon’s recent unveiling of an upgraded Alexa, which incorporates similar AI capabilities.
As part of a broader restructuring within AWS, senior vice president Peter DeSantis also outlined leadership changes, including the realignment of AI units Bedrock and SageMaker under the compute organisation.
The company believes these shifts will accelerate innovation and improve customer experience.
Amazon has been investing heavily in AI to maintain its competitive edge in cloud computing and e-commerce. The restructuring signals a stronger push toward AI-driven automation, which the company sees as central to the next wave of technological progress.
Shares of Amazon fell slightly following the announcement, closing at $204.81.
For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.
Malaysia has secured a landmark deal worth $250 million with Arm Holdings to acquire the company’s advanced chip design blueprints.
The agreement, which spans a decade, will enable Malaysia to produce its own AI chips, including graphics processing units, as demand for AI and data centres continues to surge globally.
The deal is part of Malaysia’s broader goal to become a major player in semiconductor manufacturing over the next ten years.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim confirmed that the deal will also see Arm establish its first Southeast Asian office in Kuala Lumpur. The move is aimed at strengthening the company’s presence in the region, including expanding its reach to Australia and New Zealand.
Alongside this, Malaysia will invest in training 10,000 engineers to support the local manufacturing ecosystem.
The initiative is expected to drive significant economic growth, with Malaysia aiming to create 10 local chip companies, each generating annual revenues between $1.5 to $2 billion.
Malaysia aims to build a complete supply chain for advanced industries, covering everything from AI data servers to autonomous vehicles and robotics.
For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.
Apple has launched new versions of the iPad Air, now featuring its latest M3 chip and AI capabilities. Starting at $599 for the 11-inch model and $799 for the 13-inch variant, the updated iPads are set to be available for pre-order with deliveries beginning on March 12.
The new devices are designed to meet growing demand for AI-powered features, such as enhanced writing and photo editing tools, helping Apple remain competitive against rivals like Samsung and Huawei.
Apple continues its strategy of integrating AI into its product ecosystem, recently introducing ‘Apple Intelligence’ to its devices, offering ChatGPT for tasks such as email composition and image editing.
Apple’s iPad sales have been robust, exceeding expectations during the holiday quarter, with over half of the sales attributed to new customers.
While the new iPad Air models come with double the storage and improved performance, Apple’s regular iPad has also been updated, though it will not feature the AI enhancements found in the Air. The move underlines Apple’s focus on integrating AI into its higher-end devices to attract tech-savvy consumers.
For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.
Thales, one of Europe’s largest satellite manufacturers, has warned governments against becoming too dependent on private satellite systems, specifically highlighting concerns about Starlink.
Patrice Caine, the CEO of Thales, emphasised the risks of relying on external providers for secure communications, stressing that government operations require stability, reliability, and full control.
Caine pointed out that while Starlink’s massive constellation offers resilience, its business model, which includes frequent satellite renewals, could pose problems.
Many European governments, he said, prefer to control their own infrastructure, a strategy exemplified by initiatives like the Iris2 constellation for secure communications.
Thales’ comments come at a time when private players like SpaceX are gaining ground, with Starlink expanding globally and securing key markets.
However, Caine warned that the blending of economic and political motives in such private ventures may not reassure government clients.
The growing shift towards private sector-led space services could disrupt the traditional satellite industry, where companies like Thales and Airbus have long held dominance.
For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.
