Japanese farmers are embracing AI technology to address the challenges posed by climate change and labour shortages in agriculture. Farmers like Hiroaki Asakura in Aichi Prefecture are turning to smartphone apps that use machine learning to forecast pest outbreaks, enabling timely pesticide application. These tools help farmers optimise crop protection and reduce chemical usage, a significant step forward in modern farming.
One such app, developed by Mirai Vegetable Garden, analyses over a million pest and weather records to provide accurate predictions. For Asakura, this meant spraying pesticides earlier than usual to prevent black rot in his broccoli fields, a decision informed by the app’s warnings of rising risks. The technology, supporting crops like strawberries and tomatoes, also allows farmers to share outbreak information with neighbours for broader community protection.
These AI solutions are gaining traction nationwide. Apps developed by companies like Nihon Nohyaku Co and NTT Data CCS Corp identify over 1,100 pest species from photographs, offering farmers swift diagnosis and advice. As changing climate patterns lead to unusual pest behaviours, these innovations are vital. Japanese farmers and officials alike note that AI can bridge the gap between traditional know-how and modern challenges, ensuring sustainable crop production in the face of global warming.
Researchers have achieved a milestone in AI, teaching it to predict the complex aromas of whiskies and even identify their origins. The study, conducted in Germany, utilised AI to analyse the molecular makeup of 16 American and Scottish whiskies. It then predicted the five strongest aroma notes and distinguished between the two countries of origin with remarkable accuracy.
The AI surpassed human experts in consistency and precision, identifying aromas like menthol and citronellol for US whiskies and smoky, medicinal notes for Scotch. This innovation could ensure flavour consistency in whisky production, detect counterfeit goods, and even find applications in blending recycled materials to reduce odours.
While promising, the study was limited to a small selection of whiskies, raising questions about its performance on broader varieties or aged batches. Experts also noted that flavour perception depends on external factors, highlighting room for further exploration in this emotive domain. Nonetheless, this blend of technology and tradition signals a new step for the whisky industry.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has introduced new rules requiring mobile service providers to offer separate recharge plans for voice calls and SMS for customers who do not use data. This change specifically caters to users, such as senior citizens or families with home broadband, who do not require mobile data.
Alongside this, TRAI has extended the validity of special recharge coupons from a maximum of 90 days to up to 365 days, providing consumers with more flexibility in managing their recharges. Telecom operators can now issue recharge vouchers in any denomination of their choice, though they must still offer at least one ₹10 voucher.
The rule removing the restriction on multiples of ₹10 for top-up vouchers aims to give consumers more convenient options for recharging their phones. Despite these changes, TRAI has ensured that the new rules will not reverse the government’s push for data inclusion.
Also, the mandate for separate voice and SMS plans will not affect the availability of data-only or bundled plans, allowing telecom providers in India to continue offering diverse options supporting all users’ data access.
Google’s proposed adjustments to its search result formats, aimed at complying with the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), have gained backing from Airlines for Europe, a major lobbying group representing airlines such as Air France KLM and Lufthansa. The DMA prohibits tech giants like Google from favouring their services in search results, with non-compliance risking fines of up to 10% of global annual turnover.
The airline group endorsed Google’s horizontal layout, featuring same-sized boxes for airlines and comparison sites, with a distinct blue colour for differentiation. However, they raised concerns over pricing consistency and criticised Google’s plan to use indicative dates rather than specific ones for flight bookings, arguing that this change could harm the consumer experience.
In response to ongoing disagreements with rivals, Google has signalled it may revert to its older “10 blue links” search result format if consensus cannot be reached on its current proposals. This highlights the challenges tech companies face in balancing regulatory compliance with the demands of diverse stakeholders.
Ceneo, a subsidiary of Polish e-commerce platform Allegro, has filed a lawsuit against Google and its parent company Alphabet, seeking 2.33 billion zlotys ($567.6 million) in damages. The lawsuit claims Google’s preference for its price comparison services in search results caused significant harm to Ceneo’s business.
Ceneo’s demands include 1.72 billion zlotys for losses incurred and an additional 615 million zlotys in interest from 2013 to November 2024. The company also plans to seek statutory interest from the filing date until damages are paid. The case is tied to the European Union’s $2.7 billion antitrust fine against Google for leveraging its dominance in search to disadvantage smaller rivals.
A Google spokesperson responded to the lawsuit, expressing disagreement and stating the company’s ‘Shopping remedy’ has been effective in supporting brands, retailers, and comparison sites across Europe. Meanwhile, broader efforts to curb Google’s dominance include a US Department of Justice recommendation for Google to divest its Chrome browser and abstain from re-entering the browser market for five years.
Venture funding in Europe may be headed for a flat year overall, but European AI startups are thriving, with AI companies receiving 25% of the region’s VC funding in 2024, totalling $13.7 billion. This marks a significant rise from 15% four years ago and has led to the creation of new unicorns like Poolside and Wayve. According to James Wise of Balderton Capital, breakthrough AI technology in Europe can now attract hundreds of millions, or even billions, of euros at the early stages, similar to the US.
The collective value of European AI companies has doubled in four years, reaching $508 billion, now making up nearly 15% of the region’s entire tech sector. While much of the funding still comes from outside Europe, especially the US, the local AI ecosystem is flourishing with a growing talent pool. In 2024, 349,000 people were employed by AI companies in Europe, a 168% increase since 2020, indicating a buoyant and increasingly productive sector.
Wise suggests that the rise of smaller, highly productive AI companies will be the future, with generative AI tools significantly boosting efficiency in various industries. This growing adoption of AI tools is likely to continue benefiting the European AI sector in the long run, even if the category becomes less distinct in the future.
Apple is closing in on a historic $4 trillion market valuation, driven by investor enthusiasm over its advancements in artificial intelligence and hopes for a surge in iPhone upgrades. Shares have surged 16% since November, adding $500 billion to its market cap, and positioning Apple ahead of rivals Nvidia and Microsoft in the race to this milestone. Analysts attribute the rally to expectations of a new “supercycle” in iPhone sales fueled by AI enhancements, despite modest revenue growth projections for the holiday season.
Apple’s integration of AI tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT across its devices and apps marks a strategic pivot in a market long dominated by Microsoft, Alphabet, and Meta. Although iPhone demand remains muted, analysts forecast a rebound in 2025, as AI-powered features and broader availability drive renewed interest. Meanwhile, Apple’s premium valuation—its price-to-earnings ratio recently hit a three-year high of 33.5—has sparked mixed reactions among investors, with Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway scaling back its holdings.
Despite challenges such as geopolitical risks and fluctuating market conditions, Apple’s approach to this milestone underscores its enduring dominance in the tech sector. Analysts and investors remain optimistic about the company’s ability to navigate near-term hurdles and leverage AI innovation to maintain its leadership in a competitive landscape.
The Biden administration has initiated a trade investigation targeting Chinese-made legacy semiconductors, which power everyday goods like cars and telecom equipment. This ‘Section 301’ probe aims to address concerns about China’s state-driven expansion in chip manufacturing, which US officials warn could harm American semiconductor producers. Departing President Joe Biden had already imposed a 50% tariff on Chinese semiconductors, set to take effect 1 January, while tightening export controls on advanced AI and memory chips.
Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo revealed that Chinese legacy chips account for two-thirds of semiconductors in US products, with many companies unaware of their origin—a finding she called alarming, particularly for the defence industry. US Trade Representative Katherine Tai stated that China’s subsidised chip pricing threatens global competition, enabling rapid capacity growth and undercutting market-oriented producers.
China’s commerce ministry has criticised the probe, calling it protectionist and a potential disruptor to global supply chains. Meanwhile, a public hearing on the issue is scheduled for March, with the probe expected to conclude within a year. The investigation follows the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on semiconductor supply chains, prompting the US efforts to bolster domestic chip production with $52.7 billion in subsidies.
As the Biden administration transitions to President-elect Donald Trump’s leadership in January, this probe may offer Trump an opportunity to escalate tariffs on Chinese imports, echoing the trade practices he implemented during his prior term. Critics, including the US tech industry, have urged officials to approach the investigation collaboratively to avoid further disruption.
Microsoft is taking steps to diversify the AI powering its flagship product, Microsoft 365 Copilot. While OpenAI’s GPT-4 model has been a cornerstone of the AI assistant since its launch in March 2023, Microsoft is now integrating internal and third-party AI models, including its proprietary Phi-4, to reduce costs and improve efficiency. This move reflects Microsoft’s broader strategy to lessen reliance on OpenAI, its long-time partner, as it looks to offer faster, more cost-effective solutions to enterprise customers.
The shift is driven by concerns over the high costs and slower speeds associated with OpenAI’s technology for enterprise users. A company spokesperson confirmed that OpenAI remains a partner for advanced models but emphasised that Microsoft customises and incorporates a range of AI models depending on the product. Beyond its collaboration with OpenAI, Microsoft is also customising open-weight models to make its services more accessible and affordable, with potential cost savings for customers.
Microsoft’s approach mirrors similar changes in its other business units. For example, GitHub, acquired by Microsoft in 2018, has started incorporating AI models from Anthropic and Google as alternatives to OpenAI’s offerings. These efforts align with Microsoft’s goal of demonstrating the return on investment for its AI tools, particularly as some enterprises remain cautious about adopting 365 Copilot due to concerns over pricing and utility.
Despite these challenges, Microsoft reports growing adoption of 365 Copilot. The company states that 70% of Fortune 500 companies are using the AI assistant, and analysts predict that more than 10 million users will adopt it this year. As Microsoft continues refining its AI technology, leaders like CEO Satya Nadella are keeping a close watch, underscoring the company’s commitment to innovation in enterprise AI.
Elon Musk’s AI venture, xAI, has unveiled a standalone iOS app for its chatbot, Grok, marking its first major expansion beyond the X platform. The app, currently in beta testing across Australia and a few other regions, offers users an array of generative AI features, including real-time web access, text rewriting, summarisation, and even image generation from text prompts.
Grok, described as a ‘maximally truthful and curious’ assistant, is designed to provide accurate answers, create photorealistic images, and analyse uploaded pictures. While previously restricted to paying X subscribers, a free version of the chatbot was launched in November and has recently been made accessible to all users.
The app also serves as a precursor to a dedicated web platform, Grok.com, which is in the works. xAI has touted the chatbot’s ability to produce detailed and unrestricted image content, even allowing creations involving public figures and copyrighted material. This open approach sets Grok apart from other AI tools with stricter content policies.
As the beta rollout progresses, Grok is poised to become a versatile tool for users seeking generative AI capabilities in a dynamic and user-friendly interface.
