A to-do list app, Twos, is rethinking productivity with AI-driven features that go beyond simple task tracking. Instead of just helping users organise tasks, Twos offers actionable suggestions to help complete them. For instance, writing ‘Buy paper napkins’ prompts the app to suggest links to online stores like Amazon or Walmart. Planning a birthday? Twos might remind you to add a calendar event, send a message, or purchase a gift card.
Launched in 2021 by former Google engineer Parker Klein and Joe Steilberg, Twos integrates with 27 apps, including Spotify, Uber Eats, Google Maps, and Ticketmaster. While the app currently leans on US-centric services, plans for better localisation aim to broaden its appeal. Available across Android, iOS, and the web, Twos is free, with optional premium features like custom sorting and templates priced at $2 each.
Beyond task suggestions, Twos introduced an AI assistant for list creation last year, positioning itself in the growing market of AI-powered productivity tools. The app now boasts over 25,000 active users and emphasises intuitive, energy-efficient design. While other apps like Hypelist compete in this space, Twos’ holistic approach could redefine how we manage daily tasks.
Microsoft has introduced Copilot Vision, an AI-powered feature available in a limited US preview for users of Microsoft Edge. This experimental tool, part of the Copilot Labs program, can read web pages to answer user queries, summarise and translate content, and even assist with tasks like finding discounts or offering gaming tips. For example, it can provide recipes from a cooking site or strategic advice during an online chess game.
To address privacy concerns, Microsoft emphasises that Copilot Vision deletes all processed data at the end of each session and does not store information for model training. The feature is initially restricted to a pre-approved list of popular websites, excluding sensitive or paywalled content, though Microsoft plans to expand compatibility over time.
Microsoft’s cautious rollout reflects ongoing efforts to balance innovation with publisher concerns over AI’s use of web data. The company is collaborating with third-party publishers to ensure the tool benefits users without compromising website content or functionality.
Broadcom has announced breakthrough technology aimed at accelerating custom chip performance in response to rising demand for generative AI infrastructure. The innovation, known as 3.5D XDSiP, enhances memory integration and speeds up processing by directly linking critical components. Developed in collaboration with TSMC, the technique uses advanced packaging methods, including chip-on-wafer-on-substrate, which remains a bottleneck in AI chip supply chains.
The California-based chipmaker has positioned itself as a key player in the AI hardware market, supplying custom processors to cloud providers looking to diversify beyond Nvidia’s pricier options. Although Broadcom has not disclosed its partners, industry experts suggest that major companies like Google and Meta are among its clients.
Broadcom’s CEO, Hock Tan, stated in September that the company expects AI revenue to reach $12 billion in fiscal year 2024, reflecting a significant increase from earlier forecasts. Five products using the 3.5D XDSiP technology are currently in development, with production shipments planned for early 2026.
The custom chip market, valued at $45 billion by 2028, is set to be dominated by Broadcom and rival Marvell. Analysts predict continued growth for both companies as AI infrastructure demand expands globally.
Tamar Eilam, a leading scientist at IBM, is pushing boundaries in sustainable computing. With 24 years at the company, she serves as an IBM fellow and chief scientist for sustainable computing, tackling one of AI’s most pressing challenges its immense energy consumption. Eilam’s work includes spearheading projects like Kepler, an open-source tool that quantifies the energy usage of applications, helping teams adopt greener AI practices.
AI’s energy demands are staggering, with reports showing that a single ChatGPT search consumes ten times more electricity than a typical Google search. Eilam envisions AI as a double-edged sword—capable of aiding sustainability efforts like decarbonising power grids while also requiring extensive resources to function. To address these issues, her team focuses on efficient AI training methods, high-quality data use, and platform optimisations to reduce resource drain.
Eilam advocates for transparency and trust in AI development. IBM’s approach ensures energy-efficient models, like its Granite line, while addressing intellectual property concerns with verifiable data sources. She also highlights the need for startups and companies to prioritise openness about energy impacts and guardrails to prevent misuse.
Beyond technical achievements, Eilam is a vocal advocate for gender diversity in AI. She emphasises breaking unconscious biases and encourages women to persist in leadership roles. Her passion for merging climate solutions with cutting-edge technology continues to shape sustainable computing innovations.
Italian startup iGenius and Nvidia are teaming up to launch one of the largest deployments of Nvidia’s advanced servers by mid-2025. The ‘Colosseum’ data centre in southern Italy will house around 80 GB200 NVL72 servers, each powered by 72 of Nvidia’s latest Blackwell chips, enabling unprecedented AI computing capabilities.
iGenius, a European AI unicorn with over €650 million in funding this year, specialises in open-source AI models for industries like banking and healthcare, prioritising strict data security. The Colosseum system will leverage Nvidia’s tools, including the NIM software platform, to simplify AI model distribution for businesses using Nvidia hardware.
Nvidia executives lauded the partnership, with VP Charlie Boyle highlighting its scale and uniqueness. Multiple Nvidia teams are working closely with iGenius to bring the cutting-edge system online, marking a significant milestone in AI infrastructure development.
FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has proposed requiring US communications providers to certify annually that they have plans to defend against cyberattacks. The move comes amid growing concerns over espionage by ‘Salt Typhoon,’ a hacking group allegedly linked to Beijing that has infiltrated several American telecom companies to steal call data.
Rosenworcel highlighted the need for a modern framework to secure networks as US intelligence agencies assess the impact of Salt Typhoon’s widespread attack. A senior US official confirmed the hackers had stolen metadata from numerous Americans, breaching at least eight telecom firms.
The FCC proposal, which Rosenworcel has circulated to other commissioners, would take effect immediately if approved. The announcement follows a classified Senate briefing on the breach, but industry giants like Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile have yet to comment.
Australia’s financial crime watchdog, AUSTRAC, has launched a dedicated cryptocurrency task force to enforce anti-money laundering laws on crypto ATM providers. The move aims to curb the rising use of cryptocurrency in scams, money laundering, and fraud as the sector grows rapidly.
The task force will focus on ensuring that digital currency exchanges offering crypto ATM services implement robust safeguards against illicit activities. Australia currently has 1,200 crypto ATMs and 400 registered digital currency exchange providers. Non-compliance with regulations will result in financial penalties, AUSTRAC warned.
With Bitcoin surpassing $100,000 following Donald Trump’s election as US president, the global cryptocurrency market has nearly doubled in value this year. AUSTRAC CEO Brendan Thomas emphasised the urgent need for action, citing the increasing number of Australians falling victim to crypto-related scams.
OpenAI has launched ChatGPT Pro, a premium version of its chatbot priced at $200 per month, designed for engineering and research applications. The new subscription tier joins the company’s existing lineup, including ChatGPT Plus, Team, and Enterprise, signalling OpenAI’s drive to broaden its technology’s industry adoption.
ChatGPT Pro offers users cutting-edge tools like OpenAI’s o1 reasoning model, o1 mini, GPT-4o, and an advanced voice interface. It also includes o1 pro mode, a high-performance feature utilising extra computational power to tackle complex queries, making it especially valuable for technical professionals.
According to OpenAI, o1 pro mode significantly outperforms earlier iterations like o1 and o1-preview on benchmarks for tasks in mathematics, science, and coding. This launch underscores OpenAI’s commitment to delivering sophisticated AI solutions tailored to specialised and demanding fields.
Former PayPal COO David Sacks has been named as President-elect Donald Trump’s advisor on cryptocurrency and AI policy. Trump announced the appointment on Truth Social, stating Sacks would focus on creating a legal framework to support the US cryptocurrency industry and foster growth.
Sacks, a prominent venture capitalist and co-founder of Yammer, has been a longtime advocate for cryptocurrencies, describing them as aligning with PayPal’s original vision of a ‘database of money.’ His firm, Craft Ventures, has invested in major startups like SpaceX and Reddit.
While Sacks’ cryptocurrency stance is clear, his approach to AI policy remains less defined. However, his deregulatory leanings suggest a shift from the stricter policies of the outgoing Biden administration.
Asia’s data centre market is attracting global investors despite sky-high valuations, thanks to surging demand driven by artificial intelligence services. Industry leaders expect the sector to remain lucrative, with data centres critical for housing the infrastructure needed to support AI and other digital technologies.
Recent deals highlight this growth, including Blackstone’s $15.5b acquisition of Australia’s AirTrunk, which set a benchmark with valuations exceeding 20 times core earnings. Similarly, Indonesia’s NeutraDC is drawing interest from major players like Singapore Telecommunications and BDx Data Centres, with a partial sale valuing it at over $1b.
Australia has also seen significant activity, with the DigiCo IPO increasing by $100 million to meet strong investor demand. This trend underscores Asia’s AI dominance in global data centre transactions, representing over half of 2024’s deal value. However, some experts warn of risks in markets lacking robust infrastructure to keep up with capacity expansion.
While execution risks remain, Asia’s data centre market is poised for continued growth, fueled by both technological advances and the expanding needs of hyperscale customers.
