Portuguese startup Sensei, specialising in contactless store technology, has secured €15 million in a Series A funding round led by BlueCrow Capital. The investment also saw participation from Lince Capital, Explorer Investments, Kamay Ventures, and existing backers like Metro AG and Techstars Ventures. This follows Sensei’s 2021 seed round of €5.4 million.
Sensei aims to establish 1,000 fully autonomous retail points by 2026, with current operations in Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, and Brazil. The company uses AI-powered sensors and computer vision to automate checkout, offering customers a seamless shopping experience and real-time store management for retailers.
As competition heats up in the contactless retail space, Sensei is up against major players like Standard Cognition, Trigo, and AiFi, which have raised substantial funds to develop similar technology.
AI tools were introduced at Everest PR to streamline tasks, but the results were not as expected. Founder Anurag Garg noticed that instead of boosting efficiency, the technology created additional stress. His team reported that using AI tools like ChatGPT was time-consuming and added new complexities, leading to frustration and burnout.
Garg’s team struggled to keep up with frequent software updates and found that managing multiple AI platforms made their work harder. This sentiment is echoed in surveys showing many workers feel AI tools increase their workloads rather than reduce them. A study revealed that 61% believe AI will increase their chances of burnout, with the figure rising to 87% among younger workers.
Even legal professionals are feeling overwhelmed by AI’s impact on their workloads. Leah Steele, a coach for lawyers, explained that tech-driven environments often lead to reduced job satisfaction and fear of redundancy. The Law Society also highlights the challenges of implementing AI, emphasising that learning new tools requires time and effort, which can add pressure rather than alleviate it.
While some argue that AI can empower small firms by enhancing productivity, others stress the need for proper usage to prevent overwhelm. Garg has now reduced his team’s reliance on AI, finding that a more selective approach has improved employee well-being and reconnected them with their work.
The competition between Elon Musk and Mukesh Ambani is intensifying as they vie for dominance in India’s emerging satellite broadband market. After India’s government decided to allocate satellite spectrum administratively, rather than through auction, the stage is set for a fierce battle. Musk’s Starlink, which uses low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, is poised to enter the Indian market, while Ambani’s Reliance Jio has already partnered with Luxembourg-based SES, utilising medium-Earth orbit (MEO) satellites.
The stakes are high as satellite broadband promises to bring internet access to remote areas of India, helping to bridge the country’s digital divide. Both billionaires have taken opposing views on how the spectrum should be allocated, with Ambani pushing for an auction, while Musk argues for the administrative model, aligning with international standards. India’s telecom regulator has yet to announce spectrum pricing, but projections indicate that satellite internet could reach two million subscribers by 2025.
This rivalry underscores the vast potential of the Indian market, where nearly 40% of the population still lacks internet access. Both Musk and Ambani are vying to capture this untapped segment, but pricing will be critical, especially in a country where mobile data is among the cheapest globally. Analysts predict a price war, with Musk’s deep pockets potentially giving Starlink a competitive edge, though challenges remain due to Starlink’s higher costs compared to local providers.
Apple CEO Tim Cook met with China’s Minister for Industry and Information Technology, Jin Zhuanglong, during his recent visit to Beijing. During the meeting, Jin expressed hopes that Apple would continue expanding its presence in China, increasing innovation investments, and collaborating with Chinese companies. Apple has not commented on the meeting.
This visit marks Cook’s second trip to China in 2023. While in Beijing, he visited local sites and engaged with Chinese artists, as seen in his posts on the social media platform Weibo. Cook’s trip comes at a time when Apple faces increased competition in the Chinese smartphone market, particularly from domestic rival Huawei.
Apple launched its latest iPhones in China on September 20, the same day Huawei released its competing model. While early iPhone sales saw a 20% increase compared to the previous year, overall sales declined by 2% due to decreased interest in older models and the growing popularity of Huawei’s Mate and Pura series.
Thailand’s Commerce Minister, Pichai Naripthaphan, has revealed that Nvidia, the US-based chip-making giant, is preparing to announce significant investment plans in Thailand. This unveiling is expected to occur during Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s scheduled visit to Bangkok in December. While Minister Pichai did not disclose the exact details of the investment or the financial scale, the move marks a notable step in Nvidia’s expansion efforts in the Southeast Asian region.
Nvidia’s decision to invest in Thailand reflects the country’s growing importance as a hub for technology and innovation in the region. The potential investment could also strengthen Thailand’s position in the global semiconductor industry, as demand for advanced chips continues to surge, particularly in sectors like AI, gaming, and data centres. The Thai government will likely welcome this development, which aligns with its broader goals to attract more high-tech investments and drive economic growth through technological advancements.
This upcoming announcement highlights the deepening relationship between global tech giants and Southeast Asia, with Thailand emerging as a key player in attracting multinational companies like Nvidia. More details are expected to be revealed during Huang’s visit, potentially signaling a significant economic boost for the region.
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, addressed the potential of cryptocurrency during a town hall in Pittsburgh, emphasising its role in safeguarding individual freedom. Although he stopped short of directly endorsing XRP, Musk highlighted how cryptocurrencies like it could be crucial in resisting centralised control. His comments were met with enthusiasm from XRP supporters, with Ripple’s ongoing legal battle against the SEC remaining a hot topic.
The legal dispute over whether XRP is a security continues, as Ripple defends its position that XRP is a cryptocurrency. Ripple’s CEO, Brad Garlinghouse, agreed with Musk’s view, stressing that crypto and XRP are no longer niche concerns but essential issues for voters who want policies that foster innovation.
Musk’s involvement in the crypto space remains significant, with Tesla recently transferring $765 million worth of Bitcoin to new wallets. While Tesla stopped accepting Bitcoin for payments over environmental concerns in 2021, the company continues to engage with the crypto market, also accepting Dogecoin for some merchandise.
India is set to introduce new restrictions on the import of laptops, tablets, and personal computers starting in January, aiming to boost domestic manufacturing. This move could significantly impact the country’s IT hardware market, valued between $8 billion and $10 billion, which currently relies heavily on imports. The Indian government hopes to shift more production locally through this initiative, which is expected to reshape the industry.
The country previously attempted to limit imports of such devices but faced backlash and pressure from international companies, particularly from the US. At present, companies can import laptops into India through a simple online registration system. However, India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is now developing a new system that will require prior authorisation for imports.
India’s IT hardware market, which is worth nearly $20 billion, depends on imports for two-thirds of its demand, with much of it coming from China. To encourage local production, the Indian government has offered $2.01 billion in subsidies, attracting interest from major manufacturers such as Acer, Dell, HP, and Lenovo. Many of these companies are reportedly preparing to begin local manufacturing under India’s production incentive program.
Marvell Technology, a leading US chip manufacturer, has announced it will raise prices across its entire product line starting January 1, marking the first major price increase in the optical communications sector. This decision comes after Marvell’s strong financial performance last quarter, driven by the surging demand for AI-related products, including ASICs and silicon photonics for data centres. The price hike is seen as a way to capture new market opportunities and support ongoing investments in innovative technologies.
A leaked notification letter from Marvell’s Senior Vice President of Global Sales, Dean Jarnac, revealed that the global demand for AI and accelerated computing is pushing companies like Marvell to expand production capacity and invest in new manufacturing bases. Jarnac emphasised that the price increase is necessary to support these investments, but assured customers that the impact would be minimised and encouraged them to plan their orders accordingly.
Marvell’s recent growth has been fueled by booming demand in the AI space, particularly in its data centre business. Key products such as 800G PAM and 400ZR optical solutions have been central to this success. Marvell’s CEO Matt Murphy highlighted the company’s optimistic outlook, expecting continued revenue growth in the coming quarter as demand for AI and data centre solutions continues to rise.
Qualcomm is integrating advanced AI technology from its laptop processors into mobile phone chips. The new Snapdragon 8 Elite chip introduces improved capabilities for generative AI, such as producing images and text.
The chip incorporates Qualcomm’s Oryon custom computing technology, originally developed by engineers who joined the company from Apple in 2021. This innovation aligns with the company’s broader effort to push AI features across various platforms.
Developers will benefit from enhanced tools that complement existing Android functionalities, allowing deeper use of the Snapdragon chip’s AI capabilities. Qualcomm aims to distinguish its approach from Google’s rapid developments in AI by offering unique technologies to app creators.
Major companies, including Samsung, Xiaomi, and Asustek, are set to integrate Qualcomm’s latest chips into their devices. This marks another step in the company’s strategy to remain a leader in mobile computing and AI solutions.
Honeywell has formed a partnership with Google to connect AI with industrial data. The collaboration aims to enhance autonomous operations, streamlining processes for Honeywell’s customers.
Google’s Gemini, its advanced AI platform, will merge with data from Honeywell’s Forge platform to automate tasks and shorten project timelines. The first AI-powered solutions will be available in 2025, offering support for engineers, technicians, and warehouse workers.
The partnership seeks to address industry labour shortages by introducing AI tools that boost productivity and efficiency. Automated processes will cut design cycles and process multiple data types, including images, videos, and sensor readings, using Google’s Vertex AI platform.
Honeywell’s CEO Vimal Kapur emphasised the goal of optimising asset performance, improving employee skills, and reducing maintenance costs. The partnership reflects a broader strategy to harness the latest advancements in AI to drive operational improvements.
