Global semiconductor sales surged in Q3 2024, with a 23.2% year-over-year growth and a 10.7% quarter-over-quarter increase, fueled by rising demand from industries like AI, big data, and electric vehicles. Countries around the world, including China, the US, and the EU, are investing heavily in semiconductor development to secure a competitive edge in the global chip market.
The EU is focusing on photonic technology, committing €133 million to establish a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) pilot line in the Netherlands by 2025. This initiative aims to enhance Europe’s position in the growing photonic chip market, driven by the demand for more efficient data transmission for cloud computing and AI applications.
Japan has also made a significant move, announcing a ¥10 trillion ($65 billion) investment by 2030 to support its semiconductor and AI industries. This funding is part of a broader strategy to boost chip production and innovation, with a focus on the collaboration between Rapidus, IBM, and Belgium’s Imec.
South Korea is ramping up its semiconductor support through a proposed Semiconductor Special Act, which includes financial backing and workweek exemptions for semiconductor manufacturers. The bill reflects the country’s commitment to strengthening its semiconductor industry, with plans for a ₩26 trillion funding initiative and an ₩800 billion fund to support the semiconductor ecosystem by 2027.
Elon Musk has expanded his legal battle against OpenAI by adding Microsoft to his lawsuit, accusing both companies of engaging in illegal practices to monopolise the generative AI market. The federal antitrust claims, filed in Oakland, California, argue that the partnership between OpenAI and its largest investor, Microsoft, has sidelined competitors and restricted investment opportunities for other AI developers.
Musk’s complaint, which builds on his initial lawsuit from August, claims that OpenAI, which he helped to establish as a nonprofit, has deviated from its original mission. It has transformed into a highly profitable company, valued at $157 billion, and Musk argues that its partnership with Microsoft has created unfair market dominance. He is seeking to have the licensing agreement between the two companies voided and for them to divest assets gained through what he calls monopolistic practices.
The lawsuit also accuses Microsoft and OpenAI of circumventing regulatory oversight by entering exclusive agreements that Musk believes resemble a merger, without going through standard antitrust reviews. OpenAI has dismissed the claims as unfounded, while Musk’s legal team insists that the companies’ actions are damaging competition and transparency in the AI sector.
Musk’s tensions with OpenAI have been ongoing since he left the organisation, which he co-founded to develop safe AI. As OpenAI transitioned to a for-profit structure and secured billions from Microsoft, concerns grew about the concentration of power in the hands of a few dominant players in AI.
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te has called for an economic partnership agreement with the European Union, emphasising the need for collaboration in semiconductors and shared democratic values. Speaking at a Taiwan-EU investment forum in Taipei, Lai highlighted the importance of secure supply chains and stronger ties to counter growing authoritarian threats.
The EU, under its European Chips Act, has sought to deepen cooperation with Taiwan to boost semiconductor production and reduce reliance on Asia. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.’s (TSMC) new chip plant in Dresden, Germany, underscores Taiwan’s role in strengthening European industry and supply chains.
While Maria Martin-Prat of the European Commission praised Taiwan as a trusted economic partner in her video address to the forum, she did not mention plans for a formal agreement. Taiwan, diplomatically isolated from most global organisations, has been pursuing trade deals with like-minded partners, recently securing an Enhanced Trade Partnership with Britain and seeking membership in the CPTPP.
The UN Development Programme (UNDP) has partnered with cBrain, a Danish digital solutions provider, to accelerate Africa’s digital transformation. The collaboration focuses on bridging the digital divide, fostering inclusive growth, and strengthening community resilience across the continent. The partnership will target key areas, including the development of digital public infrastructure, the enhancement of e-governance and public service delivery, the expansion of digital financial inclusion for underserved populations, and the integration of digital tools into climate resilience efforts.
A central initiative of this collaboration is the establishment of a Process Library at the UNDP Resilience Hub in Nairobi. The library will focus on developing and scaling best practices in governance, with an emphasis on inclusion, capacity-building, economic development, and resilience. These efforts are aligned with the African Union’s Digital Transformation Strategy and the UN sustainable development goals, reinforcing a shared vision for sustainable progress. By leveraging cBrain’s expertise and Denmark’s proven digitalisation strategies, the partnership aims to empower both governments and citizens while driving innovation, transparency, and equitable access across the continent.
Furthermore, the partnership places a strong emphasis on capacity development, equipping government officials and civil society organisations with the digital skills necessary to manage this transformation effectively. It also underscores the importance of private-sector involvement in Africa’s digital journey, drawing on Britain’s global experience in providing standardised solutions and integrating AI-driven tools. This collaboration serves as a model for international cooperation in digital governance, with a focus on knowledge sharing to disseminate best practices.
By empowering marginalised communities with access to digital and financial services, this initiative aims to unlock economic growth, enhance climate resilience, and pave the way for a more equitable and prosperous future for Africa.
Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia has announced it will stop posting on X, formerly known as Twitter, citing growing concerns over hate speech, disinformation, and toxic content. The paper, Spain’s fourth most-read publication, criticised the platform’s moderation failures under Elon Musk, claiming it has become an “echo chamber” for conspiracy theories and bots.
The decision follows similar moves by Britain’sThe Guardian and highlights growing alarm about X’s role in amplifying harmful narratives, especially amid sensitive events such as Spain’s recent floods. La Vanguardia editor Jordi Juan suspended his personal account, calling the platform’s content increasingly manipulative and profit-driven.
Since Musk’s acquisition of X in 2022, the platform has faced criticism for tolerating misinformation and hate, allegedly to boost ad revenue. The paper noted that X has left key European Union disinformation programs, further eroding trust. While journalists will retain personal accounts, the newspaper itself will suspend activity, preserving its 1.7M-follower archive for historical purposes.
Indonesia‘s top telecom company, Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison, and tech giant GoTo Gojek Tokopedia launched Sahabat-AI, a new large language model ecosystem designed to support AI-based services in Indonesian languages. This initiative aims to empower local developers to create applications that reflect Indonesia’s diverse languages and cultural nuances.
The Sahabat-AI project is supported by AI Singapore and India’s Tech Mahindra, using Nvidia’s AI Enterprise software and the Nvidia NeMo platform for robust language processing capabilities. Contributions from universities and media groups will further tailor the model to Indonesia’s unique context.
In its initial phase, Sahabat-AI will offer 8-billion and 9-billion parameter models, highlighting Indonesia’s growing AI sector, which has already drawn significant investment interest, including a recent data centre pledge from Microsoft.
Swisscom has moved a step closer to finalising its €8 billion acquisition of Vodafone Italia after receiving approval from Italy’s communications regulator, AGCOM. The deal, announced in March, aims to merge Vodafone Italia with Swisscom’s Fastweb subsidiary, potentially granting Swisscom a 30% share of Italy’s fixed broadband market. However, the transaction still faces scrutiny from Italy‘s antitrust authority, AGCM, which is conducting a detailed review to assess its impact on competition.
AGCM has expressed concerns that the merger could reduce competition in Italy’s already concentrated broadband market, potentially disadvantaging residential customers. In response, Swisscom has proposed several concessions, including access to Fastweb’s fiber network for competitors and protections for existing wholesale contracts.
Competitors were invited to provide feedback on these concessions by early November, and the AGCM is expected to conclude its review by mid-December. If approved, Swisscom aims to complete the acquisition by early 2025.
Khazna, BEEAH, and the Sharjah Communication Technology Authority (SCTA) are partnering to enhance Sharjah’s digital infrastructure by developing advanced data centres. Building on a joint venture formed in 2022 between BEEAH and Khazna, SCTA is joining the effort to create Sharjah’s largest data centre, featuring a 9MW capacity, with the first phase focusing on Kalba.
That project aims to provide the necessary infrastructure to support digital transformation in Sharjah, driving innovation and enabling emerging technologies like AI and blockchain. As a result, the collaboration will advance telecommunications solutions and significantly contribute to the emirate’s broader digital growth.
In addition to fostering technological advancements, the partnership also emphasises sustainability. The project will explore eco-friendly energy solutions, such as waste-to-energy power generation, and incorporate greywater recycling systems to minimise water usage.
Moreover, energy-efficient technologies will be integrated to reduce the environmental footprint. Consequently, it will foster economic growth and technological leadership in the UAE.
Ecosia, the Berlin-based eco-conscious search engine and Qwant, France’s privacy-focused search platform, are teaming up to build a European search index. The joint venture, named European Search Perspective (EUP), seeks to reduce reliance on tech giants like Google and Microsoft, whose search APIs have become increasingly costly. This collaboration is set to foster innovation, particularly in integrating generative AI technologies into search experiences.
Both companies currently rely on Big Tech for their search backends but are determined to develop a sustainable alternative that aligns with their unique values. EUP’s index, expected to launch in early 2025, will serve traffic in France before expanding to Germany and other European languages. The partnership will enable Qwant and Ecosia to retain their distinct user experiences while benefiting from shared resources and investment.
Privacy and data sovereignty are at the heart of the initiative. Unlike major competitors, EUP’s index won’t personalise results based on user data, maintaining a privacy-first approach. This move aligns with Europe’s growing emphasis on strategic autonomy in technology, especially as AI advances create both opportunities and risks. As the first step toward a more independent tech ecosystem, EUP represents a significant shift in Europe’s search market, challenging the dominance of US tech giants and laying the groundwork for a more diverse, innovative digital future.
The Vatican has introduced advanced AI-enabled services to offer virtual and enhanced access to St. Peter’s Basilica, one of the world’s most renowned Renaissance landmarks. Launched with Microsoft and heritage digitalisation firm Iconem, the new platform provides a 3D model of the basilica, developed with drones, cameras, and lasers that capture over 400,000 images. The model is now viewable through an interactive website. This innovation comes as the Catholic Church gears up for its 2025 Jubilee celebrations, expected to draw even more visitors to Rome.
With around 40,000-50,000 people visiting St. Peter’s daily, these new digital tools will allow users worldwide to virtually explore its artistic and architectural marvels. Cardinal Mauro Gambetti likened the basilica to a “starry sky,” hoping the tools would bring an “enchanting” experience to global audiences. The digital replica is also intended to aid the basilica’s future preservation and restoration.
Pope Francis expressed support for the project, highlighting the importance of ethical AI use. He noted that while AI can expand access to cultural knowledge, its application should always aim to benefit humanity.
