Economic

HPE unveils private cloud AI platform featuring Nvidia Blackwell chips

Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) and Nvidia have unveiled new AI factory solutions to accelerate AI adoption across multiple sectors.

Announced at HPE Discover in Las Vegas, the new offerings include modular AI factory infrastructure, AI-ready RTX PRO servers (HPE ProLiant Compute DL380a Gen12), and the next iteration of HPE’s turnkey platform, HPE Private Cloud AI.

The portfolio combines Nvidia’s Blackwell accelerated computing, Spectrum-X Ethernet, and BlueField-3 networking with Nvidia AI Enterprise software and HPE’s hardware, software, and services. The result is a modular, pre-integrated infrastructure stack intended to simplify AI deployment at scale.

HPE’s OpsRamp Software, a validated observability solution for Nvidia’s Enterprise AI Factory, and HPE Morpheus Enterprise Software for orchestration are also part of the integrated platform.

A key component is the next-generation HPE Private Cloud AI, jointly developed by HPE and Nvidia. It includes ProLiant DL380a Gen12 servers featuring Nvidia RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell Server Edition GPUs, supporting various enterprise and industrial AI applications. These systems are now available for order.

The platform also supports Nvidia AI Blueprints, such as the AI-Q Blueprint, for AI agent creation and workflow management.

HPE additionally announced the Compute XD690, a new Nvidia HGX B300 system powered by Nvidia Blackwell Ultra GPUs, expected to ship in October 2025.

International collaborations are part of the strategy. HPE is partnering with Japanese telecom provider KDDI to build AI infrastructure at the KDDI Osaka Sakai Data Centre using Nvidia’s GB200 NVL72 platform, based on the Grace Blackwell architecture.

In financial services, HPE is working with Accenture to test agentic AI workflows via Accenture’s AI Refinery, leveraging HPE Private Cloud AI for procurement, sourcing, and risk analysis.

Security and governance features have also been emphasised, including air-gapped management, multi-tenancy support, and post-quantum cryptography.

As part of its broader ecosystem expansion, HPE has added 26 partners to its ‘Unleash AI’ initiative, offering more than 70 packaged AI workloads covering video analytics, fraud detection, cybersecurity, and sovereign AI.

To support enterprise adoption, HPE and Nvidia have launched AI Acceleration Workshops aimed at helping organisations scale AI implementations.

Separately, Nvidia recently collaborated with Deutsche Telekom to launch Europe’s first industrial AI cloud in Germany, designed to support the manufacturing sector with applications in engineering, simulation, digital twins, and robotics.

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Microsoft and OpenAI revisit investment deal

OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman revealed that he had a conversation with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella on Monday to discuss the future of their partnership.

Speaking on a New York Times podcast, Altman described the dialogue as part of ongoing efforts to align on the evolving nature of their collaboration.

Earlier this month, the Wall Street Journal reported that Microsoft — OpenAI’s primary backer — and the AI firm are in discussions to revise the terms of their investment. Topics under negotiation reportedly include Microsoft’s future equity stake in OpenAI.

According to the Financial Times, Microsoft is weighing whether to pause the talks if the two parties cannot resolve key issues. Neither Microsoft nor OpenAI responded to media requests for comment outside regular business hours.

‘Obviously, in any deep partnership, there are points of tension, and we certainly have those,’ Altman said. ‘But on the whole, it’s been wonderfully good for both companies.’

Altman also commented on his recent discussions with United States President Donald Trump regarding AI. He noted that Trump appeared to grasp the technology’s broader geopolitical and economic significance.

In January, Trump announced Stargate — a proposed private sector initiative to invest up to $500 billion in AI infrastructure — with potential backing from SoftBank, OpenAI, and Oracle.

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AI tools at work pose hidden dangers

AI tools are increasingly used in workplaces to enhance productivity but come with significant security risks. Workers may unknowingly breach privacy laws like GDPR or HIPAA by sharing sensitive data with AI platforms, risking legal penalties and job loss.

Experts warn of AI hallucinations where chatbots generate false information, highlighting the need for thorough human review. Bias in AI outputs, stemming from flawed training data or system prompts, can lead to discriminatory decisions and potential lawsuits.

Cyber threats like prompt injection and data poisoning can manipulate AI behaviour, while user error and IP infringement pose further challenges. As AI technology evolves, unknown risks remain a concern, making caution essential when integrating AI into business processes.

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Tech support scammers abuse search tools

Tech support scammers have exploited the websites of major firms such as Apple, Microsoft, and Netflix to trick users into calling them. Using sponsored ads and a technique known as search parameter injection, scammers have manipulated legitimate support pages to display fake helpline numbers.

Victims searching for 24/7 support are directed to genuine websites where misleading search results prominently show fraudulent numbers. According to researchers, the address bar shows the official URL, reducing suspicion and increasing the likelihood that users will call the scammers.

Once connected, the fraudsters pose as legitimate staff and attempt to steal sensitive information, including personal data, payment details or access to victims’ devices. Financial services sites like Bank of America and PayPal have also been targeted, with attackers aiming to drain accounts.

Experts warn that while some scams are easy to spot, others appear highly convincing, especially on sites like Apple’s and Netflix’s. Users are urged to verify contact details through official channels rather than relying on search results or ads.

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Salt Typhoon exploits critical Cisco flaw to breach Canadian network

Canadian and US authorities have attributed a cyberattack on a Canadian telecommunications provider to state-sponsored actors allegedly linked to China. The attack exploited a critical vulnerability that had been patched 16 months earlier.

According to a statement issued on Monday by Canada’s Communications Security Establishment (CSE), the breach is attributed to a threat group known as Salt Typhoon, believed to be operating on behalf of the Chinese government.

‘The Cyber Centre is aware of malicious cyber activities currently targeting Canadian telecommunications companies,’ the CSE stated, adding that Salt Typhoon was ‘almost certainly’ responsible. The US FBI released a similar advisory.

Salt Typhoon is one of several threat actors associated with the People’s Republic of China (PRC), with a history of conducting cyber operations against telecommunications and infrastructure targets globally.

In late 2023, security researchers disclosed that over 10,000 Cisco devices had been compromised by exploiting CVE-2023-20198—a vulnerability rated 10/10 in severity.

The exploit targeted Cisco devices running iOS XE software with HTTP or HTTPS services enabled. Despite Cisco releasing a patch in October 2023, the vulnerability remained unaddressed in some systems.

In mid-February 2025, three network devices operated by an unnamed Canadian telecom company were compromised, with attackers retrieving configuration files and modifying at least one to create a GRE tunnel—allowing network traffic to be captured.

Cisco has also linked Salt Typhoon to a broader campaign using multiple patched vulnerabilities, including CVE-2018-0171, CVE-2023-20273, and CVE-2024-20399.

The Cyber Centre noted that the compromise could allow unauthorised access to internal network data or serve as a foothold to breach additional targets. Officials also stated that some activity may have been limited to reconnaissance.

While neither agency commented on why the affected devices had not been updated, the prolonged delay in patching such a high-severity flaw highlights ongoing challenges in maintaining basic cyber hygiene.

The authorities in Canada warned that similar espionage operations are likely to continue targeting the telecom sector and associated clients over the next two years.

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Google launches AI Mode Search in India

Google has launched its advanced AI Mode search experience in India, allowing users to explore information through more natural and complex interactions.

The feature, previously available as an experiment in the US, can now be enabled in English via Search Labs. Users test experimental tools on this platform and share feedback on early Google Search features.

Once activated, AI Mode introduces a new tab in the Search interface and Google app. It offers expanded reasoning capabilities powered by Gemini 2.5, enabling queries through text, voice, or images.

The shift supports deeper exploration by allowing follow-up questions and offering diverse web links, helping users understand topics from multiple viewpoints.

India plays a key role in this rollout due to its widespread visual and voice search use.

According to Hema Budaraju, Vice President of Product Management for Search, more users in India engage with Google Lens each month than anywhere else. AI Mode reflects Google’s broader goal of making information accessible across different formats.

Google also highlighted that over 1.5 billion people globally use AI Overviews monthly. These AI-generated summaries, which appear at the top of search results, have driven a 10% rise in user engagement for specific types of queries in both India and the US.

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SoftBank plans Arizona tech site; TSMC may join

According to a Bloomberg report, SoftBank Group Corp. founder and CEO Masayoshi Son is reportedly exploring plans to develop a $1 trillion industrial complex in Arizona focused on AI and robotics.

The Tokyo-based technology investment firm’s proposed initiative — Project Crystal Land — aims to re-establish high-tech manufacturing capabilities in the United States.

The complex may include production facilities dedicated to AI-powered industrial robots, Bloomberg cited a source familiar with the matter as saying.

SoftBank reportedly seeks to collaborate with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) on the venture.

However, details regarding the nature of TSMC’s potential involvement or whether the company is considering a formal partnership remain unclear.

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US Senator proposes crypto ban for top officials

Senator Adam Schiff has proposed a bill to ban top officials and their families from engaging in crypto ventures while in office. The COIN Act seeks to ban top officials from endorsing, creating, or promoting cryptocurrencies, NFTs, and stablecoins.

The proposal follows growing scrutiny of President Donald Trump’s involvement in digital assets. Schiff pointed directly to Trump’s financial gains, which included $58 million from token sales in 2024 and a projected $390 million in 2025.

He argued that such activities raise ‘ethical, legal and constitutional’ concerns, especially concerning public office.

Under the COIN Act, any sale of digital assets over $1,000 must be disclosed. Violators could face penalties equal to their profits and up to five years in prison.

Despite this push, Schiff previously voted for the GENIUS Act, which exempted the president and vice president from stablecoin restrictions—a move some critics see as contradictory.

The bill has gained support from nine Senate Democrats but is unlikely to pass under a Republican-controlled Congress. Democrat-led measures, such as the MEME Act and the Stop TRUMP in Crypto Act, have similarly struggled to gain traction.

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Traders bet on war with meme coins

Amid rising Middle East tensions, crypto traders rushed into World War-themed meme coins, seeking profits from panic. BunkerCoin, a token linked to a supposed German bunker project, surged nearly 2,000% before losing most of its gains.

Other tokens, like Werld Wur Thwee and Sticks and Stones, followed similar boom-and-bust cycles.

Most of these speculative tokens launched via Pump.fun, a Solana-based platform that has created over 11 million meme coins. According to on-chain analysts, these coins are rarely linked to genuine interests.

Instead, traders follow trending topics, from war to celebrity illnesses, to profit quickly—regardless of ethical implications.

Industry observers argue that the meme coin craze reflects deeper issues. Educational and financial nihilism, particularly among younger generations, pushes many away from traditional finance.

Disillusioned by stagnant wages and high living costs, they turn to meme coins not just for money but for identity and cultural belonging.

Some projects have crossed moral boundaries, mocking cancer diagnoses or promoting hate speech. Yet despite the risks, the appeal of instant gains continues to drive participation.

One expert noted, ‘Meme coins thrive on dopamine, not fundamentals.’

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Alibaba Cloud launches new AI tools and education partnerships in Europe

Alibaba Cloud has announced a new suite of AI services as part of its expansion across Europe.

Revealed during the Alibaba European Summit in Paris, the company said the new offerings reinforce its long-term commitment to the region by providing AI-driven tools and cloud solutions for fashion, healthcare, and automotive industries.

A key development is a significant upgrade to the Platform for AI (PAI), Alibaba’s AI computing platform hosted in the Frankfurt cloud region. The company stated that the enhancements will increase efficiency and scalability to meet the rising demand for compute-intensive workloads.

The platform’s improvements are powered by Alibaba’s proprietary AI Scheduler, which optimises allocating diverse cloud computing resources.

Alibaba Cloud also aims to support European companies entering Asian markets. The firm cited its strategic partnership with SAP to provide enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions in China, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East.

In the automotive sector, Alibaba recently extended its partnership with BMW in China to integrate its Qwen AI models into vehicles.

Alibaba Cloud has signed an agreement with France’s Brest Business School to strengthen AI skills and collaboration. The partnership will include academic programmes, training in AI and cloud technologies, and support for digital transformation initiatives.

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