Infosys, India’s second-largest software services exporter, anticipates a major shift in the way IT firms approach talent management. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, CTO Rafee Tarafdar highlighted the evolving market, driven by emerging technologies such as generative AI.
Tarafdar noted that the traditional ‘pyramid’ model, where most employees are at the entry level, may give way to a more dynamic framework. Infosys is actively experimenting with strategies to upskill its workforce while creating roles that did not exist before, including specialists in responsible AI and model engineering.
In addition to re-skilling existing employees, the company has developed bespoke small language models tailored to industries like banking and IT operations, offering these as services to clients. With AI creating both challenges and opportunities, Infosys believes a blend of evolving skills and innovative hiring will shape the future of tech talent.
As the IT sector grapples with rapid innovation, India’s Infosys remains focused on adapting its workforce to meet new demands, ensuring it remains at the forefront of the global technology industry.
President Donald Trump unveiled a $500 billion private-sector initiative on Tuesday aimed at transforming AI infrastructure in the US. The joint venture, called Stargate, brings together OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle to build 20 massive data centres and create over 100,000 jobs. Backers have committed $100 billion for immediate deployment, with the remainder spread over the next four years.
The announcement, made at the White House with SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and Oracle Chairman Larry Ellison in attendance, underscores America’s push to lead in AI development. Ellison revealed that the first data centres, each half a million square feet, are already under construction in Texas. These facilities aim to power advanced AI applications, including analysing electronic health records to assist doctors.
Trump attributed the project’s launch to his leadership, with executives expressing their support. “We wouldn’t have decided to do this unless you won,” Son said. However, the ambitious project arrives amid concerns over the rising energy demands of AI data centres. Trump promised to simplify energy production for these facilities, even as experts warn of potential power shortfalls across the country in the coming decade.
The announcement comes against a backdrop of surging AI investments since OpenAI’s release of ChatGPT in 2022, which sparked widespread adoption of AI across industries. Oracle and other tech stocks, including Nvidia and Dell, climbed on the news, reflecting market enthusiasm for the Stargate project.
SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son’s decision to partner with OpenAI and Oracle on a $500 billion AI venture, Stargate, showcases his bold, headline-grabbing approach to dealing with the Trump administration. The project, announced at the White House alongside President Donald Trump, promises to build AI infrastructure in the US and marks a significant part of Son’s earlier $100 billion investment pledge. SoftBank shares surged 11% following the news, reflecting investor confidence in the group’s aggressive strategy.
However, analysts argue that Son’s methods, rooted in rapid decision-making and high-risk bets, are difficult for traditional Japanese corporations to replicate. Japan Inc’s emphasis on long-term planning contrasts sharply with Son’s willingness to embrace Trump’s pro-investment stance to navigate potential tariffs and trade pressures. The reluctance of other Japanese executives to engage directly with Trump highlights a broader struggle to adapt in a politically charged environment.
Son’s flashy investments draw comparisons to his previous $50 billion pledge during Trump’s first term and underscore his vision for AI as a transformative technology. While his moves are reestablishing SoftBank as a global player after setbacks like WeWork’s collapse, questions remain about how the Stargate project will be funded and whether traditional Japanese companies can adapt their strategies to find similar success in Trump’s America.
Jobseekers are being targeted by a sophisticated scam that disguises malware as interview invitations. Masquerading as legitimate offers, these fraudulent emails claim to originate from reputable companies like CrowdStrike, a cybersecurity firm. However, the links they contain redirect victims to malicious websites, leading to the download of cryptomining software.
The malware, once installed, hijacks a computer’s CPU and GPU to mine cryptocurrency. This process severely degrades system performance, causing unresponsiveness, overheating, and increased energy consumption. The software also runs covertly, making it challenging to detect until significant harm is done.
CrowdStrike has acknowledged the scam, urging jobseekers to verify recruitment emails and avoid downloading files from unknown sources. Experts advise using robust antivirus software and remaining vigilant against unsolicited links or downloads during the job application process.
As cybercriminals continually innovate, individuals must exercise caution online. Even scams aimed at exploiting system resources can pave the way for far more invasive attacks, including financial theft and personal data breaches.
The Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) has pledged up to €800 million to support the expansion of Germany’s 5G infrastructure, part of an effort to reduce reliance on Chinese technology. The project, which includes contributions from private banks across Europe and Japan, aims to build a secure and advanced telecom system for Germany.
The funding will support United Internet AG, a German telecom company, in adopting Open Radio Access Network (Open RAN) technology. This system allows seamless integration of equipment from multiple suppliers, reducing the risks of over-dependence on a single provider. A significant portion of the software involved is developed by Rakuten Group Inc., a Japanese tech firm.
Germany has relied heavily on Chinese manufacturers for 5G infrastructure, with 59% of its network sourced from Huawei and ZTE in 2022. This new initiative reflects Germany’s ambition to phase out Chinese components by 2029 and strengthen national security. JBIC’s €300 million contribution represents the largest share of the funding, ensuring stability and mitigating risks for the ambitious expansion.
As part of a broader collaboration, financial institutions from France, Britain, and Japan are also participating in the loans. Beyond enhancing Germany’s telecom security, the project is expected to benefit Japanese firms operating in the country by offering a trusted platform for handling sensitive data.
The Pentagon is leveraging generative AI to accelerate critical defence operations, particularly the ‘kill chain’, a process of identifying, tracking, and neutralising threats. According to Dr Radha Plumb, the Pentagon’s Chief Digital and AI Officer, AI’s current role is limited to aiding planning and strategising phases, ensuring commanders can respond swiftly while maintaining human oversight over life-and-death decisions.
Major AI firms like OpenAI and Anthropic have softened their policies to collaborate with defence agencies, but only under strict ethical boundaries. These partnerships aim to balance innovation with responsibility, ensuring AI systems are not used to cause harm directly. Meta, Anthropic, and Cohere are tech giants working with defence contractors, providing tools that optimise operational planning without breaching ethical standards.
In the US, Dr Plumb emphasised that the Pentagon’s AI systems operate as part of human-machine collaboration, countering fears of fully autonomous weapons. Despite debates over AI’s role in defence, officials argue that working with the technology is vital to ensure its ethical application. Critics, however, continue to question the transparency and long-term implications of such alliances.
As AI becomes central to defence strategies, the Pentagon’s commitment to integrating ethical safeguards highlights the delicate balance between technological advancement and human control.
Several prominent tech leaders, including Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet, and Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, are scheduled to attend US President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday, according to sources familiar with the event’s planning. This marks a significant moment as top executives from the tech industry, including Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg, are also expected to be in attendance. The move signals ongoing engagement between the tech sector and the incoming administration, despite various regulatory and political challenges that have shaped recent interactions between Silicon Valley and the US government.
The participation of these influential figures has attracted attention, especially given the politically charged atmosphere surrounding Trump’s presidency. While there have been tensions between Big Tech companies and the outgoing administration, with issues like data privacy, antitrust concerns, and platform regulation, the CEOs’ attendance at the inauguration may reflect an attempt to foster relationships with the new president and his team.
Apple has not yet responded to a request for comment on the reports of Tim Cook’s attendance, and the full list of attendees is still evolving. The inauguration will serve as a crucial occasion for shaping future dialogues between the tech sector and government officials. The presence of these key leaders also raises questions about how the next administration will approach regulations affecting the rapidly evolving technology industry.
ChatGPT is rolling out a new task-scheduling feature that allows paying users to set reminders and recurring requests directly with the AI assistant. Available to ChatGPT Plus, Team, and Pro users, the feature can handle practical tasks like sending reminders about passport expirations or offering personalised weekend plans based on the weather.
The task system represents OpenAI’s early venture into AI agents that can perform autonomous actions. Users can set tasks through ChatGPT’s web app by selecting the scheduling option from a dropdown menu. Once enabled, the assistant can deliver reminders or perform regular check-ins, such as providing daily news briefings or checking for concert tickets monthly.
While the feature currently offers limited independence, OpenAI sees it as a foundational step towards more capable AI systems. CEO Sam Altman hinted that 2025 will be a significant year for AI agents that may begin to handle more complex tasks, like booking travel or writing code. For now, ChatGPT’s task feature remains in beta, with plans to refine it based on user feedback.
Triplegangers, was forced offline after a bot from OpenAI relentlessly scraped its website, treating it like a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack. The AI bot sent tens of thousands of server requests, attempting to download hundreds of thousands of detailed 3D images and descriptions from the company’s extensive database of digital human models.
The sudden spike in traffic crippled Ukrainian Triplegangers’ servers and left CEO Oleksandr Tomchuk grappling with an unexpected problem. The company, which sells digital assets to video game developers and 3D artists, discovered that OpenAI’s bot operated across hundreds of IP addresses to gather its data. Despite having terms of service that forbid such scraping, the company had not configured the necessary robot.txt file to block the bot.
After days of disruption, Tomchuk implemented protective measures by updating the robot.txt file and using Cloudflare to block specific bots. However, he remains frustrated by the lack of transparency from OpenAI and the difficulty in determining exactly what data was taken. With rising costs and increased monitoring now necessary, he warns that other businesses remain vulnerable.
Tomchuk criticised AI companies for placing the responsibility on small businesses to block unwanted scraping, comparing it to a digital shakedown. “They should be asking permission, not just scraping data,” he said, urging companies to take greater precautions against AI crawlers that can compromise their sites.
A Chinese robotics firm has unveiled its latest innovation, a humanoid robot called the D9, which aims to redefine the relationship between humans and machines in everyday tasks. Created by Shenzhen-based Pudu Robotics, the D9 stands 5.57 feet tall and is designed to carry out a wide range of duties across various industries, from warehouses to retail stores.
The Chinese D9 robot boasts advanced capabilities, including the ability to walk at 4.5 mph, navigate stairs, and carry loads up to 44 pounds. What sets it apart is its use of cutting-edge sensors to create real-time 3D maps, allowing for precise self-navigation. Additionally, it features “human-level” natural interactions through sophisticated AI, making it more intuitive to work alongside people in fast-paced environments.
Pudu Robotics is entering a competitive market dominated by global tech giants like Tesla, with their Optimus robot. While the D9’s price is yet to be announced, it is expected to be in a similar range to its rivals, around £16,000 to £24,000. The robot’s versatility could make it an attractive option for companies looking to streamline labour-intensive operations.
As humanoid robots like the D9 advance, they raise important questions about the future of work and human-machine interactions. Pudu’s latest creation may be a glimpse into a world where robots play an ever-larger role in both professional and personal settings.
