Sustainable development Archives | Page 207 of 304

AMD faces a $1.5 billion loss from US chip curbs

AMD expects to lose around US$1.5 billion in revenue this year because of new US export restrictions on advanced AI chips, which now require a licence to be sold to China.

The US government, under both the Biden and Trump administrations, has tightened curbs on chip exports in an effort to slow China’s progress in developing powerful AI systems, citing national security risks.

China makes up roughly a quarter of AMD’s total revenue, so these measures could reduce AMD’s expected annual earnings by almost 5 per cent.

Despite this setback, AMD posted stronger-than-expected second-quarter revenue guidance, forecasting around US$7.4 billion, likely driven by customers rushing to stockpile chips before the new rules fully take effect.

CEO Lisa Su said the impact from the curbs would be mostly felt during the second and third quarters, yet she still expects revenue from the company’s AI data centre chips to grow by strong double digits in 2024.

AMD’s finance chief Jean Hu clarified the projected US$1.5 billion revenue loss is tied directly to the latest export controls introduced in April.

Although AMD is under pressure, demand for its high-performance chips remains solid, with tech giants like Microsoft and Meta continuing to invest heavily in AI infrastructure.

The company’s data centre division saw sales jump 57 per cent to US$3.7 billion, helping push total revenue up 36 per cent to US$7.44 billion—both figures exceeding analyst expectations. Adjusted earnings stood at 96 cents per share, slightly above estimates.

Rival chipmaker Nvidia has also warned it now requires a licence to export to China and faces an even larger US$5.5 billion hit.

Meanwhile, other tech firms didn’t fare as well—Marvell Technology and Super Micro disappointed investors, with shares falling after they issued weaker outlooks, adding further signs of turbulence in the chip sector.

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Google upgrades Gemini AI model with focus on developers

Google has launched a new version of its flagship AI model called Gemini 2.5 Pro Preview (I/O edition), ahead of its annual developer event.

The updated version promises major improvements in coding, app development, and video understanding, and replaces the existing Gemini 2.5 Pro model without changing the price.

Developers can access it through the Gemini API, Vertex AI, AI Studio, and the Gemini chatbot app for web and mobile.

Rather than sticking with older features, the I/O edition aims to reduce coding errors and improve how the model handles complex tasks like function calling and code transformation.

Google says the update directly responds to developer feedback by making the model more reliable and better at triggering functions accurately.

Gemini 2.5 Pro Preview (I/O edition) currently leads the WebDev Arena Leaderboard, a benchmark for creating functional and visually appealing web apps. It also scores highly in video analysis tasks, with a benchmark result of 84.8% on VideoMME, one of the best performances in the field so far.

Instead of letting competitors like OpenAI and xAI take the spotlight, Google is pushing to strengthen its position in the AI race. The timing of this release, just before the I/O conference, hints at more AI-related announcements to come as the tech giant seeks to keep pace in a rapidly evolving market.

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Google faces DOJ’s request to sell key ad platforms

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has moved to break up Google’s advertising technology business after a federal judge ruled that the company holds illegal monopolies across two markets.

The DOJ is seeking the sale of Google’s AdX digital advertising marketplace and its DFP platform, which helps publishers manage their ad inventory.

It follows a ruling in April by Federal Judge Leonie Brinkema, who found that Google’s dominance in the online advertising market violated antitrust laws.

AdX and DFP were key acquisitions for Google, particularly the purchase of DoubleClick in 2008 for $3.1 billion. The DOJ argues that Google used monopolistic tactics, such as acquisitions and customer lock-ins, to control the ad tech market and stifle competition.

In response, Google has disputed the DOJ’s move, claiming the proposed sale of its advertising tools exceeds the court’s findings and could harm publishers and advertisers.

The DOJ’s latest filing also comes amid a separate legal action over Google’s Chrome browser, and the company is facing additional scrutiny in the UK for its dominance in the online search market.

The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has found that Google engaged in anti-competitive practices in open-display advertising technology.

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Microsoft drops passwords in Authenticator app to support passkeys

Microsoft has announced that its Authenticator app will stop supporting the saving of new passwords from 1 June, with autofill features to be removed in July. By August, users will no longer have access to any passwords stored in the app.

The decision marks a shift in Microsoft’s focus from app-based password management to browser-based solutions, particularly via Microsoft Edge.

The company recommends that users move their saved passwords to a dedicated password manager or the Edge browser immediately.

Instead of continuing to develop Authenticator as a full password manager, Microsoft is encouraging users to adopt passkeys—digital credentials that offer stronger security.

Passkeys use cryptographic keys stored locally on devices, making them much harder to steal or guess compared to traditional passwords.

Microsoft insists this change is part of a broader push to phase out outdated password systems in favour of safer, faster authentication methods.

Security experts support this move but caution users to take immediate action to prevent losing access to important logins.

Microsoft itself admits that Authenticator was never a proper password manager in the traditional sense, and that dedicated apps such as 1Password or Apple’s built-in password tools provide better options for storing credentials securely.

Users should ensure they export or migrate their stored information well before the August cutoff.

A change like this also reflects Microsoft’s alignment with industry trends, alongside Apple and Google, to accelerate the adoption of passkeys.

The company argues that with attackers increasingly exploiting weak or reused passwords, replacing them altogether with newer technology is not just advisable—it’s essential.

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M&S halts meal deals amid ongoing cyber attack disruption

Marks & Spencer has temporarily suspended some of its popular meal deal offers as the retailer continues to grapple with the fallout from a serious cyber attack.

Signs in stores, including at major transport hubs such as Victoria Station, explain that availability issues have made it impossible to fulfil certain promotions, and ask customers for patience while the company works through the disruption.

Instead of offering its usual lunchtime combinations and dine-in meal deals priced between £6 and £15, M&S is facing stock shortfalls due to the hack, which is now in its third week.

The attack is reportedly linked to a group of teenage hackers using ransomware tactics, locking computer systems and demanding payment for their release.

The breach has already caused significant operational challenges, with fears internally that the disruption could drag on for weeks. Sources suggest the financial impact could run into tens of millions in lost orders, as systems remain frozen and supply chains struggle to recover.

Meal deal suspensions are the latest sign of the broader strain the retailer is under as it scrambles to restore normal service.

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China boosts tourism with AI innovations

China’s tourism industry is undergoing rapid transformation as AI technologies become increasingly integrated into both national platforms and regional services. Instead of relying solely on traditional travel planning, tourists can now receive personalised itinerary suggestions in seconds.

Major platforms such as Trip.com use large AI models to assist users before, during and after their journeys—cutting decision-making time from 9 to 6.6 hours, according to Chairman Liang Jianzhang.

Several provinces and cities, including Guizhou and Shanghai, have launched their own AI tourism agents with distinct local features. Guizhou’s Huang Xiao Xi, a digital assistant in ethnic attire, offers tailored travel plans and food ordering options instantly.

Meanwhile, Shanghai’s Hu Xiao You connects tourists with real-time data about venues, traffic, and public amenities, learning from user feedback to improve recommendations over time.

Instead of overwhelming tourists with raw data, these AI agents streamline access to relevant information for a more efficient travel experience.

The rise of wearable AI guides and immersive tech, such as VR, AR, and 3D projections, has also transformed visits to museums and exhibitions. Visitors can now interact with holographic historical figures or animated ancient artworks, blending culture with innovation.

Rather than replacing traditional tourism, China is revitalising it through technology, aiming for improved digitisation, automation and smarter services that meet local development goals.

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OpenAI expands developer tools with Windsurf purchase

OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, is reportedly set to acquire Windsurf, an AI-powered coding assistant formerly known as Codeium, for $3 billion, according to Bloomberg. If confirmed, it would be OpenAI’s largest acquisition to date.

The deal is still pending closure, but it follows recent investment talks Windsurf held with major backers such as General Catalyst and Kleiner Perkins, valuing the startup at the same amount.

Windsurf was last valued at $1.25 billion in 2024 after a $150 million funding round. Instead of raising more capital independently, the company now appears poised to join OpenAI, which is looking to bolster its suite of developer tools within ChatGPT.

The acquisition reflects OpenAI’s efforts to remain competitive in the fast-evolving AI coding landscape, following earlier purchases like Rockset and Multi last year.

OpenAI also revealed it would scale back a planned restructuring, abandoning its proposal to become a for-profit entity.

The decision comes amid growing scrutiny and legal challenges, including a high-profile lawsuit from Elon Musk, who accused the firm of drifting from its founding mission to develop AI that serves humanity.

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Nvidia opens new quantum research centre in Boston

Nvidia has unveiled plans to open the Nvidia Accelerated Quantum Research Center (NVAQC) in Boston, a facility set to bridge quantum computing and AI supercomputing.

Expected to begin operations later this year, the centre aims to accelerate the shift from experimental to practical quantum computing.

Rather than treating quantum hardware as a standalone endeavour, Nvidia intends to integrate it with existing AI-driven systems, believing this combination could unlock solutions to problems unsolvable by today’s machines.

Quantum computing—much like AI in its early stages—fits naturally with Nvidia’s core strength: parallel processing. Instead of continuing to rely on traditional serial computing, the company has long embraced parallelism through its GPU technology and CUDA software platform.

Nvidia’s success in transforming GPUs from graphics engines into tools for scientific and commercial applications began with its bold decision to make CUDA available across all its products, even at the cost of short-term profit margins.

Nvidia now sees quantum error correction as the next major challenge. Current quantum computers, operating with between fifty and one hundred qubits, face a high error rate due to environmental ‘noise.’

Achieving truly useful systems will require a million qubits or more, most of which will be used for error correction. Instead of depending solely on traditional methods, Nvidia plans to use AI to develop scalable solutions capable of correcting errors in real time.

The Boston-based NVAQC will serve as a testing ground for these innovations. Harvard, MIT, and quantum startups like Quantinuum and QuEra will collaborate with Nvidia’s quantum team to train AI models for error correction and test them using Nvidia’s top-tier supercomputers.

By doing so, Nvidia hopes to make quantum computing not just viable, but powerful and practical at scale.

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Apple partners with Anthropic on AI coding tool

Apple is reportedly collaborating with Anthropic, a startup backed by Amazon, to develop a new AI-powered coding platform called ‘vibe coding’, according to Bloomberg.

The platform will use Anthropic’s Claude Sonnet model to write, edit, and test code on behalf of programmers, updating Apple’s existing Xcode software instead of launching an entirely separate tool.

‘Vibe coding’ refers to a growing trend in AI development where intelligent agents generate code autonomously instead of relying on manual programming. Apple is said to be testing the system internally for now, with no confirmed decision on whether it will become publicly available.

The move comes as tech firms race to lead in generative AI. While Apple previously introduced a similar tool, Swift Assist, it was never released to developers amid concerns from engineers about possible slowdowns in app creation.

Apple and Anthropic have not commented publicly on the reported collaboration.

With rivals like OpenAI pushing ahead—reportedly negotiating a $3 billion acquisition of coding assistant Windsurf—Apple is equipping its devices with more advanced chips and AI features, including ChatGPT integration, to compete in the rapidly evolving landscape instead of falling behind.

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AI to boost India’s media and entertainment sector

AI could boost revenues by 10% and reduce costs by 15% for media and entertainment firms, according to a report by EY, unveiled during the first WAVES Summit.

The report, A Studio Called India, outlines how AI is reshaping the global media landscape—transforming everything from content creation and personalisation to monetisation and distribution.

India, already a global leader in content production and IT, is well-positioned to lead this AI-driven shift.

EY highlighted India’s unique combination of technical skill, creative depth, and a rapidly expanding AI ecosystem, which positions it as a critical hub in the evolving media value chain instead of remaining just an outsourcing destination.

Indian companies are increasingly using generative AI for tasks like campaign optimisation, audience targeting, automated dubbing, and voice cloning.

These tools enable faster localisation of international content and allow global studios to scale up multi-language releases without sacrificing cultural authenticity or narrative integrity.

With 2.8 million people directly employed and around 10 million in indirect roles, India’s media sector is growing rapidly, driven by digital platforms, government support, and rising demand for AI-enhanced content services.

EY concluded that India offers foreign investors a powerful combination of creative scale, cost advantage, and favourable policies instead of regulatory barriers.

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