Sustainable development

Meta has developed an AI chip to cut reliance on Nvidia, Reuters reports

Meta, the owner of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, is testing its first in-house chip designed for training AI systems, sources told Reuters.

The social media giant has started a limited rollout of the chip, planning to scale up production if testing delivers positive results. The move represents a crucial step in Meta’s strategy to lessen dependence on external suppliers like Nvidia and lower substantial infrastructure costs.

The company has projected expenses between $114 billion and $119 billion for 2025, with up to $65 billion dedicated to AI infrastructure.

The chip, part of Meta’s Meta Training and Inference Accelerator (MTIA) series, is a dedicated AI accelerator, meaning it is specifically designed for AI tasks rather than general processing. This could make it more power-efficient than traditional GPUs.

Meta is collaborating with Taiwan-based chip manufacturer TSMC to produce the new hardware. The test phase follows Meta’s first ‘tape-out’ of the chip, a crucial milestone in silicon development where an initial design is sent to a chip factory.

However, this process is costly and time-consuming, with no guarantee of success, and any failure would require repeating the tape-out step.

Meta has previously faced setbacks in its custom chip development, including scrapping an earlier version of an inference chip after poor test results. However, the company has since used another MTIA chip for AI-powered recommendations on Facebook and Instagram.

The new training chip aims to first enhance recommendation systems before expanding to generative AI applications like the chatbot Meta AI.

Meta executives hope to implement their own chips for AI training by 2026, although the company continues to be one of Nvidia’s biggest customers, investing heavily in GPUs for its AI operations.

The development comes as AI researchers increasingly question whether scaling up large language models by adding more computing power will continue to drive progress. The recent emergence of more efficient AI models, such as those from Chinese startup DeepSeek, has intensified these debates.

While Nvidia remains a dominant force in AI hardware, fluctuating investor confidence and broader market concerns have caused turbulence in the company’s stock value.

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Tusk warns against arrogance after US-Poland social media clash

Poland’s Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, has urged allies to show respect and avoid arrogance in a recent post on X, following a heated social media exchange between Polish and US officials. The remarks came after a disagreement over the role of Starlink satellites in Ukraine’s war effort. Radosław Sikorski, Poland‘s foreign minister, had suggested Ukraine may need an alternative to Starlink if its reliability becomes an issue. Poland funds the satellite service for Ukraine, which is crucial for military communications.

The dispute escalated when Marco Rubio, the US Secretary of State, accused Sikorski of being ungrateful, stating that ‘no one has made any threats about cutting Ukraine off from Starlink.’ Rubio emphasised the importance of Starlink in Ukraine’s success, saying the war could have been lost without it. Sikorski responded by thanking Rubio for reaffirming the collaboration between the US and Poland in providing the service.

The controversy deepened when Elon Musk, the founder of SpaceX, which operates Starlink, labelled Sikorski a “small man” and told him to ‘be quiet’ after the suggestion that Poland may seek alternatives. Musk reiterated his commitment to keeping Starlink operational in Ukraine, despite political disagreements, and denied using the service as a bargaining chip.

The ongoing debate highlights growing tensions surrounding the role of private companies in international conflict and the geopolitical importance of satellite technology. Meanwhile, the Franco-British operator Eutelsat saw a surge in stock prices, as speculation grows that it could potentially replace Starlink in providing services to Ukraine.

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Gender imbalance in EU’s tech industry

A new report has revealed significant gender imbalances across the EU’s tech ecosystem, from education to executive positions. The GENDEX index, funded by the European Innovation Council, found that women remain underrepresented in STEM fields, with only 42% of graduates in 2022 being women.

The imbalance is particularly evident in the information and communication technology (ICT) sector, where just 24% of graduates are women.

However, this discrepancy leads to fewer women founders in deep tech startups, with only one in five European tech companies being led by women over the past decade.

Women’s representation in academia is also limited, comprising just 31% of researchers and scientists in deep tech. Furthermore, only 24% of patent applications are submitted by women.

The report suggests that a narrowing funnel of opportunities negatively impacts the entire tech sector, as talented women are lost along the way. Men continue to dominate leadership positions, with women holding only about 30% of roles in European companies.

The gender gap is most evident at the board level, particularly in male-founded companies.

The study also highlighted the challenges female entrepreneurs face in securing funding. Female-led teams receive just 1% of venture capital funding, and when they do secure investments, they often face less favourable terms and longer waits compared to male-led teams.

The report recommends that investors require gender diversity reporting before providing funding and prioritise women-led companies to address these disparities.

Additionally, experts argue that structural changes are necessary to create a more balanced and effective tech ecosystem, pointing out that gender diversity can lead to better results for companies and the industry as a whole.

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New York MTA partners with Google to detect track problems

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) in New York City has partnered with Google Public Sector on a pilot program designed to detect track defects before they cause significant disruptions. Using Google Pixel smartphones retrofitted onto subway cars, the system captured millions of sensor readings, GPS locations, and hours of audio to identify potential problems. The project aimed to improve the efficiency of the MTA’s response to track issues, potentially saving time and money while reducing delays for passengers.

The AI-powered program, called TrackInspect, analyses the sounds and vibrations from the subway to pinpoint areas that could signal defects, such as loose rails or worn joints. Data collected during the pilot, which ran from September 2024 to January 2025, showed that the AI system successfully identified 92% of defect locations found by human inspectors. The system was trained using feedback from MTA inspectors, helping refine its ability to predict track issues.

While the pilot was considered a success, the future of the program remains uncertain due to financial concerns at the MTA. Despite this, the success of the project has sparked interest from other transit systems looking to adopt similar AI-driven technologies to improve infrastructure maintenance and reduce delays. The MTA is now exploring other technological partnerships to enhance its track monitoring and maintenance efforts.

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Nagasaki University launches AI program for medical student training

Nagasaki University in southwestern Japan, in collaboration with a local systems development company, has unveiled a new AI program aimed at enhancing medical student training.

The innovative program allows students to practice interviews with virtual patients on a screen, addressing the growing difficulty of securing simulated patients for training, especially in regional areas facing population declines.

In a demonstration earlier this month, an AI-powered virtual patient exhibited symptoms such as fever and cough, responding appropriately to questions from a medical student.

Scheduled for introduction by March 2026, the technology will allow students to interact with virtual patients of different ages, genders, and symptoms, enhancing their learning experience.

The university plans to enhance the program with scoring and feedback functions to make the training more efficient and improve the quality of learning.

Shinya Kawashiri, an associate professor at the university’s School of Medicine, expressed hope that the system would lead to more effective study methods.

Toru Kobayashi, a professor at the university’s School of Information and Data Sciences, highlighted the program as a groundbreaking initiative in Japan’s medical education landscape.

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NHS looks into Medefer data flaw after security concerns

NHS is investigating allegations that a software flaw at private medical services company Medefer left patient data vulnerable to hacking.

The flaw, discovered in November, affected Medefer’s internal patient record system in the UK, which handles 1,500 NHS referrals monthly.

A software engineer who found the issue believes the vulnerability may have existed for six years, but Medefer denies this claim, stating no data has been compromised.

The engineer discovered that unprotected application programming interfaces (APIs) could have allowed outsiders to access sensitive patient information.

While Medefer has insisted that there is no evidence of any breach, they have commissioned an external security agency to review their systems. The agency confirmed that no breach was found, and the company asserts that the flaw was fixed within 48 hours of being discovered.

Cybersecurity experts have raised concerns about the potential risks posed by the flaw, emphasising that a proper investigation should have been conducted immediately.

Medefer reported the issue to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and the Care Quality Commission (CQC), both of which found no further action necessary. However, experts suggest that a more thorough response could have been beneficial given the sensitive nature of the data involved.

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China expands university enrolment to boost AI talent

China’s top universities are set to expand undergraduate enrolment to develop talent in key strategic fields, particularly AI.

The move follows the rapid rise of AI startup DeepSeek, which has drawn global attention for producing advanced AI models at a fraction of the usual cost.

The company’s success, largely driven by researchers from elite institutions in China, is seen as a major step in Beijing’s efforts to boost its homegrown STEM workforce.

Peking University announced it would add 150 undergraduate spots in 2025 to focus on national strategic needs, particularly in information science, engineering, and clinical medicine.

Renmin University will expand enrolment by over 100 places, aiming to foster innovation in AI. Meanwhile, Shanghai Jiao Tong University plans to add 150 spots dedicated to emerging technologies such as integrated circuits, biomedicine, and new energy.

This expansion aligns with China’s broader strategy to strengthen its education system and technological capabilities. In January, the government introduced a national action plan to enhance education efficiency and innovation by 2035.

Additionally, authorities plan to introduce AI education in primary and secondary schools to nurture digital skills and scientific curiosity from an early age.

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Indonesia approves Apple’s local content certificates

Indonesia has granted local content certificates for 20 Apple products, including the iPhone 16 after the company met requirements for locally-made components.

Apple still needs further approvals from the communications and trade ministries before it can officially sell the devices in the country.

The certification follows Apple’s recent pledge to invest over $300 million in Indonesia, including funding component manufacturing plants and a research and development centre.

Last year, the country had banned iPhone 16 sales due to non-compliance with local content rules.

Industry ministry spokesperson Febri Hendri Antoni Arief confirmed that Apple received certificates for 11 phone models and nine tablets.

However, negotiations had been ‘tricky’, according to Indonesia’s industry minister. Apple remains outside the top five smartphone brands in Indonesia, according to research firm Canalyst.

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Reddit launches new tools to improve user engagement

Reddit has introduced new tools to help users follow community rules and track content performance, aiming to boost engagement on the platform. The update comes after a slowdown in user growth due to Google’s algorithm changes, though traffic from the search engine has since recovered.

Among the new features is a ‘rules check’ tool, currently being tested on smartphones, which helps users comply with subreddit guidelines. Additionally, a post-recovery option allows users to repost content in alternative subreddits if their original submission is removed. Reddit will also suggest subreddits based on post content and clarify posting requirements for specific communities.

The company has enhanced its post insights feature, offering detailed engagement metrics to help users refine their content. This follows Reddit’s December launch of Reddit Answers, an AI-powered search tool designed to provide curated summaries of community discussions, which is still in beta testing.

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US House subpoenas Alphabet over content moderation

The US House Judiciary Committee subpoenaed Alphabet on Thursday, demanding information on its communications with the Biden administration regarding content moderation policies. The committee, led by Republican Jim Jordan, also requested similar communications with external companies and groups.

The subpoena specifically seeks details on discussions about restricting or banning content related to US President Donald Trump, Elon Musk, COVID-19, and other conservative topics. Republicans have accused Big Tech companies of suppressing conservative viewpoints, with the Federal Trade Commission warning that coordinating policies or misleading users could breach the law.

Last year, Meta Platforms acknowledged pressure from the Biden administration to censor content, but Alphabet has not publicly distanced itself from similar claims. A Google spokesperson stated the company will demonstrate its independent approach to policy enforcement.

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