DISG and AI Singapore are spearheading an expanded phase of the ‘Upskill with Meta’ programme, which now emphasises AI to support better small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and students. The initiative, aligned with the Digital Enterprise Blueprint launched by Singapore’s Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI), aims to empower 500 businesses and 4,500 students with advanced digital skills.
The programme is designed to address SMBs’ challenges in effectively leveraging AI and machine learning technologies, offering targeted training to help them integrate these tools into their operations.
The initiative by DISG and AI Singapore is part of a broader effort to demystify AI for SMBs. The goal is to make AI more accessible and less intimidating for non-technical users, thereby fostering confidence in using these technologies. The expanded programme includes masterclasses on AI-driven strategies for marketing, customer support, and business messaging tools, providing practical skills that SMBs can directly apply to enhance their capabilities and innovate within their industries.
This expansion complements other government-led efforts, such as the generative AI (GenAI) Sandbox programme, which allows SMEs to gain hands-on experience with AI technologies. By supporting these initiatives, DISG and AI Singapore aim to build a digitally resilient workforce and ensure that every sector is included in the digital transformation process.
SoftBank Corp. and Nokia have embarked on a groundbreaking partnership to advance communication technologies, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on 10 September 2024. This collaboration focuses on developing AI-driven Radio Access Networks (AI-RAN) and exploring 6G technologies. Leveraging Nokia’s virtualised Cloud RAN platform and conducting field tests with centimetre waves, which are crucial for 6G, the partnership aims to push the boundaries of current communication systems.
The joint effort by SoftBank and Nokia is set to transform connectivity by delivering faster, more flexible, and wider-range solutions. This innovation could revolutionise various sectors, such as smart cities, industrial automation, and new business models. The goal is to address the growing demand for high-speed and adaptable communication networks, significantly impacting societal and economic landscapes.
In this collaboration, SoftBank will apply its extensive experience as a network operator, while Nokia will contribute its global leadership in network technologies. Together, they aim to achieve high-speed, reliable, and elastic communication networks, addressing the challenges of the digital society and advancing the telecommunications industry.
European Commission recommendations from Mario Draghi’s report focus on transforming the telecom sector through regulatory and financial reforms. The report advocates for easing mergers and acquisitions (M&A) to enable market consolidation, expected to drive economies of scale and enhance investment capacity.
It also proposes redefining telecom markets at the EU level and standardising spectrum licensing rules to improve efficiency and competition across Europe. These changes aim to create a more robust and innovative telecom environment that can better meet the demands of the digital age.
In addition to telecom sector reforms, the European Commission report highlights the need for ‘commercial investment sharing’ to address the financial impact of high data traffic from major tech firms. It suggests that large online platforms, such as Amazon and Google, should contribute to the costs of telecom infrastructure investments. That proposal seeks to balance the burden on telecom operators with the benefits derived from these tech giants’ extensive use of their networks. By implementing this approach, the report aims to ensure that the costs of maintaining and expanding network capacity are more equitably shared.
Furthermore, the European Commission outlines strategies for advancing digital infrastructure and technology. The report calls for creating an EU-level body to develop uniform technical standards for network APIs and edge computing. It also recommends expanding high-performance computing (HPC) resources and investing in AI through public-private partnerships. These measures are designed to enhance Europe’s technological capabilities and foster innovation. Additionally, the report emphasises the need for sovereign cloud solutions and reducing dependencies on non-EU tech providers by boosting domestic production in critical areas such as semiconductors. These initiatives aim to strengthen Europe’s digital infrastructure and ensure a more resilient and competitive tech ecosystem.
Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DPC), the leading privacy watchdog for many US tech firms in the EU, is investigating Google’s handling of user data. The inquiry will examine whether Google sufficiently protected the personal information of the EU citizens before using it to develop its advanced AI model, Pathways Language Model 2 (PaLM 2). The investigation is part of a broader effort by the DPC, working alongside other EU regulators to ensure compliance with data protection laws, especially in developing AI technologies.
A group of Democratic senators, led by Amy Klobuchar, has called on the United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate whether AI tools that summarise online content are anti-competitive. The concern is that AI-generated summaries keep users on platforms like Google and Meta, preventing traffic from reaching the original content creators, which can result in lost advertising revenue for those creators.
The senators argue that platforms profit from using third-party content to generate AI summaries, while publishers are left with fewer opportunities to monetise their work. Content creators are often forced to choose between having their work summarised by AI tools or opting out entirely from being indexed by search engines, risking significant drops in traffic.
There is also a concern that AI features can misappropriate third-party content, passing it off as new material. The senators believe that the dominance of major online platforms is creating an unfair market for advertising revenue, as these companies control how content is monetised and limit the potential for original creators to benefit.
The letter calls for regulators to examine whether these practices violate antitrust laws. The FTC and DOJ will need to determine if the behaviour constitutes exclusionary conduct or unfair competition. The push from legislators could also lead to new laws if current regulations are deemed insufficient.
Brazil is experiencing a transformative shift in its digital infrastructure landscape with the rebranding of Elea Data Centers from Elea Digital Data Centers. The strategic change, accompanied by the acquisition of two major data centre campuses in São Paulo, significantly bolsters Elea’s presence and capabilities in the Brazilian market.
Elea now operates nine facilities across five major metropolitan areas, making it the country’s largest decentralised data centre provider. Each facility is powered by 100% renewable energy, underscoring the company’s leadership in sustainable practices and setting a high standard for environmental responsibility within the industry.
The updated identity emphasises Elea’s mission to drive Brazil’s digital transformation by offering state-of-the-art infrastructure solutions catering to various technological needs. From edge computing to hyperscale data centres, Elea is committed to supporting the evolving demands of businesses and positioning Brazil at the forefront of technological innovation.
Why does this matter?
The rebrand reflects Elea’s dedication to preparing the nation for future advancements, particularly in emerging fields such as AI. It underscores the company’s role in shaping Brazil’s digital future, focusing on sustainability and cutting-edge technology.
Huawei is significantly contributing to Malawi’s digital transformation through its comprehensive Smart Village Program, which aims to bridge the digital divide in rural areas. This program integrates smart agriculture technologies, expands access to financial services, and enhances education and healthcare through digital solutions.
As part of this initiative, Huawei will establish technical training centres in rural regions to equip young people with crucial digital skills in AI, cybersecurity, and smart agriculture. That effort is a key component of Huawei’s larger $430 million investment plan for Africa, which includes funding for cloud development, talent development, and long-term technological progress.
The initiative supports Malawi’s MW2063 agenda, which envisions transforming the country into an industrialised upper-middle-income nation by 2063. It also builds on previous collaborations, such as the launch of Malawi’s National Data Centre in 2022, marking a significant advancement in the nation’s digital infrastructure.
In addition to Malawi, Huawei’s regional impact extends to other African countries, including Zambia and Uganda, where it is involved in smart village projects, and Kenya, where it contributes to smart city initiatives. These efforts aim to enhance connectivity and drive technological innovation across the continent.
Mobily is leveraging AI to revolutionise the telecommunications industry, particularly in the Middle East. By aligning with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, Mobily is using AI to drive growth and innovation. The company’s AI-driven solutions improve network efficiency, enhance customer experience, and boost business agility, positioning Mobily as a leader in the region’s telecom sector.
Through predictive maintenance, Mobily ensures network reliability, while AI-powered customer service chatbots and analytics platforms optimise performance and provide personalised services to meet the growing demands of digital consumers. Mobily also places a strong emphasis on enhancing the customer experience through AI. The company uses AI to offer personalised support, analyse customer data to deliver tailored recommendations, anticipate needs, and provide proactive service. AI-powered tools like chatbots and virtual assistants streamline customer service, resulting in faster response times and improved satisfaction.
Additionally, Mobily ensures its use of AI adheres to strict ethical standards, prioritising data privacy, transparency, and fairness. With robust encryption, user consent practices, and bias mitigation strategies, Mobily safeguards customer information while building trust through ethical AI use.
Mobily also focuses on building and developing AI talent. The company collaborates with universities to create internship programs and invests in continuous learning initiatives for its employees, fostering a culture of innovation and ensuring that the organisation stays ahead in AI advancements. Furthermore, Mobily emphasises cross-departmental collaboration to integrate AI effectively across marketing, operations, and other business units.
Apple’s new iPhone 16, launched on Monday, faced criticism in China for its lack of AI features, as the company contends with increasing competition from domestic tech giant Huawei. While Apple highlighted AI-enhanced capabilities in its global announcement, the iPhone 16’s Chinese version will not have AI functionality until next year, which sparked significant debate on Chinese social media platforms.
On Weibo, discussions centred on the absence of AI, with users questioning the value of the new model compared to Huawei’s imminent launch of a three-way foldable smartphone. Some users expressed disappointment that Apple hadn’t yet partnered with a local AI provider to enhance the iPhone‘s functionality in China.
Despite the AI criticism, analysts believe that the lack of immediate AI integration is unlikely to impact short-term sales. Experts pointed to Apple’s strong customer loyalty and predicted that users of older iPhone models will still drive demand for upgrades. However, they warned that the company must develop a robust AI ecosystem in China to stay competitive in the long run.
Pre-orders for the iPhone 16 will begin on Friday through platforms such as JD.com, with deliveries expected from 20 September. Meanwhile, Huawei’s latest models continue to gain popularity in China, posing a growing challenge to Apple’s market share.
Around 120 current and former employees from AI giants like OpenAI, Anthropic, DeepMind, and Meta have publicly voiced their support for California’s new AI regulation bill, SB 1047. The bill, which includes whistle-blower protections for employees revealing the risks in AI models, aims to impose stronger regulations on developing powerful AI technologies. Supporters argue that these measures are crucial to prevent potential threats such as cyberattacks and the misuse of biological weapons.
California’s SB 1047 has already passed the State Assembly and Senate and is awaiting Governor Gavin Newsom’s decision, with a deadline set for 30 September. Notably, high-profile signatories of the letter backing the bill include Geoffrey Hinton, a Turing Award winner, and Jan Leike, a former OpenAI alignment lead, signalling wide support from influential figures in the tech world.
Proponents of the bill believe AI companies should be responsible for testing and ensuring their models don’t pose significant harm. They argue that regulations are essential to safeguard critical infrastructure and prevent AI misuse. Despite its limitations, experts like Harvard’s Lawrence Lessig have called the bill a ‘solid step forward’ in managing AI risks.
However, not everyone agrees. OpenAI and other major tech organisations, including the US Chamber of Commerce and the Software and Information Industry Association, oppose the bill, claiming it would stifle innovation in the fast-moving AI sector. Tech industry advocates argue that over-regulation may hinder the development of cutting-edge technologies.
