Huawei Cloud introduced advanced AI technologies at the Saudi Arabia 2024 Summit, aiming to accelerate the country’s digital transformation and support Vision 2030. This new infrastructure promises ultra-low latency and robust AI model training and inference capabilities, enhancing various sectors nationwide. The company is also the first cloud provider in Saudi Arabia to fully comply with local data security policies, ensuring high levels of data protection and aligning with the country’s digital sovereignty strategy.
The impact of Huawei Cloud is significant, with a tenfold increase in public cloud revenue over the past year. It serves a diverse client base, including government bodies, telecom carriers, FinTech firms, and media organisations, highlighting its role in the digital economy. Sector-specific solutions include supporting smart city projects for the government, market expansion for local e-commerce businesses like Zode, and advanced digital banking services.
Technological innovations, such as the Pangu model and CodeArts, drive industry advancements and accelerate software development. Additionally, Huawei Cloud invests in the local ecosystem by training over 3,000 university students and partnering with over 100 local businesses, fostering a thriving digital landscape in Saudi Arabia
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), in collaboration with leading global chip designers and suppliers such as Broadcom and Nvidia, is focusing on developing advanced silicon photonics technology. This initiative has gained momentum due to the increasing demand for faster data transmission speeds driven by the rise of AI applications. TSMC has established a dedicated R&D team of over 200 employees to explore high-speed computing chips based on silicon photonics, with production expected to commence in the second half of next year.
TSMC’s efforts aim to solve critical challenges in energy efficiency and AI computing power, positioning silicon photonics as a transformative force in the semiconductor industry. The company also targets a range of chip processes, from 45 to 7 nm, with mass production anticipated by 2025.
The silicon photonics market is projected to grow substantially, with significant developments expected as early as 2024. TSMC’s partnerships with major customers are crucial for advancing this technology, and it is poised to revolutionise applications across CPUs, GPUs, and other computing processes. As the semiconductor industry continues to evolve, TSMC’s commitment to silicon photonics underscores its role as a leader in shaping the future of high-speed data communication and AI innovations.
The US Department of Justice has intensified its antitrust investigation into Nvidia by issuing a subpoena, according to reports from Bloomberg. The subpoena comes after previous questionnaires were sent, signalling the authorities’ increased scrutiny of the AI chipmaker’s business practices. Nvidia is accused of making it difficult for buyers to switch suppliers and potentially penalising customers who don’t exclusively use its AI chips.
The investigation reportedly stems from complaints by competitors who claim Nvidia may be abusing its market dominance. Several other companies have also received subpoenas as part of the broader probe. The escalating crackdown coincides with increased caution among investors regarding AI companies, as concerns about overspending and high expectations loom.
Despite a worldwide growth in demand for AI chips, Nvidia’s recent quarterly forecast disappointed investors, leading to a sharp drop in its share value. The company’s stock fell 2.5% in extended trading on Tuesday, following a 9.5% decline during regular market hours. This scrutiny adds further pressure to the AI giant during a sensitive period for the industry.
Nvidia declined to comment on the ongoing investigation, while the United States Department of Justice has yet to respond to requests for further information. The outcome of this probe could have significant implications for the company and the broader AI market.
AI could lower oil prices over the next decade by boosting supply and cutting costs, according to a report by Goldman Sachs. AI is expected to improve logistics and increase the amount of profitably recoverable resources, potentially reducing the marginal price incentive for oil by around $5 per barrel. This could have a negative impact on the incomes of oil-producing nations, including OPEC+ members.
While AI is expected to modestly increase oil demand, particularly in power and natural gas sectors, Goldman Sachs predicts that the cost savings enabled by AI will have a more significant effect on lowering oil prices. An estimated 25% productivity gain from AI could push prices down, outweighing the demand boost and resulting in a net negative impact on oil prices.
Goldman Sachs also forecasts that AI could reduce the cost of new shale wells by up to 30%. Furthermore, AI could increase the recovery factors of the United States‘ shale resources by 10% to 20%, potentially boosting oil reserves by 8% to 20%, or 10 to 30 billion barrels. This enhanced productivity could further contribute to downward pressure on oil prices.
Oil futures have already experienced declines, with Brent crude futures dropping by 4.5% to $74.02 per barrel, marking their lowest level since December. Meanwhile, West Texas Intermediate crude futures fell by 4.1% to $70.58, their lowest since January. As AI advances, US technology companies are also pursuing energy assets from bitcoin miners to secure power for their expanding data centres.
The American cloud-based software company has announced plans to acquire Tenyx, a startup specialising in AI-powered voice agents. The acquisition, set to close in the third quarter, will bring Tenyx’s co-founders and team into Salesforce as the company expands its AI-driven solutions. Founded in 2022, Tenyx provides services to various industries, including e-commerce, healthcare, and travel.
This acquisition comes after Salesforce, facing pressure from activist investors, previously shifted its focus away from large-scale mergers and acquisitions. Now, with an eye on reigniting revenue growth, the company is resuming acquisitions to boost its capabilities in AI. Salesforce’s move aligns with broader industry trends, as tech giants like Microsoft and Amazon have also been acquiring AI startups this year.
Salesforce’s focus on AI began with the launch of the first AI centre in London, and is part of a competitive race in the tech industry. Microsoft has paid $650 million in March to acquire talent from AI startup Inflection, and Amazon hired key talent from another AI startup, Adept, in June. Salesforce, meanwhile, reported better-than-expected results in its second-quarter earnings, driven by increased demand for its enterprise cloud products.
As AI becomes increasingly vital to the technology landscape, companies like Salesforce are investing heavily in innovation to stay ahead. The Tenyx acquisition marks another step in its strategy to remain a leader in the cloud and AI sectors, even as competition intensifies.
BoomGrow Productions and CelcomDigi Berhad have formed a strategic partnership to revolutionise Malaysia’s agricultural industry by integrating cutting-edge technologies such as 5G, AI, and extended reality (XR) into precision farming practices. That collaboration represents a significant step towards enhancing sustainable farming and boosting food production in the country. The overarching goal of the partnership is to transform traditional agricultural methods by leveraging the power of advanced technologies and setting new standards for efficient and sustainable farming practices in Malaysia.
One of the key innovations at the heart of this partnership is the implementation of 5G-Enhanced Precision Farming in BoomGrow’s Machine Farms. By utilising CelcomDigi’s reliable 5G network, supported by ZTE, BoomGrow will be able to connect sensors and monitoring systems throughout its farms.
The integration of 5G technology enables real-time data feedback, facilitating precise control over indoor farming environments and ensuring optimal conditions for crop growth. The seamless connectivity provided by CelcomDigi’s extensive network coverage in Malaysia will allow for the consolidation of data from all BoomGrow Machine Farms into a central dashboard, enabling seamless oversight and management of the farming operations.
In addition, the partnership also focuses on leveraging AI-driven analytics to optimise productivity and decision-making processes within the Machine Farms. Advanced AI algorithms will provide in-depth analysis and insights by processing complex datasets and plant visualisations from multiple farms.
Elon Musk’s xAI has launched Colossus, now the world’s most powerful AI training system, setting a new benchmark in the rapidly advancing field of AI. Colossus, which boasts a 100k H100 training cluster, is set to double in size in the coming months, solidifying its position as a leading force in AI development. This achievement places xAI ahead of competitors, with Colossus surpassing the capabilities of even the most advanced models to date, including those from OpenAI.
This weekend, the @xAI team brought our Colossus 100k H100 training cluster online. From start to finish, it was done in 122 days.
Colossus is the most powerful AI training system in the world. Moreover, it will double in size to 200k (50k H200s) in a few months.
The development of Colossus was accomplished in collaboration with Nvidia, a leader in semiconductor technology. The system’s power is driven by many GPUs, making it the most potent AI training system currently available. Industry reactions have been overwhelmingly positive, with many experts praising the accomplishment as a significant milestone in AI technology. Nvidia, which provided the cutting-edge H200 semiconductors for Colossus, highlighted the model’s exceptional gains in energy efficiency.
Musk’s ambitions in AI extend beyond Colossus. He has plans for a supercomputer that could be operational by 2025 and has expressed support for regulatory measures to ensure the safe development of AI. Despite the controversies surrounding these regulations, Musk remains a vocal advocate for responsible AI innovation, aiming to balance progress with public safety.
Exciting to see Colossus, the world’s largest GPU #supercomputer, come online in record time. Colossus is powered by @nvidia's #acceleratedcomputing platform, delivering breakthrough performance with exceptional gains in #energyefficiency.
The rise of automated kitchens, once the stuff of science fiction, is now a global reality, with robots already preparing everything from burgers to sushi, says Patrick Lin, professor of philosophy at California State Polytechnic University. As AI-driven technology advances, its integration into kitchens – first in commercial settings and eventually in homes – could profoundly reshape how food is prepared and consumed. This transformation may echo the impact of the microwave oven, which revolutionised mealtime convenience but also brought social and cultural disruptions.
While AI kitchens promise benefits like enhanced creativity for chefs and personalised meal preparation, they also pose risks to human well-being and cultural traditions. Cooking, a therapeutic and educational experience, could become obsolete, weakening family bonds and diminishing the transfer of knowledge and skills. Moreover, AI’s tendency to simplify or stereotype cultural nuances could lead to a loss of culinary diversity and changes in community dynamics if robots replace human chefs.
AI kitchens’ potential safety and ethical challenges are significant, from food safety concerns to the loss of jobs in the food service industry. As these technologies continue to develop, it is crucial to consider their broader societal implications, ensuring that the benefits of automation do not come at the expense of our deeply rooted food traditions and the human experience they enrich.
An unusual pair of news anchors in Venezuela has emerged—El Pana and La Chama. These AI-generated figures, designed to look and sound realistic, are the creation of Connectas, a Colombia-based organisation. The ‘Operation Retweet’ initiative aims to disseminate news from several independent Venezuelan media outlets while protecting journalists from government repression. The project’s director, Carlos Huertas, explained that using AI allows them to bypass the escalating risks real reporters face in the country.
Why does it matter?
The Venezuelan government has been cracking down on journalists, protesters, and opposition figures amid a disputed election, with at least ten journalists arrested since mid-June, eight of whom remain imprisoned on severe charges. The crackdown is part of a broader effort to stifle dissent in response to the ongoing election dispute between President Nicolas Maduro and opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez. While Maduro, who has been in power since 2013, claims victory with the backing of the Supreme Court and electoral authority, the opposition argues that their candidate won by a large margin.
Protests over the election have resulted in 27 deaths and over 2,400 arrests. The situation has drawn international concern, with many questioning the election’s fairness and calling for the release of full vote tallies. Despite the government’s efforts to suppress dissent, the AI news anchors symbolise creative resistance, delivering news without putting human reporters at further risk.
OpenAI recently unveiled the Model Spec, a comprehensive framework designed to guide the behaviour of its GPT models in the OpenAI API and ChatGPT. The document is a crucial resource for researchers and data labellers involved in reinforcement learning from human feedback (RLHF), ensuring that models align with user intent and adhere to ethical standards.
The Model Spec is organised into three main components: Objectives provide broad directional goals, Rules establish specific instructions to prevent harmful outcomes and maintain legality, and Defaults offer basic style guidance and allow user flexibility while ensuring consistency.
The initiative serves multiple important purposes. It provides a framework for businesses to implement ethical AI, improve customer service quality, navigate regulations, and gain a competitive advantage through reliable AI systems. The Spec also addresses common issues by preventing users from prompting the model to ignore instructions and providing guidance on how models should refuse tasks.
OpenAI’s Model Spec represents a significant advancement in AI models’ fine-tuning and ethical alignment. As a living document, it will evolve based on community feedback and practical applications, contributing to the broader discourse on responsible AI development and public engagement in determining model behaviour.
