Marvell Technology, a leading US chip manufacturer, has announced it will raise prices across its entire product line starting January 1, marking the first major price increase in the optical communications sector. This decision comes after Marvell’s strong financial performance last quarter, driven by the surging demand for AI-related products, including ASICs and silicon photonics for data centres. The price hike is seen as a way to capture new market opportunities and support ongoing investments in innovative technologies.
A leaked notification letter from Marvell’s Senior Vice President of Global Sales, Dean Jarnac, revealed that the global demand for AI and accelerated computing is pushing companies like Marvell to expand production capacity and invest in new manufacturing bases. Jarnac emphasised that the price increase is necessary to support these investments, but assured customers that the impact would be minimised and encouraged them to plan their orders accordingly.
Marvell’s recent growth has been fueled by booming demand in the AI space, particularly in its data centre business. Key products such as 800G PAM and 400ZR optical solutions have been central to this success. Marvell’s CEO Matt Murphy highlighted the company’s optimistic outlook, expecting continued revenue growth in the coming quarter as demand for AI and data centre solutions continues to rise.
Indian AI startup Neysa has raised $30 million in a Series A funding round, aiming to compete with global hyperscalers like AWS and Google Cloud. Led by Sharad Sanghi, Neysa offers AI infrastructure and machine learning platforms, catering to businesses seeking flexibility in AI solutions. The startup focuses on both public cloud and private clusters, differentiating itself by using open-source platforms with no client lock-in.
Neysa plans to use the new funding to enhance its infrastructure, expand research and development, and introduce new products, including a developer platform and inference-as-a-service. Since launching its flagship platform Velocis in July, the Mumbai-based company has grown to 12 paying customers across industries like banking and media, with 70% opting for private clusters. The startup expects to enter global markets in the coming months, with additional funding already in the works.
Neysa’s rise reflects the growing demand for AI infrastructure in India, where the market is projected to reach $17 billion by 2027. With fresh capital and plans for expansion, Neysa is positioning itself as a significant player in the AI space, both in India and abroad.
Cities are increasingly turning to AI to enhance waste management and reduce contamination in recycling and composting efforts. In East Lansing, Michigan, where a significant student population often contributes to recycling contamination, city officials have launched a pilot program using AI to address the issue. The initiative includes equipping recycling trucks with AI-powered cameras that identify non-recyclable items and sending personalised postcards to residents to inform them of their mistakes. This approach has reportedly led to a 20% reduction in recycling contamination.
Despite these promising results, privacy concerns have arisen regarding the collection of personal data through these AI systems. Experts warn that the information gathered from residents’ trash could expose sensitive details about their lives, potentially leading to identity theft or misuse by authorities. For instance, a discarded pregnancy test could be used against a woman in states with strict abortion laws. This phenomenon, referred to as ‘mission creep,’ raises alarms about how technologies designed for one purpose can evolve into surveillance tools.
City officials, like East Lansing’s environmental sustainability manager Cliff Walls and Leduc’s environmental manager Michael Hancharyk, acknowledge these privacy issues and are taking steps to mitigate risks. They emphasise working with vendors to ensure data protection and transparency with residents. Hancharyk noted that his city had to comply with Alberta’s privacy regulations before implementing its program.
While acknowledging the importance of improving waste management, cybersecurity experts stress the need for municipalities to carefully weigh the benefits of AI against the potential risks to residents’ privacy. They advocate for thorough assessments of new technologies and their implications, particularly for sensitive populations. As cities continue to innovate in waste management, striking a balance between efficiency and privacy will be crucial.
AI could help reduce the number of missed broken bones during X-ray analysis, according to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). The organisation recommends using four AI tools in urgent care settings in England to assist doctors in detecting fractures. This comes as radiologists and radiographers face high vacancy rates, putting a strain on the system.
NICE estimates that missed fractures account for up to 10% of diagnostic errors in emergency departments in the UK. AI is seen as a solution to this problem, working alongside healthcare professionals to catch mistakes that may occur due to heavy workloads. Experts believe using AI can speed up diagnoses, decrease the need for follow-up appointments, and ultimately ease pressure on hospital staff.
AI will not replace human expertise, as radiologists will still review all X-ray images. However, NICE assures that the technology could offer a more accurate and efficient process without increasing the risk of incorrect diagnoses or unnecessary referrals. The consultation period on this proposed use of AI in fracture detection will conclude on 5 November 2024.
The United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has introduced a rule banning the creation, purchase, and dissemination of fake online reviews, ensuring that testimonials are genuine and trustworthy. That includes reviews attributed to people who don’t exist, those generated by AI, or individuals with no real experience with the product or service.
The rule empowers the FTC to impose civil penalties on businesses and individuals knowingly engaging in such deceptive practices, holding violators accountable. By cracking down on fake reviews, the FTC protects consumers from being misled and ensures they can make informed purchasing decisions.
That initiative also promotes fair competition by penalising dishonest companies and supporting those operating with integrity, fostering a transparent and competitive marketplace. Additionally, the FTC’s rule goes beyond fake reviews by prohibiting businesses from using manipulative tactics such as unfounded legal threats, physical intimidation, or false accusations to influence their online reputation.
These measures prevent companies from using unethical strategies to control public perception, ensuring that business reputations are based on genuine consumer feedback, not coercion or deceit. The FTC aims to create a market environment that values honesty and fairness through this comprehensive approach.
A recent study by McKinsey highlights that Portugal must retrain around 1.3 million workers, about 30% of its workforce, by 2030 to adopt generative AI and close its productivity gap with the rest of the European Union. Portugal has long struggled with low productivity, which has contributed minimally to GDP growth compared to the EU average. However, the study predicts that by rapidly integrating AI and automation, the country could significantly boost productivity, matching projected EU levels.
Generative AI, which creates content like text and images based on past data, could help Portugal compete with more developed economies if the workforce is prepared for the technological shift. This change will also require the public, private, and education sectors to collaborate in reshaping job roles and work processes. For every euro invested in AI technology, McKinsey suggests that three euros will be needed for managing organisational transitions.
Besides upskilling 1.3 million workers, the study indicates that around 320,000 employees in roles like customer service will need to transition to new jobs. This large-scale transformation could position Portugal for stronger economic growth in the coming years.
Honeywell has formed a partnership with Google to connect AI with industrial data. The collaboration aims to enhance autonomous operations, streamlining processes for Honeywell’s customers.
Google’s Gemini, its advanced AI platform, will merge with data from Honeywell’s Forge platform to automate tasks and shorten project timelines. The first AI-powered solutions will be available in 2025, offering support for engineers, technicians, and warehouse workers.
The partnership seeks to address industry labour shortages by introducing AI tools that boost productivity and efficiency. Automated processes will cut design cycles and process multiple data types, including images, videos, and sensor readings, using Google’s Vertex AI platform.
Honeywell’s CEO Vimal Kapur emphasised the goal of optimising asset performance, improving employee skills, and reducing maintenance costs. The partnership reflects a broader strategy to harness the latest advancements in AI to drive operational improvements.
The US government is nearly finalising rules restricting American investments in certain advanced technologies in China, particularly AI, semiconductors, microelectronics, and quantum computing. These regulations are designed to prevent US know-how from contributing to China’s military capabilities following an executive order signed by President Joe Biden in August 2023. The rules are under review by the Office of Management and Budget and are expected to be released soon, possibly before the upcoming US presidential election on 5 November.
The new regulations will require US investors to notify the Treasury Department about specific investments in sensitive technologies. While the rules will ban certain investments outright, they also include several exceptions. For example, some publicly traded securities and certain types of debt financing will not fall under the restrictions. However, US companies and individuals will determine which transactions are subject to the new limits.
Earlier drafts of the rules, published in June, gave the public a chance to provide feedback and proposed banning AI investments that involved systems trained with substantial computing power. The final regulations are expected to provide additional clarity, particularly concerning the thresholds for restricted transactions in AI and the role of limited partners in such investments.
Experts like Laura Black, a former Treasury official, anticipate that the regulations will take effect at least 30 days after release. These measures reflect the US government’s growing focus on curbing China’s access to critical technologies while balancing the need for certain economic exceptions in mutual funds and syndicated debt financing sectors.
The upcoming release will be a significant step in the Biden administration’s broader effort to safeguard US technological advantage and national security interests in the face of growing competition from China.
Oppo has revealed ColourOS 15, the latest version of its Android 15-based operating system, promising a more personalised and enhanced user experience. Advanced AI functionalities are at the core of the new software, delivering performance improvements, privacy upgrades, and refreshed design elements.
The new interface will debut with the Find X8 series, featuring updated icons, dynamic lighting effects, and natural light-inspired visuals. Oppo has integrated Aurora and Tidal Engine technology for seamless switching between apps, resulting in faster app installations and a notable 18% boost in responsiveness.
ColourOS 15 introduces several AI-powered tools, including XiaoBu Assistant and Circle to Search. Photography also gets an upgrade with AI image enhancements, offering personality-based adjustments, portrait blur removal, and image upscaling. Additional features enable users to transcribe and summarise notes and voice recordings, as well as add EIS stabilisation for live photos.
The new software will be available across multiple devices, including the Find X7 series, OnePlus 13, and Find N3 Flip. Oppo will begin rolling out the update in November and has already published a detailed roadmap, outlining the release timeline for compatible devices.
A survey conducted by Wiley reveals that 96% of workers in the US feel stressed about adapting to AI at work. Many employees are grappling with how to integrate the rapidly evolving technology into their daily tasks, with 40% struggling to do so and 75% lacking confidence in their AI skills.
Managers also face challenges in leading AI transitions. Only 34% of people managers feel ready to support their teams effectively, exposing a knowledge gap that could hinder AI adoption. Meanwhile, 80% of employees believe their managers are supportive, though just 60% think their managers possess the expertise to guide them through the process.
Clearer strategies and structured training could ease the pressure. About 61% of employees say training on AI tools would help, while 54% believe a defined organisational strategy would make adoption smoother. Furthermore, 48% suggest that setting clearer expectations around AI use would boost their confidence.
Wiley’s report recommends three strategies for improving AI integration. Organisations are encouraged to define specific AI use cases, improve communication with employees, and provide targeted training for managers to lead their teams through the transition more effectively. Tracey Carney, the lead researcher, stresses the importance of equipping both employees and managers to handle the evolving demands of AI.
