Artificial intelligence is reshaping agriculture in the United States, offering solutions to longstanding challenges like labor shortages and rising costs. With US farms dwindling from 6.8 million in the 1930s to just 1.9 million in 2023, AI-powered technologies are stepping in to improve crop yields, resource efficiency, and food production. Experts emphasise AI’s ability to analyse massive amounts of data, guiding decisions on irrigation, fertilisation, and pest control to maximise productivity.
Despite its potential, adoption remains limited, with only 27% of US farmers currently using emerging technologies like AI. However, investment is projected to grow significantly, from $2B in 2024 to over $5B by 2028. Researchers at institutions like the AI Institute for Next Generation Food Systems are exploring applications from robotics to controlled indoor environments, which enable year-round farming and climate adaptability for crops like grapes.
While high upfront costs and accessibility remain hurdles, proponents believe AI can accelerate agricultural innovation and foster collaboration among farmers. By combining advanced tools and shared data, AI could help build a more sustainable food system and support the delivery of fresh, nutritious produce to underserved areas.
OpenAI and the Korea Development Bank (KDB) have partnered to support the growth of South Korea’s AI ecosystem. The collaboration aims to develop AI models specifically designed for the Korean language and enhance the country’s position in the global AI landscape.
KDB views AI as a critical driver of national competitiveness and will assist OpenAI in navigating the local market by acting as a coordinator for government affairs. The partnership reflects a shared vision to advance South Korea’s technological and economic future through AI innovation. That move also highlights South Korea’s commitment to becoming a leader in the AI industry, with OpenAI playing a key role in advancing these goals.
The growing impact of AI is also evident in South Korea’s search engine market, where AI-driven technologies are changing how users access information. Naver, the leading domestic search engine, has experienced a decline in market share, while global search engines like Google, which integrate AI features such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, have seen growth.
Why does it matter?
That shift signifies a broader transformation in the digital landscape, as AI-enhanced search engines provide more personalised and summarised answers, moving away from traditional lists of information. The increasing adoption of AI in search engines underscores the growing influence of AI on various industries in South Korea.
ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, has filed a $1.1 million lawsuit against former intern Tian Keyu, alleging deliberate sabotage of its AI model training infrastructure. The rare legal action, filed in a Beijing court, has attracted significant attention in China amid an intense race in AI development.
According to ByteDance, Tian manipulated code and made unauthorised modifications, disrupting its large language model (LLM) training tasks. While the company dismissed rumors of damages involving millions of dollars and thousands of graphics processing units, it confirmed that the intern was terminated in August.
The case underscores the growing stakes in generative AI, where technologies capable of creating text and images are advancing rapidly. ByteDance declined to comment further, while Tian, reportedly a postgraduate at Peking University, has yet to respond publicly. This lawsuit highlights the high-pressure environment of AI innovation and the risks companies face from internal threats.
Advancements in AI voice cloning have revealed vulnerabilities in banking security, as a BBC reporter demonstrated how cloned voices can bypass voice recognition systems. Using an AI-generated version of her voice, she successfully accessed accounts at two major banks, Santander and Halifax, simply by playing back the phrase “my voice is my password.”
The experiment highlighted potential security gaps, as the cloned voice worked on basic speakers and required no high-tech setup. While the banks noted that voice ID is part of a multi-layered security system, they maintained that it is more secure than traditional authentication methods. Experts, however, view this as a wake-up call about the risks posed by generative AI.
Cybersecurity specialists warn that rapid advancements in voice cloning technology could increase opportunities for fraud. They emphasise the importance of evolving defenses to address these challenges, especially as AI continues to blur the lines between real and fake identities.
Orange has entered a groundbreaking multi-year partnership with OpenAI, becoming the first European telecom company with direct access to pre-release versions of the company’s AI models. This collaboration will allow Orange to influence OpenAI’s development roadmap while ensuring secure hosting of AI infrastructure in Europe, according to the group’s AI chief, Steve Jarrett.
The partnership highlights the strategic importance of OpenAI’s widely used models, with over 50,000 Orange employees already integrating them into their work. Jarrett emphasised the financial and technological advantages of a direct relationship with OpenAI, boosting Orange’s position in the AI race.
In addition to the partnership, Orange is working with Meta and OpenAI to translate African languages like Wolof and Pular for customer support and broader non-commercial uses. The initiative aims to support governments, universities, and startups, expanding accessibility to underserved linguistic communities.
Microsoft has refuted allegations that it uses data from its Microsoft 365 applications, including Word and Excel, to train AI models. These claims surfaced online, with users pointing to the need to opt out of the ‘connected experiences’ feature as a possible loophole for data usage.
A Microsoft spokesperson stated categorically that customer data from both consumer and commercial Microsoft 365 applications is not utilised to train large language models. The spokesperson clarified in an email to Reuters that such suggestions were ‘untrue.’
The company explained that the ‘connected experiences’ feature is designed to support functionalities like co-authoring and cloud storage, rather than contributing to AI training. These assurances aim to address user concerns over potential misuse of their data.
Ongoing discussions on social media underscore persistent public worries about privacy and data security in AI development. Questions about data usage policies continue to highlight the need for transparency from technology companies.
Google Labs has unveiled GenChess, a new AI-powered web project that adds a creative twist to the traditional game of chess. The experiment allows players to design their own chess pieces using Google’s Gemini Imagen 3 image-generation model. By typing text prompts, users can customise their chess sets with themes like sushi or pizza, giving each game a personalised touch. GenChess offers two styles: a classic mode that mimics traditional pieces and a creative mode for abstract designs. Players can further refine individual pieces for a truly bespoke gaming experience.
Once the custom set is complete, players can face an AI opponent with chess pieces generated on complementary themes. For instance, a sushi-themed set might compete against a taco-inspired set. Users can select from three difficulty levels—easy, medium, or hard—and two timer options to match their playstyle. The project showcases AI’s potential in creative design and user interaction, merging art and gameplay into one cohesive experience.
The launch of GenChess coincides with Google’s broader initiatives around chess during the World Chess Championship. These include a coding challenge in partnership with the International Chess Federation (FIDE) on Google-owned Kaggle, encouraging participants to create innovative AI chess engines. Additionally, Google plans to launch Chess Gem, an interactive feature in the Gemini app next month. This tool will allow Gemini Advanced subscribers to play chess against a conversational AI, blending gameplay with witty banter. The range of initiatives highlights Google’s commitment to integrating AI into diverse aspects of life, from gaming to advanced problem-solving.
MTN South Africa, China Telecom, and Huawei collaborate strategically to advance 5G, cloud, AI, and business solutions. The partnership combines China Telecom’s global expertise in network solutions, MTN’s extensive regional reach, and Huawei’s advanced technology to drive digital infrastructure development across Africa.
The Executive Vice President of China Telecom Global emphasised that the alliance will unlock new business opportunities and enhance technological offerings in the region. The collaboration is also set to promote the growth of the Internet of Things (IoT), enabling non-computer devices like fridges to connect to the internet.
Why does it matter?
MTN South Africa anticipates that improvements in network services will provide new possibilities for business customers, especially in sectors like smart mining and industrial applications.
The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has launched a wide-reaching antitrust investigation into Microsoft’s business practices, focusing on cloud computing, software licensing, and artificial intelligence. Allegations suggest the company has imposed restrictive licensing terms that make it difficult for customers to switch from its Azure cloud services to rival platforms. FTC Chair Lina Khan approved the probe ahead of her expected departure in January, raising questions about its future under a potentially business-friendlier administration.
Critics, including competitors and industry groups like NetChoice, claim Microsoft’s licensing policies unfairly lock customers into its ecosystem. Google has raised similar concerns with European regulators, citing significant mark-ups for using Windows Server on competing cloud services and delays in providing security updates. The FTC’s investigation also touches on broader competition concerns in AI and cybersecurity, including Microsoft’s acquisition of AI startup Inflection AI.
Microsoft has not commented on the probe, but complaints have mounted over its practices in cloud computing and the integration of AI tools into productivity products like Office and Outlook. Some industry observers note that Microsoft has been relatively spared in recent US antitrust actions targeting Big Tech firms, including Apple, Google, Meta, and Amazon. However, the FTC’s focus on Microsoft could signal a shift in regulatory priorities.
The outcome of the investigation remains uncertain, particularly with a potential change in the political landscape. While the Trump administration previously pursued aggressive antitrust enforcement, including actions against Google and Meta, Microsoft has benefited from its policies in the past, such as winning a contentious $10 billion Pentagon cloud contract over Amazon. Experts believe a new administration may alter enforcement priorities but not necessarily halt ongoing probes.
Amazon has reportedly developed a new generative AI model, code-named Olympus, capable of processing images and videos alongside text. This innovation is expected to reduce Amazon’s reliance on Anthropic’s Claude chatbot, currently a prominent feature of Amazon Web Services (AWS), according to sources cited by The Information.
The Olympus model promises enhanced functionality, such as recognising scenes in visual content. For example, users could search for specific moments, like a game-winning basketball shot, using simple text prompts. This advancement aligns with Amazon’s strategy to solidify its position in the competitive generative AI landscape, currently dominated by Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI.
Amazon’s efforts come after its recent $4 billion investment in Anthropic, echoing a similar amount injected last year. These investments bolster Amazon’s generative AI capabilities, signalling its commitment to catching up with its tech rivals. An official announcement for Olympus may be made at the upcoming AWS re:Invent conference next week, according to insiders.
Amazon declined to comment on the matter when approached by Reuters. The e-commerce giant’s push for cutting-edge AI underscores its ambition to rival industry leaders and redefine user experiences through advanced AI tools.
