Chinese tech giants Alibaba, Tencent, and Baidu have made only limited progress in meeting their renewable energy goals, according to a recent Greenpeace East Asia report. The sector’s power consumption is expected to surge due to growing demand for AI and cloud services, prompting calls for more robust action against climate change.
The report tracked the renewable energy use of top 25 cloud providers and data centre operators in China. Although Alibaba, Tencent, and Baidu led in renewable energy procurement and carbon reduction measures, significant disparities remain across the industry. Only five companies reported annual renewable energy ratios exceeding 10%, a notable increase from just one company in 2022.
Despite these advances, only eight companies have committed to 100% renewable energy use by 2030, and only six have set carbon neutrality goals for their direct and indirect emissions. Greenpeace stressed the need for the tech sector to rapidly expand renewable energy consumption to meet the projected 160% increase in power demand for data centres by 2030, driven by AI development.
Kernel, a New York City startup founded by Chipotle Mexican Grill’s Steve Ells, features a unique dining experience using robotic technology to prepare plant-based meals. A robotic arm flips burger patties while a conveyor belt moves dishes along the assembly line. Human staff then add finishing touches and package the meals for customer pick-up.
Initially, Kernel’s industrial look and robotic processes confused diners, leading Ells to temporarily close the restaurant in early July for a brief redesign. The goal was to make the space more inviting by adding seating, pictures, warmer colours, and softer lighting to better signal that it serves food.
The revamped Kernel now aims to blend advanced technology with a welcoming atmosphere, ensuring that diners feel comfortable and clearly understand the innovative dining experience on offer. This approach combines efficiency with a human touch, setting a new standard for the future of food service.
Wiz, founded in Israel and now headquartered in New York, is known for its cloud-based cybersecurity solutions powered by AI. With about $350 million in revenue in 2023 and serving 40% of Fortune 100 companies, Wiz has quickly become one of the fastest-growing software startups globally. Recently, Wiz raised $1 billion in a funding round, valuing the company at $12 billion.
The potential acquisition comes amid increased regulatory scrutiny of large tech companies under President Joe Biden‘s administration. Despite the investigation, the technology sector has seen a surge in mergers and acquisitions, with tech deals jumping over 42% year-on-year to $327.2 billion in the first half of the year. Alphabet’s interest in Wiz follows its decision not to pursue a takeover of online marketing software company HubSpot.
AI is currently a hot topic in the K-Pop community, as several top groups, including Seventeen, have begun using the technology to create music videos and write lyrics. Seventeen, one of the most successful K-Pop acts, has incorporated AI-generated scenes in their latest single, ‘Maestro,’ and experimented with AI in songwriting. Band member Woozi expressed a desire to develop alongside technology rather than resist it.
The use of AI has divided fans. Some, like super fan Ashley Peralta, appreciate AI’s ability to help artists overcome creative blocks but worry it might disconnect fans from the artists’ authentic emotions. Podcaster Chelsea Toledo shares similar concerns, fearing AI-generated lyrics might dilute Seventeen’s reputation as a self-producing group known for their personal touch in songwriting and choreography.
Industry professionals, such as producer Chris Nairn, recognise South Korea’s progressive approach to music production. While he acknowledges AI’s potential, he doubts its ability to match top-tier songwriting’s innovation and uniqueness. Music journalist Arpita Adhya points out the immense pressure on K-Pop artists to produce frequent content, which may drive the adoption of AI.
According to Kazinform News Agency, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation, and Aerospace Industry appointed Gizzat Baiturssynov as the head of the Artificial Intelligence and Innovation Development Committee. Baiturssynov’s educational background includes a degree from the Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation in Malaysia and a law degree from the Eurasian Law Academy named after Dinmukhamed Kunaev.
Baiturssynov began his career as a programmer in a private company before joining the ministry through the Youth Internship Program in 2019. His roles within the ministry have ranged from expert positions to Deputy Director of the Department of Electronic Industry Development and Digital Asset Industry. Since 2023, he has served as Director of E-Industry and Digital Asset Industry Development.
Baiturssynov’s appointment comes at a time of growing emphasis on AI innovation and regional collaboration. Recently, the Central Asian Security Forum brought together experts to discuss these topics, highlighting the importance of such developments for regional security and technological advancement.
With his extensive experience and expertise, Baiturssynov is poised to lead the AI and Innovation Development Committee in advancing Kazakhstan’s technological landscape.
Samsung unveiled its latest range of foldable devices, earbuds, and wearables at the Louvre in Paris, followed by a panel discussion with executives from Samsung, Google, Qualcomm, and more. The panel explored various AI-related topics, including Samsung’s two-way Interpreter translations and the company’s collaboration with Google on Circle To Search.
Dr Chris Brauer from Goldsmiths University of London presented findings from Samsung’s Mobile AI Report, highlighting a potential AI divide. He pointed out that while many people are embracing AI for its quality-of-life benefits, a minority remain reluctant, correlating with lower self-reported life satisfaction. This emerging divide could impact individuals’ ability to achieve their goals and navigate life successfully.
The report surveyed 5000 adults across France, Germany, South Korea, the UK, and the US, focusing on creativity, productivity, social relationships, and physical health. The digital divide remains a significant issue, with 30% of the world still under- or unconnected, limiting access to the latest technology. Qualcomm’s Don McGuire emphasised the importance of addressing this divide to ensure broader accessibility to AI tools for healthcare, education, and socioeconomic advancement.
Why does this matter?
AI has been a part of our digital lives for years, but recent advancements have brought it to the forefront, thanks to tools like ChatGPT and Dall-E. As the world moves towards an AI-driven future, addressing the digital divide is crucial to ensure that everyone benefits from these technological advancements.
Recent research from MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) has uncovered significant insights into the capabilities of large language models (LLMs). The study found that while LLMs excel in familiar scenarios, they struggle with novel tasks, raising questions about their true reasoning abilities versus reliance on memorisation.
The researchers compared LLMs’ performance on common tasks to hypothetical scenarios that deviated from their training data. For instance, models like GPT-4 showed proficiency in arithmetic using base-10 but faltered with other number bases, indicating a lack of generalisable addition skills. The pattern was consistent across various tasks, including spatial reasoning and chess, where models performed no better than random guessing in unfamiliar settings.
Lead author Zhaofeng Wu emphasised the importance of these findings, noting that as AI becomes more integrated into society, it must handle diverse scenarios reliably. The study’s insights aim to inform the development of more adaptable and robust future LLMs. The team plans to expand their research to include more complex and varied tasks, further exploring AI’s limitations and improving interpretability.
Supported by the MIT–IBM Watson AI Lab, the MIT Quest for Intelligence, and the National Science Foundation, the study was presented at the North American Chapter of the Association for Computational Linguistics (NAACL).
A recent survey reveals that 66% of HR leaders have a more positive view of AI in the workplace compared to a year ago. Commissioned by recruitment platform HireVue, the research also found that 67% believe AI is as effective or better than humans at identifying qualified applicants.
Linsey Zuloaga, HireVue’s chief data scientist, highlighted AI’s potential to streamline hiring by automating repetitive tasks and improving candidate communication.
The survey also showed that 64% of candidates feel AI is as fair or fairer than human recruiters, with 49% believing AI can address bias in hiring. Despite this, 75% of candidates oppose AI making final hiring decisions. Zuloaga emphasised the importance of transparency, suggesting HR departments clearly communicate how AI is used in the hiring process to build trust.
Rich Bye of Workday noted that attitudes toward AI improve as its benefits become apparent, such as increased efficiency and reliability in candidate screening.
However, the survey found that 42% of HR professionals are waiting for corporate guidelines on generative AI, and 33% have implemented AI without formal approval. Zuloaga advised HR leaders to ensure potential AI tools comply with ethical and regulatory standards before implementation.
Researchers from the Universities of East Anglia, Sheffield, and Leeds have developed an AI model to examine heart images from MRI scans. The model uses a four-chamber plane view to quickly and accurately determine the size and function of the heart’s chambers.
Dr Pankaj Garg from UEA’s Norwich Medical School stated that while manual MRI analysis can take up to 45 minutes, the AI model performs the task in just a few seconds.
The study used data from 814 patients at Sheffield and Leeds hospitals to train the AI model, with additional testing on 101 patients from Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals.
Unlike previous studies, this model was trained on diverse data from multiple hospitals and scanner types, providing a comprehensive analysis of all four heart chambers. Dr Hosamadin Assadi from UEA highlighted the model’s potential to improve diagnosis, treatment decisions, and patient outcomes.
Future research will focus on testing the AI model with larger patient groups from different hospitals and scanner types. The study was a collaboration between several universities and NHS trusts, supported by the Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Career Development Fellowship.
Lee Saedol, once the world’s top Go player, experienced a turning point in 2016 when he was defeated by AlphaGo, an AI program developed by Google’s DeepMind. This unexpected loss highlighted the significant advancements in AI, showcasing its ability to master complex tasks previously considered exclusive to human expertise.
AlphaGo’s victory over Lee, an 18-time world champion, demonstrated AI’s potential to achieve superhuman proficiency in skills such as Go, a game known for its complexity and strategic depth. The match, which garnered global attention, revealed the profound impact AI could have on various fields beyond board games.
Following his defeat, Lee Saedol retired, acknowledging that AI had fundamentally changed the nature of Go. Now, at 41, he urges others to familiarise themselves with AI technology to avoid being unprepared for its widespread implications. He lectures about AI, emphasising its growing influence and the need for society to adapt.
Despite his initial shock, Lee remains engaged with the Go community, writing books and founding a Go academy for children. He frequently discusses AI’s future impact on his family, particularly its influence on job markets and everyday life, underscoring the importance of choosing careers resilient to AI advancements.
