News/Global
Samsung expands Galaxy AI to more languages and dialects
Galaxy AI expands linguistic reach: Samsung is set to enhance its Galaxy AI suite by introducing support for additional languages and dialects, broadening the accessibility of its AI tools to a wider global audience. Samsung's Galaxy AI, which debuted with the Galaxy S24 series, currently supports 16 languages and several regional dialects. The company plans to add four new languages and two dialects by the end of the year, starting with Turkish, Dutch, Swedish, Romanian, traditional Chinese, and Portuguese (Europe) rolling out by the end of the month. These new language packs will be available for download through the Settings...
read Oct 22, 2024AI and robotics dominate world’s biggest tech event
AI and robotics dominate Gitex Global tech event: The 44th edition of Gitex Global, held at Dubai's World Trade Centre, showcased the growing influence of artificial intelligence and robotics across various industries. The event, which ran from Monday to Friday last week, featured over 6,500 exhibitors, 1,800 startups, and 1,200 investors from 180 countries. Gitex has expanded beyond the UAE, with equivalent events now held in Germany, Singapore, and Morocco. AI's transformative potential: Industry leaders at the event highlighted the significant impact of AI on global markets and economic growth. Patrick Dennis, CEO of US telecommunications company Avaya, compared AI's...
read Oct 21, 2024Why the UAE digital and AI agenda hinges on public-private partnerships
Landmark collaboration in AI and cloud innovation: Core42, a sovereign cloud and AI infrastructure provider under G42, has partnered with semiconductor giant AMD to advance AI and machine learning solutions while exploring confidential compute technology for cloud deployments. The agreement, signed at Gitex Global 2024 in Dubai, aims to conduct a proof-of-concept evaluation of AMD Instinct accelerators using Core42's production workloads. This collaboration is expected to showcase the performance of AMD's GPUs in real-world scenarios, particularly in enhancing AI-driven services within sovereign cloud environments. The partnership is seen as a significant step in driving innovation in cloud services, especially in...
read Oct 18, 2024From job placement to disaster relief, McKinsey is leveraging AI for social good
AI's expanding role in social impact: The application of artificial intelligence to address global challenges has seen significant growth, with a threefold increase in AI use cases aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals since 2018. Over 600 AI solutions now target social and environmental issues, with 82% already deployed, showcasing rapid innovation and adoption in this field. McKinsey, through its QuantumBlack AI division, has been at the forefront of developing AI solutions for job placement and disaster relief efforts. Revolutionizing job placement with AI: McKinsey's Generation initiative has leveraged AI to streamline the job matching process for program graduates, improving...
read Oct 17, 2024How to leverage ‘Prosocial AI’ in the fight against global poverty
The persistent challenge of global poverty: Despite significant progress in reducing extreme poverty rates over the past few decades, millions of people worldwide still struggle to meet their basic needs, living on less than $2.15 per day. According to recent World Bank estimates, around 719 million people live in extreme poverty, a figure that represents a substantial portion of the global population. To put this number into perspective, it is equivalent to about half of Africa's total population or more than twice the population of the United States. The $2.15 per day threshold is considered inadequate to ensure a life...
read Oct 17, 2024Advancing tech, innovation and AI governance in Africa
Rwanda's AI Initiative: Fostering Innovation and Governance: Rwanda's Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) is spearheading efforts to accelerate responsible adoption of emerging technologies, with a focus on artificial intelligence (AI) and its potential to transform the African continent. The Center's Mission and Global Context: C4IR Rwanda is part of a broader network of 20 centers worldwide, established by the World Economic Forum to drive technological innovation and governance. The center aims to accelerate innovation through an AI innovation lab, develop AI talent, and elevate Africa's role in global AI governance discussions. This initiative positions Rwanda as a key...
read Oct 16, 2024Tiny Caribbean island now generates 20% of revenues from ‘.ai’ domain sales
Anguilla's unexpected AI windfall: The tiny Caribbean island of Anguilla has found itself at the center of the artificial intelligence boom, thanks to its control of the coveted .ai internet domain. Financial impact and revenue surge: Anguilla's earnings from web domain registration fees have experienced a dramatic increase, reshaping the island's economic landscape. Domain registration fees quadrupled last year, reaching $32 million and now accounting for approximately 20% of the government's total revenue. The Premier anticipates that domain revenues could potentially double this year, further bolstering the island's finances. Major tech companies, including Google and Elon Musk's X, as well...
read Oct 13, 2024How AI is helping cows alert farmers about births
AI revolutionizing Australian agriculture: Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming farming practices in Australia, offering innovative solutions for pest control, livestock management, and resource optimization. Melbourne University researchers, part of NASA's global team, are developing AI-powered robotic arms designed to function in zero-gravity environments, showcasing the technology's versatility and potential applications beyond Earth. Associate Professor Sigfredo Fuentes from Melbourne University notes that Australian agriculture is one of the fastest adopters of AI technology, leveraging its capabilities to enhance productivity and sustainability. AI applications in livestock management: Advanced AI systems are being employed to improve animal welfare and streamline operations in the...
read Oct 10, 2024AI-written content probably won’t make your election meddling go viral
AI's limited impact on foreign influence operations: OpenAI's quarterly threat report reveals that while artificial intelligence has been used in foreign influence operations, its effectiveness in creating viral content or significantly advancing malware development remains limited. • OpenAI disrupted more than 20 foreign influence operations over the past year, demonstrating the ongoing attempts to leverage AI for manipulative purposes. • The report indicates that AI has enabled foreign actors to create synthetic content more quickly and convincingly, potentially increasing the speed and sophistication of disinformation campaigns. • However, there is no evidence suggesting that AI-generated content has led to meaningful...
read Oct 10, 2024Meta’s AI imagination stalls at EU borders
Global expansion of Meta AI: Meta's artificial intelligence assistant is making significant strides in its international rollout, with launches in several countries and plans for further expansion in the coming weeks. Meta AI is debuting in Brazil, Bolivia, Guatemala, Paraguay, the Philippines, and the UK this week. Over the next few weeks, the AI assistant will be introduced in 21 additional countries across Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. After this expansion, Meta AI will be available in 43 countries and support a dozen languages. New features and language support: The expansion comes with enhanced capabilities and increased language...
read Oct 9, 2024Meta brings AI tools to 21 new countries, expanding global reach
Meta expands AI features globally: Meta has announced the expansion of its AI features, including a chatbot and image generation Studio, to 21 additional countries, significantly broadening its international reach. Geographical expansion details: The rollout of Meta AI encompasses a diverse range of countries across multiple continents, reflecting the company's commitment to global accessibility. Countries newly gaining access include Brazil, Bolivia, Guatemala, Paraguay, Philippines, and the United Kingdom, among others in Latin America and Asia. Meta plans to extend availability to Middle Eastern countries in the coming weeks. Following this expansion, Meta AI will be accessible in 43 countries and...
read Oct 9, 2024Meta expands AI assistant to new global markets
Meta expands AI capabilities globally: Meta's AI assistant is set to broaden its reach, with plans to introduce the technology to 21 new countries and support additional languages by the end of the year. The rollout begins immediately in the United Kingdom, Brazil, Guatemala, Bolivia, Paraguay, and the Philippines. Meta AI currently boasts nearly 500 million active monthly users, indicating its significant popularity and widespread adoption. The expansion underscores Meta's commitment to making its AI technology accessible to a broader, more diverse user base. Smart glasses integration: Meta is extending the AI assistant's functionality to its Ray-Ban smart glasses in...
read Oct 3, 2024German-Emirati partnership aims to deliver AI-powered remote controlled driving
Teledriving Technology Expands to New Markets: German company Vay Technology partners with UAE's Bayanat to bring remotely controlled vehicles to the Middle East, Africa, and parts of Asia Pacific. Partnership Details and Objectives: The collaboration aims to advance teledriving technology solutions by integrating geospatial data and AI capabilities. Vay and Bayanat have signed a memorandum of understanding to combine their expertise in teledriving and AI-enabled geospatial data. The partnership seeks to successfully launch Vay's teledriving technology in new regions, expanding beyond its current operations in Las Vegas and Europe. Bayanat's AI-enabled platform, GIQ, will be utilized to enhance Vay's teledriving...
read Sep 29, 2024AI uncovers hidden archaeological sites in Arabian Desert
AI revolutionizes archaeological exploration in Arabian Desert: A team of researchers at Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi has developed a machine-learning algorithm to identify potential archaeological sites in the vast Rub' al-Khali desert, showcasing the growing role of artificial intelligence in archaeological discovery. The challenge of desert archaeology: Traditional ground surveys in the Rub' al-Khali, or 'Empty Quarter', are difficult and costly due to the harsh environment, while satellite imagery interpretation is hindered by sandstorms and dune patterns. The Rub' al-Khali spans 250,000 square miles on the Arabian Peninsula and is home to Saruq Al-Hadid, a site with evidence of...
read Sep 27, 2024Why countries are in a race to develop ‘sovereign AI’
The rise of sovereign AI: Nations worldwide are increasingly pursuing "sovereign AI" capabilities, aiming to develop artificial intelligence technologies using their own infrastructure, data, workforce, and business networks. Sovereign AI has become a national priority for many countries, driven by a desire to protect national data, support economic growth and innovation, and develop AI systems tailored to local languages and cultures. Nvidia, a leading AI chip manufacturer, has committed $110 million to help countries invest in sovereign AI infrastructure and startups, recognizing the growing demand for localized AI development. The concept of sovereign AI extends beyond mere technological development, encompassing...
read Sep 27, 2024An AI just performed decades of archeological discovery in just 6 months
AI revolutionizes archaeological discovery: Advanced artificial intelligence has led to the identification of over 300 previously unknown 'Nazca Lines' geoglyphs in Peru, nearly matching the 430 geoglyphs discovered through traditional methods over the past 80 years. A research team led by Masato Sakai from Yamagata University in Japan made these groundbreaking discoveries over a six-month period, showcasing the power of AI in accelerating archaeological research. The newly discovered geoglyphs are located on a desert plateau about 500 meters above sea level, 50 km inland from Peru's south coast. These ancient artworks have survived for millennia due to the region's dry...
read Sep 26, 2024How our choices now determine whether AI deepens or improves inequality
The digital divide persists: Despite rapid advancements in artificial intelligence and technology, billions of people worldwide still lack access to basic necessities and digital resources, highlighting the stark global inequalities in living conditions and technological access. As of 2023, an estimated 2.7 billion people remain offline, while over 3.5 billion lack reliable electricity, according to the International Telecommunication Union. One in three individuals is unable to afford a healthy diet, and one in two lacks access to basic sanitation, as reported in the 2023 Human Development Report. These statistics underscore the gap between technological progress in wealthier nations and the...
read Sep 24, 2024OpenAI Launches Multilingual Dataset to Enhance Global AI Performance
OpenAI's release of a multilingual AI dataset marks a significant advancement in expanding the global reach of artificial intelligence, particularly in languages with limited AI training resources. Bridging the language gap: OpenAI has unveiled the Multilingual Massive Multitask Language Understanding (MMMLU) dataset, evaluating AI performance across 14 diverse languages. The dataset includes Arabic, German, Swahili, Bengali, and Yoruba, addressing criticisms of the AI industry's focus on primarily English-based models. MMMLU builds upon the existing Massive Multitask Language Understanding (MMLU) benchmark, which tested AI knowledge across 57 disciplines but only in English. The new dataset has been made available on the...
read Sep 24, 2024108 Small Nations Band Together to Write AI Playbook
Global collaboration on AI: Small nations are joining forces to share experiences and best practices in artificial intelligence adoption through a newly released AI Playbook for Small States. The playbook, developed by Singapore's Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and Rwanda's Ministry of Information Communication Technology and Innovation, aims to foster inclusive global discourse on AI. It draws from the collective experiences of 108 nations that are part of the Digital Forum of Small States (FOSS), addressing various aspects of AI deployment, including governance, safety, and societal impact. The initiative aligns with the United Nations' 17 sustainable development goals and provides...
read Sep 23, 2024US Launches $100M Initiative To Foster Global AI Inclusivity
Global AI partnership launched: The U.S. Department of State has initiated the Partnership for Global Inclusivity on AI (PGIAI), collaborating with eight major tech companies to promote AI development and use in developing countries. The partnership, which includes Amazon, Anthropic, Google, IBM, Meta, Microsoft, Nvidia, and OpenAI, commits over $100 million to foster AI growth in emerging economies. This initiative aims to bridge the global AI divide by focusing on three key areas: increasing access to AI models and tools, building technical capacity, and expanding local datasets. The State Department is contributing $33 million in funding for various AI initiatives...
read Sep 23, 2024OpenAI’s New Academy Aims to Boost AI Development in Emerging Markets
OpenAI has launched a new initiative aimed at empowering developers in low- and middle-income countries with AI resources and training, potentially catalyzing economic growth and innovation across various sectors. The big picture: OpenAI Academy, a newly announced program, will award $1 million in API credits to developers in low- and middle-income countries, aiming to boost local AI talent and foster innovation in crucial sectors. The initiative seeks to make advanced AI technology accessible to diverse communities worldwide, addressing the barrier of access to advanced training and technical resources in countries with fast-growing technology sectors. OpenAI's goal is to catalyze economic...
read Sep 22, 2024The Geopolitics of Artificial Intelligence
The AI revolution reshapes global power dynamics: Artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as a transformative force in international politics, with the potential to significantly influence global power structures and reshape geopolitical relationships. The RAND think tank predicts that nations' power may rise or fall based on their ability to harness and manage AI development, underlining the technology's critical importance in shaping future global dynamics. Governments are already imposing restrictions on the export of advanced AI technologies to rival nations, citing national security concerns and highlighting the strategic importance of AI in international relations. The ongoing competition for control over global...
read Sep 21, 2024OECD-GPAI Merger Represents Strategic Realignment in Global AI Governance
Global AI governance evolves: The Global Partnership on AI (GPAI) is merging with the OECD's AI policy work, signaling a significant shift in the landscape of international AI governance and policy development. GPAI's initial challenges: The partnership faced three primary obstacles that hindered its effectiveness and impact in the global AI governance arena. Organizational structure issues led to limited agency for many member countries, as the centers in Montreal and Paris held primary control over working groups. Unstable and complicated funding mechanisms resulted in staff turnover and operational uncertainties. A lack of clear mission definition created confusion about GPAI's primary...
read Sep 20, 2024AI Could Become Dominated By a Few Multinationals, UN Warns
AI governance takes center stage: The United Nations' High-Level Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence has released its first report, outlining seven key recommendations to address the risks and governance challenges associated with AI technology. The report, titled "Governing AI for humanity," emphasizes the need for a global dialogue on AI governance, highlighting that the European Union's AI Act is one of the few existing regulatory frameworks in this space. A primary concern raised in the report is the potential for AI technology to be controlled by a small number of multinational corporations, potentially leading to its imposition on people without...
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