A three-judge panel in the Cincinnati-based sixth US circuit court of appeals said the Federal Communications Commission lacked authority to reinstate the rules initially implemented in 2015 by the Obama administration.

The net neutrality rules, which require internet service providers to treat internet data and users equally, were repealed by Donald Trump in 2017, before outgoing President Biden signed a 2021 executive order encouraging the FCC to reinstate the rules.

The court cited a June decision from the Supreme Court in Loper Bright to overturn a 1984 precedent that would give deference to government agencies in how they interpret laws they administer. The ruling leaves in place state net neutrality laws but is a blow to Democrat efforts to give federal regulators oversight of the internet.

Net-neutrality rules prevent ISPs from restricting access, slowing speeds or blocking content for certain users. The rules also forbid special arrangements in which ISPs give improved network speeds or access to favoured users, but the rules were opposed by Brendan Carr, who is set to become FCC chair when Trump comes to power later this month.

Following the ruling, sitting FCC chair Jessica Rosenworcel challenged Congress to act to “put open internet principles in federal law”.

She said: “Consumers across the country have told us again and again that they want an internet that is fast, open and fair. With this decision it is clear that Congress now needs to heed their call.”

USTelecom, an industry group whose members include AT&T and Verizon, said in a joint statement with other groups that sued that the ruling is “a victory for American consumers that will lead to more investment, innovation and competition in the dynamic digital marketplace”.

However, the FCC’s net neutrality rules received backing the likes of Amazon, Apple, Alphabet and Meta.

The post US court strikes down net neutrality rules appeared first on TechInformed.

The UK government has been criticised by campaigners for creative industries after it proposed letting AI companies train their models on copyrighted works.

The proposal, which suggests that AI firms should freely leverage a new copyright exemption while training their algorithms, is “entirely untested and unevidenced” said crossbench peer Beeban Kidron, who campaigns to protect artist and creative rights.

Singer and songwriter Sir Paul McCartney warned AI could “just take over” if the firms writing LLMs are allowed to ignore copyright, but the government warned “legal uncertainty is undermining investment in and adoption of AI technology.”

Read more

Munich Airport aims to boost data use and cut wait times with AIRHART deployment

Munich Airport has unveiled plans for the next stage of its digital transformation after agreeing on a deal to implement the AIRHART data platform.

AIRHART, which is already in operation at Copenhagen Airport, uses real-time data analytics to improve the flow of passengers as they travel through an airport. It uses AI to optimise landing gates, predict bottlenecks and tie together all the different datasets and systems used in an airport.

AIRHART was created by Danish tech firm Netcompany in partnership with Copenhagen Airport and was deployed last year.

Munich Airport is Europe’s tenth busiest airport with over 50 million passengers a year.

“Munich Airport has a strong commitment to innovation and creating a seamless experience for the millions of passengers who visit and transfer at our hub. The implementation of AIRHART and our partnership with Netcompany is a significant step towards that objective,” says Florian Lesch, Senior Vice President IT at Munich Airport.

Read all about how it transformed the Danish airport’s operations

BlackBerry sells endpoint security arm Cylance to Arctic Wolf in huge loss

BlackBerry has reached a $160 million deal to sell Cylance to Arctic Wolf six years after it bought the endpoint detection and response vendor for $1.4 billion.

Arctic Wolf said the acquisition of the AI-powered cyber firm will bolster its EDR offerings, subject to closure of the deal which is expected to come in BlackBerry’s fourth fiscal quarter.

BlackBerry’s acquisition of Cylance in 2018 marked a significant step for the Canadian firm as it pivoted away from being a device manufacturer to focus on enterprise solutions, including security. It was BlackBerry’s largest ever acquisition at the time.

Arctic Wolf will pay $80 million once the deal closes, $40 million around a year later, and chip in 5.5 million shares too.

“Security has an operations and effectiveness problem and endpoint solutions alone have failed to live up to the outcomes they have promised for years,” said Nick Schneider, president and chief executive officer, Arctic Wolf.

“By incorporating Cylance’s endpoint security capabilities into our open-XDR Aurora platform, we will be addressing a rampant need for a truly unified, effective security operations that delivers better outcomes for customers. We believe we will be able to rapidly eliminate alert fatigue, reduce total risk exposure, and help customers unlock further value with our warranty and insurability programs.”

Read more

ChatGPT search made available for all users

OpenAI is making ChatGPT’s search engine function available for all users, including an optimised version for mobile.

The generative AI platform first launched a search function back in October, but it was initially only available for paid subscribers. However, OpenAI revealed as part of its “12 days of ship-mas” the function will unlock for free tiers of ChatGPT from today.

On mobile, the search function will appear more like a traditional search engine, including answers more relevant based on location data.

Another feature aims to make ChatGPT search faster when you’re looking for certain sites, such as “hotel booking websites.” Now, ChatGPT will surface links to websites before taking the time to provide more information about each option.

Additionally, the AI can also automatically provide up-to-date information from the web when using Advanced Voice Mode, though that remains only available to paid users.

Read more

The post UK mulls copyright exemption for AI and BlackBerry incurs loss on Cylance sale appeared first on TechInformed.

At a glance…

• Accenture and Nvidia partnered to advance agentic AI
• The US presidential election shook up the tech sector
• Vodafone and Three merger created UK telco buzz

October: Big Movements in Big Tech

Google invested $1 billion into data centre regions in Thailand

Data centre and cloud investments continued to surge in the last quarter of the year, as Alphabet’s Google announced a $1 billion investment towards building data centre regions in Thailand.

The goal was to support AI adoption in Southeast Asia — as Deloitte forecasted, the investment would create an average of 14,000 jobs annually by 2029.

Accenture and Nvidia expanded their partnership to scale agentic AI adoption

In terms of Gen AI, there’s a new kid on the block. Agentic AI has seen a steady rise in search results, particularly in the last quarter of this year.

This may be linked to companies such as Accenture and Nvidia announcing joint plans to accelerate agentic AI adoption (as well as Honeywell and Google Cloud).

Unlike traditional AI that merely responds to prompts, agentic AI autonomously creates workflows and acts based on user intent.

See worldwide search results for ‘agentic AI’ below.

OpenAI closed a $6.6 billion investment round

OpenAI secured a groundbreaking $6.6bn in its latest funding round, hailed as the “largest venture capital deal of all time.”

The fundraising valued the creator of ChatGPT at $157bn following its announcement of plans to transition to a for-profit structure within the next two years.

Notable investors included Microsoft, Nvidia, SoftBank, Fidelity, Altimeter Capital, Khosla Ventures, MGX, and Thrive Capital.

Microsoft accused Google of a campaign to mislead the public and cloud regulators

In a Big Tech spat, Microsoft claimed Google initiated a covert campaign to “discredit” Microsoft and “tilt the regulatory landscape in favour of its cloud services.”

In a blog by Microsoft’s deputy general counsel, Rima Alaily, he stated that Google was about to launch a lobby group with a handful of smaller European cloud providers.

Alaily claimed that Google planned to remain a “backseat member” and allow the other cloud providers to be the group’s face. Still, one firm that chose not to join told Microsoft that the group’s purpose was to criticise Microsoft’s practices in Europe.

UK tech provided mixed reactions to the new government’s first budget

The UK’s new Labour government released its first budget statement, which included increased taxes for employers, an uptick in public spending, and a renewed commitment to focus on growth.

November: US Presidential Election Shakes Tech Sector

Trump vs Harris: key tech policies in the US presidential election

As the US presidential election approached, TI covered the key tech policies proposed by the Republican and Democratic parties.

These included AI and automation plans, such as Trump’s push to minimise AI regulation and Harris’s focus on promoting ethical AI use.

Both parties emphasised strengthening cybersecurity and taking antitrust actions against monopolistic companies.

However, they differed on cryptocurrency: Trump advocated for limited regulation to position the US as a crypto hub, while Harris supported stronger regulation to secure crypto markets and protect consumers.

What does Big Tech stand to gain or lose under a second Trump presidency?

Trump won the US presidential election, and TI analysed the pros and cons of a Republican party for Big Tech.

For instance, Trump threatened to impose 60-100% tariffs on goods from China, which could heavily affect companies such as Apple and Tesla. These companies depend heavily on continued access to the Chinese market and supply chains.

On the other hand, lighter regulation may benefit sectors such as crypto.

Air fryers may be secretly sizzling data

When you threw those sweet potato fries into the air fryer drawer, did you consider that your data may have been stolen in the process?

Consumer rights watchdog Which? warned shoppers that air fryers and other electronic products made in China may collect unnecessary data and share it with third parties.

According to Which? the Xiamoi app, which comes with smart air fryers like Xiaomoi, Cosori, and Aigostar, was linked to ad trackers on platforms such as Facebook and Tencent.

It also requested gender and date of birth when users set up an account, which it reportedly shared with servers in China.

Coca-Cola’s AI-generated ‘Holidays are coming’ ad sparked debate

Coca-Cola’s annual fleet of trucks appeared on our screens — except this time, the entire ad was AI-generated.

The ad sparked controversy online, with one X user calling it “soulless garbage.” It was produced by three AI studios, using generative AI models Leonardo, Luma, Runway, and Kling.

Two subsea cables were severed in the Baltic Sea

Two subsea cables connecting Germany with Finland and Lithuania with Sweden were severed over the course of one weekend.

While the cause remained unknown, Finnish state-controlled cybersecurity and telecoms company Cinia stated such an event does not happen “without an outside impact.”

Neither of the incidents affected internet traffic, as other subsea cable routes were available.

December: The Law Denies Big Tech’s Appeals

A US judge rejected Elon Musk’s Tesla pay package

Elon Musk’s four-year-old child (X Æ A-12) may not get so many presents this Christmas, as a Delaware judge upheld her decision to void his $56bn Tesla pay package.

The judge ruled that the car manufacturer’s board of directors failed to act in the best interests of shareholders when devising Musk’s 2018 compensation deal. She cited conflicts of interest and material misstatements made to investors.

ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus warned of AI in the music industry

A study by the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC) found that human creators are “set to lose billions” due to GenAI.

Abba’s co-founder and president of CISAC, Björn Ulvaeus, responded to the report by warning that poorly regulated AI has “the power to cause great damage to human creators, to their careers and livelihoods.”

The CMA approved the £16.5bn Vodafone and Three deal and set terms for UK telecom’s future

The British telecoms sector saw a significant milestone as the UK Competition and Markets Authority approved the merger of Vodafone and Three, paving the way for a £16.5bn ($21bn) alliance.

The deal required several legal obligations, including a commitment to spend £11bn ($14bn) improving 5G connectivity services nationwide. (London is rated one of the worst capital cities in Europe for 5G connectivity). The deal brings together the UK’s fourth and third biggest operators.

A federal court upheld a ruling on TikTok forcing it to sell or face a US ban by 2025

A federal appeals court supported its decision requiring TikTok’s Chinese partner company, ByteDance, to sell its US operations or face a nationwide ban. It has until 19 January 2025 to comply with the ruling. If it fails, the app could be disabled for 170 million American users.

However, TikTok has vowed to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court, arguing that the law infringes on free speech rights and unfairly singles out the platform.

Google unveiled a quantum chip

Finally, as a holiday gift, Google unveiled its quantum chip, Willow. It said that the chip could perform a standard computation in under five minutes, which would take today’s fastest supercomputer an inconceivable amount of time (ten septillion years).

Google Quantum AI’s founder and lead, Hartmut Neven, added that the new chip moves the firm “significantly” toward commercially relevant applications.

Missed the rest of the year? Read our roundups of Q1, Q2, and Q3 to catch up.

The post Q4 Wrapped Up: the top tech stories of October to December 2024 appeared first on TechInformed.

At a glance…

• • ✦ Exploding pagers threatened a new era of warfare
• ✦ Social media giants were brought down a peg by law enforcement and legislation
• ✦ That whole Crowdstrike situation…

July: Crowdstrike.

A Crowdstrike outage took down millions of Windows computers

The biggest story of July (and perhaps all of 2024) was the massive IT outage that took down millions of Windows devices thanks to a fudged update by security vendor Crowdstrike.

The outage, caused by an update to Crowdstrike’s Falcon sensor, affected dozens of banks, supermarkets, broadcasters, stock exchanges, airports, and train lines worldwide — leaving Windows users stuck on the so-called ‘blue screen of death’.

More than 8.5 million Microsoft Windows computers crashed, resulting in Microsoft and CrowdStrike issuing grovelling apologies.

Google introduced rules to fight election deepfakes

In a year of elections, including the UK general election (more on that shortly) and the US presidential election, Google introduced new rules in an effort to combat deepfaked election ads.

The Labour party was elected in the UK

July saw the UK elect a new government for the first time. Keir Starmer’s Labour Party won a landslide victory, promising numerous tech developments.

The party’s election manifesto promised a 10-year digital infrastructure plan, national 5G coverage by 2030, a tax overhaul to encourage entrepreneurship and growth, and investment in and regulation of AI.

The conservative think tank Heritage Foundation was hit with a cyber-attack

There was also a cyber-attack on the Republican Party thinktank The Heritage Foundation, reportedly carried out by hacktivist group SiegedSec, which immediately disbanded after its actions drew the attention of the FBI.

Alphabet axed a planned $23bn Wiz acquisition

In M&A news, Google-parent Alphabet bit and agreed to buy cybersecurity firm Wiz for around $23 billion in what would have been the tech giant’s biggest acquisition of all time.

Within days of the announcement of the negotiations, the proposed deal collapsed as internal opposition at Wiz reportedly grew stronger. Reports claimed the boards at both firms had concerns about the deal, including whether it would clear potential regulatory hurdles.

August: Social Media Giants Brought Down to Size

Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, was arrested in France

In perhaps the most shocking development in August, the authorities arrested Telegram founder Pavel Durov as he entered France concerning an investigation into online child sexual abuse, drug sales, fraud, and other criminal activity carried out on the platform.

The prosecutors stated that Durov was being held in custody as part of a cyber-crime investigation assessing twelve offences linked to organised crime.

Telegram said, “It is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner is responsible for abuse of that platform.” However, Durov has remained in France ever since, unable to travel.

A “DDoS” attack delayed Musk’s X-clusive Trump interview

Elon Musk made headlines again. The Tesla boss had openly announced his support of Donald Trump in his race to regain the US Presidency. Still, the two men sat down for an exclusive interview to be broadcast on Musk’s X platform (formerly Twitter).

The stream was delayed due to technical issues, and thousands of users complained they could not access the interview. Musk later blamed a DDoS attack for the glitch.

After 40 minutes, the interview went live again on Spaces, and according to Musk’s figures, more than 16.4 million people listened to the conversation within the first 12 hours.

The CAA created a flightpath for drone deliveries

The UK Civil Aviation Authority approved Amazon’s drone delivery service, paving the way for the future of autonomous logistics.

Amazon had already operated drone deliveries in several US states, and the bots do not require human control.

The retail giant was one of six firms the CAA greenlit. The project aims to gather critical data on drone safety and performance, which will inform the development of comprehensive regulations for wider drone operations.

The EU AI Act came into effect

The European Union’s AI Act came into effect in August, enforcing the world’s first comprehensive AI rulebook after four years of deliberation.

The legislation, approved in March, influences businesses within the European Union and has substantial ramifications for technology giants in the US and UK.

Like the GDPR, the AIA’s extraterritorial reach mandates compliance for any AI systems marketed or intended for use within the EU, regardless of origin.

As companies worldwide adjust to the new regulatory landscape, understanding the challenges and opportunities presented by the AIA will be crucial for future-proofing operations and maintaining competitive advantage.

September: Exploding Pagers & Landmark Legislation

Exploding pagers left dozens dead in Lebanon

One of the most shocking stories in September was when news broke about a spate of pagers, walkie-talkies, and other electronic devices exploding across Lebanon, killing dozens and injuring thousands of people.

The ensuing panic reportedly caused local residents to tear batteries from their smartphones, afraid that any electronic device could be affected.

Details emerged that the explosions were part of a coordinated attack allegedly carried out by Israel’s IDF, who were targeting leaders of the terrorist group Hezbollah.

The attacks came in two waves and raised questions about whether we were about to see a new form of warfare involving electronic devices.

The California governor blocked the AI Safety Bill

California Governor Gavin Newsom intervened to veto the controversial AI Safety Bill, claiming the legislation could stifle innovation.

The proposed bill, the Safe and Secure Innovation for Frontier Artificial Intelligence Models Act (SB 1047), would have targeted companies developing generative AI. This type of AI can respond to prompts with fully formed text, images, or audio and perform repetitive tasks with minimal intervention.

As one of the first pieces of law focusing on AI safety in the US, it would have required the most advanced AI models to undergo safety testing.

Without the legislation, Senator Scott Wiener, who wrote the bill, said companies could continue developing an “extremely powerful technology” without government oversight.

He claimed Newsom’s block was “a setback for everyone who believes in oversight of massive corporations,” adding that “we are all less safe as a result.”

The EU issued landmark rulings against Big Tech

The European Court of Justice announced dual landmark rulings against Apple and Google in cases around corporate tax avoidance and market dominance abuse.

The rulings, led by European Union antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager, saw Apple ordered to pay Ireland €13bn ($14.4bn) in back taxes, while Google was fined €2.4bn ($2.7bn) for antitrust violations.

The cases were undoubtedly closely observed across the EU as a significant moment for Big Tech’s European tax affairs — especially as the EU’s investigations between companies and member states have faced setbacks.

Just last year, Amazon successfully defended its tax arrangements in Luxembourg in a court battle, and the Commission similarly lost a case involving the Netherlands’ tax treatment of Starbucks, though it chose not to appeal.

AI went Agentic with the Salesforce “Agentforce” launch

As AI continued to develop, Salesforce showed us where the technology is headed as it unwrapped its Agentic AI solution, Agentforce, at a packed Dreamforce 2024 in San Francisco.

Marc Benioff, CEO of the world’s second-largest software vendor, attacked rivals focused on developing copilot and co-owned AI solutions with enterprises. He said businesses wanted out-of-the-box AI tools, and this, he added, was where Agentic AI would play a key role.

Agentforce is a suite of autonomous AI agents that Salesforce claims will “augment employees” by handling service, sales, marketing, and commerce tasks.

Continue reading — Q4 Wrapped Up: The Top Tech Stories of October to December

The post Q3 Wrapped Up: the top tech stories of July to September 2024 appeared first on TechInformed.

An own goal for cyber?

Cybersecurity own goals don’t come much bigger than the CrowdStrike/Microsoft IT outage. A botched automated update in the cyber security firm’s endpoint security tool Falcon caused a global outage that grounded planes, shut down cash points and TV stations, and caused hospitals to resort to pen and paper.

The outage, which occurred during one of the busiest periods in the summer calendar, affected around 8.5 million Windows devices who were hit with the blue screen of death. A fix was delivered in just over an hour, an apology from the security firm’s CEO, George Kurtz, took a bit longer.

There was no ‘quick fix’ for many however, with companies reporting having to work through every single device and manually reboot in ‘safe mode’.

Compounding the issue, threat actors exploited the situation by creating malicious domains and distributing malware disguised as recovery tools, exacerbating the challenges for affected users and businesses.

However, for a sector built on trust, the most damaging outcome was a broken trust in cyber security products, meaning that CTOs and CIOs already working hard to convince boards to invest more in security tooling now face a greater task.

The mass X-odus

X, the micro-messaging platform formerly known as Twitter, already entered the year reeling from the reaction to its premium service tier, which many users found underwhelming and overhyped.

Operationally, Twitter/X had struggled with significant technical challenges and controversies since it was acquired in 2022 by Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

The rapid reduction in content moderation staff contributed to a rise in misinformation and extremism on the platform, while system reliability issues emerged due to a high turnover of engineers.

Financially, the company continued to experience advertising losses, with a 24% year-over-year decline. Its subscription-based revenue models remained insufficient to offset these challenges.

Even brands who used the platform to engage with audiences left in droves this year, citing concerns over brand safety, content moderation, and the platform’s increasingly polarising environment as the main reasons.

These included a slew of accounts representing a diverse range of organisations, from The Guardian newspaper to The Clifton Suspension Bridge. Others to quit the platform included Best Buy, Target, 3M, UnitedHealth Group, and Magers & Quinn Booksellers.

The chief beneficiaries of these departures were its rivals, including Twitter founder Jack Dorsey’s new social network, Bluesky, and Meta’s Threads — a former TI Turkey whose fortunes could yet improve.

TechInformed’s top tech turkeys of 2023

While we’re on Musk, it would be prudent to mention the recall of Tesla’s Cybertruck.

The most recent recall involved about 2,500 Cybertrucks produced between late 2023 and mid-2024. This issue was linked to a faulty drive inverter component that could lead to sudden propulsion loss, increasing collision risks.

Additional issues included malfunctioning windshield wipers, trim detachment, accelerator pedal issues, and a delayed rearview camera display.

Two turkeys for the price of one. And yet, the Musk name guarantees both hits and headlines – meaning that he’s the most likely shortlisted candidate for Time’s Person of the Year.

Not Ok Robot

Amazon Astro, a home robot designed for domestic patrolling tasks, introduced in 2021, faced production setbacks and criticism for limited functionality relative to its high price point.

In 2023, the tech giant pivoted with the bot into enterprise by giving it a better job as a camera-equipped patrol dog.

It used an HD periscope and night vision technology to autonomously patrol and map up to 5,000 square feet of space. It followed preprogrammed routes and routines and could be controlled manually and remotely via the Amazon Astro app.

But in July, Amazon notified its customers that every one of the 20-pound wheeled robots would stop working on 25 September. The tech giant then automatically issued full refunds for the $2,349.99 bot, plus a $300 credit.

The bricking of Astro comes during a tumultuous time for Amazon’s devices business as it seeks to transform its ten-year-old Alexa voice assistant into a generative AI-powered bot.

A $3,500 solution looking for a problem?

When it was first announced, Apple’s Vision Pro was greeted with much fanfare. However, its high price point positioned it as an elite device, limiting its appeal in a market dominated by cheaper alternatives like Meta’s Oculus.

Some users reported health concerns, although these seem largely related to overuse and wearers forgetting to blink while using it, leading to dry eyes and irritation.

Prolonged use of a headset that is already bulky also led to reports of neck fatigue and strain.

Regarding enterprise use cases, limited integration into professional workflows has hindered adoption. The Vision Pro’s software ecosystem is still developing.

Unlike other headsets designed for specific professional use cases (e.g., CAD design, virtual collaboration), the Vision Pro lacked robust, enterprise-grade applications at launch.

In short, it is not the game-changer Apple envisioned. Yet.

Read all about 2024’s top tech triumphs, too!

The post 2024’s Top Tech Turkeys: Musk Malaise, Heavy Headsets, and… CrowdStrike appeared first on TechInformed.

Chipmaker Nvidia is facing an antitrust investigation in China after authorities in Beijing launched a probe per anti-monopoly laws.

This probe marks the latest development in the ongoing tech trade war between the US and China over the growing semiconductor space.

According to Chinese broadcasters, Nvidia had been accused of violating commitments made in 2020 when it acquired Mellanox Technologies, a smaller firm.

Nvidia said it was “happy to answer any questions regulators may have about our business.

“We work hard to provide the best products we can in every region and honour our commitments everywhere we do business,” the company said.

This comes just a week after Washington tightened restrictions on sales to 140 companies, including Chinese chip firms such as Piotech and SiCarrier, without special permission.

Incoming President Donald Trump has vowed to go further, promising to introduce significant sanctions against Chinese imports.

Read more…

Orange and La Poste team up to repurpose network equipment used during the Paris 2024 Olympics

French telco Orange and the postal service La Poste have announced a new initiative to extend the lifespan of network equipment used during the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Several thousand Wi-Fi terminals and other telecom equipment, including nearly 80% of the switches from the Olympics sites, will be reused, benefiting La Poste employees by providing better indoor and outdoor connectivity.

It will also be used to support digitalisation and new uses.

“In the face of scarce resources and the increasing digitalisation of services, La Poste Group is committed to reducing the environmental footprint of its tools and applications.

“The reuse of network equipment deployed by Orange for the Olympic Games is an opportunity that perfectly aligns with our desire to promote responsible digital practices,” says Philippe Bajou, Secretary General of the La Poste Group and President of La Poste Group Immobilier.

Read more…

General Motors puts the brakes on Robotaxi plans following $10bn losses

General Motors has ceased funding for its autonomous taxi firm, Cruise, and revealed that it will instead focus on assisted driving and safety technology.

“We looked at the amount of money needed to deploy a robotaxi business and maintain that business and grow it; it’s quite a bit of capital,” GM CEO Mary Barra said on a call with analysts.

“A robotaxi business is not GM’s core business,” she added.

According to NPR, GM spent $581 million initially to acquire a majority stake in Cruise in a 2016 deal. It then invested a further $2.4 billion to keep the robotaxi arm on the road.

According to reports, Cruise generated about $500 million in revenue but racked up $10 billion in operating losses in the years since GM bought it, leading to the decision to axe the unit.

Read more…

Krispy Kreme says “doh” after hackers find hole in its cybersecurity

Sweet treats maker Krispy Kreme has revealed that a cyber attack detected over a week ago has taken down its ordering system in some parts of the US.

The doughnut maker revealed in a regulatory filing that it first spotted intruders in its system on November 29 before taking immediate steps to safeguard its data.

The company acknowledged that, although it restored most systems, some shops and kiosks still have problems with its ordering software.

“As the investigation of the incident is ongoing, the full scope, nature and impact of the incident are not yet known,” Krispy Kreme said in its filing to the Security and Exchange Commission.

Read more…

Meta faces massive outage across social media platforms

A “technical issue” has caused a global outage of Meta’s services, leaving thousands of users worldwide unable to access Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.

“We’re aware that a technical issue is impacting some users’ ability to access our apps. We’re working to get things back to normal as quickly as possible and apologize for any inconvenience,” Meta, which owns the apps, said on X.

According to Downdetector, Facebook outages were reported at around 6pm GMT and reached more than 100,000 complaints of an issue. Meta also owns WhatsApp, Instagram, and Threads, which have also been experiencing problems

Read more…

The post China lauches anti-trust probe into Nvidia, and Meta has a fumble appeared first on TechInformed.

At a glance…

• • ✦ Meta and OpenAI expanded their AI offerings to the world
• ✦ The threat of AI shook governments around the world into action
• ✦ Sustainability: Poo-powered planes to the rescue!

April: Earthquakes and Space Grapes

Amazon cuts hundreds of roles at AWS

Amazon Web Services announced plans to axe hundreds of jobs across sales, marketing and global services. The plans were revealed in an email sent to staff, as executives said the cloud company was to shift its focus to self-serve digital training and training programs run by external partners.

AWS senior vice president Matt Garman said, “The changes we are making are preparing the organisation for the future, aligning with our strategy and priorities, and reducing duplication and inefficiency.”

Amazon also announced it would be ditching AI-powered checkouts in the US.

Meta released its AI service, Llama, to the public

Meta released Llama 3, an advanced AI model that claimed to be more powerful than OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini. It featured significant upgrades, including reasoning abilities, multilingual support, and multimodal potential, driven by its 8B and 70B parameter models—seven times larger than its predecessor, Llama 2.

Integrated with Meta AI, it became accessible on Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp in the US. In the same month, OpenAI released its voice engine to select partners.

UK Space Agency awards grant to grow food in space

The UK Space Agency granted agritech firm Vertical Future (VF) £1.5 million to advance its mission of taking vertical farms into outer space.

VF, a UK-based specialist in vertical farming technology, initiated the second phase of its Autonomous Agriculture for Space Exploration project. It is adapting its Earth-based controlled-environment agriculture (CEA) systems for Low Earth Orbit (LEO), which is expected to launch in 2026.

VF’s project, part of the UK Space Agency’s £20 million International Bilateral Fund, aimed to expand its CEA systems to the Moon and Mars in the 2030s.

Chip plant evacuations follow strong Taiwan earthquake

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC), a key supplier for Apple and Nvidia, evacuated several fabrication plants following a powerful 7.2-magnitude earthquake in Taiwan. The quake, the strongest in 25 years, struck the eastern province of Hualien, claiming seven lives, injuring 700, and leaving 77 trapped in tunnels.

Taiwan, responsible for producing 60% of the world’s semiconductors, faced significant global supply chain risks when its fabs were affected, as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the same month, just across the East China Sea, South Korea pledged to invest $7 billion in AI to retain its edge in chip manufacturing.

May: AI Deepfakes and Cyber-Attacks

An ad agency boss was the target of a deepfake scam

Mark Read, CEO of advertising giant WPP, was targeted in a sophisticated deepfake scam. Scammers used a fake WhatsApp account with Read’s publicly available image to initiate a Microsoft Teams meeting with a senior WPP executive.

During the call, they employed a voice clone and YouTube footage of Read, impersonating him in real-time to request sensitive information and financial actions.

The attempt failed due to the vigilance of WPP staff. In an email, Read warned employees about evolving cyber threats and urged them to be cautious of suspicious requests involving money, passports, or “secret” transactions.

Expedia unveiled a travel buddy AI app for US customers

Expedia has unveiled Romie, an AI-powered travel assistant, along with additional features at its Explore event in Las Vegas.

Romie’s capabilities include learning travellers’ preferences for activities, food, and accommodations, integrating into group trip planning chats, summarising discussions, and making suggestions. The app also extracts travel details from emails and recommends nearby restaurants or activities during trips.

Expedia also extended AI-powered tools to partners, including personalised itineraries, price comparison tools, and guest review summaries for app users in the US.

UK Ministry of Defence hit by major cyber-attack

The UK Ministry of Defence’s payroll system, managed by SSCL, was hacked, exposing sensitive data of 270,000 armed forces personnel, including names, bank details, and addresses. While Whitehall sources suggested Chinese involvement, the government did not officially name a perpetrator, and China denied any role.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps announced an eight-point response plan, including system security measures, investigations, data monitoring, and a helpline for affected individuals. No operational data was compromised, but the breach raised concerns about supply chain vulnerabilities.

Global AI regulation efforts prompted US-China talks

The US and China convened in Geneva to discuss artificial intelligence’s risks and governance challenges, focusing on security and ethical concerns. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi addressed misunderstandings and explored global AI norms despite competitive tensions.

Experts emphasised the importance of cooperation, highlighting the need for privacy, fairness, and adherence to regulations for AI to succeed globally. However, trust issues and safeguarding strategic sectors like healthcare and energy remained critical barriers.

Did the FBI misidentify the leader of Lockbit?

The FBI and the UK’s National Crime Agency identified Dmitry Khoroshev as the leader of the ransomware gang LockBit following a cyberattack on the group earlier in the year. Khoroshev was sanctioned and banned from travelling to the US, UK, and Australia. He denied the allegations, claiming to have no connection to the gang.

LockBit dismissed the claims, offering a reward to confirm Khoroshev’s well-being. While experts were uncertain if the FBI correctly unmasked the leader, they believed Khoroshev was connected to the group.

June: Self-Driving Taxis in San Fran, plus the NHS Got Hacked

Ransomware gang leak 400GB of NHS data from London hospital hack

Hackers from the Russian gang Qilin leaked nearly 400GB of sensitive patient data stolen during a ransomware attack on Synnovis, an NHS blood testing partner. The attack disrupted pathology services across London hospitals, delaying over 3,000 appointments and operations.

Despite demands for $50 million, Synnovis and NHS officials refused to pay. The leaked data reportedly included patient names, dates of birth, and blood test results.

Elon Musk’s SpaceX was hired to decommission the International Space Station

NASA awarded SpaceX a contract worth $843 million (£668 million) to safely decommission the International Space Station (ISS) early next decade. SpaceX will develop a de-orbit vehicle to guide the 430-tonne station into Earth’s atmosphere, ensuring a controlled descent to Point Nemo, a remote Pacific location.

Operational since 2000, the ISS remains structurally sound, but NASA aims to prevent uncontrolled re-entry. After the ISS’s retirement, the agency will focus on commercial space stations and the Lunar Gateway project, a moon-orbiting platform.

Nvidia was named the world’s most valuable listed company (again)

Nvidia leapfrogged Apple and Microsoft to become the world’s most valuable listed company, driven by the AI boom. The American chipmaker’s share price hit an all-time high, with the company valued at $3.34tn (£2.63tn) at the time — almost double the value at the start of 2024.

Apple partnered with ChatGPT for AI integration in iPhones

Apple unveiled “Apple Intelligence” at its Worldwide Developers Conference, integrating ChatGPT into Siri to enhance AI-driven features across iOS, iPad, and Mac devices. CEO Tim Cook emphasised privacy, with local AI processing and minimal data collection.

Siri gained improved context-aware capabilities, while new tools like “Rewrite” and “Proofread” refined text and tone. The event also highlighted the global rollout of the Vision Pro headset.

Waymo made its self-driving taxis available to everyone in San Francisco

Waymo, Alphabet’s autonomous driving company, made its self-driving taxi service available to everyone in San Francisco. After receiving approval from the California Public Utilities Commission, Waymo operated its commercial driverless service 24/7, despite earlier complaints about traffic disruptions.

Previously limited to a waitlist, the service became accessible via the Waymo app. Nearly 300,000 people signed up for rides as the company sought to build public trust in autonomous vehicles. Waymo operated around 300 self-driving taxis in San Francisco, with additional fleets in Phoenix and Los Angeles.

Continue reading — Q3 Wrapped Up: The Top Tech Stories of July to September

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At a glance…

• • ✦ The first of over 65 national elections took place in Taiwan and Pakistan
• ✦ The EU’s AI Act came into force to regulate high-risk applications of the technology
• ✦ The threat to subsea cables was highlighted when international cables in Africa were disrupted

January: AI Regulations and Global Political Tech Trends

UK calls for AI Chatbot Regulation

It was a bleak but necessary wake-up call at the dawn of 2024, as a legal leader called for the UK to crack down on chatbot radicalisation.

Jonathan Hall KC, the UK’s terrorism tsar, highlighted a legal gap: bots spreading hate cannot be prosecuted as they are non-human. He argued for legislation targeting the increasing risks posed by AI in encouraging extremism.

Pakistan Internet Shutdown during Elections

With 1.5 billion people due to vote in 2024 in elections held around the world, some undemocratic trends started to emerge. In particular, AI-generated deepfakes were a real and legitimate concern. However, internet blackouts have become a common trend in countries where the ruling parties control the national telecom infrastructure.

Pakistan’s internet blackouts surfaced as a tool of political suppression during its election season. The ruling PML-N party reportedly restricted platforms to hamper opposition PTI’s campaigning. Despite PTA denials, such actions have become frequent. Although PTI won the popular vote, jailed leader Imran Khan’s party fell short of a majority, and Shehbaz Sharif was re-elected as PM.

Taiwan goes to the Polls

Taiwan was among the first nations to go to the polls this year, and the country’s role as a critical player in global trade and technology ensured that the world would be closely watching.

The island produces 60% of the world’s semiconductors. In the event, the pro-independence DPP, led by Lai Ching-te, secured the presidency, maintaining tension with Beijing.

Orange Business shifts Focus

Orange Business’s new CITO, Bruno Zerbib, emphasised a pivot from generational upgrades to iterative improvements in enterprise services.

The company plans to expand API offerings, enabling private 5G networks and industrial innovations like digital twins for remote manufacturing.

DPD’s Chatbot goes Rogue

The rogue chatbot narrative continued in January as DPD faced a backlash after its AI chatbot insulted a customer and criticised its own brand.

This prompted the logistics firm to take down the chatbot, showcasing the challenges of deploying unregulated AI in customer service.

Study highlights Retail Data Privacy Concerns

A study found that Nike, H&M, and North Face were among 180 fashion apps sharing sensitive customer data, including user images and sexual orientation, with third parties — highlighting lax data privacy standards in the retail industry.

Meta fined $2.8bn for GDPR Breaches

In another privacy scandal, Facebook parent Meta accrued $2.8bn in GDPR fines over four years, primarily for failing to localise data storage. The penalties highlighted ongoing regulatory scrutiny of global tech giants and their data practices.

‘Mother of All Breaches’ exposes 26bn Records

A data leak dubbed the “mother of all breaches” exposed over 26 billion records from platforms like Tencent, LinkedIn, and X (formerly Twitter). Discovered by Cybernews researchers, the leak compiled earlier breaches, leaving its origins and perpetrators unclear. This highlighted the persistent threat of cyberattacks.

February: Deepfake and Cybersecurity Milestones

Why a Job at McDonald’s Could be the Key to Success

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, the world’s third richest man, marked his 60th birthday with a Big Mac – a nod to his formative summer job at McDonald’s.

Bezos credits the experience with influencing Amazon’s customer-first ethos. Starting a career in fast food can be pivotal for success in tech, argues TI’s Ann-Marie Corvin, as such roles teach problem-solving, customer service, and operational efficiency — essential skills for tech leadership.

Labours of Love: Women Shifting the Dial in Sex Tech

Sex tech gets a bad rap as a category, but it holds the potential to educate device-addicted kids and explore under-researched areas like female health. We spoke to two entrepreneurs, Cindy Gallop of Make Love Not Porn and Lioness’s Anna Lee, who are disrupting the sector.

London Mayor: Deepfake almost caused “Serious Disorder”

London Mayor Sadiq Khan called for action on disinformation after deepfake audio of his voice circulated online. The audio, depicting him making inflammatory remarks, almost caused “serious disorder” before the UK’s Remembrance Weekend.

UK, US, and EU Disrupt LockBit Ransomware Gang

In a rare win for the good guys, UK, US, and EU agencies disrupted LockBit — one of the world’s most prolific ransomware gangs. Operation Cronos saw Britain’s National Crime Agency, the FBI, and Europol seize control of LockBit’s dark web sites.

MWC2024: Security APIs Dominate Open Gateway

At the mobile industry’s annual conference, the GSMA revealed APIs tackling fraud and cyber security are among the most popular for developers under the Open Gateway initiative, launched a year ago.

Rhysida Hawked Stolen Hospital Records for $3.4m

The Rhysida ransomware gang targeted Chicago Children’s Hospital, demanding $3.4m for 600GB of stolen data. The attack forced staff to use pen and paper for prescriptions while test results remained inaccessible.

March: EU AI Act, Open-Source Challenges, and Critical Tech Innovations

Open Source Software faces Critical Challenges

At the State of Open Con in London, Bruce Perens declared the open-source movement economically unsustainable, citing corporate exploitation and unpaid maintainers.

Calls for a “post-open” model emerged to address licensing inequities and diversity issues. Advocates like Amanda Brock urged government support to sustain open source as a global public good.

Cybersecurity Staff “Breaking Bad” on the Dark Web

A CIISec report warned of cybersecurity professionals moonlighting on the dark web due to low pay and long hours, likening the trend to Breaking Bad’s Walter White. Without better salaries and working conditions, the industry risks losing talent to cybercrime.

AI Tops Election Threats, say US Voters

A bipartisan survey shows 80% of US voters considered AI-driven misinformation the biggest threat to the 2024 election. Concerns over phishing and data breaches also persisted. Experts urged campaigns to adopt stronger cybersecurity measures to maintain voter trust.

Expedia’s AI-powered Travel Revolution

Expedia is leveraging generative AI and OpenAI’s ChatGPT to personalise travel planning. Senior VP Shiyi Pickrell met with TI to highlight innovations like conversational trip planning, curated recommendations, and AI-driven tools for developers, all built on a modernised tech stack.

Lessons from the Post Office-Horizon IT Scandal

The long-running Post Office-Horizon IT scandal gained renewed attention thanks to an ITV drama. Experts reflected on the system’s critical failures and offered lessons for enterprises, emphasising accountability and robust system testing.

EU AI Act becomes Law

The European Parliament approved the AI Act, which set rules to mitigate AI risks while fostering innovation. Key measures include strict regulations for high-risk AI applications, transparency mandates for generative AI, and SME support through sandboxes.

Autonomy Tycoon faces US Trial

UK tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch stood trial in the US, accused of fraud in Autonomy’s $11.1bn sale to HP.

While found not guilty in June, Lynch passed away two months later, alongside his teenage daughter and four others, when his yacht sank off the coast of Sicily, closing a tumultuous chapter in a celebrated career.

3D Scanners assist in Ukraine

The Ukraine war’s devastation has driven innovation in 3D scanning technology. It aids in war crime documentation, cultural preservation, and prosthetic design for amputees and burn victims, showcasing its critical role in humanitarian efforts.

US Water Systems under Cyber Threat

The Environmental Protection Agency warned of ongoing cyber-attacks on the US water supply. Later, American Water admitted to a hack disrupting customer billing. Concerns grew over China’s ability to target critical infrastructure in potential geopolitical conflicts.

AI Detects Breast Cancer Missed by NHS

An AI tool piloted by the NHS identified early-stage breast cancer in 11 women that human doctors missed. Known as Mia, the tool analysed mammograms of over 10,000 women, demonstrating AI’s potential for life-saving medical advances.

Continue reading: Q2 Wrapped Up: The Top Tech Stories of April to June 2024

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Intel’s CEO Pat Gelsinger has stepped down after three years in charge at the chipmaker, following pressure from the US firm’s board of directors.

Gelsinger has said he will retire from Intel — where he spent most of his career — effective immediately. This follows a meeting with the company’s board, which reportedly gave him the option to retire or be removed, Bloomberg has reported.

Gelsinger rejoined Intel as CEO in February 2021, taking over from Bob Swan in an effort to turn around the chipmaker’s fortunes after Intel had lost ground to rivals, including Nvidia.

In a tweet confirming his departure, Gelsinger said: “Leading Intel has been the honour of my lifetime. I am forever grateful for the many colleagues around the world who I have worked with as part of the Intel family and can look back with pride at all that we have accomplished together. Thank you all!”

With Gelsinger out, Intel’s chief financial officer, David Zinsner, and Intel Products CEO, Michelle Johnston Holthaus, will temporarily serve as co-CEOs while the board searches for his replacement.

Read more…

UK govt eyes donation cap to limit billionaire influence on elections amid Musk rumours

The UK government could cap political donations after reports emerged that tech billionaire Elon Musk is eyeing a $100 million donation to the Reform UK party.

Musk, who was a significant presence during the recent US Presidential Election, is reportedly a big fan of Reform leader Nigel Farage. He has expressed a strong dislike for current UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer through his social media platform X.

Musk and Farage share ties to presidential-elect Trump, and Farage has hinted at Musk’s potential financial and ideological support, describing him as “supportive” of his policy positions.

Although no formal financial arrangement has been confirmed, the prospect has ignited debates over the role of international billionaires in domestic politics.

UK ministers are considering capping political donations to curb foreign influence, a reform potentially spurred by reports of Musk’s pledge.

Proposals under review suggest limiting annual donations from individuals and corporations to £100,000 ($127,000). This cap would aim to prevent undue influence by wealthy donors and foreign entities, but it could significantly impact the funding of major political parties.

Read more…

Microsoft faces £1bn class action case in UK over software prices

Microsoft could be forced to pay over £1 billion in compensation to UK businesses if it loses a class action case claiming it overcharged companies for its Windows Server software.

According to reports, regulation expert Maria Luisa Stasi has filed a complaint with the UK’s Competition Appeal Tribunal on an opt-out basis.

The lawsuit alleges that UK businesses are forced to pay more to license Microsoft’s Windows Server software on rival firms’ clouds than to license its own Azure platform.

This would theoretically allow Microsoft to lock businesses into its Azure platform, making it harder to switch to other hyperscalers.

Read more…

Starlink told to cease operations in Namibia

The Namibian communications regulator has ordered Elon Musk’s satellite comms provider, Starlink, to cease operations in the country until the relevant licences are granted.

Starlink, part of SpaceX, provides mobile communications in remote areas through satellite connectivity. It currently operates in several African countries, including Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Mozambique, Malawi, Madagascar, Benin, South Sudan, Eswatini, and Sierra Leone.

The firm said it had applied for a licence in Namibia, but the Communications Regulatory Authority (CRAN) is currently reviewing the application.

In a statement, CRAN said it had found Starlink operating a network in the African country, prompting the regulator to send Musk a cease-and-desist order. SpaceX has yet to comment on the situation.

Read more…

Telegram signs up to IWF child safety scheme

Following a controversial year which saw its founder placed under arrest, messaging app Telegram has announced it will work with an internationally recognised body to stop the spread of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

For years, Telegram has refused to engage with schemes such as the Internet Watch Foundation, which aims to detect and remove CSAM and to prevent its spread.

However, Telegram, used by around 950 million people worldwide, has announced a u-turn, saying it will join the IWF.

In a statement, the IWF called the move “transformational.”

“By joining the IWF, Telegram can begin deploying our world-leading tools to help make sure this material cannot be shared on the service,” said Derek Ray-Hill, Interim CEO at the IWF.

Earlier this year, Telegram founder Pavel Durov was arrested in Paris, accused of failing to moderate extreme content.

This occurred in August, and French judges have since barred the billionaire from leaving the country pending further investigations.

Read more…

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The US Department of Justice (DoJ) has urged Google to divest its Chrome browser and Android mobile operating system to dismantle its alleged monopoly in online search.

This follows an earlier ruling by Judge Amit Mehta declaring Google holds an illegal monopoly for abusing its control over the search market and key distribution channels.

The DoJ claims Google’s control over Chrome and Android obstructs competition with prosecutors suggesting strict measures, such as prohibiting exclusionary agreements like the one with Apple that designates Google as the iPhone’s default search engine.

Google criticised the proposal, deeming it part of “a radical interventionist agenda” that would damage consumer security, product quality, and US tech leadership. The company plans to respond formally next month.

A final court decision is expected in 2025.

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Australia’s proposed social media ban for children faces controversy after Musk tweet

A Senate inquiry into the Australian government’s proposal to ban children under-16 from social media received 15,000 submissions in just 24-hours after Elon Musk posted about it on X.

The post, sharing Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s announcement on X, amplified the issue to millions of users on the platform.

The bill seeks to impose fines of up to $50 million on social media companies that fail to block underage users. Parents and children bypassing the rules won’t face penalties.

“Seems like a backdoor way to control access to the internet by all Australians,” Musk wrote in response to Mr Albanese’s post.

If passed, the law will take effect in 12 months, giving platforms time to comply. Labor expects Coalition support despite ongoing concerns that the process was rushed, and over potential harm to young users.

Read more…

Amazon Japan raided over alleged antitrust violations

Japan’s Fair Trade Commission conducted an on-site inspection of Amazon Japan over suspicions of violating anti-monopoly laws by pressuring sellers to lower prices in exchange for favourable product placement.

The investigation focuses on Amazon’s “Buy Box” system, which allegedly prioritises products with competitive pricing and mandates sellers use Amazon’s logistics and payment services to qualify for promotion.

This is not Amazon Japan’s first antitrust issue; it faced similar scrutiny in 2018 but avoided penalties by agreeing to improve its business practices.

Globally, Amazon is under similar investigations in the EU, UK, and US, with concerns over self-preferencing and price manipulation. The US Federal Trade Commission recently alleged Amazon’s practices raised household costs by over $1 billion.

Amazon Japan stated that it will fully cooperate with authorities. If found guilty, Amazon could face significant fines and stricter regulatory oversight.

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Goldman Sachs faces $900m loss after Northvolt bankruptcy

Goldman Sachs has taken a $900 million hit after Swedish battery maker Northvolt filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last week.

As Northvolt’s second-largest shareholder, Goldman’s private equity funds wrote down their 19% stake to zero, a stark reversal from optimistic valuations earlier this year.

The collapse also impacted Volkswagen, Northvolt’s largest shareholder, and raised concerns about investor confidence in Europe’s green energy initiatives.

Northvolt, once seen as a symbol of Europe’s ambitions to rival Asia in battery manufacturing, struggled with debt exceeding $5.8 billion and insufficient cash to sustain operations.

While its factory in Sweden gained traction, aggressive expansion plans in Germany and Canada strained resources despite substantial government subsidies. Northvolt now seeks $1-1.2 billion to restructure and exit bankruptcy by early 2024.

Read more…

UK Government offers up to £3.5m towards satellite connectivity pilots in remote communities

The UK Space Agency, in partnership with government and European agencies, is funding innovative satellite projects to tackle connectivity challenges in remote UK areas.

With up to £3.5 million in funding, these pilots will test hybrid solutions combining Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and Geostationary Orbit (GEO) satellites with mobile and wireless networks, aiming to deliver gigabit-capable internet to hard-to-reach regions.

Projects on Rathlin Island, Northern Ireland, and Papa Stour, Shetland, will trial systems to enhance broadband reliability, support local economies, and improve essential services like education, healthcare, and conservation.

Rathlin’s solution integrates advanced satellite and wireless technologies to address its seasonal population surges, while Papa Stour’s project explores community-managed models to extend connectivity without heavy on-site maintenance.

Additionally, portable connectivity solutions, adaptable for emergency services and businesses, will be developed to provide high-speed internet in mobile settings.

Read more…

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