In a significant move towards bolstering AI infrastructure in Asia, Japan’s KDDI and Sharp have initiated discussions with Super Micro Computer Inc. and Datasection to establish the region’s largest AI data centre. The ambitious project will be situated at the soon-to-be-closed Sharp Sakai Plant in Osaka, marking a strategic repurposing of the unprofitable facility slated to shut down in September.
Global revenue from AI semiconductors is projected to reach $71 billion in 2024, marking a 33% increase from the previous year, according to a recent Gartner report. Gartner also anticipates that AI-equipped PCs will constitute 22% of total PC shipments in 2024. By the end of 2026, all enterprise PC purchases are expected to feature AI capabilities.
his week, the University of Bristol has powered up Isambard-AI, the UK’s fastest and most potent supercomputer, following a £225 million investment announced by the government last March. Built by Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Isambard-AI boasts over 5,000 NVIDIA superchips, enabling it to execute a staggering 200 quadrillion calculations per second. Officially named the AI Research Resource (AIRR), this supercomputer surpasses its predecessor by a factor of ten in computational power, aiming to support critical AI technology development.
UK-based autonomous vehicle startup Wayve has announced a significant investment of $1.05 billion aimed at advancing its development of self-driving cars powered by artificial intelligence (AI). The funding round was led by SoftBank, a Japanese multinational conglomerate, with substantial contributions from tech giants Nvidia and Microsoft.
Indonesian telecom operator Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison has unveiled impressive financial results for the first quarter of 2024, alongside highlighting strategic partnerships with global tech giants Nvidia, Cisco, and Mastercard. In Q1, Indosat recorded total revenue of $873 million, marking a robust 15.8% year-on-year increase. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) surged by 22.1%, with an EBITDA margin of 47.0%, while net profit soared by 39.4% to reach $82 million.
Softbank, the Japanese telecommunications giant, is gearing up to bolster its supercomputing capabilities in a bid to support its ambitious generative AI (GenAI) strategy. As reported by Nikkei, Softbank plans to allocate JPY150 billion ($960 million) over the next two years towards upgrading its computing infrastructure, a significant leap from the JPY20 billion invested last year.
The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has raised alarms regarding the possibility of a collusion among a handful of American tech giants, aiming to manipulate the AI market in their favor. The focus of their worry centers on the control exerted by these companies over the development and commercialization of foundation models (FMs), with Open AI’s GPT being a prominent example.
The transformative growth of AI is undeniably impressive but raises several concerns. Despite their potential for innovation, GenAI advancements could blur the line between fact and fiction, adding to the challenge of distinguishing authentic information. NTT calls for flexible but robust regulations to manage potential threats to trust and democracy, citing the need for education, copyright updates, and content labelling.
At Enterprise Connect, Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) today unveiled new purpose-built, multifunctional devices that deliver modernized collaboration experiences to today’s hybrid workforce. The company announced the launch of the Cisco Board Pro G2, an AI-fueled and touch-enabled collaboration device and Cisco Desk Phone 9800 Series, designed to bring a modern and personalized productivity hub to any desk.
Nokia has enhanced its WaveSuite optical network platform. Companies across various industries are increasing their investment in artificial intelligence. Ericsson launched EFTG to drive 5G advancements in U.S. federal agencies for national digital transformation. NVIDIA’s launch of the GB200 Grace Blackwell Superchip promises to revolutionize generative AI’s efficiency and performance.
