Unbuilt data centers in high demand as companies secure space years in advance The surging demand for data storage and computing power has never been more evident, as companies scramble to secure data center space well in advance of facility construction completion. The analogy of data as the "new oil" holds particularly strong here, with businesses recognizing the critical importance of having sufficient infrastructure to support their data needs. This proactive approach underscores how vital data centers have become in today's digital economy. With unbuilt data centers being booked yea ..read more

Microsoft's Emissions Spike 29% as AI Gobbles Up Resources Microsoft recently reported a significant 29% increase in its carbon emissions, attributing the surge to the escalating demand for artificial intelligence technologies. As AI applications expand, the computational power and energy required to support them also grow exponentially. This heightened energy consumption is primarily driven by the extensive data processing operations needed to train and maintain advanced AI models. Despite Microsoft's ongoing efforts to shift towards renewable energy sources and implement sustainability meas ..read more

Nvidia launches quantum computer centers with CUDA-Q platform Nvidia has announced the launch of its innovative quantum computing centers through the introduction of the CUDA-Q platform, marking a significant stride in advancing quantum computing technologies globally. The CUDA-Q platform has been developed to enhance the capabilities and performance of quantum computers, using Nvidia's expertise in hardware acceleration and software integration. The CUDA-Q platform is devised not just to power the quantum computers but also to serve as an efficient and user-friendly interface for developers ..read more

IBM and SAP Plan to Expand Collaboration to Help Clients Become Next-Generation Enterprises with Generative AI IBM and SAP are set to enhance their collaboration through a new initiative termed the "New Value Generation" partnership. This move aims to equip clients with advanced generative AI tools and specialized cloud solutions tailored for various industries, paving the way for the creation of next-generation enterprises. The partnership is designed to boost client productivity and fuel innovation by integrating cutting-edge generative AI capabilities into their service offerings. This str ..read more

Fortinet Unveils Generative AI IoT Security Assistant Fortinet has recently launched a new Generative AI IoT Security Assistant, signifying a significant step forward in IoT security management. This innovative tool employs advanced generative AI technology to enhance the security measures for IoT devices. By analyzing real-time data from these devices, the AI assistant can predict and preempt potential security threats, making it an invaluable asset for organizations looking to safeguard their IoT environments. The assistant not only identifies security vulnerabilities but also suggests corr ..read more

Microsoft made the biggest renewable energy agreement ever to fuel its AI ambitions Microsoft has recently entered into an unprecedented renewable energy deal, the largest of its kind, signifying its deep commitment to sustainability while bolstering its artificial intelligence capabilities. This strategic move involves purchasing vast volumes of renewable energy to power an expansive network of data centers that are integral to the company's growing AI operations. As the tech giant expands its AI infrastructure, ensuring an eco-friendly source of power becomes essential due to the ..read more

Microsoft isn't slowing down its artificial-intelligence spending spree anytime soon. In its third-quarter earnings call on Thursday, the tech giant said it would continue to invest in AI and cloud services because of growing demand and a rise in average spending on its cloud platform, Azure. Amy Hood, Microsoft's chief financial officer, said on the call that capital expenditure — what a company spends on buying or maintaining assets — would increase "materially." "Currently, near-term AI demand is a bit higher than our available capacity," Hood said. The company spent nearly $11 billio ..read more

Large financial institutions are coming to terms with the new world of tech-driven fraud and adopting digital identity tools as an increasingly necessary defense – but also for customer service, accessibility, and other use cases. Mastercard has launched a new suite of AI-driven tools to protect customers against scams. LexisNexis Risk Solutions is reporting a correlation between spiking fraud rates and customer trust. And Feedzai is seeing significant growth in its behavioral biometrics business. Mastercard AI security suite aims to foster trust in the digital world Mastercard’s offering ..read more

I'm an AI developer and consultant, and when OpenAI released a preview in February of its text-to-video model Sora—an AI capable of generating cinema-quality videos—I started getting urgent requests from the entertainment industry and from investment firms. You could divide the calls into two groups. Group A was concerned about how quickly AI was going to disrupt a current business model. Group B wanted to know if there was an opportunity to get a piece of the disruptive action. Counterintuitively, the venture capitalists and showbiz people were equally split across the groups. Hollywood p ..read more

Only four companies in the world are worth more than $t2 trillion: Microsoft, Apple, Alphabet – parent company of Google - and computer chip maker Nvidia. The California-based company saw its stock market value soar from $1 trillion to $2 trillion in just eight months this past year, fuelled by the insatiable demand for its cutting-edge technology – the hardware and software that make today's artificial intelligence possible. We wondered how a company founded in 1993 to improve video game graphics turned into a titan of 21st century AI. So, we went to Silicon Valley to meet Nvidia's 61 year ..read more