AI's growth is being held back not by chips, but by the copper wiring connecting thousands of GPUs. As AI clusters expand, traditional copper links are proving inadequate for data transfer demands. HyperLight, a startup emerged from Harvard research, is developing new optical materials to replace copper wiring, pushing data through light and overcoming current bottlenecks.
Starting this autumn, Norway will implement a ban on the use of generative AI tools among elementary school students. The restriction, announced by Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, will cover children in grades one to seven, typically ages six to 13. This measure aims to regulate AI exposure at an early education level as the new school year begins in late August.
John Jumper, vice president at Google DeepMind and recipient of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work on AlphaFold, is leaving the company after nearly nine years. Jumper shared on X that he plans to take a break to recharge before joining Anthropic, the maker of Claude. Both Google DeepMind and Anthropic are known for their advancements in artificial intelligence and related technologies.
In a recent pre-recorded interview with Axios, former President Donald Trump stated that he no longer regards AI company Anthropic as a national security threat. This marks a significant shift from the previous three months when his administration took a tougher stance on the company. When asked about Anthropic, Trump responded, "Well, not now. But a week ago, maybe."
Ford has introduced Ford Energy, a new wholly owned subsidiary focused on producing large-scale battery energy storage solutions for utilities, data centers, and industrial clients. This initiative involves a $2 billion investment to convert a Kentucky facility, initially intended for electric vehicle battery production, into a center dedicated to energy storage. The subsidiary is headed by Lisa Drake, who reports directly to Ford's leadership, marking a strategic shift toward supporting AI data infrastructure through innovative energy solutions.
General Intuition, a New York-based AI lab specializing in training intelligent agents to understand space and time through billions of video game clips, is negotiating to raise about $300 million. The funding round values the company at just over $2 billion and comes only eight months after its initial launch with $134 million in backing, as reported by TechCrunch. This capital influx aims to accelerate the development of advanced AI models using unique data sets that OpenAI previously sought to acquire.
UPS has unveiled a series of AI-driven logistics innovations, including a real-time digital twin that mirrors its entire worldwide network and refreshes every 10 minutes. This advanced system replicates facilities, air and ground routes, and package flows end-to-end, enabling continuous performance monitoring. With this technology, UPS's network gains the ability to dynamically adjust and 'self-heal,' improving efficiency and reliability.
Liberty Bank, celebrating 201 years in business and based in Middletown, Connecticut, has inaugurated a new AI Center of Excellence. This initiative is in collaboration with startup Flare AI and aims to centralize AI strategy, governance, and implementation across all of the bank's personal, commercial, and digital services. The partnership focuses on delivering tangible results to enhance operational efficiency and customer experience.
Peter DeSantis, Amazon’s senior vice president responsible for AI models, custom chips, and quantum computing, admitted in a CNBC interview that Amazon’s AI technology is currently not leading in the most demanding and advanced workloads. However, he expressed confidence that Amazon is working hard to close the gap and become a major player in the AI space soon.
Allbirds, once known for its sustainable footwear and valued at $4.1 billion during its 2021 IPO, has rebranded as Smartbird. The company has also appointed a new CEO to drive its transition into the AI infrastructure sector. Following the announcement, shares climbed over 50% before settling back. This rebranding marks the completion of a strategic shift first revealed in April, signaling a complete departure from its original business model.
