Study shows benevolent sexism in startups widens the gender gap
Our understanding of the challenges women face in the startup ecosystem is limited. Past research has focused on overt negative sexist attitudes that question womens competence and suitability for entrepreneurship. This view overlooks the existence of more subtle, yet pervasive and socially acceptable, sexist attitudes that often go unnoticed. Given the sheer number of people interested or working in startups today, from investors to suppliers to job applicants, the effects of these subtle forms of sexism can accumulate across a large and diverse group of decision-makers. For initiatives tackling gender inequality in entrepreneurship to be effective, we must gain a This story continues at The Next Web
Hallo, Netherlands!Welcome to TNWs first weekly round-up of tech news from our glorious home country. As we count down to TNW conference in Amsterdam on June 20 and 21, were ramping up our coverage of the Dutch IT sector. Wed also love to hear your thoughts on the local ecosystem. Drop us a line if you want to showcase your startup, share a digital tip, or just tell us your deepest, darkest secrets. In the meantime, lets get to the news. What were writing Chip giant ASML plans Eindhoven expansion in big win for Dutch tech Airbnb for cars platform This story continues at The Next Web
Why Lithuania is a hidden gem of Europes startup ecosystem
In 2022, over 20,000 Lithuanians returned to their country of birth from abroad. A high quality of life coupled with a booming entrepreneurial ecosystem and a collaborative mentality has contributed to what investors are calling a reverse brain drain. Many of their minds reemerge in the countrys startup scene. It was on a visit to Lisbon that I first heard someone refer to Lithuania as a hidden gem of Europes startup ecosystem. A recent trip to Vilnius convinced me they were right. To further drive the inspiring transformation it has achieved since regaining its independence from the Soviet Union in This story continues at The Next Web
DeepL launches AI writing assistant for businesses trained on its own LLM
DeepL, which has been rivalling machine translation giants such as Google Translate and Microsoft Translator, has launched an AI writing assistant tailored for businesses. Dubbed DeepL Write Pro, the product acts as a creative assistant for use during the drafting process. It provides suggestions on word choice, phrasing, style, and tone, aiming to improve the text, while preserving the writers own voice. Currently available in English and German, the tool comes with customisation options for both style (such as business, academic, or casual) and tone (such as friendly, diplomatic, or enthusiastic). Its use scope covers multiple types of business communication, This story continues at The Next Web
Microsoft, Google and Snap report strong quarterly results, IBM and Intel less so
Five big tech companies announced their quarterly financial results on Thursday with a jump in fortunes for Microsoft, Google and Snap, while those of IBM and Intel were more mixed.
Musks xAI is raising $6 billion from Sequoia and others
X also owns a stake in xAI which means that growth in the AI startup would automatically help the social media platforms case.
Hackers target critical vulnerability in WordPress plugin to compromise websites: Report
Hackers are using a critical vulnerability in a WordPress plugin to create user accounts with administrative privileges for long term access in websites
Today is your last chance to enter the 2024 IT Leaders 100
Enter now to have your name recognised as one of the UK's leading technology figures. Computing is all about the IT leader. Whether you're a CIO, CTO, CDO, chief engineer, digital director or any of the hundreds of other titles used to denote tech seniority, you are both our foundation and our passion. Every year we publish the IT Leaders 100, a definitive list of the most influential, creative and inspiring technologists in the UK today. We've featured people from every sector and organisations both large and small - our way of giving back to the community that has made us who we are today. But there's not long left to put your name forward - entries close at midnight tonight. Don't worry, though, it only takes five minutes to enter this year's list. Simply open the submission form , or use the form below, and fill in your or your nominee's details for consideration in the 2024 edition of the IT Leaders 100. Lesley Salmon, global CIO at Kellanova, who was featured on the list last year, said, If you want to learn something new from someone with great IT experience, then use the IT Leaders 100 to your advantage. Connect, collaborate, and see what opportunities you can create together or what challenges you can overcome with mentorship and guidance from great leaders in this industry. As an added bonus, everyone who reaches the final 100 will be entered into a prize draw to win a 50 voucher: a congratulations for being a leading figure in the UK IT market. When drawing up the final list we take into account factors like duration in role, level of transformation and major IT achievements.We also some lighter questions to get a sense of the person behind the title: from 'How did you get into IT?' to 'What's your secret talent?' We can't wait to see what you've got in store for us this year. Once we've shortlisted the entries, we work with industry experts on the incredibly challenging task of producing the final list - our assessment of the most influential figures in UK IT today. Each entrant should only submit themselves once - multiple entries will not increase your chance of being on the final list. Submissions close today, so don't wait.Fill in the form below to enter, or click this link . document.write(' '); Integrated data applications for enterprise teams - Alchemer. Please take my survey now
Global government networks breached in 'ArcaneDoor' espionage campaign
Cisco issued a security alert on Wednesday detailing a large-scale cyber espionage campaign dubbed ArcaneDoor that targeted government networks worldwide.
Alphabet revenue grows by 15%, announces first dividend
The news pleased investors and lifted company stock by nearly 16% in after-hours trading pushing Alphabets market cap past $2 trillion.
Infinix Note 40 Pro: A game-changing mid-range smartphone with battery and charging innovation
The Infinix Note 40 offers next-generation battery and charging features along with design enhancements at a competitive price point.
TSMC plans to make 1.6nm chipset to be used in future Apple products: Report
Chipmaker TSMC announced plans to produce advanced 1.6nm chips that could be used for future Apple silicon
GenAI at the heart of AWS Summit
AI took centre stage at the AWS Summit on Wednesday, with customers like Zilch and TUI setting out some early successes with AI innovation.
To understand the risks posed by AI, follow themoney
Time and again, leading scientists, technologists, and philosophers have made spectacularly terrible guesses about the direction of innovation. Even Einstein was not immune, claiming, There is not the slightest indication that nuclear energy will ever be obtainable, just ten years before Enrico Fermi completed construction of the first fission reactor in Chicago. Shortly thereafter, the consensus switched to fears of an imminent nuclear holocaust. Similarly, todays experts warn that an artificial general intelligence (AGI) doomsday is imminent. Others retort that large language models (LLMs) have already reached the peak of their powers. Its difficult to argue with David Collingridges influential This story continues at The Next Web
How to change margins in Google Docs
Adjusting your margins in Google Docs is actually pretty easy once you know how. In this guide, we'll show you how to change margins in Google Docs in two ways.
How to delete your Gmail account (and what you need to know)
Whatever the reason for deleting your Gmail account, doing so is not a difficult process. Heres a guide to help you along the way.
Cyberattacks on Poland surged after election of pro-Ukraine government, NetScout says
Cyber attackers battered Poland after the countrys change of government late last year. DDoS attacks at the end of 2023 were nearly quadruple the countrys average, according to cybersecurity firm NetScouts observations. The surge began when the Law and Justice party (PiS) lost its majority in last years Polish general election. PiS had ruled the country since 2015. It was replaced by a coalition government,which reaffirmed support for Ukraines defence against Russias invasion. NetScout described these developments as a perfect storm for adversaries. Several hacktivist gangs promptly responded with a barrage of cyberattacks. The most notable group was NoName057, which This story continues at The Next Web
Europe taps deep learning to make industrial robots safer colleagues
Demand for industrial robots is rising in Europe, especially driven by the benefits of automation. However, there are ongoing challenges in ensuring seamless collaboration with humans while maintaining safety. To address this issue, a consortium of European universities, technology accelerators, and private research labs is launching the RoboSAPIENs project. The aim is to build the necessary safety mechanisms with a particular focus on adaptive industrial robots a category of autonomous robots that can learn new behaviours without being reprogrammed and adapt to changes in their system structure or environment. One eye-catching ambition targets a big problem for adaptive robots: This story continues at The Next Web
Chinese EV battery maker CATL unveils LFP battery with 1,000 km range
Chinese electric vehicle battery maker CATL unveiled a lithim ion phosphate battery with a driving range of more than 1,000 kilometers on a single charge
AI unicorn Synthesia launches most emotionally expressive avatars on the market
A British startup today unveiled new AI humans that blur the line between the virtual and the real. Synthesia calls the digital beings Expressive Avatars. They promise the most realistic emotional expressions on the market. Generated by an AI model thats trained on footage of real actors, the avatars are built for video creation. Users simply enter a text prompt and the synthetic humans read them out on a screen. The photorealistic renders are certainly impressive. But what makes them unique is their capacity to convey human feelings. Using a technique called automatic sentiment prediction, Synthesias AI models infer the This story continues at The Next Web
US to block TikTok - ByteDance vows to fight back
TikTok claims a new US law, which requires owner ByteDance to divest it in nine months or a country-wide block, is unconstitutional.
Leicester streetlights on day and night following cyber-attack
The cyber-attack disclosed earlier this month has left some streetlights lit at all hours of the day as well as after dark.
BlueVoyant chooses Leeds for new Security Operations Centre
Cybersecurity services provider BlueVoyant, yesterday formally opened its new Security Operations Centre (SOC) and Experience Centre in Leeds.
Apple to cut production of Vision Pro headset due to low demand: Report
Apple is cutting shipments of its Vision Pro for the rest of the year due to low demand, opening up the possibility for a lower-cost mixed reality headset
CMA invites comments on Microsoft and Amazon AI partnerships
The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is seeking comment on three major partnerships involving tech firms and AI start-ups.
Airbnb for cars platform SnappCar changes hands in bid for further growth
Dutch car-sharing platform SnappCar, which claims to be the largest of its kind in the Netherlands, has been fully acquired by AutoBinck Group a shareholder in the scaleup since its founding in 2011. The ownership change also sees the return of SnappCars founder, Victor van Tol, in the role of the CEO. Van Told told local newspaper mt/sprout that the acquisition will enable faster decisions and eliminate the need for external investments. AutoBinck, which specialises in mobility and energy solutions, has a turnover of approximately 1bn. According to the two companies, the deal aims to support SnappCars further growth. This story continues at The Next Web Or just read more coverage about: Airbnb
Paris startup adds universal compute weapon to Frances growing AI arsenal
A startup promising universal AI compute has joined Frances thriving artificial intelligence sector. Paris-based FlexAI emerged from stealth today with a 28.5mn war chest and an ambitious plan to unlock the future of machine intelligence. To pick that lock, FlexAI is rearchitecting compute infrastructure. The plans centrepiece is an on-demand cloud service. Set to launch later this year, the product will enable developers to build and train AI applications with heterogeneous compute architectures. A software layer in the service will abstract and orchestrate the workload to the optimal architecture. The service is designed to maximise efficiency and simplicity. By providing This story continues at The Next Web
UK IT Awards: Your questions answered
An upcoming webinar answers any and all questions about entering - and winning - the UK IT Industry Awards. The UK IT Industry Awards are the tech sector's biggest and brightest celebration of the year, honouring the products, projects and people that are leading the pack. Even making it through the rigorous shortlisting process, which whittles down the contenders to a handful of the best for each category, is an achievement. Every year, we field hundreds of questions from potential entrants about the process: from what the judges are looking for to specifics about which category to enter . That's why, this year, we're once again running a Top Tips webinar, so you can hear from past winners and judges about how to elevate your entry. Click here to register Taking place on 8th May at 11am, the UK IT Industry Awards Top Tips Webinar offers a unique opportunity to get an inside look at the entry process, submission best practices and the benefits of winning an award. Co-hosted by Computing editor Tom Allen and Carl Harris, executive director for brand at BCS, the webinar will look at how past entries really caught the judges' eyes, as well as speak to some of last year's winners: PA Consulting's Karen Byer, 2023's Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Leader of the Year, and Lucille Harvey from Triad Group, crowned Rising Star of the Year. During the webinar you will learn: Top tips and tricks on how to create an award-winning submission to set you apart from the competition. What judges are looking for and how to tailor your entry to make a lasting impression. Updates in the award categories and criteria, to make sure you apply for the best category for you. Personal experiences of previous winners and the positive impact of winning a UK IT Industry Award. The webinar also critically includes a Q&A section to address your queries. Click here to sign up for free.
Indus Appstore adds voice search feature in local languages
The homegrown appstore aims to cover 75 percent local language speakers among the internet users in the country
TNW Podcast: Sebastian Aristotelis on thriving in space; the future of ASML and Stability AI
Welcome to the new episode of the TNW Podcast the show where we discuss the latest developments in the European technology ecosystem and feature interviews with some of the most interesting people in the industry. In todays episode, Ioanna and Andrii talk about the potentially good news about ASMLs future in the Netherlands, the latest developments at Stability AI, carbon capture solutions, and much more. The guest of the show is Sebastian Aristotelis, whose title is co-founder and Lead Architect at SAGA Space Architects, a Danish company that is building human habitats to use on other planets. Here are This story continues at The Next Web
The top programming languages to learn if you want to get into AI
Its safe to say that the age of generative AI is well and truly upon us, rapidly changing the world of work as we know it. According to the World Economic Forums 2023 Future of Jobs Report, more than 75% of companies are looking to adopt technologies like AI in the next five years, so its no surprise that career opportunities in the space are exploding, especially for developers. But which programming language is leading the way? Python is without a doubt the most buzzed-about language for AI development. However, a decent programmer can work with AI in nearly any This story continues at The Next Web
Mandiant's 2024 threat report - five takeaways
The discovery of compromised systems continues to accelerate thanks both to improved detection tools and increased ransomware activity, according to Mandiants M-Trends threat report for 2024 that was released on Tuesday.
Voyager 1 back in action: NASA engineers fix 24-billion-km glitch
NASA has successfully revived its Voyager 1 probe, the farthest human-made object from Earth.
U.S. Senate passes bill to force TikTok to be sold or banned
The U.S. Senate has passed a crucial bill that forces the Chinese parent company ByteDance to sell TikTok in one year
World-first satellites for commercial science set for launch in 2025
A British startup aimsto launch science satellites into space in 2025 after raising a fresh 2mn. BlueSkiesSpace has devised a unique business plan for the stargazers. They will be the first-ever science satellites that provide data directly to researchers via a membership model, the company said. The approach offers a new route tothe secrets of our universe. Currently, researchers rely on government agencies such as NASA and ESA to access space data. Unfortunately, this supply doesnt meet the demand. The James Webb Telescope, for instance, received 1,600 requests for observing time. Only of them 249 were selected. That equates to This story continues at The Next Web
Chip giant ASML plans Eindhoven expansion in big win for Dutch tech
In a major win for the Dutch tech industry, chip giant ASML intends to remain and further expand in the Netherlands. The chip machine manufacturer has signed a non-binding letter of intent with the City Council of Eindhoven, eyeing a potential expansion at the Brainport Industries Campus (BIC), west of the city. Located at Eindhovens Brainport region a major tech and innovation hub in Europe BIC is dedicated to the high-tech manufacturing industry. For ASML, BIC represents an interesting option, Roger Dassen, the companys CFO, said in a statement. Thats because of the campus close proximityto Veldhoven, where This story continues at The Next Web
EU threatens to suspend addictive TikTok feature by end of today
Yesterday, the EU issued TikTok an ultimatum. The Chinese-owned social media app was given just 24 hours to outline the mental health risks related to its new app TikTok Lite or face huge daily fines. This is the EUs second probe into TikTok under the Digital Service Act (DSA). The DSA is a new law to protect users from harmful or illegal online content. It requires large platforms like TikTok to submit a risk assessment before launching any major new features. The EUs latest gripe with the Chinese-owned company is over TikTok Lite. The barebones version of the regular app This story continues at The Next Web
How to download a video from Facebook
You can download Facebook videos to your PC or mobile device, but the process is a bit involved. Heres a guide on how to pull this off.
Proportion paying ransoms declines in Q1 2024, even as takings break a new record
Statistics from cybersecurity firm Coveware reveal that organisations are increasingly refusing to pay ransomware extortion demands, which has led to a record low of 28% agreeing to pay in the first quarter of this year.
ToddyCat cybercriminals using high-end tools to commit 'industrial scale' theft
ToddyCat, a sophisticated hacker gang, is using numerous tools to infiltrate networks and steal valuable data.
Hundreds of users sue Grindr for allegedly selling their HIV data to advertisers
Grindr is being sued. The LGBTQ+ dating app is accused of sharing its users medical data with advertisers. This data includes their HIV status. UK law firm Austen Hays filed the claim at Londons High Court yesterday. The class action lawsuit represents hundreds of users of the app. Austen Hays claims that US-based Grindr breached UK data protection law by selling sensitive data to third parties without users consent. Aside from medical facts, this includes info about peoples ethnicity, sex life, and sexual orientation. Our clients have experienced significant distress over their highly sensitive and private information being shared without This story continues at The Next Web
Meta licenses Quests OS to third-party manufacturers
Metas intention with partnering up the Horizon OS with other headset manufacturers is to create a new ecosystem of mixed reality devices, and were making it even easier for developers to build mixed reality apps, a blog post by the company said.
Critics dismiss Broadcom's 'anti-cloud' licencing changes for VMware
Broadcom's efforts to allay concerns over its recent changes to VMware's cloud licencing practices have hit a roadblock.
Is this the future of coffee? Kaffa Roastery releases AI-conic blend
I am really into (my friends might say somewhat obsessed with) coffee. Not just for the hits of caffeine that fuel our productivity-enthralled capitalist society, but also for the taste, as well as different styles of brewing (although my Swedish roots make me partial to a pour-over). Sadly, I do not often get to write about it, as even though coffee roasting and brewing rely on technological engineering tech startups and coffee hardly ever intersect in the news. Enter Helsinki-based Kaffa Roastery, and its new blend of beans called AI-conic. The blend for the coffee (which costs 12.90 This story continues at The Next Web
3 carbon capture technologies youve probably never heard of
All of us will face the consequences of runaway climate change unless, maybe, youre living in one of Elon Musks new homes on Mars. But for the rest of us poor souls, tackling global heating is pretty much the top priority. The bad news is we are not on track to limit global temperatures rising to 1.5C to prevent the most catastrophic impacts of climate change. A new report has also revealed that temperatures in Europe are rising twice as fast as the rest of the world. Drastic cuts in emissions are required. We also need to pull out This story continues at The Next Web
Reliance Jios Q4 profit up 12 per cent
Spearheading the nations 5G transformation, Jio boasts over 108 million true 5G customers, underscoring its commitment to strengthening Indias digital infrastructure
X vows to oppose order to remove posts about Sydney stabbing
X confirmed it will confront in court the order from an Australian regulator demanding the platform removes posts about the stabbing of a bishop in Sydney
IT Essentials: Summer's coming
With the sun shining, it's the perfect time to review ESG reports. No, really. We've made it easy.
Apple pulls two major messaging platforms from China App Store
Following the order of the Chinese government, Apple has removed WhatsApp and Threads from it's App Store
Register now for the IT Leaders Summit 2024
The IT Leaders Summit returns for 2024, but spaces are limited - register now to guarantee your spot. What is the biggest challenge facing IT leaders today? Some of you will have said cybersecurity. Others will have said ecruitment, artificial intelligence, or newer areas of concern like sustainability and diversity. That's because there is no one single challenge. The modern IT leader has to keep all those plates spinning at once, while juggling everything else the business decides falls under their remit. It's not a job for the faint-hearted. That's why Computing 's IT Leaders Summit , returning to London on the 18th September, covers all those areas and more. This free event, tailored for end-users, serves as a cornerstone for IT leaders seeking to learn, engage and navigate the modern technology landscape. The heart of the summit is an exploration of the holistic aspects of IT leadership. While technology is still pivotal, the IT Leaders Summit recognises the equal importance of mastering people and process dynamics. Delegates will hear from a range of experts, covering topics such as team building, bridging the tech-business gap and adapting to the ever-evolving IT terrain. Don't just take our word for it: one attendee, a CIO in the heritage sector, said the IT Leaders Summit 2023 was ot just the best tech event, but the best event I've ever been to. Past attendees said the 2023 Summit was he best event ever Past editions of the summit have delved deep into cloud computing, automation, analytics, AI and digital transformation. With remote work, skill shortages and especially AI (still) presenting challenges, the knowledge to be gained at the event has never been more pertinent. The agenda covers every area the IT leader has to know about in 2024: from addressing novel cyber threats and elevating diversity to building customer-centric strategies in difficult economic times. Attendees will also explore the delicate balance between sustainability objectives and cost management in tech procurement processes. Panel discussions and presentations will provide invaluable insights into leadership in AI-driven transformation, the human side of technology, and more, equipping attendees with the tools and perspectives needed to effectively navigate their roles. If you're a senior IT professional from an end-user company, the IT Leaders Summit offers an unparalleled opportunity to expand your knowledge, network with peers, and gain actionable insights to drive your organisation forward. Register now to secure your free place at this essential event. Spaces are limited, so make sure you're on the list for this crown jewel of the Computing calendar.
UK data regulator finds gaps in Google's Privacy Sandbox proposals
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), has raised concerns regarding Google's proposed alternative to third-party cookies: the Privacy Sandbox.
European startups rejoice VC investment is on the rise again
New data published today by Dealroom reveal that European VC investment rose 5% year-on-year for the first quarter of 2024. Whats more, the Netherlands is showing a particularly strong comeback. Amsterdam funding rose a highly encouraging 107%. Overall, European VC investment reached $13.7bn in Q1 2024, an increase fuelled to a great extent by the energy transition. Energy was the biggest sector for tech startup and scaleup investment for the fourth quarter in a row, having raised $3.1bn in the first three months of the year. The top five energy deals of the period were: Electra $330mn, Paris H2 This story continues at The Next Web
The most common Skype problems and how to fix them
With videoconferencing and distributed teams more popular than ever before, fixing errors is crucial. Learn more about common Skype issues and their solutions.
How to download YouTube videos for offline viewing
Our guide will teach you how to download YouTube videos on PC, iPhone, iPad, Android, and Mac, and educate you on the ethics of doing so.
How OpenAI and Microsoft reawakened a sleeping software giant
Just a decade ago, the worlds biggest tech beast was a relative minnow. Microsoft had become notorious for disappointing product launches, stagnant innovation, and losing top talent. Thefirst true software giant was becoming a big tech dinosaur. Fast forward to 2024 and Microsoft is the planets most valuable business. Under the leadership of CEO Satya Nadella, stock has soared by over 1,000% in 10 years. In January, the company reached a $3 trillion market cap larger than the whole GDP of France. At the heart of the comeback is artificial intelligence. Microsofthas embedded AIacross the Azure cloud computing platform, This story continues at The Next Web Or just read more coverage about: Microsoft
Facebook chatbot claims to have a child with 'unique needs and abilities'
Metas AI chatbot commented on a private groups post about experience with a gifted and disabled child.
UK mulls fresh controls on sensitive tech after China cyber attack claim
Britain is exploring new curbs on exporting and funding sensitive technologies amid growing tensions with China. Oliver Dowden, the UKs deputy prime minister, launched a review of the restrictions on Thursday. He warned that hostile states could use British funds and tech for military and intelligence projects that threaten national security. Our open economy is being targeted by state-based actors and their proxies, Dowden said in a speech at the Chatham House think tank in London. Across our inbound and outbound investment flows, our imports and exports, and our academic collaborations, the whole spectrum of our economic security interests is This story continues at The Next Web
Stability AI cutting staff in the name of restructuring
Stability AI is preparing to lay off staff as a part of a restructuring process following the resignation of CEO Emad Mostaque, according to an internal memo seen by Reuters on Thursday.
Meta AI Gets Upgraded With Llama 3 to Add New Features, Better Integration
Meta AI is getting a massive upgrade. On Thursday, the social media giant announced two new Llama 3 artificial intelligence (AI) models, the Llama 3 8B and 70B, which are said to offer improved capabilities compared to the predecessor. Alongside, the company also upgraded its native AI assistant with Llama 3 models. Meta AI can now respond more efficiently, generate i...
How to build strong, cross-cultural remote teams
For the past two years, I have worked at a company whose workforce hails from around the globe, including the United States, Europe, and Latin America. Im the only team member based in Santa Marta, on Colombias Caribbean coast, and I work remotely like many of my colleagues on the other continents. The experience has opened my eyes to a dynamic blend of workplace norms and cultures, but has also posed some challenges. Differing time zones, humour and customs, access to technology, communication styles, and various perspectives on work-life balance, have made it clear that building cross-cultural remote teams This story continues at The Next Web
Asian Tech Roundup: Apple's charm offensive
Welcome to Computing's fortnightly roundup of tech news in Asia. This time we look at Tim Cook's tour of Southeast Asia, an area where the tech giant is keen to grow; South Korea's AI chip plans; and NTT's AI warnings.
Meta introduced the next generation of its artificial intelligence (AI) models, Llama 3 8B and 70B, on Thursday. Shortened for Large Language Model Meta AI, Llama 3 comes with improved capabilities over its predecessor. The company also adopted new training methods to optimise the efficiency of the models. Interestingly, with Llama 2, the largest model was 70B, but th...
Why Google's cheaper Pixel 8 is the real star of its Android phone lineup
The entry-level Pixel 8 might not get the same attention that the Pixel 8 Pro does, but with its combination of specs and a low price, that really needs to change.
4 in 10 translators are losing work to AI. They want remuneration from devs
AI threatens to decimate the translation profession, according to a new survey by a British union. Almost four in ten translators (36%) said theyve already lost work due to generative AI. Nearly half of them (43%) said the tech has decreased their income. They fear far worse is to come. Over three-quarters of translators (77%) believe GenAI will negatively impact future income from their creative work. The survey was conducted by the Society of Authors (SoA), the UKs largest trade union for translators, writers, and illustrators.SoA said the livelihoods of translators are at risk. To protect them, the union wants This story continues at The Next Web
The UKs second commercial quantum computer has come online
California-based quantum circuitry company Rigetti has brought a commercially available quantum computer to the UK. Only the second in the country, it was installed in collaboration with Oxford Instruments NanoScience a cryogenics company that provides the cooling needed for superconducting qubits. The system, supported by grants from the UK government, is Rigettis first UK-based quantum computer and will be accessible via the companys cloud computing services. When it comes to quantum computing, you need the actual circuitry hardware that hosts the qubits, advanced cryogenics systems, software to run error-correcting quantum algorithms, and specialised programming languages. And the means to This story continues at The Next Web
More layoffs at Google, as company fires protesters
Google is planning to make more employees redundant to reduce costs, according to a report by Reuters.
Met police disrupt LabHost scam-as-a-service website
LabHost, tricked up to 70,000 people in the UK over several years into sharing passwords and bank details
Hackers launch brute-force attacks on business VPNs and more
A wave of brute-force attacks targeting critical business systems has cybersecurity experts urging organisations to tighten their defences.
Last chance to register for Cybersecurity Festival 2024
The Cybersecurity Festival is Computing's premier security event, with keynotes from end-user IT leaders, panel discussions and plenty of networking. Computing 's annual Cybersecurity Festival is just around the corner, offering IT leaders a unique opportunity to stay ahead in the ever-evolving landscape of digital security. Hosted at One Moorgate Place, London on 2nd May, the Festival promises a day filled with insightful discussions, innovative solutions and invaluable networking opportunities. Modern cyber threats continue to develop in both sophistication and frequency, posing a challenges to organisations in every sector. Now more than ever, it is crucial for IT leaders to remain informed and connected to effectively safeguard their systems and data. This year's Festival boasts an impressive line-up of speakers , including Dan Burns, head of information security at Next, who will deliver a keynote address on preparing for modern-day threats, and Computing 's John Leonard, who will shed light on the transition from prevention to prediction in cybersecurity, drawing on exclusive research insights. An additional highlight is a session by Sarah Armstrong, chief security advisor at Microsoft, exploring the evolution of generative AI and its impact on cyber attacks. Sarah will delve into the transformative power of AI and its potential to reshape the cybersecurity landscape, offering attendees a deeper understanding of emerging threats - and how to defend against them. Delegates will also have the opportunity to participate in engaging panel discussions on topics such as diversity in the cybersecurity talent pipeline and business resilience post-cyber attack. The event also features networking breaks and exhibit stands, providing ample opportunities for collaboration and knowledge sharing. As the cybersecurity landscape continues to evolve, it is essential for IT leaders to stay informed, connected, and equipped with the latest insights and strategies. Don't miss your last chance to register for the Cybersecurity Festival and ensure your organisation is well-prepared to navigate the challenges ahead. Click here and register now to secure your place at this essential event.
Microsoft injects $1.5 billion into UAE's G42
Microsoft has announced a $1.5 billion investment in G42, a leading AI company based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
TNW Podcast: Caroline Viarouge on EIT Manufacturing and EU-UK collaboration
Welcome to the new episode of the TNW Podcast the show where we discuss the latest developments in the European technology ecosystem and feature interviews with some of the most interesting people in the industry. In todays episode, Linnea and Andrii talk about artificial general intelligence, repairable airbuds, some Wolverine nerdery, drone delivery adoption, and much more. The guest of the show is Caroline Viarouge, CEO at EIT Manufacturing. A big part of the conversation focused on the cooperation between the UK and the EU when it comes to research and innovation. Here are the stories and things This story continues at The Next Web
Qualys announces trial to help organisations comply with UK NCSC cyber guidance
Qualys is offering free 30-day access to its SaaS TruRisk platform. This move aims to assist organisations in adhering to the UK National Cyber Security Centre's (NCSC) guidelines that recommend a 57 day window for patching vulnerabilities. The announcement was made by Sumedh Thakar, the CEO of Qualys, at the Qualys Security Conference in London on Wednesday.
China still ASMLs biggest market, but falling sales cause drop in profit
Amid the semiconductor industrys slowdown and increasing geopolitical tensions, Dutch chip machine-maker ASML reported a decrease both in sales and profits. Europes most valuable tech company saw orders fall to 3.6bn in the first quarter of 2024, down from 9.2bn in the previous quarter. Its net profit also dropped to 1.2bn a 37% decrease compared to Q4 2023. We see 2024 as a transition, ASMLs President and CEO Peter Wennink said in a statement. Wennink expects a stronger second half of the year in line with the industrys continued recovery from the downturn. Interestingly, China represented ASMLs largest market This story continues at The Next Web
In biggest-ever election year, tech platforms are wide open for voter manipulation
Under orders from the EU, tech giants have launched 11 advertising transparency tools. None of them are fit for purpose, according to a new study from Mozilla. The tools provide libraries of data about online adverts. By exploring the repositories, researchers can identify the funders and techniques behind the ads. At least, thats the idea. The libraries are obligatory under the EUs Digital Services Act (DSA), a law designed to safeguard online environments. By shining a light onad content and targeting, the EU hopes to tackle disinformation and manipulation. The impact could be global. Because platforms often respond to international This story continues at The Next Web
DeepMind CEO: Google will spend $100+ billion on AI
DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis says Google's processing power exceeds rivals'.
Air taxi firm raises $110M, plans to launch commercial service in 2026
A British drone maker plans to launch air taxis in 2026 after raising a whopping $110mn. Skyports has already flown electricvertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft on delivery and monitoring trials. The new funding brings commercial air taxis closer to the services on offer. The first flights are slated to take off in the United Arab Emirates. Earlier this year, Skyports inked a deal with authorities in Dubai to build four vertiports ahead of the launch of air taxi services in 2026. Skyports intends to then bring air taxis into other markets. The company is currently developing the UKs first This story continues at The Next Web
Even CERN has to queue for GPUs. Here's how they optimise what they have
CERN, the European Organisation for Nuclear Research, has long had some of the biggest of big data needs. Its engineers historically built their own IT systems including for distributed and high performing computing (HPC), and sometimes still do. But the culture has largely shifted to engaging with open source communities with similar requirements, including adopting OpenStack for the computing needs of the Large Hadron Collider.
Tree-planting search engine Ecosia to monitor reforestation from space
Berlin-based Ecosia, best known as the tree-planting search engine, has teamed up with French startup Kanop to monitor its reforestation efforts from space. With around 20 million users, Ecosia is the worlds largest not-for-profit search engine. It is also one of the biggest tree-planters in the world. The company claims to have planted 200 million trees since its inception in 2009. To date, Ecosia has monitored its tree-planting efforts using ground-based observations. But with the help of Kanop, it is about to take things up a notch. Based in Paris, Kanop uses optical, radar, and Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) This story continues at The Next Web
Sunnier skies ahead? Cloud giants dial down the greenwash
2024 cloud sustainability research reveals positive changes in some of the environmental data provided by big three cloud vendors. Hyperscale cloud service providers market their services on the basis that not only are they more cost-effective than the on-premise datacentres of old, but that this efficiency makes them greener by default. To some extent this is true, but datacentres are sucking up ever greater quantities of electricity and water to power and cool these gigantic buildings and that's after the carbon expended used to build them in the first place. If you're one of the 84% who told our Tech Trends survey that sustainability matters to them and their businesses, how do you decide which cloud offers the best combination of cost efficiency and sustainability? An obvious first step is ESG reports, but these often run to 100 pages. Unvarnished data has to be hunted down (usually in an appendix), and getting details involve navigating multiple footnotes and references to supporting documentation. It's not surprising that fewer than 10% of those in our survey said they read ESG reports in detail. When we asked what CIOs wanted from vendors to help them make informed cloud decisions, we found that almost everyone wanted the same thing good quality data that was easy to compare from one vendor to another. They wanted transparency, clarity, and metrics they could understand. To this end, Computing compiled the first Sustainability Matrix in 2022, consisting of four separate quadrants. Each quadrant is made of up to eight criteria we score the cloud giants against. The quadrants are: Standards & Policies: Do the tech giants' environmental pledges reflect their size and power? Do they use that power to encourage higher sustainability standards for suppliers, partners and customers? Energy, emissions and water: These criteria compare the data on GHG emissions, energy and water efficiency with ambitions and pledges. Waste/Circular Economy/Recycling: This is where we determine the extent to which cloud vendors are squeezing waste out of their value chain, recycling and refurbishing server components and networking equipment and closing the recycling loop. Transparency: The final quadrant assesses the transparency of carbon accounting and GHG reporting and overall data accessibility. The results have been reported as a series of vendor head-to-head comparisons, like this one from last year. This article is our first report from our 2024 findings, with more to come. Every year we apply the knowledge we've gained from interviewing those in the datacentre industry, or experts in certain aspects of cloud sustainability and the tech community, to update the matrix with new or amended criteria, and remove metrics that no longer offer a meaningful comparison. You can find detail of this years' matrix here. There are 50 points available in total. And the winner is.. For two years running, Microsoft Azure was judged the most sustainable cloud, but its margin of victory over second-place Google Cloud Platform (GCP) narrowed last year. This year, Google Cloud Platform is the winner , beating Azure into second place. AWS retains third place in our sustainability rankings. The visualisation below shows the maximum score available in each category, and the score each vendor obtained this year underneath it. The final set of bars sets out the overall scores. In our third year of research, some of earlier Computing's calls - such as those for cloud services data to be disaggregated from the rest of the businesses, better data on waste and circular economy, and greater transparency more generally - have been partially heeded. This applies to all three companies to varying degrees, but to Google in particular. Google has made considerable progress in data quality and transparency. It breaks datacentres out from the rest of its operation, breaks down data by individual datacentre, and is even trying to get to grips with the environmental impact of third-party datacentres. Microsoft too breaks down data by region, and Amazon continues to innovate and enable renewable energy projects on an extraordinary scale. There is notably more effort across the board to provide useful information. Standards and Policies GCP and Azure scored almost identically here, taking 9 and 8 points respectively out of a maximum of 10. A differentiator in this quadrant is the Science Based Targets Initiative . Microsoft and AWS made commitments to SBTI several years ago, but have since had them removed, meaning that they pledged a target but then failed to provide the detail of how they intended to get there. Both Amazon and Microsoft were invited to comment about this. Amazon referred us to a statement published last August and Microsoft to one published in March this year. AWS scores badly across multiple metrics in this quadrant. The company provides next to no detail on how it aligns and furthers the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and has a less developed toolset than its competitors for its customers to assess the impact their use of AWS has on their carbon footprint. When Computing asked Amazon to comment, the company said it is currently assessing how indirect emissions can be incorporated into this tool. Environmental reporting standards for Amazon suppliers are less stringent than those of Google and Microsoft, although Amazon has committed to ask suppliers to report on carbon emissions from next year. Emissions and water This the most heavily weighted aspect of our analysis, with 20 points available. Interestingly, all three hyperscalers score almost equally, with GCP and Azure scoring 10 points and AWS 9. The biggest difference is in the criterion of GHG emissions reduction against targets, where Google picks up four of the available five points. The organisation has cut its scope 3 carbon emissions , to less than they were in 2018, despite growing as a business. Crucially, the company managed to reduce its location-based scope 3 emissions. See here for a detailed explanation of the difference between location- and market-based emissions. Google was less successful at reducing its scope 1 (which doubled due to the company including a source of emission that hadn't previously been included) and scope 2 emissions, which are primarily made up of emissions related to electricity consumption. Microsoft only picked up three points here because all emissions categories grew, but by less than expected relative to company growth. The growth in scope 3 emissions was also partially explained by more reporting accuracy. This picks up emissions that have previously been unreported, so whether it represents genuine emissions growth is a moot point. The company purchased sufficient offsets to present this a small reduction in emission - more on this later. In common with Microsoft, Amazon's reporting presents a narrative of slightly reduced overall footprint despite much higher company growth. Like its closest cloud competitor, Amazon's emissions have grown; the impression of a reduction has been enabled by means of offsetting, mainly of scope 2 emissions. Crucially, Amazon doesn't provide a reason for increased emissions, which is why it only scores 1 point out of the available 5. AWS picks up points on built emissions and innovation. AWS has pioneered the use of recycled steel and lower carbon concrete in its datacentre construction, and this will scale. Given the fact that these foundational industries account for around 20% of global CO2 emissions, a company of Amazon's size and scale de-risking the use of more sustainable building materials could prove to be a genuine driver of global emissions reduction. Amazon's Graviton-3 chip could also be a game changer by enabling much more efficient computing. AWS also picks up a point against its competition in the water metrics, although only by providing a Water Usage Efficiency (WUE) rating, which neither Microsoft nor Google provide. However, Amazon does not reveal overall water consumption. Google chooses to provide this data in gallons rather than litres. Google datacentres consumed 5.2 billion gallons of water in FY22. Microsoft's water consumption over that year is given at 6,399 megalitres. When you convert Google's gallons into megalitres (one megalitre = one million litres), you arrive at 19,759 megalitres. Google's vast water use is likely to relate to datacentre cooling, an area where Google provides less information than either Microsoft or Amazon. In terms of our research, it's Google's biggest weakness. The decision to publish in gallons rather than litres looks cynical. We reached out to Google for comment on the topic of water use and a spokesperson responded: We constantly look for more efficient ways to use water, using data through our water risk framework (released December 2023) to understand local hydrology and engaging with local experts to find the best solution for each community. We also invest heavily in our datacentre systems and operations, which we're continually reviewing and improving, to maximise efficiency with the water that we do use. And wherever we use water, we are committed to doing so responsibly. This includes using alternatives to freshwater whenever possible, like wastewater, industrial water, or even seawater. We utilise reclaimed or non-potable water at more than 25% of our data centre campuses. Circular economy Google wins this quadrant hands down. The company earns points by providing data on the proportion of their datacentre equipment, which consists of refurbished stock (21%), and on having a high landfill diversion rate. Google provides more evidence of circularity within its operation than its competitors, and both Microsoft and Amazon provide limited data on waste, particularly electronic waste. There is narrative from both companies about efforts to recycle components, but insufficient data to make a judgement. Both Microsoft and Amazon were asked for comment. Microsoft did not offer any additional comment, and Amazon provided an absolute number of 379,635 components used in datacentres coming from refurbished stock in 2023. This is good, but as we are unable to judge the proportion of overall components this constitutes (given AWS's size it is likely a vanishingly small proportion of the total) it has not changed Amazon's score in this metric. Transparency Here, Microsoft and Google both take 7 points out of an available 10, while Amazon takes 4. Amazon's data is harder to access than its competitors'. Finding data on location-based carbon emission involves finding assurance letters in the main report appendix, and then finding the appendix of those letters where the calculations are shown. None of this is signposted from the main data tables in the report the reader must seek them out. Microsoft also loses points on carbon accounting, because the company admits to having used unbundled renewable energy certificates (RECs) to offset their increased emissions. This is carbon accounting at its most cynical. Unbundled RECs are contractual instruments, but separated from the unit of renewable energy that once accompanied them. They are disconnected from the supply of renewable energy, so cannot credibly be used to offset demand. Microsoft says within its report text that it plans to phase out the purchase of unbundled RECs, presumably because the company is aware of this credibility gap. What is disappointing is that it's using them at all. Power Purchasing Agreements (PPAs) are a much more credible offset because they drive additionality. All three of the big cloud providers show a gap between their stated ambitions to be carbon neutral (or negative) and water positive in their operations by 2030 (2040 in Amazon's case) and the reality of their environmental impact. Microsoft has even pledged to have neutralised all historical carbon emissions by 2050. The sustainability gap varies in size from cloud to cloud, but this year, Google has unquestionably made the biggest leap forward in terms of progress towards target. Computing will publish articles on specific areas of the sustainability matrix in the coming weeks including standards and policies, emissions, renewable energy, water and circular economy.
Norway mulls datacentre licencing in bid to kick out cryptomining
Norwegian government ministers have put forward proposals to regulate datacentres in the country.
Digital Technology Leaders Awards deadline is this Friday
The entry deadline for the Digital Technology Leaders Awards 2024 is almost upon us - we'll no longer be accepting entries after this Friday. The awards honour the work of IT professionals, who are under ever greater pressure as technology and the world evolve. The event, attended by the cream of the IT crop, offers a unique platform to showcase your expertise and innovations. You have until 5pm on Friday to submit your entries, which will be judged by a panel of Computing editorial representatives and other industry experts. They include fractional CIO Ian Golding; Netskope CIO - EMEA Ilona Simpson; and Huseyin Seker, professor of computing sciences at Birmingham City University. Why should you enter? The Digital Technology Leaders Awards have something for everyone : from Best Automation Project and Most Successful Environmental Project, to Best Place to Work in Digital and Digital Transformation of the Year. And, of course, there are the personal excellence prizes the event is really all about: categories like Digital Team of the Year, Young Digital Professional of the Year and CDO of the Year. Everyone on the shortlist also receives a boost to their brand awareness with an article highlighting their achievement on Computing , and the winners gain even more exposure after the event. Don't wait - enter the Digital Technology Leaders Awards 2024 today.
ICO publishes new tech guidance for healthcare providers
ICO says new guidance will provide regulatory certainty to organisations using technology in healthcare delivery and research.
Palo Alto Networks patches 'critical' vulnerability under active exploitation
Palo Alto Networks has made patches available for addressing a maximum-severity vulnerability affecting several versions of its PAN-OS firewall software.
Climate tech heavyweights EQT, Contrarian launch investment playbook
More than 50 European VCs and startups have joined forces to launch Climate Brick a new community designed to fast-track investment in green technologies. Climate Brick launched today along with what its founders claim to be one of the most comprehensive climate tech studies ever conducted. The report, featuring interviews with 100 climate experts and 3,000 companies, offers a roadmap for climate tech startups looking to scale. We really needed a common vocabulary and playbook for climate tech, and now with Climate Brick we have it, said Rokas Peciulaitis, partner at Contrarian Ventures and one of Climate Bricks This story continues at The Next Web
To legislate or not to legislate? How EU and UK differ in their approach to AI
The boom of artificial intelligence has spurred a regulatory frenzy across the globe and Europe is at the forefront of the developments. Both the EU and the UK are attempting to find the elusive balance between leveraging AIs growth and mitigating potential risks but their approaches differ significantly. The former has opted for a hands-on, risk-based approach, whereas the latter has promised a pro-innovation stance. However, with news emerging that the UK government is now drafting new rules to regulate the tech, this could be about to change. The EUs stricter, more cautious approach is clearly seen in This story continues at The Next Web
Sharechat raises $49 million in debt financing round, valuation drops 60%
The new funds will be utiliszed to bolster our robust monetisation plans and propel us on our path to break even and beyond, says Ankush Sachdeva, CEO and Cofounder, ShareChat and Moj
Gamers suit up: You can now build ESAs future lunar base in Fortnite
Space nerds delight: you can now play as an astronaut in Fortnite. You can even team up with your buddies to build a lunar habitat based on real future missions of the European Space Agency. Designed by Epic Games, Lunar Horizons is set at the lunar south pole. This is the point on the Moon deemed most suitable for human habitation due to the possible existence of water ice. Epic Games worked with ESAs human and robotic exploration experts to create a lifelike 3D environment for the game. This includes replicating the Moons micro-gravity. In Lunar Horizons, youre free to This story continues at The Next Web
UK government taking fresh look at AI regulation
Sources say the government is considering a more heavy-handed approach in regulating AI.
Digital displays and the end of the screen age
While its commonly said we live in the information era, I like calling it something else: the screen age. Over the past seventy years, weve seen displays seep into almost every aspect of our lives. We had televisions arrive in our homes, reshaping news and entertainment. Hot on their heels came smartphones, which changed communication and how we interact with the world at large. This tech altered the globe in ways we continue to grapple with, but it still doesnt tell the full story of digital displays. Alongside these epoch-defining examples, there are a myriad of smaller ways screens have This story continues at The Next Web
Roku reports cyber breach impacting 576,000 accounts
Roku, a leading streaming service provider, has warned 576,000 of its users that their accounts have been compromised in a cyber breach discovered during an ongoing investigation into a previous intrusion from March.
