Technology News Era

Climate change is here. Along with it, catastrophic floods are becoming alarmingly more and more common. Adapting to a new climate reality is no easy task, but technological advancements offer a ray of hope. Among the industry players tackling this challenge is quantum software company Multiverse Computing. The Spanish startup has won £100,056 in funding from Innovate UK to improve flood risk assessment using quantum technology. To achieve this goal, Multiverse Computing will collaborate with UK-based Oxford Quantum Circuits (OQC) and US-based Moody’s Analytics. Together, the trio will use quantum computing to address the computational challenges in existing large-scale flood… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/ZGPA2in

Development of cultivated meat, i.e. actual animal meat that’s grown in bioreactors from stem cells, has been gaining traction in recent years. That’s because it can provide a more sustainable and ethical alternative that doesn’t only mitigate animal slaughter, but also uses far less natural resources than traditional livestock farming. Notably, it also shows potential to sustain life in space. Over the past year, the European Space Agency (ESA) has been exploring whether cultivated meat can be a viable food option in space, used as a protein source that can be produced in situ. “The focus is to provide astronauts… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/vlh8Kna

The effects of the EU’s regulatory crusade on Big Tech are beginning to make themselves known to consumers. Yesterday, Meta launched ad-free subscription services for Facebook and Instagram within the bloc. Users will be able to pay from €9.99 to use the social media platforms without seeing ads — or continue using them for free and have their data collected.  We are probably not alone in the experience that ads have completely taken over much of what began as a means of actually connecting with friends (and sharing photos of our lunch). Adding to that, with more and more sophisticated… This story continues at The Next Web Or just read more coverage about: Facebook from The Next Web https://ift.tt/9AB4QHs

Yes, hackers and cybersecurity professionals are still engaged in a constant game of cat and mouse to exploit and fix loopholes, but the world around this has altered substantially. These days 80% of Mac users say they’re informed about cyber threats, a far cry from the old days. Yet, while new tools and best practice guides have made it easier than ever to stay safe online, Mac users are still confused and acting in risky ways. For example, over a quarter (28%) of them believe Apple computers are malware free, and this sort of myth and superstition is rife across… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/7LAzpxM

A new “agrivoltaics” initiative looking to prove the commercial viability of integrating solar power plants with agriculture has won the favour of Brussels. The EU is backing German renewable energy company BayWa, in a first-of-its-kind scheme that could be a win-win for farmers and the climate.  In order to develop the project, BayWay has secured €6.5mn from the EU’s LIFE Programme (which has a total of €5.43bn available for the period 2021 to 2027). Armed with fresh funding, the company looks to build six so-called agrivoltaics projects across five European countries by 2027.   Agrivoltaics involves combining solar power generation… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/zZ39oG8

In a controversial move, UK police is being encouraged to double its use of retrospective facial recognition to track down known offenders. Specifically, in a letter to force chiefs, policing minister Chris Philp said that using the AI-enabled technology  would allow for over 200,000 searches of images against the Police National Database by May 2024. Philp also encouraged the increase of live facial recognition, which captures live footage of crowds and compares it with a list of wanted suspects to alert the police. The technology is already being heavily used by UK law enforcement — with King Charles III’s coronation… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/wNbqk7X

German startup Rocket Factory Augsburg has secured £3.5mn (€4mn) in funding from the UK Space Agency as it prepares for its maiden flight next year. The funding was awarded under the European Space Agency’s Boost! Programme, which aims to help companies develop new launch technologies and bring them to the market.  Rocket Factory UK, a subsidiary of the German company, will use the funding to develop and operate the infrastructure needed for the satellite launch and to test equipment. The company plans to launch its first rocket in Q2 2024 from SaxaVord Spaceport in Scotland’s Shetland Islands — the first-ever… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/zu8X7Zd

From making variant-proof vaccines to preventing genetic diseases and improving cancer treatments, AI could truly be an invaluable tool in solving some of the biggest challenges in healthcare. Against this backdrop, the UK aims to harness the tech’s potential and has launched a £100mn fund to accelerate AI deployment in areas where its capabilities could lead to breakthroughs in treating previously incurable diseases. Specifically, the funding will further support the eight critical healthcare missions outlined by the Life Sciences Vision — the UK’s ambitions for the sector over the next decade. Neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia are at the top… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/GmsLADc

Today, the Netherlands officially began constructing a 1,200km-long hydrogen pipeline — amid a continent-wide push to wean Europe off natural gas. The first section of the pipeline will run from the Maasvlakte — a massive man-made extension of the Europoort in Rotterdam (Europe’s largest port) — some 30 kilometres inland to a gas refinery in Pernis, run by petrochemical giant Shell. This phase is scheduled to open in 2025 at a cost of €100mn.  The ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by the country’s King Willem-Alexander, the minister for climate and energy policy, Rob Jetten, and Han Fennema, CEO of state-run energy… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/3NC0WAh

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has unveiled a dedicated AI advisory body with a mandate to harness the technology’s power for good and mitigate its risks through international collaboration and governance. “AI could power extraordinary progress for humanity,” Guterres said, pointing to a plethora of benefits — from health and education to the digitalisation of developing economies. In addition, “it could supercharge climate action and efforts to achieve the [UN’s] 17 Sustainable Development Goals by 2030,” he added. However, Guterres cautioned that AI expertise is currently “concentrated in a handful of companies and countries.” This could heighten global inequalities, increase the… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://thenextweb.com/news/un-ai-advisory-body-to-maximise-benefits-for-humankind

An off-road solar car built by a team of Dutch students has successfully traversed 1,000km of rugged desert terrain in North Africa — opening up possibilities for the broader rollout of solar-powered EVs in areas with limited charging infrastructure. The Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) students drove the SUV, which doubles as a small campervan, from Tangier in northern Morocco across dry riverbeds, steep mountain passes, and loose sand before arriving at the Sahara desert three days later.  “It was an incredible trip with a positive ending. We were able to drive the entire trip on the sun’s energy and… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/9YXSUQv

Amazon has announced the launch of independent cloud services for Europe, in what seems to be an attempt to allay fears over EU data sovereignty. The tech giant will be rolling out the Amazon Web Services (AWS) European Sovereign Cloud, which is especially designed for public sector customers and private companies operating in highly-regulated industries. Starting with Germany, the cloud will be set up on servers located within Europe, while only EU-resident and bloc-based AWS employees will have control of its operation. The new system will be separate from other existing cloud regions, and customer data “will not be used… This story continues at The Next Web Or just read more coverage about: Amazon from The Next Web https://ift.tt/0tRduJZ

Climate tech startup Silicate is set to undertake the first trial of its enhanced weathering technology, which aims to remove C02 permanently from the atmosphere and lock it in the world’s oceans for tens of thousands of years.  The trial will involve spreading 500 tonnes of crushed, waste concrete onto 50 hectares (equivalent to 120 football fields) of farmland near Chicago, US. Over the course of a year, the milled concrete will break down in the soil and begin a process called enhanced weathering.  As you might recall from high school geography class, chemical weathering is a natural process that… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/Kn7MgPt

Dutch politicians have expressed their dismay over the US’ new export rules for ASML, claiming that Washington has “unilaterally” imposed restrictions on selling yet another chip making machine to China. AMSL has already been prohibited from selling its most sophisticated machines to China since 2019. This year in June (following months of pressure by the US), the Netherlands also introduced stricter export controls of high-end chip manufacturing products citing “national security interests.” Unsurprisingly, ASML’s advanced immersion DUV lithography systems fall under the measures. But last week, Washington updated its export restrictions to include ASML’s Twinscan NXT1930Di machine if it contains… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/1cNbz4n

A first-of-its-kind study has proven that solar power farms in space are a viable option for renewable energy generation — paving the way for the potential commercial application of the technology. The experiment was carried out by a team of scientists from the University of Surrey and the University of Swansea in the UK. Specifically, the researchers monitored the performance of solar panels installed on a satellite over a period of six years and 30,000 orbits. Notably, they found that it’s indeed feasible to produce low-cost and lightweight solar panels that can generate power in space. “We are very pleased… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/GsaHX03

Don’t miss Salesforce’s Vala Afshar in his keynote speech about a new mindset for unlimited business success at Valencia Digital Summit on October 27. This week, October 26-27, Valencia will once again be abuzz as over 10,000 tech enthusiasts from all over the world gather for the Valencia Digital Summit (VDS). Over the years, the event has become the place for startups, corporations, and investors to meet, mingle, and build connections that foster the region’s innovation ecosystem. As with every year, VDS has compiled an impressive list of 250+ speakers who will share their expertise and experience across 30+ topics.… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/oPd72JK

Around 250 kilometres off the north coast of Scotland, the Shetland isle of Unst undergoing a dramatic renovation. On a peninsula flanked by giant cliffs and open ocean, builders are constructing a spaceport. They call the project SaxaVord. They say it could host the first-ever vertical rocket launches from Western Europe. It’s a bold objective that welcomes auspicious signs. One was discovered just this summer; another was already known when the team laid their founding stone.  “It’s going from the Bronze Age to the Space Age. Over 1,000 years ago, the locals say, Unst became the first footfall of the… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/DS8yzPj

Open letters warning over AI’s risks are amassing — with top technologists and researchers sounding the alarm on uncontrollable development, pressing existential threats, and the lack of regulation. Now, just a week before the AI Summit in London, a new letter calls on companies and governments to ensure the safe and ethical use of AI. The signatories include a number of European academics, three Turing Award winners, and even so-called AI godfathers Yoshua Bengio and Geoffrey Hinton. Not coincidentally, last May, Hinton quit Google to freely speak about the looming dangers of artificial intelligence. To add to the dystopian atmosphere,… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/s5GwfyD

There are plenty of conversations around how AI can progress healthcare. And indeed, it has numerous applications in the form of diagnostics and accelerated drug discovery. However, wouldn’t it be even better if artificial intelligence could help prevent us from getting sick in the first place? Anyone who has ever tried to get past (or even to) a GP in the Netherlands or any other European country feeling the healthcare capacity crunch knows that it can be a process leaving you almost as drained as being unwell itself. Often, getting access to proper care can become a matter of being… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/OvcjKCq

The Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) has been granted €1.39mn to finish development of its high-precision laser targeting mechanism. This will support one of ESA’s most ambitious missions: tracing and studying black holes with the aim of unraveling the history of the universe — humanity’s most challenging puzzle. Specifically, ESA’s so-called LISA will be the first space-based observatory designed to study gravitational waves. These are ripples in the space-time continuum that occur during the most powerful cosmic events, such as pairs of supermassive black holes merging or colliding. In recent years, Earth-based observatories have been able to detect… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/GI2cnq1

In a big boost to sustainable mobility, 130 million EVs are expected to hit Europe’s streets by 2035, reaching about half of the total vehicles on the continent. However, this also translates to 130 million dead batteries, which — unless recycled — could end up as a mountain of waste. Battery upcycling startup Circu Li-ion aims to help solve this challenge. The company has raised €8.5mn in seed funding to create a fully circular battery value chain for Europe’s growing EV market. Founded in 2021 and based in Luxembourg and Germany, the startup has developed an automated upcycling solution that… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/gPENFfn

Elon Musk’s SpaceX has reached a deal with the European Space Agency (ESA) to launch four navigation and communications satellites into orbit, the Wall Street Journal reports. The agreement covers two launches next year, each carrying two Galileo satellites, Javier Benedicto, the ESA’s director of navigation, told the publication. These satellites enable encrypted communications between European governments and handle the bloc’s satellite navigation system.  While SpaceX has launched European payloads before, this is the first time the EU has partnered with the Musk-led company on a satellite containing classified information. Officials from both sides of the pond are working together… This story continues at The Next Web Or just read more coverage about: SpaceX from The Next Web https://ift.tt/Zz6K2oj

Amid the economic downturn, 2023 is expected to be the “most depressed” year in Europe’s VC exit value since 2013, data from Pitchbook has shown. According to the report, during the first three quarters of 2023, exit value reached €9.1bn — down 72.8% compared to the same period in 2022. Unsurprisingly, public listing value continued its downward trend, seeing a 79.8% drop. Meanwhile, buyout exit value showed the biggest resilience, although it also declined by 56.4% compared to last year. Against this backdrop, IT hardware was the most resilient sector in exit activity, while energy saw the biggest decline. Software… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/BE7mdeQ

Amazon has added 39 new renewable energy projects to its European portfolio since the start of the year, the company said today.  The 39 new additions include 15 rooftop solar installations on Amazon’s own facilities in Belgium, France, Italy, Spain, and the UK. The remaining 24 are utility-scale wind and solar projects that the company has funded in Finland, Germany, Greece, Spain, Sweden, and the UK. These projects are already transmitting 1GW of clean energy into national grids across the continent. Once all the Amazon-backed renewable projects are fully operational, they will collectively exceed 5.8GW of capacity. According to the… This story continues at The Next Web Or just read more coverage about: Amazon from The Next Web https://ift.tt/7UJNK3I

Norwegian tech company AutoStore today unveiled the latest version of its warehouse storage and retrieval robot, as it seeks to boost the efficiency of its automated fulfilment system.  Dubbed the P5 Pro, the electric cube-shaped robot is fitted with next-gen lithium titanium oxide batteries. The company says this allows the little robotic workers to toil harder and longer. The improved battery technology also enables AutoStore’s customers to cut the number of charging points in their warehouses by 85%, boosting storage capacity. “Retailers are constantly looking for new ways to adapt to rising customer demand for more, faster delivery of goods.… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/zM4YH9s

There’s a looming global computing capacity crunch that cannot be sustainably addressed the way we’re doing things right now.  Simply put, between artificial intelligence (AI) models growing exponentially and an ongoing global digital transformation, data centres are running out of space. Their vacancy rates are hitting record-lows and prices are rising in response to demand, which is cause for much unease among tech leaders.   If this trend continues, at some point, we will reach a juncture where we can no longer accomplish all the things that technology theoretically allows us to do, because our capacity to process data will be… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/8BbkFeE

Lithuanian startup Tukas EV has developed an exercise bike that harnesses the energy you produce while peddling and stores it as a backup source of power for household devices and appliances. The exercise bike, dubbed HR Bank, was designed to provide urban dwellers with a reliable source of clean energy, but, perhaps more importantly, also for those in need of power during emergencies like natural disasters or wars. “Our idea was that a person who bought an HR bank could not only use it as an external battery, charged from the sun or the grid, but in the absence of… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/pQCaVyg

Boomers are often reviled for hoarding the world’s resources, but they’re also dominating their descendants in their cyber defences. That’s according to a new survey by Yubico, a Swedish vendor of authentication devices. The company asked 2,000 consumers in the US and UK about their attitudes towards protecting online accounts. The responses revealed a counterintuitive divide: digital natives appear less cyber-secure than their elders. Yubico found that boomers are the least likely generation to reuse passwords for multiple accounts (20% of respondents). More than twice as many millennials do it (47%), while Gen Z (39%) and Gen X (38%) are also frequent… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/hmNHOXd

From around this time next year, Amazon customers in the UK and Italy will have the option to get their packages delivered by drone, the retail giant announced Wednesday. While Amazon has been delivering small packages via drone in Texas and California for over a year now, this is the first time the company will roll out the service beyond US borders. Where exactly in the UK and Italy the service will begin has yet to be revealed. The announcement came the same day as Amazon showcased its next-generation delivery drone design —  the MK30. While it doesn’t improve on… This story continues at The Next Web Or just read more coverage about: Amazon from The Next Web https://ift.tt/kGHgWCX

You can already buy 3D-printed houses, cars, rocket engines, sneakers, and, of course, sex robots. But can I interest you in a 3D-printed kidney? It’s an offer that Vital3D plans to make a reality. The Lithuanian startup is among a growing wave of companies that want to “bioprint” body parts. Approaches to the task are varied.  In the Vital3D system, lasers precisely deposit living cells and biomaterials in 3D patterns. The company says this creates functional, scalable, and reproducible tissue constructs. Vital3D believes the tech can bridge the gap between organ demand and supply. It’s a gulf that’s widening each… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/QS9f3Pl

Elon Musk, owner of X, formerly Twitter, is considering removing the social media platform from Europe in an attempt to dodge a new anti-disinformation law recently passed in the bloc, Insider reports. Musk is “increasingly frustrated” with having to comply with the Digital Services Act (DSA), a person familiar with the company told the publication. The DSA is designed to empower and protect users online against harmful or illegal content, disinformation, and violations of privacy and free speech. In recent weeks, Musk has discussed simply pulling the platform from the bloc as a way to avoid breaching the EU law,… This story continues at The Next Web Or just read more coverage about: Twitter from The Next Web https://ift.tt/wlQaTqf

A new AI tool that predicts viral mutations could guide treatments for COVID-19 — and the next pandemic. The system, named EVEscape, was developed at Harvard Medical School and Oxford University. In tests, the tool accurately predicted the most concerning and frequent variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that emerged during the pandemic. A study published last week in Nature revealed an array of promising results. EVEscape’s forecasts proved more accurate than experimental approaches, while faster and more efficient than lab-based tests. The tool also successfully pinpointed therapies that would struggle to subdue new variants. The predictions are already informing pandemic monitoring efforts. For… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/Yy3nvhN

Up to €2.3bn of annual tax from big tech may be missing from the UK’s coffers because of archaic rules. That’s according to TaxWatch, a think tank formed to expose abuses of the taxation system. In new research, the group analysed the finances of seven tech giants: Apple, Microsoft, Meta, Amazon, Adobe, Cisco, and Google owner Alphabet. TaxWatch estimates these companies made almost £15bn (€17.3bn) of profit from British customers in 2021 alone. However, international tax rules allow these firms to shift most of these profits to other countries. As a result, they were only liable for annual UK taxes… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/sFzLXA7

Tired of endless traffic jams, hefty bills, and the weight of climate guilt, city dwellers across Europe are ditching their cars for cargo bikes — and never looking back. Here’s why I became one of them. Once the vehicle of choice for a select group of urban eco-geeks, cargo bikes are now rolling into the mainstream, helped in part by the rise of electric assist.  In many places, e-cargo bikes are simply a cleaner, greener, funner, cheaper, healthier, and, usually, faster way to transport yourself, your loved ones, and a bunch of stuff across the cityscape.   Growing up in South… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/Ti1KBt4

RISC-V, the upstart chip architecture, has stepped further into the market for processors. Semiconductor giant Qualcomm today announced that it’s building a RISC-V-based wearables platform for Wear OS, Google’s operating system for smartwatches. The system will expand Qualcomm’s lineup of Snapdragon Wear processors, which power the bulk of Wear OS products. According to Qualcomm, the new solution will reduce the time to market for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) when launching smartwatches. The company told TNW that RISC-V offers both performance and power advantages for wearable platforms. “Our Snapdragon Wear platform innovations will help the Wear OS ecosystem rapidly evolve and… This story continues at The Next Web Or just read more coverage about: Google from The Next Web https://ift.tt/5I2xe9R

Sometimes, despite the best of plans and intentions, businesses don’t make it. Unfortunately, this is true also for those who hope to change the world for the better. Earlier today, Swedish electric lorry startup Volta Trucks announced it had filed for bankruptcy, following the failure of its battery supplier this summer.  The security of the supply chain can make or break a hardware company — or market. We have seen massive delays in aircraft deliveries from OEMs when partners struggle with staff shortages, and the geopolitical vulnerability of the semiconductor value chain from the South China Sea has caused a… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/vLxqOQJ

While promoting fitness, community and often charitable causes, large running events can have a significant environmental impact. Adding to the waste generation from water stations and temporary race infrastructure are the carbon emissions from the transportation of participants and spectators.  For major international marathons, this includes thousands of people flying in — often from all across the globe. And the popularity of running as a sport is showing no signs of slowing down. In 2023, 49,272 people took part in the London Marathon, more than ever before.  In an attempt to support a sustainable growth trajectory, London Marathon Events (LME)… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/AGh4Ztv

The British government’s aim to turn the UK into a global leader in the development of generative AI is “unrealistic,” researchers at the University of Cambridge argue. According to the associated report, the country lacks both the necessary capital investment and computing power to build generative AI fast enough to compete with tech giants such as Microsoft, Google, and OpenAI. “The UK has no companies big enough to invest meaningfully in foundation model development,” said Sam Gilbert, co-author of the report. “State spending on technology is modest compared to China and the US, as we have seen in the UK… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/sMHgZkK

TikTok said on Sunday that it had taken action against disinformation, following EU demands after Hamas’ attack on Israel. On Thursday, Thierry Breton, the bloc’s chief of the internal market, gave the platform a 24-hour deadline to introduce measures that counter the spread of hate speech and misinformation related to the conflict. “TikTok has a particular obligation to protect children & teenagers from violent content & terrorist propaganda — as well as death challenges & potentially life-threatening content,” Breton tweeted. In an accompanying letter, he urged the app’s CEO, Shou Zi Chew, to “step up efforts” and to ensure compliance… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/Jhx0bHY

Google has agreed to pay German publishers €3.2mn per year for publishing their content on its News search engine. The compensation is part of an interim agreement between the tech giant and Corint Media, pending a decision by the German Patent and Trademark Office (DPMA), which will determine the final (and potentially higher) amount. Corint Media is a European corporation that represents the rights of over 500 German and international media companies, including Axel Springer, Al Jazzeera, France 24, and CNBC Europe. The corporation has long been disputing Google’s “unlawful” use of press content without paying any compensation. Having initially… This story continues at The Next Web Or just read more coverage about: Google from The Next Web https://ift.tt/APwaDWN

In the third quarter of 2023, European startups raised $16.4bn (€15.6bn) in VC funding — a 28% increase quarter over quarter. The findings are based on an analysis by Crunchbase, which also unveiled that the fresh capital has mostly favoured late-stage rounds. In contrast, funding for seed and early-stage companies hit its lowest points since Q3 2022. Specifically, late-stage funding doubled quarter over quarter, reaching $10.5bn (€10bn) in total. Notably, VCs invested large sums in the sustainable energy sector, with big rounds raised by Sweden’s H2 Green Steel, battery manufacturers Northvolt and Verkor, and London-based battery storage startup Zenobe Energy.… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/8dmaAVh

After a lengthy process of regulatory scrutiny, the biggest deal in gaming history finally has the all-clear. Today, the final hold-out in the saga, the UK’s CMA, said it had approved Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard, after the parties had made “gamechanging” amendments to the terms.  The antitrust watchdog stated it had been swayed by Activision’s agreement to sell its streaming rights to Ubisoft Entertainment. What this effectively means is that its blockbuster video games will not become exclusively available via streaming to Microsoft Xbox gamers following the takeover.  “The new deal will stop Microsoft from locking up competition in… This story continues at The Next Web Or just read more coverage about: Microsoft from The Next Web https://ift.tt/aD2RH8n

Chatbots have an alarming propensity to generate false information, but present it as accurate. This phenomenon, known as AI hallucinations, has various adverse effects. At best, it restricts the benefits of artificial intelligence. At worst, it can cause real-world harm to people. As generative AI enters the mainstream, the alarm bells are ringing louder. In response, a team of European researchers has been vigorously experimenting with remedies. Last week, the team unveiled a promising solution. They say it can reduce AI hallucinations to single-figure percentages. The system is the brainchild of Iris.ai, an Oslo-based startup. Founded in 2015, the company… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/SQaTRi7

From transportation to heavy industries, clean hydrogen has emerged as a key element in the transition to climate neutrality — and the EU wants to ensure that the fossil-fuel alternative joins its arsenal. In a speech to representatives of hydrogen’s entire value chain, Commission president Ursula von der Leyen set out how the bloc’s strategy is driving private investment. “Europe is now attracting more investment in clean hydrogen than the US and China combined,” she said. The union’s roadmap essentially consists of three elements: clear rules, public funding, and international agreements. Von der Leyen noted that the EU’s regulatory framework… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/snkiq5I

Germany’s federal anti-discrimination agency (FADA) said Wednesday it was quitting X, formerly known as Twitter, due to an “enormous rise” in hate speech.  “Due to the enormous rise in anti-trans and queer rhetoric, racism, misogyny, and antisemitism, we no longer believe X is an acceptable environment for the profile of a public body,” said the government agency on Wednesday, in its final post on the increasingly controversial social network. FADA also took aim at X’s new boss, Elon Musk, saying that hateful comments and disinformation had “increased particularly” since the Tesla tycoon took over the platform last year. The agency’s… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/uZGvDqx

Amid the global race for semiconductor chips, Taiwanese suppliers are considering investing in Europe, the Financial Times reports. “We are planning investments in Germany, and the European market is going to be ours,” Vincent Liu, president and chief executive of LCY Group, told the newspaper. The company supplies cleaning agents and solvents to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) — the world’s biggest contract chipmaker. Alongside LCY Group, three more chemicals suppliers to TSMC said they’re eyeing investments in Europe. The interest appears to be related to the emergence of the first advanced chip factories in the bloc — a move… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/Asjl1W4

Amid the debate over the dangers of widespread AI development, an important concern may have been overlooked: the huge amount of energy required to train these large language models. A new study published this week suggests that the AI industry could consume as much energy as a country like Argentina, Netherlands, or Sweden by 2027. What’s more, the research estimates that if Google alone switched its whole search business to AI, it would end up using 29.3 terawatt-hours per year — equivalent to the electricity consumption of Ireland.  The paper was published by Alex de Vries at the VU Amsterdam… This story continues at The Next Web Or just read more coverage about: Google from The Next Web https://ift.tt/4icHSYh

Home to over 5,300 high tech companies, Cambridge is among the world’s leading university-based ecosystems. Ranked as the third most important science hub globally in 2022, the city counts 23 unicorns and its university-backed startups have raised over £3bn in research investment. Now, Cambridges aims to more than double its unicorns by 2035 under a new scheme led by a partnership of local universities, government bodies, and industry players including Microsoft and AstraZeneca. Announced today, the Innovate Cambridge initiative will seek to support business growth and double the number of multinational companies in the area to 40. The initiative has… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/hQJHFMs

A new EU mission has sent some suitably space-age tech into the cosmos. On a Vega rocket that launched from the European spaceport in French Guyana on Monday, the union sent six satellites and nine experiments into orbit for testing. The programme aims to boost the EU’s space sector and broader tech innovations. According to the bloc, the mission is “closing the gap between the development of a technology and its commercialisation.” That may prove a tricky task, as some of the concepts are straight out of a sci-fi movie. Here are our five favourite projects getting the in-orbit testing.… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/bADsFWk

The world’s largest offshore wind farm has started exporting power to the UK grid after its first turbine came online this weekend.   The Dogger Bank Wind Farm, currently under construction in the North Sea, will comprise a total of 277 turbines once complete in 2026. The huge plant is expected to churn out 3.6GW of power — enough for 6 million UK homes. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak hailed the milestone as a boost to energy security and job creation. “Offshore wind is critical to generating renewable, efficient energy that can power British homes from British seas,” he said. Dogger Bank… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/rd5WjkT