Macron: French AI can challenge ‘insane’ dominance of US and China

May24
by on May 24, 2024 at 9:46 am
Posted In: Insider


French President Emmanuel Macron has called for his country’s AI leaders to challenge the “insane” dominance of US and Chinese tech giants. Macron’s plea comes amid a boom period for French AI. Led by OpenAI rival Mistral, the country has become a European hotbed for artificial intelligence.  The blend of highly-skilled talent, increased government support, and growing investment streams has created fertile ground for startups. Mistral, the sector’s darling, is barely a year old and already reportedly seeking a $6bn valuation. Another candidate for the French tech crown is H (formerly Holistic), which this week announced a whopping $220mn seed round.…

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Plans for Dutch chip powerhouse get €180M boost from ASML and TU/e

May23
by on May 23, 2024 at 2:36 pm
Posted In: Uncategorized


Hopes of making the Netherlands a global chip powerhouse have been boosted by a new deal between tech giant ASML and the Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e). The pair today pledged to spend €180mn on semiconductor research over the next 10 years. Alongside the investment, the duo have committed to expand their joint research and train more PhD students for the industry. ASML will also provide funding for TU/e’s new “cleanroom,” a controlled environment for manufacturing chips. The plans provide fresh impetus to Brainport Eindhoven — a tech hub in the city. TU/e hailed the partnership’s contribution to the region’s…

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Europe’s ‘dark universe’ telescope shares first scientific data and new cosmic images

May23
by on May 23, 2024 at 10:01 am
Posted In: Insider


A space mission exploring the “dark universe” has released its first scientific data — and five new extraterrestrial snapshots. Captured by the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Euclid telescope, the observations paint a never-before-seen picture of the cosmos. They also offer new insights into the properties of celestial bodies. The images are at least four times sharper than any taken from ground-based telescopes, according to ESA. They depict five diverse space objects: The Abell 2764 region of galaxies orbiting within a halo of dark matter The Messier 78 star-forming region The NGC 6744 spiral galaxy The Dorado Group of galaxies in the…

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New global AI safety commitments echo EU’s risk-based approach

May22
by on May 22, 2024 at 3:32 pm
Posted In: artificial intelligence


It’s been a busy week for AI policymakers. The EU has sealed the deal on its AI Act. Meanwhile, in Seoul, South Korea, 16 world-leading companies have signed the “Frontier AI Safety Commitments,” and a group of countries have promised to work together on mitigating risks associated with the technology.  To say that the past year was the one when the world woke up to AI would be an understatement. The launch of ChatGPT in late 2022 catapulted a previously behind-the-scenes technology into conversations around the dinner table and parliamentary halls alike.  And all of a sudden, an apocalyptic future…

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French startup Pascal inks deal for Saudi Arabia’s first quantum computer

May21
by on May 21, 2024 at 1:49 pm
Posted In: Uncategorized


Over the past couple of years, the Gulf states have been putting their oil money to use buying up thousands of the latest AI chips. However, thus far they have been relatively quiet when it comes to investing in quantum technology. That is now starting to change. Yesterday, Massy-based startup Pascal announced it had signed a deal with Saudi Arabian oil group Aramco for the installation of the first quantum computer in the country. According to the deal, Pascal will deliver and install a 200-qubit system by the second half of 2025.  Pascal was founded in 2019 and currently commercialises…

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