Google is enhancing Gmail with new AI features designed to streamline email management. A new Gemini side panel is being introduced for the web, which is capable of summarising email threads and drafting new emails. Users will receive proactive prompts and can ask freeform questions, utilising Google’s advanced models like Gemini 1.5 Pro. The mobile Gmail app will also feature Gemini’s ability to summarise threads.
However, these upgrades will only be accessible to paid Gemini users. To benefit from these features, one must be a Google Workspace customer with a Gemini Business or Enterprise add-on, a Gemini Education or Education Premium subscriber, or a Google One AI Premium member. Despite their potential usefulness, it’s advised not to depend entirely on these AI tools for critical work, as AI can sometimes produce inaccurate information.
In addition to Gmail, Google is incorporating Gemini features into the side panels of Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Drive. The rollout follows Google’s earlier promises at the I/O conference. Further AI enhancements, including ‘Contextual Smart Reply,’ are expected to arrive for Gmail soon.
Geologists are expressing concerns about potential Chinese censorship and bias in GeoGPT, a new AI chatbot backed by the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS). Developed under the Deep-time Digital Earth (DDE) program, which is heavily funded by China, GeoGPT aims to assist geoscientists, particularly in developing countries, by providing access to extensive geological data. However, issues around transparency and censorship have been highlighted by experts, raising questions about the chatbot’s reliability.
Critics like Prof. Paul Cleverley have pointed out potential censorship and lack of transparency in GeoGPT’s responses. Although DDE representatives claim that the chatbot’s information is purely geoscientific and free from state influence, tests with its underlying AI, Qwen, developed by Alibaba, suggest that certain sensitive questions may be avoided or answered inadequately. That contrasts with responses from other AI models like ChatGPT, which provide more direct information on similar queries.
Further concerns are raised about the involvement of Chinese funding and the potential for biassed data usage. Geoscientific research, which includes valuable information about natural resources, could be strategically filtered. Additionally, the terms of use for GeoGPT prohibit generating content that undermines national security or incites subversion, aligning with Chinese laws, which may influence the chatbot’s outputs.
The IUGS president, John Ludden, has stated that GeoGPT’s database will be made public once appropriate governance is ensured. However, with the project being predominantly funded by Chinese sources, geoscientists remain sceptical about the impartiality and transparency of GeoGPT’s data and responses.
Shopify is launching its new AI chatbot, ‘Sidekick,’ in early access as part of its 2024 Summer Edition updates. Sidekick, initially revealed last year, is designed to assist merchants with tasks such as creating discount codes, generating store reports, and suggesting blog post ideas. Currently, Sidekick is available to merchants with English stores in North America, but Shopify plans to expand its availability to other languages and regions.
In addition to Sidekick, Shopify announced several other AI tools to improve merchant efficiency. One notable feature is AI-powered product categorisation, which helps merchants by automatically suggesting taxonomy for product listings, making items more discoverable. Another tool provides suggested replies for customer chats in Shopify Inbox, although these replies need to be finalised by the merchant. Shopify is considering allowing AI to handle customer chats independently in the future.
Shopify is also enhancing its AI-powered image generator, which was launched in January, by integrating it into its iOS and Android apps and expanding its use within the Shopify admin. Over the past six months, Shopify merchants have saved over one million AI-generated images, highlighting the tool’s popularity and effectiveness.
The United States has introduced draft rules to regulate investments in China, particularly in AI and other advanced technology sectors that could pose national security threats. The US Treasury Department released these proposed rules following President Joe Biden’s executive order in August, which targets semiconductors, quantum computing, and AI investments. The draft rules require US individuals and companies to identify and report transactions that may be restricted or banned, aiming to prevent US expertise from aiding China’s technological advancements.
The Treasury’s proposed rules include various exceptions, such as transactions in the US national interest or involving publicly traded securities. The regulations would specifically ban transactions involving AI for certain end uses and systems using significant computing power but require notifications for other AI-related investments. These rules focus primarily on China, Macau, and Hong Kong, though they might be expanded later.
Former Treasury official Laura Black highlighted that these rules would necessitate increased due diligence by US investors when dealing with Chinese companies in the specified sectors. The regulations also align with existing export controls on advanced semiconductors to China, aiming to hinder China’s military modernisation efforts. Violations of these rules could result in criminal and civil penalties, including unwinding investments.d
Why does it matter?
Treasury officials have engaged with international partners to discuss these investment restrictions, with the European Commission and the United Kingdom considering similar measures to address outbound investment risks. Public comments on the proposed rules are open until 4 August, with final regulations expected by the end of the year.
ByteDance, the Chinese owner of TikTok, is collaborating with US chip designer Broadcom to develop an advanced AI processor. This 5-nanometer chip, compliant with US export restrictions, will be manufactured by Taiwan’s TSMC. The initiative is aimed at securing a stable supply of high-end chips amid ongoing US-China tensions.
Unannounced to the public, the partnership represents one of the few recent collaborations involving advanced technology between US and Chinese firms since Washington’s 2022 export controls on cutting-edge semiconductors. ByteDance’s tie-up with Broadcom, an existing partner, is expected to reduce costs and ensure a steady supply of sophisticated chips, which are essential for ByteDance’s AI initiatives.
The new chip is still in the design phase, with manufacturing not expected to start this year. ByteDance’s push in generative AI requires advanced chips, which have become more challenging to obtain due to US sanctions. The company has been stockpiling Nvidia chips and has purchased AI accelerators from Huawei, emphasising the critical need for powerful algorithms across its platforms, including TikTok and Douyin.
ByteDance is actively hiring for semiconductor-related roles, including ASIC chip designers, and has been recruiting top talent from other Chinese AI chip firms. The company’s strategic efforts highlight its commitment to overcoming challenges posed by restricted access to advanced technology.
Oracle has announced it will be investing $1 billion over the next decade in AI and cloud computing in Spain to cater to the growing demand for its services in the country. This investment will be used to establish a new cloud region enabling customers to transition workloads from their data centres to Oracle Cloud Infrastructure.
Additionally, it will assist in compliance with regulations such as the EU’s Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) and the European Outsourcing Guidelines. This initiative marks Oracle’s third cloud region in Madrid in collaboration with Telefonica España as project partner. Albert Triola, the head of Oracle Spain, emphasised the company’s dedication to supporting organisations in Spain across various sectors and sizes, aiming to accelerate the adoption of cloud technologies to enhance business performance.
José Luis Escrivá, Spain’s minister for digital transformation and public administration noted that this investment will empower Spanish enterprises and public sector entities to innovate with AI and accelerate their digital transformation process.
Why does it matter?
Oracle’s optimistic forecast for fiscal 2025 revenue growth surpassed analysts’ expectations thereby reflecting the growing demand for its AI-driven cloud services.
Furthermore, Oracle announced collaborations with OpenAI and Google Cloud with the objective of expanding its cloud infrastructure offerings to customers thus showing its commitment to enhancing its cloud services portfolio.
Huawei Technologies announced significant advancements in operating systems and AI, achieving in 10 years what took the US and Europe 30 years. Richard Yu, chairman of Huawei’s Consumer Business Group, highlighted these achievements at a developer conference in Dongguan.
Huawei’s Harmony operating system is now on over 900 million devices, which marks a substantial progress since its launch in 2019 when US restrictions cut Huawei off from Google’s Android support. Yu noted that Huawei’s Ascend AI infrastructure is now the second most popular, following Nvidia.
Why does it matter?
The rise of the Internet of Things has provided Huawei an opportunity to surpass long-time Western dominance in software. Additionally, Huawei’s smartphone business has rebounded with the Mate 60, featuring a new China-made chip. Sales of Harmony-equipped smartphones increased by 68% in the first five months of the year. In Q1 2024, HarmonyOS became the second best-selling mobile OS in China, overtaking Apple’s iOS with a 17% market share.
The annual State of Broadband report serves as a comprehensive global assessment of broadband access, affordability, and usage trends. This year’s edition, titled ‘Leveraging AI for Universal Connectivity,’ is being released in two parts. The first part, unveiled on June 20, 2024, outlines how AI applications are transforming sectors like e-government, education, healthcare, finance, and environmental management. It also examines the implications of AI for bridging or exacerbating the digital divide.
Authored by over 50 high-level Commissioners, including UN leaders, industry CEOs, and government officials, the report highlights AI’s potential to drive development while cautioning against its risks. The second part of the report, yet to be released, will provide updated data and deeper insights from the Broadband Commissioners, offering a more detailed analysis of AI’s evolving role in the digital realm.
As the Broadband Commission tracks progress towards its 2025 Advocacy Targets and prepares for future global summits, the report underscores the critical role of policymakers in maximizing the benefits of AI while ensuring equitable access to digital opportunities. It aims to inform strategic decisions that align with sustainable development goals, emphasising the need for proactive measures to harness AI responsibly and inclusively.
The EU is facing significant controversy over a proposed law that would require AI scanning of users’ photos and videos on messaging apps to detect child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Critics, including major tech companies like WhatsApp and Signal, argue that this law threatens privacy and encryption, undermining fundamental rights. They also warn that the AI detection systems could produce numerous false positives, overwhelming law enforcement.
A recent meeting among the EU member states’ representatives failed to reach a consensus on the proposal, leading to further delays. The Belgian presidency had hoped to finalise a negotiating mandate, but disagreements among member states prevented progress. The ongoing division means that discussions on the proposal will likely continue under Hungary’s upcoming EU Council presidency.
Opponents of the proposal, including Signal President Meredith Whittaker and Proton founder Andy Yen, emphasise the dangers of mass surveillance and the need for more targeted approaches to child protection. Despite the current setback, there’s concern that efforts to push the law forward will persist, necessitating continued vigilance from privacy advocates.
Amazon plans to overhaul its Alexa service with a new project known internally as ‘Banyan,’ aiming to integrate generative AI and introduce two service tiers. The initiative, called ‘Remarkable Alexa,’ could include a monthly fee of around $5 for the premium version, which would offer advanced capabilities like composing emails and placing orders from a single prompt. That would mark Alexa’s first major update since its 2014 launch.
The project is driven by Amazon’s need to revitalise Alexa, which has struggled to turn a profit and compete with AI advancements from companies like Google, Microsoft, and Apple. CEO Andy Jassy has prioritised this update, setting an internal deadline for August. The new Alexa aims to provide more intelligent, personalised assistance, building on generative AI already integrated into over half a billion devices worldwide.
Despite the ambitious plans, some Amazon employees view the project as a ‘desperate attempt’ to save Alexa, citing challenges such as software inaccuracies and poor morale within the team. While Amazon hopes the AI-powered Alexa will drive more significant sales and enhance home automation, the project’s success depends on customer willingness to pay for features currently offered for free and the effectiveness of the new technology.
