Google DeepMind announced today the release of the 2 billion (2B) parameter version of Gemma 2, the second generation of its Gemma AI models. First launched in February this year, Gemma is a family of lightweight, text-to-text open models designed for developers and researchers — and built on the technology that powers Google Gemini. DeepMind released Gemma 2 in June, in two different sizes: 9 billion (9B) and 27 billion... Read more ›
0
The EU has awarded €1.8mn to 15 startups to help tackle online misinformation, fraud, and fake identities with blockchain-based technologies. The grant funding is part of the NGI TrustChain initiative, which focuses on building a more decentralised, trustworthy, and user-centric internet by supporting innovations in blockchain. To date, TrustChain has provided over €4.5mn in funding to 43 companies. Among the initiative’s key targets is the protection of human rights and... Read more ›
2
A push for single-pilot planes is a “dangerous gamble,” a leading aviation union has warned. The European Cockpit Association (ECA) sounded the alarm over plans to automate commercial flights. Aircraft makers want software to support a new single-pilot model. Known as extended minimum crew operations (eMCO), the concept removes one pilot from the flight deck during an aircraft’s cruise phase. Automation tech would take over their supporting role. The second... Read more ›
3
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 today’s episode, Linnea and Andrii talk about batteries and life on Earth, very expensive AI research proposals, copyright traps, and of course the Olympics. You’ll also hear an on-stage conversation with Parag Parekh,... Read more ›
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The potential for deep tech to reshape industries from healthcare to climate science is immense. Yet, harnessing this potential requires more than just breakthroughs in isolated silos; it necessitates a nurturing ecosystem where collaboration and knowledge sharing are paramount. Deep tech spans several fields, including artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, biotechnology, and advanced materials. Each area demands considerable expertise and significant research and development (R&D) investment. Un Read more ›
1
Google’s partnership with GenAI startup Anthropic is raising eyebrows in the UK as the trend of big tech giants backing young AI companies continues. The Competitions and Markets Authority (CMA) said on Tuesday that it’s collecting information on whether the partnership qualifies as a merger and negatively impacts UK competition. In October, Google-parent company Alphabet reportedly committed $2bn to the San-Francisco based startup, which has developed ChatGPT rival Claude. This... Read more ›
3
London-based Stairpay has raised £750k in Pre-Seed funding to help first-time home buyers navigate the shared ownership process — and ultimately move to full ownership. For individuals facing challenges entering the (overcrowded) UK housing market, shared ownership offers a potential solution. This government scheme allows buyers to purchase a share of a property (usually between 25% and 75%), while paying rent on the rest to a housing association that co-owns... Read more ›
0
The UK’s new Labour government has pledged to build 1.5 million homes during its first term in office. To achieve this, it promises planning reform and the reintroduction of local housing targets. Yet little attention has been given to the role of new technologies. Drones have the potential to transform the construction industry in the UK. However, our recent study in ACM Journal on Responsible Computing reveals that laws governing... Read more ›
0
Just as the sun rises and sets, some things are inevitable. Consider technology. As soon as something new emerges, people invariably find a way to abuse it. In recent years, this mantle has fallen on artificial intelligence (AI) and one of its most troubling side effects — the rise of nonconsensual deepfake pornography. The idea is as simple as it is horrendous: using digital tech to create fake and explicit... Read more ›
5
Several long-distance fibre-optic cables in France were “sabotaged” overnight, according to local police, causing widespread disruptions to internet services across the country. The perpetrators remain at large, as the cat-and-mouse between police and criminals at the Olympics continues on the sidelines of sprints, swims, and shot puts. The internet cables were severed early on Monday morning, said network provider Netalis on X. Junior Minister for Digital Affairs Marina Ferrari condemned... Read more ›
2
The race for semiconductor leadership is on — and European chip startups are rising to the challenge. Europe is already home to high-profile chip companies including ASML, NXP, Arm, and Infineon. However, it lags behind in manufacturing capacity. The EU is currently producing about 10% of the world’s semiconductors. The UK accounted for 0.5% of chip sales globally in 2023. In an ongoing battle against chip giants in Taiwan, China,... Read more ›
0
Dutch airline KLM has teamed up with British-American startup ZeroAvia to develop a liquid hydrogen-powered turboprop aircraft. The partners aim to conduct a flight demonstration between two yet-to-be-named airports in 2026. ZeroAvia builds hydrogen-electric powertrains that can be retrofitted onto new or existing aircraft. The company has raised over $300mn from the likes of Airbus, Amazon, and British Airways to realise its vision for zero-emission flight. Hydrogen-electric engines use hydrogen... Read more ›
1
Elon Musk could have yet another problem with the European Union. Musk’s X has enabled the Grok chatbot to be trained on data from any user. This feature is now on by default, which may breach EU rules. Deep within the settings of X, users unearthed evidence of the data harvesting. Besides a check box that was already ticked, they spotted the following text: “Allow your posts as well as... Read more ›
0
Popular LGBTQ+ dating app Grindr has disabled location-based features for users within the Olympic village of the Paris Games, which kicked off today. The measures are not designed to stop athletes hooking up between sprints, swims, or shot puts — they’re a safety precaution. “If an athlete is not out or comes from a country where being LGBTQ+ is dangerous or illegal, using Grindr can put them at risk of... Read more ›
2
The Paris Olympics 2024 kicked off today. But as the City of Light opens its gates to millions of spectators, officials are bracing themselves for a cyber war. Analysts predict that there could be as many as four billion cyber attacks at this year’s Games. The official Paris Olympics 2024 app is particularly vulnerable. “This app handles vast amounts of personal and transactional data, making it a prime target for... Read more ›
1
Installing and updating applications and other dependencies on a computer really should be a solved problem by now. Yet almost every major desktop operating system provides multiple options, with no real clear answer to “which is best.” Linux, despite long-established package managers such as apt, deb, and rpm, just to name a few, still suffers from confusion and inconsistency between open source vs proprietary instals, as well as between developer... Read more ›
7
An exercise machine for astronauts has entered an Airbus accelerator. Built by UK startup Physical Mind London, the device mitigates the impacts of zero gravity, which can be brutal. After six months in space, astronauts can lose up to 20% of their bone mass. Their muscles can also shrink dramatically. On short flights, they can suffer muscle loss of 20%. If no countermeasures are applied, this can rise to 50%.... Read more ›
0
Inside a hangar on the outskirts of Gothenburg, Sweden, lies the sleek metal frame of an electric plane poised to change the way we fly forever. The hangar belongs to Heart Aerospace. The Swedish startup is building a hybrid-electric 30-passenger airliner called the ES-30. It could offer a cleaner, cheaper alternative to short-haul flights on routes across the world. Unlike other battery-powered planes — like flying cars or air taxis... Read more ›
2
London-based Addionics has raised $39mn in funding as it eyes commercialisation of its 3D ‘current collectors’ that can boost the performance of any battery, regardless of its chemistry. The venture capital arm of General Motors and Israeli VC fund Deep Insight led the round, with participation from Swedish truck-maker Scania. The startup has developed a 3D-structured ultra-thin copper foil that can simply “drop in” to existing battery architectures. The so-called... Read more ›
2
Revolut has finally won a UK banking licence, intensifying the neobank threat to traditional finance. The breakthrough ends a painful wait for Europe’s most valuable fintech firm, which first applied for a licence in January 2021. Regulators were reportedly concerned about Revolut’s accounts, but politicians offered vocal support. Jeremy Hunt, the former chancellor, called the company a “shining example from our world-beating fintech sector.” With the new license, Revolut can... Read more ›
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Most popular sources
Business Insider
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25% 6 |
The Verge
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9% 3 |
Tech Wire Asia
|
8% 1 |
Android Authority
|
8% 5 |
Tom's Hardware
|
8% 5 |
| View sources » | |
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27.11.2024 11:38
Last update: 11:31 EDT.
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