Messenger Gets a Security Makeover Among Others Updates.

Facebook META messenger encryption

Great news for everyone concerned about their privacy, especially those frequent users of Messenger. End-to-end encryption is now the default for one-on-one conversations and calls on Facebook Messenger. This means your interactions will be safe from curious and privy eyes.

End-to-end encryption was once an optional feature on Messenger, but this latest update is now the standard. This is a significant change, albeit a positive one for the messenger app, as its users can feel more secure with their messages and conversations that are now under lock and key, and their messages will be automatically protected, too, with no need to turn on the option.

With end-to-end encryptions, no matter who you are conversing with, all the contents of your message are protected and unable to be intercepted. Not even Meta can access them unless specifically reported.

Nothing else to worry about as all the messenger functions will stay the same, so you can still use all your favourite features. Features like themes, custom reactions, and other messenger tools will still be accessible in encrypted chats.

Of course, the implementation of this adjustment will take some time. So don’t be concerned if you haven’t seen the changeover yet. It will happen gradually over the following months. While Messenger’s chats are now encrypted by default, this isn’t applied to Instagram chats yet. Currently, they are still unencrypted by default. However, Meta has stated that this feature will be included “shortly after” the launch of encrypted Messenger.

This shift towards end-to-end encryption is part of a more significant trend in the tech sector. For a good reason, an increasing number of messaging systems are making the switch. It is simply the best approach to ensure your chats remain private and secure, which is only meant between you and the others messaging.

Among the exciting shift in security for messenger chats they are also adding some new features that are sure to have messenger users jumping with joy as they are much needed after so long. Some new features also being implemented are the ability to edit messages sent under 15 minutes, similar to WhatsApp. So, no longer will you have to delete or resend a message. You can now just as easily edit it through the original one.

Besides that, they are also adding disappearing messages, which will last about 24 hours after it is sent, so this will ensure more secure or private messaging scenes for those who would not have a specific message kept for long. And they are also implementing a screenshot security feature, so if anyone were to try to take a screenshot of your disappearing message, you will be notified of the actions.

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Disappearing messages on Messenger

Messenger is also adding a way for users to finally control their read receipts, so instead of turning off the entire thing, users can now decide if they want others to see if they have read their messages. Lastly, Meta is proud to announce that with these updates on Messenger, they have upgraded the quality of images and videos sent in Messenger.

They are also testing an HD media and file-sharing feature to improve its quality for messenger users continuously. Among that, they are also adding a feature that will allow the user to fast forward their voice messages up to 1.5 or 2X speed and the ability to navigate away from the chat while listening to the voice message. Currently, these are the most significant updates and improvements done to Messenger in a long time and were much needed.

Acer Ups Its Environmental Efforts with the Acer Aspire Vero 16 & A Commitment to Phase Out Carbon Credits

As Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) is becoming an increasingly hot topic, Acer is looking to lead the tech industry with a renewed commitment to effectively reduce its carbon footprint. In fact, the company gunning for carbon neutrality with its upcoming Aspire Vero 16 (AV16-51P) laptop. The Aspire Vero has already broken new ground in the usage of recycled materials used in the laptop. However, Acer is looking to make the product a truly carbon-neutral one.

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The Aspire Vero 16 (AV16-51P) will be leading the company’s charge into carbon neutrality. Starting from its manufacturing every step of the process will be optimised. Materials and partners for the laptop will be part of this effort. A top-to-toe audit and revamp of its processes to align with international standards for carbon footprint calculation and neutrality.

An En-Vero-mentally Conscious Approach from Top-to-Toe

Jerry Kao, Acer Inc.’s COO, emphasized the company’s focus on ‘conscious technology’ designed with a future-forward approach. The Aspire Vero series has been a pioneer in eco-conscious design from its inception. The Aspire Vero 16 continues this legacy by minimizing its carbon footprint throughout its lifecycle. This starts from manufacturing and even includes packaging and end-of-life recycling.

The laptop’s chassis has been a standout when it comes to sustainable design. From the get-go, recycled plastic has been used in manufacturing the Vero. With the Aspire Vero 16, the percentage of recycled plastic has increased to over 60% – a significant increase from the previous generation. It is free from volatile organic compounds, paint, or additives, contributing to a cleaner environment. The recycled materials are not only in the chassis either, the touchpad also incorporates ocean-bound plastic.

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It’s not just about materials either, Acer’s Aspire Vero is also designed to be easily taken apart for repairs and upgrades. This conscious design also allows the laptop to be recycled more effectively.

Working to Achieve Carbon Neutrality Even in Usage

On the technology side of things, Acer has integrated the latest Intel® Core™ Ultra processors into the Aspire Vero 16, ensuring better power efficiency compared to its predecessors. The addition of Intel AI Boost, an integrated neural processing unit (NPU), brings AI-powered capabilities with extreme energy efficiency, aligning with Acer’s green vision.

Even when it comes to power management, the laptop comes with AcerSense software. This software in the Aspire Vero 16 focuses on energy efficiency. It offers four performance modes: Eco+, Eco, Balanced, and Performance, allowing users to optimize power consumption based on their needs.

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To address the environmental impact of packaging, Acer is adopting sustainable practices. The company recycles scrap materials created during production, and the laptop’s packaging is 100% recyclable. The thoughtful design also includes the 100% recycled FSC-certified paper box that can be easily repurposed.

In shipping, Acer has partnered with like-minded logistics providers. These providers are reducing carbon emissions from standard shipping of sea containers through the use of biofuel on various routes. After implementing these emission reduction measures, Acer will retire high-quality carbon credits to achieve carbon neutrality.

Acer’s renewed approach to sustainability and environmental stewardship comes amidst increasing criticism from watchdogs and environmentalists towards companies relying on carbon credits for sustainability efforts. Acer’s approach to ‘conscious technology’ is the first to date that aims to retire carbon credits and instead rely on impactful changes throughout the processes of manufacturing, transport and even disposal of products.

What Might the Next Decade Bring for Computing?

New technologies can take many forms. Often, they come from generally straightforward, incremental product advances over the course of years; think the Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (CMOS) process shrinks that underpinned many of the advances in computing over the past decades. Not easy, but relatively predictable from a high-level enough view.

Other shifts are less straightforward to predict. Even if a technology is not completely novel, it may require the right conditions and advances to come together so it can flourish in the mainstream. Both server virtualization and containerization fall into this category.

What’s next? Someone once said that predictions are hard, especially about the future. But here are some areas that Red Hat has been keeping an eye on and that you should likely have on your radar as well. This is hardly a comprehensive list and it may include some surprises, but, it is a combination of both early stage and more fleshed-out developments on the horizon. The first few are macro trends that pervade many different aspects of computing. Others are more specific to hardware and software computing infrastructure.

Artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML)

On the one hand, AI/ML belongs on any list about where computing is headed. Whether coding tools, self-tuning infrastructure, or improved observability of systems, AI/ML is clearly a critical part of the computing landscape going forward.

What’s harder to predict is exactly what forms and applications of AI will deliver compelling business value, many of which will be interesting in narrow domains, and will likely turn out to be almost good enough over a lengthy time horizon.

elderly man thinking while looking at a chessboard
Photo by Pavel Danilyuk on Pexels.com

Much of the success of AI to date has rested on training deep neural networks (NNs) of increasing size (as measured by the number of weights and parameters) on increasingly large datasets using backpropagation, and supported by the right sort of fast hardware optimized for linear algebra operations—graphics processing units (GPUs) in particular. Large Language Models (LLMs) are one prominent, relatively recent example.

There have been many clear wins, but AI has struggled with more generalized systems that interface with an unconstrained physical world—as in the case of autonomous driving, for example. There are also regulatory and legal concerns relating to explainability, bias and even overall economic impact. Some experts also wonder if broad gaps in our collective understanding of the many areas covered by cognitive science that lay outside the direct focus of machine learning may (or may not) be needed for AI to handle many types of applications.

What’s certain is that we will be surprised.

Automation

In a sense, automation is a class of application to which AI brings more sophisticated capabilities. For example, Red Hat Ansible Lightspeed with IBM watsonx Code Assistant is one recent example of a generative AI service designed by and for Ansible automators, operators and developers.

Automation is increasingly necessary because hardware and software stacks are getting more complex. What’s less obvious is how improved observability tooling and AI-powered automation tools that make use of that more granular data plays out in detail.

At the least, it will lead us to think about questions such as: Where are the big wins in dynamic automated system tuning that will most improve IT infrastructure efficiency? What’s the scope of the automated environment? How much autonomy will we be prepared to give to the automation, and what circuit breakers and fallbacks will be considered best practice?

Over time, we’ve reduced manual human intervention in processes such as CI/CD pipelines. But we’ve done so in the context of evolving best practices in concert with the increased automation.

Security

Security is a broad and deep topic (and one of deep concern across the industry). It encompasses zero trust, software supply chains, digital sovereignty and yes, AI—both as a defensive tool and an offensive weapon. But one particular topic is worth highlighting here.

Confidential computing is a security technology that protects data in use, meaning that it is protected while it is being processed. This is in contrast to traditional encryption technologies, which protect data at rest (when it is stored) and data in transit (when it is being transmitted over a network).

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Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels.com

Confidential computing works by using a variety of techniques to isolate data within a protected environment, such as a trusted execution environment (TEE) or a secure enclave. It’s of particular interest when running sensitive workloads in an environment over which you don’t have full control, such as a public cloud. It’s relatively new technology but is consistent with an overall trend towards more security controls, not fewer.

RISC-V

While there are examples of open hardware designs, such as the Open Compute Project, it would be hard to make the case for there having been a successful open processor relevant to server hardware.

However, major silicon vendors and cloud providers are exploring and adopting the RISC-V free-to-license and open processor instruction set architecture (ISA). It follows a different approach from past open processor efforts. For one thing, it was open source from the beginning and is not tied to any single vendor. For another, it was designed to be extensible and implementation-agnostic. It allows for the development of new embedded technologies implemented upon FPGAs as well as the manufacture of microcontrollers, microprocessors and specialized data processing units (DPUs).

Its impact is more nascent in the server space, but it has been gaining momentum. The architecture has also seen considerable standardization work to balance the flexibility of extensions with the fragmentation they can bring. RISC-V profiles are a set of standardized subsets of the RISC-V ISA. They are designed to make sure that hardware implementers and software developers can intersect with an interface built around a set of extensions with a bounded amount of flexibility designed to support well-defined categories of systems and applications.

Platform software

Perhaps one of the most intriguing questions is what happens at the lower levels of the server infrastructure software stack—roughly the operating system on a single shared memory server and the software that orchestrates workloads across many of these servers connected over a network.

It is probably easiest to start with what is unlikely to change in fundamental ways over the next decade. Linux has been around for more than 30 years; Unix more than 50, with many basic concepts dating to Multics about ten years prior.

close up view of system hacking
Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels.com

That is a long time in the computer business. But it also argues for the overall soundness and adaptability of the basic approach taken by most modern operating systems—and the ability to evolve Linux when changes have been needed. That adaptation will continue by taking advantage of reducing overheads by selectively offloading workloads to FPGAs and other devices such as edge servers. There are also opportunities to reduce transition overheads for performance-critical applications; the Unikernel Linux project—a joint effort involving professors, PhD students and engineers at the Boston University-based Red Hat Collaboratory—demonstrates one direction such optimizations could take.

More speculative is the form that collections of computing resources might take and how they will be managed. Over the past few decades, these resources primarily took the form of masses of x86 servers. Some specialized hardware is used for networking, storage and other functions, but CMOS process shrinks meant that for the most part, it was easier, cheaper and faster to just wait for the next x86 generation than to buy some unproven specialized design.

However, with performance gains associated with general-purpose process shrinks decelerating—and maybe even petering out at some point—specialized hardware that more efficiently meets the needs of specific workload types starts to look more attractive. The use of GPUs for ML workloads is probably the most obvious example, but is not the only one.

The challenge is that developers are mostly not increasing in number or skill. Better development tools can help to some degree, but it will also become more important to abstract away the complexity of more specialized and more diverse hardware.

What might this look like? A new abstraction/virtualization layer? An evolution of Kubernetes to better understand hardware and cloud differences, the relationship between components and how to intelligently match relatively generic code to the most appropriate hardware or cloud? Or will we see something else that introduces completely new concepts?

Wrap up

What we can say about these predictions is that they’re probably a mixed bag. Some promising technologies may fizzle a bit. Others will bring major and generally unexpected changes in their wake, and something may pop onto the field at a time and from a place where we least expect it.

Prepare to be AMBUSHed by Style with a New Accessory for the OPPO Find N3 Flip

Are you ready to be AMBUSH-ed with a stylish OPPO Find N3 Flip? OPPO is collaborating with renowned fashion house AMBUSH for an accessory that will lock you in. While not a full on special edition, the new collaboration will get you lock, stock and barrel with a stylish new case for the N3 Flip.

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The new case showcases the design prowess of YOON, the Creative Director at AMBUSH. It’s also the latest in a growing lineup of fashion-centric cases to complement what is turning out to be one of the best foldables on the market – the OPPO Find N3 Flip. The OPPO x AMBUSH FLIPPED PADLOCK is a smartphone case meticulously crafted for the OPPO Find N3 Flip and pushes stylish self expressionism to the next level.

The OPPO x AMBUSH FLIPPED PADLOCK isn’t your run-of-the-mill phone case. It’s a fashion statement. Crafted under the watchful eye of YOON, the case draws inspiration from the Heart Padlock Bag, resulting in a chic, pink masterpiece that snugly cradles the OPPO Find N3 Flip. It’s more than just protection; it’s an accessory that demands attention.

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This collaboration isn’t just about aesthetics. It’s a marriage of cutting-edge tech and avant-garde fashion. The union of OPPO and AMBUSH® isn’t just superficial; it’s a deep dive into the synergy between innovative technology and trendsetting design. The OPPO Find N3 Flip is the canvas, and YOON’s design is the brushstroke that turns it into a work of art.

Pricing & Availability:

The big question: When and where can you get your hands on this fashion-tech marvel? Well, the OPPO X AMBUSH FLIPPED PADLOCK is making its grand entrance in December in various Asian markets, including China, Thailand, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines. Starting from December 12th, this exclusive case will be up for grabs alongside the purchase of the Find N3 Flip at selected My OPPO Space and the OPPO Official Online Store. It’s more than a case; it’s a style revolution, and it’s about to hit the scene in full force.

Star Charge Expands its Manufacturing to USA in Central Ohio to Meet Increasing Needs

FREMONT, Calif., Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Star Charge, a global leader in Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure with a proven track record of delivering up to 2 million EV chargers in more than 60 countries, is excited to announce the expansion of its manufacturing facility to the USA with the establishment of a new plant in Columbus, Ohio. The decision to set up in Central Ohio is driven by a favorable business environment, reasonable operational costs, a robust supply chain, and attractive government incentives. The plant is set to commence production in the first quarter of 2024.

Star Charge’s new plant in Columbus, Ohio
Star Charge’s new plant in Columbus, Ohio

This factory will see an initial production capacity of over 20,000 chargers annually, incorporating a range of AC, DC, and bi-directional chargers, spanning from 7kW to 480kW, particularly designed to meet the needs of various applications, including residential, school buses, commercial fleets, and public charging stations. The Ohio plant will manufacture NEVI (Next-Generation Electric Vehicle Infrastructure) ready DC fast chargers, including the Titan 150KW and Neptune split system models. Renowned for their over 97% efficiency and intelligent dynamic load management features, these chargers contribute to the operational efficiency of charging stations.

Herman Chang , CEO of Star Charge stated, “The US is one of the largest EV markets and is expected to continuously grow over the next decade. Establishing our new facility in Ohio aligns with our commitment and is crucial to our company strategy”. He further explained, “Alongside this new plant, we are actively seeking to engage with local talents, foster strategic partnerships, and establish dedicated service teams to enhance our operations and accessibility to our US customers. Our goal is to work with our US customers to explore innovative solutions that drive e-mobility adoption and microgrids for a sustainable future”.

Join us at CES 2024:

Star Charge invites you to visit Booth 8905 at the Las Vegas Convention Center North Hall during CES 2024 from Jan. 9 ~ 12. Explore our latest innovations in EV charging infrastructure and microgrid solutions for various scenarios including residential, public charging, commercial & industrial. On-site events will be scheduled at the booth and Star Charge executives will be present to discuss the growth plans in the US market.

About Star Charge:

Star Charge, a global leader in electric vehicle charging infrastructure and microgrid solutions, operates in 20 countries with manufacturing facilities in China, Vietnam, and the USA. To contribute to the energy transition towards a more sustainable future, we focus on evolving our solutions through innovative technology in the e-mobility sector, aiming to build a mobile and efficient energy network.

For additional details, please visit www.starcharge.com

Vivo’s Double Delight: Exclusive 12.12 Deals

Vivo is turning up the heat this holiday season with its most-awaited 12.12 promotion. Score great deals for Vivo and iQOO devices across Vivo’s official E-Store, Shopee, and Lazada.

Exclusive Deals on Lazada

Lazada vivo sale

From 12 to 14 December, Vivo’s official store on Lazada is pulling the stops with exclusive deals offering discounts up to 50% off.

During this mega sale, you’ll be able to get 12% off, capped at RM200 (now lowered to RM1000 minimum spend), or 12% off, capped at RM100 with a minimum spend of RM500. If that’s not enough, you can get also get an RM9 discount for every RM90 spent, combining the 12% voucher with Lazada Bonus and Laz Coins for maximum savings. Of course, terms and conditions apply, and these discounts are exclusively for selected products.

iQOO 12 Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 at an Exclusive Deal

Don’t miss out on the exclusive one-day deal on 12.12 – snag the iQOO 12 16+512 for RM3349 instead of the usual RM3399. And the promo doesn’t end there – toss in the 12% voucher and Laz Coins for even more savings.

vivo V29 5G Comes with Freebies

Meet the V29 5G in a stunning pink color variant with a 12+256 storage configuration. For just RM1799 (discounted from RM1899), you can snag this smartphone along with a free Advent Calendar.

The Latest Vivo Y27s 8+256 Addition

The latest addition – the vivo Y27s 8+256, is now available at an exclusive price of RM799. As part of the deal, you’ll also be able to enjoy complimentary wired earphones with your purchase.

Exclusive Deals on Shopee

Shopee

Vivo is also rolling out crazy discounts exclusively at the official store on Shopee Mall on 12 November. With deals up to 59% off, you can get storewide 10% cashback with additional savings with up to RM200 off vouchers. They are also throwing in instant free shipping as part of this deal.

Get Gaming with the iQOO 12

For mobile gamers, the latest iQOO 12 might just be your cup of tea. Priced at RM3349 (down from the original RM3399), don’t miss out on the exclusive 10% cashback and a RM200 off voucher.

Vivo’s 12.12 sale extravaganza is available on platforms such as the vivo E-store, Shopee, and Lazada.

HKUST and Tsinghua University Jointly Organize International AI Forum

Gathering World’s Top Experts to Construct Global Framework for AI Governance

HONG KONG, Dec. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and Tsinghua University jointly launched the ‘International AI Cooperation and Governance Forum 2023’ from December 8th to 9th.  The two-day forum brought together over 50 world-renowned artificial intelligence (AI) experts, scholars, industry leaders, government representatives and international organization delegates to explore the opportunities and challenges brought by cutting-edge technologies such as generative AI, and discuss strategies for building a comprehensive global governance framework for the new technology.

The rapid development of generative AI in recent years has embarked a new era of AI research and development, however, there were numerous security considerations in its applications. The US and European governments have taken steps in regulating generative AI through different rules and orders. As a significant international conference in the field of AI governance, this forum has gained support from organizations worldwide including the United Nations (UN) Development Program and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). It also attracted representatives from government departments in the Mainland, European Union, Singapore, Brazil, South Africa and Malaysia, as well as academicians from the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). Top AI experts from countries such as UK, US, France, and Germany, as well as senior executives from well-known science and technology innovation enterprises, addressed and discussed the challenges as a result of the paradigm shift brought by AI.

Officiating guests of the forum were Ms. LU Xinning, Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR (CLO), Mr. FANG Jianming, Deputy Commissioner of China’s Foreign Ministry in the HKSAR, Prof. SUN Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the HKSAR Government, Prof. Harry SHUM, HKUST Council Chairman, Prof. Nancy IP, President of HKUST, Prof. WANG Hongwei, Tsinghua University Vice President, Prof. XUE Lan, Dean of Schwarzman College and Institute for AI International Governance at Tsinghua University, Dr. YBhg. Datuk Ts. Dr. Mohd Nor AZMAN HASSAN, Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation of Malaysia, and Prof. WANG Weiming, Director-General of Educational, Scientific & Technological Affairs at CLO. 

Prof. Tshilidzi MARWALA, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Manuel Innocencio DE LACERDA SANTOS JR., Consulate General of Brazil in Hong Kong, Mr. Thomas GNOCCHI, Ambassador of the European Union office to Hong Kong and Macao, Mr. Mojalefa MOGONO, Consulate General of South Africa in Hong Kong & Macau, addressed the audience after Prof. GUO Yike, HKUST Provost and Prof Xue Lan from Tsinghua University delivered introductory remarks.  About 600 people have joined the two-day forum, other viewers watched live broadcast online.

Turing Prize Winner Prof. Yoshua BENGIO, Founder and Scientific Director of Mila – Quebec AI Institute hailed by the media as one of the “Godfathers of AI, delivered a keynote speech on the second day of the forum. He shared on how to strike a balance between the two management models that manage frontier AI risks: democratic governance, which prioritizes public interest and regulation, and techno-libertarianism, which emphasizes autonomy and innovation, in order to achieve social inclusion and sustainable development of AI.

Prof. SUN Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, said in his opening speech, “Hong Kong is sparing no effort to seize the opportunities brought by AI for digital innovation, while we are also aware of the challenges it posed. The Government has developed the Ethical AI Framework which provides guidance in implementing AI projects and managing the associated risks, while promoting responsible AI practices. I would like to express my gratitude to HKUST and Tsinghua University for co-hosting this Forum, which will be a catalyst to generate intelligently more innovative ideas about AI development and provide more pointers to the robust development of the AI industry in terms of stronger cooperation and enhanced governance.” 

Prof. Harry Shum, renowned AI expert, Co-chairperson of the Forum’s Academic Committee and HKUST Council Chairman, said in his welcome remarks, “The strides we have made in AI in recent years have surpassed what we could have imagined just a decade ago. Both corporate and academic worlds are pushing the boundaries, endeavoring to reach human-like competencies in a wide range of tasks. Yet, as we navigate the complexities of AI, it is equally crucial to consider the societal repercussions it may bring, and the importance of establishing some guiding principles and framework. HKUST is privileged to co-organize this forum with our long-standing partner Tsinghua University, providing a platform for critical discussions that will guide the future trajectory of AI.”

Prof. Nancy Ip, Co-chairperson of the Forum’s Organizing Committee and HKUST President, said in her welcome remarks, “Governance is vital to advance and popularize the use of any new technology. This forum we are holding with Tsinghua today provides an invaluable platform for collaboration and thought-provoking discussions on how we could apply AI to create a better, more inclusive and sustainable world. HKUST is committed to advance the AI ecosystem. While we continue to strengthen international collaborations in this area and pioneer AI’s application and development in different fields, we will also enhance our infrastructure capacity through the construction of an Innovation Building that promotes cross-disciplinary and collaborative research, as well as a high-performance computational facility to further enhance our research capabilities in AI.”

Prof. WANG Xiqin, President of Tsinghua University and another co-chair of the organizing committee, said in his welcome remarks, “AI governance is crucial for humanity’s fate. As the birthplace of technological innovation, leaders in social development and inheritors of human civilization, universities have greater responsibilities in strengthening global governance of AI risks. Tsinghua University attaches great importance to scientific research, innovation, ethics education, and governance in AI, and sincerely look forward to working with global partners to empower the world and contribute to the construction of a shared future for mankind.”

Prof. Wang Hongwei, Vice President of Tsinghua University and co-deputy-chair of the organizing committee, said, “Tsinghua University is committed to using this forum as a platform to foster extensive exchanges and cooperation with partner universities and institutions, including HKUST. Together, we will advance the healthy and sustainable development of AI and improve the global governance framework.”

Meanwhile, HKUST and Peng Cheng Laboratory also signed an agreement at the forum to conduct collaborative research and jointly cultivate talents in AI related areas.

Keynote speakers for the first day included Mr. Brad SMITH, Vice Chair and President of Microsoft, Prof. GAO Wen, Director of Peng Cheng Lab and CAE Academician, Prof. DAI Qionghai, Dean of Information Science and Technology and Director of Beijing National Research Center for Information Science and Technology at Tsinghua University, and Dr. Stephen CAVE, Director of the Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence at the University of Cambridge. They presented on topics spanning security issues in the development of next generation AI, intelligent photoelectronic computing, and the three waves of AI ethics.

Keynote speakers for the second day were Prof. ZHANG Bo, CAS academician and Honorary Dean of the Institute for Artificial Intelligence at Tsinghua University, Prof. Dame Wendy HALL, Regius Professor of Computer Science at the University of Southampton, Prof. Shahbaz KHAN, Director of UNESCO’s Cluster Office in Beijing, and Turing Prize winner Prof. Yoshua Bengio from the Université de Montréal. 

A highlight of the forum is the roundtable discussion chaired by Dr. Liesbeth VENEMA, Chief Editor of the authoritative scientific journal Nature Machine Intelligence. She was joined by Prof. Pascale FUNG, Director of the Center for Artificial Intelligence Research (CAiRE) and Chair Professor in the Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering at HKUST, Prof. ZHENG Liang, Vice Dean of the Institute for AI International Governance of Tsinghua University, Prof. Rostam J. NEUWIRH, Head of Department of Global Legal Studies at University of Macau, Dr. Serge STINCKWICH, Head of Research at the United Nations University Institute in Macau, and Prof. TAN Jianrong, a CAE academician from Zhejiang University. The panel engaged in in-depth dialogue over the development of a global governance framework for AI.

Other key sessions included a dialogue on the development of AI ethics among Prof. Pascale Fung, Chloé BAKALAR, Chief Ethicist of Meta’s Responsible AI division, and Joaquin Quiñonero CANDELA, AI Technical Fellow at LinkedIn. The trio discussed how to achieve a balance from three aspects of mathematics, ethics and politics, in the process of practicing and applying AI.

Scholars from renowned institutions including Technical University of Munich, Sorbonne University, University of Edinburgh, University of Southampton and Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs, as well as senior executives from well-known scientific and technological enterprises such as Anthropic, xAI, Huawei, and Baichuan AI, also shared their insights on the strategies to address challenges such as those posed by generative AI.

Download photos of the forum here: http://udz039.ust.hk/~meu/AI_Forum_2023 

Global Incubation Innovation Forces Gather in Lingang for World Top-Performing Incubator Forum 2023

SHANGHAI, Dec. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — From December 5th to 6th, World Top-Performing Incubator Forum 2023 with the theme of “Innovation Incubates the Future” was held in Lingang New Area. Chen Jinshan, member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee, Secretary of Party Working Committee of Lingang New Area, Director of Lingang Special Area Administration expressed during the opening ceremony that Lingang New Area is promoting the leadership of scientific and technological innovation, attracting top incubation institutions, venture capitals, and other global sci-tech resources, deepening high-level technological innovation incubation and cooperation, and accelerating the development of “City of Innovation and Entrepreneurship”.

Yuan Guohua, Deputy Secretary of the Party Working Committee of Lingang New Area, Secretary of the Party Committee, and Chairman of Lingang Group, Zhao Jian, Chief Engineer of the Shanghai Science and Technology Commission, Xi Lifeng, Member of the CPC SJTU Standing Committee, and Vice President of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Xu Tian, Genetics Chair Professor and Vice President at Westlake University, Ali Amin, Co-founder and CEO of UBI Global inaugurated this forum.

Wu Xiaohua, Deputy Secretary of Party Working Committee of Lingang New Area Administration and First-class Inspector of Lingang New Area, and Weng Kaining, Deputy Secretary of Party Committee and President of Lingang Group, along with leaders from top incubators, such as Lingang Science and Technology Investment, MiraclePlus Shanghai Alumni Center, ATLATL Center for Innovation & Research, PNP China, XNode, SIMIC InnoSpring, Casstar, AMl (Advanced Materials Incubator),Step Fund,P4 Precision Medicine Accelerator,CodeBase and Start-UpChile, jointly established the “International Innovation Synergy and Incubation Alliance” and released the “Cooperation Initiative of International Innovation Synergy and Incubation Alliance” to issue initiatives and proposals to all talents around the world.

SYNLINX launched its brand and contracted with its first settled enterprises and partners. “SYNLINX Semiconductor” and “SYNLINX Life Science and Technology” are established to empower the technology start-ups.

The First Batch of Proof-of-Concept Center for Frontier Technology released its First Group projects.Abundant top-level resources of both SJTU and Lingang Group are integrated to build a futuristic proof-of-concept center for frontier industrial technologies.

At the opening ceremony, Frederico Lourenco from Flagship Pioneering, Ali Amin from UBI Global,Handson Gilford from The Foundry, Xi Lifeng from SJTU and Xu Tian from Westlake University delivered keynote speeches one by one.

At the panel themed “Innovation Models and Challenges for Global Incubators”, panelists believed that incubators, as a crucial innovation support system, have gained worldwide attention and application.

Furthermore, the specialized seminar “A Deep Dive into Key Metrics for Success”,”Innovation Incubation and Investment by Large Enterprises”, “Capital Empowers Incubation for Life Science Industry” and “New Model for Advanced Incubation” were conducted.

This forum is hosted by Lingang Special Area of China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone Administration, Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality and Shanghai Lingang Economic Development (Group) Co.,Ltd,organized by Shanghai Technology Innovation Center, Shanghai Lingang Economic Development Group Technology Investment Co., Ltd, Stepholdings Co., Ltd, Co organized by Shanghai Business Incubation Association (STBIA).

GAABOR LAUNCHES YEAR END SALE 12.12 VAGANZA

JAKARTA, Indonesia, Dec. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Gaabor, as a leading household appliance brand in Southeast Asia, always wants to provide an interesting experience with each of its quality products. Join and make life easier with more than one million Indonesians.

To complete the range of promotions at this 12.12 shopping party, Gaabor is also providing attractive promotions through superior products such as the Airfryer (AF20M), this Airfryer with a 2 liter capacity provides practicality and ease of cooking without oil, apart from that Gaabor also presents an electric kettle (EK20M-WH02A) able to provide the hot water quickly and save energy, and to complete the cleaning needs in the residence, Gaabor also provides a promo for a vacuum cleaner product (VCW14M-BE01A) to make it easier for customers to clean their favorite room.

This December, in conjunction with the 12.12 campaign, Gaabor is providing discount promos of up to millions of rupiah, additional vouchers and attractive prizes for customers to add to cart only for the period 12 to 15 December 2023.

This is the opportunity can’t be missed to own Gaabor at an affordable price and stunning quality. Get it only on the favorite online platforms.

WANTIFO Launches Hair Dryer DualCare with Advanced Plasma Ionic Tech

NEW YORK, Dec. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Wantifo, leading the beauty tech industry, introduces the WANTIFO Hair Dryer DualCare, now available on Amazon.US. Known for blending high-tech solutions with user-friendly designs, WANTIFO’s latest offering, the DualCare, epitomizes their commitment to accessible, sophisticated beauty tools.

The WANTIFO Hair Dryer DualCare, boasting a high-speed 110,000 RPM brushless motor and cutting-edge Plasma Ionic Technology, emits 200 million positive and negative ions. This feature not only improves scalp health but also reduces hair loss and curbs frizz, resulting in softer, healthier, and more lustrous hair.

Efficient by design, the WANTIFO Hair Dryer DualCare ensures quick drying without heat damage. It includes customizable temperature settings, three distinct heat and speed options, and an HD LCD for user-friendly operation. Its 360° magnetic nozzle caters to different hair types and lengths, making it a versatile tool for any hair care routine.

Weighing just 0.82 pounds and maintaining a noise level under 60dB, the DualCare is perfect for home and travel use. It’s built with safety in mind, featuring a UL-certified US ALCI safety plug, automatic protection mechanisms, and an easy-to-use auto-cleaning function.

Experience the DualCare difference with an exclusive 30% off. Use code “30WANTIFO” at here.

For more information on the DualCare Hair Dryer, please contact:

Marketing Manager: Annie Hatfield
Email: pr@wantifo.com
Official Website: https://wantifo.com/
Amazon Store: https://www.amazon.com/stores/WAINTIFOISWONDERFUL/page/8BB8E322-FBEA-4027-AEE0-CBE5B723D1F0?ref_=ast_bln
Social Medias: https://linktr.ee/wantifo

About WANTIFO

WANTIFO, a dynamic brand in the haircare industry, focuses on efficient, damage-free drying and stylish functionality, revolutionizing daily hair routines.