-
Western AI Models “Fail Spectacularly” in Farms and Forests Abroad
Big Tech’s AI tools trained on Western data often can’t recognize local crops, forests, or farming conditions without adaptation to local environments, and there is a risk that a focus on profit by big tech firms and large agriculture companies will hurt farmers.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
-
Iranian Drone Strikes at Amazon Sites Raise Alarms Over Protecting Data Centers
Tech industry’s past focus on cyberattacks and natural disasters overshadowed threats of physical attacks.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- Global
-
Big Tech ‘Leave Poor Farmers Sidelined’ In AI Revolution
The report published Wednesday by the International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems (IPES-Food) highlights how tech giants such as Google, Microsoft, Amazon and Alibaba are shaping the future of farming through cloud platforms and Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, attracting substantial public and private investment.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Technology
- Region
- Global
-
Ho Chi Minh City Sets up $20 Million Venture Capital Fund to Support Startups
Priority investment areas include digital technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data and blockchain, semiconductor manufacturing, biotechnology, new materials, renewable energy, automation and robotics.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- South Asia
-
South Africa: Hlayisani Capital Secures Over $30 Million for New Fund
Hlayisani Capital manages over R1 billion (about $62 million) across three funds and focuses on backing high-growth, technology-enabled businesses with strong South African roots.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
-
Tech Firms and AI Farming Tools ‘Playing With the Food System’, Warns Thinktank
Google, Microsoft and Amazon among companies using algorithms and AI to influence what crops are grown and how, say critics.
- Categories
- Agriculture
- Region
- Global
-
Addressing the Communications Breakdown in Global Development: How AI-Enabled Assessment Tools Can Reach Excluded Communities
Development work can only be effective if it’s based on the actual needs and lived experiences of the communities it aims to serve. But as Talía Jiménez Romero at Fortell Impact explains, in many of the remote, under-resourced areas where this work is most needed, the voices of local people are often the hardest to hear, due to barriers related to language, education, and lack of access to the internet and other technologies. She explores how AI can be leveraged to facilitate data collection and needs assessments in these multilingual and low-connectivity contexts, while complementing the work of local teams on the ground.
- Categories
- Technology
-
World Bank Group’s IFC Invests in Malaysia’s Zetrix AI to Improve Access to Digital Public Infrastructure Services
IFC’s 155.6 million Malaysian Ringgit ($40 million) investment will support the development and rollout of new, blockchain-based DPI applications and artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled products that aim to improve digital inclusion, access to services, and economic efficiency in Malaysia and the broader ASEAN region.
- Categories
- Investing, Technology
- Region
- South Asia
Subscribe to Our Weekly Newsletter, "NextBillion Notes"
Published each Wednesday, our e-newsletter features NextBillion's latest original articles, along with a selection of news, jobs, bizdev opportunities and events from our recent coverage — and regular conference ticket giveaways.
We respect your privacy. Your information is safe and will never be shared.
Don't miss out. Subscribe today.