🖥️ Tech Futures #23

Happy New Year! 🎉

OpenAI announced its transition to a public interest corporation, aiming for sustainability while facing challenges from Microsoft contracts and competition. ByteDance plans to invest $7 billion in Nvidia semiconductors for AI development, using data centers outside China to bypass U.S. regulations. Cyberhaven reported a hack that allowed attackers to publish a malicious Chrome extension update, potentially stealing user passwords and session tokens. ZTE and MTN demonstrated 5G technology in Cape Town, providing the public with hands-on experiences and showcasing its capabilities. Databricks raised $10B in Series J funding, boosting its valuation to $62 billion, focusing on AI and international expansion.

What's new?

HolonIQ’s new Green Skills Map and Workforce section reveals industry-wide sustainability skills and jobs, as well as workforce development initiatives, supporting upskilling for a sustainable economy.

HolonIQ's new skills newsletter is here! Get updates on emerging skills, workforce shifts, and industry insights across impact sectors. Subscribe now to stay ahead.

⚙️ Artificial Intelligence

🤖 OpenAI Transitions to Public Benefit Corporation. OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT,  announced that it will change its structure to a public benefit corporation (PBC) to prioritize developing AI systems that benefit humanity over maximizing profits.

🤝 Russia and China to Cooperate on AI. Russian President Vladimir Putin instructed the Russian government and Sberbank, Russia's largest bank, to cooperate with China on artificial intelligence.

💡 Indonesia is Developing Localized Generative AI. Indonesia is developing generative AI systems focused on its own culture and languages.

💾 Semiconductors

💻 ByteDance to invest $7B in Nvidia chips. ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, announced plans to spend $7 billion on Nvidia semiconductors by 2025 for AI and cloud computing, despite U.S. restrictions on Chinese tech firms accessing advanced chips.

🏭 TSMC starts chip production at first Japan plant. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC)  began mass production at its first chip fabrication facility in Kumamoto, Japan. The $8.8 billion plant will produce semiconductors for automotive and industrial applications.

⚠️ Semiconductor Act Stalls in South Korea. The Special Act on Semiconductors in South Korea, aimed at providing support to the semiconductor industry through subsidies, tax benefits, and infrastructure,  failed to pass before the end of the current National Assembly's term.

🚨 Cybersecurity

🚫 Cybersecurity Firm Cyberhaven Hacked and Malicious Update Pushed. Cyberhaven, a data-loss prevention startup, was hacked and a malicious update was pushed to its Chrome extension as part of a wider campaign targeting Chrome extension developers.

📞 Communication and Networking

🚀 ZTE and MTN Showcase 5G-A Public Experience in Cape Town. ZTE and MTN South Africa launched a 5G-A public experience in Cape Town, showcasing high speeds, advanced applications, and low latency.

📶 Mafab to launch 5G services after delay. Mafab Communications, a telecom company, will launch its 5G services in Kano and Abuja, Nigeria in early 2025 after a three-year delay.

🛠️ Skills and Workforce

With reskilling and upskilling playing a key role in closing workforce gaps, HolonIQ is now tracking these impactful initiatives shaping the tech industry. Read on for this week’s insights, and discover more in HolonIQ's latest Skills newsletter.

⛏️ Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL)-IISCO Steel Plant has partnered with IIT Dhanbad's TEXMiN Foundation to launch a cutting-edge learning experience center. This initiative focuses on preparing India's workforce for the mining and metallurgy industries. The center will integrate advanced technologies, simulations, and IT solutions, blending theoretical learning with practical case studies. The partnership aims to bridge the skills gap and drive growth.

🖥️ Bahrain's labor fund Tamkeen has partnered with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to develop and upskill local talent in Artificial Intelligence. The initiative will provide Bahrainis with qualifications in generative artificial intelligence, machine learning technologies, and addressing business challenges. The announcement was made at the second edition of the Gateway Gulf Investment Forum, which attracted international participation. 

HolonIQ has also launched the Green Skills Map, an open-source framework initiated for cataloging, evaluating, and contextualizing the different components of the rapidly expanding field of green jobs. This comprehensive taxonomy will serve as a resource for understanding the full spectrum and complexity of green skills required across various sectors, thereby enabling a cohesive approach toward achieving net zero and decarbonizing the global economy. Green Skills Map spans 11 areas, 54 sub-areas, and 243 green skills clusters. A snippet of the map covering four areas has been included above. Explore the full map on greenskills.org.

💰 Tech Deals

🪙 Databricks Raises $10B in Series J Funding. Databricks, a global data, analytics, and AI company, raised $10B in a Series J funding round, valuing the company at $62 billion. The funds will be used to invest in new AI products, make acquisitions, and expand international operations.

📈 Global Engine Group Acquires Stake in Hong Kong Data Center Firm. Global Engine Group acquired Corpotech Holdings, a Hong Kong-based data center company, for $1.37B to gain entry into the rapidly growing Hong Kong data center market.

💵 InnoScience raises $180M in Hong Kong IPO. InnoScience, a maker of microchips using gallium nitride (GaN) technology, raised $180M  in its initial public offering (IPO) on the Hong Kong stock exchange. The company's shares rose slightly on their trading debut.

💷 Quantum Computing Startup Qolab Raises $16M Series A. Qolab, a leader in superconducting quantum computing, secured over $16M  in its Series A financing round led by Octave Ventures and other investors.

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