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This week in Dutch tech 20/6 – 27/6
The warm weather finally arrived! But before we begin to wind things down for the summer months, let’s catch up once more with the latest developments in Dutch tech. Of course, in our mind, the best news from the week that passed was our own TNW Conference taking place in Zaandam, just outside of Amsterdam. (Next year we are back at one of our favourite locations at NDSM island, grab your 2-for-1 tickets now!) This year featured some of the best keynote speakers and panellists in our 18-year history, along with rich networking opportunities and the signature festival feel that…This story continues at The Next Web
The warm weather finally arrived! But before we begin to wind things down for the summer months, let’s catch up once more with the latest developments in Dutch tech. Of course, in our mind, the best news from the week that passed was our own TNW Conference taking place in Zaandam, just outside of Amsterdam. (Next year we are back at one of our favourite locations at NDSM island, grab your 2-for-1 tickets now!) This year featured some of the best keynote speakers and panellists in our 18-year history, along with rich networking opportunities and the signature festival feel that…
This story continues at The Next Web
Nyobolt charges EV in under 5 mins during first test drive
Claims of the next fastest-charging EV have become so common, they’ve almost completely lost their meaning. But Nyobolt might just have something to brag about. The UK startup has successfully charged an EV from 10% to 80% in just four minutes and 37 seconds — just enough time to grab a coffee. Nyobolt achieved the feat at a race track in Bedford, England on Thursday, using its own specially designed electric sports car fitted with its own specially designed battery. The Cambridge University spin-out has tinkered with the chemistry of a standard lithium-ion battery to allow it to accept more electrical…This story continues at The Next Web
Claims of the next fastest-charging EV have become so common, they’ve almost completely lost their meaning. But Nyobolt might just have something to brag about. The UK startup has successfully charged an EV from 10% to 80% in just four minutes and 37 seconds — just enough time to grab a coffee. Nyobolt achieved the feat at a race track in Bedford, England on Thursday, using its own specially designed electric sports car fitted with its own specially designed battery. The Cambridge University spin-out has tinkered with the chemistry of a standard lithium-ion battery to allow it to accept more electrical…
This story continues at The Next Web
Samsung backs ‘world’s most powerful’ AI chip for edge devices
Eindhoven-based startup Axelera has raised $68mn as it looks to take its AI chip business global. One of the lead investors is Samsung Catalyst, the venture arm of the semiconductor giant Samsung Electronics. Axelera is developing AI chips that enable computer vision and generative AI in edge devices like robots and drones. Because they’re located within the devices themselves, the AI chips can process data in milliseconds without the need to upload or download data to the cloud. This delivers high computing performance at a fraction of the cost and energy consumption of centralised AI models, said the startup. Axelera…This story continues at The Next WebOr just read more coverage about: Samsung
Eindhoven-based startup Axelera has raised $68mn as it looks to take its AI chip business global. One of the lead investors is Samsung Catalyst, the venture arm of the semiconductor giant Samsung Electronics. Axelera is developing AI chips that enable computer vision and generative AI in edge devices like robots and drones. Because they’re located within the devices themselves, the AI chips can process data in milliseconds without the need to upload or download data to the cloud. This delivers high computing performance at a fraction of the cost and energy consumption of centralised AI models, said the startup. Axelera…
This story continues at The Next Web
Or just read more coverage about: Samsung
Lynn Conway finally receives recognition for rocketing chip design into the future
Lynn Conway may hold the record for longest delay between being unfairly fired and receiving an apology for it. In 1968, IBM — a company that now covers its logo in a rainbow flag each June for Pride Month — fired Conway when she expressed her intention to transition. She died on June 9, 2024 at age 86. IBM eventually apologised to the now-famous computing expert, but only 52 years later, when Conway was 82 years old. Although Conway’s start as a trans woman while at IBM was inauspicious, she quickly found a new job under her post-transition name and…This story continues at The Next Web
Lynn Conway may hold the record for longest delay between being unfairly fired and receiving an apology for it. In 1968, IBM — a company that now covers its logo in a rainbow flag each June for Pride Month — fired Conway when she expressed her intention to transition. She died on June 9, 2024 at age 86. IBM eventually apologised to the now-famous computing expert, but only 52 years later, when Conway was 82 years old. Although Conway’s start as a trans woman while at IBM was inauspicious, she quickly found a new job under her post-transition name and…
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Does your service business need AI? Here are 4 rules to help you decide
Artificial intelligence is the big thing right now, with industries from finance to health care to retail scrambling to adopt AI or risk being left behind. But speaking as professors of business, we think some companies might be jumping the gun. Our recent research suggests that service providers shouldn’t automatically jump on the AI bandwagon. Instead, they should make a choice informed by their strategy. In short, when it comes to AI and service firms, more isn’t necessarily better. Why service providers face a different calculation Are you a manufacturer? Then if AI reduces your costs without lowering quality and…This story continues at The Next Web
Artificial intelligence is the big thing right now, with industries from finance to health care to retail scrambling to adopt AI or risk being left behind. But speaking as professors of business, we think some companies might be jumping the gun. Our recent research suggests that service providers shouldn’t automatically jump on the AI bandwagon. Instead, they should make a choice informed by their strategy. In short, when it comes to AI and service firms, more isn’t necessarily better. Why service providers face a different calculation Are you a manufacturer? Then if AI reduces your costs without lowering quality and…
This story continues at The Next Web
Silo and Mistral join forces in yet another European AI team-up
If you follow European AI news, you may have read that Finland’s Silo AI and Germany’s Aleph Alpha recently established a partnership to deliver “sovereign AI.” It would seem whoever is responsible for partnerships at Silo is keeping busy, as the company today announced yet another collaboration, this time with investor darling Mistral AI. The past couple of years have seen businesses scramble to implement AI, often even before they know how they are actually going to use it, for fear of being left behind. Without proper implementation and the correct solutions and models, the promises of efficiency gains and…This story continues at The Next Web
If you follow European AI news, you may have read that Finland’s Silo AI and Germany’s Aleph Alpha recently established a partnership to deliver “sovereign AI.” It would seem whoever is responsible for partnerships at Silo is keeping busy, as the company today announced yet another collaboration, this time with investor darling Mistral AI. The past couple of years have seen businesses scramble to implement AI, often even before they know how they are actually going to use it, for fear of being left behind. Without proper implementation and the correct solutions and models, the promises of efficiency gains and…
This story continues at The Next Web
Data centres in space could be one solution to AI’s big energy problem
As AI boosts demand for more data storage, Europe is considering sending data centres into space — and the plan is not as outlandish as it may first appear. A 16-month, €2 million study has concluded that space-based data centres are technically, economically, and environmentally feasible. Thales Alenia Space and Leonardo coordinated the ASCEND study, which was funded by the EU. The research also tapped expertise from the likes of Airbus, ArianeGroup, and the German Space Agency. “Deploying data centres in space could transform the European digital landscape, offering a more eco-friendly and sovereign solution for hosting and processing data,”…This story continues at The Next Web
As AI boosts demand for more data storage, Europe is considering sending data centres into space — and the plan is not as outlandish as it may first appear. A 16-month, €2 million study has concluded that space-based data centres are technically, economically, and environmentally feasible. Thales Alenia Space and Leonardo coordinated the ASCEND study, which was funded by the EU. The research also tapped expertise from the likes of Airbus, ArianeGroup, and the German Space Agency. “Deploying data centres in space could transform the European digital landscape, offering a more eco-friendly and sovereign solution for hosting and processing data,”…
This story continues at The Next Web
Europe is pouring public funds into quantum tech startups, report says
A report published today by McKinsey on the state of the global quantum tech sector has found that Europe is spending more and more in public funding on technologies such as quantum computers, quantum sensors, and quantum communications. Quantum technology is increasingly recognised as being of high geopolitical and strategic importance. Governments are drafting national quantum strategies, and many quantum computing and other quantum tech projects are overseen by ministries of defence. The technology could also add trillions of dollars in value across several different industries in the next ten years. With Europe progressively focused on “digital sovereignty,” it is…This story continues at The Next Web
A report published today by McKinsey on the state of the global quantum tech sector has found that Europe is spending more and more in public funding on technologies such as quantum computers, quantum sensors, and quantum communications. Quantum technology is increasingly recognised as being of high geopolitical and strategic importance. Governments are drafting national quantum strategies, and many quantum computing and other quantum tech projects are overseen by ministries of defence. The technology could also add trillions of dollars in value across several different industries in the next ten years. With Europe progressively focused on “digital sovereignty,” it is…
This story continues at The Next Web
Can AI cure the corruption and biases that plague boxing?
Boxing is a whimsically old-fashioned sport. Feuds are settled in fights, traditions are revered, and ageing faces run the show. Fifty years since their heydays promoting Muhammad Ali, the 92-year-olds Don King and Bob Arum remain leading powerbrokers. They work with overlords who operate in the shadows. In this world, oversight is resisted and new tech greeted with suspicion. At world title fights, judges still fill out scorecards on scraps of paper. They follow four extremely subjective criteria: “effective aggression,” “ring generalship,” “clean punches,” and defence. All these concepts are open to interpretation. Inevitably, they frequently create controversial decisions. The…This story continues at The Next Web
Boxing is a whimsically old-fashioned sport. Feuds are settled in fights, traditions are revered, and ageing faces run the show. Fifty years since their heydays promoting Muhammad Ali, the 92-year-olds Don King and Bob Arum remain leading powerbrokers. They work with overlords who operate in the shadows. In this world, oversight is resisted and new tech greeted with suspicion. At world title fights, judges still fill out scorecards on scraps of paper. They follow four extremely subjective criteria: “effective aggression,” “ring generalship,” “clean punches,” and defence. All these concepts are open to interpretation. Inevitably, they frequently create controversial decisions. The…
This story continues at The Next Web
Silicon Valley’s AI-controlled hot rock batteries are coming to Europe
A Silicon Valley startup is developing a hot rock battery that could be the next big thing in energy storage — and it’s coming to Europe. The giant brick toaster is the brainchild of San Francisco-based Rondo Energy. The startup believes it could be a cheap, scalable way to decarbonise industries making everything from steel to soap. Rondo has already raised over $100mn from investors including Microsoft, mining conglomerate Rio Tinto, and Saudi Arabia’s oil and gas giant Aramco. Speaking of Microsoft, Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy Ventures was Rondo’s first major investor. And this week, the climate tech fund opened…This story continues at The Next Web
A Silicon Valley startup is developing a hot rock battery that could be the next big thing in energy storage — and it’s coming to Europe. The giant brick toaster is the brainchild of San Francisco-based Rondo Energy. The startup believes it could be a cheap, scalable way to decarbonise industries making everything from steel to soap. Rondo has already raised over $100mn from investors including Microsoft, mining conglomerate Rio Tinto, and Saudi Arabia’s oil and gas giant Aramco. Speaking of Microsoft, Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy Ventures was Rondo’s first major investor. And this week, the climate tech fund opened…
This story continues at The Next Web