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Top Industries for New Investors: A Beginner’s Handbook
Starting your investment journey is thrilling yet challenging. To guide you, focus on your goals, risk tolerance, and market trends. Success starts with picking the right industries. Explore these three beginner-friendly options for a solid start. 1. Technology Sector The tech sector, with companies like Apple and Amazon, offers growth potential. Spread your bets to […].....»»
Colombia deadliest country for green activists in 2022
Environmental activist murders doubled in Colombia last year, making it the most dangerous country in the world for those trying to protect the planet, a watchdog said Tuesday. In its annual review, Global Witness named 177 land and environmental defenders who had been killed in 2022 -- from the Amazon to the Philippines and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Latin America again bore the brunt of the murders, including 39 killings across the vast Amazon rainforest, a vital carbon sink facing widespread destruction at a time when the world is grappling to curb climate change. The number of those killed has progressively decreased since a record 227 in 2020, however, "this does not mean that the situation has significantly improved," said Global Witness. "The worsening climate crisis and the ever-increasing demand for agricultural commodities, fuel, and minerals will only intensify the pressure on the environment -– and those who risk their lives to defend it," warned the London-based watchdog. While in 2021 most killings took place in Mexico, Colombia last year surged ahead with 60 deaths -- more than a third of all the murders globally. "This is almost double the number of killings compared to 2021 when 33 defenders lost their lives," said the report. Many of those targeted were Indigenous people, members of Afro-descendant communities, small-scale farmers, and environmental activists. At least five children, three of them Indigenous, were among the global tally. "Yet there is hope," said the NGO, praising efforts under new leftist President Gustavo Petro to boost protection for defenders -- a first in the country. Colombian sociologist and activist Nadia Umana, 35, fled her northern home after the murders of four colleagues, all of whom had been fighting for the return of rural lands taken over by paramilitaries. "Knowing that a colleague of yours was murdered is an indescribable pain," Umana told AFP in Bogota. Even the country's vice-president, Francia Marquez -- the 2018 winner of the prestigious Goldman environmental prize -- has faced multiple threats. In 2019, she survived an attack by gunmen who tried to kill her over her work defending her home region's water resources against mining companies. Mining, logging, farming According to Global Witness, almost 2,000 land and environmental defenders have been murdered over the past decade -- some 70 percent of them in Latin America. In Brazil, where British journalist Dom Philips and Indigenous expert Bruno Pereira were killed last year in the Amazon, a total of 34 land defenders were killed. Mexico, Honduras, and the Philippines also had high numbers. Global Witness said that while it was "difficult to identify" the exact drivers for the killings, 10 were found to be linked to agribusiness, eight to mining, and four to the logging industry. Aside from activists, state officials, demonstrators, park rangers, lawyers, and journalists are also among those who lost their lives. "All of them shared a commitment to defend their rights and keep the planet healthy. All of them paid for their courage and commitment with their lives," said the report. The post Colombia deadliest country for green activists in 2022 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Tech’s carbon footprint: can AI revolutionize responsibly?
Across the globe, data servers are humming, consuming both megawatts and precious natural resources to bring life to our digital world. The planet's 8,000 or so data centers are the foundation of our online existence and will grow ever further with the advent of artificial intelligence -- so much so that research estimates that by 2025, the IT industry could use 20 percent of all electricity produced, and emit up to 5.5 percent of the world’s carbon emissions. This poses a real -- and to some, increasingly urgent -- question about the industry's carbon footprint as startups and companies fall behind Silicon Valley's latest forward march. "Pandora's box is open," said Arun Iyengar, CEO of Untether AI, a highly specialized chip-making company that strives to make AI more energy efficient. "We can utilize AI in ways that enhance the climate requirements or we can ignore the climate requirements and find ourselves facing the consequences in a decade or so in terms of the impact." The transformation of the world's data servers to AI readiness is already well underway, in what one Google executive called a "once-in-a-generation inflection point in computing." But the scope of the mission is huge. The creation of generative AI tools such as GPT-4, which powers ChatGPT, or Google's Palm2, behind the bot Bard, can be broken into two key stages, the actual "training" and then the execution (or "inference"). In 2019, University of Massachusetts Amherst researchers trained several large language models and found that training a single AI model can emit the CO2 emission equivalent of five cars over their lifetimes. A more recent study by Google and the University of California, Berkeley, reported that training GPT-3 resulted in 552 metric tons of carbon emissions, equivalent to driving a passenger vehicle 1.24 million miles (2 million kilometers). OpenAI's latest generation model, GPT-4, is trained on around 570 times more parameters -- or inputs -- than GPT-3, and the scale of these systems will only grow as AI becomes more powerful and ubiquitous. Nvidia, AI's chip giant, provides the processors that are indispensable for training, known as GPUs. And while they are more energy efficient than typical chips, they remain formidable consumers of power. The ChatGPT 'problem' The other side of generative AI is deployment, or inference: when the trained model is applied to identify objects, respond to text prompts or whatever the use case may be. Deployment doesn't necessarily need the computing heft of an Nvidia chip but taken cumulatively, the endless interactions in the real world far outweigh training in terms of workload. "Inference is going to be even more of a problem now with ChatGPT, which can be used by anyone and integrated into daily life through apps and web searches," said Lynn Kaack, assistant professor of computer science at the Hertie School in Berlin. The biggest cloud companies insist that they are committed to being as energy-efficient as possible. Amazon Web Services pledges to be carbon-neutral by 2040 while Microsoft has pledged to be carbon-negative by 2030. The latest evidence that the companies are serious about energy efficiency is reassuring. Between 2010 and 2018, global data center energy use rose by only 6 percent, despite a 550 percent increase in workloads and computing instances, according to the International Energy Agency. 'Backwards' thinking Silicon Valley's AI tycoons believe discussions of AI's current carbon footprint are beside the point, and underplay its revolutionary potential. The naysayers have it "backwards," Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang told reporters on a recent visit to his company's headquarters in California. The mass deployment of AI and faster computing will in the end diminish the need to go to the world's data clouds, he argued. AI's superpowers will turn your laptop, car, or device in your pocket into an energy-efficient supercomputer without the need to "retrieve" data from the cloud. "In the future, there'll be a little tiny model that sits on your phone and 90 percent of the pixels will be generated, 10 percent will be retrieved, instead of 100 percent retrieved -- and so you're going to save (energy)," he said. OpenAI's Sam Altman meanwhile believes that AI will soon enough be able to build humanity a completely new future. "I think once we have a really powerful super intelligence, addressing climate change will not be particularly difficult," Altman said recently. "This illustrates how big we should dream... Think about a system where you can say, 'Tell me how to make a lot of clean energy cheaply, tell me how to efficiently capture carbon, and tell me how to build a factory to do this at planetary scale.'" But some experts worry that the mad dash for AI has elbowed out fears about the planet, at least for now. "Large corporations are spending a lot of money right now deploying AI. I don't think they are thinking about the environmental impact yet," said Untether AI's Iyengar. But, he added: "I think that is coming." The post Tech’s carbon footprint: can AI revolutionize responsibly? appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
ChatGPT turns to business as popularity wanes
OpenAI on Monday said it was launching a business version of ChatGPT as its AI bot sensation grapples with declining usership nine months after its historic debut. ChatGPT Enterprise will offer business customers a premium version of the bot that will provide "enterprise grade" security and privacy enhancements from previous versions, OpenAI said in a blog post. The question of data security has become an important one with major companies, including Apple, Amazon, and Samsung, blocking employees from using ChatGPT out of fear that sensitive information will be divulged. "Today marks another step towards an AI assistant for work that helps with any task, is customized for your organization, and that protects your company data," OpenAI said. The ChatGPT business version resembles Bing Chat Enterprise, an offering by Microsoft, which uses the same OpenAI technology through a major partnership. ChatGPT Enterprise will be powered by GPT-4, OpenAI's highest-performing model, much like ChatGPT Plus, the company's subscription version for individuals, but business customers will have special perks, including higher speed. "We believe AI can assist and elevate every aspect of our working lives and make teams more creative and productive," the company said. It added that companies including Carlyle, The Estée Lauder Companies, and PwC were already early adopters of ChatGPT Enterprise. The release came as ChatGPT is struggling to maintain the excitement that made it the world’s fastest-downloaded app in the weeks after its release. That distinction was taken over last month by Threads, the Twitter rival from Facebook -owner Meta. According to analytics company Similarweb, ChatGPT traffic dropped by nearly 10 percent in June and again in July, falls that could be attributed to school summer break, it said. Similarweb estimates that roughly one-quarter of ChatGPT's users worldwide fall in the 18-24 demographic. OpenAI is also facing pushback from news publishers and other platforms -- including X, the former Twitter, and Reddit -- that are now blocking OpenAI web crawlers from mining their data for AI model training. The post ChatGPT turns to business as popularity wanes appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Tech giants form AI group focused on ensuring safety
Four US leaders in artificial intelligence announced Wednesday the formation of an industry group devoted to addressing risks that cutting edge versions of the technology may pose. Anthropic, Google, Microsoft and ChatGPT-maker OpenAI said the newly created Frontier Model Forum will draw on the expertise of its members to minimize AI risks and support industry standards. The companies pledged to share best practices with each other, lawmakers and researchers. "Frontier" models refer to nascent, large-scale machine-learning platforms that take AI to new levels of sophistication -- and also have capabilities that could be dangerous. "Companies creating AI technology have a responsibility to ensure that it is safe, secure, and remains under human control," Microsoft president Brad Smith said in a statement. "This initiative is a vital step to bring the tech sector together in advancing AI responsibly and tackling the challenges so that it benefits all of humanity." US President Joe Biden evoked AI's "enormous" risks and promises at a White House meeting last week with tech leaders who committed to guarding against everything from cyberattacks to fraud as the sector grows. Standing alongside top representatives from Amazon, Anthropic, Google, Inflection, Meta, Microsoft and OpenAI, Biden said the companies had made commitments to "guide responsible innovation" as AI spreads ever deeper into personal and business life. Ahead of the meeting, the seven AI giants committed to a series of self-regulated safeguards that the White House said would "underscore three principles that must be fundamental to the future of AI: safety, security and trust." In their pledge, the companies agreed to develop "robust technical mechanisms," such as watermarking systems, to ensure users know when content is from AI and not humans. Core objectives of the Frontier Model Forum include minimizing risks and enabling independent safety evaluations of AI platforms, the companies involved said in a release. The Forum will also support the development of applications intended to take on challenges such as climate change, cancer prevention and cyber threats, according to its creators. Others pursuing AI breakthroughs were invited to join the group. "Advanced AI technologies have the potential to profoundly benefit society, and the ability to achieve this potential requires oversight and governance," said OpenAI vice president of global affairs Anna Makanju. "It is vital that AI companies -– especially those working on the most powerful models –- align on common ground and advance thoughtful and adaptable safety practices." Text The post Tech giants form AI group focused on ensuring safety appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
US plans cyber safety certificate for connected devices
The White House on Tuesday announced a proposed "Cyber Trust Mark" intended to show that connected devices meet US security standards. An ever-increasing number of technologies -- from baby monitors, to fitness trackers and home security cameras -- make up the so-called "internet of things," which US officials warn can pose increased cybersecurity threats. Under the new program, companies will be able to qualify to display labels on their products signifying they meet certain cybersecurity standards, such as requiring strict passwords and frequently updating software, US officials announced in a briefing. "We now routinely rely on internet and Bluetooth enabled devices for task as basic as adjusting our thermostat and as complex as securing our homes while we're away," said Anne Neuberger, White House deputy national security advisor for cyber and emerging technology. "Poorly secured products can enable attackers to gain footholds in American homes and offices and steal data or cause disruption," she warned. The program, under the Federal Communications Commission, is hoped to be up and running by next year after a public comment period. Amazon, Google, LG Electronics and Samsung are among the companies participating in the program, US officials said in a briefing, notably omitting Apple. The amount of malicious software aimed at devices in the internet-of-things "jumped dramatically" in 2022, with many of the attacks centered in North America, according to cybersecurity firm SonicWall. "Consumers can have peace of mind that the products that they're bringing into their homes adhere to widely accepted security and privacy standards," FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel said of US-endorsed cyber trust labels. Meanwhile, product makers will be able to use the marks to differentiate offerings in the marketplace when they meet the standards, Rosenworcel added. The post US plans cyber safety certificate for connected devices appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
AMID CA ‘OVERREACH’ ERC ready for battle
The Energy Regulatory Commission is ready to contest before the Supreme Court the decision of the Court of Appeals voiding the regulator’s rejection of the rate increase petitions of two San Miguel Corporation power generation firms. Legal pundits said the CA usurped the ERC’s authority in its ruling setting aside the regulator’s late 2022 decisions to dismiss the petitions of South Premiere Power Corp. and San Miguel Energy Corp. to increase prices. Others called the CA decision an “overreach.” The two San Miguel subsidiaries cited a “change in circumstances” for turning their backs on their fixed-priced contracts with Manila Electric Company. San Miguel disclosed on Wednesday to the Philippine Stock Exchange the favorable decision it had received from the CA’s 13th Division composed of Associate Justice Victoria Isabel Paredes, as chairperson; and Associate Justices Mary Charlene Hernandez-Azura and Florencio Mamauag Jr., as members. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, ERC chairperson lawyer Monalisa Dimalanta clarified that the CA’s decision was not yet final since, under the Electric Power Industry Reform Act, only the Supreme Court can issue a permanent injunction on rate hikes. “There is no computation yet of the rate hikes. The decision is not yet final, and we will still file a motion for reconsideration. If granted, that’s another discussion. If denied, we will go all the way to the Supreme Court. I have not yet foreseen any rate impact,” Dimalanta said. Dimalanta added that the ERC, through the Office of the Solicitor General, will need to confirm if the CA is legally allowed to issue a final decision on rate hikes. “The CA can review any factual matter related to any rate hike petition, but we still want to clarify if the CA can decide with finality because it will change everything in the (power) industry. Under the EPIRA, only the SC can issue a permanent injunction,” Dimalanta explained. Unfortunate ruling According to Dimalanta, the CA’s decision was “unfortunate and disconcerting,” but the ERC will continue to uphold the law to “protect consumers.” “The ERC hopes the CA will revisit the records of the case as well as the arguments of the parties and uphold the commission’s ruling,” the ERC chief said. Consumers will not yet feel any adverse impact from the CA’s reversal of the ERC’s rejection of the temporary rate hike petitions, Dimalanta added. However, for San Miguel Global Power or SMGP, the holding firm for SMC’s power ventures, the CA’s decision “upholds the constitutional mandate of due process that guarantees the right to be treated fairly and effectively by quasi-judicial bodies like the ERC.” “It is regrettable that the ERC’s unfair decision early on to reject our joint petition with Meralco for a temporary rate hike — despite proving to be the least cost option at the time for power consumers — resulted in consumers shouldering the burden of much higher electricity rates,” SMGP said in a separate statement on Thursday. Nonetheless, the company said it still looks to “forge even stronger partnerships with the government, consumers, and other key stakeholders to help shape a more resilient and sustainable energy landscape for all.” Meanwhile, Meralco Head of Regulatory Management Jose Ronald Valles said the company will reach out to the CA to clarify some matters regarding the decision. “There are some matters in the decision that we feel need to be clarified. We are consulting with our lawyers on the legal remedies available to us, including an appeal to the Supreme Court,” Valles said. The 13th Division of the CA reversed the order of the ERC that rejected the temporary power rate hike petition filed by San Miguel Energy Corp. or SMEC and South Premiere Power Corp. or SPPC and Meralco. The CA decision granted the consolidated petitions for certiorari filed by SMEC and SPPC. It also favored the joint motion of SPPC and SMEC for a price adjustment with provisional authority and/or interim relief in ERC Case No. 2019-081 and ERC Case No. 2019-083. Likewise, the appellate court made permanent the preliminary injunction issued in favor of SPPC. The rate hike petition stemmed from SMGP’s report that its Sual Coal and Ilijan Natural Gas power facilities logged combined losses of P15 billion from 2021 to date due to high prices. As such, it sought temporary and partial cost recovery relief only for the losses it incurred from January to May, through a power rate increase on its contract capacity under the power supply agreement with Meralco to be amortized for six months. CA gets flak Consumer group Power for People Coalition criticized the CA magistrates for favoring the Ramon Ang-led San Miguel Corporation. “The Court of Appeals is supposed to uphold the interests of justice and the people, but it failed to do both in its decision granting SMC’s petitions in its cases before the ERC,” Gerry Arances, convener of the Power for People Coalition, said in a statement on Thursday. In its PSE disclosure, SMC said the CA annulled and set aside the ERC order dated 29 September 2022 in ERC Cases 2019-081 and 2019-083 due to a “grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction.” The CA’s joint decision dated 27 June 2023, received by SMC through the Poblador Bautista Reyes Law Offices, granted the consolidated petitions for certiorari filed by SMEC and SPPC. Arances said the CA effectively released SMC from any consequences of breaking a contract “simply because it is not earning enough from a commitment it has made voluntarily.” “We hope that the court will reevaluate, and we will file a motion for reconsideration to give the justices another chance to live up to their name,” Arances said. It can be recalled that the two power companies, along with Meralco, appealed for a temporary rate hike under their 2019 power supply agreement to help them recover from the unprecedented hike in coal prices. The CA denied the petition of SMEC for a temporary restraining order, but it allowed a TRO and later a writ of preliminary injunction or WPI on the ERC decision to deny an increase in SPPC’s power supply agreement or PSA with Meralco. The CA then consolidated the two rate increase cases under the division that granted the WPI. In its report to the bourse, SMC bared that the CA also favored the SPPC and SMEC’s joint motion for price adjustments without prejudice to any further requests for price adjustments. The further request for adjustments would be for June 2022 onwards for SPPC, from June 2022 to 25 January 2023 or the date of writ of preliminary injunction; and for SMEC, from June 2022 to the date of the finality of the joint decision. The post AMID CA ‘OVERREACH’ ERC ready for battle appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
EU tries again with new framework for data flows to US
The European Commission said Monday it has adopted a new legal framework to protect Europeans' personal data in exchanges with the United States -- its third attempt to get past legal challenges. "Today we take an important step to provide trust to (EU) citizens that their data is safe, to deepen our economic ties between the EU and the US, and at the same time to reaffirm our shared values," European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said. The announcement was made possible after US President Joe Biden last year issued an executive order updating US intelligence agencies' rules when it came to snooping on international data flows to give "safeguards" to European Union citizens and residents, the EU executive said. Biden on Monday said the deal reflected a "joint commitment" by both the EU and the US to guaranteeing privacy for citizens. It would also deepen transatlantic ties that were "founded on our shared democratic values and vision for the world," a statement said. Umbrella groups representing tech companies, whose business models depend on transatlantic data exchanges, hailed the announcement of the EU-US Data Privacy Framework It was "good news for thousands of businesses," one of them, DigitalEurope, said in a statement. A US grouping, The Software Alliance (BSA), said it would "bolster the management of data across borders –- a cornerstone of our modern economy –- and improve safeguards for citizens of the EU and US alike". Challenge looming But Max Schrems, an Austrian legal activist whose challenges led to EU courts shooting down two previous EU-US attempts on data transfers, said this one, too, would fail to satisfy EU law. The latest framework still has "the fundamental problem" that the United States "takes the view that only US persons are worthy of constitutional rights" protecting them from American electronic snooping, he said. He vowed to challenge the latest effort, predicting the case "will be likely back at the Court of Justice (of the EU) in a matter of months". EU justice commissioner Didier Reynders told journalists he had "no illusion" about the coming likely legal challenge. "But it's maybe useful to test the new US system before to challenge such an adequacy decision," he said. Reynders added, in an apparent swipe at Schrems's non-profit European Centre for Digital Rights, that "maybe the access to the court of justice is a small part of the business model of some civil society organizations". Presidential order The European Commission argued that the new framework offered "significant improvements" over the previous data-transfer mechanism, called Privacy Shield, which the EU court deemed inadequate. The commission said US companies signing onto the EU-US Data Privacy Framework would be required to delete Europeans' personal data when it was no longer needed for the purpose it was collected. Its scope applies to citizens of the 27-nation EU and of associated countries Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein, as well as residents in all those countries. They would have the right to redress if they found their data was wrongly handled by US companies. Under US law, Americans are protected from electronic spying by US intelligence agencies by their constitution, but all other nationalities are fair game. While Biden's October 2022 executive order does not extend that same protection to Europeans, it does oblige US intelligence agencies to show that data collection on foreigners is "proportionate" to a specified US national security objective. It also adds oversight to the handling of personal data collected and offers a path to "redress" for citizens of "qualifying states", which is meant to include those of the EU. A new US Data Protection Review Court made up of experts from outside the American government, would be able to review data decisions made inside the US office of the Director of National Intelligence. The European Commission said the US measures would underpin standard contractual clauses that so many online platforms, including those run by Meta, Amazon, and Google, rely on to transfer Europeans' data to the United States. The post EU tries again with new framework for data flows to US appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
UN alarmed by AI’s mind-blowing growth
The United Nations acknowledged on Thursday at its AI summit, attended by some exceptionally lifelike humanoid robots, that there are many questions that have no answers yet, due to the mind-boggling growth of artificial intelligence, or AI. The UN has assembled some of the most brilliant minds on the subject in an effort to keep up with the rapid development of AI technology and determine appropriate limits and goals for it. On Thursday and Friday, the United Nations’ ITU technology agency will host the “AI for Good Global Summit” in Geneva. Many unaware attendees were startled by the humanoid robots suddenly turning to look at them as they passed by. “When generative AI shocked the world just a few months ago, we had never seen anything like it. Nothing even close to it. Even the biggest names in tech found the experience mind-blowing,” ITU chief Doreen Bogdan-Martin told the summit. “And just like that, the possibility that this form of intelligence could get smarter than we got so much closer than we ever thought — including those behind the technology.” The summit is bringing together around 3,000 experts from companies like Microsoft and Amazon, as well as from universities and international organizations, to try to sculpt frameworks for ensuring AI is used for positive purposes. Bogdan-Martin painted an alternative nightmare scenario in which AI puts millions of jobs at risk, disinformation spreads widely, and unchecked AI advances lead to “social unrest, geopolitical instability, and economic disparity on a scale we’ve never seen before.” “Many of our questions that we have on AI have no answers yet. Should we hit a pause on giant AI experiments? Will we control AI more than it controls us? And will AI help humanity, or destroy it?” she asked. Many forms The robots gathered in Geneva came in many forms: Dogs, farm machinery, but also exceptionally realistic avatars, singers, artists and nursing home workers. With cameras inside their eyes, many were actively following what was going on around them: Tracking movement, answering questions, smiling, frowning and even eye-rolling. The Jam Galaxy Band features the humanoid robot Desdemona — Desi to her friends — on lead vocals. Created by roboticist David Hanson, she throws out jazzy lyrics on all sorts of subjects — love, credit cards, meetings in gardens — and the band interacts and goes with it. “It’s pretty amazing. You would think it’s weird but it’s really cool because her AI-generated lyrics are really out there,” said soprano saxophone player Dianne Krouse. “I’m just improvising around that and doing interpretive saxophoning to what she’s singing.” Nadine, a robot modeled on University of Geneva professor and virtual human pioneer Nadia Thalmann, was first built in 2013 and can answer questions on the spot. The post UN alarmed by AI’s mind-blowing growth appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Amazon aids SMEs adopt digital trade
Leading e-commerce platform, Amazon Global Selling, on Thursday, announced the set-up of a new remote team to provide dedicated support to local sellers to tap into the opportunities of cross-border e-commerce, reaffirming its commitment to empower small and medium-sized enterprises or SMEs. In a statement, Amazon Global said its team based in Singapore is focused on introducing Amazon’s innovative tools and resources to Philippines-based sellers. “Since Global Selling began to support Philippine sellers three years ago, we have seen more and more local sellers start from zero and gradually build their business on Amazon’s stores worldwide. We are inspired by Philippine sellers and have confidence in their potential,” Anand Palit, head of Amazon Global Selling in Southeast Asia, said. “Meanwhile, we also heard from sellers that they have pain points in developing globally, such as a lack of related knowledge and skills. That’s why we are extending our efforts to set up this dedicated team. With this new team, we will provide insights and resources to support sellers in getting started with Amazon, launching products and building a global band,” he added. High growth potential With the rising adoption of e-commerce and mobile internet, plus an emerging generation of young and tech-savvy users, the company said the cross-border e-commerce landscape continues to show potential growth in the country. According to a research study, B2C or business-to-customer e-commerce export revenue earned by sellers in the Philippines is estimated at P8.7 billion, of which 25 percent goes to SMEs. While based on current e-commerce adoption and export trends, e-commerce export revenues could grow at 9 percent per year to reach P13.4 billion in five years. If SMEs were to accelerate the rate at which they export via e-commerce, the annual B2C e-commerce export revenue could reach P26.9 billion ($555 million) in 2026. An Amazon survey conducted in 2022 among domestic e-commerce sellers and traditional export companies in Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines showed that nearly seven in 10 plan to expand to new countries and regions. Almost all (96 percent) who were surveyed will also consider cross-border e-commerce activities in the future, motivated by the opportunity to build a global brand and increase their customer base from overseas. “Amazon is continuously investing in logistics, tools, services, programs and people to foster the growth of sellers. Amazon has built a physical presence in 22 countries and can ship products to customers in over 200 countries and territories. Amazon had more than 400 fulfillment centers across the globe. Through Amazon stores, sellers, including those from the Philippines, can directly reach over 300 million active customer accounts, including more than 200 million Prime customers overseas,” the company statement read. Recently, Amazon also announced that Prime Day will be held on July 11 and 12. During Prime Day, customers will be able to shop for products from top brands and third-party sellers, including many SMEs from the Philippines. Prime Day is not only a celebration of Amazon Prime members but also an opportunity for sellers to gain customers by leveling up their brand awareness and building more sales performance. The post Amazon aids SMEs adopt digital trade appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
UN talks aim to harness AI power and potential
The United Nations is convening this week a global gathering to try to map out the frontiers of artificial intelligence and to harness its potential for empowering humanity. The UN hopes to lay out a clear blueprint for the way forward for handling AI, as the development of the technology races ahead the capacity to set its boundaries. The "AI for Good Global Summit", being held in Geneva on Thursday and Friday, will bring together around 3,000 experts from companies like Microsoft and Amazon as well as from universities and international organizations to try to sculpt frameworks for handling AI. "This technology is moving fast," said Doreen Bogdan-Martin, head of the International Telecommunication Union, the UN's information and communications technology agency that convened the summit. "It's a real opportunity for the world's leading voices on AI to come together on the global stage and to address governance issues," she told reporters. "Doing nothing is not an option. Humanity is dependent upon it. So we have to engage and try and ensure a responsible future with AI." She said the summit would examine possible frameworks and guardrails to support safe AI use. Listed participants include Amazon's chief technology officer Werner Vogels, Google DeepMind chief operating officer Lila Ibrahim and former Spain football captain Iker Casillas -- who suffered a heart attack in 2019 and now advocates for AI use in heart attack prevention. They will be joined by dozens of robots, including several humanoids like Ai-Da, the first ultra-realistic robot artist; Ameca, the world's most advanced life-like robot; the humanoid rock singer Desdemona; and Grace, the most advanced healthcare robot. Benefiting humanity? The Geneva-based ITU feels it can bring its experience to bear on AI governance. Founded in 1865, the ITU is the oldest agency in the UN fold. It established "SOS" as the Morse code international maritime distress call in 1906, and coordinates everything from radio frequencies to satellites and 5G. The summit wants to identify ways of using AI to advance the UN's lagging sustainable development goals on issues such as health, the climate, poverty, hunger and clean water. Bogdan-Martin said AI must not exacerbate social inequalities or introduce biases on race, gender, politics, culture, religion or wealth. "This summit can help ensure that AI charts the course that benefits humanity," UN chief Antonio Guterres said. However, while AI proponents hail the technology for how it can transform society, including work, healthcare and creative pursuits, others are worried by its potential to undermine democracy. 'Perfect storm' "We're kind of in a perfect storm of suddenly having this powerful new technology -- I don't think it's super-intelligent -- being spread very widely and empowered in our lives, and we're really not prepared," said serial AI entrepreneur Gary Marcus. "We're at a critical moment in history when we can either get this right and build the global governance we need, or get it wrong and not succeed and wind up in a bad place where a few companies control the fates of many, many people without sufficient forethought," he said. Last month, EU lawmakers pushed the bloc closer to passing one of the world's first laws regulating systems like OpenAI's ChatGPT chatbot. There is also growing clamor to regulate AI in the United States. ChatGPT has become a global sensation since it was launched late last year for its ability to produce human-like content, including essays, poems and conversations from simple prompts. It has sparked a mushrooming of generative AI content, leaving lawmakers scrambling to try to figure out how to regulate such bots. Juan Lavista Ferres, chief data scientist of the Microsoft AI For Good Lab, gave an example of how AI could be used "to make our world a better place". He compared the more than 400 million people diagnosed with diabetes, a major cause of blindness, with the small number of ophthalmologists. "It's physically impossible to diagnose every patient. Yet we and others have built AI models that today can take this condition with an accuracy that matches a very good ophthalmologist. This is something can even be done from a smartphone. "Here AI is not just a solution, but it's the only solution." The post UN talks aim to harness AI power and potential appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Escudero backs proposed air passenger rights
Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero stressed it’s about time to pass a law that would institutionalize the Air Passenger Bill of Rights and urged for stiffer penalties on violators amid the rising customer complaints against poor airline services. "Similar measures had been filed in previous Congress but nothing happened. It is about time that we in the 19th Congress should look into this seriously and hopefully pass the necessary legislation," Escudero said. The current Congress, according to Escudero, should look into legislating the Air Passenger Bill of Rights, a proposal that was backed by the Civil Aeronautics Board during Wednesday's hearing conducted jointly by the Committee on Tourism and the Committee on Public Services, chaired by Senators Nancy Binay and Grace Poe, respectively. During the hearing, Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa said he is mulling a measure that would institutionalize the Air Passenger Bill Rights in order to protect the public from any abuse by airline companies. Dela Rosa also asked CAB about its position in pushing the institutionalization of the Air Passenger Bill of Rights in order to protect the public from erring airline companies. "What is your position? Do you agree with the proposal to create a law that will institutionalize the Air Passenger Bill of Rights?" asked Dela Rosa. In response, Arcilla, said they have been very supportive of the proposal as she cited the violations and penalties provided in the 71-year-old Republic Act 776 or the "Civil Aeronautics Act of the Philippines" have not been revised and limits the fine to P5,000 for each violation. On the other hand, the Airline Passenger Bill of Rights was not legislated but contained in the Joint Administrative Order 1 of the then Department of Transportation and Communications and the Department of Trade and Industry in 2012. The Airline Passenger Bill of Rights specifically tries to resolve passengers’ complaints, including delayed or canceled flights without appropriate warning, lost luggage, and overbooking of flights. It also covers pre-flight issues, such as misleading fare advertisements. The post Escudero backs proposed air passenger rights appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Pride screenings showcase a rainbow of stories
Cinema is one of the most engaging artforms and creative expressions through which the LGBTQ+ community documents their lived experiences, conveys their desires and struggles, celebrates their identities and advocates for reforms and deeper understanding. Thus, film screenings are popular activities during LGBTQ+ Pride Month. This year, several institutions, streaming service companies and film groups are mounting screenings, giving these works more opportunities to reach more audiences. Here is a rundown: FDCP’s Pelikulaya LGBTQIA+ Film Festival The Film Development Council of the Philippines brings back the Pelikulaya LGBTQIA+ Film Festival this year with the theme “Mga Kuwentong Mapagpalaya” (Liberating Stories), and the aim is training the spotlight “on underrepresented members of the LGBTQIA+ community to promote a better understanding of inclusivity, diversity and equality.” According to Tirso Cruz III, FDCP chairman and chief executive officer, Pelikulaya “aims to raise awareness of LGBTQIA+ issues. We believe that by using the power of film, we can do our part in showcasing films that celebrate LGBTQIA+ stories. Hoping to create understanding of the lives, perspectives and advocacies shown in each film.” “With that, the FDCP sends our love and gratitude to you all for being with us, and we hope you’ll have a memorable experience in all of our Cinematheque Centres across the Philippines,” he added. To be held from 23 to 30 June, Pelikulaya will screen titles at the Cinematheque Centres in Manila, Davao, Iloilo, Nabunturan and Bacolod, and several theaters in Metro Manila including Cinema ‘76 and UP Film Institute’s Cine Adarna/Videotheque. Some of the titles will also be available for streaming on JuanFlix (www.juanflix.com.ph) starting 30 June with a subscription fee. A special screening of a digitally restored and remastered version of Wong Kar Wai’s Happy Together will kick off the festival on 23 June at the Shangri-La Plaza Mall in Mandaluyong City. Aside from Happy Together, films that will be screened at the Cinematheque Centres are Girl (directed by Lukas Dhont); Portrait of a Lady on Fire (directed by Celine Sciamma); Women Do Cry (directed by Vesela Kazako and Mina Mileva); Billie and Emma (directed by Samantha Lee); Mamu, and a Mother Too (directed by Rod Singh); Metamorphosis (directed by J.E. Tiglao); and The Boy Foretold by the Stars (directed by Dolly Dulu). Ishmael Bernal’s Manila by Night will have a free screening. Priced from P100 to P200, tickets to Manila screenings may be purchased through bit.ly/CCManilaTickets. [caption id="attachment_146567" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Lukas Dhont’s ‘Girl’ is inspired by a true story of a young trans girl who aspired to be a ballerina.[/caption] Short films will be screened for free at the Cinematheque Centres, and the lineup includes Alingasngas ng mga Kuliglig (directed by Vahn Leinard Pascual); Love in the Ungodly Hour (directed by Bradley Jason Pantajo); Dikit (directed by Gabriela Serrano); Gulis (directed by Kyle Jumayne Francisco); Noontime Drama (directed by Kim Timan and Sam Villa-Real); and Nang Maglublob ako sa Isang Mangkok ng Liwanag (directed by Kukay Zinampan). [caption id="attachment_146563" align="aligncenter" width="525"] ‘Dikit,’ a short film by Gabriela Serrano.[/caption] To be available for streaming on JuanFlix are Sila-Sila (directed by Giancarlo Abrahan); Metamorphosis; Mamu, and a Mother Too; Rome and Juliet (directed by Connie Macatuno); How to Die Young in Manila (directed by Petersen Vargas); Nang Maglublob ako sa Isang Mangkok ng Liwanag; and This is Not A Coming Out Story (directed by Mark Felix Ebreo). Portrait of a Lady on Fire and Women Do Cry will be also be available on a pay-per-view basis. At Cinema ’76 Cinema ’76 Film Society is bringing in acclaimed movies this Pride Month. Headlining is Happy Together, the 1997 Cannes-winning romantic drama directed by renowned Hong Kong filmmaker Wong Kar-Wai and featuring Tony Leung and the late Leslie Cheung as two lovers caught in a turbulent affair. Aside from Happy Together, two films featuring transgender experiences will also be shown. Girl is the debut film of Belgian filmmaker Lukas Dhont and won the Camera d’Or for Best Feature Film at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival. The film was inspired by a true story of a young trans girl who aspired to be a ballerina. On the other hand, Fanny: The Right to Rock is a documentary by Canadian filmmaker Bobbi Jo Hart about Fanny, the legendary Filipina-American-fronted rock band whose trailblazing impact in music was written out of history. The film touches on the place of women, women of color, queers and older women in a straight male-dominated industry. [caption id="attachment_146564" align="aligncenter" width="525"] ‘Fanny The Right to Rock,’ a documentary about a forgotten queer band.[/caption] The three films will have a limited run from 21 to 27 June at Cinema ’76 on Tomas Morato Avenue in Quezon City. On iWantTFC A streaming platform with international reach, iWantTFC celebrates all types of love with a special selection of movies and series called Love is Love that includes Drag You and Me, iWantTFC’s latest original series that tackles drag culture and stars Andrea Brillantes, JC Alcantara and Christian Bables. Other iWantTFC originals that viewers may stream are the Girls’ Love series Sleep with Me, starring Janine Gutierrez and Lovi Poe, and Fluid, Boys’ Love (BL) rom-com Oh, Mando! and advocacy series Mga Batang Poz. [caption id="attachment_146566" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Photograph courtesy of Dreamscape Entetainment | ‘Drag You and Me’ is an iWantTFC original series that tackles drag culture.[/caption] There are also empowering movies and series about loving freely and living authentically, such as The Boy Foretold by the Stars and its sequel series Love Beneath the Stars, Black Sheep’s hit series Hello Stranger starring Tony Labrusca and JC Alcantara, and the Star Cinema film My Lockdown Romance, starring Jameson Blake and Joao Constancia. Stories on learning how to embrace one’s sexuality and being true to oneself are told by The Panti Sisters, Die Beautiful, The Third Party and Baka Bukas. Thai BL series, such as 2gether the Series, Still 2gether, A Tale of a Thousand Stars and Bad Buddy are also available to stream as well as well-loved and classic LGBTQ-themed movies, such as T-Bird at Ako, Si Chedeng at si Apple and In My Life. These can be viewed on the iWantTFC app (iOs and Android) and website (iwanttfc.com). In other select countries, watch iWantTFC on a larger screen with select devices, including VEWD, ROKU and Amazon Fire streaming devices, Android TV, select Samsung Smart TV models, Telstra TV (in Australia) and VIDAA. On Jungo Pinoy New Filipino streaming app Jungo Pinoy, which boasts of having the largest Filipino-dubbed movie library in the world, as well as original films and TV series, also has a selection of LGBTQ-themed and queer-created films and series, which can be viewed either for free or through a subscription plan. Recommended watch includes: eCupid (exclusive Filipino-dubbed), a romantic comedy directed by JC Calciano and starring Morgan Fairchild, Houston Rhines and Noah Schuffman, tells the story of a gay man nearing 30 years old tapping into an otherworldly internet advertisement that begins to control his life. Hoping to end his seven-year romance rut, he uses the site to get everything he wants until he discovers that what he thought he wanted wasn’t the thing that would ultimately make him happy. Ten Year Plan (exclusive Filipino-dubbed) is another romantic comedy directed by Calciano and starring Jack Turner and Michael Adam Hamilton. In the film, two best friends make a pact to be together in a decade if neither finds love. With two months left until their deadline, they both scramble to find someone to avoid being each other’s last resort. [caption id="attachment_146565" align="aligncenter" width="525"] ‘TEN Year Plan,’ directed by JC Calciano.[/caption] Adan is a Filipino lesbian mystery and romance movie starring Cindy Miranda, Rhen Escano and Ruby Ruiz. In the movie, a naive provincial girl finds a way to be independent through the help of her girl best friend, but their actions have consequences. [caption id="attachment_146562" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Photographs Courtesy oF JUNGO PINOY | ‘ADAN’ tells about a lesbian story.[/caption] Daddy Issues, starring Jo Ashe and Rachel Barry, is a comedy about loss and starting over. In the film, when her emotionally distant father dies and leaves her his company, a hapless stand-up comic moves to Los Angeles to take over the family business. Tucked is about an aging drag queen who forms an unlikely friendship with a younger queen. As they discover more about each other, they realize how to truly be themselves. Starring Derren Nesbit and Jordan Stephens, this film is about love, loss and friendship. Lady Gaga: iTunes Festival features the pop star’s performance at the Itunes Music Festival, which also marked the world premiere of tracks from her album ARTPOP. [caption id="attachment_146570" align="aligncenter" width="525"] PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF JUNGO PINOY | WATCH pop star Lady Gaga perform in ‘Lady Gaga iTunes Festival.’[/caption] Sam Smith: Austin City Limits features the non-binary English singer and songwriter performing their greatest hits, such as “Nirvana” and “I Know I’m Not the Only One” on the stage at Austin City Limits. [caption id="attachment_146569" align="aligncenter" width="525"] ‘Sam Smith: Austin City Limits.’[/caption] At the Quezon City Public Library A weekly film screening is part of the celebration of LGBTQ+ Pride Month of one of the country’s most active public libraries, the Quezon City Public Library (QCPL). With the theme, “Equality for All,” their celebration aims “to highlight the unique contributions and lived experiences of the members of the LGBTQIA+ community through various library activities and informational resources.” “This celebration also forwards an aspiration: that one day, we will be able to genuinely acknowledge the existence of our fellow LGBTQIA+ brothers and sisters as equally valuable as everyone. And that they too deserve equal opportunity in any given situation and honest representation in all of its forms, shapes and sizes,” the library explained. The film screenings started with Love, Simon and Everything Everywhere All at Once on 9 June and All My Life and Bekikang on 16 June. Other films to be shown are Perks of Being A Wall Flower and Boys in the Band on 23 June, and Eternals and Imitation Game on 30 June. Screenings are from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Conference Room of QCPL. Contact the library to reserve slots. At the UPFI Film Center The University of the Philippines Film Institute also had screenings of LGBTQ+ films on 17 June, in partnership with the UP Diliman Gender Office. Shown were short films Gutab, Dory, Niknik, Kurozetto, Bakit, Papa? and Nang Maglublob Ako sa isang Mangkok ng Liwanag. The post Pride screenings showcase a rainbow of stories appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
UK approves Amazon buy of robotic vacuum maker iRobot
Britain's Competition and Markets Authority regulator said Friday it has approved Amazon's $1.7-billion purchase of iRobot, the US maker of robotic vacuum Roomba. The CMA "has now concluded that the deal would not lead to competition concerns in the UK", it announced in a statement. The transaction, announced in August 2022, aims to expand Amazon's artificial intelligence and smart home ambitions. The US retail titan welcomed Friday's news. "We're pleased with the UK CMA's decision and are committed to supporting regulatory bodies in their work. We look forward to similar decisions from other regulators soon," said a spokesperson. Massachusetts-based iRobot builds robots and "intelligent home" innovations, having introduced the Roomba self-operating vacuums a decade ago. Amazon's deal to buy iRobot for $61 per share along with acquiring the company's debt was subject to the approval of shareholders and regulators. iRobot has a 30-year track record in robotics and underlying software such as mapping and navigation. Amazon has meanwhile invested in smart home and automation technologies with acquisitions such as Ring doorbells, Kiva warehouse robots, and self-driving startup Zoox. Friday's decision comes after the CMA had in April decided to block Microsoft's $69-billion takeover of "Call of Duty" video games giant Activision Blizzard, arguing it would harm competition in cloud gaming. That decision will be appealed by both companies. The post UK approves Amazon buy of robotic vacuum maker iRobot appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
UK bank says Bezos, Musk among most used images to scam
Images of Amazon boss Jeff Bezos and Tesla chief Elon Musk are among the celebrity pictures most used to defraud customers at one of Britain's biggest banks, it said Wednesday. The pair feature in the top seven of NatWest Bank's annual Celebrity Scam Super League. "Criminals are using some of the UK's most trusted and respected celebrity images to steal millions of pounds," said NatWest scam expert Stuart Skinner. He urged the public "to be extremely cautious of fake celebrity investment adverts seen online", adding that "a cross-industry effort with social media companies is required to eradicate" the problem. The list was topped by British entrepreneur and TV celebrity Peter Jones, above broadcaster and naturalist David Attenborough in second. Bezos came in fourth, with Musk in sixth. The majority of the fake ads appeared on social media platforms including Facebook and Musk's Twitter, NatWest noted. One customer lost £275,000 ($341,000) after seeing an advertisement on Twitter. "The advert featured an image of Attenborough alongside text falsely claiming he makes £125,000 per month from stocks and shares related to gold, natural gas, and oil," the bank added. Musk was used in an advert that cost a customer £42,500. The post UK bank says Bezos, Musk among most used images to scam appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Globe data center readies PHL as regional technology hub
With the flood of data across the globe from the ever-growing demands of a thriving digital landscape, data has become the new gold. The more data you have, the more gold you will get, according to Ivan Uy, the Secretary of the Department of Information and Communications Technology. At the launch of the ST Telemedia Global Data Centres (Philippines), a joint venture between Globe, Ayala Corporation, and Singapore-based ST Telemedia Global Data Centres, Uy underscored the significance of harnessing the potential of data centers to catapult the Philippines’ hypergrowth and position the country as regional hub for information technology and digital innovations. “The Philippines is in a good position to take the front seat in the digital space,” Uy said, “we have the talent, the skillset, and the right motivation. Digitalization is one of the primary thrusts of the Marcos administration.” He added, “Traditional areas like Singapore and Japan are getting crowded. So the Philippines is an open field where they can see almost unlimited growth not just because of the untouched potential of our land but even our human resources.” Carlo Malana, STT GDC Philippines president, added the Philippines benefited from the geopolitical tensions in Europe and parts of the Indo-Pacific being at the heart of the ASEAN region. “Singapore has no available land and there is tension in the Taiwan Straits. But the Philippines has real estate space and power requirements to host data centers,” Malana said. The new data center campus, STT Fairview, will comprise over 83,000 square meters of gross floor area across four buildings. Once fully built, it offers a development potential of 124 megawatts of IT load capacity. It is strategically positioned within Quezon City with access to nearby substations and critical telecommunications, transportation links, and logistics, business, and industrial hubs. This data center is expected to store and manage various digital data of customers of nearly all types of businesses now operating in the digital age. Connected Filipinos with faster internet and high-technology smartphones, people now consume as much as they share data — texts, photos, audio, and videos online. According to a 2021 report by social media management firms Hootsuite and We Are Social, Filipinos have been the heaviest internet users in Southeast Asia and the world, surfing the web for an average of 10 hours each day, longer than that of Colombia, Thailand, and Indonesia. “Data is the fuel that will drive everything we do, from social to e-commerce. Data centers are growing at a phenomenal pace in the region. Still, the Philippines will be the center of growth in Southeast Asia,” Bruno Lopez, president and CEO of ST Telemedia Global Data Centres-International, said. In addition, Uy said the Philippines has the labor force, land area, and regulations to build the country as an efficient data center location. Uy said the government had launched programs to upskill Filipinos in data management, tapping the youth’s higher interest and knowledge absorption in technology. “Other countries’ aging population cannot cope with the future demand.” Half of the Philippine population is aged 25, while that of Japan is 48. Level of expertise Manala added, “There’s a different level required for running a critical facility. For example, a mechanic fixing your car and the other a Formula One are different mechanics.” For data protection and cybersecurity regulations, Uy said authorities would strictly implement data privacy laws and anti-cybercrime measures. “The DICT will provide companies guidelines for compliance and training to build their capacities. We will put these as our priorities for reliable data interoperability.” With these critical elements for operating an efficient data center, Lopez believes there will be at least 28,000 jobs for Filipinos and $5 billion more in national income for every 20-megawatt data center. “Data now is the new gold, and the data center is your vault. The bigger the data center, the more gold you have,” Manala explained. In the next three years, Lopez said there could be ten other data center providers in the Philippines as the digitalization of activities is accelerated by hyper scalers, which are companies engaged in various businesses like e-commerce, entertainment, and research. “I’ve worked with Microsoft, Amazon, and Google. Before, each of them wanted just five megawatts. With data centers and mobile applications growing phenomenally, 124 megawatts is a drop in the bucket.” Aside from a significant land area, hyper scalers are looking for high power capacity to run their data-centric computers 24/7. Uy said the demand for more data centers and the interest in electric vehicles or EVs would rise. “I’m also initiating programs to retool our mechanics to become EV mechanics because our automobile industry will have a profound transformation in the next ten years because computers will power these EVs.” Located along Regalado Avenue in West Fairview, Quezon City, the data center’s first phase is expected to rise in 2025, while the rest in eight years or less. “We’ll scale the growth of the rest of the facility as the demand comes in. As the customers come in, we’re prepared to give them a strategic highway for their development and growth in their countries,” Manala said. The post Globe data center readies PHL as regional technology hub appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Liza backs narc drive
First Lady Marie Louise “Liza” Araneta-Marcos on Thursday joined Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. in pushing private sector participation in winning the fight against illegal drugs. Mrs. Marcos graced the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the government and other stakeholders for the BIDA or “Buhay Ingatan, Droga ay Ayawan” program at the Richmonde Hotel in Eastwood, Quezon City. The First Lady told representatives from about 20 top business corporations in the country that they could help President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s whole-of-nation approach against narcotics. She recounted that, as a practicing lawyer, she had been engaged by families with members that ran afoul of the law after getting hooked on drugs. “By involving the private sector in this no-holds-barred fight, we will enlighten the public about the dangers of illegal drugs,” she said. “On behalf of my husband, thank you for your commitment. We are one in this undertaking,” she added. Abalos said the collaboration between the government and private sector has been tested by the Covid-19 pandemic. “The war against drugs will take a new course when we are with you in this BIDA program,” Abalos told executives from the Lucio Tan Group of Companies, SM, Max’s, Jollibee, Meralco, Maynilad and the MVP Group. The BIDA program of the Department of the Interior and Local Government is focused on the rehabilitation of drug-dependent persons. The post Liza backs narc drive appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
After SpaceX, NASA taps Bezos’s Blue Origin to build Moon lander
Two years after awarding Elon Musk's SpaceX a contract to ferry astronauts to the surface of the Moon, NASA on Friday announced it had chosen Blue Origin, a rival space company founded by billionaire Jeff Bezos, to build a second lunar lander. Blue Origin's lander was selected for the Artemis 5 mission, currently scheduled to take place in 2029. The company will first have to demonstrate it can safely land on the Moon without a crew. Bezos, the founder and former CEO of Amazon, said on Twitter he was "honored to be on this journey with @NASA to land astronauts on the Moon -- this time to stay." The contract amounts to $3.4 billion, but John Couluris, vice president in charge of lunar transport at Blue Origin, said during a press conference that the company would itself contribute "well north" of that amount to develop the craft. The Artemis program marks NASA's return to the Moon after more than 50 years and is made up of several missions, each with increasing complexity. In 2021, the US agency chose SpaceX to build a lander for Artemis 3, the first mission in the series to have actual astronauts set foot on the lunar surface. The contract was worth $2.9 billion, although SpaceX is supplementing that amount with its own funding. Blue Origin had also competed for the first contract and filed an unsuccessful lawsuit against NASA when SpaceX was chosen as the sole lander provider. The space agency had originally intended to offer two contracts, a practice commonly used to guard against the possibility one fails, but said it had been constrained by budget concerns. NASA in 2022 also chose the SpaceX lander for its Artemis 4 mission, but at the same time requested submissions from other companies for the rest of the program. "We want more competition. We want two landers," NASA boss Bill Nelson said on Friday. "It means that you have reliability. You have backups." Blue Origin's lander, dubbed Blue Moon, is being developed with several partner companies, including Draper, Boeing, Astrobotic, Honeybee Robotics, and Lockheed Martin. The latter will be responsible for developing a crucial element. Once in lunar orbit, Blue Moon will need to be refueled before it can descend and collect the astronauts from the surface of the Moon. Therefore Lockheed Martin has to develop a kind of shuttle to refuel Blue Moon around the Moon. Blue Origin plans to use its New Glenn rocket, which has never flown before, to launch both its lander and this refueling shuttle. Artemis 4, scheduled for 2028, and Artemis 5 a year later will both land on the Moon, but will first pass through a new space station in lunar orbit, called Gateway, which has yet to be constructed. Prelude to Mars Artemis astronauts will take off aboard NASA's Orion capsule, propelled to the Moon by the agency's new SLS mega-rocket. Both these elements were tested uncrewed when Artemis 1 took place six months ago and will be tested with the crew during Artemis 2. For Artemis 3, Orion will dock directly to SpaceX's lander. Two astronauts will then descend on the Moon for about a week, while two others will remain on board Orion. Once their experiments are over, the two adventurers will go back in the lander to Orion, which will bring the four crew members back to Earth. Afterward, Orion will attach to the Gateway space station, and the astronauts will pass through it before boarding the SpaceX lander, for Artemis 4, or Blue Origin for Artemis 5. All of these missions target the south pole of the Moon, where there is water in the form of ice. SpaceX's lander will be a modified version of its Starship spacecraft, currently under development in Texas. It exploded in flight during a first major test in April. The goal of the Artemis program is to learn to live on the Moon, in order to test out all the technologies necessary for an even more perilous journey: to Mars. The post After SpaceX, NASA taps Bezos’s Blue Origin to build Moon lander appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Kuya Bong backs across-the-board wage hike
As the economy continues to gradually recover from the adverse impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go expressed strong support for initiatives in the Upper Chamber seeking an across-the-board increase in daily wages nationwide. “No Filipino should be left behind in our road towards full and inclusive economic recovery. By being inclusive, we mean not just business owners and investors benefiting from the improving economy but also even the most ordinary workers, especially the daily wage earners,” said Go, who is also a member of the Senate Committee on Labor. To recall, the Philippine Statistics Authority on 11 May reported that the Philippines’ gross domestic product grew by 6.4 percent in the first quarter of this year. It exceeded estimates made by economists. No Filipino should be left behind in our road towards full and inclusive economic recovery. It is, by far, the fastest growth rate in Southeast Asia, beating Indonesia with 5.03 percent and Vietnam with 3.32 percent. The International Monetary Fund, however, stressed recently that the country’s economic growth must be sustained at 6 percent this year considering the inflation rate that remains high. In a statement, the Fund said that “risks to inflation remain on the upside, and a continued tightening bias maybe appropriate until inflation falls decisively within the 2-4 percent target range.” While the senator acknowledges that the government has to balance the interest of the employers and workers, Go reminded that companies and enterprises recently enjoyed a lower income tax through the passage of Republic Act 11534 or the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Act or “CREATE” which was approved by former President Rodrigo Duterte. On 14 March, Senate Bill 2002, also known as the Across-the-Board Wage Increase Act of 2023, was filed by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri which targets to increase private-sector daily wages in all regions by P150. Zubiri expects that the committee report will be ready within two weeks, hoping that the measure be approved by the Senate before its adjournment next month. The Committee on Labor and Employment, chaired by Senator Jinggoy Estrada, recently approved in principle the said bill, co-authored also by Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda. Go also plans to co-author the bill. Other similar measures tackled by the committee were SBN 2018 filed by Senator Bong Revilla, and proposed measures reviewing labor and wage policies and the Wage Rationalization Act of 1989 which created the Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Boards, filed by Senator Raffy Tulfo and Estrada. Go, an ardent advocate of labor welfare, also filed measures seeking to provide better protection and benefits to workers. He filed SBN 2107, or the “Freelance Workers Protection Act”, which seeks to provide protection and incentives for freelance workers. The measure aims to recognize the rights of freelance workers and ensure that they are protected and adequately compensated for their services. The post Kuya Bong backs across-the-board wage hike appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Audio book narrators say AI is already taking away business
As people brace for the disruptive impact of artificial intelligence on jobs and everyday living, those in the world of audio books say their field is already being transformed. AI has the ability to create human-sounding recordings -- at assembly-line speed -- while bypassing at least part of the services of the human professionals who for years have made a living with their voices. Many of them are already seeing a sharp drop off in business. Tanya Eby has been a full-time voice actor and professional narrator for 20 years. She has a recording studio in her home. But in the past six months she has seen her work load fall by half. Her bookings now run only through June, while in a normal year they would extend through August. Many of her colleagues report similar declines. While other factors could be at play, she told AFP, "It seems to make sense that AI is affecting all of us." There is no label identifying AI-assisted recordings as such, but professionals say thousands of audio books currently in circulation use "voices" generated from a databank. Among the most cutting-edge, DeepZen offers rates that can slash the cost of producing an audio book to one-fourth, or less, that of a traditional project. The small London-based company draws from a database it created by recording the voices of several actors who were asked to speak in a variety of emotional registers. "Every voice that we are using, we sign a license agreement, and we pay for the recordings," said DeepZen CEO Kamis Taylan. For every project, he added, "we pay royalties based on the work that we do." Not everyone respects that standard, said Eby. "All these new companies are popping up who are not as ethical," she said, and some use voices found in databases without paying for them. "There's that gray area" being exploited by several platforms, Taylan acknowledged. "They take your voice, my voice, five other people's voices combined that just creates a separate voice... They say that it doesn't belong to anybody." All the audio book companies contacted by AFP denied using such practices. Speechki, a Texas-based start-up, uses both its own recordings and voices from existing databanks, said CEO Dima Abramov. But that is done only after a contract has been signed covering usage rights, he said. Future of coexistence? The five largest US publishing houses did not respond to requests for comment. But professionals contacted by AFP said several traditional publishers are already using so-called generative AI, which can create texts, images, videos and voices from existing content -- without human intervention. "Professional narration has always been, and will remain, core to the Audible listening experience," said a spokesperson for that Amazon subsidiary, a giant in the American audio book sector. "However, as text-to-speech technology improves, we see a future in which human performances and text-to-speech generated content can coexist." The giants of US technology, deeply involved in the explosively developing field of AI, are all pursuing the promising business of digitally narrated audio books. 'Accessible to all' Early this year, Apple announced it was moving into AI-narrated audio books, a move it said would make the "creation of audio books more accessible to all," notably independent authors and small publishers. Google is offering a similar service, which it describes as "auto-narration." "We have to democratize the publishing industry, because only the most famous and the big names are getting converted into audio," said Taylan. "Synthetic narration just opened the door for old books that have never been recorded, and all the books from the future that never will be recorded because of the economics," added Speechki's Abramov. Given the costs of human-based recording, he added, only some five percent of all books are turned into audio books. But Abramov insisted that the growing market would also benefit voice actors. "They will make more money, they will make more recordings," he said. The human element "The essence of storytelling is teaching humanity how to be human. And we feel strongly that that should never be given to a machine to teach us about how to be human," said Emily Ellet, an actor and audio book narrator who cofounded the Professional Audiobook Narrators Association (PANA). "Storytelling," she added, "should remain human entirely." Eby underlined a frequent criticism of digitally generated recordings. When compared to a human recording, she said, an AI product "lacks in emotional connectivity." Eby said she fears, however, that people will grow accustomed to the machine-generated version, "and I think that's quietly what's kind of happening." Her wish is simply "that companies would let listeners know that they're listening to an AI-generated piece... I just want people to be honest about it." The post Audio book narrators say AI is already taking away business appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»