Technology – Adomonline.com https://www.adomonline.com Your comprehensive news portal Thu, 23 Jan 2025 00:57:10 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.1 https://www.adomonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/cropped-Adomonline140-32x32.png Technology – Adomonline.com https://www.adomonline.com 32 32 From Shama to the world: Yhang Mhany’s mission for online safety https://www.adomonline.com/from-shama-to-the-world-yhang-mhanys-mission-for-online-safety/ Thu, 23 Jan 2025 00:57:10 +0000 https://www.adomonline.com/?p=2496079 In a digital age rife with scams and fraudulent schemes, Ghanaian blogger and online safety advocate Yhang Mhany stands out as a crucial voice in the fight to make the internet a safer space.

Born Kingsley Assefuah, Yhang Mhany’s journey from a technology enthusiast in junior high school to a respected online safety educator exemplifies his unwavering commitment to protecting and empowering internet users worldwide.

Hailing from a respected family in Shama, Ghana, Yhang Mhany’s upbringing likely instilled in him the values that underpin his mission. His father, Nana Kojo Yaw Beremah, serves as the chief of Shama Kumase, while his mother, Agnes Dadzie, has been a pillar of strength for the family. These foundational influences are mirrored in his sense of responsibility to society.

Educated at Huni Valley Senior High School and the University of Cape Coast, Yhang Mhany also pursued technical training at Intercom Programming and Manufacturing Company Ltd (IPMC), where he honed the skills that would later empower him to build his impactful platform, Earn More Cash Today. Far from being just another website, Earn More Cash Today is Yhang Mhany’s response to the growing threats of online fraud and misinformation. The platform serves as a comprehensive resource for online safety and financial empowerment.

At the heart of Yhang Mhany’s mission is his investigative work to uncover and expose fraudulent schemes. From fake investment platforms to Ponzi schemes, his meticulous research has saved countless individuals from falling victim to these traps.

His approach emphasizes practical steps for staying safe online, such as verifying the legitimacy of investment platforms, avoiding deals that promise unrealistically high returns, and recognizing the telltale signs of scams.

Recognizing the potential of the internet as a tool for economic empowerment, he also provides guidance on safe and reliable ways to earn money online. His platform acts as a bridge between opportunity and security, helping users navigate digital income streams without falling prey to fraud.

He advocates for using trusted platforms, securing personal accounts with strong passwords, and remaining cautious about sharing sensitive information online.

Through engaging content, Yhang Mhany equips his audience with tools to protect themselves and their digital assets. For instance, he underscores the importance of recognizing phishing attempts—often disguised as urgent emails or messages requesting personal details—and advises against clicking on suspicious links. His work fosters a community of informed and vigilant internet users who are better equipped to thrive in an increasingly connected world.

What sets Yhang Mhany apart is his genuine passion for his work. “I am driven by a desire to make the internet a safer and more trustworthy space,” he says.

This passion fuels his investigative efforts and his commitment to creating a positive impact. His dedication has not only protected vulnerable individuals but also empowered them to make informed financial decisions in an increasingly digital world.

As online fraud continues to evolve, so too does the need for voices like Yhang Mhany’s. His efforts resonate beyond Ghana, offering lessons in resilience and responsibility for a global audience.

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Lessons in transitioning social media accounts and digital infrastructure between old and new governments: Insights from Ghana and US  https://www.adomonline.com/lessons-in-transitioning-social-media-accounts-and-digital-infrastructure-between-old-and-new-governments-insights-from-ghana-and-us/ Mon, 20 Jan 2025 07:12:47 +0000 https://www.adomonline.com/?p=2494662 Thomas Synaepa-Addison, a Ph.D. student at the School of Information Technology, University of Cincinnati, has conducted an extensive research experience in infrastructure security, privacy, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies.

It explores key lessons in transitioning social media accounts and digital infrastructure between outgoing and incoming governments.

Drawing insights from the case of Ghana and the United States, his analysis sheds light on the challenges and best practices involved in navigating this critical aspect of modern governance.

2024 Elections in Ghana and the US

The year 2024 marked a significant milestone in global politics as many nations, including Ghana and the United States (US), went to the polls to elect their leaders.

Among these elections, the ones in Ghana and the US stood out for their remarkable similarities and outcomes, drawing global attention to the evolving dynamics of political campaigns in the digital age.

Both countries witnessed fierce contests between former presidents and incumbent vice presidents, a situation that added a unique historical twist to the electoral landscape.

Remarkably, in both cases, the former presidents, John Dramani Mahama of Ghana and Donald John Trump of the US emerged victorious, securing decisive wins that underscored the evolving power of modern campaign strategies.

A significant factor contributing to their electoral success was the strategic use of digital infrastructure, particularly social media.

In the US, Trump’s campaign benefited immensely from the active backing of Elon Musk, the owner of X (formerly Twitter) and the most-followed individual on the platform.

Musk’s influence, combined with the platform’s reach, played a pivotal role in amplifying Trump’s messages and connecting him with millions of voters.

The ability to engage directly with the electorate through tweets, live broadcasts, and digital content proved to be a game-changer in the campaign.

Similarly, in Ghana, John Mahama’s campaign was bolstered by key social media influencers, notably KalyJay (@gyaigyimii), who leveraged their platforms to galvanize support and amplify his political messaging.

Social media trends, hashtags, and viral content played a crucial role in creating a strong narrative around Mahama’s campaign.

This strategy enabled his team to engage with younger voters, a demographic increasingly reliant on digital platforms for news and political engagement.

The 2024 elections highlighted the growing influence of digital technologies in shaping electoral outcomes.

Social media platforms, once seen primarily as spaces for social interaction, have now evolved into powerful tools for political communication and mobilization. In both Ghana and the US, these platforms allowed candidates to bypass traditional media channels, communicate directly with their audiences, and tailor their messages to specific voter segments.

Beyond social media, other digital infrastructures also played a critical role in the campaigns.

Campaign websites served as hubs for information, donations, and volunteer coordination, while applications were used to manage voter outreach, track polling data, and ensure effective communication among campaign teams.

In both countries, these digital tools enabled candidates to run more efficient and data-driven campaigns, maximizing their outreach and impact.

These elections serve as a testament to the transformative power of digital technology in modern politics.

They highlight the need for political actors to adapt to the digital age, where the ability to effectively leverage technology can significantly influence electoral outcomes.

As Ghana and the US move forward, the lessons from their 2024 elections will likely shape future campaign strategies, further solidifying the role of digital infrastructure in the democratic process.

Websites Transition

With the elections concluded and the Ghanaian president now in office and the US President with few days to be sworn into office, the focus is shifting from campaign strategies to governance.

However, the transition from a campaign-centered approach to a government-focused use of digital platforms has raised critical questions, particularly regarding the use of official websites and social media.

In Ghana, controversy has emerged over the official presidency website, presidency.gov.gh, being redirected to the campaign website, johnmahama.org though this has been argued to be temporary as new webpages are being worked on.

This move has sparked widespread criticism and concerns from experts and the public alike.

Many have highlighted the potential security risks and ethical implications of such a decision.

Desmond Israel, a cybersecurity professional and lawyer, took to LinkedIn to share his concerns, explaining that this redirection is not only a legal violation with punishable consequences but also poses significant risks of misinformation and governance challenges.

According to Israel, the decision undermines the integrity of official government communications, as the public might struggle to distinguish between campaign-related and official presidential information.

He further likened this situation to transferring property from the Office of the President to the president’s private ownership, a metaphor that underscores the gravity of the issue.

This act, he argued, blurs the lines between official governance and personal interests, raising questions about the ethical responsibilities of public officeholders.

The situation in Ghana serves as a critical case study in the challenges of transitioning digital infrastructure from campaigns to governance.

It underscores the importance of maintaining clear boundaries between government assets and private campaign tools, ensuring that digital platforms reflect transparency, accountability, and professionalism in governance.

Notably, there is currently no dedicated online platform providing access to the archives or content of the previous administration, further compounding concerns about the continuity and accessibility of governmental information.

The management of government-related websites in the United States demonstrates a more structured and transparent approach to transitioning digital platforms between administrations.

As of January 15, 2025, just days before the presidential inauguration, the official government website, whitehouse.gov, prominently displays content reflecting the current administration.

To preserve the work of past administrations, dedicated archival domains are created. For example, obamawhitehouse.archives.gov and trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov host materials from the presidencies of Barack Obama and first term of Donald Trump, respectively.

Both sites include a clear disclaimer at the top of their pages: “This is historical material ‘frozen in time.’ The website is no longer updated, and links to external websites and some internal pages may not work.”

This disclaimer informs users that the content remains static, with no ongoing updates or maintenance, while also highlighting the potential for broken links or incomplete functionality.

In addition to archival websites, personal domains linked to former presidents serve unique roles in their post-presidency lives. For instance, barackobama.com redirects visitors to

“The Office of Barack and Michelle Obama,” a platform dedicated to sharing updates on their post-presidency initiatives and activities. Conversely, donaldjtrump.com redirects to a campaign website promoting Donald Trump’s political endeavors.

Interestingly, the footer of this webpage includes the disclaimer: “Paid for by Never Surrender, Inc. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate committee.”

This language suggests that the site may not be officially linked to Donald Trump as a presidential candidate, adding a layer of ambiguity to its purpose.

This system of website management reflects a clear and intentional distinction between official government resources and personal or campaign-related platforms.

By maintaining separate domains for archival content, active governance, and personal endeavors, the United States ensures transparency, preserves historical records, and upholds the integrity of government digital infrastructure during transitions of power.

This approach sets a high standard for ethical and effective management of digital assets, offering valuable lessons for other nations like Ghana navigating similar transitions.

Social Media, X Transition

X accounts played a crucial role during election campaigns, providing valuable insights into their transition and continued use following an election.

In Ghana, the account with the handle “@ghanaprecidency” and the account name “GhanaPresidency” raises some uncertainties regarding its official status.

The absence of a checkmark makes it challenging to verify the account as an official government entity.

The last post from the previous administration was published on August 30, 2023, at 06:39, while the first post under the new administration appeared on January 12, 2025, at 03:54.

Since the new administration assumed office on January 7, 2025, this indicates a continuation of activity on the same account, with posts resuming in line with prior posting patterns.

The X page is linked to the domain presidency.gov.gh, but this domain currently redirects to johnmahama.org, creating complications in verifying whether the domain was previously associated with the “@ghanaprecidency” account.

In contrast, the account with the handle “@JDMahama” and the account name “John Dramani Mahama,” linked to the campaign website of John Dramani Mahama (now President Mahama), has remained active in sharing updates about his journey.

After a brief hiatus following its last post in 2024 on December 29, 2024, the account resumed activity with a first post of 2025 featuring a 45-minute, 49-second video documenting highlights from his swearing-in ceremony.

This account holds a blue checkmark, signifying an active X Premium subscription and compliance with the eligibility criteria set by X for verified accounts.

The U.S. has implemented a distinct approach on X for the “White House” with some dedicated handles: “@WhiteHouse,” “@WhiteHouse45”, and “@ObamaWhiteHouse.”  These accounts serve different purposes, each linked to respective official government and archival websites.

  1. @WhiteHouse: This handle is directly associated with whitehouse.gov, the official website of the seat of the U.S. government. The account provides current content about the functioning of the executive branch and the presidency, and the X account is linked to the same official platform.
  2. @WhiteHouse45: Linked to TrumpLibrary.gov, this handle focuses on content from the first term of President Donald Trump. The website’s footer clarifies that the Trump Presidential Library is part of the Presidential Libraries system, managed by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), a federal agency responsible for preserving presidential records.
  3. @ObamaWhiteHouse: This handle is connected to obamalibrary.gov, which serves as an archive for President Barack Obama’s presidency. Like the Trump Presidential Library, the footer emphasizes that the Obama Presidential Library is also part of the Presidential Libraries system under the stewardship of NARA.

Importantly, all three accounts carry a grey checkmark, as indicated by X’s Help Center, signifying that they represent government entities or multilateral organizations.

This multi-tiered structure demonstrates how the U.S. not only manages the transition of social media accounts between administrations but also ensures the preservation of historical records from past presidencies through official archives.

This approach highlights the U.S. government’s commitment to maintaining transparency and accessibility while preserving the integrity of past administrations’ digital records.

Conclusion

As both countries transition from campaign mode to governance, the management of digital assets particularly websites and social media accounts has become a focal point.

In Ghana, the redirection of official government websites to campaign-related domains raises critical concerns about the integrity and transparency of governmental communications.

This situation highlights the need for clear distinctions between state resources and private or campaign platforms, reinforcing the importance of maintaining professionalism and accountability in the digital age.

Conversely, the U.S. has demonstrated a more structured approach to managing digital transitions, with dedicated archival websites, active governance platforms, and separate domains for personal or campaign-related endeavors.

This framework sets a high standard for managing digital assets in a way that ensures transparency, preserves historical records, and upholds the integrity of governance.

In conclusion, the 2024 elections in both Ghana and the U.S. serve as a testament to the power of digital infrastructure in modern democracies.

They underscore the necessity for political actors to adapt to the digital era, where technological expertise and ethical management of digital platforms can significantly shape electoral outcomes and the functioning of government.

As these nations continue to evolve in their political landscapes, the lessons learned from their experiences will guide future campaigns and governance, cementing the role of digital technologies as both a tool for political engagement and a cornerstone of democratic integrity.

 

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TikTok goes offline in the US hours before ban https://www.adomonline.com/tiktok-goes-offline-in-the-us-hours-before-ban/ Sun, 19 Jan 2025 12:34:48 +0000 https://www.adomonline.com/?p=2494518 TikTok has gone offline in the US, hours before a new law banning the platform was due to come into effect.

A message appearing on the app for US users said a law banning TikTok had been enacted, meaning “you can’t use TikTok for now”.

“We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office,” it read.

It comes after the social media platform warned it would “go dark” on Sunday unless the outgoing Biden administration gave assurances the ban will not be enforced.

President-elect Donald Trump has said he would “most likely” give TikTok a 90-day reprieve from a ban once he takes office on Monday.

Users reported the app had also been removed from both Apple and Google’s US app stores and TikTok.com was not showing videos.

“The 90-day extension is something that will be most likely done, because it’s appropriate,” Trump told NBC News on Saturday.

“If I decide to do that, I’ll probably announce it on Monday.”

The White House said that it was up to the incoming administration to take action.

“We see no reason for TikTok or other companies to take actions in the next few days before the Trump administration takes office on Monday,” press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement.

The Supreme Court on Friday upheld the law, passed in April last year, banning the app in the US unless its China-based parent company, ByteDance, sold the platform by Sunday, which it has not done.

TikTok has argued that the law violates free speech protections for its 170 million users in the country.

After the ruling, TikTok’s chief executive, Shou Zi Chew, appealed to Trump, thanking him for his “commitment to work with us to find a solution.”

Mr Chew is expected to attend Trump’s inauguration on Monday.

In the hours leading up to the social media platform going offline, content creators had been posting videos to say goodbye to their followers.

Creator Nicole Bloomgarden told the BBC that not being on TikTok would result in a significant salary cut.

Another user, Erika Thompson, said educational content on the platform would be the “biggest loss” for the community.

TikTok users were met with a message earlier on Saturday that said the law would “force us to make our services temporarily unavailable. We’re working to restore our service in the U.S. as soon as possible.”

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Facebook and Instagram get rid of fact checkers https://www.adomonline.com/facebook-and-instagram-get-rid-of-fact-checkers/ Wed, 08 Jan 2025 11:23:35 +0000 https://www.adomonline.com/?p=2490735

Meta is abandoning the use of independent fact checkers on Facebook and Instagram, replacing them with X-style “community notes” where commenting on the accuracy of posts is left to users.

In a video posted alongside a blog post by the company on Tuesday, chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said third-party moderators were “too politically biased” and it was “time to get back to our roots around free expression”.

The move comes as Zuckerberg and other tech executives seek to improve relations with US President-elect Donald Trump before he takes office later this month.

Trump and his Republican allies have criticised Meta for its fact-checking policy, calling it censorship of right-wing voices.

Speaking after the changes were announced, Trump told a news conference he was impressed by Zuckerberg’s decision and that Meta had “come a long way”.

Asked whether Zuckerberg was “directly responding” to threats Trump had made to him in the past, the incoming US president responded: “Probably”.

Joel Kaplan, a prominent Republican who is replacing Sir Nick Clegg as Meta’s global affairs chief, wrote that the company’s reliance on independent moderators was “well-intentioned” but had too often resulted in censoring.

Campaigners against hate speech online reacted with dismay to the change – and suggested it was really motivated by getting on the right side of Trump.

“Zuckerberg’s announcement is a blatant attempt to cozy up to the incoming Trump administration – with harmful implications”, said Ava Lee, from Global Witness, a campaign group which describes itself as seeking to hold big tech to account.

“Claiming to avoid “censorship” is a political move to avoid taking responsibility for hate and disinformation that platforms encourage and facilitate,” she added.

Emulating X

Meta’s current fact checking programme, introduced in 2016, refers posts that appear to be false or misleading to independent organisations to assess their credibility.

Posts flagged as inaccurate can have labels attached to them offering viewers more information, and be moved lower in users’ feeds.

That will now be replaced “in the US first” by community notes.

Meta says it has “no immediate plans” to get rid of its third-party fact checkers in the UK or the EU.

The new community notes system has been copied from X, which introduced it after being bought and renamed by Elon Musk.

It involves people of different viewpoints agreeing on notes which add context or clarifications to controversial posts.

“This is cool,” he said of Meta’s adoption of a similar mechanism.

After concerns were raised around self-harm and depressive content, Meta clarified that there would be “no change to how we treat content that encourages suicide, self-injury, and eating disorders”.

Fact-checking organisation Full Fact – which participates in Facebook’s program for verifying posts in Europe – said it “refutes allegations of bias” made against its profession.

The body’s chief executive, Chris Morris, described the change as a “disappointing and a backwards step that risks a chilling effect around the world.”

‘Facebook jail’

Alongside content moderators, fact checkers sometimes describe themselves as the internet’s emergency services.

But Meta bosses have concluded they have been intervening too much.

“Too much harmless content gets censored, too many people find themselves wrongly locked up in “Facebook jail,” and we are often too slow to respond when they do,” wrote Joel Kaplan on Tuesday.

But Meta does appear to acknowledge there is some risk involved – Zuckerberg said in his video the changes would mean “a trade off”.

“It means we’re going to catch less bad stuff, but we’ll also reduce the number of innocent people’s posts and accounts that we accidentally take down,” he said.

The approach is also at odds with recent regulation in both the UK and Europe, where big tech firms are being forced to take more responsibility for the content they carry or face steep penalties.

So it’s perhaps not surprising that Meta’s move away from this line of supervision is US-only, for now at least.

‘A radical swing’

Meta’s blog post said it would also “undo the mission creep” of rules and policies.

“It’s not right that things can be said on TV or the floor of Congress, but not on our platforms,” it added.

It comes as technology firms and their executives prepare for Trump’s inauguration on 20 January.

Several CEOs have publicly congratulated Trump on his return to office, while others have travelled to Trump’s Florida estate Mar-Lago to meet with the incoming president, including Zuckerberg in November. Meta has also donated $1m to an inauguration fund for Trump.

“The recent elections also feel like a cultural tipping point towards, once again, prioritising free speech,” said Zuckerberg in Tuesday’s video.

Meta notified Trump’s team of the policy change before the announcement, the New York Times reported.

Kaplan replacing Sir Nick – a former Liberal Democrat deputy prime minister – as the company’s president of global affairs has also been interpreted as a signal of the firm’s shifting approach to moderation and its changing political priorities.

The company also announced on Monday that Dana White, a close Trump ally and president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, would join its board of directors.

Kate Klonick, associate professor of law at St John’s University Law School, said the changes reflected a trend “that has seemed inevitable over the last few years, especially since Musk’s takeover of X”.

“The private governance of speech on these platforms has increasingly become a point of politics,” she told BBC News.

Where companies have previously faced pressure to build trust and safety mechanisms to deal with issues like harassment, hate speech, and disinformation, a “radical swing back in the opposite direction” is now underway, she added.

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See full list of phones that will no longer be able to use WhatsApp in 2025 https://www.adomonline.com/see-full-list-of-phones-that-will-no-longer-be-able-to-use-whatsapp-in-2025/ Mon, 30 Dec 2024 08:21:14 +0000 https://www.adomonline.com/?p=2488645 WhatsApp will no longer be supported on 18 Android models and 3 iPhone models.

The New Year may be a time for fresh beginnings, but frustration is in store for those who like to squeeze every last drop of mileage out of a phone.

Changes to WhatsApp’s compatibility with operating systems mean some older smartphones will no longer be able to load the app.

The number of people affected by this will not be particularly large: only those with enough talent for technological TLC to have kept their devices in working condition for more than 10 years need worry.

But if you’re using a device that old, it’s worth reading on to see if it’s on the list.

The first compatibility update will come on January 1, 2025, when WhatsApp will stop supporting Android’s KitKat OS in addition to any older versions.

Some users who still have KitKat on their phones will still be able to use WhatsApp provided their device can be updated to a more recent OS.

However there are a number of older phone models which are no longer provided with official updates by their maker.

This means they can’t be updated to a more recent OS unless the user attempts certain types of DIY tinkering which would void the phone’s warranty and insurance and risk ‘bricking’ it (rendering it inoperable.)

Here is a list of Android phones known to be affected by the January 1 change at the time of publishing:

  • Samsung: Galaxy S3, Galaxy Note 2, Galaxy Ace 3, Galaxy S4 Mini
  • Motorola: Moto G (1st Gen), Razr HD, Moto E 2014
  • HTC: One X, One X+, Desire 500, Desire 601
  • LG: Optimus G, Nexus 4, G2 Mini, L90
  • Sony: Xperia Z, Xperia SP, Xperia T, Xperia V

Meta, which owns WhatsApp, says the changes are part of regular updates to ensure the app stays secure and functional while working with newer phones.

Later in 2025, WhatsApp will stop being supported for iPhones of a similar age.

From May 5, the app will stop working on iOS versions earlier than 15.1.

While some iPhone users with older iOSes can simply update their phones, some which are still in use can only be updated to iOS 12.5.7.

The phones in this category that can still use WhatsApp now but won’t be able to from May 5 are the iPhone 5s, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.

These changes affect both the regular WhatsApp application and WhatsApp Business, which has the same system requirements.

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Apple cancels iPhone 14 and iPhone SE for millions of users in 29 countries https://www.adomonline.com/apple-cancels-iphone-14-and-iphone-se-for-millions-of-users-in-29-countries/ Sun, 29 Dec 2024 06:21:52 +0000 https://www.adomonline.com/?p=2488432 Apple currently offers three iPhones with a Lightning connector: the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, and iPhone SE 3rd generation.

All three have just been taken off sale in 29 countries, including one that’s part of the U.K. Will other countries be affected?

It all comes down to an EU directive which comes into force today, Saturday, Dec. 28 2024. In a bid to curtail electronic waste, the EU required manufacturers to ensure that devices such as cameras, phones and tablets all used the same charging port (and therefore cable): USB-C.

Apple resisted this move, saying that such a requirement could stifle creativity.

However, the change went through, and Apple moved its iPhones to USB-C with the iPhone 15 onwards. All iPad, AirPods, Magic Mouse, and Magic Keyboard connectors, for instance, are also now USB-C only.

This happened on Friday, Dec. 27, when customers visiting Apple websites in all 27 EU countries found that only the iPhone 15, 15 Plus, iPhone 16, 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are now available for sale.

So you’re too late to get one of these phones if you live in the EU? Not quite. Third-party resellers are allowed to sell remaining stocks—the iPhone 14 is still on sale on Amazon in Spain right now, for instance.

And the ban reaches further. Switzerland is outside the EU but aligns with the bloc in multiple ways, so the ban applies there, too. And although the U.K. left the European Union in 2020, Northern Ireland has different trading rules devised to ensure there is no border between the republic of Ireland and the British area in the north. So, you can’t buy the affected phones in Belfast any more, either.

By the way, there’s no official Apple Store in the Republic, so there’s a measure of irony here.

Sales of the iPhone SE may be on the decline, as a new model is expected in Spring 2025, but it’s still not an ideal situation.

What are the ramifications beyond Europe? Other countries will have been watching with interest, though realistically the effects will be minimal. Even if legislation was brought in quickly, it would be unlikely to take effect before the iPhone 14 is retired everywhere, which is expected to happen this fall.

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Honda and Nissan join forces to challenge Chinese EV market https://www.adomonline.com/honda-and-nissan-join-forces-to-challenge-chinese-ev-market/ Tue, 24 Dec 2024 02:30:40 +0000 https://www.adomonline.com/?p=2487251

Honda and Nissan plan to merge as the two Japanese firms seek to fight back against competition from the Chinese car industry.

Joining forces would create one of the world’s biggest car producers alongside Toyota, Volkswagen, General Motors and Ford.

The potential multibillion dollar deal to combat “the rise of Chinese power” was a key driver behind the plan, said Honda’s chief executive Toshihiro Mibe.

Mr Mibe said a plan to “fight back” needs to be in place by 2030, or they risk being “beaten” by rivals.

The merger, which would include Mitsubishi – of which Nissan is the biggest shareholder – would allow all three companies to share resources against other electric vehicle competitors such as Tesla.

The growing electric car market has been increasingly dominated by Chinese-made electric vehicles, including BYD, which have posed a threat to some of the world’s best known car firms.

“There is a rise of Chinese power and emerging forces and the structure of the automobile industry is changing,” Mr Mibe told reporters at a press conference announcing the merger talks.

Growing competition in China has left many carmakers struggling to compete, as lower labour and manufacturing costs make local firms more nimble and able to price their goods lower than foreign counterparts, making them far more attractive to buyers.

It has led to China becoming the world’s biggest producer of electric vehicles.

In October, EU officials said the Chinese state was unfairly subsidising its EV makers and announced big taxes on imports of EVs from China to the EU, after the majority of member states backed the plans. The tariffs are set to rise from 10% to 45% for the next five years, but there are concerns it could raise EV prices higher for buyers.

‘Capabilities to fight’

The total sales of Nissan and Honda is more than $191bn (£152bn), said Nissan’s chief executive, Makoto Uchida.

In March, the two Japanese car makers agreed to explore a strategic partnership for electric vehicles (EVs).

“The talks started because we believe that we must build up capabilities to fight them, including the current emerging forces, by 2030. Otherwise we will be beaten”, said Mr Mibe.

He added that the deal was not a bailout of Nissan, which has been struggling with falling sales.

In November, Nissan said it will cut around 9,000 jobs as it slashes global production to tackle a drop in sales in China and the US. The cuts mean its global production will be reduced by a fifth.

Nissan, once a symbol of Japan’s car making strength, has spent the past few years trying to regain its footing after the arrest of longtime chief executive Carlos Ghosn.

Mr Ghosn faced charges of financial misconduct when he fled Japan in 2019, and is currently the subject of an Interpol Red Notice, which is a request to law enforcement worldwide to find and arrest a person.

Mr Ghosn, currently in Lebanon, told reporters in December that Nissan’s merger plans were an act of panic and desperation.

Mr Mibe said that any merger would be dependent on the turnaround of Nissan.

Honda and Nissan agreed in March to cooperate in their EV businesses, and in August deepened their ties, agreeing to work together on batteries and other technology.

However, any deal is likely to come under intense political scrutiny in Japan as it may result in job cuts, whilst Nissan is likely to unwind its alliance with French auto firm Renault.

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DR Congo takes legal action against Apple https://www.adomonline.com/dr-congo-takes-legal-action-against-apple/ Wed, 18 Dec 2024 16:50:32 +0000 https://www.adomonline.com/?p=2485294

The Democratic Republic of Congo has filed criminal complaints in France and Belgium against subsidiaries of the tech giant Apple, accusing it of using conflict minerals.

Acting on behalf of the Congolese government, lawyers have argued that Apple is complicit in crimes committed by armed groups that control some of the mines in the east of DR Congo.

Apple has said it “strongly disputes” the claims and that it is “deeply committed to responsible sourcing” of minerals.

The authorities in France and Belgium will now look at whether there is enough evidence to take the legal action further.

In a statement, the lawyers for the DR Congo talked about Apple’s supply chain being contaminated with “blood minerals”.

They allege that the tin, tantalum and tungsten is taken from conflict areas and then “laundered through international supply chains”.

“These activities have fuelled a cycle of violence and conflict by financing militias and terrorist groups, and have contributed to forced child labour and environmental devastation.”

Apple rejected the accusations, saying it holds its “suppliers to the highest standards in industry”.

A spokesman told the BBC: “As conflict in the region escalated earlier this year, we notified our suppliers that their smelters and refiners must suspend sourcing tin, tantalum, tungsten, and gold from the DRC and Rwanda.

“We took this action because we were concerned it was no longer possible for independent auditors or industry certification mechanisms to perform the due diligence required to meet our high standards.”

The east of DR Congo is a major source of minerals, and the global thirst for them has fuelled wars there for decades.

Rights groups have long alleged that large quantities of minerals from legitimate mines, as well as from facilities run by armed groups, are transported to neighbouring Rwanda and end up in our phones and computers.

Rwanda has in the past described the Congolese government’s legal action against Apple as a media stunt.

It has denied selling any conflict minerals to the tech company.

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Bitcoin hits new record high of more than $106,000 https://www.adomonline.com/bitcoin-hits-new-record-high-of-more-than-106000/ Mon, 16 Dec 2024 16:20:34 +0000 https://www.adomonline.com/?p=2484416

Bitcoin has surged to a new record high, extending a rally that has seen the cryptocurrency’s price rise by more than 50% since Donald Trump’s victory in the 5 November election.

The world’s largest cryptocurrency briefly passed $106,000 (£83,890), before falling back to around $105,000 in Asia trade on Monday.

The incoming Trump administration is seen as being far more friendly towards cryptocurrencies than the Biden White House.

On Thursday, the US president-elect reiterated that he is considering creating a national stockpile of the digital currency, similar to the country’s strategic oil reserve.

“The Bitcoin rally since the election has been parabolic and the FOMO – or fear of missing out – rally is gathering momentum,” Peter McGuire from trading platform XM.com told the BBC.

“Many investors believe $120,000 is achievable by the end of the year and then in 2025 there’s talk of greater than $150,000 by mid-year”.

Earlier this month, Trump named Silicon Valley entrepreneur David Sacks as his artificial intelligence (AI) and cryptocurrency tsar.

Mr Sacks is a former PayPal executive and a close friend of Trump adviser and mega-donor Elon Musk.

Trump has also said he would nominate pro-cryptocurrency Washington attorney Paul Atkins as the new head of the Wall Street regulator, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Last month, the SEC’s current head, Gary Gensler, said he would resign from the role on the day of Trump’s inauguration, on 20 January next year.

“I thank President Biden for entrusting me with this incredible responsibility. The SEC has met our mission and enforced the law without fear or favour,” Mr Gensler wrote on the social media platform X.

Trump had previously revealed plans to sack Mr Gensler on “day one” of his new administration after the SEC chairman took legal action against cryptocurrency firms, sparking controversy in some quarters.

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Australia approves social media ban on under-16s https://www.adomonline.com/australia-approves-social-media-ban-on-under-16s/ Fri, 29 Nov 2024 01:07:25 +0000 https://www.adomonline.com/?p=2477126

Australia will ban children under 16 from using social media, after its parliament approved the world’s strictest laws.

The ban, which will not take effect for at least 12 months, could see tech companies fined up to A$50m ($32.5m; £25.7m) if they don’t comply.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the legislation is needed to protect young people from the “harms” of social media, something many parent groups have echoed.

But critics say questions over how the ban will work – and its impact on privacy and social connection – have been left unanswered.

This is not the first attempt globally to restrict children’s social media use, but the minimum age of 16 is the highest set by any country. Unlike other attempts, it also does not include exemptions for existing users or those with parental consent.

Having passed the Senate by 34 votes to 19 late on Thursday, the bill returned to the House of Representatives, where it passed early on Friday.

“We want our kids to have a childhood and parents to know we have their backs,” Albanese told reporters afterwards.

The legislation does not specify which platforms will be banned. Those decisions will be made later by Australia’s communications minister, who will seek advice from the eSafety Commissioner – an internet regulator that will enforce the rules.

However, the minister, Michelle Rowland, has said the ban will include Snapchat, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and X. Gaming and messaging platforms are exempt, as are sites that can be accessed without an account, meaning YouTube, for instance, is likely to be spared.

The government says will it rely on some form of age-verification technology to implement the restrictions, and options will be tested in the coming months. The onus will be on the social media platforms to add these processes themselves.

However, digital researchers have warned there are no guarantees the unspecified technology – which could rely on biometrics or identity information – will work. Critics have also sought assurances that privacy will be protected.

They have also warned that restrictions could easily be circumvented through tools like a VPN – which can disguise a user’s location and make them appear to be logging on from another country.

Children who find ways to flout the rules will not face penalties, however.

Polling on the reforms, though limited, suggests it is supported by a majority of Australian parents and caregivers.

“For too long parents have had this impossible choice between giving in and getting their child an addictive device or seeing their child isolated and feeling left out,” Amy Friedlander, who was among those lobbying for the ban, recently told the BBC.

“We’ve been trapped in a norm that no one wants to be a part of.”

But many experts say the ban is “too blunt an instrument” to effectively address the risks associated with social media use, and have warned it could end up pushing children into less regulated corners of the internet.

During a short consultation period before the bill passed, Google and Snap criticised the legislation for not providing more detail, and Meta said the bill would be “ineffective” and not meet its stated aim of making kids safer.

In its submission, TikTok said the government’s definition of a social media platform was so “broad and unclear” that “almost every online service could fall within [it]”.

X questioned the “lawfulness” of the bill – saying it may not be compatible with international regulations and human rights treaties which Australia has signed.

Some youth advocates also accused the government of not fully understanding the role social media plays in their lives, and locking them out of the debate.

“We understand we are vulnerable to the risks and negative impacts of social media… but we need to be involved in developing solutions,” wrote the eSafety Youth Council, which advises the regulator.

Albanese has acknowledged the debate is complex, but steadfastly defended the bill.

“We don’t argue that its implementation will be perfect, just like the alcohol ban for [children] under 18 doesn’t mean that someone under 18 never has access – but we know that it’s the right thing to do,” he said on Friday.

Last year, France introduced legislation to block social media access for children under 15 without parental consent, though research indicates almost half of users were able to avoid the ban using a VPN.

A law in the US state of Utah – which was similar to Australia’s – was overturned by a federal judge, who found it unconstitutional.

Australia’s laws are being watched with great interest by global leaders.

Norway has recently pledged to follow in the country’s footsteps, and last week the UK’s technology secretary said a similar ban was “on the table” – though he later added “not… at the moment”.

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Top up your credit to avoid potential disruption – ECG to Nuri meter customers https://www.adomonline.com/top-up-your-credit-to-avoid-potential-disruption-ecg-to-nuri-meter-customers/ Sun, 24 Nov 2024 09:25:50 +0000 https://www.adomonline.com/?p=2475013 The Electricity Company of Ghana Limited (ECG) has announced an urgent upgrade to its Nuri prepayment meters.

According to the distribution company, it is part of the Standard Transfer Specifications (STS) protocol to upgrade all STS metering systems.

This mandatory upgrade aims to enhance the system’s efficiency and ensure uninterrupted vending services for customers.

In a notice on Saturday, November 23, ECG advised customers to purchase sufficient top-up credit to last at least one month to avoid potential disruptions during the upgrade process.

”Please buy enough top-up credit that will last for at least one month in order not to experience vending disruptions that might arise out of the ongoing Nuri meter upgrading exercise,” part of the notice read.

To expedite the upgrade, ECG is encouraging customers to contact its call centre or reach out via its social media platforms for assistance.

The company emphasised that the upgrade is critical and necessary to maintain a smooth and reliable service for its customers.

Read the full statement below

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itel A80: Reliable smartphone empowers youngsters to enjoy technology upgrade with entry-level threshold https://www.adomonline.com/itel-a80-reliable-smartphone-empowers-youngsters-to-enjoy-technology-upgrade-with-entry-level-threshold/ Mon, 18 Nov 2024 12:40:03 +0000 https://www.adomonline.com/?p=2472887 itel, a trusted name in affordable and reliable smart life products, is thrilled to announce the launch of the itel A80 in Ghana.

This latest addition to the itel A Series is tailored to meet the needs of younger generations, delivering a cutting-edge smartphone experience at a budget-friendly price. The itel A80 empowers users to explore, connect, and create without limits.

The itel A80 stands out with its sleek and stylish design, featuring a unique ring light notification on its back panel and a premium glass-like finish with glacier patterns. The craftsmanship combines elegance with durability, offering a sophisticated look and feel that appeals to Ghana’s vibrant youth.

The device features a 6.7-inch punch-hole display with a 90% screen-to-body ratio and 500 nits of brightness for an immersive viewing experience. The dynamic bar and 120Hz touch sampling rate ensure smooth navigation and vibrant visuals, perfect for streaming, gaming, and browsing.

With an upgraded 128GB internal storage and 4+4GB extended RAM, users can enjoy fast app launches, seamless multitasking, and the freedom to download all their favorite apps, videos, and music without worrying about space. The powerful 5000mAh battery provides up to 3 days of usage on a single charge, ensuring uninterrupted productivity and entertainment.

Photography enthusiasts will love the 50MP super HDR camera, which captures stunning details and vivid colors. Creative filters and professional-grade enhancements let users take their storytelling to the next level, perfect for creating standout content for social media.

Built for reliability, the itel A80 comes with an IP54 waterproof rating, making it resistant to rain and splashes—a handy feature for Ghana’s dynamic lifestyles. The phone also offers a 36-month fluency guarantee, supported by smart system optimization technology to maintain smooth performance over time, reducing lag and ensuring efficiency for years to come.

itel’s mission is to bring the benefits of technology to everyone. With over a decade of expertise in emerging markets, itel continues to deliver affordable, feature-rich devices that cater to everyday needs. The itel A80 is a testament to this commitment, combining style, functionality, and affordability in one impressive package.

The itel A80 is now available across Ghana. Visit Jumia’s website or your nearest authorized dealer to purchase yours today.

Experience the joy of technology with the itel A80 – reliable, stylish, and made just for you! For more information, visit itel’s website.

 

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The Guardian stops posting on Elon Musk’s ‘toxic’ X https://www.adomonline.com/the-guardian-stops-posting-on-elon-musks-toxic-x/ Thu, 14 Nov 2024 02:41:40 +0000 https://www.adomonline.com/?p=2471667 British newspaper group The Guardian has announced it will no longer post on X, formerly Twitter, saying it has become a “toxic media platform”.

In a message to readers, it said the US presidential election “underlined” its concerns that its owner, Elon Musk, had been able to use X to “shape political discourse.”

Mr Musk strongly backed Donald Trump and has now been given a role in cutting government spending in his incoming administration.

The BBC has contacted X for comment.

The Guardian said users would still be able to share articles and it was likely to continue to embed X posts in its coverage of world events.

It also said its reporters would be able to carry on using the site “for news-gathering purposes.”

But it said the “benefits of being on X are now outweighed by the negatives.”

“This is something we have been considering for a while given the often disturbing content promoted or found on the platform, including far-right conspiracy theories and racism,” it added.

The decision was also posted on X itself, where some users reacted with vitriol, with those who paid for prominent replies accusing the Guardian of “woke propaganda” and “virtue signalling”.

Mr Musk and the Guardian are far from political bedfellows, so in that sense, it is not surprising that the newspaper has responded to his and X’s increasing alignment with Trump in this way.

But it can also be argued the election result is an opportunity for the paper, which describes itself as “the world’s leading liberal voice.”

It is positioning itself as a key part of the “resistance” to Donald Trump, using the US election to highlight that is a media organisation without a billionaire proprietor – while also asking its readers for donations.

The day after the election, readers pledged more than $1.8m (£1.4m), a record for a single day.

Ben Mullin, the New York Times’ media reporter, described the media group’s fundraising as “a sign that some outlets are tapping a surge of enthusiasm for adversarial journalism post-election”.

The Guardian’s departure is also likely to intensify questions about whether others will follow.

X’s rivals already appear to be benefiting.

Meta’s Threads has continued to expand, and Bluesky – set up by Twitter founder Jack Dorsey – briefly topped the download charts in the UK and US Apple App Stores.

Its users have grown by four million in two months, and Bluesky said in a post on Tuesday that it had picked up a million new users in the seven days since Trump’s win.

However, it remains comparatively tiny, with 15 million users worldwide.

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UG embarks on AI initiative to make speech recognition inclusive for Ghanaians https://www.adomonline.com/ug-embarks-on-ai-initiative-to-make-speech-recognition-inclusive-for-ghanaians/ Sat, 02 Nov 2024 15:32:15 +0000 https://www.adomonline.com/?p=2467643 The University of Ghana, in collaboration with Google Research Africa and UCL’s Global Disability Innovation Hub (GDI Hub), has rolled out “tɛkyerɛma pa” (“Good Tongue”), an AI-based initiative aimed at improving communication for individuals with non-standard speech patterns.

This project focuses on enhancing AI-powered speech recognition technology for five major Ghanaian languages: Akan, Ewe, Ikposo, Dagbani, and Dagaare, marking a significant step toward making communication more inclusive for all.

Globally, many individuals with non-standard speech due to conditions like cerebral palsy, ALS, stroke, Down syndrome, or Parkinson’s disease have faced significant barriers in communication.

Current speech recognition technologies often struggle to accurately interpret non-standard speech, limiting their effectiveness.

The tɛkyerɛma pa project aims to address this gap by training AI models to better understand these speech patterns in local languages, ultimately enhancing accessibility and making speech recognition more inclusive for Ghanaians with non-standard speech.

During a press briefing and tech talk at the Google Ghana office to present the progress of Project Euphonia, Prof. Isaac Wiafe, Project Lead and Associate Professor at the University of Ghana, told Adom News, “No one should be left behind, and we are excited to lead this important initiative.

“By developing localized AI solutions, we can ensure that more Ghanaians have the opportunity to communicate effectively, regardless of their speech patterns,” he stressed.

Project tɛkyerɛma pa is supported by a $40,000 grant from Google, with research expertise from UCL’s GDI Hub provided through the AT2030 program.

Katrin Tomanek, Senior Research Scientist at Google Research, also expressed excitement about collaborating with the University of Ghana on Project tɛkyerɛma pa, supporting their efforts to create the first open-source dataset of non-standard speech in Ghanaian languages.

She stated that the project reflects Google’s ongoing commitment to supporting AI research in Africa and ensuring that technological advances benefit everyone, regardless of how they speak.

Academic Director of the GDI Hub, Prof. Cathy Holloway, believes expanding the reach of AI-powered recognition to more languages is crucial to ensure that people living with non-standard speech can communicate more effectively with others and with devices in their daily lives.

ALSO READ:

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Google introduces Twi voice search, expanding digital access for Ghanaian speakers https://www.adomonline.com/google-introduces-twi-voice-search-expanding-digital-access-for-ghanaian-speakers/ Fri, 01 Nov 2024 12:36:41 +0000 https://www.adomonline.com/?p=2467275 Google has announced that Twi, one of Ghana’s most widely spoken languages, is now available on Google Voice Search, Gboard talk-to-type, and Google Translate voice input.

This inclusion is part of Google’s expansion of African language support, which now covers 15 new languages across the continent, enhancing accessibility for over 300 million people.

Developed in collaboration with Google’s AI Research Center in Accra, this update enables Ghanaians to search, type, and translate directly in Twi using voice commands.

This integration will allow millions of Twi speakers to interact naturally with technology in their native language.

In West Africa, other languages added include Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, and Nigerian Pidgin. “This technology will make a difference to over 300 million more people across the continent, enabling them to interact with the web using just their voice. It’s one example of how Google in Africa is building technology for Africans and the world,” said Alex Okosi, Managing Director of Google Africa.

The voice support extension is part of Google’s broader mission to make information universally accessible. “The next decade will be Africa’s digital decade,” remarked Matt Brittin, Google’s President for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. “Extending Voice Search, voice typing on Gboard, and voice input on Translate to 300 million people across Africa is a key landmark in that.”

Twi joins other African languages recently added to Voice Search and Gboard, including Chichewa, Somali, Shona, and Tswana.

Google’s expansion reflects its continued commitment to developing technologies tailored for African communities and marks a major step towards increased digital inclusion for Ghana’s Twi-speaking population.

ALSO READ:

I pat myself on the back – Jomoro MP on achievements [Listen]

NDC challenges NPP’s ambitious vote target in Volta Region

 

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Apple Intelligence: Apple finally rolls out new AI features for iPhone users, excluding older models https://www.adomonline.com/apple-intelligence-apple-finally-rolls-out-new-ai-features-for-iphone-users-excluding-older-models/ Mon, 28 Oct 2024 23:15:33 +0000 https://www.adomonline.com/?p=2465483

After a long wait, Apple has finally released its artificial intelligence (AI) tools for iPhone – to a select few.

Apple Intelligence, a suite of AI tools announced in June, became available to owners of some iPhones around the world on Monday.

The new features include notification summaries, tools to assist users in writing messages, and a glowing new interface for virtual assistant Siri.

But they will only be available to people with the latest devices – including all iPhone 16 models, and the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max.

Apple Intelligence is also available on Mac computers and iPad tablets that are powered by its latest chips.

But some of the tools made available on Monday have arrived later than equivalent features on other popular devices.

Apple chief executive Tim Cook said the public release of its AI tools introduced “a new era” for its products.

It comes after the company said on Friday it would reward ethical hackers who could demonstrate vulnerabilities in its AI software with a bounty of up to $1m (£770,000).

The bundle of features released on Monday in its iOS 18.1 update are the first wave of AI tools previously shown off at Apple’s summer developer conference.

More features expected later this year include generating images and emoji from text prompts.

Rival features

Google and Samsung have already introduced AI features to their devices.

These include allowing users to translate conversations in real-time, automatically organise notes, and search for something online by drawing a circle around it.

While initially making its Galaxy AI features available on its latest handsets, Samsung widened it to include S22 devices released in 2022.

The South Korean tech giant said in February it planned to introduce Galaxy AI for more than 100 million users within 2024.

Apple’s new Clean Up tool, allowing people to remove unwanted objects or people from an image, also follows Google’s previous release of a similar tool called Magic Eraser.

Mr Cook told the Wall Street Journal in October that the company was “perfectly fine with not being first”, adding it “takes a while to get it really great”.

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Ghana shines at Startup World Cup Grand Finale in San Francisco [Photos] https://www.adomonline.com/ghana-shines-at-startup-world-cup-grand-finale-in-san-francisco-photos/ Sun, 27 Oct 2024 13:23:27 +0000 https://www.adomonline.com/?p=2465255 Ghana’s startup ecosystem received global recognition as the country participated in the Grand Finale of the prestigious Startup World Cup, which took place in San Francisco from 2nd to 4th October 2024.

The event, hosted by Pegasus Tech Ventures, brought together innovative entrepreneurs from over 80 regions worldwide, including a strong representation from Ghana.

This year’s event marked a pivotal moment for Ghana, building on the momentum of the successful maiden edition held in July.

The competition offered local startups from multiple countries an unparalleled opportunity to showcase their innovative solutions on a global stage, competing alongside some of the world’s most promising entrepreneurial ventures.

By participating in such a prestigious event, the regional winner from Ghana gained invaluable exposure, connecting with international investors, industry experts, and potential collaborators.

The event underscored Ghana’s growing reputation as a rising hub for innovation and entrepreneurship in Africa, further cementing its role as a key player in the continent’s economic transformation.

As the country continues to cultivate a thriving startup ecosystem, events like the Startup World Cup are crucial in providing the visibility, resources, and networks necessary to drive sustained growth and global competitiveness.

The Ghanaian delegation at the Startup World Cup Ghana regional event brought together a dynamic blend of innovators and business leaders, who demonstrated the forward momentum of Ghana’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

The visionary leaders shared insights into the unique opportunities and hurdles of operating in Africa’s growing markets.

Their participation allowed for the exchange of ideas and best practices, drawing on global expertise while also showcasing the creative potential emerging from Ghana.

By engaging with venture capitalists, industry experts, and fellow entrepreneurs on a global stage, the Ghanaian delegation cultivated valuable relationships that are poised to catalyze future investments and cross-border partnerships.

The interactions facilitated during the event did more than just highlight the growth potential of Ghana’s startups; they also allowed for key discussions on scaling these innovations beyond local borders.

These conversations were instrumental in positioning Ghana not only as a hub for African entrepreneurship but as a key player on the international stage.

Moving forward, the partnerships and investments garnered at the event promise to fuel further growth, expand market reach, and foster technological advancements, paving the way for an even more robust and resilient entrepreneurial landscape in Ghana.

The Startup World Cup, renowned for its $1 million grand prize, is a premier global competition designed to connect entrepreneurs worldwide with critical resources, mentorship, and funding opportunities.

Ghana’s participation in this prestigious event highlights the nation’s rising influence within the global startup ecosystem.

The country’s entrepreneurs showcased not only their creativity and resilience but also their ability to develop innovative business models that address complex challenges across various sectors.

Their presence at the competition reflects Ghana’s growing role as a hub for technological innovation and entrepreneurship, further reinforcing its potential to shape global markets and attract international investments aimed at fostering sustainable development and economic growth.

Speaking after the event, Mr. Synaepa-Addison, President of Data Today said, “This has been an incredible opportunity to showcase Ghana’s entrepreneurial talent on a global stage.

“The networking, exposure, and insights gained from this competition will undoubtedly drive growth and innovation in our country’s startup scene.”

In the lead-up to the global finale, Ghana’s regional competition, held in partnership with Data Today at the Ghana Communication Technology University, provided a platform for local startups to compete for the chance to represent the nation in San Francisco.

The winner of Startup World Cup Ghana, McHan Cosmetics Limited, was among the diverse pool of startups vying for the grand prize at the Silicon Valley event.

While Ghana’s representative did not clinch the top prize, their participation has opened doors for future collaborations and investment opportunities, solidifying the country’s place in the global entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Looking forward, the success of the inaugural edition has cemented the Startup World Cup Ghana as an annual event.

The 2025 edition promises to be even bigger and better, further empowering local startups and providing them with a platform to compete on the global stage.

As the global startup scene continues to expand, Ghana’s increasing visibility through events like the Startup World Cup signals a promising future for its entrepreneurs.

With a return on the horizon for 2025, the Startup World Cup Ghana is poised to become a cornerstone event for the nation’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Interested startups eager to participate in the next Ghana Regional Event should bookmark the page https://startupworldcupghana.com/ to get more information.

 

About Startup World Cup

The Startup World Cup is a global competition that aims to connect startups with global investors, venture capitalists, and mentors.

With over 100 regional events around the world, the competition culminates in the Grand Finale in San Francisco, where startups vie for a $1 million investment prize. https://www.startupworldcup.io/

About Data Today

Data Today: Data Today is an organization headquartered in Ghana that focuses on technology research, solutions, and training.

Data Today works around the changing roles of technology in our day-to-day activities and how we interact with digital technology service providers and partners around the world.

Partnering with Pegasus Tech Ventures, Data Today hosted the inaugural Ghana edition of the Startup World Cup and will continue to do so in 2025. https://ourdatatoday.org/.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Precious Baidoo

Ag. President, Data Today

precious@ourdatatoday.org

+233264296366

 

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Musk v Ambani: Billionaires battle over India’s satellite internet https://www.adomonline.com/musk-v-ambani-billionaires-battle-over-indias-satellite-internet/ Wed, 23 Oct 2024 03:12:39 +0000 https://www.adomonline.com/?p=2463286

The race between two of the world’s richest men, Elon Musk and Mukesh Ambani, is intensifying as they prepare to face off in India’s satellite broadband market.

After India’s government announced last week that satellite spectrum for broadband would be allocated administratively rather than through auction, this battle has only heated up.

Mr Musk had previously criticised the auction model supported by Mr Ambani.

Satellite broadband provides internet access anywhere within the satellite’s coverage.

This makes it a reliable option for remote or rural areas where traditional services like DSL – a connection that uses telephone lines to transmit data – or cable are unavailable. It also helps to bridge the hard-to-reach digital divide.

India’s telecom regulator has yet to announce spectrum pricing, and commercial satellite internet services are still to begin.

However, satellite internet subscribers in India are projected to reach two million by 2025, according to credit rating agency ICRA.

The market is competitive, with around half a dozen key players, led by Mr Ambani’s Reliance Jio.

Having invested billions in airwave auctions to dominate the telecom sector, Jio has now partnered with Luxembourg-based SES Astra, a leading satellite operator.

Unlike Mr Musk’s Starlink, which uses low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites positioned between 160 and 1,000 km from Earth’s surface for faster service, SES operates medium-Earth orbit (MEO) satellites at a much higher altitude, offering a more cost-effective system.

Receivers on the ground receive satellite signals and process it to internet data.

Mr Musk’s Starlink has 6,419 satellites in orbit and four million subscribers across 100 countries. He has been aiming to launch services in India since 2021, but regulatory hurdles have caused delays.

If his company enters India this time, it will boost Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s efforts to attract foreign investment, many say.

It will also help his government’s efforts to burnish its image as pro-business, countering claims that its policies favour top Indian businessmen like Mr Ambani.

Getty Images Mukesh Ambani, chairman and managing director of Reliance Industries Ltd., is speaking at an event in Mumbai, India, on March 30, 2024. (
Getty Images Mr Ambani has spent billions in airwave auctions to dominate India’s telecom sector

While auctions have proved lucrative for it in the past, India’s government defends its decision to allocate satellite spectrum administratively this time, claiming it aligns with international norms.

Satellite spectrum is not typically allocated by auction as the costs involved could impact the financial rationale or investment in the business, says Gareth Owen, a technology analyst at Counterpoint Research. In contrast, administrative allocation would ensure spectrum is fairly distributed among “qualified” players, giving Starlink a chance to enter the race.

But Mr Ambani’s Reliance says an auction is necessary to ensure fair competition, given the lack of clear legal provisions in India on how satellite broadband services can be offered directly to people.

In letters written to the telecoms regulator earlier in October, seen by the BBC, Reliance repeatedly urged the creation of a “level playing field between satellite-based and terrestrial access services”.

The firm also said that “recent advancements in satellite technologies… have significantly blurred the lines between satellite and terrestrial networks”, and that “satellite-based services are no longer confined to areas unserved by terrestrial networks”. One letter stated that spectrum assignment is done through auctions under India’s telecom laws, with administrative allocation allowed only in cases of “public interest, government functions, or technical or economic reasons preventing auctions.”

On X, Mr Musk pointed out that the spectrum “was long designated by the ITU as shared spectrum for satellites”. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a UN agency for digital technology, sets global regulations, and India is a member and signatory.

When Reuters news agency reported that Mukesh Ambani was lobbying the government to reconsider its position, Mr Musk responded to a post on X, saying: “I will call [Mr Ambani] and ask if it would not be too much trouble to allow Starlink to compete to provide internet services to the people of India.”

Mr Ambani’s resistance to the administrative pricing method might stem from a strategic advantage, suggests Mr Owen. The tycoon could be “prepared to outbid Musk”, using an auction to potentially exclude Starlink from the Indian market, he says.

Getty Images A Starlink satellite on the roof of a home in Galisteo, New Mexico, US, on Monday, March 18, 2024. Starlink is a satellite-based internet provider owned by SpaceX.
Getty Images A Starlink satellite on the roof of a home in New Mexico, US

But it is not Mr Ambani alone who supported the auction route.

Sunil Mittal, chairman of Bharti Airtel, has said that companies aiming to serve urban, high-end customers should “take telecom licences and buy spectrum like everyone else”.

Mr Mittal – India’s second-largest wireless operator – along with Mr Ambani, controls 80% of the country’s telecom market.

Such resistance is a “defensive move aimed at raising costs for international players seen as long-term threats,” says Mahesh Uppal, a telecommunications expert.

“While not immediate competition, satellite technologies are advancing quickly. Telecom companies [in India] with large terrestrial businesses fear that satellites could soon become more competitive, challenging their dominance.”

At stake, clearly, is the promise of the vast Indian market. Nearly 40% of India’s 1.4 billion people still don’t have internet access, with rural areas making up most of the cases, according to EY-Parthenon, a consulting company.

For context, China is home to almost 1.09 billion internet users, which is almost 340 million more than India’s 751 million, according to DataReportal, which tracks global online trends.

India’s internet adoption rate still lags behind the global average of 66.2% but recent studies show that the country is closing the gap.

If priced properly, satellite broadband can help bridge some of this gap, and even help in the internet-of things (IoT), a network that connects everyday objects to the internet, allowing them to talk to each other.

Pricing will be crucial in India, where mobile data is among the cheapest globally – just 12 cents per gigabyte, according to Modi.

“A price war [with Indian operators] is inevitable. Musk has deep pockets. There’s no reason why he cannot offer a year of free services in [some] places to gain a foothold in the domestic market,” says Prasanto K Roy, a technology analyst.

Starlink has already cut prices in Kenya and South Africa.

AFP This picture taken on April 7, 2017 shows a 'Zero Connect' programme van driving on parched earth arriving for a tent school workshop with the children of Indian salt pan workers in the Little Rann of Kutch (LRK) region of Gujarat some 180km west of Ahmedabad. The children of Indian salt pan workers, drawn from the Agariya community in Gujarat state, accompany their parents in the remote and arid Little Rann of Kutch (LRK) region for nearly eight months of the year during the salt farming season. The 'Zero Connect' initiative provides basic education for the children in a joint initiative by the Agaria Heet Rakshak Manch, Digital Empowerment Foundation, Internet Society and Wireless for Communities groups. The initiative runs mobile workshops for the children, providing online access and education materials. -- Sheltered beneath a canvas sheet to escape the blistering desert sun, miles from any roads or power lines, a group of Indian children huddle around a digital tablet and experience the internet for the very first time. The remote wi-fi connection is powered by a van bringing the digital world to around 10,000 families living on the inhospitable salt flats of western Gujarat, where they work eight months a year in extreme conditions. (
AFP Many remote regions of India are still not connected to the internet

It may not be easy though. In a 2023 report, EY-Parthenon noted that Starlink’s higher costs – almost 10 times those of major Indian broadband providers – could make it difficult to compete without government subsidies.

Many more LEO satellites – the kind Starlink operates – are needed to provide global coverage than MEO satellites, increasing launch and maintenance costs.

And some of the fears of Indian operators could be unfounded.

“Businesses will never switch completely to satellite unless there is no terrestrial option. Terrestrial networks will always be less expensive than satellite, except in thinly populated regions,” says Mr Owen.

Mr Musk could have a first-mover advantage, but “satellite markets are notoriously slow to develop”.

The battle between two of the world’s richest men over internet of space has truly begun.

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Blade Runner 2049 maker sues Musk over robotaxi https://www.adomonline.com/blade-runner-2049-maker-sues-musk-over-robotaxi/ Wed, 23 Oct 2024 01:18:34 +0000 https://www.adomonline.com/?p=2463282 The maker of the film Blade Runner 2049 has sued Tesla, Elon Musk and Warner Bros Discovery, alleging they used imagery from the movie without permission.

Production firm Alcon Entertainment claims it had specifically denied a request from Warner Bros to use material from the film at the launch event for Tesla’s long-awaited robotaxi.

Alcon alleges that despite its refusal Tesla and the other organisers of the event on 10 October used artificial intelligence (AI) to create promotional imagery based on the film.

Tesla and Warner Bros did not immediately reply to requests for comment from BBC News.

The “financial magnitude of the misappropriation here was substantial,” the lawsuit said.

“Any prudent brand considering any Tesla partnership has to take Musk’s massively amplified, highly politicised, capricious and arbitrary behaviour, which sometimes veers into hate speech, into account,” it added.

Alcon also accused the event organisers of “false endorsement” by suggesting a connection between the production company and Tesla.

Warner Bros, which hosted the robotaxi launch event at one of its movie studios, was also the distributor of Blade Runner 2049 when it was released in 2017.

The highly-anticipated sequel to the 1982 cyberpunk classic Blade Runner, starred Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford, Ana de Armas and Jared Leto, and won two Academy Awards.

A scene from the film Blade Runner 2049

Elon Musk has referred to the original film several times in the past, hinting at one point that it was a source of inspiration for Tesla’s Cybertruck.

Alcon is currently producing a spinoff television series, Blade Runner 2099.

Separately, the director of 2004 sci-fi film I, Robot accused Mr Musk of copying his designs for humanoid machines and self-driving vehicles.

The title of Tesla robotaxi event – We, Robot – which played on the title of an Isaac Asimov short story collection, caught the eye of Alex Proyas.

But the claim was met with scepticism online, with some suggesting his own film is derivative.

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TikTok owner sacks intern for sabotaging AI project https://www.adomonline.com/tiktok-owner-sacks-intern-for-sabotaging-ai-project-2/ Tue, 22 Oct 2024 00:58:42 +0000 https://www.adomonline.com/?p=2462778

TikTok owner, ByteDance, says it has sacked an intern for “maliciously interfering” with the training of one of its artificial intelligence (AI) models.

But the firm rejected claims about the extent of the damage caused by the unnamed individual, saying they “contain some exaggerations and inaccuracies”.

It comes after reports about the incident spread over the weekend on social media.

The Chinese technology giant’s Doubao ChatGPT-like generative AI model is the country’s most popular AI chatbot.

“The individual was an intern with the [advertising] technology team and has no experience with the AI Lab,” ByteDance said in a statement.

“Their social media profile and some media reports contain inaccuracies.”

Its commercial online operations, including its large language AI models, were unaffected by the intern’s actions, the company added.

ByteDance also denied reports that the incident caused more than $10m (£7.7m) of damage by disrupting an AI training system made up of thousands of powerful graphics processing units (GPU).

As well as firing the person in August, ByteDance said it had informed the intern’s university and industry bodies about the incident.

ByteDance operates some of the world’s most popular social media apps, including TikTok and its Chinese-equivalent Douyin.

It is widely seen as a leader when it comes to algorithm development due to how appealing its apps are to users.

Like many of its peers in China and around the world, the social media giant is investing heavily in AI.

It uses the technology to power its Doubao chatbot as well as many other applications, including a text-to-video tool called Jimeng.

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TikTok owner sacks intern for sabotaging AI project https://www.adomonline.com/tiktok-owner-sacks-intern-for-sabotaging-ai-project/ Mon, 21 Oct 2024 13:58:35 +0000 https://www.adomonline.com/?p=2462583 TikTok owner, ByteDance, says it has sacked an intern for “maliciously interfering” with the training of one of its artificial intelligence (AI) models.

But the firm rejected claims about the extent of the damage caused by the unnamed individual, saying they “contain some exaggerations and inaccuracies”.

It comes after reports about the incident spread over the weekend on social media.

The Chinese technology giant’s Doubao ChatGPT-like generative AI model is the country’s most popular AI chatbot.

“The individual was an intern with the [advertising] technology team and has no experience with the AI Lab,” ByteDance said in a statement.

“Their social media profile and some media reports contain inaccuracies.”

Its commercial online operations, including its large language AI models, were unaffected by the intern’s actions, the company added.

ByteDance also denied reports that the incident caused more than $10m (£7.7m) of damage by disrupting an AI training system made up of thousands of powerful graphics processing units (GPU).

As well as firing the person in August, ByteDance said it had informed the intern’s university and industry bodies about the incident.

ByteDance operates some of the world’s most popular social media apps, including TikTok and its Chinese-equivalent Douyin.

It is widely seen as a leader when it comes to algorithm development due to how appealing its apps are to users.

Like many of its peers in China and around the world, the social media giant is investing heavily in AI.

It uses the technology to power its Doubao chatbot as well as many other applications, including a text-to-video tool called Jimeng.

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5 surprising dangers of using your laptop in bed https://www.adomonline.com/5-surprising-dangers-of-using-your-laptop-in-bed/ Sat, 19 Oct 2024 07:24:34 +0000 https://www.adomonline.com/?p=2462011

Many of us have habitually used our laptops in bed without thinking twice about it.

After a long day, it’s tempting to crawl into bed with your laptop to watch a movie, finish some work, or browse the internet. It feels cosy and convenient, doesn’t it?

Very convenient.

However, this seemingly harmless routine can have some unexpected downsides that affect both our health and our devices. We understand how comforting it can be to relax under the covers with your laptop, but we need to be aware of the potential risks involved.

When you use your laptop in bed, it’s hard to maintain good posture. You might find yourself hunching over the screen or propping yourself up with pillows in awkward positions.

Over time, this can lead to neck and back pain due to the strain on your muscles and spine.

Poor posture can cause headaches and discomfort that linger long after you’ve closed your laptop.

To protect your neck and back, it’s better to use your laptop at a desk or table where you can sit upright and keep the screen at eye level.

Laptops need proper ventilation to stay cool and function correctly. When you place your laptop on soft surfaces like blankets or pillows, the vents can become blocked.

This can cause your laptop to overheat, which may slow down its performance or even lead to hardware damage.

In some cases, overheating can be a fire hazard. To prevent this, always use your laptop on a hard, flat surface that allows air to circulate underneath it.

The blue light emitted by laptop screens can interfere with your body’s natural sleep cycle.

Using your laptop in bed exposes you to this light right before you try to sleep, which can make it harder to fall asleep and reduce the quality of your rest.

You might find yourself feeling tired and less alert the next day.

To promote better sleep, it’s a good idea to turn off electronic devices at least an hour before bedtime and keep your bedroom a screen-free zone.

Your bed should be a clean and comfortable place to rest. Bringing your laptop into bed can introduce dust, dirt, and germs that accumulate on your device throughout the day.

These particles can transfer to your bedding, potentially triggering allergies or respiratory issues.

Keeping electronic devices out of your bed helps maintain a cleaner sleeping environment, which is better for your health.

While it might seem efficient to work from the comfort of your bed, blending your workspace with your sleep space can have negative effects.

It can make it harder for your mind to associate your bed with rest, leading to increased stress and difficulty relaxing.

Separating work and sleep areas can improve your focus when working and help you unwind more effectively when it’s time to rest.

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Elon Musk reveals Tesla’s Robotaxi and Robovan https://www.adomonline.com/elon-musk-reveals-teslas-robotaxi-and-robovan/ Fri, 11 Oct 2024 04:54:19 +0000 https://www.adomonline.com/?p=2459295

Elon Musk showed off Tesla’s upcoming driverless taxi at its “We, Robot” on Thursday evening.

The unveiling took place on a lot in Warner Bros. Discovery’s movie studio in Burbank, California. The location allowed Tesla to show off its autonomous driving capabilities without running into any unexpected situations with traffic.

Musk walked into the event and entered a sleek-looking silver Robotaxi, a two-door vehicle that opened upward with butterfly-style doors.

The Robotaxi, also referred to as Cybercab, then took Musk on a ride around the lot before he exited to kick off the event.

Musk said the Robotaxi has no steering wheel or pedals and does not need to be plugged in. Instead, he said the electric vehicle relies on inductive charging and simply needs to drive over the charger to charge.

Elon Musk reveals Tesla's Robotaxi and Robovan
Elon Musk reveals Tesla’s Robotaxi and Robovan

Musk said Tesla had at least 20 Cybercabs, and that there were 50 fully autonomous vehicles at the event, some of which were already driving around without any people in them.

Musk said Tesla would have unsupervised fully autonomous vehicles, the Model 3 and the Model Y, on the road in California and Texas next year and that the Cybercab would be in production before 2027. However, Musk himself noted his tendency to be optimistic on timelines, regularly delivering products later than he initially estimates.

Tesla’s upcoming RobotaxiTesla

He also said the Cybercabs would be available to buy. He expects them to cost less than $30,000.

Tesla provided more details in a post on X, announcing that the Robotaxi service would have no driver fee and that the fully self-driving vehicles would use cameras alone, rather than radar or lidar equipment. The company also said customers could call the Robotaxi once and use it for as long as it’s needed, whether for a short trip or for a full day.

Musk did not share many specifics about the technology behind the Robotaxis or the safety features. Tesla has been scrutinized in the past over the safety of its driver-assistance systems.

Tesla also announced the Robovan, a large shuttle van that Musk said could seat up to 20 people.

A Tesla Robovan prototype makes its way through a Los Angeles-area setScreenshot

Musk also touted Optimus, a humanoid robot that he said would cost $28,000 to $30,000, but did not share a timeline on when the robot would be available.

“I think this will be the biggest product ever, of any kind,” Musk said, adding, “I think everyone’s going to want their Optimus buddy.”

At the end of the presentation, several of the robots danced on the stage to a light show.

Tesla Optimus robot prototypes walk onto the stage with Elon MuskScreengrab

In a post on X ahead of the reveal, Musk said Tesla created a “futuristic world” at the studio lot, resharing photos of a pamphlet from the event. The photos included a map that showed four separate areas that had been assigned titles that included “TSLA Theater,” “New York,” “Metropolis,” and “Westworld.” The handout said guests could visit the different areas for things like Texas BBQ, arcade games, and a block party complete with street performers.

The event got off to a late start, kicking off nearly an hour later than planned, which Musk said in an X post was due to someone in the crowd having a medical emergency.

The reveal was also live-streamed on X, Musk’s social-media platform formerly known as Twitter, and had over 3 million viewers at one point.

The unveiling of Tesla’s latest vehicle is a major milestone for the company and has been highly anticipated for years. Tesla initially planned to unveil the Robotaxi in August but pushed back the date due to Musk requesting an “important design change to the front” of the vehicle, he wrote in a post on his social media platform, X. He also said the “extra time” would allow the company to “show off a few other things.”

The Tesla CEO has said reaching full autonomy is key to Tesla’s success in the future.

“The value of Tesla overwhelmingly is autonomy,” Musk told investors in July.

Musk, in the last decade, has made repeated predictions about when the technology, which also faces regulation hurdles, will be ready. Tesla’s Autopilot driver-assist software is widely available, but the optional Full-Self-Driving upgrade is still considered beta software and requires constant human supervision and a readiness to take over driving. In 2016, Musk said during a press call that a Tesla vehicle would autonomously drive from Los Angeles to New York City by 2017. In 2019, the billionaire said at a conference that Tesla would have a million Robotaxis on the road in 2020. By 2022, the timeline moved to 2023.

Despite Musk’s optimistic outlook, Tesla’s self-driving technology has faced significant challenges and regulatory scrutiny. A recent National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report said it was investigating hundreds of crashes where Autopilot was involved, which resulted in 29 fatalities.

While previous Tesla vehicles have Level 2 autonomy, Alphabet-owned Waymo, which has partnered with Uber, has reached Level 4 autonomy, which means the vehicle can drive without anyone behind the wheel in some cities in the US.

Some analysts don’t expect fully autonomous Robotaxis for several more years. In the meantime, regulatory approval for the Robotaxi and its unsupervised full self-driving technology will be a main hurdle for Tesla to overcome in the coming months and years.

Watch the unveiling of Tesla’s Robotaxi and Robovan below: 

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We, Robot nonadult
5G service to be rolled out in Ghana on November 1 – Communications Minister https://www.adomonline.com/5g-service-to-be-rolled-out-in-ghana-on-november-1-communications-minister/ Thu, 10 Oct 2024 09:57:44 +0000 https://www.adomonline.com/?p=2458941 The Minister of Communications and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful has announced that all is set for the 5G service to be rolled out from November 1, 2024.

The Minister disclosed this during an interview on Peace FM’s Kokrokoo on Wednesday, October 2, 2024.

Mrs. Owusu-Ekuful noted that, the necessary structures have been put in place for the service to commence.

Government had earlier announced that the 5G service will be rolled out by the end of this year.

What is 5G service?

5G service has been described as the Fifth Generation of Wireless Technology, which offers higher internet speed, higher upload and download speed, with more consistent connections and improved capacity.

5G networks run on the same radio frequencies as their predecessors, 3G, 4G and 4G LTE networks, which previously served most mobile phones worldwide.

However, improvements in speed, latency and bandwidth give 5G networks shorter download and upload times, stronger connectivity and better reliability, making them the natural successor to 4G technology.

It is said to be 10 times faster than the 4 G Plus service.

Government on 5G roll out

In an earlier engagement, Mrs. Owusu-Ekuful revealed that government has partnered with seven industry players to establish a shared infrastructure for 5G services with the aim of delivering affordable and high-speed mobile broadband services across Ghana.

During a Meet-to-the Press engagement earlier this year, She revealed that the 5G service is expected to bring numerous benefits to Ghanaians, including faster data speeds, lower latency, and increased connectivity.

This will enable citizens to access digital services, including healthcare, education, and financial services, more efficiently and effectively.

5G service provision and consortium of companies

Government has awarded the 5G license to The Next Gen InfraCo NGIC’s,   a new shared  Infrastructure Company, co-promoted by the government and seven other firms .

This new shared infrastructure, according to government is aimed at delivering affordable 5G mobile broadband services across Ghana.

The partners include Ascend Digital, K-NET, Radisys, Nokia, Tech Mahindra, AT Ghana, and Telecel Ghana.

Source: Joy Business

READ ALSO:

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US judge orders Google to open app store to rivals https://www.adomonline.com/us-judge-orders-google-to-open-app-store-to-rivals/ Tue, 08 Oct 2024 21:52:26 +0000 https://www.adomonline.com/?p=2458339

A US federal judge has ruled that Google must allow Android apps made by rival technology firms onto its Google Play app store for three years starting next month.

The change was among several remedies ordered by Judge James Donato in a case brought against Google by Epic Games, the maker of the hit video game Fortnite.

Google says it will appeal against the decision and ask for a pause to the proposed remedies.

In December, a jury sided with Epic, which says Google stifled competitors by controlling the distribution of apps and payments on Android phones.

“The changes would put consumers’ privacy and security at risk, make it harder for developers to promote their apps, and reduce competition on devices,” Google said in a statement.

Some legal experts have hailed the ruling as a meaningful challenge to the dominance of a handful of technology giants.

“It shows that courts are not necessarily opposed to asking dominant platforms to share access with rivals in the name of competition,” said Rebecca Haw Allensworth, a professor at Vanderbilt Law School.

Among other remedies, the ruling called for Google to make its catalogue of apps available to competing app stores.

“That isn’t something antitrust law would normally require,” said Mark Lemley, professor at Stanford Law School. “But the judge correctly noted that once you have violated the antitrust laws, courts can order you to do affirmative things to undo the harm you caused, even though you didn’t have the obligation to do those things in the first place.”

Google had argued that its Play app store operates in a competitive landscape, citing competition with iPhone-maker Apple, which was also sued by Epic Games in 2020.

That case ended with an appeals court ruling that Apple does not have a monopoly in mobile games.

Monday’s order is the latest legal blow suffered by Google in recent years on competition grounds.

In August, US District Judge Amit Mehta sided with the US Department of Justice, which accused the company of operating an illegal monopoly in online search.

Last month, District Judge Leonie Brinkema finished hearing arguments over similar government allegations that Google dominates the advertising technology market.

The company’s critics say Google’s fees of up to 30% on every payment made on its app store has meant higher prices for consumers.

“That is a rate they were able to charge because they were a monopoly,” said Lee Hepner, Senior Legal Counsel at the American Economic Liberties Project.

Mr Hepner said that the ruling is likely to change that.

“There’s going to be a lot more incentive for developers to enter this market, and prices should be lower for consumers,” he said.

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This little robot is helping sick children attend school https://www.adomonline.com/this-little-robot-is-helping-sick-children-attend-school/ Tue, 08 Oct 2024 01:49:14 +0000 https://www.adomonline.com/?p=2457843 When children are chronically ill and unable to attend school, it’s not just the illness that can be debilitating — the separation from the classroom and friends can also take a toll.

For young people undergoing long-term treatment or struggling with mental health issues, Norwegian company No Isolation developed the AV1 robot, which can take a child’s place in class, serving as their eyes, ears, and voice, and helping them stay connected with their classmates.

The AV1 looks like a blank, simplified version of a human head and torso. It can rotate 360 degrees and is fitted with a camera, microphone and speaker. Teachers place it on a classroom desk and the student controls it remotely using an app, for which they are given a unique password.

“They can tap or swipe their finger around the screen to look at different corners of the classroom,” said Florence Salisbury, marketing director for No Isolation. The student can talk to the teacher or their classmates through the speaker, and the app has a “raise hand” option that makes a light flash on the robot’s head. They can also select emojis that display in the robot’s eyes.

Salisbury says there are 3,000 active AV1 units in 17 countries, mostly in the UK and Germany, both of which have over 1,000 of the robots in operation.

In the UK, schools can rent the AV1 for around £150 ($200) per month, or opt for a one-time purchase for £3,700 (just under $4,960), with an additional service package of £780 (around $1,045) annually.

The AV1 is fitted with a camera, microphone and speaker.
The AV1 is fitted with a camera, microphone and speaker.  Markus Haner/No Isolation

Salisbury says that perhaps the robot’s biggest benefit is its ability to maintain social bonds. She shared the story of a 15-year-old student in Warwickshire, England, using AV1 whose friends take the robot to lunch with them, keeping him included in their social circle.

“During a long absence, where classmates might not see their friend for an extended period, this connection to school really becomes a lifeline for that student, especially for those with a medical condition,” Salisbury said.

According to the most recent government statistics, more than 19% of students in England were persistently absent from school in the autumn of 2023/24, 7.8% due to illness alone, which is higher than pre-pandemic levels.

During the Covid pandemic, remote learning became the norm, but as students returned to school, for many it’s no longer an option. AV1 was launched before the pandemic, but some schools have reported using the robots to help students who have struggled to reintegrate with the classroom environment.

“They make the child important”

The UK’s Chartwell Cancer Trust has a supply of 25 AV1 robots it provides to children with serious illness. Founding trustee Michael Douglas told CNN that the robots enable children to stay engaged with their education even while in intensive care. “They are loved by the parents and make a real difference,” he said. “They make the child important.”

But he acknowledged that there can be administrative challenges around their use and that “red tape can be a real issue” when trying to get the AV1 system into schools or hospitals.

He added that some schools may also struggle to maintain the necessary technical infrastructure for seamless operation, because of weak Wi-Fi or mobile signal dark spots.

An AV1 charging station at Moulsham High School, in England.
An AV1 charging station at Moulsham High School, in England.

Technical training

In June, research published in the peer-reviewed journal Frontiers in Digital Health, examining the use of the AV1 in Germany and of the OriHime avatar robot in Japan, found the technologies “bear high potential for children to stay socially and educationally connected.”

However, it added that there was a need to establish structures to give equal access to avatar technologies, and that training sessions for teachers on the technical and social aspects of the robots are important for successful implementation.

Last August, No Isolation rolled out AV1 Academy, a library of training materials and resources aimed at improving the usability of the robot.

According to Salisbury, the AV1 is designed with robust privacy features. No personal data is collected, and the app prevents screenshots or recordings. Encryption secures the livestream, and only one device can connect at a time, with the robot’s head and eyes lighting up to signal active use.

There are other avatar robots on the market and some, like VGo and Buddy, have wheels and can move around the school or workplace, while some have a screen that shows the user’s face. Salisbury said that not having wheels is more practical for AV1, and weighing around 1 kilogram, the robot is easy for teachers or students to move between classes in a bespoke backpack.

She added that the absence of a screen showing the child’s face can also be an advantage. “Removing that pressure to be on camera, we’ve seen, increases the likelihood of the robot being used for students with emotionally based school avoidance,” Salisbury said.

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OpenAI value surges to $157bn in funding deal https://www.adomonline.com/openai-value-surges-to-157bn-in-funding-deal/ Thu, 03 Oct 2024 10:45:26 +0000 https://www.adomonline.com/?p=2456214

OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, has raised $6.6bn in its latest funding round, as investors including its early backer Microsoft continue to bet big on artificial intelligence (AI).

The deal gave the tech company a value of $157bn (£118bn) – similar to investment bank Goldman Sachs and more than most of America’s biggest companies – making it one of the most valuable start-ups in the world.

OpenAI said the money would allow it to stay at the cutting edge of AI research.

The influx comes as the company has been in the spotlight, in part for internal leadership drama and debate over its future status.

Chief executive Sam Altman is said to be restructuring the company to become a for-profit entity, stripping it of its non-profit board.

While the company’s transformation has helped attract investors, it has alienated some members of its staff and critics.

Those critics include OpenAI co-founder Elon Musk who departed the firm in 2018. He has said the company has abandoned its founding mission of developing AI for the benefit of humanity.

OpenAI is widely credited with helping bring artificial intelligence tools into the mainstream and sparking a gush of wider investment and interest in the sector.

“The new funding will allow us to double down on our leadership in frontier AI research, increase compute capacity, and continue building tools that help people solve hard problems,” OpenAI said.

Funders in the latest round included investment firm Thrive Capital, Japanese tech conglomerate SoftBank, American chip giant Nvidia, and Microsoft, which already has a large stake in the company.

Under the terms of the deal, investors can renegotiate or claw back their funds if the structural change into a for-profit does not take effect within two years. It also hinges on and the removal of cap on returns for investors.

While the valuation announced Wednesday looked high by normal standards, “these are not normal times,” said Karl Freund, principal analyst at Cambrian AI Research.

“Unless AI is somehow a bust, which I cannot imagine, OpenAI will be a powerful force to be reckoned with.”

OpenAI said it has 250 million weekly active users, as well as one million paying business customers.

The company is on track to generate $3.6bn in revenue. But projected losses of more than $5bn are set to outpace revenue, according to Reuters.

Pressure to quickly rollout new versions of its blockbuster chatbot has also strained relations between OpenAI’s research and safety teams and staff focused on monetising the company’s products, according to reports.

OpenAI has seen an exodus of key executives in the year since Mr Altman was briefly ousted as its top executive in November, with departures including former chief scientist Ilya Sutskever.

Last week, the company’s long-time chief technology officer Mira Murati stepped down, saying in a statement that she had “made the difficult decision to leave” after much reflection.

Two top OpenAI researchers also announced their departures the same day as Murati.

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iOS 18: Here’s complete list of compatible iPhones https://www.adomonline.com/ios-18-heres-complete-list-of-compatible-iphones/ Wed, 25 Sep 2024 02:20:26 +0000 https://www.adomonline.com/?p=2452985 If you’re eager to download iOS 18, Apple’s latest software update for iPhones, here’s a rundown of all the compatible devices that support this next-generation iPhone operating system.

You can install iOS 18 on the following iPhone models:

  • iPhone 15
  • iPhone 15 Plus
  • iPhone 15 Pro
  • iPhone 15 Pro Max
  • iPhone 14
  • iPhone 14 Plus
  • iPhone 14 Pro
  • iPhone 14 Pro Max
  • iPhone 13
  • iPhone 13 mini
  • iPhone 13 Pro
  • iPhone 13 Pro Max
  • iPhone 12
  • iPhone 12 mini
  • iPhone 12 Pro
  • iPhone 12 Pro Max
  • iPhone 11
  • iPhone 11 Pro
  • iPhone 11 Pro Max
  • iPhone XS
  • iPhone XS Max
  • iPhone XR
  • iPhone SE (second generation or later)

For those wanting to take full advantage of Apple Intelligence’s upcoming features, you’ll need the A17 Pro chip found in the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max.

These devices are equipped with 8GB of RAM, which is necessary for running the most advanced features.

Unfortunately, Apple Intelligence won’t be available right away, as its release has been delayed.

What’s New in iOS 18?

Customization: iOS 18 introduces a range of new customization options, allowing users to move widgets freely on the home screen and even set custom colour schemes, including a dark mode for all widgets.

Privacy: Apple enhances privacy with the ability to lock and hide specific apps, offering extra protection from prying eyes.

Messages: The messaging experience is improved with new features like additional tap-back options, scheduled messages, and fun text effects. Plus, satellite communication with end-to-end encryption ensures users can stay connected no matter where they are.

Apple Intelligence: If you have a compatible device, Apple Intelligence brings powerful new features, such as an upgraded Siri that integrates with apps and even uses ChatGPT to provide advanced suggestions and information. Apple is reportedly considering further expanding options, giving users more choice than ever before.

Genmoji & More: Apple Intelligence allows you to generate images from prompts, create Genmojis (personalized emojis), and even adapt handwriting in Notes.

It also offers personalized writing suggestions based on your style, helping with tone and context. Additionally, it can summarize emails and notifications, so you never feel overwhelmed.

All these exciting features will be available for compatible iPhones once iOS 18 is released.

However, Apple Intelligence features will be exclusive to devices equipped with the A17 Pro chip.

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Several arrested after woman dies in ‘suicide pod’ https://www.adomonline.com/several-arrested-after-woman-dies-in-suicide-pod/ Wed, 25 Sep 2024 01:23:34 +0000 https://www.adomonline.com/?p=2452972

Police in Switzerland made multiple arrests after a woman reportedly ended her life using a so-called suicide pod, in apparently the first case of its kind.

Police in the Schaffhausen region said they arrested “several persons” on suspicion of inciting, and aiding and abetting suicide after she died reportedly by using a pod made by the company Sarco on Monday.

While assisted dying is legally protected in some circumstances in Switzerland, it is strictly regulated and the Sarco pod has encountered opposition.

Officers recovered the device and body at the scene.

The company behind the controversial pod says it can be solely operated by the person seeking to end their own life, without medical supervision.

Police said it was used on Monday at a forest hut in the Merishausen area, a sparsely populated part of Switzerland on the German border.

Police said they were tipped off by a law firm about a suicide involving the device. The number of people arrested and their identities were not disclosed. The deceased also was not named.

In July, a pro-assisted dying group, which promotes the Sarco device, said it anticipated that it would be used for the first time this year.

Advocates say it provides an option not reliant on drugs or doctors, and that it expands access to euthanasia as the portable device can be 3D-printed and assembled at home.

However, there also has been opposition in Switzerland, despite the country having some of the world’s most protective laws surrounding assisted dying.

Critics fear the device’s modern design glamorises suicide and the fact that it can be operated without medical oversight is concerning.

Assisted dying is illegal in the UK and in most other European countries, but thousands have travelled to Switzerland over the years to end their own lives.

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New video shows remains of imploded Titan sub on ocean floor https://www.adomonline.com/new-video-shows-remains-of-imploded-titan-sub-on-ocean-floor/ Wed, 18 Sep 2024 14:05:24 +0000 https://www.adomonline.com/?p=2450587  

The U.S. Coast Guard began its first public hearings as part of its investigations to look into what caused the Titan submersible to implode almost 15 months ago.

On June 18, 2023, five people were aboard the vessel that imploded as it descended to explore the Titanic wreckage. Four days later, debris was found near the search area, with the Coast Guard saying at the time that it was consistent with a “catastrophic implosion.”

On Sept. 16, an image of debris of the submersible as well as the crew’s final message were among the new details revealed during the hearing, according to NBC News.

The final message from the crew was: “All good here.”

Still of the video of destroyed Titan submersible cone resting on ocean floor. (Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation)

As for the image, it showed the debris that was recovered from the ocean floor.

The people that were inside the Titan were CEO Stockton Rush, British billionaire and owner of Action Aviation Hamish Harding, French dive expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet, and Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood and his 19-year-old, son Suleman Dawood.

OceanGate, the company behind the submersible, arranged for private tours to explore the Titanic shipwreck. It was later criticized for its lack of testing and use of experimental materials.

The company has since posted on its website that it “has suspended all exploration and commercial operations.”

According to NBC News, Titan lost all contact with its support ship, Polar Prince, almost two hours into its descent to the Titanic wreckage, which is about 13,000 feet under the water’s surface.

The trip was supposed to take about two and a half hours to the site, and then another four hours to explore the sunken ship before returning. The Titan, however, did not come back at its scheduled time.

The purpose of the hearing is to uncover the facts of what happened and make recommendations for future deep sea explorations, the Coast Guard said. It will take place over the course of two weeks in North Charleston, South Carolina.

OceanGate tourist submersible descending at sea. (OceanGate / Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Former employees, scientists and experts will also take part in the hearings, with the cause of failure to also be examined.

NBC News reports that the Marine Board of Investigation will also “determine the extent of any negligence or misconduct, and potential criminality would be referred to the Department of Justice,” board chairman Jason Neubauer said.

Among the witnesses in the Monday, Sept. 16 hearing was former engineering director at OceanGate Tony Nissen, who NBC News reports, claimed he was “terminated” after he “wouldn’t sign off” on an expedition in after the submersible was struck by lighting and compromised its experimental carbon fiber hull.

Nissen also said Rush had asked him to be a pilot on the Titanic missions, which he refused.

 

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New footage shows wreckage of Titan sub on ocean floor nonadult
Elon Musk’s new ‘blindsight device’ could offer sight to the blind https://www.adomonline.com/elon-musks-new-blindsight-device-could-offer-sight-to-the-blind/ Wed, 18 Sep 2024 12:59:27 +0000 https://www.adomonline.com/?p=2450532 Elon Musk has unveiled Neuralink’s latest innovation, the Blindsight device, which he claims could revolutionize vision restoration for individuals with severe visual impairments.

In a recent post on his X page, Musk provided exciting details about the device’s capabilities.

According to him, the Blindsight device is designed to offer vision restoration even for those who have lost both eyes and their optic nerves, given that their visual cortex is still intact.

“For those who have been blind from birth, this technology could provide the gift of sight for the very first time,” Musk wrote.

Musk tempered expectations by noting that the initial visual experience with the device might be low resolution.

“Initially, the vision provided by the Blindsight device will be akin to Atari graphics,” he said. “However, we anticipate that future advancements could enhance this technology to a level that surpasses natural vision.”

In a bold prediction, Musk suggested that the Blindsight device could eventually allow users to perceive wavelengths beyond the visible spectrum.

“The potential is there for users to see in infrared, ultraviolet, or even radar wavelengths, much like Geordi La Forge from ‘Star Trek,'” Musk stated.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recognized the transformative potential of the Blindsight device.

In response to Musk’s announcement, the FDA expressed enthusiasm about the technology.

“Neuralink’s Blindsight device represents a significant leap forward in assistive visual technologies. We look forward to seeing how this innovation can improve the lives of individuals with visual impairments,” said a spokesperson for the FDA.

The Blindsight device’s development has generated significant interest in the scientific and technological communities, marking a potential breakthrough in the quest to restore vision.

Check out Elon’s tweet below: 

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OpenAI releases o1, its first model with ‘reasoning’ abilities https://www.adomonline.com/openai-releases-o1-its-first-model-with-reasoning-abilities/ Sat, 14 Sep 2024 01:07:30 +0000 https://www.adomonline.com/?p=2448880

OpenAI is releasing a new model called o1, the first in a planned series of “reasoning” models that have been trained to answer more complex questions, faster than a human can.

It’s being released alongside o1-mini, a smaller, cheaper version. And yes, if you’re steeped in AI rumours: this is, in fact, the extremely hyped Strawberry model.

For OpenAI, o1 represents a step toward its broader goal of human-like artificial intelligence.

More practically, it does a better job at writing code and solving multistep problems than previous models. But it’s also more expensive and slower to use than GPT-4o. OpenAI is calling this release of o1 a “preview” to emphasize how nascent it is.

ChatGPT Plus and Team users get access to both o1-preview and o1-mini starting today, while Enterprise and Edu users will get access early next week.

OpenAI says it plans to bring o1-mini access to all the free users of ChatGPT but hasn’t set a release date yet. 

Developer access to o1 is really expensive: In the API, o1-preview is $15 per 1 million input tokens, or chunks of text parsed by the model, and $60 per 1 million output tokens. For comparison, GPT-4o costs $5 per 1 million input tokens and $15 per 1 million output tokens.

The training behind o1 is fundamentally different from its predecessors, OpenAI’s research lead, Jerry Tworek, tells me, though the company is being vague about the exact details.

He says o1 “has been trained using a completely new optimization algorithm and a new training dataset specifically tailored for it.”

A demo of OpenAI’s new reasoning model
Image: OpenAI

OpenAI taught previous GPT models to mimic patterns from its training data. With o1, it trained the model to solve problems on its own using a technique known as reinforcement learning, which teaches the system through rewards and penalties.

It then uses a “chain of thought” to process queries, similarly to how humans process problems by going through them step-by-step.

As a result of this new training methodology, OpenAI says the model should be more accurate. “We have noticed that this model hallucinates less,” Tworek says. But the problem still persists. “We can’t say we solved hallucinations.”

The main thing that sets this new model apart from GPT-4o is its ability to tackle complex problems, such as coding and math, much better than its predecessors while also explaining its reasoning, according to OpenAI.

“The model is definitely better at solving the AP math test than I am, and I was a math minor in college,” OpenAI’s chief research officer, Bob McGrew, tells me.

He says OpenAI also tested o1 against a qualifying exam for the International Mathematics Olympiad, and while GPT-4o only correctly solved only 13 percent of problems, o1 scored 83 percent.

“We can’t say we solved hallucinations”

In online programming contests known as Codeforces competitions, this new model reached the 89th percentile of participants, and OpenAI claims the next update of this model will perform “similarly to PhD students on challenging benchmark tasks in physics, chemistry and biology.”

At the same time, o1 is not as capable as GPT-4o in a lot of areas. It doesn’t do as well on factual knowledge about the world. It also doesn’t have the ability to browse the web or process files and images.

Still, the company believes it represents a brand-new class of capabilities. It was named o1 to indicate “resetting the counter back to 1.”

“I’m gonna be honest: I think we’re terrible at naming, traditionally,” McGrew says. “So I hope this is the first step of newer, more sane names that better convey what we’re doing to the rest of the world.”

I wasn’t able to demo o1 myself, but McGrew and Tworek showed it to me over a video call this week. They asked it to solve this puzzle:

“A princess is as old as the prince will be when the princess is twice as old as the prince was when the princess’s age was half the sum of their present age. What is the age of prince and princess? Provide all solutions to that question.”

The model buffered for 30 seconds and then delivered a correct answer. OpenAI has designed the interface to show the reasoning steps as the model thinks. What’s striking to me isn’t that it showed its work — GPT-4o can do that if prompted — but how deliberately o1 appeared to mimic human-like thought.

Phrases like “I’m curious about,” “I’m thinking through,” and “Ok, let me see” created a step-by-step illusion of thinking.

But this model isn’t thinking, and it’s certainly not human. So, why design it to seem like it is?

A screenshot of OpenAI’s reasoning capabilities, where it breaks down how it answers a question, using “I” statements.
Phrases like “I’m curious about,” “I’m thinking through,” and “Ok, let me see” create a step-by-step illusion of thinking. Image: OpenAI

OpenAI doesn’t believe in equating AI model thinking with human thinking, according to Tworek. But the interface is meant to show how the model spends more time processing and diving deeper into solving problems, he says. “There are ways in which it feels more human than prior models.”

“I think you’ll see there are lots of ways where it feels kind of alien, but there are also ways where it feels surprisingly human,” says McGrew.

The model is given a limited amount of time to process queries, so it might say something like, “Oh, I’m running out of time, let me get to an answer quickly.” Early on, during its chain of thought, it may also seem like it’s brainstorming and say something like, “I could do this or that, what should I do?”

Building toward agents

Large language models aren’t exactly that smart as they exist today. They’re essentially just predicting sequences of words to get you an answer based on patterns learned from vast amounts of data.

Take ChatGPT, which tends to mistakenly claim that the word “strawberry” has only two Rs because it doesn’t break down the word correctly. For what it’s worth, the new o1 model did get that query correct.

As OpenAI reportedly looks to raise more funding at an eye-popping $150 billion valuation, its momentum depends on more research breakthroughs.

The company is bringing reasoning capabilities to LLMs because it sees a future with autonomous systems, or agents, that are capable of making decisions and taking actions on your behalf.

For AI researchers, cracking reasoning is an important next step toward human-level intelligence. The thinking is that, if a model is capable of more than pattern recognition, it could unlock breakthroughs in areas like medicine and engineering. For now, though, o1’s reasoning abilities are relatively slow, not agent-like, and expensive for developers to use.

“We have been spending many months working on reasoning because we think this is actually the critical breakthrough,” McGrew says.

“Fundamentally, this is a new modality for models in order to be able to solve the really hard problems that it takes in order to progress towards human-like levels of intelligence.”

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Billionaire completes first private spacewalk https://www.adomonline.com/billionaire-completes-first-private-spacewalk/ Fri, 13 Sep 2024 05:14:37 +0000 https://www.adomonline.com/?p=2448313

A billionaire and an engineer have become the first non-professional crew to perform one of the riskiest manoeuvres in space – a spacewalk.

Jared Isaacman and Sarah Gillis stepped out of the SpaceX spacecraft around 15 minutes apart, starting at 11:52BST, wearing specially-designed suits.

“Back at home we all have a lot of work to do, but from here, Earth sure looks like a perfect world,” Mr Isaacman said as he exited.

It was commercially funded by Mr Isaacman. Before, only astronauts with government-funded space agencies had done a spacewalk.

Images broadcast live showed the two crew emerge from the white Dragon capsule to float 435 miles (700km) above the blue Earth below.

Mr Isaacman emerged first, wiggling his limbs, hands and feet to test his suit. He returned back inside the hatch, and Ms Gillis, who works for SpaceX, then climbed out.

Both crew narrated their spacewalk, describing how their suits performed outside of the craft.

Getty Images The four-person crew on Polaris Dawn.
Getty Images Polaris Dawn has a four-person crew. Left to right: Anna Menon, Sarah Gillis, Scott Poteet, and Jared Isaacman

The walk, originally scheduled for 07:23BST, was postponed early on Thursday.

Anticipation and tension grew as the crew prepared to open the hatch on the craft that has no air lock, or doorway between the vacuum outside and the rest of the spacecraft.

The four crew members spent two days “pre-breathing” to prevent becoming seriously ill from decompression sickness, known as getting “the bends”, as the pressure changed. That involves replacing nitrogen in the blood with oxygen.

The craft was then depressurized to bring it closer to the conditions of the space vacuum outside.

This type of space walk took a “very different approach” to previous walks from, for example, the International Space Station, according to Dr Simeon Barber, research scientist at the Open University.

The billionaire behind historic private spacewalk

In recent decades, astronauts used an airlock that separates most of a craft from the space vacuum outside – but this SpaceX Dragon capsule was in effect entirely exposed to space outside.

“It’s really exciting and I think it shows again that SpaceX is not afraid to do things in a different way,” he told BBC News.

But it was not without major risks.

Mr Isaacman, who funded the Polaris Dawn mission, was the only member of the four-person crew on the Polaris mission to have previously been to space.

He is commander on the Resilience spacecraft with his close friend Scott ‘Kidd’ Poteet, who is a retired air force pilot, and two SpaceX engineers Anna Menon and Sarah Gillis.

The Dragon capsule the team flew in has now launched to space three times, taking 11 crew in total. However, the capsule and the spacesuits are not subject to regulation and were untested in this environment.

SpaceX A member of Polaris Dawn crew prepares to open the hatch before a space walk
SpaceX The crew wore special suits and the entire spacecraft was exposed to the vacuum outside

Spacewalks are one of the most difficult manoeuvres in space, so the fact that a private company has pulled it off is a milestone in the history of space travel.

This walk at 435 miles (700km) was higher than any previous walk, and used innovative technology in the new extravehicular activity (EVA) astronaut suits.

These are an upgrade from SpaceX’s previous intravehicular activity (IVA) suits.

The EVA suit incorporates a heads-up display in its helmet, which provides information about the suit while it is being used.

Sarah Gillis read out data from her heads-up display during her time outside the Dragon capsule.

SpaceX says the suits are comfortable and flexible enough to be worn during launch and landing, eliminating the need to have separate IVA suits.

Extra nitrogen and oxygen tanks were installed, and all four astronauts wore the suits, meaning the mission broke the record for the most people in the vacuum of space at once.

The Resilience spacecraft left Earth on Tuesday on a SpaceX rocket.

The mission said it would travel up to 870 miles (1,400km) up in orbit – further than any human has been in space since Nasa’s Apollo programme ended in the 1970s.

A graphic showing the orbital height of the Polaris Dawn Resilience craft

Government space agencies like Nasa want the private sector to transport their astronauts on missions and bring down the cost of space travel.

And entrepreneurs like Isaacman and Elon Musk want to expand private space travel so that more non-professional astronauts can go to space.

This is a major symbolic step forwards, but that day is probably a long way off as the costs remain prohibitively high.

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Apple has officially discontinued these three iPhones https://www.adomonline.com/apple-has-officially-discontinued-these-three-iphones/ Fri, 13 Sep 2024 05:08:52 +0000 https://www.adomonline.com/?p=2448311 Apple has introduced four new iPhones at its “It’s Glowtime” event: the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max.

As is common with new releases, Apple is phasing out several older models to make room for the new devices.

Starting this week, the iPhone 16 series will join Apple’s lineup, which already includes the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, and the third-generation iPhone SE.

However, Apple is discontinuing the iPhone 13, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max.

These models will still be available through third-party retailers and may be offered at discounted prices, but Apple will no longer sell them directly.

Even though these older models are being retired, they will continue to receive software updates. For example, Apple’s upcoming iOS 18 will be available for iPhones from 2018 onwards, including the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR.

It’s important to note that Apple’s new AI features, known as Apple Intelligence, will only work with the iPhone 16 series and the iPhone 15 Pro models.

Older iPhones will not have access to these features. Additionally, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will come with larger screens.

The new iPhone 16 series will be available for pre-order on Friday, September 13, and will start shipping on September 20.

The new models feature updated processors, a new Camera Control feature, new colour options, and improved camera technology.

Alongside the new iPhones, Apple also announced the Apple Watch Series 10 and AirPods 4, along with updates to the Apple Ultra 2, AirPods Max, and AirPods Pro 2.

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See the prices and release date of the new iPhone 16 https://www.adomonline.com/see-the-prices-and-release-date-of-the-new-iphone-16/ Tue, 10 Sep 2024 20:08:08 +0000 https://www.adomonline.com/?p=2447013 Apple has officially launched the iPhone 16 series during its “Glowtime” event on Monday, introducing four new models now available for preorder ahead of their release on September 20.

The iPhone 16 series features Apple’s new AI suite, dubbed Apple Intelligence, alongside next-generation processors and several hardware upgrades, including larger displays for the Pro models.

One of the standout features for the standard models is the addition of the Action button, previously only available on Pro models. All four versions of the iPhone 16 now also include a new Camera Control button, allowing users to customize their photo and video settings through touch-responsive gestures.

iPhone 16 models

The iPhone 16 series mirrors the lineup of recent generations, offering four models: the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max. Notably, the iPhone “Mini” has not made a return, having been discontinued after the iPhone 14 series, and rumors of an iPhone 16 “Ultra” did not materialize in this release.

iPhone 16 release date

The entire iPhone 16 lineup is available for preorder on Apple’s website, with a full release scheduled for September 20. The phones will be available through Apple, carriers, and other retailers.

iPhone 16 Prices

The prices for the iPhone 16 series are consistent with last year’s iPhone 15 launch, with options based on storage capacity:

– iPhone 16: $799 (128GB), $899 (256GB), $1,099 (512GB)
– iPhone 16 Plus: $899 (128GB), $999 (256GB), $1,199 (512GB)
– iPhone 16 Pro: $999 (128GB), $1,099 (256GB), $1,299 (512GB), $1,499 (1TB)
– iPhone 16 Pro Max: $1,199 (256GB), $1,399 (512GB), $1,599 (1TB)

Apple fans can now secure their iPhone 16 ahead of its official release later this month.

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Apple unveils iPhone 16 designed for AI https://www.adomonline.com/apple-unveils-iphone-16-designed-for-ai/ Tue, 10 Sep 2024 01:19:11 +0000 https://www.adomonline.com/?p=2446278 Apple has officially taken the wraps off the iPhone 16, marking a major leap forward with its first-ever smartphone designed specifically to harness the power of artificial intelligence.

CEO Tim Cook, during Apple’s much-anticipated event, introduced Apple Intelligence — a new AI-driven system built into the iPhone 16 to make it smarter and more personalized for users.

Interestingly, Cook opted to describe it as personal intelligence, highlighting its focus on adapting to each user’s needs rather than the broader term “artificial intelligence.”

Apple CEO Tim Cook walks on the stage during an announcement of new products at Apple headquarters Monday, Sept. 9, in Cupertino, California.
Apple CEO Tim Cook walks on the stage during an announcement of new products at Apple headquarters Monday, Sept. 9, in Cupertino, California.

The iPhone 16 promises a highly intuitive user experience, with advanced AI learning from your behaviour to anticipate what you need before you even ask for it.

Whether it’s managing your daily schedule, offering personalized recommendations, or streamlining tasks, the AI is designed to make life easier and interactions smoother.

This shift represents Apple’s bold step into the future of mobile technology, where devices aren’t just tools but become smarter companions.

But the iPhone 16 wasn’t the only star of the show.

Apple’s latest product announcements were full of exciting new features across its device lineup.

The new AirPods Pro are now more than just top-notch wireless earphones; they also serve as over-the-counter hearing aids, helping those with mild to moderate hearing loss.

The AirPods Pro also come with a built-in hearing test, accessible via your iPhone, that personalizes sound output based on your hearing profile.

Apple’s commitment to health and well-being didn’t stop there. The latest Apple Watch Series 10 is packed with new health features, including the ability to detect sleep apnea — a condition where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep.

The watch uses a built-in accelerometer to track breathing disturbances while you sleep, a first in the wearables space.

Not only that, the Series 10 has been enhanced for water lovers with specialized tracking for snorkeling and kayaking, including a depth gauge and water temperature sensor.

With the Apple Watch now boasting a 30% larger screen, users will also appreciate its sleek design and the efficiency improvements, including faster charging and longer battery life.

The device even has a Tides app to keep track of coastal conditions — perfect for those who spend time near the water.

At the event, Cook teased an even bigger future for Apple’s AI capabilities, as the company continues to refine its vision of “personal intelligence” to ensure a more tailored and seamless experience across all its devices.

While the term AI might conjure images of complex algorithms, Apple is taking the approach of making the technology feel personal, helping users feel connected, understood, and empowered.

For those eager to get their hands on these new devices, the iPhone 16, along with the AirPods Pro and Apple Watch Series 10, are available for pre-order starting today, with an official release set for September 20th.

With Apple’s latest innovations, the future of tech is looking smarter, more personal, and more exciting than ever.

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You ignore AI at your own peril – Youth advised https://www.adomonline.com/you-ignore-ai-at-your-own-peril-youth-advised/ Wed, 04 Sep 2024 16:41:59 +0000 https://www.adomonline.com/?p=2444170 Chairperson of the Ghana Domain Name Registry, Rev. Dr. Nanayaa Owusu-Prempeh, who gave the keynote address at the @GhanaYouthIGF has issued a stark warning to the youth at the ongoing Ghana Internet Governance Forum (Ghana IGF): “Ignore AI at your peril.”

In a passionate address, she emphasized the pivotal role Artificial Intelligence (AI) plays in shaping the future of technology, cautioning that those who fail to adapt will be left behind.

This year’s Ghana IGF, themed “Empowering Sustainable Development for Our Digital Future,” brought together experts and stakeholders to explore the transformative power of digitalization in driving growth and development across Ghana.

The forum delved into pressing issues, including bridging the digital divide, combating disinformation, and addressing internet shutdowns during political elections.

Rev. Dr. Owusu-Prempeh’s words served as a clarion call to the youth, urging them to embrace AI and leverage its potential to create a brighter, more sustainable future.

She emphasized that, AI is no longer a distant prospect, but a present reality that demands attention and action.

As the forum progressed, discussions centered on the need for inclusivity, accessibility, and responsible innovation in the digital sphere.

Experts shared insights on how AI can be harnessed to tackle Ghana’s development challenges, from healthcare and education to agriculture and infrastructure.

The Ghana IGF provided a platform for the youth to engage with thought leaders, policymakers, and industry experts, fostering a sense of community and shared purpose.

As the event drew to a close, Rev. Dr. Owusu-Prempeh’s words continued to resonate, inspiring a new generation of leaders to seize the opportunities presented by AI and shape a digital future that benefits all Ghanaians.

Source: Kodwo Mensah Aboroampa

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X banned in Brazil after disinformation row https://www.adomonline.com/x-banned-in-brazil-after-disinformation-row/ Sat, 31 Aug 2024 02:15:47 +0000 https://www.adomonline.com/?p=2441949

X, formerly Twitter, has been banned in Brazil after failing to meet a deadline set by a Supreme Court judge to name a new legal representative in the country.

Alexandre de Moraes ordered the “immediate and complete suspension” of the social media platform until it complies with all court orders and pays existing fines.

The row began in April, with the judge ordering the suspension of dozens of X accounts for allegedly spreading disinformation.

Reacting to the decision, X owner Elon Musk said: “Free speech is the bedrock of democracy, and an unelected pseudo-judge in Brazil is destroying it for political purposes.”

It is the latest in a series of rows involving Mr Musk – he has clashed with the with EU over the regulation of X and earlier this month became embroiled in a war of words with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

The head of Brazil’s telecommunications agency, which has been tasked with suspending the platform, said he is “proceeding with the compliance” to do so, according to Reuters news agency.

The platform is expected to be unavailable in the country within the next 24 hours.

Justice Moraes has given companies such as Apple and Google a five-day deadline to remove X from its application stores and block its use on iOS and Android systems.

He added that people or businesses using means such as VPNs (virtual private network) to access the platform could be fined R$50,000 (£6.7k).

According to the judge’s order, a ban will be in effect until X names a new legal representative in the country and pays fines for violating Brazilian law.

In a previous post from one of its official accounts, X had said it would not comply with the demands.

“Soon, we expect Judge Alexandre de Moraes will order X to be shut down in Brazil – simply because we would not comply with his illegal orders to censor his political opponents,” the post said.

“The fundamental issue at stake here is that Judge de Moraes demands we break Brazil’s own laws. We simply won’t do that.”

Justice Moraes had ordered that X accounts accused of spreading disinformation – many supporters of the former right-wing president Jair Bolsonaro – must be blocked while they are under investigation.

He said the company’s legal representatives would be held liable if any accounts were reactivated.

Reuters Judge Alexandre de MoraesReuters
Justice Moraes is involved in a long-running row with X

Meanwhile, the bank accounts of Mr Musk’s satellite internet firm Starlink have been frozen in Brazil following an earlier order by the country’s Supreme Court.

Starlink responded with a post on X which said the “order is based on an unfounded determination that Starlink should be responsible for the fines levied – unconstitutionally – against X.”

Mr Musk also said on X that “SpaceX and X are two completely different companies with different shareholders.”

Starlink is a subsidiary of Mr Musk’s rocket firm SpaceX.

In 2022, the government of then-President Bolsonaro gave Starlink the green light to operate in Brazil.

As South America’s largest country, Brazil and its remote regions in the Amazon have huge potential for Starlink, which specialises in providing internet services to isolated areas.

Justice Moraes gained prominence after his decisions to restrict social media platforms in the country.

He is also investigating Mr Bolsonaro and his supporters for their roles in an alleged attempted coup on 8 January last year.

X is not the first social media company to come under pressure from authorities in Brazil.

Last year, Telegram was temporarily banned over its failure to cooperate with requests to block certain profiles.

Meta’s messaging service Whatsapp also faced temporary bans in 2015 and 2016 for refusing to comply with police requests for user data.

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Aeroplane passengers should be restricted to two drinks at airports – Ryanair CEO https://www.adomonline.com/aeroplane-passengers-should-be-restricted-to-two-drinks-at-airports-ryanair-ceo/ Wed, 28 Aug 2024 22:27:21 +0000 https://www.adomonline.com/?p=2440641 Aeroplane passengers should be restricted to two drinks at airports, Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary has said.

Mr O’Leary said introducing alcohol limits at airports would help tackle a rise in disorder on flights.

Violent outbursts are occurring weekly due to alcohol, he said, especially when it is mixed with other substances.

“We don’t want to begrudge people having a drink,” he told the Daily Telegraph.

“But we don’t allow people to drink-drive, yet we keep putting them up in aircraft at 33,000ft.”

Crew members and other passengers have become targets, according to Mr O’Leary.

Delays add to the problem, with longer drinking times at airports.

“In the old days, people who drank too much would eventually fall over or fall asleep. But now those passengers are also on tablets and powder,” he added.

“It’s the mix. You get much more aggressive behaviour that becomes very difficult to manage.”

Mr O’Leary said it was difficult for airlines to identify inebriated people at the gate, especially when they boarded in a group.

“As long as they can stand up and shuffle they will get through. Then when the plane takes off, we see the misbehaviour,” he said.

Ryanair staff search bags for alcohol before passengers board flights to Ibiza, one of the worst-affected “party destinations”.

Other challenging destinations include some of the Greek islands.

‘Unacceptable’

An AirportsUK spokesperson said that disruptive behaviour, whether due to alcohol or other causes, “is unacceptable and could lead to substantial penalties”.

These penalties include fines, boarding being refused, or up to two years in jail.

The spokesperson added that airports have “a wide range of measures in place to monitor and tackle disruptive behaviour and ensure everyone’s safety”.

“Airports are committed to providing a safe and enjoyable travel experience for all passengers and we’re pleased that the vast majority of travellers continue to enjoy their journeys responsibly,” they said.

‘We have had no complaints’

Getty Images Chairman of Wetherspoons pub chain, Tim Martin is seen during an interview in London on June 14, 2016

In response to Mr O’Leary’s comments, Wetherspoon chairman Tim Martin said they have reviewed their sales in the last four weeks at their busiest airport pub.

“We have had no complaints about our pubs from the airport authorities or airlines, that I’m aware of, in recent years,” Mr Martin said.

“If our pub teams do see a possibly disruptive passenger, they alert airport police and security,” he continued.

While there is “no perfect solution”, he added, “working with airports and airlines and the licensing authorities” strikes a “reasonable balance for outbound flights.”

Source: BBC
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See how much you will pay to use Elon Musk’s Starlink in Ghana https://www.adomonline.com/see-how-much-you-will-pay-to-use-elon-musks-starlink-in-ghana/ Wed, 28 Aug 2024 13:08:17 +0000 https://www.adomonline.com/?p=2440338 Starlink has introduced its highly anticipated internet services to Ghana, offering high-speed, low-latency connections that could revolutionise how Ghanaians connect, learn, and work on the internet.

Starlink’s technology relies on a constellation of low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, which enable faster internet speeds compared to traditional satellites, positioning Starlink as a strong competitor in the global internet market.

As of April 2024, the network consists of approximately 5,800 LEO satellites, designed to efficiently relay signals and provide download speeds that can surpass 100 Mbps in certain areas.

Here’s a breakdown of the service plans available and their costs.

Starlink Service Plans

Standard Plan:

Priced at GH₵770 per month, this plan offers unlimited data, ideal for household usage.

Priority Plan:

At GH₵1,078 per month, this option provides unlimited standard data, with added features like public IP access, network priority, and priority support. It’s designed for businesses or users with high data demands.

Mobile Plan:

Starting from GH₵1,540 per month, this plan targets remote workers, campers, and businesses operating across different locations. It includes unlimited mobile data within the country, and prices increase based on the level of priority data required.

Mobile Priority Plan:

Aimed at maritime users, emergency responders, and mobile businesses, this plan offers specialised features like inland and ocean use data, network priority, and priority support. The cost ranges from GH₵4,428 per month for 50GB of data to GH₵17,710 per month for 1TB of data.

In addition to the subscription costs, customers will have to purchase the necessary hardware which costs GH₵5,390 and shipping costs of an extra GH₵354.

Source: GraphicOnline

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U.S. Embassy transitions to new visa services provider, applicants urged to update accounts https://www.adomonline.com/u-s-embassy-transitions-to-new-visa-services-provider-applicants-urged-to-update-accounts/ Wed, 28 Aug 2024 03:36:36 +0000 https://www.adomonline.com/?p=2440026 The U.S. Embassy in Accra has transitioned to a new visa services provider as of August 26, 2024, marking a significant shift in the way visa services are managed.

Access to the previous visa service provider’s website and services officially ended on August 16, 2024.

The Embassy has assured all applicants that existing nonimmigrant visa interview appointments remain valid and unaffected by the change.

However, starting August 26, applicants are required to use the new visa service provider’s website to create a new user account.

This is necessary for updating DHL delivery preferences, reviewing account information, making changes, submitting requests, and contacting customer service.

The Embassy has stressed the need for applicants to resubmit requests for expedited appointments if they do not receive a response by the August 16 cutoff date.

Additionally, those who have already paid the visa application fee but have not yet scheduled an interview will be able to do so through the new provider’s website, subject to appointment availability.

Applicants are encouraged to promptly update their accounts and ensure they are familiar with the new system to avoid any disruptions in their visa application process.

The U.S. Embassy remains committed to providing support during this transition period to ensure a smooth experience for all visa applicants.

Source: myjoyonline

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Telegram CEO arrested over probe into child porn, drug trafficking on app https://www.adomonline.com/telegram-ceo-arrested-over-probe-into-child-porn-drug-trafficking-on-app/ Mon, 26 Aug 2024 23:23:21 +0000 https://www.adomonline.com/?p=2439339 Pavel Durov, the Russian-born founder of messaging app Telegram, was arrested in France as part of an investigation into crimes related to child pornography, drug trafficking and fraudulent transactions on the platform, French prosecutors said on Monday.
French President Emmanuel Macron, making the first official confirmation of Durov’s arrest since he was detained at Le Bourget airport outside Paris on Saturday evening, said there was no political motive in the arrest, despite many false comments online.
He added that France remains deeply committed to lawful free speech.
“The arrest of the Telegram president on French territory took place as part of an ongoing judicial investigation,” Macron wrote on X. “This is in no way a political decision. It is up to the judges to decide.”
In a subsequent statement, Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau said Durov was arrested as part of a probe into an unnamed person launched by the office’s cybercrime unit on July 8.
The investigation is over suspected complicity in various crimes including running an online platform that allows illicit transactions, child pornography, drug trafficking and fraud, as well as the refusal to communicate information to authorities, money laundering and providing cryptographic services to criminals, the statement said.
Durov can be held until Wednesday, it added.
Reuters was unable to reach any lawyer representing Durov.
Telegram is a popular messaging and social media app akin to WhatsApp.
The encrypted application, with close to 1 billion users, is particularly influential in Russia, Ukraine and the republics of the former Soviet Union.
Durov’s arrest prompted criticism from X owner Elon Musk who said that free speech in Europe was under attack, and calls from Moscow for French authorities to accord Durov his rights.
Tensions between France and Russia have been mounting for months, with French authorities accusing Russia of trying to destabilize it ahead of the Paris Olympics in response to its more hawkish stance on the Ukraine war – claims Russia denies.
Durov, a 39-year-old billionaire cast as “Russia’s Mark Zuckerberg” has dual French and United Arab Emirates citizenship.
The UAE foreign ministry, in its first comment, said in a statement that it had submitted a request to France “to provide him with all the necessary consular services in an urgent manner”.
Estimated by Forbes to have a fortune of $15.5 billion, Durov said in April some governments had sought to pressure him, but the app should remain a neutral platform and not a “player in geopolitics”.
Telegram gave no details of the arrest but said the Dubai-based company abided by European Union laws and its moderation was “within industry standards and constantly improving”.
“Telegram’s CEO Pavel Durov has nothing to hide and travels frequently in Europe,” Telegram said in a statement. “It is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner are responsible for abuse of that platform.”
The Kremlin on Monday said it had yet to see any official French accusations against Durov.
“We do not yet know what exactly Durov is accused of,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a news briefing. “With what exactly are they trying to incriminate Durov? Without (knowing), it would probably be wrong to make any statements.”
The Russian embassy in Paris said on X that French authorities had declined to cooperate with its requests for consular access, but said it was in contact with Durov’s lawyer. The embassy did not respond to a request for comment.

FRENCH CITIZEN

Telegram was founded by Durov, a self-confessed libertarian who left Russia in 2014 after he refused to comply with demands to shut down opposition communities on his VK social media platform, which he has sold.
He obtained his French passport in 2021 through a rare, fast-track procedure for high-profile foreigners exempting them from the usual legal requirements, including having lived in the country for at least five years.
The French foreign ministry, which is in charge of the procedure, did not reply to a Reuters request for comment. The Elysee presidential office also declined to comment, deferring to the foreign ministry.
According to French law, any foreigner can be granted citizenship under the special rules provided he speaks French and “contributes through his outstanding work to France’s influence and the prosperity of its international economic relations.”
Durov never lived in France, and it was unclear what special link he had to the country. On June 10, Durov posted in his Telegram channel: “As a French citizen, I agree that France is the best holiday destination.”
His naturalization procedure is rare, with only 10–20 cases processed each year and each one requiring high-level political support, local media have reported.
Evan Spiegel, the co-founder of Snap, the maker of the Snapchat app, received French citizenship in 2018 under the same programme, local media reported at the time. Snap did not respond to a request for comment.
Aside from the citizenships of France and the United Arab Emirates, Durov has been reported by Russian state media to have also the citizenships of Russia and of St Kitts and Nevis. Reuters was unable to verify those reports.
Source: Reuters
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Starlink set to launch operations in Ghana by end of August 2024 https://www.adomonline.com/starlink-set-to-launch-operations-in-ghana-by-end-of-august-2024/ Thu, 22 Aug 2024 13:31:01 +0000 https://www.adomonline.com/?p=2437383 The National Communications Authority (NCA) has announced that Starlink, the satellite internet service operated by SpaceX, will officially commence its operations in Ghana by the end of August 2024.

This follows the successful completion of all necessary administrative and licensing processes with the NCA.

Starlink will be operated locally by SpaceX Starlink GH LTD, bringing its advanced satellite-based internet services to Ghanaian consumers.

This development marks a significant step forward in expanding high-speed internet access across the country, particularly to underserved and remote areas where traditional internet infrastructure is limited.

The move aligns with the NCA’s mission to promote efficient and reliable communication services in Ghana.

The regulatory body has worked closely with SpaceX to ensure that all operational and licensing requirements were met, facilitating a smooth entry for Starlink into the Ghanaian market.

Starlink’s arrival in Ghana is anticipated to have a positive impact on various sectors, including education, healthcare, and business.

By providing reliable and high-speed internet access, Starlink aims to support economic growth and development across the country.

About NCA

The National Communications Authority (NCA) was established by Act 524 in December 1996 and later repealed and replaced by the National Communications Authority Act, 2008 (Act 769).

The NCA is the statutory body responsible for licensing and regulating electronic communication activities and services in Ghana, ensuring the provision of efficient and reliable communication services throughout the country.

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Oceans of water discovered on Mars https://www.adomonline.com/oceans-of-water-discovered-on-mars/ Tue, 13 Aug 2024 02:28:56 +0000 https://www.adomonline.com/?p=2432947

Scientists have discovered a reservoir of liquid water on Mars – deep in the rocky outer crust of the planet.

The findings come from a new analysis of data from NASA’s Mars Insight Lander, which touched down on the planet back in 2018.

The lander carried a seismometer, which recorded four years’ of vibrations – Mars quakes – from deep inside the Red Planet.

Analysing those quakes – and exactly how the planet moves – revealed “seismic signals” of liquid water.

NASA A composite image showing the relative sizes of Earth and Mars
NASA The Insight mission set out to investigate the evolution of rocky planets, including Earth and Mars

While there is water frozen at the Martian poles and evidence of vapour in the atmosphere, this is the first time liquid water has been found on the planet.

The findings are published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Insight’s scientific mission ended in December 2022, after the lander sat quietly listening to “the pulse of Mars” for four years.

In that time, the probe recorded more than 1,319 quakes.

By measuring how fast seismic waves travel, scientists have worked out what material they are most likely to be moving through.

“These are actually the same techniques we use to prospect for water on Earth, or to look for oil and gas,” explained Prof Michael Manga, from the University of California, Berkeley, who was involved in the research.

The analysis revealed reservoirs of water at depths of about six to 12 miles (10 to 20km) in the Martian crust.

“Understanding the Martian water cycle is critical for understanding the evolution of the climate, surface and interior,” said lead researcher Dr Vashan Wright, from UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

Prof Manga added that water was “the most important molecule in shaping the evolution of a planet”. This finding, he said, answers a big question of “where did all the Martian water go?”.

Studies of the surface of Mars – with its channels and ripples – show that, in ancient times, there were rivers and lakes on the planet.

But for three billion years, it has been a desert.

Some of that water was lost to space when Mars lost its atmosphere. But, said Prof Manga, here on Earth, “much of our water is underground and there’s no reason for that not to be the case on Mars too”.

Oceans of water discovered on Mars

Nasa A close-up image of an ancient riverbed on the surface of Mars
Nasa The Martian surface has evidence of ancient rivers and lakes etched into it
The Insight probe was only able to record directly from the crust beneath its feet, but the researchers expect that there will be similar reservoirs across the planet. If that is the case, they estimate that there is enough liquid water on Mars to form a layer across the surface that would be more than half a mile deep.

However, they point out, the location of this Martian groundwater is not good news for billionaires with Mars colonization plans who might want to tap into it.

“It’s sequestered 10-20km deep in the crust,” explained Prof Manga.

“Drilling a hole 10km deep on Mars – even for [Elon] Musk – would be difficult,” he told BBC News.

The discovery could also point to another target for the ongoing search for evidence of life on Mars.

“Without liquid water, you don’t have life,” said Prof Manga. “So if there are habitable environments on Mars, those may be now deep underground.”

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Dr. Prince Alvin Kwabena Ansah: Navigating Ghana’s tech sector with vision and innovation https://www.adomonline.com/dr-prince-alvin-kwabena-ansah-navigating-ghanas-tech-sector-with-vision-and-innovation/ Mon, 12 Aug 2024 15:27:59 +0000 https://www.adomonline.com/?p=2432759 In the rapidly evolving landscape of technology, few names resonate as profoundly in Ghana as Dr. Prince Alvin KwabenaAnsah.

A seasoned technologist, Dr. Ansah has not only contributed significantly to the nation’s digital transformation but has also positioned himself as a key player in shaping the future of trade and IT in the region.

Following his recent conferment of a Doctorate Degree, Dr. Ansah sat down with NorvanReports to discuss his journey, the challenges he has faced, and his vision for the future—a vision that promises to push the boundaries of what is possible in trade facilitation and information technology.

Dr. Ansah currently serves as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Ghana Link Network Services, a company instrumental in developing the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS) that has revolutionized customs operations in Ghana.

Additionally, he is the founder and CTO of Work Smart Ghana Limited, further underscoring his role as a driving force in the nation’s tech sector.

A Milestone Achievement

The attainment of his PhD is a significant milestone for Dr. Ansah, marking the culmination of years of dedication, research, and perseverance. However, for Dr. Ansah, this achievement is merely the beginning of a new chapter.

“Earning my PhD is a huge milestone,” he stated, “but the opportunities ahead are vast.” With his academic credentials now firmly in place, Dr. Ansah aims to cement his status as a thought leader in the field, contributing to discussions that will shape the future of trade and IT on both national and international stages.

He envisions leveraging his newfound knowledge and experience to influence policy and practice, particularly in areas where technology intersects with trade.

“I plan to establish myself as a thought leader in my field, sharing my knowledge through research, speaking engagements, and contributing to discussions that shape the future of trade and IT,” he elaborated.

His ambitions are not limited to theoretical contributions; he also sees himself playing an advisory role to government bodies, international organizations, and private companies, helping them navigate the complexities of modern trade and customs systems.

Challenges in Innovation

Reflecting on his career, Dr. Ansah acknowledged the significant challenges he has faced, particularly in implementing large-scale systems like ICUMS.

“Getting people to adopt new systems isn’t always easy, especially when they’re used to doing things the old way,” he noted.

The transition from legacy systems to more advanced platforms like ICUMS was met with resistance, but through strategic demonstrations of the system’s efficiency and comprehensive training programs, Dr. Ansah and his team were able to facilitate a smoother transition.

The technical challenges associated with developing ICUMS were also considerable. Integrating this system with various other government platforms required meticulous planning and coordination.

“Developing something as complex as ICUMS comes with its own set of technical hurdles, from ensuring everything works together smoothly to keeping data secure,” he explained.

The success of ICUMS has not only sped up the clearance of goods at Ghana’s ports but has also significantly boosted government revenue, underscoring the impact of his work.

One of the most daunting aspects of his role has been balancing the demands of various stakeholders while staying true to his vision.

“Balancing the needs and expectations of various stakeholders while staying true to my vision has been challenging, but it’s also where my leadership has shone,” he reflected.

His ability to mediate between conflicting priorities and find common ground has been instrumental in the success of projects like ICUMS.

Looking Forward: A Vision for the Future

With ICUMS now firmly established, Dr. Ansah is not resting on his laurels. He is already looking ahead to the next wave of innovations that will drive further efficiencies in trade and customs operations. One of the most exciting prospects is the potential integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning into the ICUMS platform.

“We could start using AI and machine learning to make the system even smarter, such as predicting potential issues in customs processes before they occur,” he suggested. This predictive capability could be a game-changer, allowing customs officers to take preventive action before problems arise.

Dr. Ansah also envisions enhancing the system’s e-tracking capabilities by integrating ICUMS with global tracking systems, providing seamless tracking for shipments crossing multiple borders. This integration would ensure end-to-end visibility, reducing the chances of goods being lost or delayed.

“I plan to integrate with platforms like DHL’s or FedEx’s global tracking systems, allowing real-time updates for traders and giving them complete transparency on the status of their shipments,” he shared.

Further innovations could include the deployment of Internet of Things (IoT) devices at ports to provide real-time updates on shipments. Such advancements would not only reduce delays but also ensure that goods are stored in optimal conditions.

“Imagine our ports equipped with smart sensors that provide real-time updates on shipments. This would help reduce delays and ensure everything is in the right place at the right time,” he mused.

Additionally, Dr. Ansah is exploring the development of dedicated mobile apps for ICUMS, enhancing the user experience for both traders and customs officers. These apps would allow for greater flexibility and efficiency, enabling customs officers to manage tasks on the go and speeding up the clearance process.

A Mentor and Leader

Beyond his technical achievements, Dr. Ansah is committed to mentoring the next generation of technology leaders in Ghana. He believes in the importance of continuous learning and staying abreast of emerging technologies.

“The tech world never stands still, so it’s important to stay on top of the latest trends and tools,” he advised. His efforts to establish a mentorship program within Ghana Link highlight his dedication to nurturing young talent and ensuring that they have the guidance and support needed to succeed.

In a final word of advice to aspiring professionals, Dr. Ansah emphasized the importance of integrity, problem-solving, and ethical conduct in the tech industry.

“Let’s all be ethical and maintain integrity in our work. Security, privacy, and transparency should always be top priorities,” he concluded.

Dr. Ansah’s impact on Ghana’s tech ecosystem is substantial. He has led the development of LinkIntTradeNet, a blockchain-based customs management system for The Gambia, and spearheaded the creation of the Integrated Customs Management Systems (ICUMS) for the Ghana Revenue Authority. His work has significantly improved trade facilitation and revenue collection for the Ghanaian government.

In the private sector, Dr. Ansah played a crucial role in deploying Ghana’s first 4G network during his tenure at DiscoveryTel Ghana Limited, marking a significant leap in the country’s internet infrastructure.

Beyond his professional achievements, Dr. Ansah is known for his philanthropic efforts, focusing on bringing sustainable technological solutions to underprivileged communities. His vision for a more inclusive digital future aligns with global efforts to bridge the digital divide.

Dr. Prince Alvin KwabenaAnsah’s journey is a testament to the transformative power of technology when coupled with visionary leadership and a commitment to excellence.

As he continues to push the envelope in Ghana’s tech sector, his contributions are likely to have a lasting impact, not just on the industry, but on the nation as a whole.

Source: Norvan Acquah

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Mass IT outage affects airlines, media and banks https://www.adomonline.com/mass-it-outage-affects-airlines-media-and-banks/ Fri, 19 Jul 2024 13:38:24 +0000 https://www.adomonline.com/?p=2423515 A raft of global institutions – including major banks, media outlets and airlines – have reported a mass IT outage, affecting their ability to offer services.

Several airlines have grounded flights around the world and many more are reporting delays.

The US state of Alaska has warned its emergency services are affected, supermarkets in Australia have been crippled, and media outlets in several countries have been left scrambling as systems failed, with Sky News in the UK temporarily forced off air.

The cause of the outage is unclear, but many of those impacted have linked it to Microsoft PC operating systems.

An official Microsoft 365 service update posted to X earlier in the day said “we’re investigating an issue impacting users ability to access various Microsoft 365 apps and services”.

However, a Microsoft spokesperson told the BBC on Friday that “the majority of services were recovered” hours earlier.

A spokesperson for the home affairs ministry in Australia – which has been particularly hard hit – said the outage appeared to be related to an issue at a cyber-security firm, while the country’s cybersecurity watchdog said there was no information to suggest a malicious attack.

“Our current information is this outage relates to a technical issue with a third-party software platform employed by affected companies,” they said in a statement.

Alaskan officials said many 911 and non-emergency call centres were not working properly, but Australian authorities say triple-0 call centres – the main emergency contact in the country – are not affected.

Social media users have reported problems making payments at stores like bakery and coffee chain Gail’s in the UK and grocer Woolworths in Australia, and also trouble accessing financial institutions like the National Australia Bank.

Travel plans around the globe have also been thrown into disarray, with airlines, taxis and rail affected.

US airlines United, Delta and American Airlines have issued a “global ground stop” on all of their flights, while Australian carriers Virgin and Jetstar have delayed or cancelled flights. Other airports – including in Berlin, Tokyo and Dehli – are also impacted.

In the UK, Govia Thameslink Railway warned passengers to expect disruption, while Black and White Cabs in Australia said their systems had been impacted too.

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App for checking university admissions launched https://www.adomonline.com/app-for-checking-university-admissions-launched/ Fri, 05 Jul 2024 22:12:13 +0000 https://www.adomonline.com/?p=2418362 An application which allows parents and their wards to check their eligibility for admission into any Ghanaian university has been launched.

The product, dubbed Admissions Checker, is a web application that offers some sense of certainty to gain admission into Ghanaian universities.

The innovator, Albert Tetteh, the Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of Verbal Transformers speaking at the launch said the application was a revolutionary tool designed to alleviate the financial burden of multiple university applications.

The event was held at Presbyterian Boys Senior High School (PRESEC).

Mr. Tetteh explained that, the application enables students to check their eligibility for various universities for just GH₵5 making the process more affordable and informed.

The app aims to address the common challenge faced by parents and guardians who purchase multiple application forms without knowing their ward’s eligibility.

This innovative solution provides students with valuable insights into tertiary institutions and help them make informed decisions about their academic future.

Some student at the launch expressed excitement about the application, citing its potential to save them money and provide valuable knowledge about universities before completing Senior High School (SHS).

With Admissions Checker, the university application process just got easier, more affordable, and more informed.

ALSO READ:

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Young Ghanaian tech innovators to launch app for checking university admissions https://www.adomonline.com/young-ghanaian-tech-innovators-to-launch-app-for-checking-university-admissions/ Thu, 04 Jul 2024 16:06:35 +0000 https://www.adomonline.com/?p=2417800 A group of young Ghanaian information communication technology innovators is set to launch an application that will make it possible for parents and their wards to check their eligibility for admission into any Ghanaian university.

The product, dubbed Admissions Checker, is a web application that offers some sense of certainty to gain admission into Ghanaian universities.

A few hours away from being launched at the Presbyterian Boys Senior High School at Legon, the app will solve the current uncertainty and huge cost to students and parents.

The current situation and how Admissions Checker provides a solution

At present, SHS graduates seeking university admission must purchase multiple application forms, each costing about GHS200, in hopes of being accepted by at least one university.

Admissions Checker resolves this issue by offering a realistic approach to selecting universities and courses, thereby bringing clarity to the process.

How Admissions Checker works

The web application allows senior high school students to input their WASSCE or NovDec results into a portal containing tertiary admissions requirements.

The system uses algorithms to analyze the entered data and determine the likelihood of gaining admission to various universities and courses.

Based on the results provided by Admissions Checker, students can strategically target their applications to institutions and courses where they have a higher probability of acceptance.

This reduces uncertainty and eliminates the need for multiple costly applications.

What to expect at the launch

At the launch event, the developers of Admissions Checker will explain how the public can access and use the app, providing a step-by-step guide.

Stay tuned to adomonline.com for detailed coverage and updates on this innovative solution.

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China finds something strange in sample retrieved from moon https://www.adomonline.com/china-finds-something-strange-in-sample-retrieved-from-moon/ Fri, 28 Jun 2024 03:11:20 +0000 https://www.adomonline.com/?p=2414622 Chinese scientists have made an unusual discovery while analysing the sample Chang’e-5 collected from the Moon’s surface in December 2020.

They found naturally occurring “few-layer graphene” for the first time, as state-run news agency Global Times reports, which could have major implications for humankind’s plans to make use of local resources once on the lunar surface.

The discovery could also offer new insights into the early geological evolution of the Moon. As the South China Morning Post reports, it may even upend a long-held theory that the Moon was formed after a small planet collided with the Earth and that much of its carbon came from this impact.

“The prevalent giant impact theory has been strongly supported by the notion of [a] carbon-depleted Moon derived from the early analysis of Apollo samples,” the team led by researchers from Jilin University wrote in their paper published in the journal National Science Review, as quoted by the SCMP.

However, the findings suggest the existence of a “carbon-capture process on the Moon,” leading to the “gradual accumulation of indigenous carbon” — a discovery that “may reinvent the understanding of chemical components… and the history of the Moon.”

Using a form of non-destructive chemical analysis called “Raman spectroscopy,” the team confirmed the discovery of a type of few-layer graphene, which is graphene with anywhere between two and ten layers that can also be manufactured in a lab.

The researchers suggest the material may have formed as a result of solar wind battering the lunar surface and early volcanic eruptions.

The existence of pure “indigenous carbon” could challenge the long-held hypothesis that a small planet, roughly the size of Mars, collided with the Earth to form the Moon about 4.45 billion years ago.

However, the researchers admitted that meteorites may have still led to the formation of graphitic carbon on the Moon, as previous studies have suggested.

“Further in-depth property investigation of natural graphene would provide more information on the geologic evolution of the Moon,” the team concluded.

MORE:

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Elon Musk’s SpaceX hired to destroy ISS space station https://www.adomonline.com/elon-musks-spacex-hired-to-destroy-iss-space-station/ Thu, 27 Jun 2024 23:35:45 +0000 https://www.adomonline.com/?p=2414593 NASA has selected Elon Musk’s SpaceX company to bring down the International Space Station at the end of its life.

The California-based company will build a vehicle capable of pushing the 430-tonne orbiting platform into the Pacific Ocean early in the next decade.

A contract for the work, valued at up to $843m (£668m), was announced on Wednesday.

The first elements of the space station were launched in 1998, with continuous crewed operations beginning in 2000.

The station circles the Earth every 90 minutes at an altitude just above 400km (250 miles) and has been home to thousands of scientific experiments, investigating all manner of phenomena from the ageing process in humans to the formula for new types of materials.

Engineers say the laboratory remains structurally sound, but plans need to be put in place now for its eventual disposal. Without assistance, it would eventually fall back to Earth on its own, however this poses a significant risk to populations on the ground.

“Selecting a US De-orbit Vehicle for the International Space Station (ISS) will help NASA and its international partners ensure a safe and responsible transition to low Earth orbit at the end of station operations.

This decision also supports NASA’s plans for future commercial destinations and allows for the continued use of space near Earth,” Ken Bowersox, the agency’s director of space operations, said in a statement.

The US and Russia lead the ISS project. Europe, Canada and Japan play supporting roles. The western partners have all agreed to fund the station through 2030; Russia says its involvement will extend until at least 2028.

NASA Artwork of the lunar Gateway station
NASA The ISS partners are planning for a space station around the Moon

NASA has studied various options for end-of-life disposal.

These include disassembling the station and using the younger elements in a next-generation platform. Another idea has been to simply to hand it off to some commercial concern to run and maintain.

But these solutions all have varying complications of complexity and cost, as well as the legal difficulty of having to untangle issues of ownership.

Neither NASA nor SpaceX have released details of the design for the de-orbiting “tug boat”, but it will require considerable thrust to safely guide the station into the atmosphere in the right place and at the right time.

The platform’s great mass and extent – the dimensions roughly of a football pitch – mean some structures and components are bound to survive the heat of re-entry and make it all the way to the surface.

Controllers will allow the orbit of the ISS to naturally decay over a period of time, and after removing the last crew will command the tugboat to execute the final de-orbit manoeuvre.

Redundant spacecraft are aimed at a remote location in the Pacific known as Point Nemo.

Named after the famous submarine sailor from Jules Verne’s book 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, the target graveyard is more than 2,500km from the nearest piece of land.

NASA is hopeful that a number of private consortia will have started launching commercial space stations by the time the ISS is brought out of the sky.

The focus of the space agencies will shift to a project to build a platform called Gateway that will orbit the Moon.

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