Google recently released some blogs about Willow, its next-generation quantum processor. These blogs are currently making headlines and causing substantial confusion. Let’s break them down so you have a clear picture of what they mean: In this blog post, Google introduces Willow with a bold claim about its performance and details the team’s breakthrough in error correction. This more technical post describes what Google did in error correction more deeply. Google’s Big Breakthrough: Scalable Quantum Error CorrectionGoogle’s most significant achievement is a major advancement in quantum error correction — a critical challenge in quantum computing due to the fragile nature of qubits. Qubits exist in a “superposition” state, making them highly susceptible to errors from environmental interference. Without effective error correction, qubits lose stability too quickly to perform useful computations. To address this, Google improved on a method to group “physical qubits” into more stable “logical qubits” using a well-established technique called surface codes. Traditionally, increasing the number of connected qubits in a “surface code lattice” has led to higher error rates — the opposite of what is needed to create logical qubits from physical ones. Google scaled from a 3×3 to a 7×7 physical qubit lattice while reducing the error rate by a factor of 2.14, effectively doubling the lifespan of logical qubits compared to its earlier Sycamore chip. This achievement demonstrates that we can add more physical qubits while exponentially improving the stability of logical qubits. And we will need much, much larger lattices to correct logical qubits to the point of usefulness. It looks like we might get there now. While this is a significant milestone for quantum computing, it is not a sudden leap to “quantum advantage” — the point that quantum computers outperform classical ones for practical tasks. Instead, it marks a critical step forward in the development of large-scale quantum systems. Given the number of companies developing quantum chips, it remains uncertain whether Google’s approach can be replicated by other chipmakers or applied to different chip architectures. Quantum Supremacy, Not Quantum AdvantageGoogle said in its blog that “Willow performed a standard benchmark computation in under five minutes that would take one of today’s fastest supercomputers 10 septillion (that is, 1025) years.” This sounds like the giant leap we’ve all been waiting for, but the reality is more measured. Google’s announcement firmly establishes quantum supremacy — it first claimed this in 2019, but it was refuted by IBM. To understand this, recognize that quantum computing hype revolves around two key terms: quantum supremacy and quantum advantage. While they sound similar, they have crucial differences. Quantum supremacy occurs when a quantum computer performs a task that no classical computer can match, regardless of its usefulness — this is what Google announced with Willow (though the term was not directly used). We believe that Google has achieved it this time around, but it did not achieve quantum advantage. Quantum advantage refers to a quantum system that can solve a practical, real-world problem faster and cheaper than a classical one. We care far more about quantum advantage. Unfortunately, that is still perhaps a decade away. Consider that the Willow chip only has 105 physical qubits. Achieving quantum advantage will require a thousand or more logical qubits, as I pointed out above. You can do the math on a napkin and see how far away we are from that. Plus, other industry players such as Microsoft are exploring approaches like qubit virtualization and topological qubits, which could reduce the number of physical qubits required to produce a useful logical one. But these efforts are far from mature, so on we go. What CIOs, CTOs, And Security Leaders Should Do NextWhile Google’s Willow chip doesn’t alter our 10–15-year timeline for large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computing, it sends a clear signal: Start preparing now, because it could be sooner. For business and technology leaders, this means taking practical steps: The first priority is to prepare with quantum security. Companies must prepare by adopting post-quantum cryptography and crypto agility, which both are part of quantum security, a top 10 emerging technology for 2024. The speed at which quantum computers will make breakthroughs is still anybody’s guess. The second priority is to experiment with hybrid quantum-classical systems. This will help organizations build skills for more advanced quantum capabilities in the future. It will also help leaders grab smaller advantages that may come in smaller-scale computers in the next five years or so. Finally, manage expectations. Willow is an achievement that may accelerate our long-term outlook for quantum computing, but only time will tell. Early quantum advantage for specific use cases, like quantum simulation and hybrid workflows, may emerge in the next two to five years for intermediate-scale and somewhat noisy qubits. Want To Learn More?Forrester clients can read the report, The State Of Quantum Computing, 2024, for the latest insights on error correction, quantum advantage, and what it means for your business. Get practical guidance on how to prepare for the future of quantum today. source

At TNW, we are all about supporting and elevating startups and entrepreneurs who are doing epic stuff with tech. When Red Bull reached out to talk about their innovation competition, my first thought was what on Earth do we have in common with an energy drink company that has people jumping off cliffs and surfing really large waves? Apart from fuelling — in different ways — founders and developers across the world, of course. (Although, I guess, building a company could be considered an extreme sport.) Next generation of innovation Turns out, when it comes to supporting young minds that could change the world with their ideas — quite a lot. Red Bull Basement is the beverage giant’s recurring innovation competition that, in the company’s words, “empowers the next generation of innovators to develop and launch outstanding ideas and disrupt today’s status quo.” The 2024 edition took place across 39 countries, and received over 110,000 submissions. Webinar: Unicorn DNA: The Blueprint for Scaling Success What does it take to build a unicorn? Top executives of unicorn companies reveal the mindset, strategies, and innovative thinking that propelled their companies to the top. The local winners were all flown out to Tokyo for a global final across three days over the past week. They got to take part in workshops on business modelling, utilising AI as a founder, creating a successful pitch, forming strategic partnerships, brand development, media relations, etc. Sophia Lick from Germany built an app to help athletes with their mental training. Credit: Suguru Saito / Red Bull Content Pool The top 10 got to pitch their ideas to the panel of global judges — and an auditorium of a few hundred people — on the 45th floor, in front of a backdrop of Tokyo lit up at night. The prize for the global winner was an all-expenses-paid three-week trip to San Francisco to be mentored by Silicon Valley-based Plug and Play VC. Building something bigger than oneself Part of the appeal for us as a media organisation was of course access to the judges, including Head of Microsoft for Startups Hans Yang, Plug and Play early-stage investor Letizia Royo-Villanova, and digital economy business mentor Jun Yuh, to pick their brains on how they identify winning startups and exceptional founders (and I did, all of which will follow in another article). However, what really moved me was the ingenuity, drive, and enthusiasm of the next generation of entrepreneurs. Ideas included a bone conduction device to help people with Parkinson’s walk more securely built by Cambridge student Jonathan Fisher, whose father suffers from the disease. “I figured, if something is important enough, you should try, even if the odds are against you, because you never know what will happen,” Fisher told TNW. Another device built by Stanford students in the US wants to give the visually impaired their sight back. There were also water-saving AI-supported gadgets from Greece and Egypt, wild-fire warning systems from South Africa, AI tools to help students connect with mentors and scholarship opportunities from Ireland and Spain or democratise access to high-level sports coaching from Belgium. Other innovations included early illness detection from Kosovo, brain fitness tracking from the Czech Republic, and an athlete mental training app from Germany — just to name a few.  Soi Gamayon beat over 110,000 submitted innovations to become the Red Bull Basement 2024 global winner with AgriConnect. Credit: Jason Hayako / Red Bull Content Pool The winner of the global final was Soi Gamayon from the Philippines with his AgriConnect startup. The AI-powered app, inspired by watching his uncle’s struggle farming rice, allows farmers to monitor their crops, build resilience, and increase their yield. “My purpose is really to build something bigger than myself,” said Gamayon. “I’m doing this for Filipino farmers. This wasn’t just about competing or winning. It’s about sharing moments and memories with people who are like-minded. I share this with all the other teams who are here.” Dutch finalist looking for the ‘positive side of tech’ The Dutch finalist, fresh out of graduate studies in Strategic Management at the Erasmus University in Rotterdam, was Bram van Peursem, with an AI-powered app called Hubster. He made it all the way to the top 10. Based on his own experience of losing hours of precious time to mindless social media scrolling while managing his own schedule as a student, van Peursem designed Hubster to help people transform their phone usage from a time sink into motivation to act on the things they hope to achieve in life. Hubster, still under development, will let you enter the interests and ambitions that are currently most important to you. Van Peursem gives the examples of running a marathon, understanding more about tech stocks, and learning German. As you embark on a scrolling session that will surely end half an hour later with the yucky feeling of “but I was only going to check…” the app will instead prompt you with notifications such as “It’s currently great weather for a 5k recovery run,” “AMD just announced a chip update, read more about it here” and link to an article, or “Nutzen sie ihre zeit so optimal?” with your language learning app of choice.  The Netherlands’ Bram van Peursem wants his app to make people use tech for good in their lives. Credit: Jason Hayako / Red Bull Content Pool “It is really focused on making tech positive,” van Peursem told TNW. “Because I think we often forget that our phone is a tool which has all the information in the world, very accessible in your pocket, but nobody uses it like that.” The desire to build something has been there from the start. “I have always wanted to be a founder,” van Peursem, both of whose parents are entrepreneurs, says. “I’ve always had these ideas but I never really acted on them. And that was also the thing I was most scared about — I want to be an entrepreneur, but what

Commercial apps are getting closer At the same time, the researchers made further progress: They were able to improve the quality of their qubit arrays, as these now have a significantly longer lifespan than the individual physical qubits. In other words, calculations can take longer. For Neven, this has resulted in the most convincing prototype for a scalable logical qubit to date. He sees this as a sign that useful, very large quantum computers can actually be built. Willow thus brings the implementation of practical, commercially relevant algorithms that cannot be replicated on conventional computers, Neven claims. Earlier this year, Microsoft reported a quantum breakthrough with a qubit-virtualization system that it claimed broke a logical-qubit creation record. The company also aims to provide a commercial offering. source

Join our daily and weekly newsletters for the latest updates and exclusive content on industry-leading AI coverage. Learn More OpenAI demonstrated its new iPhone integration on Wednesday as iOS 18.2 rolled out to users, bringing ChatGPT directly into Siri, writing tools and camera features. The feature update, shown off on day five of OpenAI’s “12 Days of Shipmas” product launches, marks a rare opening of Apple’s core iPhone features to outside software. ChatGPT can now process commands through Siri and handle tasks across the operating system. “When Siri thinks that it would be helped by giving a task over to ChatGPT, it can just hand it off,” Dave Cummings, engineering manager for ChatGPT at OpenAI, explained during Wednesday’s demonstration. The system works through three main paths: Siri voice commands, Writing Tools for text editing and Visual Intelligence through the Camera Control button. Users can access basic ChatGPT features without an account, although premium capabilities require a subscription. Inside Apple’s AI strategy: Why the iPhone maker chose OpenAI instead of building its own The partnership addresses critical challenges for both companies. Apple, despite its $3 trillion market capitalization, has struggled to match competitors in AI development. Google’s Gemini and Anthropic’s Claude have demonstrated capabilities that surpass anything in Apple’s current AI portfolio. “We really want to make ChatGPT as frictionless and easy to use everywhere,” Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, said during Wednesday’s press conference. “We love Apple devices, and so this integration is one that we’re very, very proud of.” The timing of this release could boost Apple’s high-end device sales at a crucial moment. While the company doesn’t break out AI-specific revenue, limiting these features to iPhone 15 Pro models and newer devices creates a compelling reason for consumers to upgrade. This strategy mirrors Apple’s previous pattern of using advanced features — like ProRAW photography or ProRes video — to drive adoption of its premium devices, which carry margins estimated at over 60%. The move also positions Apple differently in the AI race. Rather than competing head-on with Google and Microsoft in building foundational AI models, Apple is leveraging partnerships to bring AI to its ecosystem while maintaining its focus on hardware and user experience. This approach could prove more profitable in the short term, as AI model training remains enormously expensive with uncertain returns. The $5 billion question: How OpenAI plans to monetize its million-user iPhone base For OpenAI, the partnership provides immediate access to Apple’s installed base of more than one billion iPhone users. This comes at a crucial time for the AI company, which is under pressure to generate revenue while managing massive computing costs. Recent reports indicate OpenAI’s computing expenses could reach $5 billion annually by 2025. The partnership also arrives amid OpenAI’s broader monetization push. The company recently announced a partnership with defense contractor Anduril and launched a $200-per-month ChatGPT Pro tier. OpenAI’s CFO Sarah Friar has indicated the company is exploring advertising revenue streams. Corporate AI spending could shift as ChatGPT comes to enterprise iPhones For enterprise users, this integration represents more than just a new iPhone feature. Many companies have invested heavily in standalone AI solutions, often paying for multiple services like Jasper, Claude or corporate ChatGPT licenses. Native iPhone AI integration could consolidate these tools, potentially reshaping how businesses approach mobile productivity. Companies might shift their enterprise software budgets from specialized AI applications to platforms that integrate seamlessly with Apple’s ecosystem. The integration could also reshape the competitive landscape. Google, which pays Apple billions annually to remain the iPhone’s default search engine, may need to reassess its mobile strategy. The search giant has already accelerated its AI efforts, recently launching Gemini across its products. Apple’s privacy-first reputation influenced the integration’s design. The system requires explicit user permission before sharing data with ChatGPT, and anonymous usage options preserve user privacy. All processing occurs on-device for basic features, with more advanced capabilities requiring cloud computation. The future of mobile AI: A new platform war begins The partnership highlights a broader shift in computing, where AI capabilities become as fundamental as operating systems themselves. We’re seeing the emergence of a new platform war, but unlike the mobile OS battles of the 2000s, this one centers on AI integration. The stakes are much higher: Whoever controls the AI interface likely controls the primary way users will interact with technology for years to come. Apple’s choice to partner rather than compete suggests they’ve learned from history — sometimes being the platform that hosts the best services is more valuable than trying to build everything in-house. OpenAI has more announcements planned as part of its “12 Days of Shipmas” campaign. But the Apple partnership may prove the most consequential, reshaping how a billion users interact with AI technology daily. Neither company is exchanging cash payments in the initial partnership, with Apple viewing the massive distribution potential of its devices as compensation enough for OpenAI. However, future revenue-sharing agreements are being explored, particularly around ChatGPT’s premium subscriptions. For OpenAI, the deal offers something potentially priceless: Seamless access to hundreds of millions of Apple devices. For Apple, it’s a strategic play that keeps the company competitive in AI while maintaining flexibility to partner with other providers like Google and Anthropic — suggesting that in the emerging AI platform wars, Apple is positioning itself not as a combatant, but as the battlefield itself. source

By P.J. D’Annunzio ( December 13, 2024, 5:22 PM EST) — A Pennsylvania federal jury hit a cannabis software company with a $4.2 million judgment in a lawsuit from a subcontractor claiming it was brought on to help with a government project because of its Black-owned status, then pushed out of the $10 million deal…. Law360 is on it, so you are, too. A Law360 subscription puts you at the center of fast-moving legal issues, trends and developments so you can act with speed and confidence. Over 200 articles are published daily across more than 60 topics, industries, practice areas and jurisdictions. A Law360 subscription includes features such as Daily newsletters Expert analysis Mobile app Advanced search Judge information Real-time alerts 450K+ searchable archived articles And more! Experience Law360 today with a free 7-day trial. source

Living and working in an always-connected world means the quality and reliability of your network connection are vital to practically everything you do on your computer or mobile device. Maintaining a quality network connection and troubleshooting a connection that fails are basic skills everyone should, at the very least, be familiar with. Networking: Must-read coverage For Microsoft Windows 10 users, there are 12 basic network commands that you should know and be prepared to use when the occasion calls for it. Some of these commands have equivalents in the Windows 10 GUI, but for many, the command line structure is more effective and efficient. In this how-to tutorial, we list 10 basic Windows 10 network commands users should be able to use for troubleshooting network connection problems. SEE: Windows, Linux, and Mac commands everyone needs to know (free PDF) (TechRepublic) Windows 10 network commands everyone should know The quickest way to get to the command prompt in Windows 10 is to use the Windows Key + R keyboard combination to reach the Run dialog box. Type “cmd” and press Enter to load the command prompt. 1. Ping Of all the Windows 10 network commands, Ping is probably the one almost everyone knows about and has used before. The Ping command allows you to test the reachability of a device on a network. Pinging a host should return four data packets. If the data packets are not returned, you know there is a problem with your network connection. To run the basic command, at the prompt, type: ping [host] Where [host] is the name or IP address of a common host server (google.com, techrepublic.com, etc.). The example below shows what happens when we ping the TechRepublic server. Check out Microsoft Docs for a more advanced look at the Ping command and its variables and switches. 2. IPConfig The IPConfig command is one of the more useful basic Windows network commands everyone should know and use to troubleshoot problems. The IPConfig command displays basic IP address configuration information for the Windows device you are working on. In fact, the command will display information for every network adapter that has ever been installed on your Windows 10 computer. To run the basic command, at the prompt, type: ipconfig The general information includes IP Addresses for both IPv4 and IPv6, the Default Gateway, and the Subnet Mask. Adding the parameter /all to the command will display DNS Server information and details concerning IP Address leases. Check out Microsoft Docs for a more advanced look at the IP Config command and its variables and switches. SEE: Windows 10 and 11 in S Mode: What Is It, and Should You Use It? 3. Getmac Every network-capable device on the internet has a unique identifying number called its MAC address. The number is assigned during manufacture and is established in the device’s hardware. Using the Getmac command, a user can determine the MAC address of their various network devices. Some administrators will use the unique MAC addresses of devices to limit what can and cannot connect to a network. To run the basic command, at the prompt, type: getmac Check out Microsoft Docs for a more advanced look at the Getmac command and its variables and switches. 4. HostName The Windows 10 HostName network command will simply display your Windows 10 computer’s current name. This is the name your computer uses to identify itself to the other devices and servers on your local network. You can find this name in the System information screen in the GUI, but this command is quicker. To run the basic command, at the prompt, type: hostname Check out Microsoft Docs for a more advanced look at the HostName command and its variables and switches. 5. NSLookUp The NSLookUp Windows 10 network command displays information that you can use to diagnose Domain Name System infrastructure. Using NSLookUp without a parameter will show the DNS server your PC uses to resolve domain names into IP addresses. As you can see below, I am using Google’s DNS service because the server provided by my ISP is slow and prone to crashes. To run the basic command, at the prompt, type: nslookup Check out Microsoft Docs for a more advanced look at the NSLookUp command and its variables and switches. 6. Tracert Another handy tool for troubleshooting network connections in Windows 10 is the Tracert command. This command will trace a data packet’s route before reaching its destination, displaying information on each hop along the route. Each hop of the route will display the latency between your device and that particular hop and the IP address of the hop, as shown below. To run the basic command, at the prompt, type: tracert [host] Where [host] is the name or IP address of a common host server (google.com, techrepublic.com, etc.). Check out Microsoft Docs for a more advanced look at the Tracert command and its variables and switches. 7. Netstat The Netstat command displays active TCP connections, ports on which the computer is listening, Ethernet statistics, the IP routing table, IPv4 statistics, and IPv6 statistics. When used without parameters, this command displays active TCP connections. The information this command provides can be useful in pinpointing problems in your network connections. To run the basic command, at the prompt, type: netstat Check out Microsoft Docs for a more advanced look at the Netstat command and its variables and switches. 8. Arp The Windows 10 network command Arp displays entries in the Address Resolution Protocol cache, which contains one or more tables that are used to store IP addresses and their resolved Ethernet physical addresses. To get useful information from the Arp command, you must provide a parameter. The most general parameter is /a, which displays current Arp cache tables for all interfaces. To run the basic command, at the prompt, type: arp /a Check out Microsoft Docs for a more advanced look at the Arp command and its variables and switches. 9. PathPing Generally speaking, the

Microsoft has announced an ambitious new initiative intended to equip 1 million people across Australia and New Zealand with essential AI skills by 2026. The AI Skills Initiative is designed to support local workforces facing a rapidly changing digital economy. It will target everyone from individuals building AI systems to those applying AI in everyday roles. The initiative supports Microsoft’s commitment to training 300,000 Australians with digital skills within two years — a target the firm said would be hit by early 2025. How will the AI Skills Initiative help Australians, New Zealanders? The initiative will provide free access to tools, including an AI Skills Navigator, an AI-powered agent to help learners find appropriate skilling pathways for their circumstances. Learning resources will also be available through Microsoft Learn, LinkedIn, GitHub, and Viva Learning. Microsoft intends to curate the AI content specifically for sectors such as public services, education, and not-for-profit organisations so that the training will be relevant and actionable in work contexts. SEE: New Australian Migration Strategy to Deliver Skills for Tech Sector Why is Microsoft focused on upskilling? Microsoft’s upskilling push partly ensures that a broader base of people — including disadvantaged communities — can learn AI. For example, Microsoft said the new program aims to provide tailored training for individuals from diverse backgrounds, including women, people with disabilities, regional communities, and First Nations people. The upskilling initiative will also support Microsoft’s own AI ambitions in the region, with the uptake of AI products dependent on users being knowledgeable and skilled enough to apply them to their work. Previously, AI skilling has been identified as a key gap in the market in Australia, with many employees saying their organisations talk about the tools but do not invest in the people using them. Microsoft’s corporate vice president of Microsoft Philanthropies, Kate Behncken, said the commitment would ensure the workforce was capable as AI transforms “the way we work, learn and connect.” “We want to ensure that every individual has the opportunity to unlock the power of AI,” she said. More Australia coverage Microsoft plans to collaborate to achieve its training target Microsoft has provided some details on plans to work with various partners to achieve its upskilling aims. These collaborators will come from government, business, education, and not-for-profit sectors. Microsoft said it would extend AI training programs to various industries through collaborations with organisations such as tech consultancy and trainer Akkodis, who has trained over 10,000 people in AI skills, and the Institute of Applied Technology – Digital (IATD). The tech giant is exploring partnerships with regional business groups in Australia, such as Business NSW and the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, supporting skills training for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMBs) to boost AI knowledge and productivity. SEE: Australian SMEs at Risk of Being Left Behind on AI Microsoft’s support for the public sector will include launching an AI Academy program for government agencies and a partnership with the Victorian Government to introduce strategic AI and cybersecurity initiatives to enhance digital literacy. Microsoft will provide AI training to younger learners The company is also working with schools, vocational institutions, and universities to integrate AI learning into curricula to educate future generations with the skills needed to support an AI-powered economy. For example, the global tech firm’s AI Amplified program aims to help 175,000 students develop the skills needed for tomorrow’s workforce. Through partnerships with organisations such as KPMG and Year13, the initiative will reach over 50,000 young people in the next year. AI skills could help local workers take on new jobs The Tech Council of Australia has previously predicted that AI could create up to 200,000 new jobs by 2030, encompassing roles such as software development, data centre operations, and data management, as well as roles supporting the scaling, governing, and managing of AI systems. Many future roles will involve the use of AI. Three out of four business leaders in Australia already consider AI skills a must-have for job candidates, according to Microsoft’s Work Trends Index released in 2024. This was higher than a global average of 66%. Steven Worrall, Microsoft’s regional managing director, said that as many people as possible should be able to access and benefit from the technology, given the wide reach of AI’s impact. “That will require tools, infrastructure, and training, so we’re working hard on all those fronts,” he said. source

UK and Luxembourg-based startup Uplift360 has landed €1mn in pre-seed funding to scale up a greener method for recycling advanced materials like Kevlar. Uplift360’s patent-pending process breaks down Kevlar and other composites without compromising the integrity of the fibres and resins. These raw materials can then be reused to make new products. It does this using safe chemicals and at room temperature — making it greener and more energy-efficient than traditional methods, the startup claims.   “It’s a game-changer,” Sam Staincliffe, Uplift360’s co-founder and CTO, told TNW in an interview. “It means we can lower costs and recycle a wide range of advanced materials without the harmful impacts.” The process can also break down carbon fibre and glass fibre. Uplift360 will use the fresh funding to accelerate R&D, mature its technology and expand its team of scientists and engineers. Over the next 12 months, the company will set up its first concept demonstrator plant at its lab in Luxembourg, as it looks to woo potential customers, including DuPont: the American chemical conglomerate that first invented Kevlar.     Giving body armour a second life The 💜 of EU tech The latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol’ founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It’s free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now! Staincliffe, a defence tech expert, founded Uplift360 alongside Royal Airforce (RAF) veteran Jamie Meighan in 2021. Their mission was to help green the defence sector, which by one estimate contributes 5.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions — more than Russia.  First, the founders considered recycling military uniforms until Dr Debra Carr, a textile scientist working for the UK’s Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA), suggested they look into body armour. More specifically, para-aramid fibres — aka Kevlar.    DuPont chemist Stephanie Kwolek invented Kevlar in 1965. The material, which is five times stronger than steel, is best known for stopping bullets, but it’s also found in planes, cars, boats and many other products.  Today, Kevlar vests are incinerated after around 5 years of use. They are never recycled. That’s partly because traditional recycling methods aren’t up to the task. Governments also don’t want body armour ending up in the wrong hands.    Either way, it’s a big sustainability problem. It can take over 37 kilograms of petrochemicals to make one kilogram of Kevlar, so making new ones all the time isn’t exactly good for the planet.  Burning Kevlar also doesn’t make economic sense. Para-aramid fibres cost 85 times as much per weight as steel. A single vest can cost up to €3000. This makes Kevlar “waste” pretty darn valuable.  ‘Matter of national security’ Last year, Uplift360 secured €600K in funding from the UK’s Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA), as the country’s Ministry of Defence looks for innovative ways to green its supply chain. It also wants to cut reliance on foreign powers for key materials.   “The defence industry in the UK and Europe has a pretty fragile supply chain,” said Staincliffe. “Recycling and reusing isn’t just about sustainability, it’s also a matter of national security.”    However, the startup’s first customers will likely not be the users of products like Kevlar, but the manufacturers of them. Uplift360 is already trialling its technology with DuPont and Teijin, a Japanese company specialising in high-performance fibres.  The aim is to build recycling facilities at these firms’ factories. The plants will take in old products and recycle them for reuse to make new ones. While Uplift360 is focusing on Kevlar recycling for now, the company plans to put its chemicals to work on a range of tough stuff in the future — from aircraft components to wind turbine blades. source

Discover’s implementation is unique in that it operates its OpenShift platform in AWS virtual private clouds (VPC) on an AWS multi-tenant public cloud infrastructure, and with this approach, OpenShift allows for abstraction to the cloud, explains Ed Calusinski, Discover’s VP of enterprise architecture and technology strategy.   For many years, the Riverwood, Ill.-based finserv hosted workloads on a cloud platform within its own data centers. The OpenShift hybrid approach gives Discover the choice to run workloads on private or public clouds, enabling it to better manage and move workloads to multiple clouds and prevent vendor lock-in. “More workloads were moved [to the cloud] in the first six months of this year than in all the years before, by far, orders of magnitude more,” Strle says. “Due to the elasticity of the environment, we were able to handle circumstances such as big surges, and that’s very important to us because of the way we do marketing and campaigns and different ways people interact with our rewards. That can lead to very spiky consumer behavior, and we can dynamically grow our capacity on public clouds.” source

By Nadia Dreid ( December 12, 2024, 8:18 PM EST) — The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association is adding its name to the list of those who think the Federal Communications Commission’s plan to impose new rules surrounding customer service is a bad idea…. Law360 is on it, so you are, too. A Law360 subscription puts you at the center of fast-moving legal issues, trends and developments so you can act with speed and confidence. Over 200 articles are published daily across more than 60 topics, industries, practice areas and jurisdictions. A Law360 subscription includes features such as Daily newsletters Expert analysis Mobile app Advanced search Judge information Real-time alerts 450K+ searchable archived articles And more! Experience Law360 today with a free 7-day trial. source