Ant Group claims its AI models outperformed Meta’s in benchmarks and cut inference costs, signaling a potential leap forward in China’s AI development efforts. source

By Linda Chiem ( March 28, 2025, 8:48 PM EDT) — A Michigan federal judge on Friday trimmed a proposed class action alleging General Motors and its self-driving car unit Cruise LLC misrepresented the technological capabilities of its autonomous vehicles, but said the investor plaintiffs plausibly alleged that some Cruise executives made recklessly false statements…. 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

German startup Isar Aerospace launched its Spectrum rocket from Andøya Spaceport in Norway today, marking the first-ever vertical orbital rocket launch in Western Europe. Spectrum blasted off at 12:30 PM CEST (11:30 BST) but lost control at about 25 seconds into the flight. A video from the launch shows the rocket wobble, pitch over, and then plummet back to the ground, where it collided with the ocean, causing a large explosion. The launchpad remains intact and no one was injured, Isar said. Drone and pad footage from Isar Aerospace’s Spectrum launch. You can see it avoided the pad when it came down. pic.twitter.com/NePozHqYad — NSF – NASASpaceflight.com (@NASASpaceflight) March 30, 2025 Despite a quick and abrupt end to Spectrum’s inaugural flight, Isar’s CEO and co-founder Daniel Metzler hailed the launch as a “great success.” Robert Doornbos (FR driver), Pernilla Sjöholm (Tinder Swindler survivor) & more Check out every speaker at TNW Conference including Hugging Face, ASML, OpenAI & Datasnipper “We had a clean liftoff, 30 seconds of flight, and even got to validate our flight termination system,” Metzler said. “With this result, we feel confident to approach our second flight.” Spectrum’s first flight carried no payload. Isar Aerospace said the aim of the launch was “to collect as much data and experience as possible.” The 28-meter (91-foot) Spectrum is a two-stage launch vehicle designed to propel small and medium-sized satellites into orbit. The company expects to produce as many as 40 rockets per year from its new factory, which is currently under construction outside its headquarters in Munich. Spectrum launch vehicles 2 and 3 are already in production, Isar said. Spectrum’s inaugural flight marks the first-ever vertical orbital rocket launch in continental Europe outside Russia. Virgin Orbit attempted an orbital launch from the UK in 2023, but the plan failed. Europe’s other rockets, Ariane 6 and Vega C, launch from Europe’s main spaceport in French Guiana, South America. Isar Aerospace is the first private space company to use Andøya Spaceport, which officially opened in 2023. The spaceport, located close to the Arctic Circle, offers easy access to polar and sun-synchronous orbits — ideal for Earth observation and spy satellites. Isar Aerospace signed a deal in February with the Norwegian Space Agency to launch its Arctic Ocean Surveillance (AOS) program satellites until 2028. The company looks to launch up to 15 missions per year from Andøya, at a cost of around €10mn per flight. Opening up orbital launches from Western Europe promises to simplify logistics for European satellite operators by eliminating the need to ship payloads overseas. Access to smaller, cheaper launch vehicles that can place a single satellite in orbit could also offer a more flexible, fast, and precise alternative to ride-sharing. Then there are the geopolitical considerations. Launching from continental Europe would reduce reliance on foreign launch providers like SpaceX, enhancing sovereign access to space amid growing geopolitical tensions. Metzler touched on that point in a statement last week: “In today’s geopolitical climate, our first test flight is about much more than a rocket launch.” Founded in 2018 as a spin-off from Technical University Munich, Isar Aerospace has secured €400mn to date, making it Europe’s most well-funded private space company. While Andøya is Europe’s first continental spaceport, others are underway, the most advanced being the SaxaVord spaceport in the Shetland Islands off Scotland. Rocket Factory Augsburg, a rival to Isar, was meant to launch from the site last year. However, the startup suffered a major setback after its rocket exploded during a static-fire test, pushing back its inaugural flight to later this year.   source

AI will transform industries more than the internet and the cloud. However, the potential for such a dramatic shift in innovation and productivity raises a critical question: are businesses ready to manage the technological changes and organizational complexities that AI has the potential to introduce? The Cisco AI Readiness Index measures how prepared global companies are to deploy AI solutions. Cisco surveyed more than 8,000 business and IT leaders across 30 countries to evaluate their readiness to integrate AI into their businesses. The assessment focused on six key pillars: Strategy, Infrastructure, Data, Governance, Talent, and Culture.   Insights from the Cisco AI Readiness Index  Low preparedness, high interest in AI  Only 13% of organizations worldwide are fully prepared to deploy and integrate AI applications into their businesses. Yet, 98% of companies surveyed reported an increased urgency to deploy AI technologies within the next six months.    Strategies must support business goals  Most organizations (61%) reported having an AI strategy in place or under development to support their business goals. However, only 21% possess the necessary graphical processing units (GPUs) and IT infrastructure to power AI applications. As a result, organizations are investing in AI infrastructure, including accelerated compute, reliable networking, and sufficient storage, to support their initiatives. With an ever-expanding attack surface and growing reliance on AI systems and data, companies are also heavily investing in cybersecurity to reduce risks, increase visibility, and protect sensitive information.  Powerful, scalable infrastructure is essential  More than three quarters (79%) of organizations anticipate needing more GPU resources to support growing AI workloads. Nearly all IT leaders surveyed agreed that AI will increase workload size and volumes, but only 10% believe their existing networks can scale to meet these demands.  AI depends on high-quality data  Organizations adopting AI must take a strategic and secure approach to data management to ensure it is organized, traceable, and high quality. Data remains siloed in 82% of surveyed organizations, and only 25% reported that their data is fully integrated with analytics tools.  Establish a clear AI governance plan  Organizations must develop clear governance plans to manage the development, deployment, and usage of AI solutions while ensuring fairness and preventing bias. Despite this need, 76% of respondents admitted their organizations lack comprehensive AI policies. Additionally, only 35% reported a detailed understanding of global data privacy standards.  Help employees build their skillsets  Only 19% of respondents believe their employees possess sufficient skills to maximize AI tools. Organizations must focus on training and upskilling employees while addressing concerns that AI may replace jobs.  Help employees embrace the possibilities of AI  Pressure to adopt AI affects 85% of surveyed organizations. Respondents indicated that organizations have about 18 months to implement AI strategies before facing significant business challenges. Leaders can foster a culture that embraces AI innovation by helping employees understand its implications and potential for accelerating growth across various functions.     AI-ready or not?   Is your business ready to leverage AI? Take Cisco’s AI Readiness Assessment and compare your readiness to other organizations in the survey.   source

E-commerce isn’t just changing; it’s undergoing a metamorphosis. For those at the helm of B2B organizations, digital routes to market represent a beast that demands not just feeding but understanding and anticipation. The architecture of your e-commerce ecosystem decides your trajectory in this dynamic realm — will it be a rocket ship to stellar growth or an anchor in shifting sands? More Than A Blueprint: Reinventing The E-Commerce Ecosystem Think about having a strategy that goes beyond the usual e-commerce playbook. This is about more than just following trends; it’s about creating them by putting your customers first and integrating technology and strategy in a way that really makes sense. Imagine setting up your e-commerce ecosystem to not just do its job but to excel, providing real value at every turn. It’s about leading with a plan that’s as thoughtful as it is innovative, where every piece works together seamlessly to not just meet but anticipate the needs and desires of your market. Customer-First: A Mantra To Live By Forget transactions. Today’s B2B landscapes thrive on relationships that offer more than a product or service exchange. Buyers yearn for a seamless journey reminiscent of their personal buying experiences — intuitive, effortless, engaging. How can your B2B e-commerce platform not just meet but anticipate these demands? The secret lies in weaving technology and strategy around the core of customer needs. Deciphering The Tech Labyrinth In a sea of CRM, ERP, AI, and machine learning solutions, the challenge isn’t in acquiring technology but in discerning which tools align with your vision. The magic happens when these technologies seamlessly integrate to streamline operations, foster innovation, and catalyze growth. It’s about smart choices that resonate with your strategic ambitions. Innovation: The Only Constant In the e-commerce odyssey, standing still is retreating. Innovation is your compass guiding through uncharted territories, with data as your map and experimentation as your strategy. But innovation isn’t merely about embracing the new for the sake of novelty; it’s about nurturing a culture that’s resilient, adaptive, and always a step ahead. An Invitation To Explore What we’ve touched upon here is merely the surface. My latest exploration, Architecting The B2B E-Commerce Ecosystem, delves deeper, offering insights and strategies for those poised to redefine the digital commerce landscape. But the dialogue shouldn’t end with the last page of a report. If these insights have piqued your interest, consider this an invitation to a deeper conversation. Let’s discuss how to transform your e-commerce ecosystem into a beacon of innovation, efficiency, and growth. Please contact [email protected] for further conversations. source

The Delaware Supreme Court’s January decision in In re: Oracle and the General Assembly’s passage of amendments to the Delaware General Corporation Law this week, when taken together, help make the controlling-stockholder analysis clearer and more predictable for companies with large stockholders, say attorneys at Baker Botts. source

NASSCOM recently hosted its flagship event, the Technology Leadership Forum (NTLF) 2025, with noticeably stronger attendance than in recent years. Returning to its familiar venue — the Grand Hyatt Mumbai — proved valuable. The compact setting was ideal for high-impact interactions, enabling us to engage in over 50 client meetings across a wide range of topics shaping the IT and IT-enabled services industry. Unsurprisingly, the largest share of conversations was with service providers — ranging from niche specialists to full-spectrum players, both global and India-based. Several clear themes emerged from these discussions, offering insight into the evolving priorities of the sector. AI’s Impact On Service Delivery Is Just Beginning AI — specifically generative AI (genAI) — couldn’t be kept out of the conversation. It has massive implications for knowledge industries, including IT and business services of all kinds. The discussions at NTLF 2025 revealed a broad spectrum of interpretations on how agentic AI will reshape the industry. IT services firms are evaluating how automation and self-directed AI agents could accelerate software delivery, potentially reducing headcount dependencies and altering traditional managed service models. Business process outsourcers (BPOs) are reimagining the concept of a “digital workforce,” where AI-driven agents could take over routine, structured workflows, shifting the focus from scale-driven efficiency to expertise-driven value. Product vendors, too, are rethinking their roadmaps, as agentic AI threatens to disrupt traditional software categories. Despite the buzz, hard truths dominated many conversations. Job displacement, regulatory gray zones, and the ethics of AI-led decision-making were impossible to ignore. Vendors agreed: AI may unlock efficiency and cost gains, but it also forces a reckoning — with legacy business models, outdated workforce assumptions, and traditional value levers. NTLF 2025 was a mirror to the industry’s mindset: bullish on the promise of AI and agentic systems, yet clear-eyed about the complexity of real-world adoption. BPOs Gear Up For AI, But Real Impact Is Still On The Horizon There’s broad consensus — across clients and service providers alike — that a large-scale disruption of services and work types is inevitable. Yet, for most BPOs, the impact remains more potential than reality. Nearly every provider has invested heavily on two fronts: 1) building an AI-first BPO service portfolio; and 2) preparing their workforce to operate effectively alongside AI. However, the current state of play is still nascent. Most AI deployments are limited to foundational genAI and agentic use cases, primarily in customer service and back-office transaction processing. The transformational promise is clear — but for now, it’s still early innings. The BPOs taking a truly strategic path to becoming AI-powered are going beyond generic solutions. They’re investing in domain- and vertical-specific AI models that are both scalable and fungible, while also designing agentic workflows that span entire service lifecycles. A consistent thread across these efforts is the emphasis on human-in-the-loop systems — which is prompting a reexamination of roles, skills, and job definitions across the BPO workforce. Fully autonomous, end-to-end workflows remain more vision than reality for now. Achieving that future will demand not just new tools, but a fundamental shift in mindset. GCCs Take Center Stage We have seen rising interest in global corporates to set up their global capability centers (GCCs) in India. NASSCOM’s projection of GCCs growing from over 1,700 to more than 2,100 by 2030 reflects a significant trend. We expect both the number of GCCs and the staff they deploy will, on average, increase during this period. Service providers were keen to discuss the implications of this growth on their business. Many providers are consolidating their GCC offerings — previously scattered across business units — into a single, integrated service line. To deliver end-to-end value, they’re forging new partnerships in areas traditionally outside their scope, such as real estate, tax, legal, audit, and compliance. The service models span the full spectrum: from build-operate-transfer for greenfield GCCs to traditional outsourcing arrangements for mature centers. The Four Forces Reshaping Tech Services In 2025 And Beyond Service providers entered 2025 with cautious optimism. Yet, under the surface, concerns around geopolitics, currency volatility, and the dual impact of AI — both accretive and potentially dilutive — were front of mind. In our view, four major forces will shape the trajectory of the services industry this year. GenAI will lead the charge, but it won’t stand alone. Providers will need to help clients consolidate and scale their core tech stack, forge the right ecosystem partnerships and alliances to enable that transformation, and navigate a new, nonlinear relationship between talent and revenue — a shift that challenges long-held operating assumptions. source

By Bryan Koenig ( March 27, 2025, 7:09 PM EDT) — Current and former employees of Google, Apple, TikTok, X Corp., Snap and Epic Games asked a D.C. federal judge Wednesday to quash subpoenas seeking their live testimony in the Federal Trade Commission’s upcoming antitrust trial against Meta Platforms, arguing their taped depositions make the burden of testifying unnecessary…. 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

Just five months after surpassing ASML, German software giant SAP has overtaken Novo Nordisk to become Europe’s most valuable listed company. SAP’s shares rose 1.6% on Monday, bringing its market cap to €313bn. That was just enough to nudge Danish weight loss drugmaker Novo off the top spot.  SAP’s stock has risen more than 40% in the past year, amid booming demand for its AI-driven enterprise resource planning software (ERP). The cloud-based software centralises business data, allowing multiple departments to access and share information in one place. In contrast, Novo is having a tougher time on the stock market. Novo’s flagship product is Ozempic, a weight loss drug championed by celebrities and the ultra-wealthy, including Elon Musk. However, trials of the firm’s newest weight loss therapy, CagriSema, haven’t generated the same excitement. The drug was shown to be less effective than anticipated, causing shares to drop 50% from their 2024 high.  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! Novo isn’t the only company feeling the impact of SAP’s stock rally. In October, the software firm rode overtook ASML to become Europe’s most valuable tech company.  ASML, based in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, makes chip-making equipment for most of the world’s largest semiconductor companies. As the only firm that manufactures the EUV lithography machines required to produce the world’s most advanced computer chips, the Dutch business has become an investor darling.  However, ASML’s shares plummeted dramatically in in October, wiping €50bn off its market cap in one fell swoop.  The plunge came after the Dutch firm said it did not receive the expected number of orders for its lithography machines and expects fewer net sales for 2025 than previously estimated.  That news also sparked a global sell-off on chip stocks, as investors worried that demand may be faltering. However, analysts were quick to point out that weak orders at ASML were more a sign that chipmakers had been stockpiling chips than a longer-term problem.  Since then, ASML’s stock has soared, plunged, and risen again. In January, shares jumped as much as 12% — the largest increase in nearly five years — following a surge in order bookings. The company currently ranks as Europe’s fourth most valuable, with Paris-based LVMH in third place behind SAP and Novo.  The shifting fortunes of Europe’s biggest companies reflect the volatility of today’s global markets. In recent months, stock prices have been rattled by fluctuating interest rates, geopolitical tensions, and new technological developments. Many of Europe’s biggest tech companies will be at TNW Conference, which takes place on June 19-20 in Amsterdam. Tickets for the event are now on sale. To get 30% off, use the code TNWXMEDIA2025 at the check-out.  source

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