Category Tech and Innovation

OpenAI has launched a new initiative called OpenAI Academy, aimed at empowering developers from low and middle-income countries by awarding $1 million in API credits. The program seeks to ensure that the transformative potential of artificial intelligence is shared across underserved communities worldwide, according to the company’s announcement.

The blog post highlights that while many countries boast fast-growing tech sectors with skilled developers and innovative organizations, access to advanced training and technical resources remains a significant hurdle. OpenAI sees investing in local AI talent as a way to make a transformative impact across various industries in these regions.

In addition to the API credit grants, OpenAI has committed to hosting incubators and competitions in collaboration with philanthropists to provide investment opportunities for organizations in these communities. This initiative is part of a broader effort to foster technological innovation in disadvantaged areas.

To further support non-English speaking communities, OpenAI has funded the translation of the Massive Multitask Language Understanding (MMLU) benchmark into 14 languages, including Arabic, Bengali, and Swahili. This translation effort aims to extend the benefits of AI technology to a wider range of linguistic groups, making advanced AI tools more accessible globally.

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Keeping an expensive, inflexible phone system that requires on-site support can slow your business down. Transitioning to a virtual business phone system could be the solution. Virtual PBX systems, or Cloud PBX, offer a modern alternative to traditional phone services. Traditional systems require on-site phone lines, costly hardware, and dedicated office space. In contrast, virtual phone systems for business connect calls using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology via the internet. This makes them a more cost-effective and flexible choice for modern businesses.

Let’s explore how you can run your business from anywhere in the world by using modern, low-cost technologies and flexible solutions that boost productivity and connectivity.

Key Features of Virtual PBX  

The virtual phone system for businesses provides a wide range of features designed to optimize communication and operational efficiency:

1. Call Forwarding and Routing: Automatically route calls to employees, regardless of their physical location.
2. Interactive Voice Response (IVR): Automate caller navigation through menus to direct them to the appropriate department or service. Personalize greetings and hold music.
3. Voicemail-to-Email: Receive voicemail messages directly in your email inbox.
4. Conference Calling: Facilitate group meetings, allowing team members to connect without being in the same room.
5. Scalability: Easily add or remove lines and features as your business grows or changes.
6. Call Recording: Record calls for quality assurance and training purposes.
7. Call Statistics: Access detailed reports on call activities and agent productivity.
8. Integrations With Popular CRM Systems:  Easily integrate your preferred CRM systems.
9. Mobile Access: Allow employees to make and receive calls from their mobile devices using the same business number.

How Does a Virtual PBX Work? 

A virtual Business Phone System uses cloud technology and VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) to allow businesses to manage their phone systems online.  Calls directed to a Virtual PBX are routed through the provider’s servers. These servers manage features such as call forwarding, voicemail, and automated attendants. Users can access the system from any device with an internet connection. This allows them to communicate effectively, whether they are in the office, at home, or on the go.

Why Your Business Needs a Virtual Phone System 

Effective communication is crucial for the success of almost any business. Have you ever considered switching to a unified communication platform that allows you to connect from anywhere in the world with just an internet connection?

Here’s how a Virtual Business Phone System can benefit your business:

• Cost-Effective: One of the most significant advantages of a Virtual PBX is cost savings. Traditional phone systems often come with high installation and maintenance costs. In contrast, Virtual business telephone systems typically help reduce monthly costs, as they do not require physical hardware.
• Flexibility and Mobility: With a Virtual PBX, employees can work from anywhere, whether they’re at home, on the road, or in a different country. This flexibility allows businesses to maintain productivity without being tied to a specific location.
• Advanced Features: Virtual business phone systems come equipped with a range of advanced features that can enhance communication with the customers and collaboration within teams.
• Improved Customer Experience: With features like call routing and automated attendants, businesses can provide a more professional and responsive experience for customers.
• Easy Maintenance Updates: Since Virtual PBX systems are managed in the cloud, updates and maintenance are handled by the service provider. This reduces the burden on internal IT resources and ensures that businesses are always using the latest technology.

Can You Keep Your Existing Business Phone Numbers? 

Many providers offer number portability, allowing businesses to retain their existing phone numbers. At Zadarma, we offer number portability from 40 countries, ensuring that you can transition to our services without losing your established business contacts.

Additionally, at Zadarma, you can connect up to 20 numbers from other providers without changing your main service provider.  This feature allows you to receive calls on our platform while maintaining your current numbers.

Cost of Virtual PBX 

Zadarma Virtual Business Phone System service is available at no additional cost. You only pay for virtual numbers, outgoing calls, and any additional features not included in your selected price plan. This transparent pricing structure allows you to customize your communication solution according to your specific business needs. Compare our pricing plans and select the option that best fits your requirements.

What Are The Advantages of Selecting Zadarma? 

At Zadarma, we understand that effective communication is vital for business success. Besides basic phone services, we provide various tools designed to improve your business communications. Our all-in-one solution is easy to set up and budget-friendly, making it ideal for businesses of all sizes.

Core Features of Zadarma Services: 

• Global Coverage: We provide virtual phone numbers in over 100 countries, helping you expand your reach. You can also make calls to more than 160 countries, keeping you connected with clients and partners around the globe.
• Flexible Pricing Plans: We offer different pricing plans for various regions, so you can choose the most suitable option for your business.
• Out-of-the-Box Setup: Our system is easy to install, allowing you to start using it right away without complicated setups.
• Free Teamsale CRM: Our free CRM includes an autodialler, as well as automated SMS and email campaigns to streamline your communication processes.
• Integration with popular CRM systems: Easy integration with major platforms, such as Zapier, Bitrix24, Zoho, HubSpot, Salesforce, Freshdesk and more.
• Free Website Widgets: Boost your online presence with our Click-to-Call and Callback widgets, which allows customers to reach you quickly from your website.
• Call Tracking: Gain valuable insights into your marketing performance with our static and dynamic call tracking feature.
• Video Conferencing: Facilitate remote meetings and collaboration with our video conferencing tool, ensuring your team stays connected regardless of their location.
• eSIM for Travelling: Stay connected on the go with our eSIM, which allows you to easily use mobile data in 150 countries.
• Our Own App: Use our dedicated app to make and receive calls on Android, iOS, and Windows. We also offer a Webphone and Google Chrome extension for added convenience.
• Call and Voicemail Transcription: Transcribe recorded conversations and voicemails into text for easy reference. Use detailed analytics to search for stop words, competitor mentions, scripts, specific keywords and more.

How to Set Up Virtual PBX for Your Business 

1. Create Your Account: Start by signing up on zadarma.com and completing your profile information.
2. Use the PBX Wizard: Our built-in PBX wizard will assist you with a basic initial configuration.
3. Activate Our Free CRM: Improve your communication management by activating our free CRM, or integrate any other CRM system of your choice. You can even manage two CRM systems on a single account.
4. Download Our App: Install the Zadarma app or access the Webphone in your account to test our services for free and ensure everything is working smoothly.
5. Connect Your Numbers: You can easily connect virtual phone numbers, request the portability of your existing business numbers, or add numbers from another provider.
6. Explore Advanced Configuration: For more advanced PBX setup options, refer to our user manual for detailed guidance.

If you have questions or need help, feel free to contact your dedicated 24/7 Support Team.

Effective communication is essential for business success. Switching to a virtual PBX system provides cost savings and increased flexibility, allowing businesses to operate from anywhere. A Virtual PBX includes features that improve customer experience and teamwork. This makes it easy for teams to collaborate from anywhere.

By choosing Zadarma, you get a variety of flexible tools that help your business stay competitive and connected. Start using Virtual PBX technology today to maximize your business’s potential.

Try our free Business Phone System!

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Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has expressed his belief that the world is on the brink of a new industrial revolution, one that will be driven not by steam or electricity, but by artificial intelligence (AI). Speaking at the Gartner IT Symposium, Huang shared his views on the future trajectory of AI and how business leaders should be preparing to integrate this technology into their operations.

Huang emphasized that the shift from traditional software development to AI-powered neural networks has fundamentally changed the entire technological landscape. He noted that this transformation goes beyond simply increasing computing power; it is about redefining the nature of work itself. According to Huang, AI does not merely learn how to use tools like conventional software; it learns how to perform tasks autonomously, solve complex problems, and even collaborate with other AI systems.

Huang described this moment as a pivotal change for enterprises. While companies have historically focused on developing tools, both hardware and software, the advent of AI introduces digital forms of intelligence that represent a new frontier. He went on to say that this development is comparable to the birth of a new industry, likening it to the beginning of a new industrial revolution.

Reflecting on the early days of software development, Huang compared AI’s rise to the way software was once viewed as an abstract but highly valuable product. He suggested that AI will follow a similar path, with “tokens” produced by AI becoming the new currency. These tokens, which can be reconstituted into language, video, images, and potentially robotic movements, represent a new form of output that will reshape industries. Huang argued that the world is close to realizing the potential of “artificial general robotics,” where robots could perform tasks based on natural language commands.

Huang acknowledged the transformative nature of AI, describing its impact as profound. However, he also noted that many business leaders are still grappling with how and where AI should be applied within their organizations. Nvidia itself is embedding AI into its core operations, including optimizing processes like chip design and supply chain management. Huang advised that other companies should follow suit, integrating AI into their platforms and databases to capture and retain institutional knowledge.

Huang also spoke about the potential of “agentic AI,” referring to AI models that can make decisions with minimal human intervention. Nvidia is collaborating with companies such as SAP and ServiceNow to develop systems that incorporate these AI agents. He explained that if AI can learn in an unsupervised manner, the need for human labeling would be greatly reduced, allowing AI to explore new possibilities and perform remarkable tasks.

Looking ahead, Huang predicted that Nvidia would eventually have 50,000 employees and over 100 million AI assistants. He expressed confidence that every organization will witness a similar surge in AI-driven workers, whether in this generation or the next. According to Huang, the expansion of AI in the workforce is inevitable.

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On October 20, 2024, journalists from Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) visited Zenith Steel Group (Huai’an) New Material Co., Ltd., located in Huai’an, Jiangsu Province, China. The company, designed to produce 1.6 million tonnes of ultrahigh-strength steel cords annually, primarily focuses on supplying materials for tire manufacturing. Once full production is achieved, it plans to export 500,000 tonnes of steel cords to international markets.

During the visit, Bernabe Josue Yanguez Henriquez, a reporter for La Estrella de Panama, shared his hopes for enhanced cooperation between China and Panama, highlighting the potential benefits for his country’s infrastructure.

In the company’s exhibition hall, real-time footage showcased the seamless operation of intelligent workshops, where automated guided vehicles (AGVs) moved efficiently through the facility, capturing the attention of journalists eager to document the scene.

Sustainability has been a key priority for Zenith Steel, as demonstrated by its advanced waste treatment solutions and the extensive installation of rooftop solar panels.

Petra Fiona Williams, a broadcaster from WeThePeople 93.5 FM in Antigua and Barbuda, noted her admiration for the company’s use of technology and automation to ensure high-quality products, as well as its efforts to reduce waste and lower carbon emissions during production.

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AI is no longer just a futuristic concept; it’s transforming how businesses operate, creating both excitement and uncertainty. For leaders, the challenge is to communicate AI’s value clearly, address concerns openly, and foster alignment across the organization. By embracing transparent communication, encouraging small-scale experimentation, and building trust, leaders can turn AI into a tool for growth rather than a source of resistance. This article offers strategies to help leaders confidently guide their teams through AI’s evolving role in business success.

Key Takeaways: 

• AI has become essential for business success, requiring leaders to communicate its benefits and risks transparently to build trust and align strategies.
• A disconnect exists between executives’ confidence in AI and employees’ concerns about workload, underscoring the need for leaders to bridge this gap.
• Leaders should address AI-related concerns—like job security and data privacy—openly to foster trust and facilitate alignment.
• Fast, small-scale AI experiments and tailored communication strategies are key to easing adoption and encouraging cross-functional collaboration.
• Effective AI leadership involves building a culture of education, transparency, and shared understanding, turning uncertainty into growth opportunities.

Artificial intelligence has evolved from a novel concept to a critical driver of business success, transforming the way today’s companies operate and compete. Leaders now face the challenge of communicating AI’s promises and risks as those promises and risks evolve in real time. These conversations aren’t just about explaining the technology; they’re about building trust and aligning your organization’s strategy with AI’s capabilities.

This alignment is more urgent than ever. A recent Upwork survey found a striking disconnect: while nearly 100% of executives are confident AI will boost productivity, 77% of employees feel it’s increasing their workloads. This gap highlights a growing tension between leadership expectations and employee experiences. Leaders must bridge this divide, ensuring that AI’s role in the organization is understood, embraced, and effectively integrated into the way people work.

Communicating AI’s Impact   

As AI reshapes industries, it also stirs uncertainty and raises questions throughout the organization. Employees may fear for their job security, board members may question the ROI, and customers may be concerned about data privacy and ethics. Addressing these concerns head-on is critical—not only to maintain trust, but also to drive alignment and ensure AI becomes a lever for growth rather than resistance.

At the root of most skepticism is a fear of the unknown. When people don’t understand how AI affects their work, their future, or the business, hesitation is inevitable. This is where leaders need to step up as communicators instead of just decision makers. We must demystify AI, reframing it as a force for opportunity, innovation, and transformation rather than a disruptive threat.

To lead these conversations effectively, empathy and transparency are non-negotiable. Here are four key strategies to help you engage in clear, confident, and impactful discussions about AI’s role in your organization:

1. Acknowledge and address concerns
   AI brings valid concerns—data privacy, ethical risks, and job security, to name a few. Address these directly by being transparent about AI’s limitations and the safeguards you’ve put in place. Create an environment where employees feel heard and can express their worries, turning concerns into conversations that foster trust.

   Building an ethical AI framework is key to addressing these fears. Every AI initiative should undergo rigorous scrutiny, weighing desirability, feasibility, profitability, and ethics. By consistently applying these principles, you can ensure AI projects don’t just work but align with the company’s values and ethical standards.

2. Educate yourself and your team
   To lead in AI, you need to understand its fundamentals. AI systems—from chatbots like ChatGPT to complex autonomous systems like self-driving cars—operate on shared principles: data, algorithms, and predictions. Leaders must build a solid foundation in these concepts to communicate effectively across the organization. But technical knowledge alone isn’t enough; it’s also about framing AI’s benefits, such as productivity gains, enhanced decision-making, or even new revenue streams. Regular training sessions are critical for you and your team, covering AI’s mechanics, strategic applications, and best practices for communicating its impact to different stakeholders, including employees and regulators.

   Consider, for example, a retail company that wants to implement AI-driven inventory management. Leadership might focus on teaching the team how the technology works as well as how it could reduce stockouts, improve product availability, and boost customer satisfaction. By pairing technical training with clear messaging about these benefits, they can achieve a smooth internal adoption and gain buy-in from key stakeholders. Leaders should adopt this kind of approach while also looking at AI’s broader implications—from industry shifts to future trends—and how they could shape their organization’s strategic direction.

3. Promote fast experimentation
   An IBM survey found that 61% of CEOs are pushing to adopt generative AI faster than their teams are comfortable with. This urgency can create friction if not managed carefully, but small-scale experimentation can ease the transition. Take Mercedes-Benz, for example: The company began by integrating a generative AI-powered smart sales assistant into its online storefront to enhance e-commerce capabilities. Seeing success in this targeted application, Mercedes-Benz plans to expand its AI use to call centers and personalized marketing campaigns. This step-by-step approach helped the company showcase the benefits of AI on a smaller scale before expanding its reach.

   The key is to experiment quickly but thoughtfully. Focus on high-impact use cases, run small-scale experiments, and validate assumptions early. Engaging nontechnical teams in these experiments ensures AI solutions are practical, user-friendly, and aligned with business needs. Remember, AI isn’t just for technologists—it’s a team sport. Those closest to the business should drive AI projects with support from technical teams. This approach accelerates AI adoption while encouraging cross-functional collaboration, increasing buy-in across the organization. By involving diverse perspectives, AI initiatives remain grounded in real business outcomes, ensuring that the technology is aligned with the company’s strategic goals and priorities.

4. Develop a clear communication strategy
   A well-crafted AI narrative is essential. Leaders must tailor their communication for different audiences, from boardrooms to frontlines. For example, regulators may focus on data privacy, while employees may be more concerned about job security. Simplifying AI concepts with relevant real-world examples makes them relatable and digestible for everyone. To create a message that resonates, consider this checklist:

   – Simplify technical language: Use AI tools like visual dashboards or explainable AI models to break down complex concepts, making them accessible to nontechnical stakeholders.
   – Address specific concerns: Focus on what matters most to each group—emphasize data security for regulators, while highlighting job creation and upskilling opportunities for employees.
   – Provide tangible benefits: Share clear examples of how AI initiatives will directly impact their work or the organization’s success, from increased productivity to new market opportunities.

Celebrating success stories of AI within your organization builds excitement and trust. Showcasing wins—while openly discussing failures and lessons learned—fosters a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.

AI is no longer just on the horizon; it’s already transforming how businesses operate. As leaders, how we guide our teams through this shift will determine our success. By educating ourselves and our people, addressing concerns with openness, experimenting quickly, and delivering a clear AI message, we can turn uncertainty into opportunity.

This is more than adopting new technology—it’s about creating a culture where AI drives progress and people feel empowered. When employees, customers, and stakeholders understand AI’s value, it becomes a tool for growth, not a source of fear. Our role is to lead with clarity, fostering trust and alignment every step of the way.

In a fast-evolving landscape, the ability to confidently lead conversations about AI isn’t simply a nice-to-have; it’s a must. AI success ultimately hinges on trust—trust that employees, customers, and investors place in leaders who can articulate a clear vision for the future. By following these strategies, you’ll not only bridge the gap between AI’s potential and its real-world impact, but also build the trust needed to position your organization to thrive in the future.

—————–

Written by Peter Mulford.
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As businesses grapple with the rapid shift toward digital transformation, the need for technology leaders who can skillfully navigate the complexities of AI has surged. Korn Ferry’s research highlights that over 82% of top executives anticipate artificial intelligence will have a major impact on their operations, reflecting the increasing demand for expertise in this area.

In response, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, ranked fourth among India’s management institutes (NIRF 2024), has unveiled the Advanced Program in Technology & AI Leadership (TAILP). This initiative aims to equip rising leaders with the critical skills required to thrive in an AI-centric world.

The program caters to technology professionals, senior managers, IT strategists, consultants, and entrepreneurs. Participants will gain the knowledge to spearhead growth by leveraging strategic leadership, operational precision, and a strong foundation in AI. Topics will include crafting innovative tech strategies, overseeing IT systems with a focus on cybersecurity, and leading AI-driven initiatives.

Enrollees will benefit from IIT Delhi’s cutting-edge AI research, which will help them foster innovation, build resilience, and maintain a competitive edge in today’s fast-paced digital landscape.

TAILP offers an in-depth curriculum covering key areas like AI and Machine Learning in business, Digital Transformation, Cybersecurity, and emerging trends such as blockchain and the metaverse. In addition, participants will complete a capstone project, allowing them to apply their learning to practical challenges in tech strategy and leadership.

A key highlight is a two-day campus immersion at IIT Delhi, where participants will engage with faculty, collaborate with peers, and enhance their leadership abilities in AI-led business environments.

Recent insights from EY’s CEO Survey emphasize the growing importance of AI, with 70% of Indian CEOs planning to increase investment in AI technologies. This underscores the critical need for leadership programs like TAILP, designed to prepare decision-makers to lead in this evolving landscape.

The program will be led by IIT Delhi’s esteemed faculty, including Professor Arpan Kumar Kar, an expert in information systems and emerging technologies. With a distinguished career that includes research projects for major global firms like Facebook, PwC, and BASF, Prof. Kar will bring valuable insights into managing AI’s impact on business operations. His extensive body of research, including over 200 publications and 18,000 citations, underscores his authority in the field.

Program Details:

• • • Start Date: January 19, 2025
    • Fee: INR 1,69,000 + GST
    • Certification: Participants will earn a certificate from IIT Delhi upon successful completion.

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A recent report by Positive Technologies, a global leader in cybersecurity solutions, has revealed a significant rise in cyber-criminal activity across the Middle East, with a particular emphasis on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia. These two nations, which are the region’s largest economies, have increasingly become primary targets for hackers seeking to exploit sensitive data and penetrate critical infrastructures.

The study shows that the UAE is responsible for 40% of darknet posts related to the sale of compromised data and unauthorized access to local businesses, while Saudi Arabia accounts for 26%. Cyber-criminals are capitalizing on the rapid digital expansion in the region, trading stolen financial information and selling illegal access to corporate networks.

Positive Technologies, known for its expertise in identifying and addressing cyber threats, conducted a comprehensive analysis of the underground marketplace for cyber-crime services. The findings highlight a growing demand for hacking services targeting Gulf financial institutions and critical industries such as energy, raising alarms over the vulnerabilities in the region’s cybersecurity defenses.

Experts at Positive Technologies warn that these attacks pose substantial risks to the economies and infrastructures of the Gulf, especially as cyber-criminals continue to develop more advanced methods. The report calls on the UAE and Saudi Arabia to significantly enhance their cybersecurity measures and stresses the need for greater regional cooperation to combat these evolving threats.

Although both countries have taken steps to reinforce their cybersecurity frameworks, the study underscores the necessity of further action to safeguard businesses and institutions from large-scale breaches. Without a unified effort, the Gulf region will remain a lucrative target for cyber-criminals operating within the darknet’s clandestine networks.

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Renewable energy, spearheaded by solar power, is on track to supply nearly half of the world’s electricity demand by the end of this decade, according to a new report from the International Energy Agency (IEA). The report highlights the rapid expansion of renewable power, driven by supportive policies and favorable economic conditions, which is expected to result in a global increase in renewable capacity equivalent to the combined power capacity of China, the European Union, India, and the United States.

The Renewables 2024 report, the IEA’s flagship publication on the sector, reveals that over 5,500 gigawatts (GW) of new renewable capacity will be added between 2024 and 2030 – nearly three times the increase seen between 2017 and 2023. China is projected to account for almost 60% of this growth, making it home to nearly half of the world’s renewable power capacity by 2030, up from a third in 2010. While China will lead in total volume, India is expected to grow at the fastest rate among major economies.

Solar photovoltaic (PV) technology is forecast to drive 80% of the growth in global renewable capacity through 2030, thanks to both large-scale solar farms and a rise in rooftop installations by businesses and households. Despite recent challenges, the wind sector is also set to double its expansion rate during this period. Both wind and solar PV are already the most cost-effective options for adding new power generation in nearly every country worldwide.

The report notes that almost 70 countries, representing 80% of global renewable capacity, are poised to meet or exceed their 2030 renewable energy goals. While this growth approaches the goal set by nearly 200 governments at the COP28 climate summit to triple global renewable capacity by 2030, the IEA predicts that capacity will rise to 2.7 times its 2022 level. Achieving the full tripling target is still possible, according to the report, but would require immediate governmental action, including the development of ambitious new Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement and enhanced international cooperation to lower financing costs in emerging markets, particularly in high-potential regions like Africa and Southeast Asia.

IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol commented that renewables are growing faster than national governments can set targets, driven by not only environmental goals and energy security but also the fact that renewables have become the cheapest option for new power generation globally. Birol noted that the addition of over 5,500 GW of renewable power capacity by 2030 will transform electricity systems worldwide, with renewables set to meet half of global electricity demand by the decade’s end.

Wind and solar PV alone are projected to double their share of global electricity generation to 30% by 2030. However, the report stresses that governments must address challenges such as curtailment, where generated renewable energy goes unused, which has already reached 10% in several countries. Increasing power system flexibility, resolving policy uncertainties, streamlining permitting processes, and upgrading infrastructure, including modernizing 25 million kilometers of electricity grids and reaching 1,500 GW of storage capacity, are necessary to integrate higher shares of renewables.

Renewable electricity’s share in final global energy consumption is expected to rise to nearly 20% by 2030, up from 13% in 2023. However, the report notes that renewable fuels, such as sustainable biofuels, biogases, hydrogen, and e-fuels, are lagging behind. These fuels, which are more costly than fossil fuels, are expected to make up less than 6% of global energy in 2030, highlighting the need for stronger policy support to decarbonize sectors that are hard to electrify.

The report also assesses the state of renewable technology manufacturing, with global solar manufacturing capacity forecasted to exceed 1,100 GW by the end of 2024, more than twice the expected demand. While this oversupply, concentrated in China, has driven down solar module prices by over 50% since early 2023, it has led to financial losses for many manufacturers. To diversify global production, solar PV manufacturing capacity is expected to triple in India and the United States by 2030. However, the report notes that producing solar panels in these countries is significantly more expensive than in China, prompting policymakers to weigh the costs and benefits of local manufacturing against priorities such as job creation and energy security.

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A consortium of major companies, including Microsoft and BlackRock, has announced plans to raise up to $100 billion to fund the development of data centers designed for artificial intelligence (AI) and the energy systems needed to support them.

This initiative, known as the Global Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure Investment Partnership (GAIIP), was revealed in a recent press release. The group also includes Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), an infrastructure investment firm currently being acquired by BlackRock, as well as MGX, a technology investment company based in the United Arab Emirates.

In a statement, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella emphasized the company’s commitment to advancing AI-driven innovation across industries. He highlighted the collaboration between financial and industry leaders to build the next generation of infrastructure, with a focus on sustainability.

The partnership aims to raise an initial $30 billion, with plans to eventually scale the fund to $100 billion, including through debt financing.

The rapid expansion of data centers equipped with Nvidia GPUs, essential for running generative AI models like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, has fueled this effort. These powerful processors require substantial energy, creating supply chain constraints as tech companies race to build the necessary infrastructure.

Microsoft’s contribution to the project is in addition to its ongoing capital investments, particularly for expanding its Azure cloud platform, which serves AI clients like OpenAI. In July, Microsoft disclosed that it had spent $19 billion in the fiscal fourth quarter on capital expenditures, including assets acquired through finance leases.

Meanwhile, BlackRock’s acquisition of GIP is moving forward, with the deal expected to close on October 1. The transaction, valued at $3 billion in cash and approximately 12 million shares of BlackRock common stock, was first announced in January.

MGX, another key player in the partnership, was founded in March through a collaboration between Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala and AI company G42, underscoring the global nature of the investment strategy.

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SuperMeat cofounder Ido Savir noted that public sentiment around cultivated meat remains cautious, with doubts about its scalability and market potential leading some to view it as more hype than a feasible meat alternative. Savir emphasized that SuperMeat’s latest report demonstrates a commercially viable path to market, given the right technology.

Established in December 2015, SuperMeat, based in Rehovot, Israel, is one of the pioneering companies in cultivated meat. The company grows avian stem cells from fertilized eggs, which are naturally immortal and capable of differentiating into various cell types, to produce muscle and fat tissue. SuperMeat’s new 23-page report, along with a video, outlines a semi-continuous production process that isolates these cells from non-incubated eggs, preparing them for large-scale bioreactor processes.

Savir explained that the report details SuperMeat’s entire production cycle, including key metrics and performance indicators. With its current 10-liter setup, SuperMeat projects that production scaled to 25,000-liter bioreactors could yield cultivated chicken meat at costs of $11.8 per pound without depreciation and $13.4 per pound with depreciation, competitive with premium conventional poultry in the U.S. This estimate assumes cell densities of 80 million cells per milliliter within nine days, and animal-free media costs below 50 cents per liter. Savir added that SuperMeat is collaborating with manufacturing partners and regulatory agencies in the U.S. and Singapore to validate its processes on a ‘mid-scale’ level for potential partners and investors.

At this initial scale, Savir proposed a hybrid approach, using cultivated chicken meat at a 30% inclusion rate in processed products like minced meat and burgers, which would remain competitive in the value-added market. He expressed hope for regulatory approval in the U.S. by late next year.

Savir declined to disclose SuperMeat’s total funding, acknowledging that some investors in food technology are cautious. However, he argued that if companies can demonstrate commercial viability and market interest, cultivated meat could see renewed investment momentum.

Among the top-funded startups in the cultivated meat sector are UPSIDE Foods ($608 million), GOOD Meat ($270 million), and Believer Meats ($388 million). UPSIDE Foods has currently paused its plans for a large-scale facility in Chicago to expand a smaller facility in California. GOOD Meat, meanwhile, has shifted focus toward process optimization rather than fundraising for large-scale production. Believer Meats, on the other hand, is building what it claims will be the world’s largest cultivated meat plant in North Carolina, expected to be operational by the end of 2024, though regulatory approval for U.S. sales remains pending.

European firms are also making headway. Dutch startup Mosa Meat, which raised $43 million earlier this year, opened a 30,000-square-foot scale-up plant in Maastricht, while Meatable, another Dutch firm, secured $35 million in Series B funding, bringing its total funding close to $100 million.

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