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11 months ago
Ankaa Space and Technology, an Omani firm registered with the Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises Development (ASMED), began to establish the first centre for developing drones and robots for use in the fields of agriculture, housing and urban planning. The company is also establishing an urban observatory platform deemed the first of its kind in the Middle East. Mohammed Salim Al Riyami, CEO of Ankaa Space and Technology company, said, “To carry out its programmes, the company joins hands with a number of government institutions and private establishments like the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning.” He added that the company also works with NASA to conduct field visits for Omani students and joins hands with OQ to conduct advanced research in the field of robotics. The activities include programming drones and artificial intelligence (AI) applications to serve various sectors, he explained.
11 months ago
Elon Musk, the multi-billionaire entrepreneur and CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and X (formerly known as Twitter), has recently made headlines, not for his technological innovations but for his escapades in the gaming world. Musk, who boasts an impressive track record in competitive video games, faced a surprising setback when he was kicked off the Path of Exile 2 server for alleged cheating. This incident follows his widely publicized claim of dominating Diablo 4, another popular game. The controversy has sparked debates among gamers and raised questions about Musk’s gaming strategies and his plans to disrupt the gaming industry. In a November interview with Joe Rogan, Elon Musk revealed that he had achieved global recognition as one of the top 20 players in Diablo 4, a massively popular action role-playing game with over six million players worldwide. Musk’s impressive accomplishment involved completing the game’s challenging level 150 Pit in less than two minutes—a feat that stunned many in the gaming community. Interestingly, Musk is one of only two Americans to secure a spot in the game’s elite leaderboard, which is predominantly dominated by Asian players. His success drew attention to his exceptional gaming skills, with fans and critics alike speculating about […]
11 months ago
Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt said that autonomous artificial intelligence (AI) is coming—and that it could pose an existential threat to humanity. We’re soon going to be able to have computers running on their own, deciding what they want to do,” Schmidt, who has long raised alarm about both the dangers and the benefits AI poses to humanity, said during a Dec. 15 appearance on ABC’s “This Week.” “That’s a dangerous point: When the system can self improve, we need to seriously think about unplugging it,” Schmidt said. Schmidt is far from the first tech leader to raise these concerns. The rise of consumer AI products like ChatGPT has been unprecedented in the past two years, with major improvements to the language-based model. Other AI models have become increasingly adept at creating visual art, photographs, and full-length videos that are nearly indistinguishable from reality in many cases. For some, the technology calls to mind the “Terminator” series, which centers on a dystopian future where AI takes over the planet, leading to apocalyptic results. For all the fears that ChatGPT and similar platforms have raised, consumer AI services available today still fall into a category experts would consider “dumb AI.” These AI […]
11 months ago
Two months ago, we reported that Baiju Bhatt, one of the co-founders of the investing app Robinhood, debuted space solar power company Aetherflux. The startup plans to build a constellation of Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites that will use infrared lasers to transmit power to small ground stations on Earth. The startup notes that space solar power can revolutionize energy distribution, especially where delivering power is expensive, challenging, or dangerous. Powering hard-to-reach places like remote military bases, islands, or areas hit by disasters unlocks new capabilities and advantages for our country. Although rarely discussed, harnessing solar power from space is hardly a new concept. In 1941, writer Isaac Asimov introduced the world to space solar power. Back in the 1970s, NASA explored space solar power, with its approach requiring massive, billion-dollar structures in space, using radio waves for power transmission. Unfortunately, NASA quickly abandoned the idea. However, the attractions of beaming solar power from space are obvious: Unlike on Earth, sunlight in space is more powerful, available day and night, and unaffected by weather. And now China is looking to upend the U.S. in yet another futuristic energy technology: China is charging ahead with plans to build a prototype Space Based […]
11 months ago
Bahrain Post, part of the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications, has issued a collection of commemorative stamps in celebration of Bahrain’s National Day celebrations and the 25th anniversary of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s accession. The stamps are available at all postal branches and the Postal Museum, priced at BD5 per sheet containing five sets and BD1.5 for a first-day issue envelope.
11 months ago
Move over, BB-8: police in China are now testing a ball shaped robot that “can identify and chase suspects” for the first time. The spherical police robot in Wenzhou, China, features cameras, flashing lights, and a self-stabilizing design, according to the South China Morning Post. Equipped with tools like tear gas, it supports law enforcement and “cannot be smashed”. Authorities say it is also “resilient in hostile environments.” Developed by Zhejiang University’s College of Control Science and Engineering, the 125kg spherical robot addresses challenges faced by wheeled and legged robots. According to Associate Professor Wang You, it can reach a top speed of 35km/h in just 2.5 seconds, Wenzhou Daily reported. Wang You said: “This robot can cope with dangers such as falling or being beaten, and can perform tactical actions such as enemy identification, tracking and capture after modular modification.” “Because it can complete tasks in hostile environments, it can make up for the deficiencies of [Wenzhou police] drones and robot dogs,” Wang added. The SCMP writes that the spherical robot remains functional even under attack, navigating crowds and harsh environments with ease. Equipped with speakers, net guns, and tear-gas sprayers, it enhances patrol efficiency and crisis response. The robot is part of China’s push […]
11 months ago
Countries worldwide have been increasingly imposing tariffs on China’s tech industry to address concerns over economic dependence, national security, and market fairness. These actions reflect a broader trend of escalating trade measures affecting the global tech landscape. This chart, via Visual Capitalist’s Kayla Zhu, shows China-specific tariffs imposed by countries on products from China’s tech sector. This does not include other general tariffs which may also apply to Chinese products. China’s EV Sector Under Heavy Tariffs Below, we show tariffs various countries and regions have imposed on China’s tech industry. Tariffs have gained renewed focus ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s second term, and his pro-tariff agenda. The Biden administration hasn’t shied away from trade measures against China either. In May 2024, the U.S. raised tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles from 25% to 100%–as well as several other products–citing concerns over manufacturing overcapacity and its impact on global markets. Four countries or regions, including the U.S., have specific tariffs targeting China’s electric vehicle industry, which is quickly skyrocketing in market share with exports surging 13,300% to $42 billion in 2023. China currently accounts for nearly 70% of global EV production. China’s EV industry success is driven by comprehensive government support, including manufacturer subsidies, a massive domestic market, and vertical integration in the supply […]
11 months ago
Under the patronage of His Excellency Dr. Mohammed bin Nasser Al Zaabi, Secretary General of the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology, in collaboration with the National Survey Authority and Google, has launched the first phase of a Virtual Tour project. This initiative aims to provide a unique virtual experience, allowing users worldwide to explore Oman’s breathtaking landscapes, historical landmarks, and modern infrastructure. The project highlights the country’s commitment to digital innovation and its potential to boost tourism and business development.The first phase of the project focuses on iconic sites such as Khor Rori, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Images captured using “Trekkers” devices have covered approximately 36,000 kilometers. The project is set to expand in 2025, incorporating more sites and landmarks to offer a comprehensive virtual tour of Oman’s diverse beauty. This initiative underscores Oman’s position as a culturally and naturally rich tourist destination, accessible to global audiences.
11 months ago
Today, approximately half of the world’s service exports are made on digital platforms. While the top exporting countries of digital services are largely concentrated in developed countries, export markets in India and China are rising significantly. In 2023, India’s digital service exports topped $257 billion, rising by 17% annually. Meanwhile, the value of China’s digital service exports grew by almost twofold between 2019 and 2023 to reach $207 billion. This graphic, via Visual Capitalist’s Dorothy Neufeld, shows the top 20 largest exporters of digital services in the world, based on data from the World Trade Organization. Ranked: The Top Exporting Countries of Digital Services To start, digital services are defined as those that are traded through electronic networks, such as apps or digital platforms. They can encompass a broad range of activities including IT support, media streaming, R&D, and financial services. Given that a higher volume of business and consumer transactions are made online, digital services are making up a growing share of the global economy. Here are the top exporting countries of digitally-delivered services in 2023: With $649 billion in exports, the U.S. is the leading country for digitally-delivered services, at 15.3% of the world total in 2023. Roughly two-thirds of […]
11 months ago
The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) has announced the launch of Samsung Pay in Saudi Arabia, through the national payment system “mada”. It comes as part of its continuous endeavours to improve digital payment, in line with the Saudi Vision 2030. This will help promote financial inclusion and expand the use of FinTech solutions across the Kingdom. Samsung Pay in Saudi Arabia The Samsung Pay service “offers an advanced and secure payment experience, enabling users to easily add and manage their mada cards and credit cards” in the “Samsung Wallet” application. This initiative underscores SAMA’s commitment to developing a “robust digital payments infrastructure, facilitating the transition to a less cash-dependent society by providing advanced digital payment solutions that meet international standards”. SAMA said: “The launch of the Samsung Pay service is part of a series of innovations that aim at meeting the market needs and advancing Saudi Arabia’s position as a global pioneer in FinTech”.
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