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Netherlands forms task force to assess 5G security risks

The Dutch government has said it had established a special task force to weigh potential security risks as it prepares to build a 5G telecommunications network.

The announcement came after Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said his government was still exploring options for 5G and had not yet formed an opinion on the possible role of Chinese companies. The United States has lobbied Europe to shut out China’s Huawei from such projects, saying its equipment could be used by the Chinese government for espionage. That view was supported by the Dutch security service as well. www.tribuneindia.com

South Korea will be first to roll out 5G services

South Korea will become the first country to commercially launch fifth-generation (5G) services as it rolls out the latest wireless technology with Samsung Electronics’ new 5G-enabled smartphone Galaxy S10.

With one of the world’s top smartphone penetration rates, South Korea is in a race with China, the United States and Japan to market 5G, hoping the technology will spur breakthrough in fields such as smart cities and autonomous cars, and drive up its economic growth that slowed to a six-year low in 2018. www.ndtv.com

UAE clears 10-year artificial intelligence strategy

The UAE has launched a national strategy for artificial intelligence (AI) to improve customer services, assess government performance and increase living standards as well as to harness AI technology in the transport, tourism, health and education sectors.

The National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2031 aims at positioning the UAE as a global leader in artificial intelligence by 2031, and aims to develop an integrated system that employs artificial intelligence in vital areas in the UAE. It includes eight objectives, along with a number of initiatives aimed at employing artificial intelligence in vital areas such as education, government services and the community well-being. The strategy implementation is overseen by the Emirates Council for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transactions, in coordination with a number of local and federal entities.

The eight objectives include reaffirming the UAE’s position as a global hub for artificial intelligence, increasing the competitive edge of the AI sector in the UAE, establishing an incubator for AI innovations, employing AI in the field of customer services to improve the quality of life, attracting and training talents for jobs of the future, attracting leading research capabilities, providing a data-driven infrastructure to support AI experiments and optimising AI governance and regulations. https://gulfnews.com

Slovenia to set up Europe’s first AI research centre

Slovenia has announced plans to set up Europe’s first international artificial intelligence (AI) research centre, by converting the department of intelligent systems at the Jožef Stefan Institute in Ljubljana into a centre focusing on the governance and policies which surround AI.

“All of this Slovenian know-how which has been applied for all these years, and all the knowledge that we possessed in the past and that we still possess today is undoubtedly a reason for us, or should I say you, to be proud,” said the country’s prime minister Marjan Šarec at an event celebrating the 70th anniversary of the institute. https://emerging-europe.com

Honeywell integrates Intel to add AI capabilities

Honeywell has announced a first-of-itskind technology integration with Intel that will enable new artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities in its MAXPRO® connected security platform. The new security platform, which will support MAXPRO Network Video Recorders (NVR) and Video Management Systems (VMS), will incorporate Intel® Vision products that enable advanced analytics, deep learning and facial recognition capabilities. These greatly enhanced security solutions will drive cost and time savings by significantly reducing false alarms and will meet compliance requirements such as General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) through identity anonymization. www.honeywell.com

Airbus and ZF to develop end-toend autonomous driving solution

Airbus Defence and Space and ZF Friedrichshafen AG, a system provider for mobility, are collaborating to enrich and complement ZF on-board system to enhance autonomous driving by using Airbus satellite derived information. WUnder this collaboration, Airbus and ZF are combining their capabilities and expertise to offer a reliable end-toend solution for self-driving and selfpositioning vehicles. www.airbus.com

EU unveils ethics guidelines for artificial intelligence

The European Union presented ethics guidelines as it seeks to promote its own artificial intelligence sector, which has fallen behind developments in China and the United States. The European Commission, the bloc’s executive arm, unveiled a framework aimed at boosting trust in AI by ensuring, for example, data about EU citizens are not used to harm them.

“Ethical AI is a win-win proposition that can become a competitive advantage for Europe: being a leader of human-centric AI that people can trust,” Commission Vice President Andrus Ansip said. The guidelines list seven key requirements for “trustworthy AI” established by independent experts consulted by the Commission.

Among them is one ensuring that data about citizens will not be used to harm them or to discriminate against them. The measures also call for mechanisms to ensure accountability for AI systems and for AI algorithms to be secure and reliable enough to deal with errors or inconsistencies. The Commission now aims to launch a pilot phase in which industry, research and public authorities test the list of key requirements. https://phys.org