Latest news with #digitaldivide
Geek Wire
an hour ago
- Business
- Geek Wire
Tech Moves: Washington broadband head departs; Suplari co-founder leaving Microsoft; and more
Tech Moves covers notable hires, promotions and personnel changes in the Pacific NW tech community. Submissions: tips@ Aaron Wheeler. (Photo via Dept. of Commerce) Aaron Wheeler is stepping down after nearly a year and half as the director of the Washington State Broadband Office (WSBO), the Department of Commerce announced Friday. Wheeler's last day will be June 27 before he heads back to the Suquamish Tribe, where he previously spent 18 years as an information technology professional with the tribe's government. 'I have had a wonderful time leading WSBO, but working with the Suquamish Tribe again is an opportunity I just couldn't pass up,' Wheeler said in a news release. 'The work in IT and education with the Squamish is a real passion of mine, and my new role allows me to get back to that focus.' Wheeler was appointed by former Gov. Jay Inslee to the Broadband Office role in March 2024. WSBO's mission is to close the digital divide in Washington by ensuring all urban and rural residents and businesses have access to affordable, reliable, high-speed internet. Under Wheeler's leadership, the office completed two rounds of Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program (BEAD) applications, according to the Commerce Dept. WSBO was about to open the third and final application round when new federal guidance was released, initiating a significant shift in the state's BEAD process. Other key personnel changes across the Pacific Northwest tech industry: Nikesh Parekh. (LinkedIn Photo) — Nikesh Parekh is leaving Microsoft four years after the tech giant acquired his startup, Suplari, which used artificial intelligence to help companies understand and get a handle on their spending. 'Back to building again,' Parekh wrote in a LinkedIn post. 'Building enterprise applications for Microsoft Copilot and Copilot Studio for the past two years has strengthened my belief that AI will unlock incredible human potential.' Parekh said he is 'going deep on a small number of projects' that he is excited about 'that will democratize opportunity and grow human potential through AI.' — Jessica Nguyen is joining San Francisco-based Paragon Legal as a strategic advisor, she announced in a LinkedIn post. Nguyen is staying on as a deputy general counsel for AI Innovation & Trust at Docusign. She has previously held legal roles at Avalara, Microsoft, Payscale and Lexion, among others. — Hawa Drammeh has been chosen as a summer intern at Seattle-based AI2 Incubator. Drammeh previously interned at Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Blue Origin, and LinkedIn while double-majoring in Computer Science and Biochemistry at the University of Washington. She founded CSEED, a student-run tech/entrepreneurship group at UW. — Eleanor Knight and Matthew Chiu have joined YoungTech, the community for startups in Seattle. Knight, a Business Administration student at the University of Washington, is YoungTech's brand and content strategy associate, in charge of storytelling, digital presence, and community engagement. Chiu, an Information Systems and Marketing student at UW, is YoungTech's business operations and communications associate. He has experience at Highspot and Okta.
Globe and Mail
a day ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
CIRA's Internet Performance Test turns 10 with new features and insights on Canada's digital divide
OTTAWA, Ontario, June 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CIRA is proud to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of its Internet Performance Test (IPT), marking a significant milestone in the journey towards building a more equitable and accessible internet across Canada. Since the first test was captured in the spring of 2015, Canadians have run over 1.7 million tests, leveraging the tool and its crowd-sourced approach to better understand their connection. The platform allows local governments, advocates and researchers to track national progress toward closing the digital divide. Over the years, the data collected through IPT has provided insight into how the internet is evolving across Canada. In its inaugural year, the national median download speed was just over 11 Mbps, with an upload speed of 2.4 Mbps. Fast forward to last year, the national median speeds soared to 92 Mbps download and 27 Mbps upload, showcasing incredible progress. This milestone coincides with the launch of new CRTC hearings that will investigate how to improve the shopping experience for consumers to ensure they get the speed and quality they pay for. Key insights A noticeable inflection point after 2019 suggests that increased government and private investments in response to the COVID-19 pandemic—and its consequences on the online lives of Canadians—have significantly impacted connectivity. While rural speeds have improved substantially, the gap between rural and urban connectivity remains largely unchanged. Regional disparities persist, with New Brunswick enjoying relatively fast speeds, while the Prairies continue to lag behind. The far North, particularly the territories, shows the lowest connectivity levels, with median speeds well below half the national average. Latency—a critical quality metric that can lead to noticeable delays in online activities such as video calls, streaming and other real-time applications—highlights the challenges faced by networks covering vast territories. Areas such as Nunavut, Newfoundland and Labrador and Saskatchewan exhibit the highest latency levels, indicating the need for continued investment in underserved regions. Executive quote 'Ten years of the IPT marks a major milestone in Canada's connectivity journey. Thanks to community partnerships, we've built a powerful tool for change, but the digital divide persists. More than ever, we must keep investing, collaborating and pushing forward to ensure fast, reliable internet is a reality for everyone, no matter where they live.' — Charles Noir, Vice-president, Community Investment, Policy & Advocacy, CIRA New features To mark this anniversary, CIRA is rolling out a series of powerful new features designed to enhance user experience and deliver even deeper insights: Autotesting capability: the IPT can now run automated tests at regular intervals over hours or days. Logged-in users can track how their connection performs throughout the day. New speed categories: newly added categories highlight areas with exceptional service and ultra-fast connections. Basemap selection: in addition to the default street map, users can now switch to satellite imagery for added geographic context. Upload speed visualization: the Internet Performance Map now displays both download and upload speeds, offering a more complete view of internet performance. Expanded dashboard insights: IPT account holders now have access to more detailed metrics and visualizations via updated dashboards. Resources To learn more about the Internet Performance Test's past decade of impact on Canada's digital divide: To run a test and learn more about CIRA's Internet Performance Test, visit: About CIRA CIRA is the national not-for-profit best known for managing the .CA domain on behalf of all Canadians. As a leader in Canada's internet ecosystem, CIRA offers a wide range of products, programs and services designed to make the internet a secure and accessible space for all. CIRA advocates for Canada on both national and international stages to support its goal of building a trusted internet for Canadians by helping shape the future of the internet. About Net Good by CIRA and the Internet Performance Test Net Good by CIRA supports communities, projects and policies that make the internet better for all Canadians including CIRA's Internet Performance Test (IPT). The IPT platform offers advanced and detailed diagnostic data enabling communities, researchers, and decision-makers to better understand and improve internet access in Canada. Each year, CIRA proudly funds its Net Good program from the revenue generated through .CA domains.
Zawya
3 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Saudi Arabia announces its candidacy to ITU Council's membership
GENEVA — Saudi Arabia announced its candidacy to retain its membership in the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Council. The announcement was made during the 2025 ITU Council session held in Geneva, Switzerland. Addressing the council meeting on Tuesday, Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST) Acting Governor Eng. Haytham AlOhali reaffirmed the Kingdom's pioneering role in supporting the global telecom and technology sector. Eng. AlOhali reaffirmed the Kingdom's strong commitment to international cooperation in bridging the digital divide, stressing the importance of accelerating global efforts to connect the unconnected and address the challenges of the digital and AI era. He pointed out that the world currently connects around 200 million people annually, and at this pace, it would take more than 13 years to connect the remaining 2.6 billion. This calls for an innovative approach to speed up connectivity efforts and reduce the timeframe by over 50%. 'Saudi Arabia is proud to be among the top nations that have successfully reduced the digital connectivity gap to below 1 percent. The Kingdom has also leveraged technology to create advanced and innovative solutions across sectors such as education, healthcare, energy, and public services,' he said. Eng. AlOhali affirmed that Saudi Arabia, in collaboration with the ITU, introduced the AI Readiness Framework, highlighting the importance of ensuring that artificial intelligence must be inclusive, human-centered, and focused on empowering youth and women. 'By innovation and collaboration, we now have the solution to accelerate the pace of global connectivity and cut the time needed to close the digital gap by over half. This could enable us to connect the unconnected within five years or even sooner. It's not just about saving time, but about unlocking opportunities and advancing inclusive social and economic development, particularly in developing nations,' he stated. Eng. AlOhali pointed out that Saudi Arabia has significantly expanded its digital workforce, increasing the number of professionals from 150,000 in 2018 to more than 380,000 by 2024. Women's participation in the ICT sector also grew from 7 percent to 35 percent, surpassing both the global and G20 averages. The Kingdom's adoption of a forward-thinking digital regulatory framework has secured it the second spot among G20 nations in the ITU's ICT Regulatory Tracker. In addition, Saudi Arabia has launched global initiatives to enhance regulatory digital maturity in over 100 countries, emphasizing the vital role of adaptable, innovation-driven frameworks in enabling inclusive digital transformation. AlOhali emphasized that the Kingdom's digital accomplishments and innovative initiatives have been driven by the strong support and guidance of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. He affirmed Saudi Arabia's commitment to leveraging its resources and expertise to support the international and ITU's efforts in building a sustainable digital future. As part of the Kingdom's ongoing collaboration with the ITU, he announced that the Kingdom will host the Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR) from August 31 to September 3, 2025, in Riyadh, under the theme: 'Regulation for Sustainable Digital Development.' He invited all member states to participate in this significant forum, which highlights the Kingdom's strong relationship with the ITU and reflects its dedication to building regulatory frameworks that foster innovation, investment, and inclusive access. The ITU Council consists of 48 member states, including Saudi Arabia, out of a total of 194. The council oversees the Union's activities between Plenipotentiary Conferences (PP). Its responsibilities include: directing the ITU's tasks, ensuring the implementation of ITU policies and budgets, approving operational and financial plans, and reviewing programs, while also providing recommendations on general policies to develop the sector. This makes the council a pivotal mechanism in ensuring the efficiency and continuity of the ITU's work. © Copyright 2022 The Saudi Gazette. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
G7 Leaders' Statement on AI for Prosperity
KANANASKIS, AB, June 17, 2025 /CNW/ - We, the Leaders of the G7, recognize the potential of a human-centric approach to artificial intelligence (AI) to grow prosperity, benefit societies and address pressing global challenges. To realize this potential, we must better drive innovation and adoption of secure, responsible, and trustworthy AI that benefits people, mitigates negative externalities, and promotes our national security. We will power AI now and into the future. And we will work with emerging market and developing country partners to close digital divides, in line with the United Nations Global Digital Compact. We must seize the potential of AI in our public sectors to drive efficiency and better serve our publics. We also recognize that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), including microenterprises, are the backbone of our economies, driving growth and creating jobs. In 2024, we committed to work together to help SMEs adopt and develop new technologies, including AI, to accelerate broad-based growth. We also committed to fully leverage the potential of AI to enable decent work while addressing challenges for our labour markets. We reiterate the importance of operationalizing Data Free Flow with Trust (DFFT) through trustworthy, cross-border data flows, and affirm its value in enabling trusted AI development and use. We recognized the transformative impact of AI for the cultural and creative sectors, including challenges to business models and job security, and opportunities to boost innovation. We recognize that increased AI adoption will place growing pressure on our energy grids, produce negative externalities and have implications for energy security, resilience and affordability. At the same time, AI can be harnessed to promote energy innovation and bolster the resilience and reliability of our energy systems. We hear the concerns of emerging market and developing country partners about the challenges they face in building resilient AI ecosystems, including the risks of disruption and exclusion from today's technological revolution. To fully realize the potential of AI for our publics and our partners, we commit to: Work together to accelerate adoption of AI in the public sector to enhance the quality of public services for both citizens and businesses and increase government efficiency while respecting human rights and privacy, as well as promoting transparency, fairness, and accountability. To this end, Canada as G7 presidency is launching the G7 GovAI Grand Challenge and will host a series of "Rapid Solution Labs" to develop innovative and scalable solutions to the barriers we face in adopting AI in the public sector. We will leverage our existing government AI expertise to establish a G7 AI Network (GAIN) to advance the Grand Challenge; develop a roadmap to scale successful AI projects; and create a catalogue of open-source and shareable AI solutions for members. GAIN will collaborate to ensure that AI solutions in government have measurable and real benefits for our communities. We task relevant Ministers to explore strategic investments for accelerating public sector AI adoption in transformative ways, including for large language models and digital infrastructure. Promote economic prosperity by supporting SMEs to adopt and develop AI that respects personal data and intellectual property rights, and strengthen their readiness, efficiency, productivity and competitiveness. We launch the G7 AI Adoption Roadmap, which provides clear, actionable pathways for companies to adopt AI and scale their businesses. Through this Roadmap, we commit to: sustain investments in AI adoption programs for SMEs, including supporting access to compute and digital infrastructure; publish a common blueprint for AI adoption by SMEs underpinned by proven use-cases from G7 economies; deepen our cooperation on talent exchange to integrate AI skills within businesses looking to scale; and develop tools that grow business and consumer confidence and trust in AI adoption including by leveraging the outcomes of the Hiroshima AI Process. We will collaborate with international partners, like the Global Partnership on AI, to advance this work. We will build resilient future workforces by preparing workers for AI-driven transitions. To do so, we will advance implementation of the 2024 G7 Action Plan for a human-centered adoption of safe, secure and trustworthy AI in the world of work, including by developing a voluntary compendium of best practices. We will drive economic growth, address talent shortages, and ensure equal opportunity, by encouraging girls, as well as members of communities left behind by globalization, to pursue science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and increasing women's representation in the AI talent pool at all levels. Meet the energy challenges of AI and harness its potential for advancements in energy efficiency and innovation. We will cooperate on innovative solutions to address energy challenges across our economies, including for AI and data centres, that support our respective national and international commitments. We will also support innovation that improves the energy and resource efficiency of AI models and optimizes data centre operations. We will advance AI solutions to unlock energy innovation and breakthrough discoveries, including optimization of energy use, and adopt AI to help build secure, resilient, and affordable energy systems and supply chains. We will strive to identify solutions that mitigate negative externalities and generate benefits for people and preserve our natural resources. We will cooperate on knowledge-building and sharing with trusted international partners and promote AI skills and talent development in the energy sector. We task relevant Ministers to advance these commitments by delivering a workplan on AI and energy, before the end of this year, including working with international and industry partners to provide ongoing data analysis. Expand mutually beneficial partnerships with emerging markets and developing country partners to increase access to AI for everyone. We will harness trusted and secure AI technology to promote growth and enable partners to tackle the unique challenges they face. To do this, we will leverage our combined expertise, resources and networks to bridge gaps in AI infrastructure and capacity, invest in locally led AI-enabled innovations, and voluntarily collaborate with local universities to share knowledge and access to AI on mutually agreed terms. We will deliver this by aligning our efforts through initiatives including AI for Development, AI Hub for Sustainable Development, Current AI, FAIR Forward, Hiroshima AI Process Friends Group, AI for Public Good, and others. Interested G7 members plan to strengthen the AI for Development Funders Collaborative. ANNEX: G7 AI ADOPTION ROADMAP We, the Leaders of the G7, recognize the promise of rapidly advancing artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to unlock competitiveness and deliver unprecedented prosperity for the firms, organizations and countries that integrate them into their business processes. We seek to further promote secure, responsible, and trustworthy AI that benefits people, mitigates negative externalities, and promotes our national security. We will do this through advanced AI research, world-class commercial applications, and deep business and policy expertise. We plan to create the conditions for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), including micro-enterprises—the engine of our economies— to access, understand, and adopt AI in ways that drive value and productivity. This roadmap outlines our shared vision and practical steps to help our SMEs move from uncertainty to opportunity—to shift from being AI-aware to being AI-powered. Building on the 2024 Italian Presidency's report on Driving factors and challenges of AI Adoption and Development among companies, especially micro and small enterprises, we commit to: Accelerate AI Readiness and Competitiveness We intend to double down on AI adoption efforts that connect research to practical applications, helping businesses—especially SMEs—integrate AI technologies that drive productivity, growth and competitiveness. We recognize the need to respect intellectual property rights in enabling these efforts. While we have already taken steps to promote AI adoption, scaling these efforts remains essential, including access to computing resources, expertise, and partnerships to move from AI experimentation to impact. We intend to promote AI adoption programs that, in particular, focus on: Commercialization support for SMEs and startups, including access to advanced computing infrastructure connectivity and computing resources, facilitating effective use of open and closed source AI models, business mentorship, and targeted support to bridge the gap between academic breakthroughs and industry implementation in order to bring AI-enabled products and services to market; Cross-sector collaboration to facilitate adoption, connecting businesses with AI solutions providers, national AI research institutes, academia, innovation hubs, and clusters to accelerate deployment of AI across the economy; Practical use case development, including easy to implement and existing solutions, showcasing successful applications of AI across sectors and by SMEs to demonstrate return on investment and stimulate wider industry demand; and AI literacy and skills development, ensuring businesses—especially SMEs—have access to the tools and skilled workforce needed to adopt AI confidently and effectively. Develop an AI Adoption Blueprint We intend to deliver an AI Adoption Blueprint that equips governments and businesses with practical tools, evidence-based policy options, and real-world examples to accelerate SME AI integration. This will be a solutions-focused resource, informed by expert-driven, collaborative research activities and workshops, in cooperation with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and drawing on empirical G7 AI trends, adoption initiatives, and frontline SME experiences. The Blueprint will: Present actionable policy recommendations that governments can choose to implement to lower barriers and build enabling ecosystems for SME AI adoption; and Provide case studies of successful AI integration, offering concrete examples that businesses across sectors and countries can choose to replicate. Expand G7 Talent Exchanges We intend to expand G7 cross-border talent exchanges to connect AI expertise with businesses—including SMEs—accelerating adoption and building a future-ready workforce. We expect to encourage a focus in our initiatives that matches sectoral expertise with the AI competencies needed for impactful adoption. We look to further our cooperation on talent exchange to connect emerging AI research and commercialization expertise from across our world-class talent pool with real-world business needs. To do so, we plan to: Support AI-focused talent exchanges, including with students from G7 members, specifically targeting Al adoption projects, to bridge research with practical application, developing high-level expertise in critical areas; and, Connect SMEs with AI skilled workers so that they have access to AI capabilities and tools to enhance their operational efficiency and competitiveness. Unlock AI opportunity through trust-building We plan to build on progress achieved under the Japanese and Italian presidencies and leverage the outcomes of the Hiroshima AI Process (HAIP) to foster trust. As AI adoption accelerates, trust remains essential—especially for smaller firms deploying powerful technologies—to provide assurance to customers. We will now translate shared principles into concrete tools for SMEs, with the aim of enabling responsible AI deployment across all sectors and business sizes in a manner that fosters consumer trust and unlocks market opportunities. We will: Lead multi-stakeholder efforts to identify opportunities and challenges in deploying AI, aligned with the Hiroshima AI Process, in collaboration with SMEs, AI developers, international standards-setting organizations, and Global Partnership on AI members; Publish a toolkit to identify and explain relevant resources for AI deployers; and Raise awareness of the HAIP Code of Conduct Reporting Framework that the OECD is implementing. SOURCE Prime Minister's Office View original content: Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
CNA
11-06-2025
- Business
- CNA
Philippines' Globe Telecom CEO urges government to speed up plans to improve country's connectivity
The CEO of Philippine group Globe Telecom has urged the government to speed up plans to provide every Filipino with access to telecommunications and the Internet. Carl Raymond Cruz spoke to CNA's Buena Bernal about what needs to be done to bridge the digital divide.
