Global Pulse

分类： technology

  • Intersec 2026 spotlights AI, smart cities and security convergence in Dubai

    Intersec 2026 spotlights AI, smart cities and security convergence in Dubai

    Dubai has further cemented its status as a premier global center for security technology and innovation following the successful conclusion of Intersec 2026 at the Dubai World Trade Centre. The landmark event, held from January 12-14, attracted an unprecedented gathering of over 50,000 trade professionals and 1,200-1,400 exhibitors representing more than 60 nations, marking the largest edition in the exhibition’s 27-year history.

    The 2026 edition prominently featured the accelerating integration of artificial intelligence across multiple security domains, including physical security systems, cybersecurity protocols, fire protection mechanisms, and AI-enhanced emergency response solutions. Organizer Messe Frankfurt Middle East significantly expanded the exhibition space to approximately 65,000-67,000 square meters to accommodate surging international demand from government entities, infrastructure operators, and private-sector procurement specialists.

    A central theme throughout the International Security Leaders’ Summit and Health & Safety Conference was the transition of AI applications from experimental pilot programs to operational deployment in safety-critical environments. Experts demonstrated advanced implementations including predictive policing analytics, intelligent fire detection systems, automated access control, and sophisticated risk monitoring platforms, while consistently emphasizing the necessity of maintaining human oversight in critical decision-making processes.

    The inauguration ceremony was presided over by Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Ports and Borders Security Council, who emphasized Intersec’s evolving role in bridging technological innovation with institutional preparedness and practical implementation. “Intersec has established itself among the world’s foremost platforms dedicated to security and safety,” Sheikh Mansoor stated. “The substantial international participation underscores the growing confidence in Dubai’s capacity to host major global events that actively shape the future of vital sectors through environments fostering innovation and knowledge exchange.

    Significant commercial developments emerged during the event, including a memorandum of understanding between Messe Frankfurt Middle East and UXE Security Solutions, designating the company as Future Cities Partner for Intersec 2026. This collaboration highlights Dubai’s strategic advancement toward intelligent, regulated urban security ecosystems, particularly through UXE’s involvement in the emirate’s pioneering Keyless Security Project for holiday accommodations. Additional partnerships between public-sector agencies and international standards organizations reinforced Intersec’s dual function as both a commercial marketplace and policy formulation platform.

    With robust attendance from government authorities, civil defense agencies, and leading technology providers, Intersec 2026 demonstrated the security industry’s decisive shift toward integrated, intelligent, and regulation-compliant solutions. Organizers have announced expansion plans under the newly launched Intersec Global brand, signaling continued growth for Dubai’s influential role in defining the future trajectory of worldwide safety and security standards.

  • A47 secures $2 million funding to build AI native news platform

    A47 secures $2 million funding to build AI native news platform

    A47 News has successfully closed a $2 million pre-seed funding round to advance development of its artificial intelligence-driven news platform. The UAE-based startup aims to transform how audiences consume and trust digital information through an AI-native infrastructure that emphasizes verification and personalization.

    The platform emerges at a critical juncture in digital media, where consumers face increasing challenges with misinformation, algorithmic noise, and content overload. A47’s technology framework utilizes autonomous AI agents, real-time data ingestion, and multi-model orchestration to source, analyze, and validate information before presentation. Built-in verification systems including fact-checking protocols and source triangulation are designed to enhance reliability while reducing the cognitive burden on users.

    A47’s operational model follows a structured five-phase process: discovery of trending stories from social platforms every 30 minutes; verification against trusted news outlets and whitelisted sources; enrichment through creation of Verified Foundation Briefs with timelines and contextual background; content generation in multiple formats (text, image, video, audio) based on user preferences; and final human approval before publication.

    The platform offers significant customization capabilities, allowing users to tailor topics, depth levels, formats, and alert preferences according to their consumption habits. Additionally, A47 provides infrastructure for digital publishers and independent creators seeking to maintain editorial voice while scaling content production. Through uploadable style guides or brand DNA profiles, the system ensures consistent branding across automated content.

    Shehab Gargash, Chairman and Co-Founder of A47, emphasized the company’s vision: “We’re building long-term media infrastructure with the ambition to reshape how verified information reaches audiences. Our technology works alongside journalism’s noble tradition to enhance integrity, efficiency and trust.”

    CEO Ali Rizvi added: “We serve as the trusted news infrastructure layer that supports rather than replaces editorial judgment. Our goal is to help teams operate faster with verified facts while maintaining brand consistency.”

    The $2 million investment came from institutional and angel investors and will support product enhancement and market expansion across the Middle East and international regions. A47 News is currently available to pilot customers in the UAE.

  • Dubai unveils electric buses with driver monitoring, Wi-Fi, 360° cameras

    Dubai unveils electric buses with driver monitoring, Wi-Fi, 360° cameras

    Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has initiated a groundbreaking shift toward sustainable public transportation with the delivery of 250 new buses, including 40 fully electric models—the largest such acquisition in UAE history. This delivery represents the first phase of a comprehensive 735-bus procurement contract designed to modernize Dubai’s transit infrastructure while significantly reducing carbon emissions.

    The newly unveiled Zhongtong electric buses, specifically engineered for Dubai’s demanding climate conditions, feature revolutionary technological capabilities. These include a sophisticated Driver Behaviour Monitoring System that utilizes artificial intelligence to enhance safety standards, 360-degree camera coverage for complete situational awareness, and automated passenger counting systems integrated with fare collection technology to prevent evasion.

    Each electric bus boasts an impressive 280-kilometer range on a single charge, enabled by a 434 kilowatt-hour battery system powered by ABB’s 360-kilowatt chargers. This extended range eliminates the need for mid-route charging, allowing the vehicles to complete daily operational requirements without returning to the depot.

    During an extensive three-month trial period conducted on Dubai’s actual routes, the buses demonstrated exceptional performance metrics. The testing confirmed remarkable energy efficiency, reliable braking systems, and climate-appropriate cooling mechanisms that maintained optimal performance despite frequent stops and variable speeds. The trial resulted in an unprecedented 95% satisfaction rate among both drivers and passengers.

    Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the RTA, emphasized the strategic importance of this initiative: ‘This deployment aligns with our Zero-Emission Public Transport Strategy 2050, which targets complete transition of all public transportation vehicles to zero-emission operations. These efforts directly support Dubai’s broader climate objectives, including carbon neutrality by 2050 and the Dubai Economic Agenda D33’s goal of establishing Dubai among the world’s premier urban economies.’

    The advanced buses incorporate numerous passenger-centric features including complimentary Wi-Fi connectivity, mobile charging ports, ergonomic seating with adjustable safety harnesses, low-floor accessibility for people of determination, dedicated bicycle storage areas, and contemporary interior design reflecting Dubai’s modern identity. The fleet also includes 76 double-decker Volvo buses and 70 articulated Isuzu Anadolu models specifically designed for high-density urban corridors and newly developed communities.

    This initiative establishes a new regional benchmark for sustainable public transportation, incorporating the Gulf’s first standardized fuel-consumption testing protocol to enhance operational efficiency and environmental sustainability.

  • Why teaching Arabic to AI is hard and how UAE researchers are solving it

    Why teaching Arabic to AI is hard and how UAE researchers are solving it

    Abu Dhabi’s Technology Innovation Institute (TII) has achieved a significant breakthrough in artificial intelligence by developing Falcon-H1 Arabic, a sophisticated language model capable of processing both Modern Standard Arabic and multiple regional dialects simultaneously. This advancement addresses one of AI’s most persistent linguistic challenges: Arabic’s complex morphological structure and the substantial variations between its formal and colloquial forms.

    The research team, led by Chief Researcher Hakim Hacid of TII’s Artificial Intelligence and Digital Science Research Center, employed innovative architectural approaches combining transformer attention with state space models called Mamba. This hybrid system enables more efficient information processing, particularly across extended sequences, while maintaining robust reasoning capabilities. The model’s 256,000-token context window allows for comprehensive analysis of complete documents—from legal cases to medical histories—without losing coherence.

    Unlike conventional AI systems that treat Arabic dialects as minor variations, Falcon-H1 Arabic was specifically trained on diverse dialectal sources including Egyptian, Levantine, Gulf, and Maghrebi Arabic. The team intentionally expanded training data beyond formal written Arabic and implemented careful filtering to ensure genuine linguistic diversity across regions. Remarkably, the 34-billion-parameter model outperforms larger systems with over 70 billion parameters, demonstrating that performance depends on data quality and architectural innovation rather than mere scale.

    This development carries significant implications for Arabic language preservation in technology. By prioritizing native Arabic support, including often-overlooked dialects, the work aligns technological progress with cultural and linguistic realities. Applications span multiple sectors including legal documentation analysis without translation, medical record summarization that accommodates mixed formal and dialectal language, and enterprise systems operating natively in Arabic.

    The research team acknowledges three priority areas for future development: integrating additional dialects with limited digital resources, achieving full functional parity with English-language AI capabilities, and advancing multimodal AI that combines text, images, and speech natively in Arabic. The model’s open-source release enables researchers and developers across Arabic-speaking regions to adapt and extend the technology, moving toward making Arabic a ‘first-class citizen’ in AI rather than a translated afterthought.

  • Inside the studio without a photographer: How Dubai’s AI portraits work

    Inside the studio without a photographer: How Dubai’s AI portraits work

    Dubai has introduced a groundbreaking approach to professional photography through self.space, an innovative studio that eliminates the need for human photographers. This technology-driven concept utilizes artificial intelligence to capture and enhance high-quality portraits while guaranteeing absolute privacy for clients.

    The studio features three meticulously designed rooms that function as personal sanctuaries rather than conventional photography spaces. Each room is equipped with professional makeup stations, clothing racks for outfit changes, and various props to inspire creative expression. The core technological innovation lies in a sophisticated rectangular mirror that completely conceals the camera system, allowing users to see only their reflection during sessions.

    Clients control the entire experience through a simple remote mechanism, triggering captures without external intervention. This design philosophy, conceived by founders Mitia Muravev and Peter Bondarenko, centers on creating environments where individuals feel secure and autonomous. The absence of human observation enables genuine relaxation and authentic self-expression, particularly significant in GCC cultures where privacy considerations often deter participation in traditional photoshoots.

    Following each session, AI algorithms automatically process images, refining skin tones and textures while preserving natural authenticity. The studio’s operational framework ensures that no team members ever access or view client photographs, embedding privacy protection into the fundamental architecture of the system.

    Positioned as a technology company rather than merely a photography service, self.space represents an emerging category blending AI capabilities with luxury hospitality standards. With planned expansion throughout the GCC region and eventual global deployment, this innovation challenges conventional photography paradigms by replacing performance pressure with creative liberation.

  • Year’s first private rocket mission takes off

    Year’s first private rocket mission takes off

    Beijing-based Galactic Energy has successfully launched the year’s first private space mission, marking a significant milestone for China’s commercial aerospace sector. The company’s Ceres 1 solid-propellant rocket blasted off at 4:10 am Friday from a mobile sea platform in the Yellow Sea near Shandong province, deploying four satellites into low-Earth orbit approximately 850 kilometers above the planet.

    The mission represents the sixth sea-based launch for Galactic Energy’s Ceres 1 model and demonstrates the growing capabilities of China’s private space industry. The deployed satellites, manufactured by Beijing satellite operator Guodian Gaoke, will join the expanding Tianqi network which now comprises 41 satellites providing global coverage for Internet of Things applications.

    According to Galactic Energy, the Tianqi constellation supports critical data collection across multiple sectors including forestry management, agricultural monitoring, tourism services, power generation infrastructure, and environmental protection initiatives. The successful launch continues the remarkable track record of the Ceres 1 rocket, which has now completed 23 flights with 21 successful missions, placing 89 commercial satellites into orbit since its maiden flight in November 2020.

    The Ceres 1 stands approximately 20 meters tall with a diameter of 1.4 meters, boasting a liftoff weight of 33 metric tons. The vehicle can deliver payloads of up to 300 kilograms to sun-synchronous orbits at 500 kilometers altitude or carry 350-kilogram payloads to low-Earth orbits at 200 kilometers.

    Looking ahead, Galactic Energy is preparing for the inaugural flight of its larger Ceres 2 solid-propellant rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. This development occurs alongside other Chinese private aerospace companies advancing their launch capabilities, including Orienspace with its Gravity 2 rocket, Deep Blue Aerospace’s Nebula 1, and Space Pioneer’s TL 3 vehicle.

    In a separate government space achievement, China launched a Long March 2C rocket on Thursday afternoon from Jiuquan, successfully deploying Algeria’s AlSat-3A remote-sensing satellite. Developed by the China Academy of Space Technology, the satellite will provide critical data for land-use planning and disaster management under a bilateral agreement signed in July 2023, marking another milestone in Sino-Algerian space cooperation following the 2017 launch of the Alcomsat-1 communications satellite.

  • Google appeals landmark antitrust verdict over search monopoly

    Google appeals landmark antitrust verdict over search monopoly

    Google has formally challenged a historic U.S. antitrust decision that found the tech giant unlawfully maintained monopoly power in online search markets. The appeal targets District Judge Amit Mehta’s August 2024 ruling, which Google claims fundamentally misrepresents market dynamics and consumer behavior.

    Lee-Anne Mulholland, Google’s Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, asserted that the court’s decision overlooks the voluntary nature of search engine selection. “People choose Google because they prefer our services, not due to coercion or lack of alternatives,” Mulholland stated in the company’s Friday announcement. Google contends the ruling fails to acknowledge both the fierce competition within digital markets and the company’s continuous innovation pace.

    The appealed remedies, which some antitrust experts considered unexpectedly moderate, would compel Google to share portions of its proprietary search index with court-designated competitors. This database represents Google’s comprehensive inventory of web content, essentially functioning as a detailed internet map. Additionally, the order mandates that Google permit certain rivals to display its search results through syndication services, theoretically providing emerging competitors with development resources and market traction.

    Judge Mehta recognized the transformative impact of generative artificial intelligence on search technology when formulating his September remedies, explicitly rejecting government prosecutors’ requests to break up Google by divesting Chrome, the world’s dominant web browser. Instead, he implemented less drastic measures aimed at fostering competition.

    Mulholland justified the appeal by arguing these requirements jeopardize user privacy and create disincentives for competitors to develop independent technologies. “These mandates would ultimately suppress the innovation that maintains U.S. leadership in global technology,” she wrote, emphasizing Google’s concerns about regulatory overreach.

    The appeal emerges alongside heightened regulatory scrutiny of Google’s artificial intelligence ambitions. Last month, the European Commission launched an investigation into Google’s AI Overviews feature, examining whether the company utilized website data without proper publisher compensation. Google maintains that such inquiries potentially hinder technological advancement in competitive markets.

    This legal development coincides with Alphabet Inc., Google’s parent company, achieving a historic $4 trillion market valuation this week, becoming only the fourth corporation to reach this financial milestone.

  • A faceless hacker stole my therapy notes – now my deepest secrets are online forever

    A faceless hacker stole my therapy notes – now my deepest secrets are online forever

    In October 2020, Finland witnessed its most devastating cybercrime when psychotherapy provider Vastaamo suffered a catastrophic data breach affecting 33,000 patients. The hacker gained access to highly sensitive therapy session transcripts containing intimate details about suicide attempts, extramarital affairs, and childhood trauma.

    The attacker employed a double-extortion strategy: first demanding €400,000 in bitcoin from Vastaamo, then targeting individual patients with personalized ransom emails. Meri-Tuuli Auer, one victim, received a message containing her full name, social security number, and therapy details, demanding €200 in cryptocurrency within 24 hours under threat of public exposure.

    Finnish authorities launched an intensive investigation led by Detective Marko Lepponen, who described the case as unprecedented in scale. After two years, they identified Julius Kivimäki, a known cybercriminal, as the prime suspect. Kivimäki was arrested in France in February 2023 and extradited to Finland.

    The trial became a national event, with 21,000 victims registering as plaintiffs. Court proceedings were broadcast in cinemas to accommodate the unprecedented number of affected individuals. Kivimäki received a six-year, seven-month prison sentence despite maintaining his innocence.

    The aftermath continues to haunt victims years later. A search engine exists on the dark web allowing anyone to look up stolen therapy records by name. The breach has eroded trust in mental health services, with many former patients refusing to seek further therapy. Legal representatives report at least two suicides linked to the data exposure.

    Auer’s journey represents both the profound trauma and remarkable resilience of victims. After initial paralysis and fear, she chose transparency—publicly acknowledging her victim status on social media, discussing her leaked secrets with family, and ultimately publishing a book titled ‘Everyone Gets to Know’ to reclaim her narrative from the hacker’s violation.

  • Elon Musk’s X down for tens of thousands of users globally, Downdetector shows

    Elon Musk’s X down for tens of thousands of users globally, Downdetector shows

    A significant service disruption hit Elon Musk’s social media platform X on Friday, January 16, 2026, affecting tens of thousands of users across multiple continents. According to real-time outage monitoring service Downdetector, the technical failure generated over 62,000 user-reported incidents in the United States alone by 10:22 AM Eastern Time.

    The widespread connectivity issues manifested differently across global regions. United Kingdom users reported approximately 11,000 incidents, while Indian users documented over 3,000 separate service interruptions. The outage tracking platform aggregates its data from multiple sources, compiling status reports from users experiencing accessibility problems.

    Downdetector’s methodology relies on user-submitted reports rather than internal platform metrics, meaning the actual number of affected users could potentially exceed the documented figures. The disruption represents one of the most substantial technical incidents for the platform since its rebranding from Twitter under Musk’s leadership.

    The timing of the outage during peak usage hours in multiple time zones amplified its impact, preventing users from accessing core platform features. Service reliability has become increasingly critical for X as the platform expands its functionality into financial services and content monetization.

    Technical teams at X Corporation have not yet released an official statement regarding the root cause of the service interruption or projected restoration timeline. The incident highlights the ongoing challenges facing large-scale social media infrastructures in maintaining consistent global service availability.

  • China carries out key test on a new type of reusable carrier rocket

    China carries out key test on a new type of reusable carrier rocket

    China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) has successfully executed a pivotal ground test for its next-generation reusable launch vehicle, marking another significant stride in the nation’s ambitious space program. The comprehensive engine test for the Long March 12B’s first-stage booster took place Friday afternoon at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China.

    During the meticulously orchestrated trial, engineers initiated and sustained ignition of the rocket’s first-stage engines, systematically validating critical procedures including fueling protocols, ignition sequences, and subsequent operational phases. CASC confirmed all systems performed with exceptional stability and precision throughout the testing duration, demonstrating remarkable reliability that establishes a solid foundation for upcoming flight tests.

    The Long March 12B represents China’s cutting-edge approach to space transportation, featuring a two-stage configuration with both stages measuring four meters in diameter. Powered by advanced liquid oxygen-kerosene propulsion systems, the vehicle is engineered to deliver payloads weighing up to 20 metric tons to low-Earth orbit. Industry specifications indicate the rocket will stand approximately 70 meters tall with a liftoff mass of around 700 tons when fully fueled.

    A defining characteristic of the Long March 12B is its reusable first-stage booster, designed to autonomously return to Earth after separation from the upper stage. The recovery system incorporates grid fins for atmospheric control and landing legs for vertical touchdown at predetermined landing zones, technology reminiscent of advancements pioneered by other spacefaring nations.

    This development follows closely after CASC’s December maiden flight of the Long March 12A, the corporation’s inaugural reusable rocket model. While that mission successfully deployed its second-stage booster to the intended orbital position, the first-stage recovery attempt concluded with the booster crashing near the designated landing site in Gansu province. Engineering teams continue to investigate the causes behind the recovery failure to inform future design improvements.