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The Star
2 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Amazon loses an AWS generative AI boss as tech talent shuffle heats up
A logo for Amazon Web Services (AWS) is seen at the Viva Technology conference dedicated to innovation and startups at Porte de Versailles exhibition center in Paris, France, June 12, 2025. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) -Amazon's AWS recently lost a key vice president helping oversee generative artificial intelligence development as well as the company's Bedrock service, as the competition for talent heats up. Vasi Philomin told Reuters in an email that he left Amazon for another company, without providing specifics. A company spokesperson confirmed that Philomin had recently left after eight years with Amazon. Philomin helped lead generative AI efforts and product strategy, and oversaw foundation models known as Amazon Titan. The spokesperson said Rajesh Sheth, a vice president previously overseeing Amazon Elastic Block Store, had assumed some of Philomin's responsibilities. Philomin left Amazon earlier in June. In his biography, Philomin said he helped create and lead Amazon Bedrock, a hub for using multiple AI models and one of AWS's premier products in its battle for AI supremacy. He was a frequent speaker at AWS events, including Amazon's annual cloud computing conference in Las Vegas. An Amazon spokesman noted that there are other vice presidents at AWS who also work on generative AI projects. Amazon is working to bolster its reputation in AI development, after rivals like OpenAI, and Google have taken an early lead, particularly with consumer-focused models. The Seattle-based online retailer and technology powerhouse has invested $8 billion in AI startup Anthropic and integrated its Claude software into its own products including a new revamped version of voice assistant Alexa that it's rolling out to customers this year. In December, Amazon introduced its Nova AI models which provide for text, video and image generation. Earlier this year, it added to the lineup with a version called Sonic that can more readily produce natural-sounding speech. Companies are employing creative techniques to hire top AI talent, including using sports industry data analysis to help identify undiscovered talent, Reuters reported last month. As a result, compensation has skyrocketed for some. However, as Amazon races to produce more advanced AI, it said it expects its own success will lead to fewer corporate jobs, according to a memo from CEO Andy Jassy last growth limits will be driven in particular by so-called agentic AI, which can perform tasks with minimal or even no additional input from people. "As we roll out more Generative AI and agents, it should change the way our work is done. We will need fewer people doing some of the jobs that are being done today and more people doing other types of jobs," Jassy wrote. (Reporting by Greg Bensinger; Editing by David Gregorio)
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Switzerland seeks talks with US as cost of F-35A fighter jets rises
FILE PHOTO: A Lockheed Martin F-35A fighter jet performs during an exhibition flight at the 55th International Paris Airshow at Le Bourget Airport near Paris, France, June 16, 2025. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo/File Photo Switzerland seeks talks with US as cost of F-35A fighter jets rises ZURICH - Switzerland is seeking talks with the United States, the government said on Wednesday, after Washington tried to raise the price for new fighter jets the neutral country is buying to upgrade its air defences. Bern chose Lockheed Martin's F-35A Lightning II as its next-generation fighter plane in 2021, with a fixed price of around 6 billion Swiss francs ($7.44 billion) for 36 jets, a decision that attracted controversy in Switzerland. But the U.S. Joint Program Office overseeing the project said last year that the price could be higher, while the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency told Switzerland in February that the fixed price was a misunderstanding. Switzerland was informed that the price for the 36 F-35s would be dearer because of higher raw materials and energy costs, as well as higher inflation in the United States, the Swiss government said. It gave no concrete figures for the increased price now being sought, although Swiss broadcaster SRF said the United States could now charge up to 1.5 billion Swiss francs more, citing government sources. The Swiss government said the fixed price remained valid. As the agreement prevents a legal settlement of the dispute, "a diplomatic solution must be sought," it added. The decision to buy the F-35A was contested in Switzerland, with opponents arguing against replacing the country's aging F/A 18 jets with an unnecessary "Ferrari" option. Opponents said Switzerland did not need cutting-edge warplanes to defend its Alpine territory, which a supersonic jet can cross in 10 minutes. The F-35A beat bids from Boeing's F/A-18 Super Hornet, the Rafale produced by France's Dassault and the four-nation Eurofighter built by Italy's Leonardo, Britain's BAE Systems and Airbus representing Germany and Spain. Still, Switzerland said it remained committed to buying the F-35A, and that cancelling the contract would have "considerable consequences." "For example, Switzerland would no longer be able to guarantee the safety of its airspace and population from 2032, as the current F/A-18 fighter aircraft would reach the end of their service life," the government said. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
UK to buy fighter jets capable of carrying tactical nuclear weapons
FILE PHOTO: A Lockheed Martin F-35A fighter jet performs during an exhibition flight at the 55th International Paris Airshow at Le Bourget Airport near Paris, France, June 16, 2025. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo THE HAGUE (Reuters) -Britain said it would buy a dozen F-35A fighter jets capable of firing tactical nuclear weapons in what it described as the biggest expansion of its nuclear deterrent in a generation. The purchase of the Lockheed Martin jets would allow Britain's air force to carry nuclear weapons for the first time since the end of the Cold War, Downing Street said. "In an era of radical uncertainty we can no longer take peace for granted," Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a statement. Britain's nuclear deterrent is currently limited to the continuous deployment of at least one nuclear-armed submarine patrolling at sea. Starmer's government is increasing defence spending and upgrading its military forces, including its submarine fleet, as it faces increasing hostility from Russia and as the United States retrenches from its traditional role as a defender of Europe. The announcement by Britain on expanding its nuclear deterrence was made at a NATO summit in The Hague where European members are set to agree an ambitious new target to spend 5% of national income on defence and security. The U.S. will supply B61 tactical nuclear weapons for use on the planes as part of a plan for Britain to take on more responsibility for European security, said a British official who declined to be named. Britain said the purchase of the jets would allow it to contribute so-called dual-capable aircraft to NATO to carry nuclear weapons in the event of a conflict. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said "this is yet another robust British contribution to NATO". NEW CAPABILITY The cost of each F-35A jet is about 80 million pounds ($109 million), putting the total bill for the 12 planes at just under 1 billion pounds, according to another British official, who asked not to be named. Britain's nuclear deterrent currently rests solely on the Trident submarine-based system, which misfired during a test last year, the second successive test failure after one veered off course in 2016. The last time Britain possessed an independent air-launched nuclear capability was in 1998 when the WE-177 free fall bomb was withdrawn from service, according to Britain's parliament. Tactical nuclear weapons are intended for battlefield use, as opposed to strategic weapons designed to be fired across vast distances. By purchasing the F-35A fighter jets, Britain would be able to diversify its military options and align more closely with NATO allies such as France, and the United States, which maintains land, sea, and air-based nuclear capabilities. The United States withdrew its last nuclear weapons from Britain in 2008, in a sign at that time that the threat of conflict following the end of the Cold War was receding. Downing Street said buying the new jets would support about 20,000 jobs in Britain and underline its commitment to NATO. The government has pledged to boost overall defence and security spending to 5% of economic output by 2035 to meet a NATO target and said on Tuesday it must "actively prepare" for war at home for the first time in years. ($1 = 0.7342 pounds) (Reporting by Andrew MacAskill; Editing by Hugh Lawson and Andrew Heavens)
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
UK to purchase fighter jets capable of carrying tactical nuclear weapons
FILE PHOTO: A Lockheed Martin F-35A fighter jet performs during an exhibition flight at the 55th International Paris Airshow at Le Bourget Airport near Paris, France, June 16, 2025. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo THE HAGUE - The British government said on Tuesday that it would purchase a dozen F-35A fighter jets capable of firing tactical nuclear weapons in what it described as the biggest expansion of its nuclear deterrent in a generation. The purchase of the Lockheed Martin jets would allow Britain's air force to carry nuclear weapons for the first time since the end of the Cold War, Downing Street said. "In an era of radical uncertainty we can no longer take peace for granted, which is why my government is investing in our national security," Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a statement. Britain is increasing defence spending and upgrading its military forces, including its submarine fleet, as it faces increasing hostility from Russia and as the United States retrenches from its traditional role as a defender of European security. The British government said the purchase of the jets would allow it to contribute so-called dual-capable aircraft to NATO to carry nuclear weapons in the event of a conflict. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said "this is yet another robust British contribution to NATO". Britain's nuclear deterrent currently rests solely on the Trident submarine-based system, which misfired during a test last year, the second successive test failure after one veered off course in 2016. The last time Britain possessed an independent air-launched nuclear capability was in 1998 when the WE-177 free fall bomb was withdrawn from service, according to Britain's parliament. Tactical nuclear weapons are intended for battlefield use, as opposed to strategic weapons designed to be fired across vast distances. By purchasing the F-35A fighter jets, Britain would be able to diversify its military options and align more closely with NATO allies such as France, and the United States, which maintains land, sea, and air-based nuclear capabilities. The F-35A fighter jets are capable of carrying U.S. B61 tactical nuclear weapons. Britain would likely need the United States to supply those weapons for use on the planes, said one British official who declined to be named. The United States withdrew its last nuclear weapons from Britain in 2008, in a sign at that time that the threat of conflict following the end of the Cold War was receding. Downing Street said buying the new jets would support about 20,000 jobs in Britain and underline its commitment to NATO. The government has pledged to boost overall defence and security spending to 5% of economic output by 2035 to meet a NATO target and said on Tuesday it must "actively prepare" for war at home for the first time in years. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
IMF says Bangladesh to receive $1.3 billion under third and fourth reviews
FILE PHOTO: A view of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) logo at its headquarters in Washington, D.C., U.S., November 24, 2024. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File photo IMF says Bangladesh to receive $1.3 billion under third and fourth reviews The International Monetary Fund said on Monday that Bangladesh will have access to $1.33 billion as the fund has concluded a combined third and fourth review of the country under three facilities. Bangladesh will have immediate access to $884 million under the IMF's Extended Credit Facility and Extended Fund Facility, and receive another $453 million under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility, the fund said. IMF also approved an augmentation of 567.2 million special drawing rights or SDRs under its ECF and EFF arrangements with a six-month extension. Bangladesh had requested the augmentation in May to address rising external financing needs and support macroeconomic stability. "Bangladesh's program performance has been broadly satisfactory despite the difficult political and economic context and increased downside risks," the IMF said in a statement. The move comes amid persistent macroeconomic pressures, including high inflation, low growth and an external financing gap. Bangladesh turned to the IMF in 2023 for the $4.7 billion bailout as its foreign reserves were pressured by a global surge in commodity prices triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, straining its ability to pay for key imports of fuel and gas. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
