Latest from TECHx
TECHx
18 minutes ago
- Automotive
- TECHx
Global Electric Vehicle Fleet Hits 55.8 Million in 2024
Home » Smart Sectors » Energy » Global Electric Vehicle Fleet Hits 55.8 Million in 2024 The global electric vehicle fleet increased by around one-third in 2023, reaching a total of 55.8 million units. This was revealed in new data compiled by the Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg (ZSW), a German energy research institute. The figures include fully electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids, and electric cars with range extenders. China led the global market with 31.4 million electric vehicles, accounting for more than 50 percent of the worldwide total. The United States followed in second place with 6.4 million vehicles. Germany ranked third with 2.6 million, while the United Kingdom and France each reported approximately 2.1 million. Norway recorded just over 1 million electric vehicles. However, growth in the global electric vehicle fleet showed signs of slowing. In 2024, the number of electric vehicles grew by 13.8 million slightly lower than the 14.2 million increase reported in 2023. Key highlights: China accounts for over half of all electric vehicles worldwide. U.S. and Germany follow in second and third positions, respectively. Global EV growth in 2024 slightly declined compared to 2023. Source: Emirates News Agency
TECHx
18 minutes ago
- Business
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Dubai Government Approves Strategic Policies and Projects
Home » Smart Sectors » Education » Dubai Government Approves Strategic Policies and Projects The Dubai government has announced the approval of a series of strategic policies and projects during a meeting of The Executive Council. The session was chaired by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai. The meeting, held at Emirates Towers, was also attended by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai. The newly approved initiatives span multiple sectors including higher education, air quality, governance, and legal services. These efforts aim to position Dubai as a global hub for academia, business, and sustainable development. His Highness Sheikh Hamdan stated that youth are central to shaping the future and highlighted Dubai's commitment to equipping them with world-class academic and research opportunities. He emphasized Dubai's ambition to become one of the top 10 global cities for students. The Executive Council revealed that Dubai is currently home to 37 international university branches and aims to increase this number to over 70 by 2033. The higher education sector is projected to contribute AED5.6 billion to Dubai's GDP. Key initiatives announced: The Academic and Career Guidance Policy will provide career support services, strengthen education-to-employment transitions, and boost employment rates among Emirati graduates. The Air Quality Strategy 2030 sets goals to meet clean air standards on 90% of days and reduce PM2.5 to 35 micrograms per cubic metre. The Dubai International Mediation Centre was approved to provide cost-effective dispute resolution services and enhance legal infrastructure. A new Governance Policy for Government Construction Projects was introduced to streamline approval processes and improve transparency in public sector infrastructure. The Air Quality Strategy will be led by the Dubai Environment and Climate Change Authority in collaboration with entities including Dubai Municipality, DEWA, RTA, and others. The mediation centre, co-developed with the ADR Centre in Europe, will support Dubai's international competitiveness in legal and business services. The construction governance policy will classify projects based on cost and is expected to support the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which aims to raise government spending from AED512 billion to AED700 billion in the next decade. The Dubai government reaffirmed its commitment to empowering youth, enhancing education, ensuring environmental sustainability, and driving long-term economic development through strategic planning and cross-sector partnerships. Source: Dubai Media Office
TECHx
18 minutes ago
- Health
- TECHx
Why Generative AI Isn't a Silver Bullet for Healthcare
Home » Smart Sectors » Healthcare » Why Generative AI Isn't a Silver Bullet for Healthcare Generative AI is revolutionizing healthcare, but challenges remain. Ashley Woodbridge, Lenovo CTO META, explores why it's no silver bullet. The healthcare sector is on the brink of a significant surge in AI investment, projected to rise by an astounding 169% over the next year – the highest increase among all industries surveyed in EMEA. The uptick follows the promising early results of AI projects, where a remarkable 74% of healthcare AI pilot projects have met or exceeded expectations, with 13% surpassing them. Yet, despite this positive momentum, only 2% of healthcare organisations have actively deployed AI at scale with the majority of initiatives remaining in the pilot or planning stages. This raises the question: how can the industry and its partners move beyond this plateau? What is Generative AI Doing? For most people, their experience of Generative AI (GenAI), has been through conversations with chatbots, creating new content or summarising data. These lighter use cases have highlighted numerous challenges that must be addressed before widespread adoption can occur, especially in highly regulated industries like healthcare. One of the primary obstacles identified in the region wide survey is data quality. AI models, including GenAI, are only as effective as the data they are trained on. In healthcare, data often exists in silos, across incompatible systems, and in formats that are difficult to interpret. There are also important patient data privacy considerations to take into account. Despite the complexity involved in sorting and standardising this data, the potential benefits of tackling these issues and making it useable by AI are immense. For example, tools like Epic's 'Slicerdicer' allow healthcare professionals to query large datasets through conversational interfaces, uncovering important trends in patient outcomes and informing better care. The depth of queries is particularly powerful, allowing healthcare providers to uncover trends amongst patients that share a condition or illness that may have otherwise remained hidden. Taking the technology in a different direction, AI-powered 'ambient digital scribes' are being trialled by NHS doctors in the UK. These systems listen to patient appointments and automatically generate clinical notes, saving hours of administrative work and helping to reduce burnout among medical staff. However, healthcare providers must tread carefully. Public sentiment towards AI in healthcare remains cautious. Only 28% of people aged over 60 feel comfortable with AI technologies being used in their care, and 75% of consumers overall want to be informed if AI is being used in their healthcare communications. Transparency is critical. For AI to enhance patient experience without undermining it, trust must be maintained. In countries like the UAE and Saudi Arabia, AI algorithms are enhancing radiology by assisting in the analysis of medical images, enabling quicker and more accurate detection of conditions such as lung cancer. Predictive analytics are being utilized for real-time patient monitoring, allowing healthcare providers to intervene early in critical situations. Generative AI is also making strides in drug discovery, particularly in Qatar, where researchers are modelling molecular interactions to accelerate the development of new therapies. Additionally, AI-powered chatbots and virtual health assistants are streamlining telemedicine services, providing preliminary diagnoses and scheduling appointments, thus improving access to care. AI's Role in Medical Research Beyond frontline care, GenAI is turbocharging work in the field of medical research. Earlier this year, a researcher at Imperial College London used an AI tool developed by Google to investigate why certain bacteria are resistant to antibiotics. In just 48 hours, the tool proposed four viable hypotheses, whereas it had taken scientists over a decade to finalise just a single hypothesis manually. The result was so astonishing that the original researcher initially suspected the AI had accessed unpublished work on his personal computer, which was proven not to have been the case. These breakthroughs are being made possible thanks to the high-performance computing systems behind increasingly powerful AI models. At Lenovo, we are proud to partner with the Broad Institute on genome analysis, helping researchers accelerate one of the most data-intensive tasks in science. The Lenovo Genomics Optimization and Scalability Tool (GOAST) reduces the time needed to analyse a whole human genome from over 100 hours to just 47 minutes. Other organizations are also harnessing advanced AI and computing tools to push the boundaries of healthcare. Hungarian company 3DHISTECH, for example, uses Lenovo's AMD Threadripper-powered ThinkStation P620 workstations to build detailed 3D virtual models of human and non-human tissue. These models can zoom in to the level of individual chromosomes, enabling new frontiers in digital pathology. Their systems are used by institutions around the world, including Harvard Medical School, Novartis, and the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Notably, a 3DHISTECH system played a pivotal role in diagnosing the first COVID-19 patient in China, demonstrating how AI-enabled technology can impact global health crises. The Human Element Remains Crucial While AI offers compelling advantages, it's important to remember that technology alone isn't the answer. The human touch in healthcare remains indispensable. Healthcare providers must ensure transparency in their AI implementations and address data quality issues to fully reap the benefits of AI. By doing so, they can enhance patient care, reduce burnout among medical staff, and drive groundbreaking research, all without sacrificing the trust and comfort of those they serve. In conclusion, the healthcare industry stands at the brink of an AI-driven revolution. With thoughtful implementation and a focus on maintaining trust, AI has the potential to transform healthcare for the better. The journey won't be without its challenges, but the rewards promise to be well worth the effort. By Ashley Woodbridge, CTO, Lenovo, META
TECHx
2 days ago
- Automotive
- TECHx
Oracle Red Bull Racing Adopts Oracle Fusion Cloud Apps
Home » Top stories » Oracle Red Bull Racing Adopts Oracle Fusion Cloud Apps Oracle Red Bull Racing has announced its adoption of Oracle Fusion Cloud Applications Suite. The move is aimed at enhancing productivity, reducing costs, and improving both employee and fan experiences. The team will use Oracle Fusion Applications for finance, human resources, and customer experience. This integrated approach allows Oracle Red Bull Racing to manage operations more efficiently under Formula One's strict cost cap rules. The team reported that it previously relied on manual, spreadsheet-based financial planning. To address this challenge, it needed a single view of its business data. Oracle Fusion Applications now connects its finance, HR, and customer experience data on one platform. Matt Cadieux, Chief Information Officer at Oracle Red Bull Racing, stated that the team is leveraging cloud technologies and advancements in predictive, generative, and agentic AI. These tools are expected to optimize financial planning, deliver faster business insights, and improve resource utilization. Oracle Fusion Cloud Enterprise Performance Management (EPM), a component of Oracle Fusion Cloud ERP, will improve visibility, budgeting, and planning. Meanwhile, Oracle Fusion Cloud Human Capital Management (HCM) will simplify payroll and HR tasks, enhance recruitment, and generate deeper workforce insights. Additionally, the team continues to use Oracle Fusion Cloud Customer Experience (CX) to connect with fans. Features include content personalization, loyalty programs, and exclusive rewards. Steve Miranda, Executive Vice President of Applications Development at Oracle, revealed that the cloud suite will help the team drive efficiency and innovation on and off the track. Oracle Consulting will oversee the implementation Oracle Customer Success Services (CSS) will provide ongoing support Oracle Red Bull Racing emphasized the importance of speed, efficiency, and innovation to stay ahead in Formula One, both technically and operationally.
TECHx
2 days ago
- Business
- TECHx
du UAE Visits China Mobile to Boost 5G Metro Innovation
Home » Top stories » du UAE Visits China Mobile to Boost 5G Metro Innovation du, the leading telecom and digital services provider in the UAE, recently visited China Mobile International (CMI) and China Mobile Shanghai. The visit aimed to redefine urban mobility and promote digital innovation. The delegation explored advanced metro station digitization powered by 5G Advanced networks. This initiative supports a shared vision to leverage next-generation connectivity for smarter urban transportation and operational transformation. The team visited Shanghai Shentong Metro Group, operator of the world's largest metro network, with over 896 kilometers of operational lines. They assessed 5G-enabled technologies at People's Square Station, a major transit hub serving 1.5 million passengers daily during peak seasons. Key innovations included passenger flow analytics powered by AI, real-time data systems, and dynamic network configurations designed to optimize bandwidth during peak times. Fahad Al Hassawi, CEO at du, said the visit marked a step forward in digital transformation and advancement. He added that the exchange set the stage for future collaborations to bring pioneering solutions to the UAE. The visit highlighted a 5G Public-Private Network model that replaces traditional wireless systems to enhance cost efficiency and scalability. It also showcased 'One Line One Net' AI-powered technology for dynamic bandwidth management and compact solutions like Small XAU devices and transparent antennas. These 5G technologies enable a 40-fold increase in consumer downlink speeds and support industrial IoT functions. Practical applications include predictive congestion management and advanced communication-positioning systems to improve passenger experience. Discussions between du, CMI, China Mobile Shanghai, and Shanghai Shentong Metro Group concluded with strong interest in further collaborations. The partners aim to develop scalable and sustainable smart infrastructure solutions aligned with the UAE's digital transformation goals.
