The hype surrounding artificial intelligence
Many tech companies currently claim that artificial intelligence will eventually surpass the human brain and be capable of doing everything we cannot. Ask Google, OpenAI, or any other tech company deeply involved in AI, and they will tell you that it is inevitable that this technology will one day be smarter than we are. Many people have even expressed concerns about the development of this technology and what it could be used for, including Elon Musk. As a result, most people are convinced that technology will one day become smarter than humans.
AI will never be smarter than humans
According to scientists at Radboud University, that is certainly not the case. They suspect that the current hype surrounding AI is leading to misunderstandings about what is and isn’t possible with this new technology. Their new publication, titled “Reclaiming AI as a Theoretical Tool for Cognitive Science,” explains why claims about artificial intelligence are exaggerated. Their findings show that there will never be enough computing power to create “artificial general intelligence” that delivers the same cognitive performance as the human brain. In addition, the article explains why pursuing this goal is a futile endeavor and a waste of energy resources and raw materials. After all, some of these are already scarce at the moment!
Collaboration among various universities
The publication is a collaboration between several universities, including Radboud University, Aarhus University, the University of Amsterdam, the University of Bristol, and Memorial University of Newfoundland. All researchers who contributed to the publication are experts in the fields of cognitive science, neuroscience, computer science, and philosophy. People often fail to realize that cognitive science is crucial for understanding claims about the capabilities of AI. People tend to overestimate what computers can do and underestimate what our own brains are capable of. According to the researchers, it is important for the general public to gain more knowledge about AI. Currently, everyone believes the claims made by major tech companies, but that is not a good thing. The goal of the universities is to build a better understanding of AI systems so that people can continue to view the tech industry with a critical eye.
The government's digital accessibility efforts are lagging behind
Under the Digital Accessibility Act, the government is required to ensure that its apps and websites are accessible, understandable, and user-friendly—including for people who struggle to keep up with the latest technological developments in society. Unfortunately, this is not yet the case in many instances; it appears to remain a problem, particularly at the municipal level. In 2023, only 6% of government apps and websites met the legally mandated accessibility requirements. While 36% of websites complied with the legal obligation, they did not include the tools that people with limited technological skills need to use them effectively.
Improvements over the past year
In the first half of this year, the government invested a great deal of time in making websites and apps more accessible. As a result, the number of accessibility statements increased by 16%. Such a statement indicates that your websites and other applications can be used by people with disabilities. If a resource meets the legal accessibility requirements, it is awarded an A rating. Figures from DigiToegankelijk show that only 6% of government websites and apps currently have an A status, following the improvements made. A B status means that improvements have been made, but that further adjustments are still needed to comply with the accessibility law. The number of declarations with a B status has increased significantly over the past year, by an average of 62% among municipalities. The government is therefore making significant improvements, but still has a long way to go in the area of digital accessibility.
What's behind these improvements?
Why has the government suddenly made such significant progress this year with its improvements in digital accessibility? One reason is that the providers of these websites and apps have made audit reports available to government agencies. This makes it easier for the agencies to justify why they deserve a compliance certificate. In addition, it naturally gives them more insight into what they can still improve on their websites and other digital applications!
What’s next for digital accessibility in the public sector?
The government’s digital accessibility has thus improved significantly over the past year, but it still has a way to go before it is fully compliant with the law. Currently, 40% of government websites and apps meet the legal requirements. That is still less than half, but it represents significant progress compared to 2023.
Ukrainian victories prompt the development of drones
The Ukrainian military has recently scored a number of major victories against the Russian military. Just recently, Ukraine even invaded the Russian region of Kursk. They achieved this, in part, by disrupting Russian communication and control systems. So you can understand that Russia didn’t want this to happen again. That’s why the Russians created new drones that operate via fiber-optic cables. After all, these cannot be disrupted, so the Ukrainian army can no longer effectively use this tactic.
The drone is not affected by interference thanks to fiber-optic cables
The new drone was developed in the Russian city of Novgorod, at the Ushkuynik production center. The drone’s design ensures that it can be deployed in areas where radio communication is disrupted without compromising its functionality. This is thanks to the fiber-optic cables, which allow the drone to be controlled with precision. This technology is also used in wire-guided missiles. The first reports about this new drone were released via the military Telegram channel Siberian Army.
Fiber-optic drones are also available on the commercial market
According to Forbes, Ukraine is currently working on similar technologies. And they are not the only ones looking to adopt this idea from Russia. The German company HIGHCAT is set to demonstrate a fiber-optic drone in Ukraine later this month, and a company from Singapore is also offering a similar fiber-optic system for drones on the commercial market. The company is called Skywalker Technology and offers not only this technology but also various types of drones with military applications. So it’s a popular new technology, but of course there are also drawbacks. After all, the drone can’t fly farther than the fiber-optic cable is long. Additionally, there’s always the risk that the cable could get damaged or tangled. Finally, the pilot must stand closer to the target than usual, which naturally increases the risk somewhat.
How to implement the first phase of the AI Act
To help you get started with preparations for the first phase of the AI Act, we’ve outlined a brief step-by-step plan below:
- Step 1: Make an inventory of all the AI your business uses. In some cases, you might not even realize that you’re using a program that involves artificial intelligence. So be sure to look into this thoroughly. For example, AI might be part of the software you use, such as a CMS system.
- Step 2: What risk category does the artificial intelligence your company uses fall into ? To determine this, you can consult the European database, which lists all AI systems classified as high-risk. If you’re unsure, you can also ask the supplier of the software you use for assistance!
- Step 3: You now know which risk category each type of AI you use falls into, so you can immediately determine how you are and are not permitted to use artificial intelligence. Don’t just focus on the first phase; consider the subsequent phases as well. This way, you’ll be well prepared if you undergo an audit. The first phase of the AI Act applies only to the highest risk category.
- Step 4: Make sure you only use AI in ways permitted under the new AI Act to avoid fines and other penalties!
What types of AI fall into the "unacceptable risk" category?
To properly implement the first phase of the AI Act, it is, of course, important to know which types of AI fall into the category of unacceptable risk. Artificial intelligence falls into the highest risk group if it poses a direct threat to citizens. Consider, for example, things like social scoring, manipulating or misleading people—such as by using someone’s voice—biometric categorization, and predicting criminal behavior. If your company uses an AI application in any way that does any of these things, stop using that application. Or see if you can use the application in a way that is permitted.
What is the best way to phase out prohibited forms of AI?
If you discover that you are using certain types of AI that will be prohibited under the AI Act as of February 1, 2025, you will, of course, need to phase them out. This usually doesn’t happen overnight. There are a number of strategies you can use to do this:
- Stop using it: Stop using the AI application.
- Find a good alternative: There may be an alternative to the AI application that essentially does the same thing without using a prohibited form of AI. For example, if you have a newsletter program that uses social scoring, replace it with A/B testing!
- Replace prohibited AI with permitted AI: If your current AI uses some form of social scoring, you can choose to replace it with software that, for example, only considers certain characteristics of anonymous groups—such as age groups and geographic location.
- Replace the AI with human employees: Finally , you can choose to discontinue the AI application and have human employees take over the work. Perhaps you can also work within the same software without AI and have a person take over the AI’s tasks? It might take a little more time, but you won’t risk incurring hefty fines!
Conclusion
There are several ways you can properly prepare your business for the first phase of the AI Act, which takes effect on February 1, 2025. Whether you choose to discontinue your AI applications or look for alternatives, we recommend that you start the process early. It may still feel far off, but phasing out certain applications and work processes can take a lot of time. Before you know it, it’ll be February 2025 😉
3,500 kilometers of fiber-optic network for the Department of Defense
No fewer than seven teams are working on the Ministry of Defense’s connectivity and networks, which are being implemented via a fiber-optic network spanning at least 3,500 kilometers. In total, these teams consist of 140 permanent staff members, plus a pool of 20 to 60 on-call workers. The Cable Management team is responsible for installing the physical infrastructure, namely the fiber-optic cables. The Wide Area Network team handles the final connection between all Ministry of Defense locations. If cables or equipment need to be replaced or repaired, the Field Services team of engineers is on standby. The Ministry of Defense’s private network is known as the Netherlands Armed Forces Integrated Network.
Not just for the Department of Defense
The Ministry of Defense is not the only organization that uses the fiber-optic network. Several government agencies also have access to the Netherlands Armed Forces Integrated Network. For overseas connections—such as those to mission areas—the Ministry of Defense has a Satellite Communications team. The various HF, VHF, and UHF connections for the Air Force, Navy, and Coast Guard are maintained by the Radio Systems team from various transmission and reception sites. And finally, there is the NARFA NL team, which coordinates all frequency usage on the military band.
NAFIN has been around for nearly 30 years
The Netherlands Armed Forces Integrated Network has been in operation for nearly 30 years. The network connects 180 Ministry of Defense locations and has 250 above-ground access points. The locations not used by the Ministry of Defense are available to partners such as the police, NATO in Belgium and Germany, and ministries in The Hague. For them, this network is naturally ideal, as it is extremely stable and secure. Everything is duplicated, so if a failure occurs, there is always a backup cable available. This ensures that operations can continue uninterrupted. Additionally, a team works around the clock to prevent outages and malfunctions, thereby keeping the risk as low as possible!
What are the implications of this ruling in the lawsuit against Google?
There is no doubt that the U.S. judge’s ruling will have major consequences. However, this will take some time, as Google announced after the trial that it would appeal the Washington judge’s ruling. That ruling stated that “Google is a monopolist and has acted in a manner designed to maintain this position.” In the worst-case scenario (for Google, that is), Alphabet’s company will have to cease its lucrative search engine operations. This means Google will lose its immensely high advertising revenue. This would be detrimental to the company, as the advertising market accounts for over three-quarters of Alphabet’s revenue. So far, however, the judge has only ruled that Google is violating U.S. antitrust law. It is not yet known what sanctions the court will impose on the company.
What prompted the lawsuit against Google?
Google has built a monopoly in the advertising market, but that’s not the only problem. The company is also abusing that monopoly position. In 2021 alone, Google paid $26.3 billion to ensure that its search engine is the default on smartphones and browsers. This, of course, is done with the aim of maintaining its dominant market share. Apple receives the largest annual payment to pre-install Google as its search engine. This, of course, comes at the expense of other search engines and advertisers, who lack the resources to spend that much money on such agreements. After all, Google recoups the money it spends through the high fees it charges for advertising on its search engine. Newcomers who might actually have better search engines therefore don’t stand a chance.
Google doesn't like competition
The fact that Google has a large market share is not the problem. After all, this is not illegal. The problem is that the company is doing everything it can to limit its competition, and that is not allowed. Even with its large budget and extensive legal resources, Google was unable to justify these abuses in court. For instance, the company’s lawyers tried to convince the jury that they are not a search engine, but simply answer people’s questions. The judge clearly saw it differently. The judge’s ruling in this case will significantly alter Google’s position in the advertising market, but hopefully it will also encourage authorities to take more action against Big Tech companies for illegal behavior.
What do you think—is this a step in the right direction?
1. Electronic health records and data analysis
Electronic health records have been in use in the healthcare sector for quite some time now, but they are becoming increasingly efficient and sophisticated. A health record contains detailed information about a person’s medical history, such as laboratory results, past prescriptions, vaccinations, and so on. Thanks to fiber optics, this information can be transmitted quickly and securely between various medical facilities and healthcare providers within the healthcare sector. After all, this is highly sensitive information, so the connection must be as secure as possible. Finally, fiber optics enables the generation of valuable insights through data analysis and the use of AI.
2. Fiber optics in healthcare make telemedicine possible
The use of fiber optics in healthcare is making it increasingly feasible to offer telemedicine and remote consultations. Doctors can use secure and high-speed fiber-optic networks to provide remote consultations to patients. Today, diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring can all be done remotely, which is, of course, ideal for people who have difficulty getting to the hospital, such as the elderly. Thanks to the advanced encryption technology and security protocols in a fiber-optic network, patients’ sensitive data is secure. Currently, efforts are even underway to enable doctors to perform surgeries remotely using robotics!
3. Make faster and more accurate diagnoses
The modern technologies that doctors use to make a diagnosis generate a large volume of data. This data must be transferred quickly and securely so that test results are available sooner and doctors can make more accurate diagnoses. Thanks to the high speeds offered by fiber optics, specialists can exchange data and results more quickly, leading to earlier diagnoses and more efficient and effective treatments. The sooner a condition is addressed, the better it can often be treated. Fiber optics in healthcare therefore also offers better prospects for patients.
Conclusion
Fiber optics are therefore crucial to the healthcare sector. They enable doctors and specialists to communicate more quickly, facilitate faster diagnoses, ensure that sensitive data remains confidential, and allow doctors to provide remote treatments and consultations. Technological advancements in healthcare are currently progressing at a rapid pace, so we expect fiber optics to become even more important in this field!
Measured average speeds worldwide
Cable and M-lab conducted this study and performed speed tests around the world. To do so, they used speed tests conducted by users themselves in each country. In the Netherlands, the researchers used data from 1.7 million IP addresses, and in Belgium, 1.8 million. In total, the research teams analyzed approximately 1.5 million speed tests from around the world. The speeds measured were based on Wi-Fi speeds, which means the results may have been lower than what the connections are actually capable of. Additionally, people often only run a speed test when they suspect there are issues with their connection or when their internet suddenly gets faster. As a result, it is unclear how representative the figures truly are.
Changes over the past few years
Many countries that rank near the bottom of the list have always been near the bottom. Take Syria and Turkmenistan, for example. Nevertheless, there have been some changes in internet speeds in certain countries. For instance, the United Kingdom has dropped in the rankings compared to other countries in Western Europe. The researchers attribute this to the relative pace at which Full Fiber is being rolled out in the United Kingdom. Efforts are underway in England, but progress does not seem to be as rapid as in other European countries. Finally, the researchers note that in some countries, an increasing number of people are consciously choosing subscriptions with lower speeds, primarily due to high costs. This, of course, can also influence the results!
Conclusion
So it looks like the Netherlands is doing well globally when it comes to internet speeds. In recent years, a lot of time and money has suddenly been invested in building fiber-optic networks here. As a result, we already have access to faster and more stable internet in large parts of the country. The average speed here is expected to keep rising in the coming years 😉
Data centers in space—is that feasible?
The European Union allocated 2.1 million euros to a research project called Advanced Space Cloud for European Net Zero Emission and Data Sovereignty (ASCEND). The research lasted 16 months, and the EU concluded that placing data centers in space is “technically and economically feasible.” It would also have a positive impact on the environment. Outside the atmosphere, data centers benefit more from solar energy than they do here on Earth. This could therefore be a good solution to the pressure that data centers have placed on the environment and the power grid in Europe and the rest of the world. In fact, another study shows that by 2026, all data centers worldwide will require as much energy as the entire country of Japan. Furthermore, data centers generate significant CO2 emissions through the processing and storage of digital data.
How many data centers need to fit in the space?
ASCEND plans to begin launching 13 data centers into space in 2036, each with a capacity of 10 megawatts. Ultimately, the goal is to have approximately 1,300 data centers in space by 2050, generating a total of one gigawatt of energy. Coincidentally, this is the same year the European Union has stated it aims to become climate-neutral. In principle, it sounds like a great plan, but actually getting those data centers into space won’t be so easy. At the very least, this will require a lot of fuel, since each data center must be launched into space separately. For this reason, another research group is working on developing an environmentally friendly launch method, which would require only one-tenth of the fuel needed to launch the data centers.
Not everyone agrees
The EU’s plan seems well thought out, but many people are still critical of it. Even if the plan were to yield significant benefits, it would also cost millions in fuel to keep all those data centers orbiting the Earth. Another point of criticism is that it becomes more difficult in space to effectively protect the data centers from other, potentially hostile, countries. Despite these concerns, the plan seems to be gaining traction, as Microsoft is also collaborating with the space company Loft Orbital to research AI data centers in space!
Twice as many high-speed fiber-optic plans
In the first quarter of 2024, 380,000 households opted for the fastest fiber-optic subscription with a speed of 1 gigabit or more. In the same period a year earlier, this figure was 200,000 households, so that’s nearly a doubling in just one year. These figures come from the Telecommonitor report by the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM). And this shows that the growth of fiber-optic internet in the Netherlands is continuing to accelerate. You can definitely see this if you look around. In many places, construction is underway to install fiber-optic infrastructure. Currently, at least 7.38 million households have fiber-optic connections available at their doorstep. More than a third of them actually have a fiber-optic subscription and are therefore using this network.
The installation of fiber-optic cables isn't going as smoothly everywhere
Unfortunately, there are still parts of the Netherlands where fiber-optic installation is lagging behind. This is the case, for example, in some parts of Groningen, North Holland, Zeeland, South Holland, and Limburg. As a result, it is still far from always possible to use a fiber-optic connection in these areas. The number of people using coaxial or copper connections is steadily declining. In particular, there has been a sharp decline in copper connections in the Netherlands.
Bundled plans are no longer as popular
Combined subscriptions that include internet, TV, and landline service are no longer as popular in the Netherlands. Households prefer to opt for a bundle with just two services, since landline service is no longer even used in many households. In addition, the Telecommonitor shows that consumers are increasingly opting for a bundle that includes fixed internet and a mobile plan. Often, they receive a discount on their fixed-line contract and free extra data for their mobile plan.
Conclusion
Fiber-optic internet continues to gain popularity in the Netherlands, especially the fastest fiber-optic plans. And this is despite the fact that parts of the country don’t even have access to a fiber-optic network yet. Fiber-optic infrastructure is currently being rolled out very quickly, but is still lagging behind in some regions. Finally, bundles combining internet, TV, and phone service are becoming less popular, and more consumers are opting for a bundle of fixed-line internet and a mobile plan.