China Could Build First Hyperloop, Considers 108-Mile Route

HYPERLOOP HYPE

While Elon Musk has long talked about building ultrafast hyperloop transit in the U.S., China may be the first country to actually do it. The proposed hyperloop train would run between Shanghai and Hangzhou, bringing the 108-mile trip down to just 15 minutes. The route was chosen for its potential boost to the regional economy and its relatively flat terrain. If all goes according to plan, the hyperloop would be operational by 2035.
Source: Interesting Engineering

$124.5M

As the buzz around generative AI continues unabated, the U.K. government is getting in on the game. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology Michelle Donelan have pledged £100 million (about $124.5 million) to establish a Foundation Model Taskforce that will develop “sovereign,” trustworthy AI. The aim is to ensure the U.K. remains “globally competitive” amid the continued
rollout of other platforms, like ChatGPT from U.S.-based OpenAI.
Source: Engadget

RETURN TO WORK?

It’s no secret that at many companies, employers want staff in the office, while staff by and large prefer to remain remote. A new option aims to help bridge the gap: a virtual office. Tech startup Katmai is beta testing a 3D virtual environment that works with any browser and webcam, and rather than representing people in the “office” with avatars, it uses real-time video, no virtual reality headset required. The virtual offices offer both private and co-working spaces, ambient sounds, and spontaneous interactions with coworkers, meaning users get many of the benefits of in-person work along with the perks of being at home. Katmai has tested the product with companies large and small, and in April announced it had raised $22 million in funding.
Source: VentureBeat

83%

That’s the percentage of organizations hit by ransomware last year that paid the ransom, according to the 2023
Global Cyber Confidence Index from cloud network detection firm ExtraHop. The average price paid per incident was upward of $925,000.
Source: VentureBeat