Gates Foundation warns AI could widen inequality as foundation pledges US$1bil to expand access

Bill Gates, the Microsoft Co-Founder and billionaire philanthropist, has warned that no government in the world is prepared for the changes artificial intelligence (AI) will bring to society, and his foundation has pledged $1Bn to improve access to AI.

The donation will be spread over the next two years for AI-focused efforts to train models on local languages, improve health outcomes, upgrade educational tools and inform small farmers' practices around the world. Gates had been optimistic about AI until recently, but has shifted his position, warning of threats to jobs, concerns about attacks, and the risks of addiction facing AI enthusiasts.

He added that AI holds enormous potential to help the world's poorest people if managed properly and made accessible on an equal footing.

The charitable foundation that bears Gates's name announced on Tuesday that it plans to spend at least $1Bn over the next two years on expanding access to AI.

The donation announced on Tuesday will be spread over the next two years for AI-focused efforts to train models on local languages, improve health outcomes, upgrade educational tools, and inform small farmers' practices around the world.

Despite the United States' International aid cuts, gates foundation Ceo mark Suzman said he would continue pressing Congress and President Donald Trump's administration to lead the way on foreign assistance.

Reference Sources

1. jordannews - Bill Gates Warns of the Risks of Artificial Intelligence... and Calls on Governments to Work Together
2. thestarmy - Gates Foundation warns AI could widen inequality as foundation pledges US$1bil to expand access
3. asiaone - Gates Foundation warns AI could widen inequality as foundation pledges $1.2b to expand access, World News - AsiaOne
4. usnews - Gates Foundation Warns AI Could Widen Inequality as Foundation Pledges $1B to Expand Access
5. aawsat - Governments Worldwide Are Way Behind on AI, Says Bill Gates

Pentagon reports Iran war has led to ammunition shortages

The war with Iran has caused shortages in US ammunition stocks and "bottlenecks" in supply chains, according to a report by the us Department of Defense Inspector General released on Monday.

It is the Defense Department Inspector General's first public report on the war, which began on Feb. 28.

The congressionally mandated report covers the period from the start of the war through June 30.

According to the report, the Pentagon "is working to streamline procurement processes and production lead times, and to stockpile critical materials, components, and selected munitions to respond rapidly to a contingency." The report noted, "the munitions expenditure on Operation Epic Fury (OEF) has resulted in strategic inventory shortfalls and revealed Industrial-Base bottlenecks that are hindering the replenishment of ammunition inventories." The report also pointed to measures taken by the Department to accelerate production.

When media reports emerged in June that the United States was restricting the use of its missiles, particularly interceptor missiles, the government denied the claims, while President Donald Trump said the country had "huge quantities of ammunition." In the first months of the war, the United States fired so much ammunition at targets in Iran that it created strategic shortages in stockpiles and exposed weaknesses in the industrial base.

Reference Sources

1. israelhayom - Pentagon reports Iran war has led to ammunition shortages
2. thejakartapost - The Jakarta Post
3. jordannews - Pentagon Acknowledges Ammunition Shortages
4. malaymail - US Iran war exposes ammunition shortages, industrial bottlenecks, Pentagon watchdog says
5. newsukraine - US faces critical ammunition shortages after months of war with Iran

Canada’s Carney seeks closer Europe ties to counter hostile US

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is seeking closer ties with the European Union (EU) to reduce reliance on the US amid growing trade tensions and speculation over possible EU membership.

Carney is seeking an arrangement that would allow Canadians to live and work in Europe without Visas as part of a strategic partnership, according to a senior Canadian official familiar with the discussions.

The official said Ottawa is not seeking to replicate the arrangements Norway or Switzerland have with the EU and did not propose associate membership, a term used in a recent report.

European and Canadian officials are discussing what could become an unprecedented form of association between the 27-Member bloc and a country outside Europe.

Carney has called Canada "the most European of Non-European countries," and while formal EU membership may be tricky, he is pursuing unprecedented closeness with the bloc to reduce dependence on a hostile US.

Carney will become the first head of government to attend the "State of the European Union" address in Strasbourg, France, this week, before delivering his own speech at the European Parliament the following day.

Reference Sources

1. malaymail - Carney turns to Europe as Canada pushes back against hostile US
2. thesunmy - Canada’s Carney seeks closer Europe ties to counter hostile US
3. bangkokpost - Canada's Carney seeks closer Europe ties to counter hostile US
4. usnews - Carney Heads to Europe for High-Stakes Speech and Deeper EU Ties as Canada Clashes With Trump
5. indiatoday - Mark Carney pushes to make Canada associate member of EU amid trade war with US

The CommonWealth English daily news digest is a service curated by CommonWealth English team with the help of AI tools.  

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