Future Beat: The latest tech and innovation news

Hello there,
Few things are certain about the future, but I’m relatively confident that amid all the technological and societal change around us, we’re still going to be talking about the weather in the years ahead.
The unprecedented rain experienced in the UAE this week offers us all a reminder that nature remains in the driver’s seat.
Amid the torrential rain came the baseless speculation about cloud-seeding missions. Of course, it was quickly debunked, but again, it speaks volumes about the human desire to seek immediate answers about the weather around us.
Weather forecasting, of course, involves science, geography, technology and mathematics, among other topics we often talk about in Future Beat.
To bring things full circle, forecasting is something we strive to do every week.

Cody Combs

Future Editor

The Big Story
In brief | The business world shook on Monday, when 49-year-old technology giant Microsoft announced it would be investing $1.5 billion in Abu Dhabi artificial intelligence and cloud company G42.
Microsoft and G42’s expanded partnership includes the creation of a $1 billion fund to support developers aimed at enhancing the Middle East’s technology talent pool, the companies said in a joint statement.
The investment is also bolstered by the announcement that Brad Smith, vice chairman and president of Microsoft, will be joining G42’s board of directors.
All of this is occurring against the backdrop of the UAE aiming to become a global AI leader.
Why it matters | While G42 is only 6 years old, its ambitions revolving around AI have been lofty and the company has been able to tick a lot of boxes to position itself as a major player in the burgeoning field.
Partnerships might not be new in the world of technology, but partnerships with a company of Microsoft’s stature, and of this financial magnitude, show the UAE’s G42 is achieving many of its goals. It also shows G42 has grown into a company that other tech giants view with a sense of awe.
The vote of confidence from Microsoft (though calling it a vote of confidence doesn’t quite do it justice) speaks volumes about the road ahead for G42.
Quoted | “Microsoft’s investment in G42 marks a pivotal moment in our company’s journey of growth and innovation, signifying a strategic alignment of vision and execution between the two organisations”
– Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed, National Security Adviser and Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi, and chairman of G42
May the best AI win | Will Abu Dhabi’s Autonomous Racing League change transportation?
Before the vote | What a Space42 merger between Bayanat and Yahsat would mean for UAE
Bright future | How a space station-style solar farm could beam energy to Earth by 2050
Besides the great cardiovascular benefits from walking, wouldn’t it also be great to use your footsteps to generate electricity? That’s the idea behind Pavegen, a company that has created a tile capable of using the kinetic energy of footsteps and transferring that energy into off-grid electricity. Hundreds of visitors to the 2024 World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi gave it a try, albeit with a twist. The tiles were programmed to use kinetic energy to power software that would help plant mangrove trees.
This is a signal: Figuring out how to squeeze efficiency in an increasingly energy and environmentally conscious world means we’re going to have to make the most out of even the most mundane of tasks, such as walking.
Make no mistake, these tiles aren’t going to solve the world’s energy woes but they’re a good start. If enough similar products making use of kinetic energy come to fruition, it might actually begin to make a dent in terms of energy efficiency and conservation. All that aside, it’s also incredibly fun to see your steps turn into energy and data. Who wouldn’t want to get on board with that?
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