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Generative AI at an inflection point: What’s next for real-world adoption?

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by venturebeat.com -- Gary Grossman Edelman - Generative AI is gaining wider adoption, particularly in business. Most recently, for instance, Walmart announced that it is rolling-out a gen AI app to 50,000 non-store employees. As reported by Axios, the app combines data from Walmart with third-party large language models (LLM) and can help employees with a range of tasks, from speeding up the drafting process, to serving as a creative partner, to summarizing large documents and more. Deployments such as this are helping to drive demand for graphical processing units (GPUs) needed to train powerful deep learning models. GPUs are specialized computing processors that execute programming instructions in parallel instead of sequentially — as do traditional central processing units (CPUs). According to the Wall Street Journal, training these models “can cost companies billions of dollars, thanks to the large volumes of data they need to ingest and analyze.” This includes all deep learning and foundational LLMs from GPT-4 to LaMDA — which power the ChatGPT and Bard chatbot applications, respectively.

Riding the generative AI wave

The gen AI trend is providing powerful momentum for Nvidia, the dominant supplier of these GPUs: The company announced eye-popping earnings for their most recent quarter. At least for Nvidia, it is a time of exuberance, as it seems nearly everyone is trying to get ahold of their GPUs. Erin Griffiths wrote in the New York Times that start-ups and investors are taking extraordinary measures to obtain these chips: “More than money, engineering talent, hype or even profits, tech companies this year are desperate for GPUs.” In his Stratechery newsletter this week, Ben Thompson refers to this as “Nvidia on the Mountaintop.” Adding to the momentum, Google and Nvidia announced a partnership whereby Google’s cloud customers will have greater access to technology powered by Nvidia’s GPUs. All of this points to the current scarcity of these chips in the face of surging demand. Does this current demand mark the peak moment for gen AI, or might it instead point to the beginning of the next wave of its development?

How generative tech is shaping the future of computing

Expanding the capacity of the Port of Beirut

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by Zlatan Hrvacevic -- The Port of Beirut has historically played a vital role in Lebanon’s economy, as a major cargo and transit hub. However, due to the civil war and political instability, this key position has weakened over time. The situation was compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic and a major explosion in 2020. As part of a long-term development plan to transform the Port of Beirut into a transhipment hub, the Port Authority planned to expand Basin 4 in 2015. However, the work is on hold and the basin can currently only accommodate small vessels. A consortium led by Boskalis and Van Oord are jointly preparing the dredging works needed to restore the navigable depth of Basin 4, funded by the Dutch government via Invest International. This would allow larger vessels to berth, reducing the costs of transporting cargo to Lebanon.

An extensive cost-benefit analysis of dredging plans The consortium commissioned Royal HaskoningDHV to assess the economic benefits and costs of the proposed dredging works. The company carried out a cost-benefit analysis (CBA) to evaluate whether restoring the navigable depth of Basin 4 would provide enough value to make the project worthwhile. In the analysis, Royal HaskoningDHV compared the proposed project to the current situation, where Basin 4 isn’t developed, and continues to accommodate smaller vessels only. Meanwhile, the project analysis examined the potential impact of berthing larger vessels. The company recently delivered a comprehensive report, assessing the impacts of the project. This included a thorough sensitivity analysis, to support the consortium as they continue to make plans for Basin 4 and other areas of the port. The cost-benefit analysis also incorporated an extensive market investigation. This involved estimating transport costs for each alternative, accounting for transportation time, charter costs, fuel costs and port costs. Royal HaskoningDHV also compared likely costs at different volumes, using traffic forecasts for the port. Ultimately, the analysis found that the benefits of dredging outweigh the investment costs, as the deeper berthing capacity will encourage higher traffic and make it easier for Lebanon to move more large shipments through its main port.

Kuwaiti man's love letter to Lebanon spreads cheer online – one blissful blog at a time

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By Liza Ayach -- Thenationalnews.com -- I have been following Luai Ahmad Alkilani on social media for some time now. A big reason why he's captured my admiration is because, despite being Kuwaiti, he showcases life in Lebanon more fervently than the Lebanese themselves, especially the cuisine. When I reach out to the businessman-turned-blogger, he tells me his love affair with the country began in his childhood when his parents used to whisk him away to the scenic hills of Bhamdoun, Falougha and Hammana for summer getaways. Now 56, Alkilani has woven a bond with the country that transcends both time and nationality. While his first wife is Kuwaiti, Alkilani's second wife is Lebanese, solidifying his deep-rooted attachment to the country. “Kuwait is where I primarily reside, but I often travel to Lebanon and typically dedicate my entire summer to being there,” says Alkilani. "My family, children and friends also cherish the country due to my frequent visits and extensive explorations.

In Lebanon, you can swim by the shore and dine in the mountains within a 45-minute drive. A self-professed “food enthusiast", Alkilani says his adoration for Lebanese dishes sparked his mission to advocate cross-cultural gastronomy. “I adore Lebanese food in all its varieties,” he says, with his favourites spanning street food classics such as mankoushe and falafel to delicacies served at fine-dining restaurants. “I often contemplate crafting fusion dishes that combine Kuwaiti and Lebanese flavours, to satisfy people from both nations," he adds. "These creations would blend Levantine-spiced rice with signature Gulf sauces, for a culinary blend that could yield exquisite, innovative dishes for dining tables across the region.”

Why Iran might favour Biden's Lebanon-Israel peace mission

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by Raghida Dergham -- the nationalnews -- Almost a year after Amos Hochstein helped broker a historic agreement between Lebanon and Israel to demarcate their maritime border, the US energy envoy landed in Beirut on Wednesday to assist the neighbours in their attempt to resolve their outstanding land border disputes. Success in this regard could provide US President Joe Biden’s 2024 re-election campaign a considerable boost. This isn’t a move simply to resolve the fate of a few square metres of disputed territory, or about carrying out land swaps. We are talking about a potential end to the Lebanon-Israel conflict, achieved by securing Beirut’s independence from the path of negotiations that involved Syria.

A deal could benefit Tehran, given Trump’s possible return would be a source of concern for the regime It is worth noting that previously Damascus imposed what it termed “twin-track” negotiations on Lebanon for decades, which impeded Beirut’s attempts to end its complex conflict with Israel at a time when Syria’s own issues with Israel remained unresolved. This was intended to ensure that Lebanon remained a bargaining chip for Syria. However, today’s circumstances have shifted to a “first come, first served” approach, due in large part to the Syrian government’s diminished regional influence, its struggles to maintain control over its own territory, and the fact that the primary Arab player in regional and international affairs today is not Syria but Saudi Arabia. The Biden administration is now actively engaging with Saudi Arabia, marking a shift in strategy as Washington views this as the most viable way to engage with the region.

Mr Hochstein’s Lebanon visit might seem insignificant in the context of US-China and US-Russia relations, Nato’s expansion, and the creation of alliances around the world. But it is of strategic importance to Washington – and one that goes beyond the extraction of oil and gas necessary for Europe in a time of scarcity imposed by the Ukrainian war. The primary message Mr Hochstein conveyed to those he met in Lebanon, including officials and non-governmental figures, is that the Biden administration is concerned about long-term stability and peace and is prepared to work towards rectifying the irregularities on the Blue Line, which covers the Lebanon-Israel boundary. Mr Hochstein also emphasised conflict resolution by way of partnering with regional countries, rather than by imposing an agenda, as was sometimes the US approach in the past.

Arab American activists urge DHS to declare temporary protected status for Lebanese nationals in the U.S.

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US Embassy in Lebanon

by the arabamericannews.com -- Arab American community activists are urging the Department of Homeland Security to declare Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Lebanese nationals in the U.S.. It would grant temporary immigration status for people to live and work in the U.S. due to challenges in their home country. Adam Beddawi, policy manager for the National Network for Arab American Communities (NNAAC), says more than 12,000 people are impacted by TPS in the United States, including many families in Metro Detroit. “There are certain people who currently reside in this country… if they were to go back to Lebanon, they would not be able to make ends meet,” Beddawi said. “And in fact, they may even be subject to violent horror.” As the home of the largest Arab American population per capita in the country, Dearborn also houses one of the biggest concentrations of Lebanese communities. Beddawi said Lebanese nationals face unique challenges, especially after the pandemic and political crisis in the country. Lebanese citizens are in the fourth year of economic turmoil and lack many basic necessities.

The Beirut explosion of 2020 added fuel to the fire.

Dearborn is home to one of the largest Lebanese communities in the United States. “The most recent event that I think should have forced action by the Department of Homeland Security went without a response, and the conditions have only worsened over time,” Beddawi said. In April, Michigan U.S. Reps Rashida Tlaib and Debbie Dingell introduced the Lebanon TPS Act of 2023. If passed, Congress can request the Department of Homeland Security to declare Temporary Protected Status for Lebanese nationals for 18 months.

Can AI help the college essay?

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By Rob Sacks, Editor at LinkedIn News -- ChatGPT is forcing higher education to consider the potential consequences of artificial intelligence on the admissions essay, writes The New York Times. The technology could lead to plagiarism or create doubt about whether the students’ writing is an accurate reflection of their true selves. But, AI could also level the playing field for some students who require extra help. Teachers are largely concerned ChatGPT will chip away at critical thinking and storytelling. One student in Georgia told the Times that after experimenting with an AI tool for her essay, she found the "responses too broad and impersonal."

France, US compromise to renew UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon

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UNITED NATIONS, Reporting by Michelle Nichols (Reuters) - The United Nations Security Council voted on Thursday to extend a long-running peacekeeping mission in Lebanon for another year after a compromise was reached between France and the United States on language about the freedom of movement of U.N. troops. The U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) - established in 1978 - patrols Lebanon's southern border with Israel. The mandate for the operation is renewed annually, and its current authorization was due to expire on Thursday. The French-drafted text was adopted with 13 votes in favor and abstentions by Russia and China. A planned Wednesday vote was delayed as France, the United States and the United Arab Emirates argued over language on U.N. freedom of movement. France kept language in the resolution that spells out that peacekeepers should coordinate with the Lebanese government.

But in a compromise with the U.S. and the UAE, France added back in text from last year's council resolution - which it had deleted - that demands all parties allow "announced and unannounced patrols" by U.N. troops. "The ability of the UNIFIL personnel to carry out their responsibilities, independent of any restrictions, is essential," U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, told the council. "And we've had long-standing concerns regarding the actions by some actors to obstruct the mission's freedom of movement," she said. "The resolution adopted today includes language strongly reaffirming UNIFIL's full freedom of movement."