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Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly becoming a key part of the ICT industry. We see it every week - and this week is no exception. Read on for more information about how AI can be leveraged for social good, as well as Toyota's connected car moves, new G.fast trials and fintech startup growth in the Middle East.

Spotlight

AI for social good There are a growing number of use cases for how AI can accelerate the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). That's why ITU and XPrize will co-host the first AI for Good Global Summit in June. To learn more, see our video or go in-depth with the latest edition of ITU News Magazine.

ICT Trends

More AI: SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk is now reported to be launching Neuralink, a venture to merge the human brain with AI to help people keep up with machines. Musk has repeatedly warned about AI's risks to humanity. [For a deeper look at the opportunities and risks of AI, read the latest ITU Magazine.]

Connected car: Toyota's new partnership with Japanese telecom giant NTT on development, verification, and standardization of connected-car tech comes in the wake of its partnership with Ford on open-source software and its patent licensing deal with Microsoft. The moves highlight the growing trend of auto-ICT convergence. [Related: Hyundai joins ITU to influence international standards for connected cars]

Mobile learning "ICTs are increasingly central to work and education, and acquiring skills to leverage these technologies has never been more important," said ITU Secretary-General Houlin Zhao as the second joint ITU/UNESCO Policy Forum on Mobile Learning took place in Paris, France last week.

Supercomputers: The EU is hailing a new Airbus-size alliance for supercomputers that aims to bring computing power that is 100 times faster than the fastest machines currently available in Europe. Meanwhile, quantum computing is developing rapidly and will require new security approaches.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT...

Fintech: Fintech startups compete in the growing Middle East market.
G.fast: New G.fast trials bring new deployment scenarios for technology based on ITU standards.
Digital Finance: LG is finally launching its mobile payment system in South Korea.
Autonomous vehicles: Uber temporarily grounded its entire self-driving fleet in the United States after an accident with one of its vehicles.
Regulation: Uber also announced this week that it would pull out of Denmark due to a new taxi law. (It's been a rough few weeks for the company.)

Insights

Innovation from 'flyover country'? The next wave of US tech innovation will come from the middle of the country, says AOL founder and Revolution CEO Steve Case. Educating investors on the emerging opportunities from startups across the country will go a long way toward building a more 'dispersed and inclusive innovation economy,' he says.

Keep up to date with ITU

UPCOMING EVENTS

- 7th Green Standards Week; Manizales, Colombia, 3 - 5 April 2017

- ITU Workshop on Digital Financial Services and Financial Inclusion; Washington, D.C., United States, 19 April 2017

- International Girls in ICT Day; Worldwide, 27 April 2017

MORE FROM ITU

- New blogs! Read interviews with industry leaders, insights into the latest tech news and other ICT stories from around the world on the ITU Blog

- New videos! On ITU’s YouTube channel

- Read the latest ITU News Magazine here

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