Thursday, July 31, 2025
The Nordic Times

Polaris of Enlightenment

Thursday, July 31, 2025

Polaris of Enlightenment

Breaking News

https://nordictimes.com/tech/wallenberg-and-nvidia-to-build-cutting-edge-ai-center-in-sweden/

Tech

Wallenberg and Nvidia to build “cutting-edge” AI center in Sweden

Published 27 May 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Marcus Wallenberg believes that the AI initiative is absolutely crucial for Swedish industry.
2 minute read
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

US chip manufacturer Nvidia is establishing a new AI center in Sweden in collaboration with the Wallenberg sphere and several major Swedish companies, including Astra Zeneca, Ericsson, Saab, and SEB.

The aim of the initiative is to strengthen Sweden’s position in artificial intelligence by building the country’s first AI supercomputer for business. The center will be run by a joint venture formed by the parties involved.

– Investing in cutting-edge AI infrastructure is a crucial step toward accelerating the development and adoption of AI across Swedish industry, said Marcus Wallenberg, chairman of Wallenberg Investments, in a statement, adding:

– We believe this initiative will generate valuable spillover effects – by enabling upskilling, fostering new collaborations, and strengthening the broader national AI ecosystem.

The initiative was announced during a visit to Sweden by Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. During his visit, he was also awarded an honorary doctorate at Linköping University.

– As electricity powered the industrial age and the Internet fueled the digital age, AI is the engine of the next industrial revolution. Through the visionary initiative of Wallenberg Investments and Sweden’s industry leaders, the country is building its first AI infrastructure – laying the foundation for breakthroughs across science, industry, and society, and securing Sweden’s place at the forefront of the AI era, argues Nvidia’s CEO.

AI-driven drug development

And the players have clear ambitions for the initiative. Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca will use the system for AI-driven breakthroughs in drug development, with advanced models and data processing.

Ericsson wants to develop AI models to improve performance, efficiency, and customer experiences, as well as enable new business models.

Saab will invest in AI to accelerate the development of advanced defense capabilities in its leading systems, and SEB will integrate AI for increased productivity, new customer offerings, and long-term competitiveness, with a focus on critical infrastructure.

“The ambition with this initiative is to establish a next generation AI compute infrastructure that is both a production facility and at the same time serves as a reference installation, unlocking new possibilities for AI adoption”, the companies said.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

TNT is truly independent!

We don’t have a billionaire owner, and our unique reader-funded model keeps us free from political or corporate influence. This means we can fearlessly report the facts and shine a light on the misdeeds of those in power.

Consider a donation to keep our independent journalism running…

https://nordictimes.com/tech/samsung-and-tesla-sign-billion-dollar-deal-for-ai-chip-manufacturing/

Tech

Samsung and Tesla sign billion-dollar deal for AI chip manufacturing

The future of AI

Published today 9:22
– By Editorial Staff
Image of the construction of Samsung's large chip factory in Taylor, located in Texas, USA.
2 minute read
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

South Korean tech giant Samsung has entered into a comprehensive agreement with Tesla to manufacture next-generation AI chips. The contract, which extends until 2033, is worth $16.5 billion and means Samsung will dedicate its new Texas-based factory to producing Tesla’s AI6 chips.

Samsung receives a significant boost for its semiconductor manufacturing through the new partnership with Tesla. The electric vehicle manufacturer has chosen to place production of its advanced AI6 chips at Samsung’s facility in Texas, in a move that could change competitive dynamics within the semiconductor industry, writes TechCrunch.

— The strategic importance of this is hard to overstate, wrote Tesla founder Elon Musk on X when the deal was announced.

The agreement represents an important milestone for Samsung, which has previously struggled to attract and retain major customers for its chip manufacturing. According to Musk, Tesla may end up spending significantly more than the original $16.5 billion on Samsung chips.

— Actual output is likely to be several times higher, he explained in a later post.

Tesla’s chip strategy takes shape

The AI6 chips form the core of Tesla’s ambition to evolve from car manufacturer to an AI and robotics company. The new generation chip is designed as an all-around solution that can be used both for the company’s Full Self-Driving system and for the humanoid robots of the Optimus model that Tesla is developing, as well as for high-performance AI training in data centers.

Tesla is working in parallel with Taiwanese chip manufacturer TSMC for production of AI5 chips, whose design was recently completed. These will initially be manufactured at TSMC’s facility in Taiwan and later also in Arizona. Samsung already produces Tesla’s AI4 chips.

Since 2019, Tesla has developed its own custom chips after leaving Nvidia’s Drive platform. The first self-developed chipset, known as FSD Computer or Hardware 3, was launched the same year and installed in all of the company’s electric vehicles.

Musk promises personal involvement

In an unusual turn, Samsung has agreed to let Tesla assist in maximizing manufacturing efficiency at the Texas factory. Musk has promised personal presence to accelerate progress.

— This is a critical point, as I will walk the line personally to accelerate the pace of progress. And the fab is conveniently located not far from my house, he wrote.

The strategic partnership could give Samsung the stable customer volume the company needs to compete with industry leader TSMC, while Tesla secures access to advanced chip manufacturing for its growing AI ambitions.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/tech/womens-app-hacked-thousands-of-private-images-leaked/

Tech

Women’s app hacked – thousands of private images leaked

Published 29 July 2025
– By Editorial Staff
1 minute read
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

An app that helps women identify problematic men became a target for hackers. Over 70,000 images, including selfies and driver’s licenses, were leaked to 4chan.

The dating app Tea, which allows women to warn each other about “red flags” in men, suffered a major data breach last week. According to 404 Media, hackers from the 4chan forum managed to access 72,000 images from the app’s database, of which 13,000 were selfies and driver’s license photos.

The app was created by software developer Sean Cook, inspired by his mother’s “terrifying” dating experiences. Tea has over four million active users and topped Apple’s App Store last week.

Careless data handling

The company stored sensitive user data on Google’s cloud service Firebase, where the information became accessible to unauthorized parties. Several cybersecurity experts have criticized the company’s methods as “careless”.

— A company should never host users’ private data on a publicly accessible server, says Grant Ho, professor at the University of Chicago, to The Verge.

Andrew Guthrie Ferguson, law professor at George Washington University, warns that digital “whisper networks” lose control over sensitive information.

— What changes when it’s digital and recoverable and save-able and searchable is you lose control over it, he says.

Tea has launched an investigation together with external cybersecurity companies.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/tech/vogue-faces-backlash-over-use-of-ai-generated-model/

Tech

Vogue faces backlash over use of AI generated model

Published 29 July 2025
– By Editorial Staff
The woman on the left in Vogue magazine does not exist in reality but has instead been created using AI.
2 minute read
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Fashion magazine Vogue is using an AI-generated model in a new advertising campaign for clothing brand Guess. This has sparked strong reactions – from both readers and industry professionals – who warn about unrealistic beauty standards.

In the campaign, a blonde woman poses in a summer dress. The fine print reveals that the model was created by AI company Seraphinne Vallora. The criticism is extensive, with critics arguing that these ideals are unattainable – even for real models.

“Wow! As if the beauty expectations weren’t unrealistic enough, here comes AI to make them impossible”, writes one person on platform X.

Some readers are so upset about the use of AI models that they are choosing to boycott the magazine because it has “lost its credibility” and are calling the practice “worrying”.

Creates unhealthy beauty standards

Fashion magazines have long been influential in shaping beauty standards, particularly for women. During the 2010s, a backlash grew against the thin “size zero” ideal. More and more publications began featuring models of different sizes within the so-called plus-size trend. Vogue, which has been described as “high fashion’s bible”, was slow to follow suit, leading to criticism. Only after pressure did the magazine begin showing greater diversity on its covers.

The use of AI models now raises concerns about new, inhuman standards, says Vanessa Longley, CEO of the organization Beat, which works against eating disorders.

— If people are exposed to images of unrealistic bodies, it can affect their thoughts about their own body, and poor body image increases the risk of developing an eating disorder, she tells BBC.

Former model Sinead Bovell, who five years ago actually wrote an article about how AI models risk replacing real models, also criticizes the campaign. She questions how it might affect those working in the fashion industry, but above all believes it risks having a negative effect on people’s mental health.

— Beauty standards are already being influenced by AI. There are young girls getting plastic surgery to look like a face in a filter – and now we see people who are entirely artificial, she says.

Vogue told the BBC that the AI model was an advertisement, not an editorial decision, but declined to comment further. Guess has also not commented on the criticism of its advertisement.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/tech/lidl-challenges-tech-giants-with-own-cloud-service-for-european-digital-freedom/

Tech

Lidl challenges tech giants with own cloud service for European digital freedom

Published 28 July 2025
– By Editorial Staff
German discount retailer Lidl is now launching the cloud service StackIT.
2 minute read
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

German discount retailer Lidl is taking an unexpected step into the tech world by launching the cloud service StackIT – an attempt to challenge Amazon and Microsoft while strengthening Europe’s digital independence. The venture marks Lidl’s ambition to reduce European dependence on foreign tech companies.

Lidl, primarily known for its grocery stores and operating in all EU countries, has through its parent company Schwarz Group – one of the world’s largest privately-owned companies – announced plans to become a player in the technology sector.

The venture is seen as a way to secure technological sovereignty. Instead of relying on American cloud services like AWS and Azure, the group is choosing to build its own digital infrastructure through subsidiary Schwarz Digits.

The cloud service StackIT is reportedly being developed as a GDPR-compliant alternative – with hopes of attracting European companies with competitive pricing.

The StackIT venture is seen as part of a broader European movement to reduce dependence on American tech giants.

Amazon and Microsoft dominate

Amazon and Microsoft currently dominate the cloud services market with enormous resources, while Schwarz Group’s investments still remain at a clearly lower level.

European players today control only about 15 percent of the regional cloud market, according to Synergy Research Group, while Amazon, Microsoft and Google control around 70 percent.

However, Lidl’s unique position as Europe’s largest retailer is something the company hopes can serve as a platform to influence the market.

If StackIT can combine Lidl’s reach with EU initiatives and tools, as well as attract companies seeking GDPR-compliant and cost-effective solutions, the cloud venture could become a catalyst for greater digital freedom within Europe.

The challenge remains enormous, but even symbolic success would send a powerful signal that Europe is serious about its technological independence.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

N

Polaris of Enlightenment

News

Other

Subscribe to our newsletter!

Follow TNT socials!

X-twitter Facebook Telegram Instagram

© 2022-2025 The Nordic Times TNT.
All rights reserved.

Our independent journalism needs your support!
We appreciate all of your donations to keep us alive and running.

Donate

Our independent journalism needs your support!
Consider a donation.

You can donate any amount of your choosing, one-time payment or even monthly.
We appreciate all of your donations to keep us alive and running.

Donate
Dont miss another article!

Sign up for our newsletter today!

Take part of uncensored news – free from industry interests and political correctness from the Polaris of Enlightenment – every week.