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Microsoft, AWS & Oracle: Why Big Tech is Investing in Japan – Technology Magazine

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AWS-commissioned research by AlphaBeta shows that cloud and cybersecurity skills will be the top two most sought-after digital skills by Japanese employers by 2025. AWS has trained over 400,000 individuals in Japan with cloud skills since 2017, providing them with in-demand cloud skills and best practices to help learners and organisations innovate in the cloud.

For over a decade, AWS has been committed to helping our Japanese customers access the latest cutting-edge technology, build digital solutions on highly resilient and secure cloud infrastructure, and adapt their businesses to maintain an edge in todays complex economic environment, said Tadao Nagasaki, President of AWS in Japan. Our investment into cloud infrastructure generates a ripple effect across the Japanese industries including the public and government sectors. It will help more Japanese organisations with the ability to access and adopt new, emerging and transformational digital technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning. We are committed to and excited about the future of Japans digital economy.

Microsoft has also announced plans to invest in Japan over the next two years, aiming to increase hyperscale cloud computing and AI opportunities.

The company aims to do this by expanding its existing digital skills programmes with the goal of providing AI skills to more than three million people over the next three years. This follows a recent similar commitment to teach millions in India about AI by 2025.

Microsoft also plans to open its first Microsoft Research Asia lab and states it seeks to deepen its cybersecurity collaborations with the government of Japan.

The US$2.9bn commitment is Microsofts largest investment into Japan in the 46 years it has been present in the country. With this financial boost, Microsoft will be able to provide more advanced computing resources in Japan, including the latest graphics processing units (GPUs) to speed up AI workloads.

We are honoured to contribute to Japan and its future with our largest investment to date, technology and knowledge, says Miki Tsusaka, President of Microsoft Japan. In collaboration with our partners, Microsoft Japan is fully committed to supporting the people and organisations of Japan to solve social problems and achieve more.

Google Cloud has announced a US$1bn investment in digital connectivity to Japan, including the expansion of the Pacific Connect initiative and delivery of two new subsea cables, aimed at creating new fibre-optic routes between the continental United States and Japan in support of Googles Japan Digitization Initiative, while improving the reliability and resilience of digital connectivity between the US, Japan, and multiple Pacific Island countries and territories.

Subsea cables can bring economic and productivity gains to the places where they land. For example, in Japan, studies estimate Google network infrastructure investments drove an additional US$400m in GDP in the previous decade. With increased access to digital services, more people can take advantage of skill development and career opportunities, while businesses and public sector organisations can better serve their customers and constituents.

Were excited about the long-term benefits that these latest Pacific initiatives will bring to people, our users, and our customers, wrote Brian Quigley VP of Global Network Infrastructure at Google Cloud in an announcement. Well continue to share more as we continue working with partners to reduce the digital divide across the Pacific.

OpenAI meanwhile recently announced its first office in Asia, together with the release of a GPT-4 custom model optimised for the Japanese language.

The AI startup said it is providing local businesses with early access to a GPT-4 custom model specifically optimised for the Japanese language, offering improved performance in translating and summarising Japanese text and operating up to three times faster than its predecessor.

We are committed to collaborating with the Japanese government, local businesses, and research institutions to develop safe AI tools that serve Japans unique needs and to unlock new opportunities, the company said in an announcement blog. We chose Tokyo as our first Asian office for its global leadership in technology, culture of service, and a community that embraces innovation.

OpenAI says it is working with leading businesses like Daikin, Rakuten, and TOYOTA Connected who are using ChatGPT Enterprise to automate complex business processes, assist in data analysis and optimise internal reporting.

Were excited to be in Japan which has a rich history of people and technology coming together to do more, said Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI. We believe AI will accelerate work by empowering people to be more creative and productive, while also delivering broad value to current and new industries that have yet to be imagined.

In April Oracle Corporation Japan announced that it plans to invest more than US$8bn over the next 10 years to meet the growing demand for cloud computing and AI infrastructure in Japan. The investment will grow Oracle Cloud Infrastructures (OCI) footprint across Japan. In addition, to help customers and partners address the digital sovereignty requirements in Japan, Oracle will significantly expand its operations and support engineering teams with Japan-based personnel.

Oracle plans to increase local customer support of its public cloud regions in Tokyo and Osaka and its local operations teams for Oracle Alloy and OCI Dedicated Region. This will enable governments and businesses across Japan to continue to move their mission-critical workloads to the Oracle Cloud and embrace sovereign AI solutions.

We are dedicated to meeting our customers and partners where they are in their cloud journey, said Toshimitsu Misawa, member of the board, corporate executive officer and President of Oracle Corporation Japan. By growing our cloud footprint and providing a team to support sovereign operations in Japan, we are giving our customers and partners the opportunity to innovate with AI and other cloud services while supporting their regulatory and sovereignty requirements.

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Microsoft, AWS & Oracle: Why Big Tech is Investing in Japan - Technology Magazine

TMHS Robotics wins regional competition | Sports | homenewshere.com – Woburn Daily Times

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The Tewksbury High Titans Robotics team competed in the New England North Shore District event on Saturday and Sunday, a regional robotics competition hosted by FIRST Robotics at Reading High School.

Thirty-six teams from around New England participated.

The Titans moved through the qualifying 3 v 3 rounds, and then were chosen to compete in the finals alongside Littleton (MA) High School and Windham (NH) High School thanks to their robots ability to execute a specific challenge in the arena. The three-team alliance proved strategic, taking the first 2 rounds quickly for the win.

The victory was significant for the team. The TMHS robotics team started competing in 2004, winning in 2008, and placing second 2-3 times over the years. The team will travel to another regional competition at the University of New Hampshire.

Teams compete on a pre-defined field with a driver, bot operator, and a drive coach who calls plays.

Teams range in size, skill and age at the tournament and compete six at a time (two alliances of three teams). The theme for this years competition was CRESCENDO, with challenges based around shooting notes into amps and speakers.

The team is supported by volunteer mentors, many of whom are professionals from a host of industries, including engineering, computer science, business, and more. While mentors support the design and development of the robot, they also help students hone soft skills for future college and professional success.

Scott Morris leads the team with Victor Impink, Abiche Dewilde, Berk Akinci, Chris Mullins, Randy August, Chris White and Josh Nichols. TMHS alums David Penney and Eric Impink have been mentoring the team as well.

Competitors for Tewksbury included Donovan Conway, Liam Mullins, Maya Sachdev, Renuka Late, Corvid Dewilde, Jared Woodman, Alex Grove, Christine Buskey, Jordan Troughton, Joanna Green, Becca Matte and Dylan Warren. Additional team members include Amelia Lombardi, Luc Jodoin, and Caden White.

This years challenge had the robots intaking foam rings and shooting at high and low goals, each at different angles.A climbing element was also included where robots pulled themselves off the ground and hung by a chain. The team was not without game-time challenges including overcoming a crumpled arm support, two bent shooter axles, wiring issues, and loose bolts. According to the mentors, the team kept solving problems and never missed a match.

The students have worked on the robot in the evenings and weekends since January. Team members build everything from scratch, gaining technical skills such as machining, 3D printing, laser cutting, wiring and coding, as well as learning project management, public relations and finance. The addition of a swerve drive this year, a component that allows the robot to spin and move quickly, was a gamechanger for the team.

Morris considers the team the premier STEM opportunity at TMHS and encourages community members interested in giving their time to get involved. In addition, the team is always seeking sponsors and is grateful to this years support from iRobot, Onco Filtration, Teradyne, PTC, Holt & Bugbee, Qualcomm, Tokyo Electron, BAE Systems, RTX, Routsis Training, and Tewksbury Public Schools.

Contact the team via email at frcteam1474@gmail.com for additional sponsorship opportunities or to get involved.

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TMHS Robotics wins regional competition | Sports | homenewshere.com - Woburn Daily Times

Amazon’s AWS to invest $15 bln to expand cloud computing in Japan – Marketscreener.com

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TOKYO, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Amazon Web Services (AWS) said on Friday it plans to invest 2.26 trillion yen ($15.24 billion) in Japan by 2027 to expand its cloud computing infrastructure.

The Amazon.com unit is spending to expand facilities in the metropolises of Tokyo and Osaka to meet growing customer demand, it said in a statement.

That comes on top of 1.51 trillion yen spent from 2011 to 2022 to build up cloud capacity in Japan, AWS said. ($1 = 148.2700 yen) (Reporting by Rocky Swift; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman)

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Amazon's AWS to invest $15 bln to expand cloud computing in Japan - Marketscreener.com

New 3-D Pirates of the Caribbean Phone Cases at Walt Disney World – WDW News Today

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Two new Pirates of the Caribbean phone cases have arrived at Walt Disney World Resort. Sail over to Magic Kingdom and plunder the Emporium or Frontier Trading Post to find these treasures. (Note: we do not actually endorse plundering.)

This first case features a pirate skull and crossed swords below the Pirates of the Caribbean wordmark. Across the brown background are images of treasure chests, beads, keys, gems, music notes, and more. Both phone cases have a 3-D effect. On this case, the pirate skull appears to float out of the background.

Mickey Mouse, dressed like a pirate with an eyepatch and sword, is pictured on this phone case. Yo ho! A pirates life for me is printed around him. The pirate skull and crossed swords are in the upper right corner and the Pirates of the Caribbean wordmark is at the bottom. Mickey and the song lyrics appear to pop out of the gray background.

These phone cases match other recent Pirates of the Caribbean merchandise that weve found at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort. Check some of those items out below:

Walt Disney originally conceived of the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction as a walkthrough wax museum. The idea evolved to become a boat ride and it opened in Disneyland in March 1967, just a few months after Walts death.

The original attraction has 630,000 gallons of water, 53 animal audio-animatronics, and 75 human audio-animatronics. Blue Bayou Restaurant overlooks the beginning of the ride.

Pirates of the Caribbean wasnt an opening-day attraction at Magic Kingdom because the Walt Disney World Resort was so close to the real Caribbean that the company thought it wouldnt be of interest to Floridian guests. They were proven wrong, however, and opened the second Pirates of the Caribbean in Magic Kingdom in 1973.

Versions of the ride have gone on to open in Tokyo Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, and Shanghai Disneyland.

The ride also spawned the hugely successful Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise, which began in 2003 with Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. There have been five films so far, with more planned.

Disney announced this year that Peg-Leg Pete, a.k.a. the Barker Bird, would be returning to Magic Kingdom after a long absence, this time at anew Pirates of the Caribbean tavern.

Watch our Pirates of the Caribbean ride POV from Magic Kingdom:

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Shannen has been a Disney Parks fan and lover of dogs since childhood, despite Pluto's attempt to eat Shannen's Minnie Mouse doll the first time they met. They've made up now. You can email Shannen at shannen@wdwnt.com.

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New 3-D Pirates of the Caribbean Phone Cases at Walt Disney World - WDW News Today