Business
OpenAI chaos not about AI safety, says Microsoft boss
The recent chaos at artificial intelligence (AI) company OpenAI was not due to a disagreement over safety, the president of Microsoft has said.
There were fears the sacking of OpenAI boss Sam Altman followed a “dangerous” discovery at the ChatGPT creator.
Brad Smith told the BBC the shock dismissal “wasn’t fundamentally about a concern like that.” Microsoft is the top investor in OpenAI and offered to hire Mr Altman before he was reinstated at the firm last week.
During the drama, a spotlight was cast on how commercial competition is shaping the development of AI systems and the pace at which the technology is moving. Tech figures, including X-owner Elon Musk suggested the firing of Altman, and his subsequent reappointment, were the result of a fall-out over AI safety.
Brad Smith told the BBC: “I don’t think that is the case at all. I think there obviously was a divergence between the board and others. I think what’s more important is there’s a new board in place. The partnership between OpenAI and Microsoft is as strong as ever.”
Sam Altman was a co-founder of OpenAI and became the face of its ground-breaking chatbot ChatGPT after it launched last year. He secured a significant funding boost to the tune of $13bn (£10bn) from Microsoft, which helped catapult the business.
After Altman’s sacking by the OpenAI board, Microsoft then offered him a job leading a new advanced AI research team.
But his return to his post came after a company revolt where more than 700 OpenAI employees signed a letter to the board threatening to follow him to Microsoft unless he was reinstated.
No reason has been given for the sacking apart from the board’s statement, in which they said they believed he had not been “consistently candid in communications” with them, and as a result they had “lost confidence” in his leadership.
Brad Smith was in London to unveil a £2.5bn investment in advanced data centres designed to drive future use of AI in the UK. He told the event: “There are opportunities for the UK to benefit from not just this investment in innovation, but competition between Microsoft and Google and others. I think that’s where the future is going. “And I think that what we’ve done the last couple of weeks in supporting open AI will help advance that even more.”
Fears that AI was going to overtake humans in the next year were unfounded, he said. “There’s absolutely no probability that you’re going to see this so called artificial general intelligence where computers are more powerful than people come in the next 12 months. It’s going to take years, if not many decades.”
(BBC)
The Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Sri Lanka (AHK Sri Lanka) proudly facilitated the first-ever Sri Lankan delegation’s participation at Drupa 2024, the world’s largest trade fair for the printing industry and technology. Held after an eight-year hiatus, Drupa 2024 was a landmark event, marking significant advancements and opportunities in the global printing industry.
AHK Sri Lanka played a pivotal role in organising and supporting the delegation, which comprised 17 members from the Sri Lanka Association for Printers (SLAP), representing eight companies from the commercial, newspaper, stationery printing, and packaging industries. This pioneering effort by AHK Sri Lanka not only showcased the diverse capabilities of Sri Lanka’s printing sector but also facilitated vital bilateral discussions with key stakeholders from the German printing industry.
Business
Unveiling Ayugiri: Browns Hotels & Resorts sets the stage for a new era in luxury Ayurveda Wellness
In a captivating reimagining of luxury wellness tourism, Browns Hotels & Resorts proudly unveiled the exquisite Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort Sigiriya. This momentous occasion, celebrated amidst a vibrant and serene grand opening on the 6th of June, heralds a new chapter in the Ayurveda wellness tourism landscape in Sri Lanka. Nestled amidst 54 acres of unspoiled natural splendour, Ayugiri features 22 exclusive suites and stands out as the only luxury Ayurveda wellness resort in the country offering plunge pools in every room, rendering it truly one-of-a-kind.
The grand opening of Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort was an enchanting event, where guests were captivated by the melodies of flutists and violinists resonating through Sigiriya’s lush landscapes. As traditional drummers and dancers infused the air with vibrant energy, Browns Hotels & Resorts’ CEO, Eksath Wijeratne, Kotaro Katsuki, Acting Ambassador for the Embassy of Japan and General Manager, Buwaneka Bandara, unveiled the resort’s new logo, marking a significant moment witnessed by distinguished guests from the French Embassy, Ayurveda and wellness enthusiasts along with officials from the Sigiriya area, LOLC Holdings and Browns Group.
“Our strategic expansion into wellness tourism with Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort Sigiriya symbolises a significant milestone for Browns Hotels & Resorts. Wellness tourism has consistently outperformed the overall tourism industry for over a decade, reflecting a growing global interest in travel that goes beyond leisure to offer rejuvenation and holistic well-being. By integrating the timeless wisdom of Ayurveda with modern luxury, we aim to set a new standard in luxury wellness tourism in Sri Lanka. Whether your goal is prevention, healing, or a deeper connection to inner harmony, Ayugiri offers a sanctuary for holistic well-being” stated Eksath Wijeratne.
Ayugiri encapsulates the essence of life, inspired by the lotus flower held by the graceful queens of the infamous Sigiriya frescoes. Just as the lotus emerges from the murky depths, untainted and serene,
Ayugiri invites guests on a journey of purity and rejuvenation, harmonised with a balance of mind, body and spirit, the essence of nature, echoes of culture and the wisdom of ancient Ayurvedic healing.
HNB General Insurance, one of Sri Lanka’s leading general insurance providers, has been honored as the Best General Bancassurance Provider in Sri Lanka 2024 by the prestigious Global Banking and Finance Review – UK.
The esteemed accolade underscores HNB General Insurance’s unwavering commitment to excellence and its outstanding performance in the field of bancassurance. Through dedication and hard work, the HNB General Insurance team has continuously endeavored to deliver innovative insurance solutions, cultivate strong relationships with banking partners, and provide unparalleled service to customers nationwide. This recognition is a testament to the team’s dedication and relentless pursuit of excellence in the bancassurance business.
“We are honored to receive this prestigious award, which reflects our team’s tireless efforts and dedication to delivering value-added insurance solutions and exceptional service through our bancassurance partnerships,” said Sithumina Jayasundara, CEO of HNB General Insurance. “This recognition reaffirms our position as a trusted insurance provider in Sri Lanka and motivates us to continue striving for excellence in serving our customers and communities.”
