Technology sector (6do encyclopedia)



The technology sector is an industry consisting of companies that create, develop, and sell products or services related to technology. This includes firms engaged in research and development of new technologies, as well as companies involved in the production of hardware, software, and communication devices.

The technology sector is one of the fastest-growing and most dynamic industries in the world. It is the driving force behind the digital age and has revolutionized nearly every aspect of modern life, from the way we communicate to the way we do business and access information.

History

The origins of the technology sector can be traced back to the early 20th century and the development of the first telephone. As communication technology evolved, new companies emerged to produce and sell telephones, telegraphs, and eventually radios and television sets. In the 1960s, the advent of the computer led to the creation of new companies dedicated to developing software and hardware for these machines.

The 1980s and 1990s marked the rise of the personal computer, which led to the proliferation of software and the widespread adoption of the internet. In the 2000s, the emergence of mobile devices and social media platforms transformed the technology sector yet again, giving rise to companies like Apple, Google, and Facebook.

Types of Companies

The technology sector is a vast and diverse industry that encompasses a wide range of companies, including:

Hardware Companies - These firms produce electronic devices such as computers, smartphones, tablets, and wearable gadgets.

Software Companies - These firms develop and sell software to individuals and businesses, including operating systems, productivity tools, and video games.

Internet and E-commerce Companies – Internet and E-commerce companies run online platforms and marketplaces such as Amazon, Ebay, Google, and Facebook.

Telecom Companies – These firms provide communication services such as wireless and landline phone services, internet services, and cable television.

Semiconductor Companies – These firms design and produce electronic components and computer chips used in various hardware devices.

Emerging Technologies

With new technological advancements such as blockchain, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing, the technology sector is constantly evolving, presenting new opportunities for businesses and individuals alike.

Blockchain technology has already begun to revolutionize the financial industry by allowing for secure and transparent transactions. Meanwhile, artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies are being employed in areas like healthcare, finance, and transportation.

Quantum computing, though still in its early stages, has the potential to disrupt industries ranging from finance to logistics with its ability to process vast amounts of data at lightning speed.

Future Outlook

The technology sector is predicted to continue growing rapidly in the coming years, with 5G technology, the Internet of Things, and renewable energy sources playing major roles in the industry’s development.

As more people gain access to the internet and mobile devices, the demand for new and innovative technological products and services is only expected to increase, making the technology sector a promising and lucrative industry for investors, entrepreneurs and job seekers alike.

In conclusion, the technology sector is a driving force behind our modern digital age, with continually evolving technologies that promise to revolutionize industries across the globe. The growth of the industry is set to continue in the coming years, and as we move into the future, we can expect new innovations that will alter the course of our daily lives.


Disclaimer
6do Encyclopedia represents the inaugural AI-driven knowledge repository, and we cordially invite all community users to collaborate and contribute to the enhancement of its accuracy and completeness.
Should you identify any inaccuracies or discrepancies, we respectfully request that you promptly bring these to our attention. Furthermore, you are encouraged to engage in dialogue with the 6do AI chatbot for clarifications.
Please be advised that when utilizing the resources provided by 6do Encyclopedia, users must exercise due care and diligence with respect to the information contained therein. We expressly disclaim any and all legal liabilities arising from the use of such content.

Brian Chesky: I want Airbnb to become a physical social network

Financial Times

23-05-12 15:19


Airbnb co-founder Brian Chesky has launched a new offering called Airbnb Rooms, offering spaces in people's homes for rent. The move marks a return to the startup's original premise that saw its creators rent out air beds in their living room to help pay the rent on their apartment. This time around, however, Chesky says Airbnb Rooms is being launched due to the affordable cost of staying in someone's home, something that is attractive to customers as travel costs rise. According to Chesky, the average rental cost is $67 per night, compared to the increasing cost of staying in hotels.

https://www.ft.com/content/6c4677ff-b63f-45cd-bd18-23be16525613
Autonomy founder Mike Lynch extradited to US

Financial Times

23-05-12 08:19


Mike Lynch, the founder of UK software firm Autonomy, has lost his appeal and has been extradited to the United States. Lynch, who faces charges including conspiracy to commit securities and wire fraud, stands accused of manipulating Autonomy's accounts to lead Hewlett-Packard to pay an extra $5bn when it acquired the firm in 2011. A judge following his arrival in San Francisco has ordered Lynch to pay a $100m bail bond while he awaits trial.

https://www.ft.com/content/4c933c58-b129-4b80-80e7-b198a9d9d5b5
Silver Lake’s playbook attracts scrutiny in Europe

Financial Times

23-05-12 04:25


Silver Lake's bid to acquire German tech firm Software AG has been criticised by UK asset manager Schroders, which called the €2.6bn ($3bn) offer “materially undervalued.” Schroders also called on Software AG to examine Bain Capital's higher offer, and raised questions over the "appropriateness" of fiduciary procedures. The company's sale process has been long in the making, with Silver Lake having made a €344.3mn investment in 2021 when its share price was languishing. Silver Lake has also been making headlines with its delisting of Babylon Health from the London Stock Exchange after the firm's financial difficulties.

https://www.ft.com/content/f12213f7-f5d1-439a-89bd-6c713934d94a
Germany’s new chip factories: a bet on the future or waste of money?

Financial Times

23-05-12 04:22


The European Union, in particular Germany, has been pumping billions of euros in subsidies for the tech sector to lure them to the region. The semiconductor industry has attracted substantial investments, including from giants Intel, Infineon, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC). European and German officials argue that greater autonomy is needed to ensure supply chains are resilient, especially in the eventuality of China invading Taiwan, where more than 90 per cent of the most advanced chips are sourced. However, critics argue that the level of state support is becoming excessive, and its resources could be better allocated elsewhere. Some economists have questioned the rationale behind pouring billions into creating new fabs when key materials are concentrated in foreign markets, and instead suggest improving the local business environment to cultivate innovation. Despite these criticisms, industry groups have generally praised the new state aid policy initiated by the EU, crediting it with an influx of chip investments.

https://www.ft.com/content/512fda84-4317-4cca-951c-b80b58f4b530
Schroders hits out at Silver Lake’s €2.6bn German tech deal

Financial Times

23-05-12 04:20


Schroders, the largest outside shareholder in Software AG, has said that a planned €2.6bn takeover offer by Silver Lake “materially undervalues the company” and criticised the tech company's handling of the sales process due to its refusal to engage with other potential bidders. Schroders, which owns 8% of Germany’s second-biggest provider of corporate software after SAP, also raised concerns about conflict of interest issues related to Software AG's handling of the sales process. The German group has both a €32 and €36 per share bid from Silver Lake and Bain Capital respectively for Software AG.

https://www.ft.com/content/aed4b39d-3d30-4383-b015-22e86881d2ba
UK policing minister pushes for greater use of facial recognition

Financial Times

23-05-15 23:19


The UK's policing minister, Chris Philp, has called for the national rollout of facial recognition technology across police forces, according to an academic report submitted to parliament on Tuesday. The systems have faced concerns over their legality and accuracy, and the European Union is soon to ban facial recognition in public spaces due to privacy and rights concerns. The report found Philp "expressed his desire to embed facial recognition technology in policing and is considering what more the government can do to support the police on this".

https://www.ft.com/content/b8477e16-349d-442d-8e69-59b328ba9189
There’s no such thing as a digital native

Financial Times

23-05-16 04:24


The term “digital native” has lost its relevance, according to Stephen Bush in the Financial Times. Bush, who was once a digital native, argues that as the idea of digital nativeness has shifted, as have brand new sets of skills and knowledge, making the definition less useful. What it means to be a digital native has changed drastically because the definition of “digital” has changed too, Bush claimed. Children starting school for the first time now will have only a partial memory of the world before the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), which will change the way machines interact with people.

As technology moves forward, software evolves alongside hardware, making it both easier and harder to use. While children from younger generations may be familiar with smartphones and tablets, they lack the understanding needed to grapple with deeply entrenched policy issues like regulatory structures required for tackling cybersecurity, according to Bush. Digital natives may be more familiar with the world of ecommerce, but in terms of wider political implications, the title is now less useful.

As new technologies continue to emerge, the idea of “digital native” will continue to be eroded and the divisions between those who understand these technologies and those who do not will become less clean-cut, Bush argued. The idea that a new generation of digital native children will be able to regulate the tech industries and resolve tricky policy issues is wishful thinking, he explained.


https://www.ft.com/content/9851a259-f438-4cd2-8cb5-1997298c1b86

The race to bring generative AI to mobile devices

Financial Times

23-05-16 04:22


Advancements in generative artificial intelligence (AI) could transform mobile communications and computing at a faster pace than expected, according to the Financial Times. Tech firms have been attempting to embed generative AI into their software and services but faced higher computing costs, and increased internet search users come to expect AI-generated content in standard search results. By running generative AI on mobile handsets, costs could be lowered and services such as chatbots could be far cheaper for companies to run. Smaller, open-source models have made the technology more available to businesses wanting to use generative AI in their own services.

https://www.ft.com/content/6579591d-4469-4b28-81a2-64d1196b44ab
Tech start-ups: valuations are even lower than data suggests

Financial Times

23-05-16 02:19


Median valuations of late-stage start-ups fell 17% YoY in Q1 2022, according to PitchBook data, signalling a loss of investor appetite for risk since 2021, barring investments in buzzy sectors like artificial intelligence. Down rounds made up 20% of the total in Q1, compared to just 5% the previous year. Over 90% of VC-backed start-ups are not profitable and are burning through cash, living on money raised when valuations were high. As cash runways grow shorter, the rest of 2023 will come with three choices: cut costs, try to raise debt or accept record valuations are over.

https://www.ft.com/content/bd147bf8-9e82-459b-a47d-fdb731e2777b
OpenAI chief set to call for greater regulation of artificial intelligence

Financial Times

23-05-16 11:19


Sam Altman, chief executive of OpenAI, will tell a Senate subcommittee in the US that legislation on artificial intelligence (AI) is important but regulation should allow companies flexibility to take advantage of developments in the technology. Altman, whose company created the AI chatbot, ChatGPT, will testify before Congress for the first time. The testimony is being given as governments and regulators globally are scrutinising AI as its use becomes more commonplace. Last week, the EU introduced a stringent and comprehensive set of rules on the use of AI, including restrictions on chatbots such as ChatGPT. Altman's testimony will recommend a set of safety requirements for companies, along with licensing or registration conditions for AI models.

https://www.ft.com/content/aa3598f7-1470-45e4-a296-bd26953c176f
Ex-Apple engineer accused of stealing trade secrets and fleeing to China

Financial Times

23-05-16 19:19


Former Apple engineer Weibao Wang has been charged with stealing information on self-driving car technology. The US Department of Justice alleges he took thousands of files while working on the project, in addition to working for a US subsidiary of a Chinese vehicle-maker that was developing autonomous driving vehicles. Officers found large quantities of documents taken from Apple when they searched his California home in 2018. If found guilty, Wang faces up to 10 years in prison for each of six counts filed against him. The charges are the result of a new task force focused preventing foreign governments from stealing US technology.

https://www.ft.com/content/6bbbba28-bc9a-43e9-bbc1-9246291ec753
Tesla will ‘try a little advertising’, Elon Musk says

Financial Times

23-05-17 01:19


Tesla will launch advertising for its electric vehicles for the first time, said CEO Elon Musk at the company’s investor day. Tesla has previously relied on word of mouth and incentivised referrals for marketing. Musk said that the Tesla ads would be aesthetically pleasing and informative. In a follow-up interview with CNBC’s David Faber, Musk also stated that Tesla’s “full self-driving” technology will allow for vehicle leasing within a robotaxi fleet in 2021. The Tesla founder also argued that remote working was “morally wrong” and that China needed to be taken at its word that it views Taiwan as integral to the country. He suggested that if China took Taiwan, it would harm all international businesses and companies that rely on the nation for manufacturing. Musk also noted that Twitter, which he acquired last year, had recently experienced a $40m loss due to ads being checked for accuracy and subsequently labelled “misleading”.

https://www.ft.com/content/259a825f-bca3-4e8c-bd22-5b9cfeadf0a2
South Korea gets tough on tech leaks to China

Financial Times

23-05-17 00:19


Chinese companies are targeting South Korean talent as Beijing seeks to build up its technical abilities in key areas such as electric cars, semiconductors and exports including shipbuilding. The moves have reportedly intensified since Washington began restricting Chinese access to American technology and expertise. Strategies by Chinese firms have included both legal and illegal means of attracting skilled professionals including “tech leakage” and patent violations. Korea is creating a database of chip engineers at the country’s companies to monitor their travel in and out of the country, and has passed legislation to toughen punishments for leaks.

https://www.ft.com/content/9e72a96f-5d92-460f-a154-0715c343e7c9
VW talks to Huawei about licensing software for cars in China

Financial Times

23-05-17 04:33


Volkswagen is reportedly discussing using Huawei's software in its electric cars in China as it seeks to gain a greater share of the country's EV market. The German carmaker's own software division Cariad has faced problems that have delayed the launch of new models and necessitated the removal of many of its top executives. VW sells more cars than any other automotive company in China, but it ranks ninth for EV sales. It recently announced plans to win back ground by developing "In China, for China" products and upgrading its existing platform, offering advanced entertainment and driving assistance features.

https://www.ft.com/content/aec66be2-34c7-4e07-abbb-d9dbb510b732
Tencent’s revenues accelerate as China emerges from Covid lockdowns

Financial Times

23-05-17 13:19


Chinese multinational conglomerate Tencent's advertising revenues rose 17% in Q1, compared to the same period last year. The firm also revealed that its fintech segment saw a 14% rise in revenue driven, in part, by WeChat Pay and gaming sales. Shoppers and diners using the digital wallet contributed one third of the group's total revenues, while virtual armour and other game sales also contributed a third. However, the company was impacted by a new rule limiting the amount of time minors can play games, which led to a 96% drop in game time compared to Q1 2020.

https://www.ft.com/content/d6967d65-e13a-4861-a139-1f0de946b473
The Lex Newsletter: Mikitani should admit Rakuten Mobile has flopped

Financial Times

23-05-17 12:21


Japanese e-commerce group Rakuten has outlined plans to raise up to $2.5bn by issuing new shares. About 500 million new shares will be issued, resulting in a 30% dilution of existing shareholders' equity if they choose not to buy more shares in the business. Rakuten will use the funds to support its ailing mobile telecoms unit, which reported a JPY102.6bn ($940m) loss in Q1 2022, offsetting profits in its lucrative fintech and e-commerce divisions. The fundraising move followed a 17% share price fall on Monday, when rumours of the share issue began to circulate.

https://www.ft.com/content/7bfdfe01-680f-4667-830c-d6f1d57bcbcf
TikTok faces first US state ban in Montana

Financial Times

23-05-18 00:23


The US state of Montana has become the first to ban downloads of social media app TikTok amid concerns over national security. The law, banning the app from operating in the state and prohibiting app stores from allowing downloads, takes effect in January and calls for fines of $10,000 per day for those who do not comply. The ban has been opposed by free speech advocates and is expected to face legal challenges. Earlier this year, the US had called for a ban or divestiture of TikTok because of fears it could harvest data on its 150 million US users for Chinese espionage purposes.

https://www.ft.com/content/743bbea7-2668-47c6-b08a-9c0b6656caa4
Rishi Sunak to unveil semiconductor partnership with Japan

Financial Times

23-05-17 22:19


The UK is set to announce a ‘semiconductor partnership’ with Japan during a visit by Rishi Sunak to Tokyo today. This partnership is hoped to reduce geopolitical risk by diversifying the UK chip supply chain. This follows the UK releasing a new semiconductor strategy on Friday which outlines the dangers of relying too heavily on a handful of supplier countries. This partnership with Japan aims to include ambitious research and development and skill exchanges, supply chain harmony and the strengthening of each country’s domestic semiconductor sector.

https://www.ft.com/content/28ee0dc6-aad9-4509-8c7f-25e5fba1711b
AI pioneer Yoshua Bengio says governments must move fast to ‘protect the public’

Financial Times

23-05-18 04:24


AI pioneer Yoshua Bengio, a 2018 Turing Award recipient and founder of Mila, the Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute, has said governments must quickly intervene and “protect the public” as powerful AI machines such as OpenAI’s GPT grow increasingly common and accessible. Bengio noted that indiscriminate access to large language models without sufficient scrutiny could pose a threat to political systems, democracy and truth itself. Google and Microsoft-backed OpenAI have both launched revolutionary, generative AI products in recent months, prompting a global debate about the ethics and future of the technology.

https://www.ft.com/content/b4baa678-b389-4acf-9438-24ccbcd4f201