Mobile World Congress has officially begun, and TechRadar Pro is on the ground in Barcelona to bring you all the news, updates, and announcements from day three.
After two days packed with news and announcements, we’re here ready and waiting for even more keynotes, partnerships and unveilings.
We will be hearing from some of the leading voices in the B2B tech space, so stay tuned for all of the live updates as they happen and detailed write ups with insights from some of the biggest names in tech.
We’re here at La Fira, and while the traffic was expectedly awful, getting in was a breeze!
We’ll be bringing you live updates on all the news direct from Barcelona, so stay tuned…
MWC is one of the biggest tech shows on the planet, so there’s plenty of news and announcements which may fly under the radar, especially in the B2B world.
Not to worry – as our team on the ground, and back at TechRadar Pro headquarters, are keeping tabs on everything being revealed…
Nokia reveals major AI-RAN development milestones
A major player at every MWC, Nokia kicked its news off nice and early, revealing a host of partnerships aimed at boosting AI-RAN development. The networking giant is teaming up with the likes of Nvidia, Softbank and T-Mobile to work on creating and rolling out AI-powered networks and the infrastructure that powers them, offering scalable and powerful capabilities for AI processing and other services.
“To fully harness the transformative power of AI-RAN, Nokia is working hand-in-hand with an ecosystem of leading industry partners,” noted Tommi Uitto, President of Mobile Networks at Nokia.
“We enable the evolution of 5G networks toward a multi-purpose cloud platform that unlocks new revenue models and infrastructure synergies for AI and RAN while already today enhancing RAN performance and efficiency with AI-powered products and services.”
PwC research claims global telecoms industry set to grow, despite challenges
New research from PwC revealed around MWC 2025 has sounded an optimistic tone for the future of the global telecoms market. The firm’s annual Global Telecoms Outlook report projects big rise over the next few years, driven by continuing strong 5G needs, as revenues rose 4.3% in 2023 to hit US$1.1 trillion. It claims 5G subscriptions are projected to quadruple by 2028, with the cellular internet-of-things (IoT) services market seeing a particular boost from the automotive sector, hitting $34.1 billion by 2028.
“The telecoms industry must re-imagine how it creates, delivers and captures value in the face of rising costs and competition,” said Dr. Florian GröneGlobal Telecoms Leader, PwC US. “The industry faces enormous potential, particularly as consumers and societal actors increasingly operate across digital platforms and AI drives significant investments in digital connectivity infrastructure, but the industry remains sensitive to macroeconomic forces and is highly cost-intensive, with almost all the cash it generates absorbed by CapEx, dividends and servicing debt. As new and emerging technologies transform sectors, the telecoms industry must harness the power of AI, while working with investors and regulators to optimise market structure and deploy deals to build scale.”
Microsoft announces telecoms-focused data model in Microsoft Fabric
Microsoft isn’t always a big player at MWC, but the company has announced a telecoms-specific software release for this year’s show.
Its new telco industry data model in Microsoft Fabric is “designed to unify all data” for networks and telcos, covering everything from network performance metrics to customer interactions, all within a single analytics environment.
Customers will be able to use the new model to manage and streamline how all their data is ingested, modeled, and analysed, with telco-specific features and tools to optimize their work and processes.
“The telecommunications industry is experiencing significant AI advancements, emerging as the leading adopter of generative and agentic AI to drive automation, personalization, and data-driven decisions,” said Silvia Candiani, Vice President WW Telecommunications, Media and Gaming, Microsoft.
“Our ecosystem of customers and partners are harnessing the power of AI to reimagine customer experiences, modernize networks, automate business operations, and drive growth.”
Vodafone and IBM team up on quantum-safe cryptography for phones
Vodafone and IBM have showed off a prototype for better protecting mobile users against future threats, particularly those related to quantum computing
The two firms have developed a new proof of concept using the IBM Quantum Safe technology to enhance Vodafone Secure Net, the company’s all-in-one mobile digital security service, to protect against anticipated quantum security risks. IBM Quantum Safe is being used by Vodafone to implement new post-quantum cryptography standards as it looks to introduce new, attack-resistant cryptographic algorithms across its networks.
“We want our customers to enjoy the internet without worry, now and in the future,” noted Luke Ibbetson, Head of Research & Development, Vodafone. “On the one hand quantum computing could have many societal benefits such as modelling new medicines and optimising advanced digital networks. But on the other hand, it could be used to undermine the cryptographic principles that the Internet relies on today. That is why Vodafone and IBM are working together with other partners to get ahead of the curve.”
Capgemini claims these are the top priorities for B2B telecom clients
New research from Capgemini has revealed what exactly B2B telecom firms are looking for when it comes to their service provider.
Its survey of a thousand senior executives found a simplified buying process (74%) was the most desired aspect, followed by customization over cost (63%) and creating and orchestrating an ecosystem (70%). Other top priorities were better CX, with 43% saying they would pay more for better service, and a desire for better dedicated customer support, including AI-powered self-service options.
“In today’s hyperconnected world, telcos are the backbone of the digital economy. Businesses expect telecom providers to move beyond connectivity services, and offer tailored, end-to-end and flexible solutions that power digitalization, operational efficiency, and sustainable growth,” said Praveen Shankar, Global Telecom Leader at Capgemini. “By forging strong partnerships with customers and industry peers, orchestrating an innovation ecosystem and prioritizing seamless customer experience, telecom organizations can enhance trust, simplify offerings, and differentiate themselves in a fast-moving landscape.”
AWS has unveiled AWS Outpost racks designed for on-prem low latency, high throughput workloads, including Cloud Radio Access Network (RAN).
AWS Outpost features the new Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (Amazon EC2) 4th Generation Intel Xeon Scalable-based (Sapphire Rapids) bare metal instances, built on the AWS Nitro System with support for pre-validated Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service (Amazon EKS) add-ons.
“For modern cloud-native 5G Core networks, our customers demand a cloud architecture that meets high throughput processing requirements while ensuring simplified operations, enhanced security, and full automation,” said Raghav Sahgal, President of Cloud and Network Services at Nokia. “This drove our collaboration with AWS, leveraging the breadth of AWS services and Nokia’s industry leading telco expertise and commitment to automation to build the right solution. The new AWS Outposts racks enable porting and deploying Nokia’s 5G Core workloads on AWS services in customers’ data centers.”
GSMA announces new strategic partnerships
The GSMA, the organization behind MWC, has revealed its own new partnerships in the automotive and aviation industries. Headed by GSMA Fusion and working on behalf of the mobile industry, the collaborations will help providers to better understand and support the connectivity needs of the sectors.
Partners will include the 5G Automotive Association (5GAA), Japan Automotive Software Platform and Architecture (JASPAR), Outsight, Safran Passenger Innovations, and Seamless Air Alliance.
“The partnerships we’re announcing today, through GSMA Fusion, provide strong direction from these industries to ours, helping the mobile ecosystem truly meet the needs of the automotive and aviation sectors and harness the power of mobile connectivity to create innovative solutions that enhance safety, efficiency, and customer experience,” said Mats Granrys, Director General at GSMA.
Red Hat announces four new telecom partnerships
A number of major new telecommunications collaborations have been announced at MWC 2025 by Red Hat, including Orange, SoftBank, KDDI, and Rakuten Mobile.
Red Hat is the world’s leading provider of open source solutions, and will work with SoftBank to further optimise network performance with AI-driven energy efficiency and sustainability solutions.
The partnerships with Rakuten Mobile and KDDI will look at enhancing RAN operations, both with Red Hat OpenShift and with Red Hat Enterprise Linux – accelerating software deployment and minimizing downtime.
Finally, Orange has chosen Red Hat platforms for cloud-native infrastructure. Red Hat will work with Orange to expedite telco cloud transformation and network softwarization in a move providing large scale flexibility and innovation.
Amdocs research claims CSPs are losing $24B to inefficiency
New research from Amdocs has claimed communication service providers (CSPs) are missing out on $24 billion per year thanks to problems and inefficiencies in company processes – equating to 7% of global telco revenues.
According to the research, digital marketplaces have an over 50% abandon rate, suggesting big gaps in “converting leads into revenue”. As many as one in five requests for proposals (RFPs) aren’t answered in time thanks to inefficiencies within the firms.
This means that money is left on the table during renewals, and leaves significantly less time for teams to upsell opportunities.
Keysight and Ericsson announce 6G tie-up
A collaboration between Ericsson and Keysight Technologies has been established to develop a pre-6G test setup, using an Ericsson base station and Keysight’s test user equipment (UE) operating in the centimetre Wave (cmWave) frequency band.
The companies say cmWave frequency is a “strong candidate” for future 6G networks, and has promising potential for low latency, high data rates, and improved coverage.
“Evaluating the performance potential of new spectrum and exploring new and evolved technology concepts pre-6G standardisation is a top priority for Ericsson. Our collaboration with Keysight enables us to take valuable steps forward on the journey towards realising 6G by 2030,” said Freddie Södergren, Head of Technology & Strategy, Business Area Networks, at Ericsson.
ServiceNow introduces AI agents
ServiceNow has launched an AI platform for business transformation, including AI agents for use in the telecom industry. The agents will help drive productivity, and were built with Nvidia AI Enterprise software.
“The launch of new AI agents developed specifically for the telecom industry demonstrates our continued commitment to building solutions that help solve the biggest challenges facing business leaders,” said Rohit Batra, GM and VP for manufacturing, telecommunications, media, and technology at ServiceNow.
“ServiceNow has been at the forefront of AI innovation for years, and this collaboration with NVIDIA marks the next step in delivering agentic AI‑powered automation that transforms how CSPs operate and serve their customers.”
To round off day one of MWC 2025, here’s a trip down memory lane from Managing Editor Desire Athow…
“MWC began life as a small conference in Brussels back in 1987 at the very beginning of the mobile phone revolution before moving to Cannes and then to Barcelona where it has been an annual event (bar the Covid years) since 2006.
“My first trip was in 2011 where I was fortunate enough to see the launch of the likes of the second Samsung Galaxy smartphone (the S2), the Sony Xperia Play, the LG Optimus 2X, the HTC One X and so many others that were trailblazers at the beginning of the last decade. Android was very much in its infancy back then and the mobile ecosystem was a different place to be. Back then, hardware was the king and mobile network operators were the king makers. Fast forward to 2025, and it is a very, very different universe.”
Well, that’s a wrap from day one at MWC 2025 – and what a day its been!
Here’s a little recap on all the news so far today:
- Nokia announced a swathe of new partnerships for AI-RAN development, teaming up with the likes of Nvidia, Softbank and T-Mobile.
- PwC research has indicated that the telecoms industry is likely to bloom after recent years of growth and increasing demand for 5G services.
- Microsoft released a Microsoft Fabric telecoms-focused data model to unify data sources and steamline telco workloads.
- Vodafone and IBM have joined forces to enhance mobile phone quantum-safe cryptography, using IBM Quantum Safe technology to boost the resilience of Vodafone Secure Net
- Capgemini research outlined the priorities of B2B telecoms – simplified buying process, customization over cost, and and creating and orchestrating an ecosystem.
- AWS unveiled its AWS Outpost racks offering a solution for low latency, high throughput workloads – with a dedicated rack for Cloud RAN.
- GSMA has announced new partnerships with 5G Automotive Association (5GAA), Japan Automotive Software Platform and Architecture (JASPAR), Outsight, Safran Passenger Innovations, and Seamless Air Alliance.
- RedHat has partnered with Orange, SoftBank, KDDI, and Rakuten Mobile to enhance efficiency and sustainability, boost RAN operations, and enhance cloud-native infrastructure.
- Amdocs research indicates that inefficiency in company processes are costing communication service providers $24 billion per year.
- Ericsson and Keysight Technologies are collaborating on “realising 6G by 2030” by establishing “pre-6G standardisation.”
- ServiceNow has introduced telecom AI agents to its new business transformation AI platform, built with Nvidia AI Enterprise software.
Don’t forget to stay tuned for day two, as we will once again be on the ground hearing all the latest news and updates from MWC 2025!
Good morning, and welcome to MWC day two!
While the traffic en-route hasn’t improved, the weather certainly has as La Fira has been blessed with sunlight and blue skies. Once again, TechRadar Pro is on the ground at MWC for all the latest news and updates, with TechRadar headquarters keeping an eye out for any news that might fly under the radar. Stay tuned!
Meta and Internet Society announce new co-funding initiative to fund internet access around the world
Charity organization the Internet Society has announced it has teamed up with Meta to found the Connectivity Co-Funding Initiative.
So far, the society’s partnership with Meta has resulted in 56 IXPs in 45 countries providing millions of people with internet access, and the project aims to expand affordable connections to the 2.6 billion people who lack access to the Internet around the world, and will be backed by $30 million in new funding over the next first years.
“This new Connectivity Co-Funding Initiative, supported by Meta, is a prime example of collective action that will help provide meaningful access to more than 2 billion people across the world with insufficient or no Internet,” noted Sally Wentworth, President and CEO, Internet Society. “It is our hope that this fund plays a pivotal role in reducing this gap and creating a more equitable digital society.”
Broadcom reveals VeloSky tool to encourage network convergence
Broadcom has launched a new networking service which it hopes will make network convergence easier for CSPs everywhere.
The new VeloSky offering will allow CSPs to offer integrated fiber, cellular, and satellite connectivity through a single appliance. Asides from the expanded potential offerings, Broadcom also says VeloSky will help tackle high installation and operation costs, which typically have prevented CSPs from getting the most from their 5G networks in the past.
“VeloSky represents a dramatic leap forward in network convergence,” said Sanjay Uppal, vice president and general manager, VeloCloud Division, Broadcom. “By unifying diverse network underlays into a single, AI-optimized platform, service providers can deliver premium, differentiated services to enterprise customers while simplifying operations and accelerating time-to-revenue.”
Yesterday, I got to check out some of the next big developments coming to the B2B space from Amazon Web Services as the company showed off its work in the AI and 5G areas.
From AI models to network analysis to IoT, the company showed off a range of demos highlighting future use cases – you can read all about what I saw here…
NTT and Nokia team up to help build the hardware needed for 6G
NTT, DOCOMO and Nokia have revealed a new look at their hardware for 6G networks
The NTT Inclusive Core Architecture for 6G communications demo was used for AI-powered analysis of low-latency video data transfer, offering a significant boost over conventional networking infrastructure.
This includes minimized delay and fluctuation in data exchange between a terminal and its server, whilst also improving AI analysis accuracy.
The firms are also looking to push forward collaboration on making standardization of the 6G architecture at 3GPP, helping with development of new network technology across the industry.
Telecom giants team up to launch new Open Telecom AI Platform
Some of the biggest telecoms firms in the industry have come together to announce plans to build a new “Open Telecom AI Platform”.
AMD, Cisco, and Nokia, along with Jio Platforms, are the founder members of the new platform, which aims to create a new “central intelligence layer” for telecom and digital services. This will utilize AI and automation “into every layer” of network operations, providing more intelligence and efficiency all round, including Agentic AI, general and domain specific LLMs and SLMs, and other non-GenAI ML techniques.
“By harnessing agentic AI across all telco layers, we are building a multimodal, multidomain orchestrated workflow platform that redefines efficiency, intelligence, and security for the telecom industry,” said Mathew Oommen, Group CEO, Reliance Jio. “In collaboration with AMD, Cisco, and Nokia, Jio is advancing the Open Telecom AI Platform to transform networks into self-optimizing, customer-aware ecosystems. This initiative goes beyond automation—it’s about enabling AI-driven, autonomous networks that adapt in real time, enhance user experiences, and create new service and revenue opportunities across the digital ecosystem.”
The rise of super apps, a sense of Deja vu?
Tencent Cloud has an intriguing proposal for partners: a “Super App as a service” one which, it says, can ‘transform your app into a super app with unlimited mini apps and games’. That sounds like a straightforward white label offer which, Tencent says, will unlock revenue streams and boost engagements.
Two big mobile network operators, Orange MEA and Indonesia’s Telkomsel, have already integrated the platform. The whitelabel-isation of apps reminds me of the golden era of websites at the beginning of the millennium when the likes of Bravenet were offering features (chatrooms, guestbook, forum, galleries) for free in exchange for display ads. Tencent is licensing its platform but the real value may well be elsewhere.
Cisco expands Agile Service Networking, adds extra ThousandEyes visibility
Cisco has been busy at MWC 2025, unveiling an expansion to its Agile Service Networking offering as it looks to help service providers build and run their networks.
The expansion looks to offer extra visibility into both on-network and off-network connectivity in real time, covering both home and mobile connected users. This includes ThousandEyes Connected Devices, which offers insight into last-mile network performance, and Provider Connectivity Assurance, enhancing network performance for mobile service providers, including real-time traffic insights and predictive demand intelligence.
“The pace of innovation in AI is astounding. Technical breakthroughs are just beginning to translate into new experiences for consumers and applications for businesses that will reshape how the world works and connects,” said Jeetu Patel, Executive Vice President and Chief Product Officer, Cisco. “This shift presents massive opportunities for service providers to grow their businesses and reduce costs by modernizing their infrastructure for AI. Cisco is perfectly positioned to help service providers monetize these new revenue streams, and our Agile Services Networking delivers the silicon, systems, and software innovation they need to thrive.”
Harman debuts Ready Aware driving insights
Harman has revealed its cutting edge ‘sight beyond sight’ vehicle-to-cloud software service, Ready Aware.
The unique ‘confidence engine’ will provide real-time in-vehicle contextual alerts, helping drivers make safer decisions and updating on a variety of road hazards. The alerts will require no additional hardware, and hopes to provide drivers with precise, relevant, and timely information to help make informed decisions.
“Ready Aware is an innovative and highly scalable solution that is helping OEMs transform their in-vehicle experiences by bringing contextual awareness into the cabin with an accelerated time to market,” says Suman Sehra, Global Vice President, Connectivity Portfolio Management, HARMAN International. “HARMAN is harnessing the power of connectivity and data analytics to make mobility safer, more intelligent and contextually aware to support drivers and occupants.”
Telefónica opens Centre of Excellence for quantum technologies
Telefónica has announced a new initiative to boost awareness and opportunities emerging in the security world, as well as meeting the challenges posed by quantum computing.
The company’s Centre of Excellence will coordinate the innovation lines from different areas of the company, as well as promoting new solutions, activating technological agreements with third parties, and participating in forums ‘to share the group’s quantum proposal with the industry’.
“In this future that begins today, we will continue maturing open architectures in all segments of the network, shutting down the legacy, integrating the cloud, actively using artificial intelligence and data, and hyper-automating our infrastructures and processes until we reach the autonomous network,” said Andrea Folgueiras, who will be Telefónica’s new Global Chief Technology and Information Officer, starting April 2025.
HPE launches industry-first precision switch
HPE is introducing new connectivity infrastructure and solutions to help meet the drawing needs of enterprise customers for a number of industries.
The HPE Aruba Networking CX 8325P switch features the industry’s first “solution to embed precision timing into the network fabric for AI workloads and private 5G experiences”. This comes alongside a collaboration with T-Mobile to deliver network excellence for small businesses.
“With service providers facing unprecedented network and service demands, HPE is leading the way in redefining the network’s role in delivering business value with the next wave of innovation for the telco industry,” says Phil Mottram, EVP and general manager, HPE Aruba Networking.
Here is a little look at some of the stuff I’ve seen on the ground at MWC:
Etisalat and showcased this humanoid robot, which told me “I am not human, I am a robot. I just imitate them,” before pulling this face. I feel I can relate…
Intel are showing off the power of their new Xeon 6 processors, with this demo unit housing a Xeon 6 8670E offering a 3.2x boost in performance when compared with Intel’s 3rd Gen Xeon 6330N.
This boost in performance means that where a customer once had three racks – now they may only need one – improving efficiency and lowering costs while also offering greater scalability.
No, Lenovo aren’t rebooting Robot Wars, but they are creating and analyzing digital twins of race tracks using this bot that can map up to 2.7 million points per second in LiDAR.
By running simulations using track data collected by this robot, Ducati can apparently cut two to three seconds off their time per race.
And now for something completely different…
T-Mobile are using a Primoco One 150 as a flying base station capable of downloading 200 megabits per second, and uploading 75 Megabits per second. The unit can connect to terrestrial or satellite sources, and supply up to 1200 users with connectivity at once.
The system is ideal for providing temporary connectivity in remote regions, and was recently used at the Jizerská 50 ski race to provide coverage to areas that were previously connectivity deadspots.
Ericsson completes interoperability device test for railway use
Qualcomm has partnered with Ericsson to conduct an interoperability device test on a frequency band dedicated to 5G railway communications in Europe.
The move is part of an ongoing effort to advance the Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS). This pioneering device test is a ‘crucial step’ in the development of FRMCS device radio modules and the planning of FRMCS trials – marking a huge leap forward in the journey towards FRMCS using 5G in the EU.
“This milestone not only highlights our unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of mission-critical communication technologies but also sets the stage for the MORANE2 trials,” said Magnus Packendorff, Head of Mission Critical Networks at Ericsson. “We look forward to demonstrating how these advancements will revolutionize the railway industry and pave the way for a new era of connectivity.”
Samsung showcases CognitiV NOS Copilot
A joint demonstration between Samsung and Amazon Web Services (AWS) has showed off how AI can be successfully applied to Radio Access Networks (RAN) to drive meaningful impact.
Samsung CognitiV Network Operations Suite (NOS) Copilot, an “evolved AI assistant” is using an Amazon Bedrock – which AWS says offers “the easiest way to build and scale generative AI applications”.
This hopes to outline how AI can optimize and simplify the “management of large-scale and complex radio access networks (RAN)”. The CognitiV NOS provides AI-powered network automation tools, like lifecycle management of its network from planning, deployment and operation, to optimization.
That’s a wrap on day two of MWC 2025, but don’t worry – I’ll still be bringing you live coverage from La Fira tomorrow morning for all the news and updates as they happen.
For now however, here is a quick summary of all of the announcements from day two:
- Meta and Internet Society have teamed up to help expand affordable internet connections as part of their commitment to founding the Connectivity Co-Funding Initiative.
- Broadcom is helping to boost network convergence for cloud service providers at the fiber, cellular, and satellite level through its newly unveiled tool, VeloSky.
- NTT, DOCOMO and Nokia gave a peek at their hardware for 6G networks, with future plans for the standardization of 6G architecture.
- Several of the biggest telecommunications companies have teamed up to found the Open Telecom AI Platform, with AMD, Cisco, and Nokia, and Jio Platforms acting as founding members.
- Tencent proposed a “Super App as a service,” offering ‘unlimited mini apps and games’ to help platforms unlock revenue streams and boost engagements.
- Cisco has made some new additions to Agile Service Networking, including additional network connectivity metrics and the inclusion of ThousandEyes Connected Devices.
- Harman has been showing off its Ready Aware software that helps drivers stay alert and make informed decisions on road hazards while driving.
- The Centre of Excellence was launched by Telefónica, offering insights into cutting edge security challenges and the threats posed by quantum computing.
- HPE has introduced an industry-first precision switch that offers a “solution to embed precision timing into the network fabric for AI workloads and private 5G experiences.”
- Qualcomm and Ericsson achieved a milestone interoperability device test on a frequency band to be used in 5G railway communications.
- Samsung and AWS have demonstrated how RAN can utilize AI to plan, deploy, operate and optimize networks using Amazon Bedrock.
Be sure to tune in as we continue to bring you all the news and updates from day three of MWC 2025!
I’m listening in to this morning’s keynote on Disinformation, Trust & Security. I’ll be hearing from several industry and thought leaders listening to their thoughts on how the threat landscape is changing as the world becomes more divisive and polarized.
After a short delay, the keynote is finally underway!
Nina Dos Santos, Former CNN Anchor and Host of the Ctrl Alt Deceit Podcast, introduced todays keynote and has welcomed Ross Frenett, CEO and Founder of Moonshot, up for the first presentation.
“Five years ago, there was no 5G and no COVID. Today…” he says, noting how easy it is for conspiracies to emerge from correlation.
He asks if anyone in the crowd has visited Finland, and a brave audience member says yes. “Liar!” he responds, stating that “Finland does not exist,” referencing a bizarre conspiracy theory that has gained popularity over the years.
Frenett displays a number of threatening messages on the screen behind him, which he says were directed towards him and his team the week before MWC. Among the messages are “run rats, run!” and “We don’t fire traitors, we hang them.”
He moves on to explain how extremists view the world in black and white, using scapegoats to manipulate public opinion. He states that understanding these trends is the key to defeating them.
He notes how Moonshot has been able to repurpose advertising technology to target terrorists planning attacks, and help de-escalate their radicalization, as well as reducing the impact of manipulative disinformation.
“Those who want to tear things down are nearly always the first movers when it comes to technology,” he warns, but adds that there are 10,000 more people ready to build the world back better.
“We can and will make this world a better place for our children.”
Nina Dos Santos is back again, welcoming Frenett and Sachin Duggal, Founder and Chief Wizard of Builder.ai, on to the stage for a fireside chat.
Dos Santos asks the pair about their thoughts on the recent turnout at elections in Germany. Duggal explains how social media has given everyone “the power of the pen” and if you have enough money you can make any opinion a trending belief.
He also talks on how there are multiple versions of the truth, noting that a British child’s education on the American Revolutionary War will be very different to an American child’s, but social media means that opinions that have a larger volume of voices behind them are often recognized as ‘true’, even if they are false.
“We need to make sure our populations are inoculated against disinformation, rather than trying to out run it,” Frennet says as he voices his viewpoint, adding that it isn’t something that can be done in a single dose and, much like yearly flu shots, need to be administered regularly to keep a population inoculated against disinformation.
Dos Santos turns again to Duggal, questioning that as someone who’s company creates software that can be used to make AI voices, what ethical responsibility does he have to protect against the misuse of AI technology.
Duggal responds saying that you can make as many rules as you like for language models, but they will never have value system like a human does, and people will always find ways to bend the rules.
Frenett says there are opportunities for AI, and that he is optimistic about the technology. If someone is going to ask ChatGPT for a manual on making an explosive device, AI shouldn’t just say no, but also recognize that an individual is in need of help.
That ends the fireside chat.
Lara Dewar, CMO, GSMA is now on stage, and praises benefits of connectivity at MWC and in the wider world, adding “I’d be lost without my phone.”
She introduces a video from Dutch KPN on the harrowing impact online shaming is having on younger people, and how the company collaborated with Dutch pop star MEAU in the ‘Piece of Me’ campaign, and how it has had real legislative change to make online shaming a part of the sexual criminal act in the Netherlands.
Marieke Snoep, Chief Consumer Market & Member of the Board of Management of KPN Royal Dutch Telecom, and Boris Nihom, CEO Benelux at Dentsu are welcomed on to the stage to discuss the making of the campaign.
Snoep notes that in the modern world, younger people feel safer on the streets than they do online and KPN wanted to help make a better internet.
Nihom adds that during the making of the campaign, the team realized that music could be the great connector to get the message through to young people on social media, stating that “it became more than just a piece of music,” especially in its impact on legislation.
Dewar now turns back to Snoep, asking about what’s next in trying to make the internet safer.
Snoep notes that “there are so many people who want to help. There are parents who want to keep kids safe, there are teachers who want to help keep kids safe.” She also says that there are many organizations coming forward to collaborate on making the internet a safe place.
The keynote is now being closed out with the full Piece of Me campaign.
That’s all from this keynote, thanks for tuning in! I’ll be back with you for some more updates and news throughout the day.
I’m back again for the mid-day keynote, this time looking at the Future of Work and Economic Growth. This session will explore how AI and skill demands are shaping the modern workforce, how companies are adapting to attract the best talent, and what can be done to leverage the economic opportunities presented by the future of work.