China Announces Plan To Label All AI-generated Content With Watermarks And Metadata

Asia In Brief Chinese authorities last week announced “identification measures” for AI-generated content that will require it to be labelled with human and machine-readable notifications.

The new regulations require images, videos, audio and “virtual scenes” to include metadata that explains they’re the product of AI.

“Prominent notifications” advising humans of AI-created content are another requirement, and in video or audio content must be present at the beginning, middle, and end of each machine-generated work.

AI-generated files made available for download must also be labelled so users know what they’re about to access.

Chinese authorities have posted an FAQ about the labelling regs that makes several mentions of preventing the distribution of false information, and the need to co-ordinate the development of AI industries and national security.

The labelling requirements come into effect on September 1st.

Foxconn aims to dominate AI server market

Taiwanese contract manufacturer Foxconn last week told investors it expects revenue from AI servers will bring in more cash than it makes from building consumer tech – including Apple’s iPhone/

The company posted annual revenue of $NT 6.9 trillion ($208 billion), up 11.3 percent year-over-year, and profit of $NT429 billion ($13 billion).

Company chair Young Liu told investors he expects AI server revenue to accelerate 100 percent quarter-over-quarter throughout FY 2025, and that 40 percent market share “is our most conservative target.”

Japanese outlet Nikkei quoted Liu as saying "The revenue contribution from cloud and networking has risen significantly, from 22 percent in 2023 to 30 percent last year, due to the robust growth of servers. It is expected the contribution will be close to consumer electronics, and very soon it will be the company's biggest business.”

The company also aims to provide assembly services for humanoid robots and is two or three months away from a deal with Japanese auto-makers following the collapse of the proposed Honda/Nissan merger.

Atlassian CEO justifies private jet

Atlassian CEO Mike Cannon-Brookes, who has invested in ambitious renewable energy projects, was last week revealed to have acquired a private jet – and quickly tried to justify it in a LinkedIn post in which he admitted to “a deep internal conflict on this” but decided he needed the plane for security reasons and because private air travel means he can run Atlassian from Australia while remaining “a constantly present dad.”

He added that he’s adopted “an extremely rigorous carbon regime for all my flying … This means my flights actually have a net negative carbon footprint.”

Cannon-Brookes also defended Atlassian’s recent sponsorship of a Formula 1 team by praising the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile – which runs F1 globally – for its plans to achieve net zero.

“F1 can set a global example for sustainability in sports - and I believe it will,” Cannon-Brookes wrote.

• India wants backdoors into clouds, email, SaaS, for tax inspectors
• India's top telco plans cloud PCs for its 475 million subscribers
• As China embraces Big Tech again, Alibaba plans vast spend to push for artificial general intelligence
• Fujitsu worries US tariffs will see its clients slow digital spend

Starlink comes to India 800 million Indians

India’s top two mobile carriers, Jio and Airtel, last week signed deals to resell Starlink’s space broadband services.

Both carriers pitched the deals as enabling them to better serve rural and remote customers.

Airtel has around 380 million customers and Jio has over 450 million, giving Starlink a huge market to tap.

The deals are subject to Starlink securing regulatory approval to operate in India. Neither carrier has discussed price, a crucial factor as India’s mobile plans are among the world’s cheapest.

The Register cannot image Starlink wants to target the mass market in India, however its services could provide backhaul at lower cost that is possible when building connections to remote areas.

China unleashes Mach 2 rocket sled

China’s military last week showed off video of a new rocket sled capable of accelerating an eight-ton weight to supersonic speed within five seconds.

The 6km-long facility was used to test an unspecified aircraft that reached Mach 2.28 on one run.

China’s claimed speed records for the dual-track sled, but didn’t say which record it claimed. The USA Holloman Air Force Base’s rocket sled track holds the world record for a 10,385 km/h run in 2003. ®