$120 Billion Taiwan Trade Surplus, Andrew Swinand on AI ROI

Developments in artificial intelligence continue to shape various sectors, from cybersecurity to international trade and legal practices. Cisco has launched an AI-Powered Security Operations Centre (SOC) showcase at its Toronto Innovation Centre, demonstrating advanced cyber defense strategies and AI-driven tools to help Canadian organizations combat evolving threats. Meanwhile, Taiwan is leveraging its significant trade surplus with the U.S., estimated to reach $120 billion this year, and its AI product advancements as bargaining chips in upcoming trade talks. In the legal field, a recent court decision highlighted the risks of generative AI in legal briefs, where fabricated quotations and non-existent cases were cited. Investors are advised to distinguish between investing 'with AI' and 'in AI' to ensure proper due diligence and impact assessment, focusing on responsible AI development and the use of AI to enhance existing impact theses. The human element behind AI development is also under scrutiny, with reports of worker exploitation in generative AI training, characterized by tight deadlines and sudden rate reductions. Andrew Swinand, CEO of Inspired Thinking Group, critiques the current generative AI investment landscape, suggesting that 90% lacks return on investment and advocating for a focus on operational AI to improve existing business processes and free up human creativity. Aon has introduced an AI tool to manage supply-chain risks, analyzing global data to forecast disruptions and provide early warnings. The broader economic implications of AI are also being considered, with a potential AI bubble burst posing a risk of global recession but also the possibility of fostering more promising AI technologies. The architecture of AI itself is evolving, moving towards decentralized compute networks and agentic systems, emphasizing human-machine collaboration and the creation of an 'Agentic Web.'

Key Takeaways

• Cisco has launched an AI-Powered Security Operations Centre (SOC) showcase in Toronto to demonstrate advanced cyber defense strategies for Canadian organizations.
• Taiwan plans to use its estimated $120 billion trade surplus with the U.S. and its AI product advancements as leverage in trade talks.
• A recent court case revealed significant failures in legal briefs generated by AI, including fabricated quotations and citations to non-existent cases.
• Investors are encouraged to differentiate between investing 'with AI' (using AI to enhance impact theses) and 'in AI' (focusing on responsible AI development).
• Reports indicate exploitative labor practices in generative AI training, with gig workers facing tight deadlines and sudden rate reductions.
• Andrew Swinand, CEO of Inspired ITG, suggests 90% of generative AI investment is ineffective and advocates for focusing on operational AI to fix existing business processes.
• Aon has launched an AI-powered tool to manage supply-chain risks by analyzing global data and forecasting potential disruptions.
• A potential AI bubble burst could trigger a global recession but might also lead to the development of more promising AI technologies.
• The development of AI is shifting towards decentralized compute networks and agentic systems, emphasizing human-machine collaboration.
• Cisco's AI security showcase integrates solutions from Cisco Security, Talos, ThousandEyes, and Splunk.

Cisco showcases AI security center for future threat defense

Cisco has launched an AI-Powered Security Operations Centre (SOC) showcase at its Toronto Innovation Centre. This initiative aims to demonstrate advanced cyber defense strategies for Canadian organizations. The showcase features interactive demonstrations of AI-driven security tools to help businesses understand and combat evolving cyber threats. It highlights Cisco's commitment to innovation in cybersecurity and empowering Canadian businesses with future defense knowledge.

Cisco's AI security showcase prepares Canadian firms for cyber threats

Cisco has opened an AI-Powered Security Operations Centre (SOC) showcase at its Toronto Innovation Centre during Cybersecurity Awareness Month. This new initiative demonstrates advanced cyber defense for Canadian organizations, offering hands-on experiences with AI-driven security tools. The showcase highlights Cisco's dedication to innovation and helps security professionals understand how AI can improve threat detection and response. It aims to equip Canadian businesses with the knowledge to protect against emerging cyber threats.

Cisco AI security center prepares Canadian organizations for future threats

During Cybersecurity Awareness Month, Cisco launched its AI-Powered Security Operations Centre (SOC) showcase at the Toronto Innovation Centre. This new initiative is designed to demonstrate advanced cyber defense strategies for Canadian organizations. The showcase offers a glimpse into the future of cyber defense, empowering businesses to better protect themselves against evolving threats. It highlights Cisco's commitment to innovation in the cybersecurity space.

Cisco's AI security showcase boosts Canadian cyber defense

Cisco has launched an AI-Powered Security Operations Centre (SOC) showcase at its Toronto Innovation Centre to prepare Canadian organizations for future threats. This immersive experience demonstrates advanced AI-driven security technologies against sophisticated cyber attacks. The showcase, part of Cisco's 30-year commitment to Canadian innovation, helps businesses improve digital resilience and operational continuity. It features integrated solutions from Cisco Security, Talos, ThousandEyes, and Splunk, focusing on AI's role in modern cyber warfare.

Taiwan uses US trade talks and AI products as bargaining chips

Taiwan's central bank governor, Yang Chin-long, informed lawmakers that the island nation plans to use its trade surplus with the U.S. and its advancements in AI products as leverage in upcoming trade talks. Taiwan estimates its trade surplus with the U.S. will reach $120 billion this year. The governor also mentioned that exporting Taiwan's Science Park experience to the U.S. for TSMC's American ecosystem would be mutually beneficial.

Taiwan leverages US trade talks and AI products

Taiwan's central bank governor, Yang Chin-long, stated that the island nation will use its trade surplus with the U.S. and its AI products as bargaining chips in trade discussions. He estimated Taiwan's trade surplus with the U.S. would reach $120 billion this year. This strategy aims to strengthen Taiwan's position in international trade negotiations.

Dual lens for AI investing: due diligence and impact

Investors need to distinguish between investing 'with AI' and investing 'in AI' for proper due diligence and impact assessment. Investing 'with AI' means using AI to enhance existing impact theses in sectors like health or climate tech, requiring new diligence on AI's risks. Investing 'in AI' focuses on responsible AI development itself, creating new markets for infrastructure, safety, and fairness tools. This dual approach helps manage risks and shape the future of a trustworthy digital economy, linking long-term value creation with accountability.

Court decision highlights AI failures in legal briefs

A recent court decision in Zelma v. Wonder Group, Inc. addresses a party's use of generative AI in legal briefs, revealing significant failures. The plaintiff apparently used AI, which resulted in fabricated quotations and citations to non-existent cases. The court questioned the plaintiff's explanation, noting his experience as a litigant. The decision highlights the risks of AI generating inaccurate legal information and raises concerns about its use in court filings.

AI's narrative condition: storytelling and intelligence architecture

The development of artificial intelligence is increasingly tied to storytelling and the architecture of meaning, mirroring philosophical explorations in literature. As AI evolves, compute power becomes a bottleneck, concentrating power among those who can afford it. However, decentralized compute networks and agentic systems are reconfiguring intelligence, moving AI from a passive tool to a collaborative partner. This shift emphasizes human-machine collaboration, creating hybrid workforces and an 'Agentic Web' where AI agents interact. Governance and trust become crucial as intelligence becomes modular and composable.

Generative AI training reveals worker exploitation

A gig worker spent 18 months training generative AI models and discovered exploitative labor practices. Taskers, treated like employees without protections, faced tight deadlines and sudden rate reductions. The experience highlighted issues like unclear instructions, sudden project cancellations, and the deactivation of supportive managers. This account reveals the human cost behind AI development, where workers often lack job security and fair compensation.

AI bubble burst could lead to recession but foster better tech

The current economic growth is heavily reliant on the AI boom, but a potential AI bubble burst could trigger a global recession. While a crash would cause suffering, it might allow for the development of more promising and less dangerous AI technologies. Past investment bubbles, like the dot-com bust, left behind valuable infrastructure. A similar outcome from an AI crash could steer development towards augmenting human capabilities rather than replacing them, leading to a more resilient economy.

Aon launches AI tool for supply chain risk

Aon has introduced a new AI-powered consulting product designed to manage supply-chain risks. This technology analyzes data from over 80,000 sources globally to monitor and forecast potential disruptions. It provides early warnings and trend analysis, offering businesses enhanced global supply-chain visibility. The tool aims to help companies proactively address emerging threats and make informed decisions through prioritized recommendations.

Alina Ibragimova's musical journey

This article reflects on the career of Russian violinist Alina Ibragimova, referred to as A.I. It highlights her early start in music, beginning violin at age 4 and performing with orchestras by age 6. Her family's move to London and her subsequent collaborations, particularly with pianist Cédric Tiberghien, are noted. The piece also touches upon the pianist Stephen Kovacevich and violinist Vladimir Horowitz, drawing parallels in their musical journeys and legacies.

Andrew Swinand critiques AI investment, favors operational AI

Andrew Swinand, CEO of Inspired Thinking Group (ITG), believes 90% of generative AI investment is ineffective, citing a lack of return on investment. He advocates for focusing on operational AI to fix existing business processes rather than chasing new generative AI applications. Swinand emphasizes ITG's hybrid model, which combines content production, automation, and marketing technology, demonstrating tangible savings for clients through live demos. He argues that operational AI frees up humans for creative tasks, driving a renaissance in marketing creativity.

Sources

• Cisco unveils immersive AI security operations centre showcase to help prepare organizations from future threats
• Cisco unveils immersive AI security operations centre showcase to help prepare organizations from future threats
• Cisco unveils immersive AI security operations centre showcase to help prepare organizations from future threats
• Cisco unveils immersive AI security operations centre showcase to help prepare organizations from future threats
• Taiwan Central Bank Chief: In Taiwan, US Trade Talks, AI Products Are Our Bargaining Chips
• Taiwan central bank chief: In Taiwan, US trade talks, AI products are our bargaining chips
• Investing with AI, investing in AI: A dual lens for due diligence and impact
• AI FAILURES IN TCPA: First TCPA Decision Addressing a Party’s Use of GenAI in Briefing is Out–And It Sets the Table Well
• The Narrative Condition: Storytelling and the Architecture of Artificial Intelligence
• I spent 18 months training generative AI – here’s what I learned
• Once the AI bubble pops, we’ll all suffer. Could that be better than letting it grow unabated?
• Aon offering AI-powered supply-chain risk consulting product
• A. I.
• Andrew Swinand thinks 90% of AI investment is rubbish – and he might just be right