In today’s rapidly evolving digital era, data has become a cornerstone of economic production, innovation, and social development. From fueling artificial intelligence to driving smart cities, healthcare analytics, and fintech, data is no longer a byproduct of business — it is the foundation upon which decision-making, competitiveness, and global influence are built. Despite its central importance, however, global data development faces profound challenges. Fragmented regulations and standards across countries hinder interoperability; inconsistent frameworks obstruct cross-border data flows; and mechanisms for secure, trustworthy, and ethical data circulation remain inadequate. Moreover, the digital divide between developed and developing nations continues to widen. While some countries are leveraging data to drive innovation and economic growth, others struggle to access, process, and utilize data effectively, leaving vast potential untapped. The global data ecosystem also suffers from uneven collaboration: While certain regions concentrate technologies, talent, and capital for data development, others face significant barriers to entry. At the same time, the rising threat of cyberattacks, data breaches, and criminal exploitation of information poses serious challenges, testing the resilience of governance frameworks and societies’ ability to manage data securely and ethically. With the advent of AI, these challenges are becoming more urgent. The obstacles to coordinated global digital economic growth highlight the need for international platforms that can foster consensus-building, problem-solving, and innovation. The establishment of the World Data Organization (WDO) marks a decisive step in addressing these challenges. As a global, nongovernmental, and nonprofit entity, the organization provides a central platform for coordinating efforts, developing standards, and promoting the sustainable, equitable use of data worldwide. Its mission — “bridging the data divide, unlocking data value, and promoting a prosperous digital economy” — directly addresses the core issues of data governance. By integrating technological innovation, regulatory alignment, and international cooperation, the WDO aims to benefit all
Apr 15, 2026 · via chinadailyasia.com
Dive Brief: - New York City has launched a free, concierge-style service to help building operators comply with Local Law 97, NYC Chief Climate Officer Louise Yeung announced Tuesday. - The tool is intended to give building operators a resource to plan retrofits, map out Local Law 97 compliance and estimate penalties and what emissions reductions are needed to meet targets, according to a release by the NYC Mayor’s Office of Climate & Environmental Justice. The accelerator service, called Momentum, is available to help operators modernize their buildings, reduce climate impact and improve occupant quality of life, the MOCEJ says. - “In the first reporting year for Local Law 97, well over 90 percent of buildings submitted compliance reports,” NYC Buildings Commissioner Ahmed Tigani said in a statement. “This high level of compliance reflects the City’s efforts to provide support.” Dive Insight: Buildings are responsible for nearly 70% of New York City’s emissions, MOCEJ said in its release. New York City enforces building energy standards through Local Law 97, which requires owners to reduce their building emissions 40% by 2030 and 80% by 2050 or face fines. Penalties can reach up to $268 for every ton of carbon dioxide equivalent emitted above an annual allowance. The ordinance applies to buildings over 25,000 gross square feet; two or more buildings on the same tax lot that together exceed 50,000 square feet; or two or more condominium buildings governed by the same board that together exceed 50,000 square feet. Owners of covered buildings must submit an annual energy and water use report or request a 120-day extension by June 30. Reporting and compliance deadlines depend on property type and size. An analysis by the Urban Green Council also found a roughly 90% compliance rate among large buildings at the end of 2024.
Apr 15, 2026 · via facilitiesdive.com
The U.S. has a deficit of several million single-family homes, according to a recent analysis by President Donald Trump’s Council of Economic Advisers. The path to filling that gap, the report states, lies largely in a process many local governments have already begun: cutting red tape. “Not only does the bureaucrat tax add over $100,000 to the cost of a home; it also acts as a barrier to homes being built,” the report, released Monday, states. State and local regulatory barriers such as zoning approvals, building code changes, affordability mandates and “fees, delays and costs of compliance”can account for 24% of the cost of a new single-family home and 41% of a multifamily home, according to the report, which cites data from the National Association of Home Builders and National Multifamily Housing Council. “Reform at the State and local levels to tackle the sources of the six-figure bureaucrat tax would greatly enhance the ability of supply to keep up with stronger demand,” according to the report. An administration official told PBS that the Trump administration could make federal funding contingent on localities complying with regulatory reductions. Regulatory reforms could boost the U.S. housing stock by 9%, or 13.2 million more homes, the report says. To streamline homebuilding, the report recommends municipalities create a fast-track process for housing developments that includes capped timelines and permit fees, “appropriate and justifiable” impact fees, third-party inspections and an expedited appeal process to encourage faster dispute resolution. The report calls on local governments to curb mandates that it says can restrict housing supply, such as restrictions on the number of units that can be built in any given time period, targeted green energy building requirements and “discriminatory labor rules.” The CEA also champions loosening restrictions on manufactured housing, or housing built off-site and then assembled,
Apr 15, 2026 · via smartcitiesdive.com
Dive Brief: - One-third of U.S. nonprofits had some type of government funding disruption in 2025, and those disruptions are changing the nonprofit financial landscape, said Hannah Martin, policy associate at the Urban Institute’s Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy, during an Urban Institute panel about the rapidly evolving relationship between government and nonprofits. - The Nonprofit Finance Fund’s 2025 State of the Nonprofit Sector Survey found that 84% of respondents expect future cuts to their funding, said panelist Jennifer Talansky, NFF’s vice president of marketing and communications. A 2025 Center for Effective Philanthropy survey found that 34% of nonprofits have experienced or anticipate a funding loss from the federal government and 29% from state and local government. - In response, many nonprofits plan to lobby local governments for funding to replace lost federal dollars. “This is a hard time, and we’re seeing a range of responses,” Talansky said, including “more organizations going to state and local governments and having open conversations and advocating for their needs.” Dive Insight: For about 35,000 nonprofits across the nation, federal government grantmaking funding accounts for at least half of their annual revenue, said panelist Cathleen Clerkin, associate vice president of research for Candid, a nonprofit funding organization. Losing that funding “is not something private foundations can make up overnight,” Clerkin said. Ellie Buteau, CEP’s director of research projects, said this is especially relevant in light of the CEP survey finding that about two-thirds of respondents had more demands for services last year. One-third reported that financial pressures caused them to reduce their services and staff sizes, Buteau said. The nonprofit sector is “acting in new ways,” said panelist Diane Yentel, president and CEO of the National Council of Nonprofits. This includes partnering with local governments and other organizations to file lawsuits against the federal
Apr 15, 2026 · via smartcitiesdive.com
Wednesday’s Headlines Hop on Board Carefully Riding the bus is safe. Walking to and from the bus stop, not so much. By Blake Aued 12:11 AM EDT on April 15, 2026 Blake Aued has been doing Streetsblog's daily national news digest for years. He's also an Atlanta Braves fan, which enrages his editor in New York. Read More: Streetsblog has migrated to a new comment system. New commenters can register directly in the comments section of any article. Returning commenters: your previous comments and display name have been preserved, but you'll need to reclaim your account by clicking "Forgot your password?" on the sign-in form, entering your email, and following the verification link to set a new password — this is required because passwords could not be carried over during the migration. For questions, contact tips@streetsblog.org. More from Streetsblog USA Where the Hottest Blocks in Your City Are — And How To Cool Them Down A cutting-edge tool is helping city leaders identify where they most badly need street trees, bus shelters, and more. April 15, 2026 What If All Cars Were Autonomous, Electric, and Free? Can we really solve the problems of car dominance just by making cars less destructive? April 14, 2026 “Why Do We Do This Bill?”: Preparing Congressional Staff for Surface Transportation Reauthorization A top advocacy organization is preparing Congress to take a critical look at the upcoming transportation reauthorization — and it's not easy. April 14, 2026 Tuesday’s Headlines Try, Try Again Maybe another climate conference can succeed on phasing out fossil fuels where COP30 failed. April 14, 2026 Push Grows To Move Parking Enforcement From NYPD To DOT Two community boards want the job to go to the agency already in charge of the streets. April 13, 2026
Apr 15, 2026 · via usa.streetsblog.org
The Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) is shifting its public Wi-Fi policy from a focus on expansion to quality, aiming to become a “seamless connectivity city” where everyone can enjoy fast, stable connectivity without interruption. While previous efforts focused on increasing the number of installations, the city will now prioritize user experience—specifically speed and stability—enhancing service quality for both residents and visitors. With the rapid spread of generative AI and increasing consumption of high-definition videos, mobile data usage is rising quickly. Smartphone data usage per person is expected to nearly double, while wireless data traffic in Korea continues to grow by over 20% annually. Public Wi-Fi usage in Seoul is following the same trend, with the number of users and data consumption increasing by 19.3% and 11.1%, respectively. This year, the city will invest KRW 2.4 billion to replace 2,020 outdated public Wi-Fi units installed at major streets, traditional markets, welfare facilities, district offices, and bus stops across Seoul. As part of this initiative, Seoul will introduce Wi-Fi 7, the next-generation wireless communication technology. Wi-Fi 7 significantly enhances network speed and stability by simultaneously using multiple frequency bands, enabling faster processing of large-volume data and stable service even in environments with many simultaneous users. In preparation for an era of 30 million international visitors, the city will expand data-free zones by deploying high-quality public Wi-Fi in major tourist destinations such as Myeong-dong, Seongsu, and Hangang Parks. Currently, Seoul operates a total of 35,318 public Wi-Fi units across buses, bus stops, parks, markets, and welfare facilities, covering a wide range of everyday settings. The service supports an average of 4.21 million users daily and generates approximately KRW 230.1 billion in annual telecommunications cost savings, demonstrating its tangible benefits for citizens. The city will also reorganize its public Wi-Fi operating system, integrating management
Apr 15, 2026 · via english.seoul.go.kr
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Apr 14, 2026 · via youtube.com
Dive Brief: - Local government staffing shortages, turnover and retirements among city planners and attorneys threaten to slow down housing permitting processes, delay construction and drive up costs, panelists on an America’s Housing Comeback Advisory Group gathering in Orlando, Florida, said. - Local government expertise is critical to providing guidance for housing developers and ensuring cities are following state and federal regulations, according to an April 9 National League of Cities summary of the February panel, which included representatives from the National Association of Home Builders and the American Planning Association. - Nearly half of all local government employees are over 50, and close to 38% are expected to retire within the next five years, according to a BerryDunn study. Dive Insight: The U.S. faces a 1.2 million housing unit shortfall, according to NAHB estimates, and the residential construction workforce lost more than 41,000 jobs in 2025. NAHB forecasts a continued workforce slowdown, exacerbating high housing construction costs. More than 70% of planning professionals surveyed by the International Code Council last year cited resource and staffing shortfalls as a barrier to operating under mandated permitting deadlines. As cities address housing shortages, some have incorporated artificial intelligence into their permitting processes and bolstered their online systems in an effort to speed up timelines. Representatives on the America’s Housing Comeback Advisory Group, which includes the National League of Cities, said collaboration among builders and local governments is key to mitigating housing planning and approval delays. “Strengthening these public-private partnerships is key to improving efficiency and easing cost pressures for residents,” Hannah Olsen, NLC program manager of housing and community development, wrote in the panel summary.
Apr 14, 2026 · via smartcitiesdive.com
ABB has introduced SPR2025, the latest Symphony Plus DCS package release to enable modernisation and efficient performance for the process and power industries. This release supports upgrades for both existing installations and new deployments. It upgrades existing Harmony Rack-based systems without disruption or having to deploy the latest automation innovations for new projects. Online upgrades, enhanced OS and virtualisation support, powerful conversion tools, and a clear evolution path allow customers in industries such as power, water, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, and pulp and paper to implement improvements at their own pace, ensuring continual reliability and minimal risk. Symphony Plus delivers stronger communications performance and strengthens data integration across distributed operations. With system-wide OPC UA, ethernet backbone and support for smart field devices using the latest FDI technology, operators benefit from secure, standardised and interoperable connectivity, enabling connection of different devices and platforms. The inclusion of Automation Extended functionality utilising separation of concerns architecture enables Symphony Plus customers to adopt advanced automation and digital technologies without disruption. By separating control and digital environments, customers can deploy system performance monitoring, advanced analytics and AI-based decision support applications, while maintaining the reliability and security of core control processes. “SPR2025 advances our commitment to help customers modernize without disruption, at their own pace, while protecting their existing investments,” said Stefan Basenach, senior vice president, process automation technology, ABB. “With online upgrades and enhanced digital connectivity, this secure, scalable and future-ready release empowers customers to operate more efficiently today, while preparing for the next wave of industrial innovation.” Key enhancements introduced in the SPR2025 release strengthen system performance, improve lifecycle efficiency and enable secure, future-ready operational environments. Major updates include: • Version synchronisation and online upgrades for a more streamlined and predictable system-wide upgrade experience, reducing engineering effort and minimising operational disruption. • Support for
Apr 14, 2026 · via instrumentation.co.za
Americans want smarter surveillance. They just don’t trust who’s watching. Consider this: What are the implications when technology designed to enhance safety also creates discomfort? This tension is evident in cities nationwide. Smart surveillance systems, including connected cameras, AI-powered monitoring, and police drones, are now standard tools for emergency response. These technologies deliver faster detection, quicker dispatch, and improved coordination during critical moments. However, recent public opinion data indicates that Americans are not simply passive supporters. Many have significant concerns about continued surveillance after emergencies have passed. A survey by Critical Tech Solutions conducted Aug 7, 2025measured public attitudes toward smart city surveillance, privacy tradeoffs, emergency powers, and institutional trust. The findings show that while Americans seek protection, they are unwilling to grant unrestricted authority. Below are the key findings from the survey. Methodology The study surveyed 1,000 adults across the United States. Participants were asked about their views on smart city surveillance, emergency response technology, privacy concerns, trust in government oversight, and perceptions of fairness across demographic groups. The survey was conducted via Pollfish, and responses were analyzed by demographic breakdowns to surface patterns and differences in public opinion. The 73% Who Say ‘Yes’ to Surveillance Come With a Catch Nearly three-quarters of respondents (73%) said that smart surveillance systems help emergency services respond faster. That number climbs even higher in specific use cases: 79.2% support AI-powered cameras in schools when the benefit is framed around quicker police response times, and 69.7% are comfortable with police drones monitoring large public events. At first glance, this appears to be a strong endorsement. However, this support is conditional. It is linked to specific, time-limited, and emergency-related uses. When these safeguards are removed, public enthusiasm declines sharply. The public is accustomed to GPS tracking, push notifications, and real-time location sharing. Surveillance during
Apr 14, 2026 · via insidenova.com
Ioannis Paschalidis Inducted into 2026 AIMBE College of Fellows
Ioannis (Yannis) Paschalidis (ECE, BME, SE) has been inducted into the 2026 American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering College of Fellows, a top honor recognizing the top 2% of researchers in the field.
He was recognized for his impactful work applying AI and machine learning to computational biology and medicine, advancing predictive and data-driven healthcare.
Read the full article for more on his research and contributions, here.
Related posts:
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- Researchers Win $900k NSF Grant to Predict Heart Disease, Diabetes Using Machine Learning
- BU-Harvard Team Wins $1.2M NSF Grant to Improve Women’s Reproductive Health using AI and Machine Learning
- Could a Computer Diagnose Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia?
Apr 14, 2026 · via bu.edu
Dublin, April 14, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "AI-Powered Smart Grid Market Report 2026" has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This market research report provides comprehensive statistics on market size, regional shares, competitor insights, market segments, trends, and opportunities. It offers an in-depth analysis of current and future industry scenarios, facilitating strategic planning and growth in the AI-powered smart grid sector. The artificial intelligence (AI)-powered smart grid market has experienced robust growth and is projected to continue expanding from $6.62 billion in 2025 to $7.54 billion in 2026, with a CAGR of 13.9%. This growth stems from the modernization of aging grid infrastructure, increased electricity demand, early smart meter deployments, government initiatives, and rising power outage incidents. Moving forward, the market is expected to grow to $12.79 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 14.1%, driven by the complexity of renewable energy integration, the expansion of electric vehicle charging loads, AI-driven grid automation, cybersecurity requirements, and the expansion of decentralized energy resources. Renewable energy adoption is a key trend supporting this market's expansion. AI-powered smart grids facilitate renewable energy integration by optimizing power distribution and balancing supply and demand. For instance, as per Eurostat, renewable energy represented 24.5% of total EU energy consumption in 2023, up from 23% in 2022. Major market companies are embedding AI technologies into grid operations, aiming to enhance decision-making and grid performance. Schneider Electric SE launched the One Digital Grid Platform, a software solution that integrates planning, operations, and asset management, enhancing grid reliability and performance. The platform utilizes predictive analytics and supports distributed energy resource integration, optimizing asset utilization without replacing existing infrastructure. In strategic acquisitions, Bidgely Inc. acquired Grid4C to enhance its AI-driven analytics platform, improving grid operations and customer engagement. Grid4C specializes in AI-powered smart grid software for optimization and DER management.
Apr 14, 2026 · via globenewswire.com
Smart Tourism: Polycentric Governance for Sustainable Cities STORY INLINE POST Contemporary tourism faces a structural contradiction: as destinations consolidate their appeal, the resources that sustain their value — landscapes, heritage, public spaces, ecosystems — deteriorate as a direct consequence of that success. Overcrowding and conflicts between residents and visitors are not management failures; they are the predictable outcome of treating tourism as a service industry rather than as a territorial process involving the intensive use of shared resources. Elinor Ostrom — 2009 Nobel Laureate in Economics — demonstrated that these resources are not condemned to deterioration: the tragedy lies not in the commons themselves, but in the absence of institutions to govern them. In this context, the concept of the Smart Tourism Destination (STD) offers a more comprehensive framework than conventional planning models. Developed by SEGITTUR and adapted to the Ibero-American context by the Ibero-American Network of Smart Tourism Destinations, the STD model is organized around five interdependent axes: governance, sustainability, innovation, accessibility, and territorial intelligence. No axis functions in isolation: innovation without governance produces exclusion; sustainability without participation produces stagnation. Tourism resources are common-pool resources in the technical sense: access to them is difficult to restrict entirely, and their use is rivalrous, in that congestion degrades quality for all users. A beach, a historic centre, or an ecosystem does not deteriorate because it is shared; it deteriorates when no rules exist to structure that shared use. Ostrom was precise on this point: the tragedy described by Hardin is not a tragedy of the commons but a tragedy of open access — of systems with no rules, no monitoring, and no consequences for opportunistic behavior. That distinction determines whether the problem has an institutional solution or only market-based or state-imposed ones. If the problem is open access, the solution is
Apr 14, 2026 · via mexicobusiness.news
Lotte Rental has selected Rimini Street to provide support for its Oracle and SAP systems. Active in the South Korean car rental space for over 40 years, Lotte Rental operates 300 branches across its home country and subsidiaries in Thailand and Vietnam and offers car sharing and used car sales. To accelerate growth, the company has restructured its IT systems and invested in next-generation technology to power innovation and support its ambitious growth plans. By selecting Rimini Support for its mission-critical SAP and Oracle systems, Lotte Rental expects savings of over 50% of total annual support fees as well as expert support from a dedicated Primary Support Engineer backed by a global team of highly experienced ERP experts and engineers. The efficiencies and savings realized by partnering with Rimini Street enable Lotte Rental to reinvest in strategic priorities and advance both top and bottom-line growth. “Ensuring that our foundational enterprise systems are secure, flexible, and primed for innovation is essential to achieving our vision to lead the mobility industry,” said Changgeun Park, head of IT, Lotte Rental. “Our partnership with Rimini Street provides us with a level of savings and quality of service unmatched in the industry.” With the support of Rimini Street, Lotte Rental no longer faces vendor pressure to take on costly, disruptive upgrades to remain fully supported or experience gaps in support needs. Its systems are stable, secure and ready for immediate innovation leveraging a composable ERP strategy. Initially signed for a one-year Rimini Support for Oracle contract in 2024, Lotte Rental extended the partnership for an additional three years and signed a three-year support contract for its SAP systems. “Our growing partnership with Rimini Street reflects a shared commitment to advancing Lotte Rental’s capabilities and growth, empowering our ability to deliver greater value and innovation in
Apr 13, 2026 · via frontier-enterprise.com
WHERE AMERICA'S URBAN FUTURE GETS BUILT: TOMORROW.CITY USA OPENS TOMORROW IN WEST PALM BEACH WHERE AMERICA'S URBAN FUTURE GETS BUILT: TOMORROW.CITY USA OPENS TOMORROW IN WEST PALM BEACH Press Release Date 04-13-2026 HUD Secretary Scott Turner, 6 mayors, state technology chiefs, and top industry CEOs gather April 14–15 in West Palm Beach to discuss the cities of tomorrow. WEST PALM BEACH, FL, UNITED STATES, April 13, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- What has been months of planning is about to come to life. Tomorrow, April 14, the doors open at the Palm Beach County Convention Center for the inaugural Tomorrow.City USA — the American flagship of Smart City Expo World Congress, organized by Fira Barcelona — a carefully curated gathering of leaders committed to building the next generation of American cities. By design, this first edition is intentional in its scale: a focused, high-quality convening where meaningful conversations can happen and real relationships can form. Tomorrow.City USA looks forward to deepening its roots in Palm Beach County, which has emerged as one of the event's most committed and enthusiastic partners. "The future of cities is being built right now across housing, workforce, capital, infrastructure, and mobility — and Tomorrow.City USA is where that work happens," said Aarti Tandon, CEO of Tomorrow.City USA. "West Palm Beach and Palm Beach County have been extraordinary partners from the very beginning, and we couldn't imagine a better home for this community as it grows." A CITY THAT IS ITSELF A MODEL Tomorrow.City USA opens in West Palm Beach for a reason. Guided by the leadership of Mayor Keith A. James, the city is emerging as a national model for a new era of urban development, where economic momentum is matched with culture, community, and long-term resilience. Palm Beach County Administrator Joseph Abruzzo will speak to the
Apr 13, 2026 · via natlawreview.com
South Korea has announced support for a series of AI-driven smart city pilot projects across Southeast Asia, aiming to expand its technological footprint and strengthen regional cooperation. The initiative focuses on deploying advanced urban solutions powered by artificial intelligence to address challenges such as traffic congestion, energy efficiency, and public safety. The pilot programs will involve collaboration between South Korean government agencies, technology firms, and local authorities in Southeast Asian countries. These projects are designed to test and implement smart city solutions in real-world environments, leveraging Korea’s experience in developing technologically advanced urban ecosystems. South Korea has been actively promoting its smart city expertise globally, building on domestic projects such as Songdo, a purpose-built smart city that integrates digital infrastructure into urban planning. By exporting similar technologies, the country aims to position itself as a key partner for rapidly urbanizing regions seeking scalable and efficient urban solutions. The initiative also reflects growing demand in Southeast Asia, where urban populations are expanding rapidly and cities are under pressure to improve infrastructure and service delivery. Smart city technologies, including sensors, data analytics, and AI-driven platforms, are increasingly being adopted to enhance mobility, sustainability, and overall quality of life. Through these pilot projects, South Korea aims to create long-term partnerships while demonstrating the effectiveness of its AI-based urban solutions. The move not only strengthens economic and technological ties with Southeast Asia but also highlights the strategic importance of smart cities as a key driver of future growth and digital transformation in the region.
Apr 13, 2026 · via cxodigitalpulse.com
AiM Future Partners with Metsakuur Company to Commercialize NPU-Integrated Hardware Published Monday, April 13, 2026 | 11:28 a.m. Updated Monday, April 13, 2026 | 11:28 a.m. SEOUL, South Korea--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr 13, 2026-- AI semiconductor IP firm AiM Future has announced a strategic partnership with Vision AI company Metsakuur Company to develop and commercialize NPU-integrated hardware products, reinforcing its expansion into full-stack hardware solutions for the global edge AI market. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260409988077/en/ AiM Future Partners with Metsakuur Company to Commercialize NPU-Integrated Hardware Through this collaboration, AiM Future aims to extend its leadership beyond AI semiconductor IP by delivering fully optimized, integrated hardware solutions that combine advanced software and high-performance NPU technology into a comprehensive “AI total package.” AiM Future has already demonstrated its technological capabilities through the commercialization of its proprietary neural processing unit (NPU) in multiple LG Electronics home appliances. Optimized for low-power, high-efficiency computing, its NPU is ideally suited for edge computing applications such as AIoT, smart home devices, and robotics. As part of the partnership, AiM Future will provide its market-proven NPU technology, while Metsakuur will integrate and optimize its advanced AI algorithms onto AiM Future’s hardware. This integration will deliver high-performance solutions that significantly enhance processing speed while dramatically reducing power consumption. The resulting products will enable customers to deploy AI hardware directly in the field without additional optimization processes. Kim Chang-soo, CEO of AiM Future, stated, “Metsakuur’s advanced AI solutions will serve as an excellent use case to fully demonstrate the performance capabilities of our NPU. This partnership represents a significant milestone in expanding our presence in the global edge AI market.” Lee Ji-hoon, CEO of Metsakuur Company, added, “The key objective of this collaboration is to move beyond software delivery and establish a complete product lineup
Apr 13, 2026 · via lasvegassun.com
Figures Abstract Internet of Things (IoT) enables seamless connectivity and intelligent automation across diverse domains, from healthcare and agriculture to smart cities and industrial systems. However, conventional IoT architectures often rely on centralized servers for data processing and coordination, resulting in poor scalability and decreased system reliability. The integration of blockchain with IoT offers a promising approach to address these limitations of centralized IoT architectures. In practice, however, existing blockchain consensus mechanisms are often unsuitable for resource-constrained IoT devices and dynamic network conditions. To overcome this limitation, we propose Proof of Periodic Inference (PoPI), a machine learning model-based consensus mechanism tailored for blockchain-based IoT systems. PoPI uses a supervised machine learning model to periodically select a group of block producers and maintains security through random block generation within the group. It incorporates both static and dynamically changing device features, such as battery level and resource usage, to select capable nodes with high reliability, and implements fair participation mechanisms to balance network involvement over time. Theoretical analysis and experimental evaluation demonstrate that PoPI achieves high scalability, low latency and improved applicability compared to the state-of-the-art consensus protocols in dynamic IoT environments. Citation: Dihan MK, Abdullah, Amina, Hussain F, Moniruzzaman M, Hossen MS (2026) PoPI: A machine learning-based consensus mechanism for blockchain-enabled IoT systems. PLoS One 21(4): e0347124. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0347124 Editor: Yang (Jack) Lu, Beijing Technology and Business University, CHINA Received: January 12, 2026; Accepted: March 27, 2026; Published: April 13, 2026 Copyright: © 2026 Dihan et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Data Availability: All relevant data are contained within the manuscript. Funding: The author(s) received no specific funding for this work. Competing
Apr 13, 2026 · via journals.plos.org
A Landmark Memorandum of Understanding Was Signed to Drive the “Smart City” Initiative, Aiming to Create Innovative Models for Local Development and Enhance Quality of Life. KHON KAEN – The Faculty of Engineering at Khon Kaen University has forged a significant academic collaboration, signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with nine city, town, and sub-district municipalities. The partnership aims to drive the Smart City development project, focusing on applying advanced engineering technologies to enhance local governance and improve the quality of life for residents. The signing ceremony was held on 10 April 2026 at the Faculty of Engineering, Khon Kaen University. Associate Professor Ratchaphon Suntivarakorn, Ph.D., Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, represented the university in signing the agreement alongside the mayors and executive teams from the nine partner municipalities. The participating bodies include Khon Kaen City Municipality, Udon Thani City Municipality, Ubon Ratchathani City Municipality, Kalasin Town Municipality, Yasothon Town Municipality, Sila Town Municipality, Loei Town Municipality, Mueang Kao Sub-district Municipality, and Phra Lap Sub-district Municipality. Associate Professor Suntivarakorn stated, “This collaboration synergises the strengths of the academic sector and local administrative organisations. We aim to apply our expertise in engineering and digital innovation to address challenges and develop each area in alignment with its unique local context. Our goal is to create comprehensive Smart Cities covering all seven key dimensions: Smart Environment, Smart Economy, Smart Energy, Smart Governance, Smart Living, Smart Mobility, and Smart People. This initiative is designed to foster sustainable development that genuinely meets the needs of the public.” Under this three-year MOU, the ten organisations will collaborate on developing strategic plans, providing technical data, and creating practical innovations. These projects will serve as pioneering models for other cities in the region, preparing local communities to transition towards becoming internationally recognised Smart Cities.
Apr 13, 2026 · via kku.ac.th