Data & AI Report – Data Trends from November 2024

December 10, 2024

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November’s data trends see a huge focus on AI developments & investments. 

We’ve delved into some of the biggest movements below – check them out 👇 

Big Tech’s Big Bets on AI 

In 2024, the world’s leading tech giants—including Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet, and Meta—are significantly increasing their investments in AI, with their combined AI spending projected to exceed $240 billion this year. The demand for AI-powered tools continues to skyrocket, driving this unprecedented level of investment. 

With forecasts suggesting that AI could contribute an additional $20 trillion to the global economy by 2030, it’s no surprise that the largest corporations are heavily investing in this space. Beyond the economic potential, such investments create additional revenue opportunities. For example, Microsoft’s AI products are expected to generate $10 billion annually. 

For Big Tech, AI transcends being just a trendy concept; it’s a strategic, long-term commitment poised to transform entire industries.  

Samsung’s Second-Generation AI Model: Gauss2 

In November, Samsung held its virtual Samsung Developer Conference Korea 2024, where it unveiled its latest software innovations and future-focused vision. 

A highlight of the conference was the introduction of Samsung Gauss2, the second-generation AI model that promises improved performance, efficiency, and broader applications. Gauss2 is a multimodal AI system capable of processing language, code, and images, and is available in three versions tailored for different use cases: 

  • Compact: Optimized for on-device use in environments with limited computing resources, maximizing device performance. 
  • Balanced: Offers a blend of performance, speed, and efficiency suitable for various tasks. 
  • Supreme: Provides top-tier performance with Mixture of Experts technology, which reduces computational costs during training and inference while maintaining high efficiency. 

Samsung aims to boost productivity through Gauss2 by enhancing its code.i service, enriching the natural language Q&A capabilities of the Samsung Gauss Portal, and supporting multimodal functions such as table and chart analysis and image creation. 

Read more from Samsung here. 

LinkedIn & The Journey to Their GenAI Tech Stack 

LinkedIn has published a detailed blog post that explores the evolution of its reimagined product portfolio and how Generative AI has been integrated into its features. They identify several key focus areas and insights gained from developing their GenAI capabilities: 

  • Prompt Management: Efficiently managing prompts at scale requires systems for templating, versioning, and structuring to support complex applications 
  • Task Automation via Skills: GenAI-driven task automation can unlock significant value but demands advanced tools to scale effectively 
  • Contextual Awareness & Personalisation: Memory plays a crucial role in personalising GenAI experiences and must be thoughtfully integrated into the tech stack 
  • Model Inference & Fine-Tuning: Balancing quality, cost, and latency requires flexible infrastructure that accommodates various models and use cases 
  • Migration to the New Stack: Adopting new technologies through incremental migration and cross-training is essential for stability 

Since the introduction of their GenAI tools in early 2023, LinkedIn has continued to refine these capabilities, moving towards their vision of a robust GenAI tech stack that balances rapid development with long-term scalability. 

Read the full blog from LinkedIn here. 

Google’s Accidental Unveiling of Project Jarvis 

Google appears to be developing an advanced AI assistant that goes beyond traditional chatbots and voice assistants. Known as Project Jarvis, this initiative aims to perform tasks autonomously, rather than waiting for user commands. It can manage tasks such as handling emails, conducting research, and scheduling appointments, setting itself apart by proactively collaborating with users as a digital partner. 

While the technology holds exciting potential, it also raises important questions. On the skeptical side, concerns include the potential for job automation, which could impact routine roles, and security risks, given that Jarvis would have access to users’ sensitive data. However, the technology could also provide significant benefits, enhancing accessibility for people with disabilities and those with busy, on-the-go schedules. 

We’re excited to see where this innovative project leads! 

Conclusion 

As we move through 2024, one thing is clear: AI has firmly cemented itself as the cornerstone of innovation and economic growth. From groundbreaking AI models like Samsung Gauss2 to LinkedIn’s evolution of its product tech stack, and even Google’s latest AI assistant, the landscape is rapidly evolving, and the world’s leading tech companies are investing billions to aid in further development. 

Check back next month to see how we round up the data trends for the end of 2024. 

November Tech Funding Roundup: End of 2024 Brings Cautious Optimism

December 5, 2024

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Welcome back to our monthly tech funding roundup 👋

In November, 19 companies secured tech funding investments, up from just 10 in October! As we predicted last month, the end of the year is bringing some cautious optimism. 

Here are a few of the standout funding rounds from the month—take a look to see who’s making strides 👇

An impressive €21.3million raised for Sympower to help boost their work in renewable energy 

Amsterdam-based Sympower, a leading European energy flexibility services provider, has secured €21.3 million in an oversubscribed Series B1 funding round, led by A&G Energy Transition Tech Fund. 

The funding will support Sympower in scaling its battery energy storage solutions, pursuing mergers and acquisitions, and accelerating its European expansion while continuing to help businesses optimise their energy usage. 

Pioneering SaaS platform dedicated to agricultural sustainability raises $11.2 million 

TRACT has raised $11.2 million in funding, supported by existing investors Archer Daniels Midland Company, Cargill, Louis Dreyfus Company, and Olam, along with new partners The Working Capital Fund and Rabo Investments. 

Dedicated to simplifying data management and enabling supply chain transparency and traceability, this significant funding will fuel TRACT’s mission and drive its progress. 

Amsterdam ticketing start-up, Celebratix, secures €1.1 million to expand international growth 

Celebratix has raised €1.1 million in funding from investors including uBIT and several entrepreneurs from the Netherlands and the UK. This capital will be used to accelerate the company’s global expansion. 

Using the Solana blockchain, Celebratix enables event organizers to access revenue and customer data throughout every phase of an event—before, during, and after. The platform empowers organizers to control the secondary market while providing attendees with a secure and seamless experience. 

Hague based Bubty secures additional €3 million in seed funding 

Bubty, the rapidly growing freelance management system, has secured €3 million in funding to support its continued international expansion. 

Founded in 2020, Bubty has quickly gained significant traction, with one million users already on the platform. This investment signals strong potential for further growth, enabling the company to navigate the complexities of compliance for businesses using its services. 

Europe’s only edtech specialist fund invests €2 million towards AI-powered university support solution 

LearnWise AI, an innovative university support platform, received €2 million in seed funding in a round led by Emerge, to scale its university support solution globally. 

LearnWise transforms higher education with its AI-powered solution, delivering a seamless and intelligent experience across university systems. With this funding, the company aims to accelerate product development to address the evolving needs of universities worldwide. 

Conclusion 

November has proven to be a promising month for innovation and growth, with a significant boost in funding across a variety of sectors. Is this a sign of market confidence within the private equity & venture capital landscape? 

As we head into the final stretch of the year, the momentum continues to build, and it’s clear that many of these companies are poised for even greater success in 2025. Stay tuned for more updates on the exciting developments to come! 

Data & AI Report – Data Trends in October 2024

November 13, 2024

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Data trends in October saw impressive investments, cleantech advancements, AI assistants and most excitingly, robots! 

We’ve delved into the most exciting news from the month – check them out below 👇

European Innovation Council to Boost Deep Tech Innovation with €1.4 Billion Investment in 2025 

The EIC has announced an impressive €1.4 billion investment: a huge boost to deep tech research and strategic technology start-ups across Europe for 2025. This increase represents a massive €200 million boost compared to 2024, underscoring the EU’s commitment to nurturing high-potential tech ventures that will shape Europe’s technological future. 

By improving access to capital, the EIC is actively working to bridge the funding gap that often limits the growth of Europe’s tech pioneers and hinders their global competitiveness. This offers a critical opportunity from European startups – we’re excited to see what this brings! 

Read more about the 2025 EIC programme here. 

Lunar’s AI Voice Assistant to Handle 75% of Customer Calls, Revolutionising Fintech Support 

Danish challenger bank Lunar takes major step forward in customer service by launching a voice assistant powered by AI. Aiming to handle  75% of customer calls, Lunar’s AI assistant promises a seamless 24/7 experience. Accessible answers even in the middle of the night!

Lunar’s move echoes a growing trend among fintechs (including Klarna and Bunq) who are using AI to streamline customer support without cutting jobs. With its forward-thinking approach and a valuation of $2.2 billion, Lunar is positioning itself at the forefront of fintech innovation in the Nordics, aiming to enhance customer service without sacrificing the personal touch. 

See Lunar’s press release here. 

Cleantech Companies Secure a Huge €13.2 billion in Funding in First Three Quarters of 2024 

Cleantech companies are at the forefront of Europe’s drive for sustainability: they are spearheading efforts to reduce carbon emissions and transition toward a circular economy. Their innovative work in renewable energy, sustainable materials, and resource management is not only crucial for environmental resilience but also fuels job creation and economic growth across the continent. 

These investments highlight the strong momentum behind green technologies and signal continued interest in sustainable growth from investors. With support like this, Europe is laying the groundwork for a cleaner, more sustainable future, one that aligns environmental priorities with economic opportunity. 

Check out a few of the companies that were involved in raising the funds: 

Northvolt // Avantium Technologies // BioBTX 

Starship and Bolt Team Up for Robot Grocery Deliveries in Tallinn 

Make way for the robot! 

Estonian-founded tech leaders Starship Technologies & Bolt have joined forces to launch Europe’s first robot-powered grocery delivery service – a huge push forward! 

This groundbreaking service combines Starship’s autonomous delivery robots with Bolt’s popular delivery app. Starship’s robots, consume minimal energy—about the amount needed to boil a kettle for a cup of tea. The robots offer a more sustainable option to usual deliveries – we have no doubt this will quickly spread throughout the rest of Europe! 

Conclusion

Europe is rapidly advancing through strategic investments, cutting-edge AI applications, and innovative green solutions. It’s setting a strong foundation for future growth in high-impact sectors and the developments signal a promising era of sustainable innovation, economic opportunity, and technological leadership across Europe. 

Check back to see what data trends we see develop next month.

October Tech Funding Roundup: Exciting Growth for Netherlands Startups

November 7, 2024

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Welcome back to our monthly tech funding roundup.

October brought exciting growth for several companies, with tech funding investments flowing in to fuel their next big steps. We’ve highlighted some of the most notable funding stories from the month.

Take a look and see who’s gaining momentum 👇

Amazing news for Tebi as they receive €20 million to accelerate global funding 

Tebi received its first major investment of €20 million from Index Ventures to fuel global growth. Founded by Adyen co-founder Arnout Schuijff, Tebi’s mobile platform simplifies management for small businesses, offering point-of-sale, payments, inventory, and accounting features all in one place. 

Passionfruit among one of seven companies to gain funding from UNIIQ 

€350,000 in pre-seed funding has been allocated to Passionfruit in a larger €2.5 million investment from UNIIQ, with this being spread across seven companies.  

Passionfruit specialises in automating ESG reporting with an AI-driven workflow management tool. The platform streamlines up to 90% of compliance-related tasks, enabling companies to address complex customer and auditor requests more efficiently. A great investment for a company only founded this year. 

An exciting €1.5 million in equity investment for Antennex 

Antennex received a €1.5 million investment from Value Creation Capital (VCC) and Brabantse Ontwikkelings Maatschappij (BOM) to support its commercial growth.  

Founded in 2023 as a spinoff from Eindhoven University of Technology, Antennex uses advanced technology to simplify antenna testing, delivering fast and precise measurements for the telecom, automotive, aerospace, and defense industries. 

Conclusion 

The outlook for the end of 2024 is continuing to show optimism. 

Despite global economic challenges, the Netherlands remains a leading European startup hub, especially in deep tech, AI, and climate tech and we expect to see further tech funding to see us through the end of the year.

Check back next month to see how this develops! 

Data & AI Report – Data Science Trends September 2024

October 9, 2024

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September trends in data science saw introductions into advanced search engines, internal developments & data protection from potential AI threats.

We’ve covered some exciting news from some big names.

Read on for more on all these exciting developments!

Vinted migrate to Vespa – how the online second hand shopping phenomenon is keeping up with the growth & complexity of data

After hitting the limits of their previous search engine, Vinted were on a mission to find a more scalable alternative.

Introducing Vespa: an open-source search engine & vector database. Vespa supports vector and keyword search and searches within structured data, all in one query. It also integrates machine learning which enables real-time AI insights from their data. It’s proven to handle thousands of queries per second, making it the top-runner for managing large & complex data.

Already used by others including Spotify & Yahoo and with continuous application improvements being delivered, will we continue to see increased use of Vespa?

Read more about Vinted’s migration here.

QueryGBT – allowing easier and faster data analysis for Uber

Uber’s data platform handles a huge 1.2 million interactive queries each month. The idea of QueryGBT is to better manage real-time data analytics & to query massive datasets. A combination of Presto (open-source SQL query engine) and Apache Hudi, which has the capabilities for handling upserts and managing large volumes of data in a cloud-based or distributed environment.

The system is part of Uber’s broader efforts to handle large-scale, real-time data streaming and querying – integral to its data-driven approach to decision-making. It’s said to minimise generating reliable queries from 10 minutes down to 3 which is a massive productivity gain for Uber.

Using advanced AI, QueryGPT fits smoothly into Uber’s data system, cutting query time and increasing accuracy to handle their complex data needs.

Read more about the advancements here.

Dropbox & Lakera Guard securing LLM’s

In a blog posted this September, Dropbox delved into how they’re using Lakera Guard to protect their LLM’s from potential security threats posed by AI.

Citing the importance of maintaining the trust of their millions of users to protect their content, Dropbox talk about how they chose Lakera Guard last year to protect user data & uphold the reliability and trustworthiness of their intelligent features, as outlined in their AI principles.

What were Dropbox looking for in their quest for protection? Their considerations concluded that it has to be deployable on their existing infrastructure, have low latency, strong confidence scores and scope for continuous improvement.

Dropbox have since invested in Lakera Guard, proving their strong belief in it’s abilities. Furthermore, they’ve also collaborated with the teams to develop improvements on the software itself. Working closely with Lakera, Dropbox have been able to help them meet their requirements whilst achieving their own security goals, too!

Read the full blog here.

Conclusion

In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, companies like Vinted, Uber and Dropbox are navigating many complexities. Vinted’s switch to Vespa demonstrates the importance of scalable search engines as companies grow. Uber’s QueryGBT highlights the need for faster and more accurate data analytics. Meanwhile, Dropbox’s partnership with Lakera Guard emphasises the need to secure AI systems to ensure data remains protected as AI technologies advance.

Data Jobs in the Netherlands

Interested in a new adventure within the data world?
For information on data jobs in the Netherlands, get in touch.

Data & AI Report – Data Science Trends July 2024

August 5, 2024

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Trends in data science have brought a fresh wave of excitement to the data and analytics landscape this July. We’re seeing major moves towards scalability, efficient governance, and AI capabilities. Additionally, Dr. Randy Olson shows us just how far creative data use can take you—literally! Turns out, data science isn’t just about numbers, it can plan one epic road trip too! 

Firstly, discord’s transition to Dagster and dbt for data orchestration 

This month, Discord announced a major overhaul of their data orchestration infrastructure, moving from their in-house system, Derived, to a combination of Dagster and dbt. As their platform and user base expanded, the need for enhanced self-service capabilities and robust observability became evident. This decision was driven by the necessity for declarative automation, a modern unified interface, reliability on Kubernetes, and seamless integration with existing tools. 

After evaluating open-source options like Argo and Prefect, Discord chose Dagster for orchestration and dbt for data modeling. This transition has enabled them to support over 2,000 dbt tables, enhancing their ability to deliver seamless service and insightful data analytics while scaling efficiently. 

Read about it here

Meta unveils Llama 3.1 

This month, Meta introduced Llama 3.1, a massive leap in open-source AI. The Llama 3.1 405B model brings unmatched flexibility and state-of-the-art capabilities, unlocking new workflows like synthetic data generation and model distillation. Additionally, Meta is enhancing the Llama ecosystem with new security tools and a reference system. Over 25 partners, including AWS and Google Cloud, will offer services from day one. 

 

Llama 3.1 models feature expanded context lengths to 128K, multilingual support, and strong performance across benchmarks. Upgraded 8B and 70B models enhance capabilities in general knowledge, tool use, and translation. 

Read Meta’s full update

Building a data-driven analytics team at DoorDash 

Jessica Lachs, DoorDash’s VP of Analytics & Data Science, shares insights on what it means to be truly data-driven and how to structure an analytics team. Having joined DoorDash as the first General Manager in 2014, Lachs has built the analytics team from the ground up and now leads global analytics, including the Wolt Analytics team post-acquisition. 

Not only does Lachs highlight that the term “analytics” can be ambiguous, encompassing data science, business intelligence, product analytics, machine learning, and BizOps. She also emphasizes that to build a data-driven organisation, founders should focus on desired outcomes rather than semantics. At DoorDash, the role of analytics has evolved with the company’s growth, shifting from gut instinct decisions to data-centric strategies. Initially, DoorDash used quasi-experimental methods due to limited data, but as the company matured, they invested in scalable data models and advanced experimentation capabilities, expanding their analytics scope to drive better decision-making. 

Read the full post here

Databricks’ migration to unity catalog for data governance 

In a recent blog post, the Data Platform team at Databricks shared insights into their migration to Unity Catalog for enhanced data governance. As the company grows, establishing secure, compliant, and cost-effective data operations has become a priority. With thousands of employees analysing data, consistent governance standards are essential, making the migration to Unity Catalog a top priority. 

The blog outlines the challenges and benefits of migrating from the default Hive Metastore (HMS) to Unity Catalog. While HMS lacked fine-grained access controls, lineage support, audit logs, and effective search integration, UC provided these features out-of-the-box. Therefore, the team chose a transformational approach, selectively migrating datasets to establish a structured governance framework. This strategy required more effort initially, but enabled clear data ownership, naming conventions, and intentional access, setting the stage for future governance policies.

Read the blog

Finally, some creative Data use!

Dr. Randy Olson, a full stack data scientist and AI researcher, utilised his expertise in machine learning to develop an optimal search strategy.  

He approached this task using the Traveling Salesman Problem (TSP) algorithm, which aims to find the shortest route that visits each city exactly once and returns to the starting point.  

Dr. Olson applied three specific restrictions:  

  1. The trip must stop in all 48 contiguous U.S. states 
  2. Only visit National Natural Landmarks, National Historic Sites, National Parks, or National Monuments #
  3. Be taken entirely by car without leaving the U.S. 

Want to take the trip? The route spans 13,699 miles and requires 224 hours (or 9.33 days) of driving, assuming no traffic. You can find the full itinerary here. 

Dr Randy Olsen used Data to design the optimum road trip across the U.S. Showing how useful data can be. Data science trends really are everywhere!

Olsen’s epic road trip

To conclude 

July highlighted several key trends in data and analytics. The push for scalability is evident in Discord’s adoption of Dagster and dbt, and Databricks’ migration to Unity Catalog for better data governance. The importance of building effective data teams was underscored by DoorDash’s approach to analytics leadership. Another notable trend is the growing emphasis on enhanced self-service capabilities and robust observability in data platforms. These themes point towards a future focused on scalable infrastructure, efficient governance, structured teams, and innovative AI applications.

If you’re interested in how we can help scale your data team, get in touch.

Dutch Recruitment Trends and Skills to Watch 👀

May 21, 2024

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If you’ve had anything to do with recruitment in the Netherlands over the past year, you’re probably well aware that it’s been a bumpy ride. 

However, it looks like the clouds are parting (finally!), we’re seeing more roles on the market, and lots of highly-qualified candidates to fill them! We’re on the brink of some very exciting times, with lots of new roles and exciting developments coming this year. Read on for our take on the dutch recruitment trends and skills you need to watch for the second half of the year. ⬇️

What are the key trends? 

We’re seeing a major shift in the Dutch labour market, fueled by automation, artificial intelligence (AI), and data analytics.  

Data and AI are being increasingly integrated into daily business operations, and only the companies that act fast will be able to get ahead. 

GIF of Patrick Swayze's character, Johnny Castle in Dirty Dancing, with the caption 'nobody puts baby in the corner' - the word 'baby' is covered and replaced by the word 'data'. Nobody put's data in the corner. Relating to the fact that data used to be separate within companies, but it's being increasingly included in business operations.

Gone are the days of data being a secluded department in the shadows.

What Does This Mean for the Dutch IT Market? 

DATA TRENDS

In an effort to keep up with technological advancements and shifts towards more data-driven practices, we’re seeing more and more companies focusing on digital transformation projects, modernisation and streamlining of outdated processes. 

AI/ML TRENDS

Obviously, AI and ML technologies are taking over the world and it seems like companies are starting to realise that AI isn’t just a ‘fad’. It’s no longer about just keeping up with trends – for businesses that want to stay competitive and innovative, they’ve got to get ahead of their competitors and make use of all the technology available. There’s also huge potential for companies to boost team productivity, innovate and elevate customer experiences. 

In particular, we’re seeing companies in the FinTech, EdTech and EnviroTech spaces leaning into AI/ML. As a result, it’s likely that earlier adopters, who invest in this technology now, could end up being the unicorns of the future. 

CYBERSECURITY TRENDS

Given that The Netherlands is home to almost a third of Europe’s data centres (and Google starting work on a new data centre in Groningen this year!) clients recognise huge opportunities for growth.

On the flipside, with so much more of our data being processed online, the target for hackers is getting bigger and bigger. With this in mind, clients are expressing concerns around needs for improvement and investment in protection from cyber-terrorism. 

The Netherlands’ cybersecurity market is projected to continue increasing, from USD 2.16 billion in 2024 to USD 3.27 billion by 2029 (Security Insight).  

Does this mean we need to adopt a load of new languages or frameworks?  

Don’t panic!  

Python continues to reign supreme across all these areas, making it indispensable for most tasks. Candidates with a strong Python background often excel due to its simplicity and versatility, supported by over 135,000 libraries. 

Python’s role in data science, AI, ML, and cybersecurity is significant: with essential libraries like NumPy, Pandas, Scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch, and Scapy driving advancements. 

Candidates and clients we’ve spoken to recently highlight the importance of proficiency in C, Bash, and PowerShell for cybersecurity roles. They provide the low-level access and automation capabilities necessary for system programming, exploit development, and managing security operations.

Hiring managers frequently emphasise the value of candidates skilled in these areas to ensure teams are equipped to handle challenges effectively. 

However, staying ahead means being aware of other key players gaining traction: 

Data: 
  • Apache Spark, Snowflake, DBT for data transformation. 
  • Emerging tools like Polars and DuckDB. 
AI/ML: 
  • Hugging Face Transformers for NLP work. 
  • Julia for high-performance numerical tasks. 
  • Ray for scaling Python applications. 
Cybersecurity: 
  • Rust for secure application development. 
  • Tools like Darktrace and Cylance are leading in AI-driven threat detection. 
  • Burp Suite remains essential for web app security testing. 
  • Swift for system programming and security applications. 

What’s our advice? 

For candidates:

We’re advising Data candidates to focus on building skills in essential libraries like NumPy, Pandas, and TensorFlow. Also, engaging in data-centric projects helps build a strong portfolio while staying updated through online courses. 

As AI/Machine Learning are particularly sought after areas. As a result, we recommend enhancing your visibility by participating in competitions and contributing to open-source projects.  

For cybersecurity, focus on the tools we listed above, using these in personal projects where possible. What’s more, we’ve found that obtaining certifications like CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional) or CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker) can be beneficial. 

For clients:  

Promote a culture of knowledge sharing through internal workshops and encourage team participation in industry events and conferences. This approach ensures your engineering team remains competitive and well-equipped to handle emerging challenges.

Investing in continuous learning and development not only keeps your team at the forefront of industry standards. It also aids in team collaboration and idea sharing helping keep staff engaged, crucial for retention. 

Finally, we recommend leveraging consultative recruiters (like Foxtek) to navigate technological advancements and avoid hiring mistakes. We focus our search on candidates familiar with key tools relevant to upcoming trends in each industry.

Wrapping up 

GIF of Lando Calrissian in Solo: A Star Wars Story with the caption 'you might want to buckle up, baby'. The gif is a joke referencing a line in the blog about how this is going to be a wild ride. We're expecting to see trends in the dutch market.

In conclusion, the next year is shaping up to be a wild ride. For tech professionals, the opportunities are vast and varied, with a strong push towards innovation, sustainability, and efficiency. Expect to see a load more companies looking to hire roles related to Data, AI, Machine Learning and Cybersecurity. 

On the other hand, for companies, adapting to these trends early will ensure you attract the right talent and stay competitive. 

Want to get ahead of the curve? Reach out to discuss your requirements, or check out our open roles.

Data & AI Report – April 2024

May 1, 2024

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Welcome to our first monthly update on data and AI. No need to scroll endlessly through news sites, we’ve compiled the month’s must-know developments right here!

April saw important developments in technology, highlighting investments and partnerships that emphasize the Netherlands’ involvement in the tech sector.

Google’s €640 Million Dutch Data Centre Project

Google announced a €640 million investment in a new data centre in Groningen, creating 125 jobs. This adds to Google’s total investment of over €3.8 billion in Dutch digital infrastructure since 2014. Read more

KLM Partners with Utrect University AI Labs

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is collaborating with Utrecht University’s AI Labs to refine operational efficiency and minimize disruptions.

PhD students are developing algorithms to optimize crew and aircraft scheduling, and improve ground processes like baggage handling and passenger boarding. This partnership aims to enhance KLM’s ability to quickly adapt to changes, ensuring smoother operations and prioritising flights effectively through data. Read more

Google Launches Training Programs for AI, Cybersecurity, and Data Analytics

The U.S. Treasury and Google Cloud are partnering to boost data analytics and cybersecurity hiring, aligning with President Biden’s AI Executive Order.

New training programs, accessible via YouTube and Google Cloud Skills Boost, include courses on generative AI, cybersecurity, and data analytics, will equip individuals with the skills needed for digital transformation in the public sector.

Learners also get free access to generative AI tools, including Google’s interview prep tool, Interview Warmup. Read more

Gif showing Google Cloud's new Generative AI Interview Warmup tool.

Source: Google Cloud

AI Breakthrough in Breast Cancer Risk Assessment

Danish and Dutch researchers have advanced breast cancer risk assessment by combining an AI diagnostic tool with a mammographic texture model, under the leadership of Dr. Andreas D. Lauritzen.

This integrated approach improves the prediction of both short- and long-term breast cancer risks, identifying high-risk women more effectively. The innovation promises earlier cancer detection and could alleviate the strain on healthcare systems caused by a shortage of specialist breast radiologists. Read more

These developments underscore a growing need for expert Data, AI, and ML talent. Reach out to discuss how we can help to drive your innovation forward.

contact our team.