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From Safety to Accountability: The Game-Changing Impact of Kazakhstan’s Surveillance System

Technology innovations have made the digital transformation of public services essential to enhancing safety, efficiency, and accountability. Kazakhstan has taken a monumental step forward in this regard by implementing a continuous video surveillance system across 78 correctional facilities nationwide. This groundbreaking initiative has set a new benchmark for prison management, significantly improving safety conditions and […]

Technology innovations have made the digital transformation of public services essential to enhancing safety, efficiency, and accountability. Kazakhstan has taken a monumental step forward in this regard by implementing a continuous video surveillance system across 78 correctional facilities nationwide. This groundbreaking initiative has set a new benchmark for prison management, significantly improving safety conditions and operational transparency.

A digital leap for safer prisons

In response to a national mandate from the President in 2020, the Ministry of Internal Affairs launched a comprehensive video surveillance project. The system includes over 39,500 high-definition cameras strategically installed across correctional institutions and their perimeters. These cameras are connected to advanced AI-driven analytics, providing real-time facial recognition, event detection, and license plate identification capabilities.

The results are nothing short of remarkable: since its implementation, the system has identified over 32,000 violations of detention protocols, prevented 62 suicides and six escape attempts, and de-escalated 27 potentially violent conflicts. It has also reduced corruption and abuse, fostering humane treatment of inmates and improving the behavior of staff. For the first half of 2024, no cases of torture by staff were reported, a testament to the system’s effectiveness.

Innovation meets human-centered design

Kazakhstan’s video surveillance initiative goes beyond mere technological deployment. It represents a harmonious blend of innovation, process improvement, and personnel training. Prison staff have been equipped with the tools and knowledge to harness the system’s full potential, enabling proactive incident management and fostering a culture of accountability.

The initiative also supports the broader goal of rehabilitation. By improving the physical, psychological, and social conditions within prisons, the system aligns with global trends emphasizing inmate welfare and reintegration into society.

Overcoming challenges with strategic vision

Before the project, sporadic and poorly maintained surveillance systems plagued correctional facilities, resulting in inconsistent monitoring and inadequate evidence for investigations. Kazakhstan addressed these challenges by deploying a centralized, secure infrastructure that ensures uninterrupted video transmission to a Situation Center under the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

This hub manages real-time monitoring and analytics while safeguarding data integrity and privacy. The adoption of a fiber-optic private network further enhances reliability and security, creating a scalable framework for future innovations.

Charting the road ahead

Kazakhstan’s video surveillance initiative is just the beginning. Plans are underway to integrate more advanced algorithms for object and event recognition and to connect the system with other IT infrastructures, such as access control solutions. These advancements will further strengthen the nation’s ability to maintain order, prevent misconduct, and foster trust in correctional institutions.

The nation’s achievement offers valuable lessons for countries aiming to modernize their correctional facilities. By leveraging cutting-edge technology, combining it with strategic governance, and emphasizing human-centered implementation, Kazakhstan has set a precedent for others to follow.

For a deeper dive into the strategies, implementation, and impact of this project, download the full report. Explore how Kazakhstan is redefining correctional facility management through innovation and strategic foresight.

Explore Kazakhstan’s groundbreaking approach to correctional facility management. Gain deeper insights into the strategies, technologies, and measurable impacts of this initiative in this detailed white paper: Global Trends in the Digital Transformation of Correctional Facilities: The Value of Video Surveillance.

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A CSO’s perspective: 8 cyber predictions for 2025

As we step into 2025, the cyberthreat landscape is once again more dynamic and challenging than the year before. In 2024, we witnessed a remarkable acceleration in cyberattacks of all types, many fueled by advancements in generative AI. For security leaders, the stakes are higher than ever. In this post,

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Ericsson unveils genAI assistant for 5G network operations

Telecommunications and networking provider Ericsson recently launched its generative AI-based virtual assistant that uses large language model (LLM) technology to read, understand, and generate new content to provide personalized answers for network operators configuring wireless 5G networks, troubleshooting problems, and creating policies. Ericsson’s AI-based NetCloud Assistant, or ANA, is LLM-based

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ORE Catapult launches new offshore wind supply chain programme

The Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult has announced a supply chain programme aimed at helping Scotland’s island and coastal communities benefit from the offshore wind industry. The Fit for Offshore Renewables (F4OR) Island programme will offer fully-funded, expert support to help eligible companies succeed in the offshore wind industry, both at home and abroad. It builds on ORE Catapult’s Fit for Offshore Renewables (F4OR) programme, which was established in 2019. Director of development and operations at ORE Catapult Andy Macdonald said: “Scotland’s islands have a proud history of technology innovation and engineering prowess coupled with an enviable depth of specialist expertise gained servicing the oil and gas sector. They are therefore ideally equipped to make the transition to the growing offshore wind sector and we would encourage companies developing innovative technology solutions to apply for this latest programme.” The new programme has been tailored to better fit the business demographics of Scottish island and coastal-based businesses, with changes to the entry requirements to make it more accessible and plans to deliver more support at the winning businesses’ operational locations to reduce the need for travel. Up to ten companies will be selected to join the F4OR Island programme. Under the F4OR programme, companies undergo a rigorous evaluation process comprising health and safety standards, environmental sustainability practices, project management capabilities and financial stability, as well as their applicability to the renewable energy market. The project is being delivered in partnership with the developers of four major Scottish offshore wind farm projects – MachairWind, Spiorad na Mara, Stoura and Arven. ScottishPower Renewables’ MachairWind development lead Kiera Wilson said: “It’s great to be working with ORE Catapult and fellow ScotWind developers to bring this exciting opportunity to life for our island and coastal communities. “We know from speaking to many local businesses in

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Russia Says It Damaged Facilities at Ukraine Gas Storage Site

Russia claimed it damaged ground infrastructure of one of the largest natural gas storage sites in Ukraine’s Lviv region during a series of attacks on the country’s energy sector on Wednesday. The strike was a response to Ukraine’s use of US and British missiles on Russian territories, Russian Defense Ministry said in the statement in Telegram. Moscow also said it was retaliating for an earlier attack on a gas compressor station in the Krasnodar region, which is important for flows through the TurkStream conduit that is the last remaining pipeline for Russian supplies to Europe. Russia’s claim of damaging the gas storage’s ground facilities could not be independently verified. Attacks of energy infrastructure in both countries have intensified this week as Kyiv closed its pipeline network for Russian supplies to Europe starting from this year. The hits on Wednesday forced emergency power cuts across large swathes of Ukraine, with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy confirming that the energy sector, including gas infrastructure, was the main target of the strike.    Lviv Governor Maksym Kozytskyi said that the Russians targeted two critical infrastructure facilities, including one in Stryi, that caused some damage. Ukraine had earlier this week carried out a massive attack on energy and military facilities across central Russia and the Volga region. Those raids targeted two chemical plants in the Tula said and Bryansk regions and hit an ammunition warehouse at the Engels airfield in the Saratov region, setting Rosneft PJSC’s Saratov oil refinery on fire, a Ukrainian official said. What do you think? We’d love to hear from you, join the conversation on the Rigzone Energy Network. The Rigzone Energy Network is a new social experience created for you and all energy professionals to Speak Up about our industry, share knowledge, connect with peers and industry insiders and engage in a professional community that will empower

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Aker and Siemens receive notice to proceed on Norfolk Vanguard offshore wind

A consortium of Aker Solutions and Siemens Energy have received full notice to proceed with work on RWE’s Norfolk Vanguard West and East offshore wind farms. Aker Solutions’ scope includes engineering, procurement, construction and installation (EPCI) of the high voltage direct current (HVDC) offshore platform. Siemens Energy is responsible for the onshore station as well as the high voltage equipment in the offshore substations. Aker Solutions has provided work for the projects under a limited notice to proceed announced in November 2023. The joint venture between Aker Solutions and Drydocks World will deliver the two HVDC platforms. Fabrication of the platform topsides will be executed by Drydocks World in Dubai, UAE, while the fabrication of the substructure will be executed by Aker Solutions’ yard in Verdal, Norway. Project execution has started, with engineering and procurement activities ongoing for both platform topsides and substructures. Fabrication of the Norfolk Vanguard West platform started at Drydocks World in April of this year, while fabrication of the Norfolk Vanguard East platform is scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2025. The platforms will be delivered and installed in 2027 and 2028. Before offshore installation, they will be towed to Aker Solutions’ Stord yard for final preparations, including transfer from transportation vessel to heavy lift vessel. Aker Solutions’ new build segment executive vice-president Sturla Magnus said: “We are proud to be a key partner in this important energy project, which represents a significant source of renewable energy and a major step in Europe’s energy transformation. “The project also aligns with Aker Solutions’ strategy to expand our activities in renewables and energy transition projects, reinforcing our position as a leader in sustainable energy solutions.” The Norfolk Vanguard West and East represent the first phase of RWE’s 4.2GW Norfolk Offshore Wind Zone, which also includes the

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Perma-Pipe Scores New Deal in Middle East

Perma-Pipe International Holdings Inc. has secured a contract in the Gulf Cooperation Council region. The company said in a media release it has been contracted to provide thermal insulation, anti-corrosion coatings, and other services from its Abu Dhabi facility. Project commencement is expected in the third quarter of 2025, the company said, putting the project’s price tag above $43 million. This project will utilize Perma-Pipe’s anti-corrosion coatings capabilities, fabrication, and the TRACE-THERM insulation system, a spray-applied polyurethane foam jacketed with a high-density polyethylene casing, the company said. “This award follows the successful execution of numerous development projects in the region. Our differentiated coating solutions have proven to be well-suited for technically challenging projects”, Saleh Sagr, Senior Vice President for Perma-Pipe’s MENA region, said. “This award provides evidence that our technologies are well-positioned to meet the complex requirements in virtually all geographies as we continue our focus on highly active oil and gas markets worldwide. This project continues an increase in large-scale project activity we are seeing globally and, when coupled with other recently announced project awards, further strengthens our record backlog position heading into 2025”, David Mansfield, President, and CEO, commented. To contact the author, email [email protected] What do you think? We’d love to hear from you, join the conversation on the Rigzone Energy Network. The Rigzone Energy Network is a new social experience created for you and all energy professionals to Speak Up about our industry, share knowledge, connect with peers and industry insiders and engage in a professional community that will empower your career in energy. MORE FROM THIS AUTHOR

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Oil Surges Past $80 Amid Tight Supply

Oil surpassed $80 a barrel for the first time since August as US inventories tightened and fresh sanctions on Russia began to affect crude flows. Buyers of Russian oil are increasingly turning to other suppliers, with nations including India saying they would bar sanctioned tankers, following the most aggressive sanctions yet by the US. In China, companies have been snapping up cargoes from the Middle East and elsewhere in preparation for disruption. Freight costs have surged, and US physical pricing patterns have also shifted. That has added momentum to crude’s already strong start to the year. US oil inventories have dropped for eight straight weeks to the lowest since April, countering widespread expectations for a significant global surplus. Still, the rally will probably be capped at $81 a barrel, according to Dennis Kissler, senior vice president of trading at BOK Financial Securities. Futures are already hovering in overbought territory on the 14-day relative strength index. Gasoline futures also rallied to the highest since August after Colonial Pipeline Co. shut one of the largest US fuel lines following a potential leak in Georgia. The company’s Line 1 transports 1.5 million barrels of gasoline a day between Houston, Texas, and Greensboro, North Carolina, and is expected to remain shut through Friday. Meanwhile, the International Energy Agency on Wednesday revised its outlook and now expects a smaller surplus in global oil markets, with inventories set to grow by 725,000 barrels a day versus the more than 1 million barrels a day estimated previously. Now, traders are weighing the implications of President-elect Donald Trump’s second term in the White House. These include the possibility of tighter curbs on Iranian exports, potential tariffs that could ensnare Canadian oil, as well as moves to encourage domestic production. Elsewhere, Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire

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Civitas Resources Weighs Sale of DJ Basin Assets

Civitas Resources Inc. is exploring a sale of part or all of its assets in the Denver-Julesburg Basin, which could be valued at more than $4 billion, people with knowledge of the matter said. The shale oil producer is working with a financial adviser to gauge buyer interest in the assets, according to the people, who asked not to be identified discussing confidential information.  Civitas would be open to divesting fully from the basin in Colorado if it receives a sufficiently attractive offer, the people said. The DJ Basin assets produce roughly 160,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.  Shares in Civitas were up about 0.9% at 9:43 a.m. in New York, giving the company a market value of $5.2 billion. Deliberations are ongoing and Civitas could decide not to proceed with a transaction, the people said. A representative for Denver-based Civitas declined to comment. A sale of some or all of its assets in DJ Basin would free up cash that Civitas could use for acquisitions and to help pare its debt, which, according to data compiled by Bloomberg, stands at about $4.8 billion. Chevron Corp. and Occidental Petroleum Corp. are among the producers in the DJ Basin, which is harder to operate than most other US basins because of Colorado’s regulatory requirements.  Civitas also controls a sizable business in the Permian Basin, the most productive and profitable oil basin in the US. That’s thanks in large part to its $4.7 billion acquisition of assets from companies controlled by NGP Energy Capital Management in 2022. Midsize shale producers have stepped up efforts to reshape their portfolios as they fight for survival in a fast consolidating industry. Ovintiv Inc. signed a pair of deals in November to exit the Uinta Basin and bolster its activities in Canada. Also that month, Coterra Energy

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Qualcomm purloins Intel’s chief Xeon designer with eyes toward data center development

If Intel was hoping for a turnaround in 2025, it will have to wait at least a little bit longer. The chief architect for Intel’s Xeon server processors has defected to chip rival Qualcomm, which is making yet another run at entering the data center market. Sailesh Kottapalli, a 28-year Intel veteran and a senior fellow and chief architect for the company’s Xeon processors, made the announcement on LinkedIn on January 13, stating that he joined Qualcomm as a senior vice president. “My journey took me through roles as a validation engineer, logic designer, full-chip floor planner, post-silicon debug engineer, micro architect, and architect,” he wrote. “I worked on CPU cores, memory, IO, and platform aspects of the system, spanning multiple architectures across x86 and Itanium, and products including CPU and GPU, most importantly shaping the Xeon product line.”

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8 Trends That Will Shape the Data Center Industry In 2025

What lies ahead for the data center industry in 2025? At Data Center Frontier, our eyes are always on the horizon, and we’re constantly talking with industry thought leaders to get their take on key trends. Our Magic 8 Ball prognostications did pretty well last year, so now it’s time to look ahead at what’s in store for the industry over the next 12 months, as we identify eight themes that stand to shape the data center business going forward. We’ll be writing in more depth about many of these trends, but this list provides a view of the topics that we believe will be most relevant in 2025. A publication about the future frontiers of data centers and AI shouldn’t be afraid to put it’s money where its mouth is, and that’s why we used AI tools to help research and compose this year’s annual industry trends forecast. The article is meant to be a bit encyclopedic in the spirit of a digest, less than an exactly prescriptive forecast – although we try to go there as well. The piece contains some dark horse trends. Do we think immersion cooling is going to explode this year, suddenly giving direct-to-chip a run for its money? Not exactly. But do we think that, given the enormous and rapidly expanding parameters of the AI and HPC boom, the sector for immersion cooling could see some breakthroughs this year? Seems reasonable. Ditto for the trends forecasting natural gas and quantum computing advancements. Such topics are definitely on the horizon and highly visible on the frontier of data centers, so we’d better learn more about them, was our thought. Because as borne out by recent history, data center industry trends that start at the bleeding edge (pun intended – also, on the list) sometimes

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Podcast: Data Center and AI Sustainability Imperatives with iMasons Climate Accord Executive Director, Miranda Gardiner

Miranda was a featured speaker at last September’s inaugural Data Center Frontier Trends Summit. The call for speakers is now open for this year’s event, which will be held again in Reston, Virginia from Aug. 26-28. DCF Show Podcast Quotes from Miranda Gardiner, Executive Director, iMasons Climate Accord On Her Career Journey and Early Passion for Sustainability:   – “My goals have always been kind of sustainability, affordable housing. I shared a story last week on a panel that my mother even found a yearbook of me from my elementary school years. The question that year was like, what do you hope for the future? And mine was there’d be no pollution and everyone would have a home.” On Transitioning to Data Centers:   – “We started to see this mission-critical focus in facilities like data centers, airports, and healthcare buildings. For me, connecting sustainability into the performance of the building made data centers the perfect match.” Overview of the iMasons Climate Accord:   – “The iMasons Climate Accord is an initiative started in 2022. The primary focus is emission reductions, and the only requirement to join is having an emission reduction strategy.”   – “This year, we refined our roadmap to include objectives such as having a climate strategy, incentivizing low-GHG materials like green concrete, and promoting equity by supporting small, women-owned, and minority-owned businesses.” On Industry Collaboration and Leadership:   – “This year, through the Climate Accord, we issued a call to action on the value of environmental product declarations (EPDs). It was signed by AWS, Digital Realty, Google, Microsoft, Schneider Electric, and Meta—talk about a big initiative and impact!” On EPDs and Carbon Disclosure:   – “EPDs provide third-party verification of materials coming into buildings. Pairing that with the Open Compute Project’s carbon disclosure labels on equipment creates vast opportunities for transparency and

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Accelsius and iM Data Centers Demo Next-Gen Cooling and Sustainability at Miami Data Center

Miami Data Center Developments Update Miami has recently witnessed several significant developments and investments in its data center sector, underscoring the city’s growing importance as a digital infrastructure hub. Notable projects include: Project Apollo:  A proposed 15-megawatt (MW), two-story, 75,000-square-foot data center in unincorporated Miami-Dade County. With an estimated investment of $150 million, construction is slated to commence between 2026 and 2027. The development team has prior experience with major companies such as Amazon, Meta, and Iron Mountain.  RadiusDC’s Acquisition of Miami I:  In August 2024, RadiusDC acquired the Miami I data center located in the Sweetwater area. Spanning 170,000 square feet across two stories, the facility currently offers 3.2MW of capacity, with plans to expand to 9.2 MW by the first half of 2026. The carrier-neutral facility provides connectivity to 11 fiber optic and network service providers.  Iron Mountain’s MIA-1 Data Center: Iron Mountain is developing a 150,000-square-foot, 16 MW data center on a 3.4-acre campus in Central North West Miami. The facility, known as MIA-1, is scheduled to open in 2026 and aims to serve enterprises, cloud providers, and large-scale users in South Florida. It will feature fiber connections to other Iron Mountain facilities and a robust pipeline of carriers and software-defined networks.  EDGNEX’s Investment Plans:  As of this month, Dubai, UAE-based EDGNEX has announced plans to invest $20 billion in the U.S. data center market, with the potential to double this investment. This plan includes a boutique condo project in Miami, estimated to have a $1 billion gross development value, indicating a significant commitment to the region’s digital infrastructure.  All of these developments highlight Miami’s strategic position as a connectivity hub, particularly serving as a gateway to Latin America and the Caribbean. The city’s data center market is characterized by steady growth, with a focus on retail colocation and

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Tract Capital Unveils Fleet Data Centers, Specializing In 500 MW+ Build-to-Suit Megacampuses

Tract Capital has announced the launch of Fleet Data Centers, a new platform dedicated to the development of mega-scale data center campuses with capacities of 500 MW or more, specifically designed for single-user customers.  The initiative is led by Grant van Rooyen, CEO of Tract Capital and Executive Chairman of Fleet Data Centers, and Chris Vonderhaar, the newly appointed President of Fleet Data Centers.  Vonderhaar brings extensive experience to the role, having served as Vice President of Demand and Supply Management at Google Cloud and as a senior leader at Amazon Web Services (AWS) for over a decade, where he oversaw the design, planning, construction, and operation of AWS’s global data center platform.  The Fleet leadership team also includes veterans from hyperscalers, wholesale data center providers, network infrastructure firms, and equipment vendors, with a collective track record of deploying dozens of gigawatts of data center capacity across hundreds of facilities globally. A Two Prong Strategy Defining two distinct strategies, Fleet is the mega-campus vertical development arm of Tract Capital, an alternative asset manager specializing in scaling digital infrastructure, which also operates Tract to refine development sites at ground level for data centers in terms of lining up power, fiber, zoning and entitlements.  Fleet Data Centers will aim to address the next phase of hyperscale data center growth by offering customized gigawatt-level campuses that provide predictability, flexibility, and scalability for hyperscalers navigating increasing infrastructure demands. This new venture from Tract Capital underscores the growing need for innovative, large-scale digital infrastructure solutions, particularly as hyperscalers face mounting challenges in scaling their global platforms to meet the demands of the digital age. The unveiling of Fleet is just another example of the way Tract Capital has consistently demonstrated its expertise in accelerating the scaling of responsible technology infrastructure, combining operational capabilities from industry

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Call for Speakers: Second Annual Data Center Frontier Trends Summit, Aug. 26-28, Reston, VA

Data Center Frontier (DCF) is excited to announce the Call for Speakers for our highly anticipated second annual Data Center Frontier Trends Summit, set to take place from August 26-28, 2025 in Reston, Virginia.  This premier industry event will once again bring together the brightest minds and leaders in the data center and digital infrastructure sectors to explore cutting-edge trends shaping the future of the industry.   Submit Speaking Proposals Here The DCF Trends Summit focuses on delivering deep insights and actionable knowledge for professionals navigating the evolving challenges and opportunities in data center innovation, energy efficiency, sustainability, and advanced technology integration. This year’s event will feature keynote speakers, expert panels, and interactive discussions on topics such as AI workloads, modular and edge computing, renewable energy strategies, and the global expansion of hyperscale facilities.   Call for Papers Details The DCF Trends Summit welcomes paper submissions on a wide range of relevant topics, including but not limited to: Emerging Trends:  AI, machine learning, and edge computing in data center operations. Power: Utility and substation power, renewables and behind-the-meter onsite, battery backup, energy storage. Sustainability:  Innovations in energy efficiency, renewable energy integration, and sustainable design. Technology Innovations:  Next-gen cooling systems, advanced automation, and breakthroughs in network infrastructure. National & Global Perspectives:  Regional market dynamics for site selection and regulation plus strategies for addressing evolving customer needs and workforce development.   View the Full DCF Trends ‘Topics of Interest’ Listing Industry professionals, researchers, and thought leaders are encouraged to submit papers that reflect their expertise, insights, and forward-looking perspectives. Submissions should align with the core themes of the Summit and provide actionable takeaways for attendees.   The deadline for paper submissions is January 29, 2025. All speakers will receive complimentary registration and the opportunity to share their work with a diverse audience

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Microsoft will invest $80B in AI data centers in fiscal 2025

And Microsoft isn’t the only one that is ramping up its investments into AI-enabled data centers. Rival cloud service providers are all investing in either upgrading or opening new data centers to capture a larger chunk of business from developers and users of large language models (LLMs).  In a report published in October 2024, Bloomberg Intelligence estimated that demand for generative AI would push Microsoft, AWS, Google, Oracle, Meta, and Apple would between them devote $200 billion to capex in 2025, up from $110 billion in 2023. Microsoft is one of the biggest spenders, followed closely by Google and AWS, Bloomberg Intelligence said. Its estimate of Microsoft’s capital spending on AI, at $62.4 billion for calendar 2025, is lower than Smith’s claim that the company will invest $80 billion in the fiscal year to June 30, 2025. Both figures, though, are way higher than Microsoft’s 2020 capital expenditure of “just” $17.6 billion. The majority of the increased spending is tied to cloud services and the expansion of AI infrastructure needed to provide compute capacity for OpenAI workloads. Separately, last October Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said his company planned total capex spend of $75 billion in 2024 and even more in 2025, with much of it going to AWS, its cloud computing division.

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John Deere unveils more autonomous farm machines to address skill labor shortage

Join our daily and weekly newsletters for the latest updates and exclusive content on industry-leading AI coverage. Learn More Self-driving tractors might be the path to self-driving cars. John Deere has revealed a new line of autonomous machines and tech across agriculture, construction and commercial landscaping. The Moline, Illinois-based John Deere has been in business for 187 years, yet it’s been a regular as a non-tech company showing off technology at the big tech trade show in Las Vegas and is back at CES 2025 with more autonomous tractors and other vehicles. This is not something we usually cover, but John Deere has a lot of data that is interesting in the big picture of tech. The message from the company is that there aren’t enough skilled farm laborers to do the work that its customers need. It’s been a challenge for most of the last two decades, said Jahmy Hindman, CTO at John Deere, in a briefing. Much of the tech will come this fall and after that. He noted that the average farmer in the U.S. is over 58 and works 12 to 18 hours a day to grow food for us. And he said the American Farm Bureau Federation estimates there are roughly 2.4 million farm jobs that need to be filled annually; and the agricultural work force continues to shrink. (This is my hint to the anti-immigration crowd). John Deere’s autonomous 9RX Tractor. Farmers can oversee it using an app. While each of these industries experiences their own set of challenges, a commonality across all is skilled labor availability. In construction, about 80% percent of contractors struggle to find skilled labor. And in commercial landscaping, 86% of landscaping business owners can’t find labor to fill open positions, he said. “They have to figure out how to do

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2025 playbook for enterprise AI success, from agents to evals

Join our daily and weekly newsletters for the latest updates and exclusive content on industry-leading AI coverage. Learn More 2025 is poised to be a pivotal year for enterprise AI. The past year has seen rapid innovation, and this year will see the same. This has made it more critical than ever to revisit your AI strategy to stay competitive and create value for your customers. From scaling AI agents to optimizing costs, here are the five critical areas enterprises should prioritize for their AI strategy this year. 1. Agents: the next generation of automation AI agents are no longer theoretical. In 2025, they’re indispensable tools for enterprises looking to streamline operations and enhance customer interactions. Unlike traditional software, agents powered by large language models (LLMs) can make nuanced decisions, navigate complex multi-step tasks, and integrate seamlessly with tools and APIs. At the start of 2024, agents were not ready for prime time, making frustrating mistakes like hallucinating URLs. They started getting better as frontier large language models themselves improved. “Let me put it this way,” said Sam Witteveen, cofounder of Red Dragon, a company that develops agents for companies, and that recently reviewed the 48 agents it built last year. “Interestingly, the ones that we built at the start of the year, a lot of those worked way better at the end of the year just because the models got better.” Witteveen shared this in the video podcast we filmed to discuss these five big trends in detail. Models are getting better and hallucinating less, and they’re also being trained to do agentic tasks. Another feature that the model providers are researching is a way to use the LLM as a judge, and as models get cheaper (something we’ll cover below), companies can use three or more models to

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OpenAI’s red teaming innovations define new essentials for security leaders in the AI era

Join our daily and weekly newsletters for the latest updates and exclusive content on industry-leading AI coverage. Learn More OpenAI has taken a more aggressive approach to red teaming than its AI competitors, demonstrating its security teams’ advanced capabilities in two areas: multi-step reinforcement and external red teaming. OpenAI recently released two papers that set a new competitive standard for improving the quality, reliability and safety of AI models in these two techniques and more. The first paper, “OpenAI’s Approach to External Red Teaming for AI Models and Systems,” reports that specialized teams outside the company have proven effective in uncovering vulnerabilities that might otherwise have made it into a released model because in-house testing techniques may have missed them. In the second paper, “Diverse and Effective Red Teaming with Auto-Generated Rewards and Multi-Step Reinforcement Learning,” OpenAI introduces an automated framework that relies on iterative reinforcement learning to generate a broad spectrum of novel, wide-ranging attacks. Going all-in on red teaming pays practical, competitive dividends It’s encouraging to see competitive intensity in red teaming growing among AI companies. When Anthropic released its AI red team guidelines in June of last year, it joined AI providers including Google, Microsoft, Nvidia, OpenAI, and even the U.S.’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), which all had released red teaming frameworks. Investing heavily in red teaming yields tangible benefits for security leaders in any organization. OpenAI’s paper on external red teaming provides a detailed analysis of how the company strives to create specialized external teams that include cybersecurity and subject matter experts. The goal is to see if knowledgeable external teams can defeat models’ security perimeters and find gaps in their security, biases and controls that prompt-based testing couldn’t find. What makes OpenAI’s recent papers noteworthy is how well they define using human-in-the-middle

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