Information recently obtained (by the Financial Times) has revealed that a huge spike in water consumption by dozens of facilities in Virginia’s “data-centre alley” likely means new initiatives to replenish or conserve water resources are urgently needed.

Usage Up By Two-Thirds 

The county authority figures show that water consumption at the data-centres of hyperscalers which surround Ashburn, VA (which host a staggering 70 per cent of the world’s internet traffic daily) was up by nearly two-thirds between 2019 and 2023 – from 5 billion litres to 7 billion litres!

Hyperscalers

So-called hyperscalers are large-scale cloud service providers that offer massive computing resources and include companies like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), IBM Cloud, Oracle, and Facebook. These companies play a major role in the technology landscape, providing cloud infrastructure that supports a wide range of services and applications globally. However, due to the expansion of power and water-cooling-hungry AI-driven infrastructure and data-centres, the water consumption of these hyperscalers has significantly increased in recent years.

For example, water usage at Microsoft data-centres rose by 34 per cent between 2021 and 2022, driven by the need to cool denser AI server racks and, similarly, Google reported a 20 per cent increase in water consumption, using 19.5 million cubic metres of water in 2022.

Why Water? 

AI workloads require highly efficient cooling systems to prevent overheating of servers, which run continuously and generate significant heat. The traditional cooling methods, therefore, often involve evaporative cooling, where water evaporates to absorb heat, lowering the temperature of data centre-equipment. This results in heavy water usage, especially those data-centres operating in warmer regions.

Water Demand Fuelled by AI Infrastructure Growth 

As cloud computing and AI have expanded, the need for more water (and more efficient water usage) has grown, i.e. AI infrastructure growth has fuelled the spike in demand for water.

Issues 

In addition to the sharp increase in water demand, there are in fact many other issues that need to be taken into account when looking at trying to tackle water usage. For Example:

– Water scarcity. Many data-centres are located in regions already facing water shortages or droughts. For example, in The Dalles, Oregon, a Google data-centre was criticised for using one-third of the city’s water supply in a drought-prone area. It’s easy to see how this places additional stress on freshwater supplies in regions where water is a finite resource.

– The environmental impact. The use of water for cooling in such large quantities, particularly in arid or drought-prone areas, can negatively affect local ecosystems and water availability for communities.

– An apparent lack of transparency. It seems that many companies are not transparent about their water usage, making it difficult to gauge the full impact on local water resources. Public reporting on water use, similar to energy use, remains inconsistent across the industry.

The Type of Water Used In Data Centres 

One key issue that deserves special attention is what type of water is used for data centre cooling. For example:

– Freshwater. Most data centres rely on freshwater sources, which are used in cooling towers for evaporative cooling. However, freshwater is a limited resource, and overuse can stress local supplies.

– Recycled water. It is worth noting here, however, that some hyperscalers are now beginning to use recycled or reclaimed water to mitigate their environmental impact. For example, Amazon Web Services (AWS) uses recycled wastewater in its Virginia data-centres, helping conserve high-quality water for community use.

Research 

Research by the British Standards Institution (BSI) and Waterwise’s “Thirst for Change” also makes some key points and recommendations that need to be considered when looking at the subject of data-centre use of massive amounts of water. It highlights the critical issues related to freshwater resource management, focusing on the growing urgency of water security in the context of global environmental challenges. Some of the key relevant points and conclusions from the research include:

– There is now a water security crisis. The research makes the point that freshwater is a finite resource, and the global water security crisis is just as urgent as climate change. Both population growth and increased demand for water, particularly in industrial sectors, are straining water supplies.

– The tech sector is still highly water-intensive, especially data-centres. With the rise of cloud computing, AI, and data-centres, the demand for water has skyrocketed, adding to the strain on limited freshwater resources.

– Water management and responsible water usage are now critical. The research emphasises the need for large-scale industries, including tech companies, to recognise their role in contributing to water scarcity and to adopt more sustainable water practices.

– There is a need for a circular economy in water usage, i.e. water recycling. One of the primary recommendations from the report is the need to transition towards a circular economy mindset in water use, particularly in sectors like tech. This involves recycling and reusing water wherever possible, reducing excessive freshwater extraction.

– Innovation in water efficiency is needed, i.e. water-efficient technologies, especially in data-centres. The research suggests that the wider tech sector needs to adopt innovative systems that support water reuse and reduce reliance on freshwater for cooling and other processes.

– Companies need to push beyond the environmental net gain of merely becoming water-efficient and to strive for a net positive environmental impact by replenishing water resources and engaging in water conservation initiatives.

Alternative Cooling Technologies 

The recognition of the need for action in meeting the cooling requirements of a data-centre boom fuelled by the growth of AI, and for data-centres to reduce their reliance on water-based cooling systems has led to experimenting with several alternative technologies. The hope is that one or more of them could be viable ways to address both efficiency and environmental concerns. Examples of such innovations:

– Liquid cooling. This is increasingly being adopted to handle high heat loads generated by AI and high-performance computing. It includes two main methods, namely direct-to-chip cooling, e.g. circulating liquid directly over a system’s heat-generating components (e.g. CPUs and GPUs) using cold plates, and immersion cooling. This involves fully submerging servers in a dielectric (non-conductive) liquid that absorbs and dissipates heat. This technology can eliminate the need for air cooling entirely, offering higher efficiency, especially for dense computing environments.).

– Refrigerant-based cooling. This method involves using refrigerants instead of water. Refrigerant-based systems have excellent thermal conductivity, making them more efficient at transferring heat away from components. They are becoming popular for high-density racks and can be scaled to handle increasing workloads.

– Chilled water systems. Some data-centres continue to use chilled water, but advancements like rear door heat exchangers (RDHx) are improving efficiency. These systems use chilled water to cool the air before it enters the data-centre, but now take up less space and offer “room-neutral” cooling, meaning the air exiting the system is at near-ambient room temperature.

– Air-based free cooling. This method uses external ambient air, particularly in cooler climates, to reduce the need for mechanical cooling. This approach works best in regions with cold climates, and it’s already being used in data-centres in places like Sweden and Finland.

– AI-optimised cooling. Ironically, the AI that’s creating more heat can also be used to optimise cooling efficiency by predicting heat loads and managing energy use dynamically. AI can help balance the use of cooling resources more effectively, ensuring that the cooling system is only used when necessary.

Water Replenishment Programmes 

It should be noted that one thing tech companies are increasingly investing in to help the situation is water replenishment programs. These are being used to offset their water usage, especially as data centres require significant cooling resources. As well as helping the tech companies to meet their sustainability goals and reduce water consumption, as the name suggests, these programmes are also designed to replenish water in communities, particularly in areas impacted by drought or water scarcity. Examples include:

– Amazon Web Services (AWS) which has implemented a range of water replenishment projects globally. For example, in 2023, its efforts returned 3.5 billion litres of water to local communities. AWS plans to expand this to over 7 billion litres annually across 21 projects, with initiatives in countries like the US, Brazil, Chile, and China. For instance, in Chile’s Maipo Basin, AWS is partnering with local farmers and using AI to improve irrigation efficiency, saving around 200 million litres of water annually. Similar AI-driven projects in Brazil are helping monitor water usage and soil quality.

– Microsoft is working towards becoming water-positive by 2030, aiming to replenish more water than it consumes. It has invested in over 49 replenishment projects worldwide, focusing on areas of high-water stress. These projects include restoring wetlands and repairing irrigation systems to improve water supply reliability. For example, in Mexico City, Microsoft is reviving traditional wetland agriculture, expected to replenish 3.8 million cubic metres of water over a decade.

– Google has committed to replenishing 120 per cent of the water it consumes by 2030. In 2023, its water stewardship projects have replenished over 1 billion gallons of water, addressing 18 per cent of its freshwater consumption. These projects focus on improving water quality and enhancing water efficiency across regions with high water scarcity.

All that said, critics might argue that water replenishment programmes often focus on offsetting usage rather than reducing consumption, making them more of a band-aid solution than a long-term fix for the growing water scarcity problem.

Energy-Hungry 

In addition to their massive water demand for cooling, it should be acknowledged that data-centres are also known for their huge energy requirements, a situation that is also getting worse with the growing demand for AI infrastructure. For example, investment firm Carbon Collective estimates that the electricity currently used by data-centres could power around 6.5 million average (U.S.) homes!

What Does This Mean For Your Organisation? 

As data-centres continue to expand and support the growing demand for cloud computing and AI infrastructure, their immense consumption of water presents a critical challenge that can no longer be overlooked. The surge in water usage, particularly in hyperscale facilities, means there’s now an urgent need for the tech industry to rethink its approach to sustainability. Relying heavily on water-intensive cooling systems is becoming increasingly untenable, especially as regions like Virginia and Oregon experience the strain of limited freshwater resources.

For businesses in the data-centre space, therefore, this trend highlights the necessity of embracing innovative cooling technologies, such as liquid cooling and AI-optimised systems, that reduce reliance on water while maintaining operational efficiency. Simultaneously, the shift toward using recycled water and investing in water replenishment programmes, as seen with Amazon, Microsoft, and Google, represents an important step toward more responsible resource management.

Ultimately, this evolving landscape presents an opportunity for tech companies to lead the way in sustainable water practices. By innovating and adopting circular water-use models, these businesses can mitigate their environmental impact, meet regulatory expectations, and build a more sustainable future for the industry. However, failure to act on this issue could not only jeopardise environmental sustainability but also risk operational and reputational challenges as resource scarcity intensifies.

This video tutorial explains in depth how to identify your competitors’ strengths and weaknesses, via ChatGPT.

[Note – To Watch This Video without glitches/interruptions, It’s best to download it first]

The Preview Pane in File Explorer lets you preview documents, images, and PDFs without opening them, saving time when reviewing multiple files in a folder. Here’s how it works:

Enable Preview Pane

– Open File Explorer by pressing Win + E.

– Click on the View tab and then click Preview Pane.

Preview Files

– Click on any file (document, image, PDF) in File Explorer, and it will be previewed in the right pane without opening the full application.

In a first-of-its-kind case, a US musician has been charged with fraud for allegedly using thousands of automated bot accounts to stream AI-generated tracks from which he made more than $10m in royalty payments.

Which Tracks? 

The music tracks that 52-year-old Michael Smith from North Carolina in the US allegedly used came from a co-conspirator, a music promoter, and the CEO of an AI music company, who (from 2018) supplied him with hundreds of thousands of AI-generated songs – songs described as “instant music” by the alleged co-conspirator.

Uploaded To Music Streaming Platforms 

Smith then allegedly uploaded these tracks to music streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and YouTube Music. Typically, when songs are uploaded to music streaming platforms, the artists earn royalties based on the number of streams their songs receive.

Then Used Automated Bots To Inflate The Number of Streams 

In the case of Mr Smith, the allegation is that he then used “bots” (automated programs) to stream the AI-generated songs billions of times. The indictment says that, at the height of his alleged fraudulent scheme, Mr Smith “used over a thousand bot accounts simultaneously to artificially boost streams of his music across the Streaming Platforms”. It’s alleged that by manipulating the streaming data in this way, Smith was able to fraudulently obtain “more than $10 million in royalty payments to which he was not entitled”.

How Royalties Work Via Music Streaming Platforms

Royalties paid to songwriters, composers, lyricists, and music publishers (“Songwriters”) are funded by streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music. These platforms allocate a percentage of their revenue (called the “Revenue Pool”) to performance rights organisations (PROs) and the Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC). PROs manage performance royalties, while the MLC handles digital mechanical royalties for reproducing and distributing songs. The streaming platforms send both streaming data and revenue to these organisations, which then distribute royalties proportionally to the Songwriters based on the number of streams their songs received.

Similarly, performing artists and record companies (“Artists”) receive royalties from a separate pool, also funded by a percentage of streaming platform revenues. These funds are allocated based on the total number of streams each artist’s recordings receive, and the royalties are typically paid to Artists through record labels and distribution companies.

Why Fraud? 

Streaming fraud, using bots to inflate stream numbers, diverts royalties from legitimate creators to those engaging in fraudulent activity. In this case, the allegation is that Michael Smith committed fraud by making false and misleading statements to streaming platforms, the above-mentioned performance rights organisations (PROs), and music distribution companies. It’s been alleged that his intent was to conceal a massive streaming manipulation scheme, where he used bots to inflate the number of streams for AI-generated songs. By doing so, prosecutors say that Smith used deceptive practices, to fraudulently divert royalties meant for legitimate creators who earned their revenue through real consumer engagement / real listeners (not automated bots).

Technology Improved Over Time 

Emails obtained from Smith and other participants in the scheme, also appear to show how the technology used to create the tracks improved over time, thereby making his scheme more difficult for the streaming platforms to detect. For example, an email from February shows Mr Smith claiming that his “existing music has generated at this point over 4 billion streams and $12 million in royalties since 2019.”

Not The Only Case Of This Kind 

Although prosecutors in this case have described it as the first criminal case of its kind, it’s not the only music platform streaming fraud case of recent years. For example:

– The Danish executive case (2024) where a Danish executive got an 18-month prison sentence after using bots from 2013 to 2019 to inflate streams on platforms like Spotify and Tidal, earning around $635,000 in fraudulent royalties.

– The Boomy AI fraud incident (2023) where Boomy, an AI music startup, had millions of its tracks blocked by Spotify due to suspected bot-driven streaming fraud, leading to increased scrutiny of AI-generated music on platforms.

– The Tidal fake streams investigation (2019), where Norwegian authorities investigated Tidal (a global music streaming platform) for allegedly inflating streams for artists like Beyoncé and Kanye West by hundreds of millions, resulting in massive royalty payouts and one of the largest streaming fraud cases to date.

Other AI-Related Music Incidents of Note 

It’s not just using bots to inflate streams on platforms that have caused AI-driven problems in the music world. For example:

– In 2023, a song titled “Heart on My Sleeve” featuring AI-generated voices that mimicked ‘Drake and The Weeknd’ (a Canadian singer/songwriter) went viral on platforms like TikTok and Spotify. Created by a user named Ghostwriter977, the track accumulated millions of streams before being pulled from streaming services following a complaint from Universal Music Group (UMG). UMG argued that the AI technology used to clone the artists’ voices breached copyright law and harmed the rights of real artists. Despite its removal, the incident highlighted growing concerns over the use of AI in the music industry and its potential legal implications.

– In April this year, over 200 prominent artists including Billie Eilish, Chappell Roan, Elvis Costello, and Aerosmith, signed an open letter calling for an end to the “predatory” use of AI in the music industry. This letter, coordinated by the Artist Rights Alliance, highlighted concerns that AI technology is being used irresponsibly to mimic artists’ work without permission, undermining creativity, and devaluing musicians’ rights. The artists warned that AI models are being trained on their copyrighted work without consent, with the potential to replace human artistry and dilute the royalties that artists depend on. They called for developers and platforms to commit to avoiding AI usage which infringes on artists’ rights or denies them fair compensation.

Can Tech Firms Steal Your Voice? 

In an interesting AI-related case of a notable class action lawsuit filed in 2024, voice actors Paul Skye Lehrman and Linnea Sage accused AI startup Lovo of illegally cloning and selling their voices without consent. The pair were originally contacted via Fiverr in 2019 and 2020, where they were asked to record voiceover samples for what they were told were “academic research” or radio test scripts. Lehrman was paid $1,200, and Sage $400, with both assured that their recordings wouldn’t be used for anything beyond these stated purposes. However, they later discovered their voices had been cloned using AI and used in commercial content without permission.

However, much to Lehrman’s surprise and shock, he heard his voice on a YouTube video about the Russia-Ukraine conflict, discussing topics he had never recorded. The irony of his situation deepened when he heard his voice again on the podcast “Deadline Strike Talk,” where his AI-generated voice was used to discuss the impact of AI on Hollywood and the ongoing strikes, i.e. issues central to the lawsuit itself! Sage similarly discovered her voice in promotional materials for Lovo. The lawsuit claims that Lovo misappropriated their voices to market AI-generated versions under pseudonyms, “Kyle Snow” and “Sally Coleman,” which damaged their careers by reducing job opportunities and potentially replacing their work entirely with AI.

This lawsuit highlights a growing concern in the entertainment industry about AI’s unchecked use to clone voices and likenesses without authorisation, raising issues of intellectual property, consent, and fair compensation.

What Does This Mean For Your Business? 

The rise of AI in the music and entertainment industry introduces both exciting opportunities and serious risks for music streaming platforms, artists, and individuals whose voices or music may be used without consent. For streaming platforms, cases like Michael Smith’s alleged fraudulent streaming manipulation expose real vulnerabilities in royalty systems, which requires platforms to implement more robust detection methods. As AI-generated content becomes more sophisticated, distinguishing between real and artificial streams will be crucial to prevent fraudulent activity that undermines royalty distribution and trust.

For artists, AI’s ability to clone voices, styles, and entire songs presents an existential challenge to creativity and ownership. The growing number of cases, including the Heart on My Sleeve incident and the lawsuit against Lovo, highlight how AI can be used to replicate an artist’s voice or music without permission. This threatens not only their revenue but also their creative integrity. This illustrates why prominent artists, as seen in the open letter signed by Billie Eilish, Chappell Roan, and others, are calling for clearer protections and industry standards i.e., to prevent AI from being used in ways that exploit human artistry without proper compensation.

Voice actors and other professionals who rely on their vocal talents are particularly vulnerable to AI voice cloning. Lehrman and Sage’s experience with Lovo illustrates how voice recordings can be misappropriated and used commercially under false pretenses, damaging careers and reducing future opportunities. This case highlights the need for businesses, especially those in the tech and entertainment sectors, to perhaps develop transparent and ethical policies around AI-generated content, thereby ensuring that creators are properly informed, compensated, and protected.

Beyond the entertainment industry, AI misuse poses a potential risk for the rest of us, especially when it comes to the unauthorised use of voices or faces. AI technology, like voice cloning and deepfakes, can be used to imitate individuals without their consent, creating the potential for serious ethical and legal challenges. For businesses, this means increased vulnerability to fraud, such as the possibility of AI-generated voices being used to impersonate employees or executives in phishing scams. Without proper safeguards, AI can become weaponised to deceive customers or commit fraud against organisations by replicating voices or faces in ways that can bypass security measures, leading to financial and reputational damage.

In response to these growing concerns, industry experts and creators are calling for stronger regulations and protections. Clear consent processes, the development of intellectual property rights linked to a person’s voice and likeness, and technological solutions for detecting fraudulent AI usage now appear to be essential. Ideally, companies and platforms now need to collaborate with policymakers and rights organisations to try and ensure that AI is used ethically, protecting the creative economy and the rights of individuals.

Following a new ESET study which highlighted how workers using company-provided laptops for personal activities could be putting work hardware at risk, we’ll explore the issues surrounding this practice and the potential consequences for businesses and employees, in two parts.

90% Using Work Laptops For Home Usage … But What About Risky Behaviour? 

The recent study by cybersecurity company ESET revealed that employees are regularly engaging in risky activities on their work laptops. For example, the study shows that nine out of ten surveyed admitted to using their work devices for personal activities, including illegal streaming, gambling, and viewing adult content! Alarmingly, 20 per cent of respondents who view adult content say they do so daily, while the same proportion engages in online gambling daily using their work devices.

Work From Anywhere and Employee Mobility 

The shift towards remote and hybrid work environments is one reason employees may be blurring the lines between professional and personal use of their work laptops. With the flexibility to work from anywhere, such as a home-office or while travelling, these devices often become a primary computing tool for both work and personal activities. While this convenience enhances productivity and work-life balance, it also introduces significant risks to businesses.

Accessing the Dark Web with Their Work Laptop! 

The ESET study also highlighted some very concerning behaviour, with 17 per cent of respondents admitting to accessing the dark web using their work laptops, with some doing so daily.

Accessing the dark web exposes businesses to severe risks, including malware or ransomware attacks, data breaches, legal consequences, and reputational damage.

Consequences of Risky Behaviour 

The consequences of employees engaging in risky online behaviour using work devices can be severe for both the business and the individual. Businesses may face data breaches, financial losses, and regulatory penalties, while employees could be subject to disciplinary action, legal ramifications, or even job termination if their actions cause significant harm to the organisation. The ESET study revealed that 18 per cent of respondents felt their job would be at risk if their risky behaviour were discovered.

Employee Awareness Important 

In the report of the study, Jake Moore, Global Cybersecurity Advisor at ESET, stresses the importance of employee awareness, saying: “We often hear ’employees are the weakest security link,’ and endpoint security may not be the first thought on people’s minds. Businesses need to ensure that employees understand cybersecurity risks and their role in mitigating them, which includes avoiding risky behaviour or accessing illegal websites on their work laptops.” 

Many Have No Cybersecurity On Work Laptop 

Despite the clear risks, the study also revealed a worrying lack of security measures, with one in five (18 per cent) of respondents saying they had no cybersecurity software installed on their work laptop. A further 7 per cent were unsure if their devices were adequately protected, highlighting a critical gap in corporate security management.

What Does This Mean For Your Business? 

The findings of the ESET study highlight the critical need for businesses to take a proactive role in ensuring the security of work laptops and corporate devices. With so many employees engaging in what appears to be some extremely risky online behaviour (e.g. going on the dark web daily), the potential for significant data breaches and financial loss is high. The key for businesses is really to ensure that robust security measures are implemented across all work devices, particularly in hybrid work settings where employees use these devices both for work and personal tasks.

Implementing effective cybersecurity policies is essential. Employees should really be educated about the dangers of risky online behaviour, and must be helped to clearly understand their responsibilities in safeguarding corporate assets. Training and awareness programmes that help employees recognise the threats of malware, ransomware, and phishing attacks should ideally be mandatory, particularly as personal, and professional device use becomes more intertwined. Also, companies should ensure that all devices have up-to-date cybersecurity software, such as endpoint protection, that can detect and block potential threats in real-time.

As highlighted in the ESET study, for businesses to effectively manage employee behaviour without invading privacy, IT departments should try to adopt tools and solutions that focus on detecting risk patterns rather than overseeing every detail of employees’ digital activity. Striking this balance could help maintain trust within the organisation while ensuring that cybersecurity remains a priority.

Next week, in Part 2 of this series, we will delve into the legal and compliance implications of risky employee behaviour on work laptops, explore real-world case studies of high-profile breaches, and provide further insights into how businesses can mitigate these risks effectively.

Popular online graphic design platform Canva is facing a backlash from customers following a price hike of up to 300% for its Teams subscription.

What Is Canva Teams? 

The subscription-based Canva Teams feature within the Canva platform (an alternative to image editing platforms like Adobe), allows multiple users to collaborate on designs, share projects, and manage permissions in one space. Canva Teams includes tools for managing permissions, setting brand guidelines, and streamlining workflows. It also includes premium features, depending on the subscription level chosen by the team.

Price Hike 

Canva has just (significantly) increased its Teams subscription prices, with some users seeing a rise of over 300 per cent! For example, the price for a five-user plan jumped from $120 to $500 annually (from AUD $39.99 per month to around AUD $2,430 in Australia).  Also, as well as in the US and Australia, the price hike has affected users in Canada, the UK, and Europe.

Although Canva Teams prices have been increased, it’s understood that Canva’s solo Pro prices will remain unchanged.

Discount 

It appears Canva has tried to cushion the blow a little by saying it will apply a 40 per cent discount for the first 12 months. However, even with the discount applied, users will still be paying significantly more than before, i.e. if the original annual price was $120, users will pay at least 150 per cent more in the first year than their previous subscription fee.

Why? 

Canva has attributed the price rises to reflect an expanded product experience / the added value gained from the addition of advanced AI tools such as Visual Suite, Magic Studio, and Brand Tools. Canva has also highlighted the fact that its Teams subscription prices have remained the same for the last four years.

Backlash 

Not surprisingly, with many users choosing Canva as a lower priced alternative to Adobe, the significant price increase has prompted anger and, judging by customer comments, may have lowered the barriers to exit. Some examples of customer arguments against and comments about the price rise include:

– Many users say they didn’t ask for the new AI tools and are unlikely to use them and, therefore, don’t want to pay the higher prices for them.

– Some users suggesting that it may be better to keep the regular subscription (and price) and offer an addition premium plan that includes all the AI with the higher price (i.e. give users the option and the choice).

– Angry X/Twitter users making comments like, “Your AI features are not worth triple the price. We can use AI tools anywhere. I’ll be cancelling our company contract when it expires”, and “nobody wants to pay 3x the price for a crappy AI app that nobody asked for”. 

– Users actively looking for alternatives, e.g., one Reddit user asks, “As someone that cancelled their subscription after hearing this, any recommendations for other easy to use graphic design software that works on Mac please?” 

– Another Reddit user comments “Canva wasn’t even worth the price before the AI and 300% increase.” 

What Are The Alternatives To Canva? 

Adobe is widely considered the market leader in design platforms, particularly with its Adobe Creative Cloud suite so, for many users, it’s a case of trying to find a fast, affordable (and no subscription), easy-to-use alternative. Examples of such alternatives could include Affinity Suite, Pixlr, Kittl, Crello (now VistaCreate), Snappa, Desygner, Easil, and Microsoft Designer (the pricing for which is tied to Microsoft subscriptions).

Competition 

As many users pointed out in comments about the price rise, they can get generative AI tools capable of design elsewhere (often for free) when they need them. Also, Canva is likely facing competitive pressure from all manner of platforms now incorporating advanced AI tools, e.g., Adobe (with Firefly AI), and emerging AI-driven design platforms such as Kittl and Pixlr. These competitors have been investing in AI to streamline design workflows and enhance user capabilities, all of which may have created the competitive pressure that contributed to Canva’s integration of its own AI features (Magic Studio and Visual Suite). Also, Canva’s price rise may also be seen as simply aligning with its strategy to position itself as an AI-driven, premium design tool.

What Does This Mean For Your Business?

The recent price hike by Canva is likely to have significant ripple effects across its user base and the broader market for graphic design tools. For users, particularly small businesses and freelancers who chose Canva as a cost-effective alternative to Adobe, the steep increase may prompt reconsideration of their subscription. Many users feel frustrated that they are now paying for advanced AI features they neither asked for nor need. This backlash could see a migration toward other affordable design platforms, especially since competitors offer AI-driven design tools at a lower cost or even for free.

For Canva, the price hike is part of an apparently bold strategy to position itself as a premium, AI-powered design tool. While it allows the company to highlight new features like Magic Studio and Visual Suite, this move also risks alienating its core user base. Canva now appears to be facing a delicate balancing act – justifying its higher pricing through enhanced features while addressing user dissatisfaction. With many users seeking alternatives, Canva’s competitors, such as Affinity, and Pixlr, could see an opportunity to capture market share, especially if they continue offering cost-effective, AI-enhanced tools without significant price jumps.

The design platform market is evolving rapidly, with AI fundamentally reshaping how design tools are developed and used. Canva’s shift toward AI tools reflects this trend, but it also highlights the growing pressure on design platforms to keep up with these technological advances. For businesses, this means staying alert to the changing landscape, where innovation in AI is driving not only new functionalities but also pricing strategies. The near future could see more platforms adopting similar AI-driven models, forcing users to weigh the benefits of advanced tools against rising costs.

Yoast, the company behind the popular SEO plugin for WordPress, has announced the introduction of ‘Yoast AI Optimize’ feature which is designed to simplify SEO tasks by providing AI-powered optimisation suggestions for content at the click of a button.

Helps With Essential SEO Factors 

Specifically, ‘Yoast AI Optimize’, which is only available to Yoast SEO Premium customers, focuses on enhancing ‘Keyphrase in Introduction’, ‘Keyphrase Density’, and ‘Keyphrase Distribution’, which are essential SEO factors.

How It Works 

To use the new feature within the WordPress editor, users open their post or page and go to the Yoast SEO sidebar. For assessments like ‘Keyphrase in Introduction’, ‘Keyphrase Density’, and ‘Keyphrase Distribution’, there’s a sparkly icon next to them in the SEO analysis section. Clicking this icon triggers the AI to generate optimisation suggestions for the selected content. Users can then choose to either apply the AI’s suggestions to the content or dismiss them.

The Benefits 

Whereas the popular (regular) Yoast plugin, which currently has more than 13 million active installations, requires the user (who may not be knowledgeable about SEO) to manually make SEO adjustments, the new feature does it all with just a few clicks, and the changes are made automatically throughout the text. This saves time, streamlines the SEO process, removes complexity, and democratises effective SEO – i.e. making it accessible for all content creators, freelancers, and marketers.

Kimberley Cole, General Manager Europe at Newfold Digital, parent company of Yoast, said of the new feature: “With Yoast AI Optimize, users can save time and energy by tapping into SEO powered by AI and unlocking the full potential of their website, blog, online store and more.” 

In terms of how the new feature may improve Yoast’s market position, Kimberly Cole said: “As AI-infused technology evolves, Yoast, the world’s largest SEO plugin, remains at the forefront by combining our in-house SEO expertise with the technology of today to provide the highest quality SEO tools that simplify and elevate the user experience for all website owners. By improving search rankings, SEO drives targeted traffic, boosts credibility and helps businesses market their products and services more effectively in an increasingly competitive digital landscape.”   

Drawbacks 

With something that sounds this good, there must some drawbacks! Some of these include :

– It is currently only available for texts up to 1000 words, thereby restricting its usability, especially for users with longer content or those using different editors.

– Users cannot accept just part of a suggestion but must accept ‘all … or none’. This reduces flexibility and customisation options and may force users to accept changes they don’t fully agree with.

– The feature is only available for the Block editor and users can only optimise content in the Paragraph, Heading, List, and Table blocks. Content from other blocks can’t be optimised.

– ‘Yoast AI Optimize’ is currently only available for the following SEO checks: Keyphrase in Introduction, Keyphrase Density, and Keyphrase Distribution. For Keyphrase Density, it can only support the case in which the key phrase is underused. If the key phrase is overused, the ‘Yoast AI Optimize’ feature can’t be provided.

Currently in Beta 

‘Yoast AI Optimize’ is currently in Beta and to access it, (Yoast SEO Premium) customers must have updated to the most recent version, 23.2, and granted consent to use AI.

What About Yoast’s Competitors? 

Yoast faces several strong competitors in the SEO plugin market, many of which have AI-powered features similar to (or even more advanced than) Yoast’s AI offerings. For example:

– Rank Math is a highly recommended alternative with robust automation, allowing users to optimise content for multiple keywords and perform full SEO audits. It integrates AI to assist with schema markups and offers a content analysis tool that automates SEO tasks like generating meta titles and descriptions.

– All in One SEO (AIOSEO), another major competitor, provides AI-powered keyword ranking and content decay analysis, helping users track and optimise older posts. Its AI features also extend to automated link suggestions and meta generation, making it highly efficient for content creators.

– SEOPress includes AI capabilities for generating SEO metadata (like meta descriptions) based on the content. It also offers white-label options, making it popular among agencies. SEOPress provides a clean, user-friendly interface while handling complex tasks like generating sitemaps and managing structured data.

– SEMRush, although broader in scope, includes AI-powered tools like its SEO Writing Assistant that helps optimise content for readability and search engine performance. It offers AI-driven content suggestions and meta generation, making it a comprehensive tool for both SEO and content creation.

What Does This Mean For Your Business? 

The introduction of ‘Yoast AI Optimize’ could prove to become very helpful to businesses aiming to improve their website’s SEO, particularly those that lack technical expertise in this area. With AI taking over many of the manual and time-consuming SEO tasks, businesses can now streamline their optimisation processes. This means that even small businesses and individual content creators may now be able to implement sophisticated SEO practices without having to invest heavily in SEO expertise or tools. This AI feature could enable them to optimise content quickly and more effectively, which could result in better search rankings, increased traffic, and ultimately, higher conversions and sales.

For existing Yoast SEO Premium users, this new feature could enhance the value of their subscription. It simplifies SEO further by automating tasks like keyphrase management, allowing users to focus more on content creation rather than manual optimisation. However, while the feature is currently limited in terms of functionality and word count, its potential is clear. As the AI develops, users can perhaps expect greater flexibility and wider applications, which would only enhance its appeal.

For Yoast, this innovation strengthens its competitive edge in a rapidly evolving market. By incorporating AI, Yoast is hoping to position itself as a forward-thinking leader in SEO, and ensure it adds value and retains users by staying at the forefront of search engine optimisation trends. However, the competition is fierce. Competitors like Rank Math and AIOSEO are also leveraging AI to offer advanced features, and the race to provide the most user-friendly, efficient, and powerful SEO tools is heating up.

More broadly, this is just another example of how AI is transforming the digital landscape. From content generation to SEO optimisation, the integration of AI across digital tools is changing how businesses manage their online presence. The growing influence of AI within SEO can now empower businesses to hopefully achieve better results faster, and it raises the bar for SEO tools in general. That said, ultimately, search engine algorithms (especially Google’s), control how effective SEO efforts are, and if all users started using effective AI-powered SEO tools, this would perhaps require another algorithm change. Therefore, how well Yoast (and other SEO tools) keep up with changes made by search engines (which use AI themselves) will have a bearing on how effective they are.

That said, with AI SEO tools like Yoast offering a good chance to improve ranking, for businesses, this means staying informed about the latest AI-powered tools may now be essential to maintaining a competitive edge in their digital marketing efforts.

At Apple’s “Glowtime” on September 9, (‘Glowtime’ being a reference to glowing lights around the device screen when Siri is active), an event to Apple’s latest products and innovations the company, Apple introduced the iPhone 16 series, Apple Watch Series 10, and AirPods 4.

Apple’s iPhone 16 lineup, featuring the iPhone 16, 16 Plus, Pro, and Pro Max, introduces the A18 Pro chip and larger displays. For users, this will mean faster performance, better photography, and more immersive visuals, especially with its enhanced camera systems. For Apple, these improvements are designed to maintain its leadership in the premium smartphone market (especially against competitors like Samsung) by offering advanced hardware paired with cutting-edge AI capabilities.

The Apple Watch Series 10, with a brighter, thinner design and new health tracking features (such as sleep apnoea detection) continues Apple’s push to dominate the wearable tech space. Apple clearly hopes it will appeal to health-conscious consumers and fitness enthusiasts, thereby expanding Apple’s ecosystem of health-focused products. With the updated Watch Ultra in new finishes, Apple is also hoping to cement its presence in the rugged, luxury smartwatch market, competing with brands like Garmin and Fitbit.

The new AirPods 4 introduced at Glowtime, equipped with the H2 chip, are designed to deliver superior audio quality and personalised Spatial Audio. The addition of USB-C charging should offer users convenience and compatibility. Apple hopes these enhancements will help position the AirPods as a top-tier audio accessory, competing with premium headphones from Bose and Sony, while offering integration with its broader device ecosystem.

At the “Glowtime” event, Apple also confirmed that the release dates for its major software updates, including iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS 15 Sequoia, watchOS 11, and visionOS 2, will be September 16 this year.

The rising demand for second-hand smartphones has fuelled a 150 per cent spike in phone thefts across the UK, particularly street snatch thefts.

Crime Survey for England and Wales figures show that between March 2023 and March 2024, an estimated 78,000 phones or bags were stolen, with many devices quickly sent abroad, some reportedly reaching China within days. However, police face challenges recovering these stolen phones, with less than 1 per cent of cases resulting in charges. Despite using tracking tools like Find My iPhone, many victims are unable to retrieve their devices, which are often dismantled for parts in tech hubs like Shenzhen (China). This international trade in stolen phones makes law enforcement efforts even more difficult.

In response, the UK government is now calling on tech companies and phone manufacturers to introduce stronger anti-theft measures. The hope is that they can build on features like remote phone tracking and disabling, while pushing for innovations that prevent stolen phones from being resold or re-registered.

To reduce the risk of theft, phone users should activate security features like strong passcodes, biometric locks, and location tracking. For iPhone users, enabling Lost Mode via Find My iPhone or Android’s Find My Device can lock a phone and prevent access to personal information. Disabling payment services like Apple Pay is also advised if a phone is stolen.

With phone thefts on the rise, taking personal security measures is crucial. By ensuring devices are locked and trackable, users can make it harder for thieves to profit from stolen phones while minimising the risk of identity theft.

Meta (Facebook and Instagram’s parent company) says it has struck a deal to buy geothermal power from Sage Geosystems to supply its U.S. data-centres.

Why? 

Meta’s deal with Sage Geosystems is part of its push to support its sustainability goals while trying to meet the growing energy demands of its AI infrastructure. Geothermal energy offers a continuous, carbon-free, and reliable power supply, unlike intermittent sources like solar and wind, thereby ensuring stable operations for energy-hungry AI technologies. Also, by diversifying its energy mix, Meta can enhance its resilience and reduce reliance on a single source, thua partnering with Sage supports clean energy innovation and offers long-term cost efficiency through geothermal’s stable operating costs.

What Kind of Deal? 

Although the financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed, Meta says its new partnership with Sage Geosystems is a “first-of-its-kind project exploring the use of new, advanced geothermal energy in parts of the country where it has not been possible before”. 

Meta says the first phase of its project to use geothermal energy and utilise Sage’s proprietary Geopressured Geothermal System (GGS) to provide carbon-free power for Meta’s data-centres, will aim to be online and operating in 2027. As part of this partnership with Sage, Meta hopes to deliver “up to 150 MW of new geothermal baseload power” to support its data-centre growth.

It’s also worth noting here that the geothermal energy from Sage Geosystems will not actually be directly supplying each data-centre, but will feed the power grid. Meta could use renewable energy credits (RECs) and geothermal energy can help stabilise energy prices.

Geothermal Can Save Costs For Meta 

Meta has been overhauling its infrastructure to support AI workloads, refitting data-centres to accommodate AI-optimised chips. This AI push has driven up its expenses. For example, Meta has forecast $37-40 billion in capital expenditure for 2024 and warned that infrastructure costs will keep rising in 2025. Geothermal energy offers a cost-effective, stable power source, helping to manage these growing operational costs while ensuring reliable energy for its AI-driven operations.

Geothermal Energy – GGS Will Use Advanced Drilling

In Meta’s announcement of the deal, it highlighted how geothermal energy is a viable, renewable energy source across the US and how advanced geothermal energy is already being used in Nevada, Utah, and California.

However, Sage’s Geothermal Geosystems (GGS) technology aims to tap into geothermal energy by accessing heat from deeper underground than traditional methods. Using advanced drilling and reservoir engineering techniques, GGS can create geothermal systems in areas that were previously unsuitable for geothermal energy. This technology allows for broader geographic access to geothermal power, making it possible to deploy geothermal energy across the U.S. and beyond, even in regions without naturally occurring geothermal hotspots. Meta has, therefore, highlighted that one of the key advantages of its deal with Sage is that Sage’s technology can access geothermal energy virtually anywhere, giving hot dry rock as an example of a vastly abundant resource compared to traditional hydrothermal formations. This is why Meta believes Sage’s GGS technology is a highly scalable approach with the potential for rapid expansion across the US and globally.

Other Tech Companies Using Geothermal Too 

Several major tech companies, in addition to Meta, have explored or invested in geothermal energy to power their data-centres or other operations. For example, these include:

– Google. Back in 2021, Google announced partnerships with companies like Fervo Energy to integrate next-generation geothermal power into its energy portfolio. Google aims to run its data centres on 100 per cent carbon-free energy by 2030, and geothermal energy is part of its plan to provide a continuous, reliable power source.

– Microsoft has also shown interest in geothermal energy as part of its broader renewable energy initiatives. The company is committed to becoming carbon-negative by 2030 and removing its historical carbon emissions by 2050. Microsoft has, therefore, invested in various clean energy projects, including exploring geothermal energy to power its operations and data-centres, especially as it looks for sustainable energy sources that can meet the growing demand from AI and cloud computing.

– Apple. As part of powering all its global operations with renewable energy by 2018, the company has heavily invested in solar, wind, and biogas projects. However, it has also explored geothermal energy, particularly in regions like Nevada, where it has data-centres and renewable energy projects.

What Does This Mean For Your Business? 

Meta’s move to adopt geothermal power is a significant development, not only for its own operations but also for the broader business landscape. For Meta, the shift represents a strategic solution to the growing energy demands of its AI-driven infrastructure. As the company continues to expand its data-centres and refit them to support AI-optimised chips, geothermal energy offers a stable, cost-effective power source. This could help Meta manage its rising operational costs while contributing to its sustainability goals. For businesses like Meta that rely on large-scale AI processing and data storage, accessing renewable energy solutions like geothermal will become increasingly important in maintaining both operational efficiency and environmental responsibility.

Meta’s customers stand to benefit from this shift as well. As the company scales its AI capabilities, users can expect improved performance, reliability, and potentially lower costs passed on from energy savings. For those concerned about sustainability, Meta’s commitment to geothermal energy demonstrates a tangible effort to reduce its carbon footprint (as well as costs), aligning with the growing demand from consumers and businesses for greener practices.

This partnership also signals significant growth for geothermal energy and advanced technologies like Sage Geosystems’ Geopressured Geothermal System (GGS). By tapping into deeper geothermal resources, Meta and Sage could pave the way for the broader adoption of geothermal energy, making it viable in regions previously unsuitable for this form of power. As this technology scales, more businesses should have access to stable, carbon-free energy, supporting the growth of AI, cloud computing, and other data-intensive operations.

For competitors and the wider tech industry, this development highlights the increasing importance of renewable energy solutions. Companies like Google, Microsoft, and Apple are already exploring geothermal energy as part of their sustainability strategies, and Meta’s entry into this space raises the bar for the industry. The shift towards geothermal highlights how AI-driven businesses are rethinking their energy sources, and as AI continues to grow, we can expect more companies to follow suit in embracing renewable energy to power their operations.