A power outage can interrupt timely telehealth care. A dead battery can cut a lesson short. When connectivity isn’t reliable, opportunities fall out of reach. And as we step into this AI era, connectivity is more important than ever. In this month’s Sustainably Speaking, we’re digging into what durable digital access looks like in practice: 🤝 Partner perspectives on scaling connectivity 🔋 Local infrastructure built for the long run 📱 Skills and devices that help translate access into opportunity 🌍 A new milestone: connectivity coverage to 299M+ people worldwide Click to read this issue, and subscribe to stay in the know. Featuring: Melanie Nakagawa Hardy Pemhiwa Cassava Technologies Sylvia Jaramillo Anditel S.A. Megan Steckly Compudopt
Microsoft On the Issues
Technology, Information and Internet
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News & perspectives on today's pressing tech issues, AI, sustainability, security and more for #Microsoft. 👇
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News and perspectives on the future of tech, public policy and philanthropic topics for #Microsoft. ➡️ https://blogs.microsoft.com/on-the-issues/
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Cyber threats targeting water and wastewater utilities are growing more frequent and disruptive. To better understand how utilities can strengthen their defenses, the Cyber Readiness Institute and the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) Center on Cyber Technology and Innovation, supported by Microsoft piloted a program to answer the question: can accessible, behavior focused cybersecurity training paired with hands-on support meaningfully improve cyber readiness? The pilot has shown that while interest in improving cybersecurity is high, many utilities, especially smaller systems, lack the staff, time, and resources to fully implement stronger protections. Strengthening cyber resilience across the water sector will require hands-on support, technical assistance, and sustained partnerships to turn guidance into action. We encourage water utilities to make use of this resource Read more: https://msft.it/6040QqjAn
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Microsoft On the Issues reposted this
As our infrastructure footprint grows, so does #Microsoft's responsibility to earn trust in a different way. Today, we are making a clear change. Going forward, we will no longer enter into non-disclosure agreements with local governments. We will continue to use NDAs in connection with private transactions when acquiring land, and we will continue to rigorously protect our trade secrets and datacenter design information. But we will not use NDAs as a default mechanism in our engagement with local governments. Our neighbors deserve to know when we are coming to their community. They deserve transparency about what we are building and why. This shift is about strengthening public trust, enabling better dialogue, and ensuring that our growth is matched by meaningful engagement. Learn more https://lnkd.in/ds7zYzQp
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“I’m very attuned to when perspectives are missing.” AI can only be as inclusive as the perspectives that shape it. In this episode of On Second Thought, futurist Sinead Bovell sits down with Hiwot Tesfaye, Technical Advisor within Microsoft’s Office of Responsible AI, to explore how language, culture, and lived experience influence what AI “understands.” Together, they dig into what it takes to build AI systems that reflect everyone, not just the loudest or most represented communities, and why earning trust in AI is a global imperative. Watch the full episode: https://msft.it/6048QYO32
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The Industry Accord Against Online Scams and Fraud reflects what it takes to reduce online scams: collective action. That’s why Microsoft is joining Amazon, Google, Meta, OpenAI, Match Group, LinkedIn, Adobe, Target, Pinterest and Levi Strauss & Co. in support of this shared effort. When industry aligns around common commitments, scams become harder to run and easier to stop. We’ve seen that engaging with policymakers, sharing threat intelligence, coordinating disruption efforts, educating the public and strengthening our own services raises costs for criminals and limits their reach. By working together, we can make meaningful progress against the growing global threat of online scams. ◾Read the full accord: https://lnkd.in/gsJHvuFq
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“This is like an AI‑driven smoke detector for this entire region.” In the latest episode of Tools and Weapons, Brad Smith visits Deputy Fire Chief Zachary Wells and Dr. Neal Driscoll to discuss our partnership with ALERTCalifornia: bringing firefighters, researchers, and the Microsoft AI for Good team together to help detect and confirm fires earlier, share intelligence faster, and support better decisions in the first critical minutes. ▶️ Watch the full episode: https://msft.it/6046QlIt4
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Microsoft TechSpark is helping bring AI and digital skills to single moms across Wyoming. We’re partnering with Climb Wyoming to offer career training, mentorship, and job placement support that helps mothers achieve financial independence. Since 1986, Climb Wyoming has served thousands of moms and children, delivering hundreds of thousands of hours of training. Through TechSpark, programs like this have helped secure $294M+ in funding and upskill 34,600+ individuals—showing the power of investing in people who know their communities best. Learn more about this impact: https://msft.it/6044Q57us
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Today, we filed an amicus brief in Anthropic, PBC v. U.S. Department of War, et al. in support of Anthropic’s motion for a Temporary Restraining Order. Our statement on the filing is as follows: “We believe everyone involved shares common goals, and we need time and a process to find common ground. The Department of War needs reliable access to the country’s best technology. And everyone wants to ensure AI is not used for mass domestic surveillance or to start a war without human control. The government, the entire tech sector, and the American public need a path to achieve all these goals together.” The brief may be viewed here: https://aka.ms/AA105z5u
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AI is reshaping economies, but access must translate into real adoption. Even as connectivity expands, billions of people remain offline and many more face barriers like affordability, reliability, and access to relevant digital services. That’s why connectivity must be paired with the conditions that make it usable and durable: reliable energy, affordable devices, digital skills, and cloud and AI tools designed for local needs. Swipe to see: 🌍 How Microsoft is expanding digital access globally 📊 The progress made—and where things stand today ➡️ What’s ahead as we continue building AI‑ready communities Learn more about this milestone and how we’re evolving our approach to digital access: https://lnkd.in/gz6Td7VH
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Cybercrime often starts quietly, with access to a single inbox. After compromising an email account, attackers monitored a vendor payment conversation and redirected funds during what appeared to be a routine process change. There were no outages or visible warnings, only a familiar thread and updated bank details. Read more to see how the scheme unfolded and why verifying payment changes through a trusted second channel can prevent funds from being diverted. https://msft.it/6049Q57RR