Microsoft and OpenAI will jointly build new artificial intelligence “supercomputing technologies” using Microsoft’s Azure cloud-computing service under a multiyear partnership, said the companies Monday. The “resulting enhancements” to the Azure platform will help developers “build the next generation of AI applications,” they said. OpenAI will "port" its services to run on Microsoft Azure, while Microsoft will become OpenAI’s “preferred partner for commercializing new AI technologies,” they said. “The companies will focus on building a computational platform in Azure of unprecedented scale, which will train and run increasingly advanced AI models,” they said.

Sens. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., reintroduced two bills Friday to improve cybersecurity in cars and airplanes. The Security and Privacy in Your Car Act would direct the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and FTC to “establish federal standards to ensure cybersecurity in increasingly computerized vehicles and to protect drivers’ privacy.” The Cybersecurity Standards for Aircraft to Improve Resilience Act would require disclosure of cyberattack information on aircraft and “standards to identify and address cybersecurity vulnerabilities” of commercial U.S. aircraft operations.

Facebook’s 27 Libra partners should walk away, consumer advocates wrote Thursday, citing money-laundering, privacy and terrorism concerns. Open Markets Institute, Public Citizen, Demand Progress Education Fund and Revolving Door Project signed. “Private currencies endanger sovereign power,” OMI Chief of Staff Laura Hatalsky said. “Unless we want to be pledging allegiance to Mark Zuckerberg, the Libra project needs to be put to an end.” Facebook didn’t comment. This week saw two congressional hearings on Libra (see 1907170058).

Domain registry Neustar will run the .us domain for another 10 years, NTIA said Wednesday. The new contract, which begins Aug. 29, will be at no cost to the government. The .us country-code domain has over 2 million names under management.

Amazon's use of sensitive data from independent sellers may breach EU antitrust rules, the European Commission said Wednesday, opening a formal competition inquiry. In its role as a marketplace for independent sellers to sell directly to consumers, Amazon collects data about activity on its platform. The EC will investigate the standard contracts between the company and marketplace sellers that allow Amazon's retail business to analyze and use third-party seller data, it said. The probe also includes the role played by data in the selection of winners of the buy box, which lets customers add items from a specific retailer into their shopping carts: "Winning the 'Buy Box' seems key for marketplace sellers as a vast majority of transactions are done through it." The launch of the investigation doesn't prejudge its outcome, and there's no specific deadline for the inquiry to end, the EC said. The e-tailer said it will "fully cooperate with the European Commission and continue working hard to support businesses of all sizes and help them grow."

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai warned of the internet-driven assault on minority religious groups in various parts of the world. Pai spoke Wednesday at the State Department Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom. The suffering of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar isn’t new, but government there is using Facebook to add to the pain, he said. Government officials and militants have used the platform to “incite a culture of hatred against the Rohingya,” Pai said: “They used Facebook to spread false rumors of attacks. The government’s Information Committee identified more than 1,300 Rohingya Muslims as ‘terrorists’ on its official Facebook page, posting names and photos without any due process.” China is the biggest offender, he said. “To make sure people aren’t sharing religious messages online, or any other messages the government finds objectionable, China has built an army 2 million strong to police the Internet,” he said: “China employs significantly more people to violate the rights of their citizens than the United States employs to militarily defend rights like free expression and freedom of assembly.” Facebook and the Chinese Embassy didn’t comment.

The continued evolution of LTE is critical to the IoT's future, 5G Americas said Tuesday. Some forecast 20 billion connected things and $1 trillion in worldwide spending on the IoT by 2020, the report said: “IoT has arrived -- there are more connected devices worldwide than the global population.” But challenges remain. “The future-proofing and delivery of IoT becomes essential as networks transform from 4G to 5G,” said co-author Vicki Livingston, vice president-communications. “In 2019, we are seeing the early deployment of 5G networks,” she said: “However, LTE IoT will continue to evolve over coming years, leveraging the scale, longevity and global coverage of LTE networks and complement initial 5G New Radio deployments that focus on enhanced mobile broadband and high-performance IoT.”

Organizations that are working with artificial intelligence have, on average, four such projects in place, said a Gartner report Monday. It canvassed 106 information technology “professionals,” and found 59 percent said their companies already have AI “deployed today,” it said. “We see a substantial acceleration in AI adoption this year,” said Gartner. “The rising number of AI projects means that organizations may need to reorganize internally to make sure that AI projects are properly staffed and funded.” Respondents said their organizations expect to add six more AI projects in the next 12 months, and another 15 within the next three years, said Gartner. Improving the customer experience was the “top motivator” for deploying AI, it said. A lack of skilled staff was top deployment challenge, cited by 59 percent of respondents, it said. “Finding the right staff skills is a major concern whenever advanced technologies are involved. Skill gaps can be addressed using service providers, partnering with universities, and establishing training programs for existing employees.”

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai named members of the Communications Security, Reliability and Interoperability Council VII, Monday, before its introductory meeting Friday. “CSRIC’s first meeting will introduce members of the Council and announce the topics that CSRIC VII will consider and address,” a public notice said. Pai appointed Charlotte Field, senior vice president at Charter Communications, chair. The meeting starts at 1 p.m. in the Commission Meeting Room. A list of other members is in the personals section of this publication.

The FTC approved a roughly $5 billion privacy-related settlement with Facebook in a 3-2 party line vote, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday. That amount is toward the higher end of Facebook’s projected settlement (see 1904240064). DOJ’s Civil Division is reportedly reviewing the settlement. The FTC declined comment. DOJ and the company didn’t comment. The fine is a fraction of the company’s annual revenue and won’t make executives think twice about protecting user data, said House Antitrust Subcommittee Chairman David Cicilline, D-R.I. The apparent “slap-on-the-wrist” settlement shows Congress needs to investigate the FTC’s “wanton disregard” for its duties, said Freedom From Facebook co-chair Sarah Miller. Congress and state attorneys general should handle any antitrust probe of the platform, she said. The reported deal is a “capstone” for the agency’s failure to police privacy, said Open Markets Institute Director-Enforcement Sally Hubbard. The reported fine itself isn’t sufficient without business model and practices remedies, said Public Knowledge Competition Policy Counsel Charlotte Slaiman. Public Citizen called for “structural reforms and substantive terms to protect user privacy.”