The mobile industry association, the GSMA, and the Automotive Edge Computing Consortium (AECC) have signed a formal agreement to work together to help the automotive industry bring new connected vehicle services to market faster, utilising the full functionality of 5G mobile networks.

The two industry organisations will ensure interoperable and compatible technologies exist across a diverse range of connected vehicle platforms, enabled by the GSMA Open Gateway initiative.

The collaboration aims to unlock the full potential of connected vehicle services and accelerate the adoption of next-generation automotive technologies, by ensuring common technology standards exist so developers can more easily access operator networks and edge computing functionality, wherever they are in the world.

The AECC will work with GSMA Fusion, a new enterprise-focused, buyer-led initiative enabled by GSMA Open Gateway, to help the automotive sector voice what it needs from connectivity providers to digitally transform and monetise their operations.

By connecting the automotive industry and developers, with operators and technology partners, GSMA Fusion and AECC aim to help the automotive industry create new services, that utilise connectivity and that add value and improve customer experiences for drivers and passengers.

The collaboration will also help accelerate conversations between automotive manufacturers, mobile operators and developers and create and trial new use cases. For example, by ensuring better interoperability between open advanced networks and 5G connectivity there is an opportunity to bring new connected and autonomous vehicle services to market.

Likewise, automotive and mobile operators are already trialling application programmable interfaces (APIs), such as Quality on Demand, to bring to market new in-vehicle services for passengers as well as driver assistance, green mobility and edge AI services.

Key to this will be the GSMA Open Gateway initiative which aligns operators and technology channel partners in engaging enterprise developers, so they can more easily access network capabilities through APIs.

More than 64 mobile operator groups representing 277 networks and three quarters of mobile connections globally now participate in the initiative alongside many of the world’s leading technology companies.

To inaugurate the partnership, the GSMA Fusion team on Wednesday 23rd October spoke at Automotive Edge Computing Consortium’s All Member Meeting in Berlin, Germany at Weltwirtschaft am HKW.

Alongside the GSMA, industry leaders such as Toyota, Ericsson, KDDI and Oracle discussed and demonstrated the latest innovations in automotive technology such as flexible and differentiated connectivity through telecoms APIs, vehicle teleoperation in immersive digital twin, and operation of service-oriented vehicle diagnostics.

Henry Calvert, Head of Networks at GSMA, said: “Through the GSMA Fusion initiative, the automotive sector now has a seat at the table to voice what it requires from the telecommunications sector. Advanced connectivity and edge computing create tremendous opportunities to digitally transform the industry, helping it enhance safety, efficiency, and sustainability, while driving innovation in autonomous driving and next-generation mobility.

“We look forward to working closely with the Automotive Edge Computing Consortium and mobility sector to understand their needs and ensure the mobile industry helps them deliver new digital innovations for drivers and passengers, consistently across markets, regionally globally.”

AECC President and Chair Dr. Ryokichi Onishi, Principal Engineer and General Manager at Toyota Motor Corporation said: “We are excited to formalize this partnership with the GSMA and join forces to accelerate the automotive industry’s digital transformation. By leveraging the full potential of 5G networks and edge computing through interoperable technologies, we can unlock new connected vehicle services and enhance the driving experience.

“Our collaboration with GSMA Open Gateway and GSMA Fusion is a pivotal step in aligning the automotive and mobile industries, enabling innovation in various intelligent in-vehicle services, driver assistance, green mobility and edge AI services.”

The announcement builds on a recent agreement between AECC and the Linux Foundation’s CAMARA Project, a key partner in the GSMA Open Gateway initiative.

Google has launched the Growth Academy AI for Cybersecurity program designed to support startups using artificial intelligence to enhance cybersecurity. 

This opportunity offers startups the chance to acquire the necessary tools, skills, and international strategies to scale their business, all while being mentored by experts from Google and other key players.

This three-month hybrid programme will help participants expand their global reach and develop responsibly within the growing cybersecurity market.

Benefits

Startups accepted into the programme will experience a range of benefits:

• Equity-free support: Participants receive three months of mentorship and resources without needing to give up any equity in their company.
• Custom mentoring: Startups will be paired with industry experts who provide tailored advice in areas such as technology, strategy, and leadership.
• Strategic guidance: Startups will be supported in their company’s growth strategy, helping them scale through the competitive cybersecurity space.
• Global expansion opportunities: Participants will learn how to scale their business internationally, with guidance from mentors and Google teams.
• Networking opportunities: Founders will have the opportunity to connect with peers and build a solid network of industry contacts.

Eligibility 

Startups interested in joining the Growth Academy’s AI for Cybersecurity programme must meet the following criteria:

• Startup stage: Only early-stage startups (Seed to Series A) aiming to scale internationally are eligible.
• AI in cybersecurity: Startups must utilise AI to tackle issues such as cybersecurity prevention, protection, threat analysis, and research.
• Proven traction: Applicants must demonstrate their progress through user growth, revenue, or funding.
• Scalability: Startups must have a product or service with a large addressable market and a sustainable growth model.

How to Apply

Startups can apply by visiting the official programme webpage and completing the application form before the deadline on 3rd December 2024. Successful applicants will be notified in March 2025, with the Google AI for Cybersecurity program running from March to June 2025.

This is an excellent opportunity for cybersecurity-focused startups to gain insights, support, and resources to drive their innovation to the next level.

Google Cloud and Prudential plc have announced that Prudential is using MedLM, Google’s family of foundation models fine-tuned for healthcare industry use cases, to improve the accuracy and efficiency of medical insurance claim decisions.

Prudential is one of the first insurance providers globally to use MedLM – which is typically used by healthcare organizations to build solutions for doctors, hospitals, and other medical providers to deliver better experiences for healthcare workers and patients.

Starting in Singapore and Malaysia, Prudential will use MedLM to analyse documents submitted alongside health insurance claims, such as diagnostic reports, prescriptions and invoices.

MedLM supports human decision-making with its ability to extract relevant information and code it accurately for claims, helping to reduce the potential for errors caused by manual data entry, so claims can be processed faster and more accurately.

The announcement follows several proof-of-concept tests by Prudential that showed its use of MedLM doubled the automation rate of claim reviews and assessments, in addition to improving the accuracy of claims decisions – allowing the insurer to handle a higher volume and velocity of claims while improving overall customer experience.

“Prudential’s early tests with MedLM demonstrate that generative AI can play a major role in efficiently tackling the growing volume of health insurance claims, resulting in more frictionless processing and a faster turnaround time for customers,” said Arjan Toor, CEO, Health at Prudential plc.

“We’re proud to pioneer this innovative approach to using MedLM to support our operational efficiency as we continue to expand our health insurance offering – while delivering our mission to be the most trusted health partner for customers in Asia and Africa.”

Prudential will apply MedLM to select medical insurance claims made in Singapore and Malaysia over a period of 3-4 months, then compare the AI’s analysis and advice to actual decisions using current approvals processes during this time.

Doing so will help Prudential identify areas where MedLM can deliver the greatest productivity improvements and most useful advice to claims assessors, while maintaining a “human in the loop” at critical stages of the decision-making process.

“In a fragmented and often confusing healthcare landscape, data and AI are enabling us to provide care beyond coverage for our customers,” said Toor.

“Our strategic partnership with Google Cloud has given us a valuable first-mover advantage in adopting generative AI to improve the customer experience at an important moment of truth.

“This is just the first step in using generative AI to deliver seamless, digitally enabled healthcare experiences at every step of our customers’ health journey; from the point of diagnosis, through treatment, recovery and prevention.”

“Prudential has taken a truly innovative approach by adapting MedLM’s advanced healthcare and medical-specific capabilities to one of its core business processes,” said Karan Bajwa, Vice President, Google Cloud in Asia Pacific.

“This collaboration exemplifies how our strategic partnership with Prudential can empower its workforce to drive confident decision-making, improve the overall experience for policy holders, and create meaningful innovation in healthcare and finance.”