Microsoft is hiring energy strategists to power its Asian datacenters, as the software giant aims to ensure its facilities in the region can access the energy they need. The company has advertised for three 'Senior Energy Program Managers' in Australia and Singapore, who will be responsible for strategizing and executing 'end-to-end' plans for Microsoft's energy requirements in the APAC region. Microsoft wants these strategists to lead and implement datacenter power interconnection projects, power purchase agreements, and energy supply contracts with utilities and third-party suppliers. This move comes as Microsoft expands its datacenter footprint in Asia, and as datacenters used for AI applications are known to be power-hungry. Meanwhile, Vietnam has broken ground on its first chipmaking plant, with the company Viettel planning to offer foundry services on a 32-nanometer process. The plant is seen as a strategic moment for Vietnam, as it aims to close the gap in chip production by 2027. In other news, Big Tech companies have taken down 4.7 million kids' accounts in Australia, with the eSafety Commissioner welcoming the outcome but noting that it's too early to measure the impact of the law. Bangladesh's University of Dhaka has also revealed that it deployed a Honeynet sensor, which attracted hostile attention within an hour of going online. Additionally, Malaysia and Indonesia have blocked X over its failure to curb deepfake smut, while China has proposed banning the creation of AI versions of oneself to keep aged relatives company. India's CloudSEK has celebrated US funding, while ASUS has received FDA clearance to sell its ultrasound devices in America.
