Category: Tech News

Dell Technologies Ireland unveils top five technology predictions for 2023

Jason Ward, Vice-President and Managing Director of Dell Technologies Ireland, has unveiled his top five technology predictions for 2023. The prominent technology leader is forecasting how new developments in AI and Quantum Computing together with the growing importance placed on the digital employee experience will transform the business landscape over the coming year.

With seven in ten Irish businesses seeking to accelerate their digital transformation plans, smart investments in IT are set to continue at pace. Those investments will increasingly be focused on new technologies that can unlock the value of data while also keeping it secure.

The technology predictions for 2023 comes following a year in which Irish businesses recognised that their ability to embrace AI, Cloud and Edge Computing rests on an engaged and innovative workforce. According to Dell’s Breakthrough study, 74% of Irish leaders regard their people as their greatest asset in driving digital transformation forward.

“As we look ahead to 2023, new technologies will help Irish businesses to remain resilient in challenging times as well as enabling a hybrid workforce to innovate at speed,” said Jason Ward, Vice-President and Managing Director of Dell Technologies Ireland as he unveiled his 2023 predictions.

“To help organisations across Ireland navigate a world increasingly defined by data, we’ve pinpointed five technology predictions that will shape how we live, work and do business in the next 12 months. For those who have the right talent to embrace it, advancements in AI can provide businesses of all sizes with a distinct competitive advantage.

“2023 will see Quantum Computing become more accessible to Irish business, who will harness this breakthrough technology to speed up innovation. Meanwhile, with evolving ransomware attacks and the growing volume of data, cyber resilience will become intrinsic to business resilience.

“By looking to the horizon and identifying the technology trends that will shape Ireland’s economy, Dell Technologies can support public and private sector organisations to adapt, innovate and remain resilient.”

 Top 5 Predictions:

 The top technology predictions include:

 Prediction 1: Technology will make or break the employee experience

With a significant number of organisations embracing a hybrid future, technology rather than the physical office will increasingly define the employee experience. No longer seen as ‘added extras’, new tools and devices will not only shape how we work from home, but they will also help offices pivot to become workspaces for collaboration. That will enable businesses to provide employees with a consistent and productive work experience, not defined by where they work.

 Prediction 2: Cyber resilience will become intrinsic to business resilience

More evolved ransomware, the shift to hybrid working, the increasing use of new technologies as well as the rise in the volume we all use, have made businesses of all sizes prime targets for cyber attackers. The changing cyber landscape has resulted in 91% of Irish businesses taking steps to enhance data protection over the past year. 2023 will see leaders recognise that they are only as secure and resilient as their people. That will require organisations to build a culture of security at every level. With organisations handling more data than ever before, cyber resilience will become intrinsic to business resilience.

Prediction 3: AI will become the engine of innovation in every organisation  

AI will reach an important turning point next year as it is adopted across every organisation – irrespective of size. Leaders are increasingly looking at ways in which to harness the value of data and are turning to AI to keep pace with changing trends and to remain one step ahead of competitors. Creating more intelligent products and services and supporting the work by all teams across the business, AI will become the main engine of innovation in 2023.

Prediction 4: Quantum Computing will become the new frontier of digital transformation  

For decades, quantum computing has only been accessible to the world’s largest research institutions and government agencies. But in 2023, industry is set to come together to make quantum computing a reality for businesses of all sizes. As the new frontier of digital transformation, Irish businesses will begin to pilot the use of quantum and harness its advanced computing capabilities to speed up innovation. Healthcare and finance are two sectors where the impact of quantum will begin to be felt.

Prediction 5: IT to help organisations achieve their ESG goals

In the wake of COP27 and national climate action plans, IT will play an ever-greater role in helping organisations achieve their environment, social and governance (ESG) goals. IT teams can play a key role in developing the right metrics and accessing data from across the business to reliably track emissions and measure progress. Applying AI and Machine Learning can help to identify opportunities within an organisation to reduce waste or to promote more efficient farming practices.

Two-day RENDR Festival explores nexus between creativity and tech

A two-day festival planned for Belfast early next year will see creative minds from across the global film, gaming, animation and immersive tech industries converge in East Belfast to explore the space where creativity and technology collide, with the longest-serving writer and producer of The Simpsons among the line-up of speakers announced.

Produced by the team behind the city’s annual photography festival, RENDR, formerly known as Capture Conference, will take place from 23-24 February 2023 at Portview Trade Centre in the heart of East Belfast as part of the NI Science Festival.

Billed as a ‘unique nocturnal experience’, RENDR will present 30 speakers across two evenings alongside live and interactive demonstrations of new technology, digital art, gaming experiences and a food village offering the very best of Northern Ireland’s local food and drink producers.

The festival has been curated for anyone with an interest in popular culture and learning more about how genre-defining film, gaming, animation and immersive experiences are brought to life. Through a series of talks, workshops and showcases, RENDR will also create a platform for creatives and students to build networks and explore new opportunities in the industry.

Among the speakers travelling to Belfast for the festival is production stills photographer David James. The long-time collaborator of Hollywood royalty Steven Speilberg will share insight into the award-winning images he has produced for such movies as Schindler’s List, Saving Private Ryan and Mission Impossible.

Mike Reiss, the longest-serving writer and producer of The Simpsons, will also travel to Belfast as part of the festival. Reiss, who co-wrote The Simpsons Movie, will discuss his illustrious career as part of the team behind the long-running animated sitcom, offering an insider’s perspective into the creative process that has seen the show rise to the status of cultural phenomenon.

Also Belfast-bound is Dorothy Di Stefano, creator/founder of Molten Immersive Art. One of the world’s foremost voices in immersive and interactive art curation, she leads a collective of international experiential artists and researchers working at the cutting edge of new technology and art.

Championing Northern Ireland’s own creative industries, RENDR, which is supported by NI Screen, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Belfast City Council, will also recognise the influence and impact of local creatives.

Alongside international voices, Belfast-based production stills photographer Helen Sloan will discuss her work behind the scenes of HBO’s blockbuster series Game of Thrones, and BAFTA-nominated director Kris Kelly of Enter Yes™ will showcase the work of the visual effects and animation studio, which specialises in high-end visuals for film, television and games.

Festival director Michael Weir says: “RENDR is an opportunity to network, to demo new and emerging tech, to be inspired and to gain insight into the latest trends and developments in the creative industries – all with an emphasis on new technologies. We hope the event informs, engages and challenges the creative community to push the boundaries of technology in their fields.”

Commenting on the value of the creative industries, Weir adds: “We’re programming speakers and thought leaders from around the world, but also using this moment to recognise what this place has to offer in terms of its award-winning expertise and innovations. The creative industries are important economic drivers for Northern Ireland and with the support of our funders at NI Screen, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Belfast City Council we hope to both amplify their contribution to building a vibrant arts and culture sector locally and create a platform to showcase what homegrown talent can offer on the global stage.”

Richard Williams, Chief Executive Officer of Northern Ireland Screen, commented: “As part of Northern Ireland Screen’s new four-year strategy ‘Stories, Skills and Sustainability’ we remain committed to supporting opportunities for our industry colleagues to share their stories and enhance their skills to ensure a sustainable future. RENDR’s packed and varied programme presents the local screen industry with the opportunity to showcase their talent alongside international industry, to hear from and learn from local, national, and international leading professionals and gain valuable insight into new and emerging tech and trends.”

Matthew Malcolm, Arts Development Officer, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, added: ”RENDR is a unique and exciting festival that will lead, inspire and connect creative industry professionals and all those interested in learning more about new, emerging technologies and their use in creating art. The Arts Council of Northern Ireland is thrilled to support RENDR which reflects our commitment to encouraging innovative practices that cross artform boundaries and build digital capabilities within the Northern Ireland arts sector.”

Belfast City Council Chair of City Growth and Regeneration Committee, Councillor Ryan Murphy, said: “We are delighted to be supporting RENDR Festival this year and pleased to see such a wide range of creative and digital technology leaders and entrepreneurs taking part. The creative digital industry is a strong part of our city’s economy and we have ambitions to become world class in digital innovation, with investment from the Belfast Region City Deal. In order to do this, we need to facilitate engagement, collaboration and knowledge sharing between creative businesses, education and our public sector and RENDR Festival will play a key role in that.”

Further speakers are set to be announced in the coming weeks. For the full list of speakers revealed to date and to book tickets, visit RENDRfestival.com and stay up to date with the latest developments and speakers announcements on the festival’s Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Treemetrics launches revolutionary Real-Time Forest Monitoring and Measurement Platform

Treemetrics, a world-leading provider of forest inventory and management solutions, has announced the launch of its new ground-breaking ‘real-time forest monitoring and measurement’ platform. In a world-first innovation developed at the company’s headquarters in Cork, Ireland, the platform utilizes advanced satellite imagery processing software to provide real-time insights into forest health and productivity.

The Treemetrics platform offers a range of powerful features to help forestry professionals and forest carbon developers to monitor and manage their forests. It is immediately available to users, who can access high-resolution satellite imagery, as well as advanced analytics tools to track changes in tree cover, biomass, and other important metrics. The platform also includes an intuitive user interface and easy-to-use mapping tools to help users visualize and analyse their data.

“We are most excited to introduce this new forest monitoring platform, which represents a major advance in the way that forestry professionals and forest owners can measure and manage their forests,” said Treemetrics CEO, Enda Keane. “With the ability to access near real-time satellite imagery and advanced analytics tools, our platform provides a powerful tool for accurately calculating forest carbon credits.”

Niall Bolger, Head of Earth Observation programmes, Enterprise Ireland, said: “Treemetrics is a great example of an SME that is successfully leveraging the European Space Agency (ESA) Sentinel Hub, a world class resource of Earth Observation data that has an open and free data access policy. With Treemetrics deep insights in forestry management, they have developed a powerful analytics tool that is sure to bring value to forestry owners and carbon credit managers across the globe.”

The Treemetrics platform is designed to be scalable and flexible, allowing users to monitor forests of any size or complexity. It is also compatible with a range of existing forest inventory and management systems, making it easy to integrate into existing workflows.

“One challenge in measuring forest carbon is that forests are dynamic ecosystems, and they can change over time due to factors such as tree growth, mortality, and disturbance events such as fires and storms. This means that the carbon capturing potential of a forest can also change over time, and it is important to regularly monitor and update the carbon inventory. We believe that our platform represents the future of forest monitoring,” said Enda Keane. “With its advanced technology and intuitive design, it is the ideal solution for forestry professionals looking to take their operations to the next level.”

In November, it was announced that Treemetrics was selected to participate in an important EU-wide project aimed at mitigating and adapting to climate change by better monitoring of EU’s forests.

Ergo Achieves Microsoft Networking Services Specialisation to Further Advance Market-Leading Azure Capabilities

Ergo has become the only Irish IT services company to achieve the Networking Services in Microsoft Azure Specialisation, designed for Microsoft partners to demonstrate their deep knowledge, extensive experience and proven success in planning and deploying networks in Azure.

A rigorous and independent audit validated Ergo’s capability, not just for implementation but also for operating and optimising a customer’s network architecture, paying particular attention to performance, security and value. Strengths of Ergo’s public cloud and networking practices were praised in the audit, including its skilled and qualified staff in enterprise networking technologies, the accomplished standardisation of business processes and the strong focus on continual improvement.

The specialisation also recognises the breadth of Ergo’s competencies, a depth of knowledge around traditional networks that complements a range of virtual network solutions. For organisations pursuing hybrid strategies, where they need to connect on-premises infrastructure with cloud services, it’s a critical combination of skills to have at their disposal.

Des Curley, Head of Ergo’s Networking Practice, said, “Ergo has always recognised that the network is the backbone for every cloud strategy. This Microsoft Azure specialisation endorses our capability to provide customers with best-in-class combinations of physical and virtual networks, enabling complex hybrid environments to flourish with no impact on performance.”

Martina Naughton, Global Partner Sales Director of Microsoft Ireland, commented, “Ergo has been at the leading-edge of Microsoft technology for nearly 30 years in Ireland and I applaud their team’s work in adding another Azure specialisation to the six they have already achieved. I look forward to working closely with them on new projects in the years ahead.”

Kevin Greene, Public Cloud Practice Lead at Ergo, said, “This advanced Microsoft specialisation validates our leadership in the cloud connectivity market. All the networking skills we’ve fine-tuned over the years around on-premises environments have been successfully adapted, added to and enhanced for cloud.”

The new specialisation is the latest milestone in a journey that began when Ergo became a Microsoft Azure Expert MSP in 2021. The highest Azure status Microsoft sets for its elite global partners, it validates excellence in designing, building, operating and optimising cloud solutions. The networking specialisation highlights another strength in a growing portfolio of hybrid cloud propositions.

Alongside this latest advanced specialisation, Ergo have also achieved the following six specialisations across the Azure and Modern Work partner designations:

  • Windows Server and SQL Server Migration to Microsoft Azure
  • Threat Protection
  • Linux and Open-source Databases Migration to Microsoft Azure
  • Adoption and Change Management
  • Modernisation of Web Applications to Microsoft Azure
  • Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop

Dell Technologies has unveiled key updates to the company’s concept for sustainable PC design.

Introduced a year ago, Concept Luna illustrates Dell’s vision of how it can reduce waste and emissions, reuse materials and achieve next-level innovation. The concept explores the bigger picture opportunities to change the way Dell tracks, assesses, repairs, refurbishes, supports, and even sells products and devices.

The world produces as much as 50 million tons of e-waste each year, less than 20% of which is recycled. In order to address e-waste, one of the fastest growing global waste streams, technology innovations, recovery and recycling services, scalability and consumer education are needed. Concept Luna provides a future vision of how this could be achieved at scale.

Commenting on the evolved Concept Luna design, Glen Robson, Chief Technology Officer at Dell Technologies, said: “Imagine a future where we don’t simply discard used electronics. Rather, we harvest individual components for a second, third or even fourth life. Once the device itself is truly at the end of life, we refurbish and recycle it to incorporate these same materials into next-generation laptops, monitors or phones. It’s a future where nothing goes to waste and the mountain of electronics discarded every year is dramatically reduced. Not only is technology dematerialized, but the materials we use fuel a robust circular economy. Thereby, reducing the need for new, raw materials.

By marrying Luna’s sustainable design with intelligent telemetry and robotic automation, we’ve created something with the potential to trigger a seismic shift in the industry and drive circularity at scale. A single sustainable device is one thing, but the real opportunity is the potential impact on millions of tech devices sold each year, and optimizing the materials in those devices for future reuse, refurbishment or recycling.”

“Driving breakthrough advancements and shaping a more sustainable future for all is what Luna is about”, Robson continues “I am honored to be a part of this journey.”

Having unveiled details of the evolution of Concept Luna, Dell says it Experience Innovation Group engineers have worked over the last year to further refine the modular design of this vision, eliminating the need for adhesives and cables, and minimizing the use of screws.

These refinements make it easier to repair and dismantle a system. Concept Luna could dramatically simplify and accelerate repair and disassembly processes, making components more accessible and expanding opportunities for reuse.

It can take recycling firms more than an hour to disassemble a PC with today’s technology, held together with screws, glues and various soldered components. With the evolved Concept Luna design, Dell says it has reduced disassembly time to mere minutes. The company even commissioned a micro-factory to guide its design team, resulting in a device that robots can quickly and easily take apart.

The telemetry added to Luna also provides the opportunity to diagnose the health of individual system components to help ensure sure nothing goes to waste. Because the way customers use their technology varies, not all components reach end-of-life at the same time. People working from home, for example, may use external components, such as keyboards and monitors. The laptop’s keyboard and monitor have barely been used, even when the motherboard is ready to be replaced. Concept Luna evolution can equip and connect individual components to telemetry to optimize their lifespans.

Urbanista Phoenix solar powered earbuds now available online

Urbanista, the Swedish lifestyle audio brand, are pleased to announce that the world’s first self-charging solar powered, wireless active noise cancelling earphones powered by Powerfoyle™ solar cell material, the Urbanista Phoenix, are now available to order online.

Priced at 149 EUR / 149 USD / 139 GBP / 1590 SEK MSRP, Phoenix boasts full compatibility with iOS and Android devices.

Following a successful partnership with Exeger to launch the Urbanista Los Angeles headphones, Phoenix advances the use of their groundbreaking Powerfoyle™ technology to a new level, with true wireless earphones that deliver an endless playtime experience which the user controls. With Urbanista Phoenix you can experience a truly true wireless future with no need for cords or charging cables. Integrated with Powerfoyle™ solar cell material, the earphones’ streamlined charging case continuously recharges when exposed to all forms of outdoor or indoor light, meaning that the earphones will provide endless playtime when placed back in their case for charging and continuously exposed to light.

Enhance Your Experience with the Urbanista Mobile App

Get the most out of the earbuds with the Urbanista mobile companion app. The Urbanista app, available on Apple App Store and Google Play Store, gives you deep customisation options, including the ability to change EQ settings, monitor battery levels and customise touch controls. The companion app also provides information on how to get the most out of the product’s playtime, including visual indications of solar charging levels and historical charging data.

Tuomas Lonka, Brand and Marketing Director, comments: “We were the first audio brand to market with solar powered headphones, the Urbanista Los Angeles, and we are excited that our second product together with Exeger, the Urbanista Phoenix is now available to order. Our focus and ability to bring solar powered technology to the audio industry and being the first to market with two new product innovations, two years in a row, in an extremely competitive market is what really sets us apart from the competition, and is how we are pushing our industry forward.”

Sofie Löwenhielm, Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer of Exeger, says: “I am thrilled that Urbanista is expanding their solar powered audio line-up into the increasingly popular true wireless category. Powerfoyle is revolutionising the way people experience consumer electronics and has set a new standard for convenience and sustainability. With Phoenix, Urbanista shows again that they are a front-runner in this switch to self-powered mode.”

Urbanista Phoenix is now available to order online at www.urbanista.com/phoenix

Priced at 139 GBP, 149 EUR, 149 USD, 1590 SEKMSRP, Urbanista Phoenix is available in two stylish colours: Midnight Black (black) and Desert Rose (beige pink).

Key features:

●      Solar and ambient light charging with Powerfoyle™

●      Hybrid active noise cancelling

●      Transparency mode

●      Multipoint connection

●      Playtime 8 hours

●      Total battery reserve 34 hours

●      Noise-reducing microphones

●      In-ear detection

●      Automatic power off

●      Touch controls

●      Voice assistant support

●      IPX4 water resistant

●      USB type-C charging

●      Bluetooth 5.2 version

●      Urbanista mobile app compatible

●      Available in Midnight Black and Desert Rose

Specifications:

●      Drivers type: 10mm dynamic, moving coil

●      Driver impedance: 16 Ohm ±15%

●      Sensitivity: 97 ±3 dB SPL/mW @ 1kHz

●      Frequency response: 20 Hz to 20 kH

●      Microphone type: Mems

●      Bluetooth® version: 5.2

●      Bluetooth® profiles: A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP

●      Audio codecs: SBC and AAC

Tronsmart Launches Bang SE Party Speaker

Tronsmart inherited its reputation from party speakers, the exceptional Bang SE. Being a section of the Tronsmart Bang Series, Bang SE guarantees a 24-hour playtime with a splendid light show.

Tronsmart Bang Series

Tronsmart Bang Series has got an excellent hit on party speakers, which comes with models Bang, Bang Mini and the most attentive one, the Bang SE.

Tailored for outdoor scenarios, the Tronsmart Bang SE has got an impressive 40W bright stereo system output and a very reasonable weight of around 2 kg. Thanks to its two 3,1-inch full-range driver units, it is packed with exceptional sound quality, presenting a loud & crisp sound.

To further expand the sound stage, Tronsmart’s Bluetooth speakers have SoundPulse, which intensifies the sounds reproduced and even brings a bass intensification algorithm that is made to pitch out punchy bass.

Enjoy all the Way

Do you want to spice up the party with a speaker that can transform your place into a dance floor? The Bang SE Speaker from Tronsmart is here to do exactly that! Give your life a soundtrack with the Bang SE, and when it is time to bring the fun, you have the sound and light show to get that party started. Built-in handle and detachable strap mean that whatever your day has in store, you can take Bang SE with you. From the beach to your kitchen, wherever you are, Bang SE brings the music.

Portable Party Speaker for Indoors & Outdoors

Tronsmart innovated the design of its speaker series with the integration of portability, applicability & entertainment. Considering that, nothing is more suitable than Bang SE, which got IPX6 Waterproof for protection against dust, spills or splashes. 

Comes with a battery that promises up to 24 hours of playtime, the Bang SE also featured with power bank function, allowing you to charge your device if emergent. Furthermore, the stereo pairing makes it an excellent choice for a home audio system, delivering a louder & wider sound field. When it comes to connections, it’s also possible to stream audio from the Aux-in port (3,5mm), TF Cards as well as U-disk. Besides, equipped with the bluetooth 5.3 connection, audio can be streamed from any compatible device. It is still possible to pick up phone calls with the speakerphone function compatible.

Technical Specifications

Model Bang SE
Bluetooth Version 5.3
Bluetooth Profile HSP / HFP / A2DP /AVRCP
Audio Codec SBC
Bluetooth Range Up to 15m/49ft (open area)
IP Rating IPX6
Output Power 40W
Input Power 5V/2A, via Type-C port
Frequency Range 60Hz – 20kHz 
Battery  8000mAh(7,4V/4000mAh) 
Playtime(Varied by Volume Level & Audio Content) Up to 24 Hours(Varied by Light Display) 

Up to 16 Hours(Varied by Light Display)
Charging Time ≤5 Hours
Dimension 298 x 164.5 x 118.8mm/11.73 x 6.48 x 4.68inch
Weight 2.16kg/4.76 lbs

 

The Bang SE is available now, you can check out the details on its product page, including a detailed specification and user manual. If you would like to see the latest offer on Tronsmart Bang SE, do not hesitate to gain 22% early bird discount for $54.99 on Bang SE Early Bird Promotion.

See our Review

Employee burnout is cybersecurity professionals’ greatest fear amidst rising cyber threats

Integrity360, the UK and Ireland’s largest cyber security services specialist, together with its partner and leading vendor in AI-driven threat detection and response, Vectra, today announced new findings from a Twitter poll exploring critical cyber security threats. The poll found that 35% of cyber security professionals cited employee burnout as the most concerning issue amongst increasing cyber threats.

This comes as cyber security teams are put under mounting pressure to tackle the complexity of the modern hybrid enterprise and the necessity to protect corporate data wherever it resides. In fact, almost 63% of respondents highlighted security of data as being most important to their organisation when establishing the need for effective cyber security services. Of lesser concern was securing reputation (19%), productivity (12%) and saving money (7%).

The good news is that organisations are looking to implement critical security measures to ensure greater threat detection and response in 2023, with identity and access management (29.9%) and cloud security (29.7%) on top of the agenda, followed by network (19.6%) and endpoint security (20.6%).

As businesses look to new ways to detect and contain threats that have bypassed preventative security controls, Integrity360 and Vectra have partnered to extend its existing threat detection and response service portfolio, delivering network detection and response and critically, cloud, SaaS and identity detection and response capabilities with the launch of the Vectra Managed Detection and Response Services.

Richard Ford, CTO at Integrity360, said: “Analysts are facing severe burnout from alert fatigue and Security Operations Centre (SOC) overwhelm, and organisations are lacking the experience, skills and bandwidth needed to detect and manage security incidents and data – quickly and effectively. The integration of Vectra into our MDR service is a game changer. It allows us to provide a full end to end capability to monitor and proactively hunt threats across the entire hybrid enterprise, delivering advanced Threat Detection and Threat Response services and relieving SOC teams overwhelmed by noise.”

When questioned on the best approaches to future-proof the security of their organisation, 52% of respondents to the poll pointed to Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) as the best means.

The new Vectra Managed Detection and Response Service (MDR) augments the SOC with AI and ML capabilities, adopting behavioural based detection instead of reliance on static or signature-based detection alone. AI combines an understanding of the environment with threat models, and human threat intelligence, to automatically surface the threats, allowing for an 85% increase in efficiency of threat identification and a 2x rise in security operations productivity.

The service enables organisations to detect and respond to threats across Cloud, SaaS, Identity and Network, removing critical blind spots and stopping cyber-attacks before they become breaches through Vectra’s Attack Signal Intelligence, which continuously monitors for use of attacker methods and learns the customers unique environment.

Garry Veale, Regional Director UKI, Vectra, commented: “The partnership sets us apart from the ‘catch and dispatch’, ‘detect and notify’ type providers, by enabling us to proactively hunt threats within the customer environment, integrating with enforcement points, identity, perimeter, and endpoint for effective and rapid response in the event of an active threat. This approach signifies a huge breakthrough in MDR services, and we are excited to see how the partnership evolves.”

Lockwood Publishing Announces Strategic Partnership with DAACI to Bring AI Music Creation to the Metaverse

Leading British metaverse games developer and publisher Lockwood Publishing, creator and guardian of the world’s biggest mobile metaverse, Avakin Life, today announced its intention to bring AI music creation to its players’ experience through a partnership with London-based AI music startup DAACI.

Informed by the core principles of musical composition, DAACI (Definable Aleatoric Artificial Composition Intelligence) is a fully formed and patented AI system that composes, arranges, orchestrates, and produces high-quality, adaptive, original music in real time based on a user’s narrative brief. 

Based on more than 30 years of patented research, and supported by an ongoing partnership with the UKRI Centre for Doctoral Training in Artificial Intelligence and Music at Queen Mary University of London, DAACI – part of the portfolio of research and investment firm TMC² – is a ground-breaking system with a revolutionary analytical approach and meta-composition at its core. Unlike other solutions in the AI/generative music market, DAACI does not rely on pre-recorded tracks or edited audio samples, but instead writes musical elements and textures directly through the encoding of musical ideas.

Lockwood’s community of Avakin Life players – and players of the company’s future metaverse experiences – will be empowered to use simple text prompts to generate original, royalty-free music for their avatars or spaces which they can use, trade, and even sell.

Lockwood Publishing CEO Halli Bjornsson said, “We’ve been quietly at the forefront of exploring ways for users to express their identity and customise their experiences for more than a decade. The next stage of development, which is being built upon the principles of what web3 enablement powers – namely user-generated content, democratisation of development, and digital ownership – demands that music be a core component.

“We hope to explore and implement a way for players with any level of music creation skill – from the absolute beginner to the professional composer – to be able to generate unique, customisable, ownable and even adaptive music through a simple interface. DAACI, with its unrivalled understanding of AI music composition, is the ideal partner for this journey.”

DAACI CEO Rachel Lyske said, “Players seek to be better than the ‘default’—to have something rare, out of the ordinary. What better way to do this than with a bespoke audio skin or any other digital form of someone’s musical identity?

“Our collaboration with Lockwood strengthens our vision of the future of music, empowering composers and content creators with an intelligent tool that provides infinite possibilities for metaverse game production and community engagement.”

Updates on the progress of the Lockwood and DAACI partnership will be revealed in 2023.