Updated Feb 15, 2019 - World

China's expanding data trove

Photo: H. Armstrong Roberts/Retrofile/Getty

The volume of digital information produced in China is vastly outstripping that of the U.S., according to new research from Seagate and technology research group IDC.

The big picture: This includes financial records, photos and other documents stored on the internet. By 2025, China will hold 27.8% of the world's data, compared to 17.5% that will reside in the U.S. China's data is growing 3% faster than the global average every year.

Why it matters: Data is a primary driver of AI, and China's vast and growing pool gives it a big leg up. But China is behind on developing the talent to put the data to use — this is where the U.S. shines.

Go deeper: Trump executive order takes aim at China's AI ambitions

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Fadel Allassan
16 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Senate passes bill funding government through December

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

The Senate on Tuesday passed legislation to fund the federal government through Dec. 11, by a vote of 84-10.

Where it stands: The legislation will avert a government shutdown before funding expires Wednesday night and before the Nov. 3 election. The House passed the same measure last week by a vote of 359-57 after House Democrats and the Trump administration agreed on the resolution.

  • Both sides agreed early in negotiations that the bill should be a "clean" continuing resolution — meaning each party would only make small changes to existing funding levels so the measure would pass through both chambers quickly, Axios' Alayna Treene reported last week. The bill now goes to President Trump for signature.
Bryan Walsh, author of Future
39 mins ago - Technology

The age of engineering life begins

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

Synthetic biology startups raised some $3 billion through the first half of 2020, up from $1.9 billion for all of 2019, as the field brings the science of engineering to the art of life.

The big picture: Synthetic biologists are gradually learning how to program the code of life the way that computer experts have learned to program machines. If they can succeed — and if the public accepts their work — synthetic biology stands to fundamentally transform how we live.

Go deeper (2 min. read)Arrow
Hans Nichols
1 hour ago - Politics & Policy

Biden will allow lobbyists to join transition team

Biden speaks at a campaign stop at Pittsburgh Union Station Wednesday. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images

Joe Biden's presidential transition office will allow lobbyists to help shape his potential administration, but will require them to receive a waiver to participate if they engaged in lobbying activity in the last twelve months.

Why it matters: Presidential transition teams are instrumental in establishing a new administration, and the rules that govern them are often a template for the ethics guidelines that the new administration imposes after the inauguration.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow