Latest news with #Grail
Techday NZ
5 days ago
- Business
- Techday NZ
Dynatrace unveils agentic AI to boost enterprise automation
Dynatrace has introduced new agentic AI capabilities to its observability platform, allowing enterprises to predict and prevent system disruptions, protect data, and optimise operations with increased autonomy. The extension of the platform comes at a time when organisations are ramping up investment in AI to drive productivity in software development. Industry reports highlight that developers often spend up to 80% of their time securing, debugging, and optimising digital systems that are already in production. Dynatrace aims to address this with agentic AI solutions designed to enable a shift from manual oversight to automated, AI-driven workflows. "We anticipated the growing complexity of digital systems outpacing the capabilities of traditional observability solutions reliant on human intervention. This is why we built the next generation of our platform to help customers leverage advanced AI to offload work and unlock entirely new possibilities. By unifying observability, security, and business data in a revolutionary data lakehouse architecture, we've created the foundation for AI to deliver real-time insights and act autonomously in ways that were unimaginable a few years ago," said Bernd Greifeneder, Founder and CTO, Dynatrace. The company describes its platform as built around a foundation specifically created for agentic AI, connecting observability, security, and business data in a schema-free, indexless data lakehouse. This architecture supports intelligent decision-making and independent action, with the intention of moving enterprises closer to smart, self-operating systems. The platform's framework provides the mechanisms for agentic AI to operate with precision and adaptability. The data infrastructure includes Grail, a schema-free, indexless data lakehouse, with hot/hot design for immediate access to large volumes of data in real-time context. Grail removes the inefficiencies of traditional indexing and data rehydration, allowing agentic AI systems to process complex and large data sets efficiently. This is supplemented by Smartscape, the platform's real-time topology discovery solution. Smartscape continuously maps dependencies within digital environments, boosting the precision of insights and the platform's automation capabilities. Davis AI, the artificial intelligence engine that underpins the platform, integrates causal, predictive, and generative AI methodologies. According to Dynatrace, Davis AI analyses unified datasets to deliver reliable insights and plan actions intelligently. The system is designed to reduce AI hallucinations and maximise precision, while maintaining alignment with responsible AI practices and regulatory compliance. The AutomationEngine, another aspect of the platform, is responsible for executing autonomous tasks and offering integration with both proprietary and third-party AI agents. Dynatrace reports that this enables both efficient and adaptable automation within a secure and privacy-centric framework, which is increasingly relevant for enterprises requiring controlled agentic AI actions. "These innovations provide the transparency, automation, and agility enterprises need to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving technology landscape. The result is a platform capable of autonomously preventing potential issues, optimizing resource use, and adapting to unforeseen challenges," Bernd Greifeneder said, further commenting on the significance of these developments. "Agentic AI represents a fundamental transformation in enterprise technology. Our platform not only delivers insights but actively enables businesses to anticipate challenges, adapt to changing conditions, and achieve their boldest ambitions. This evolution embodies our long-standing vision to empower organisations through trustworthy automation and actionable intelligence," Greifeneder added, addressing the broader impact of adopting agentic AI. According to Dynatrace, these updates are aimed at providing developers, business leaders, and organisations with enhanced intelligence and autonomy to address digital complexity and enhance digital transformation efforts.
Spectator
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Spectator
Sincere, serious and beautiful: Glyndebourne's Parsifal reviewed
'Here time becomes space,' says Gurnemanz in Act One of Parsifal, and true enough, the end of the new Glyndebourne Parsifal is in its beginning. We don't know that, at first: the sickbed image that's glimpsed during the prelude doesn't resolve itself until the opera's closing scenes. In between, characters appear on stage in multiple forms, at different ages – past and future selves attendant on the present, whatever 'present' means in Monsalvat. Wagner, after all, makes it clear enough that time in the Grail Domain moves in mysterious ways, and his whole musical strategy reinforces that truth. So I can't get too upset about those multiple personas, even though the presence of miming doppelgangers in an opera production is typically one of the most damaging of gimmicks. In this case, though, and in this opera – well, to quote Gurnemanz again: you see, it is not so. The director Jetske Mijnssen manages the interaction between the figures on stage in thoughtful and expressive ways, finding a language for what she evidently sees as the true subject of the drama: the awakening of compassion between a group of damaged, all-too-human characters. The deliberate pace of Wagner's score allows the visual puzzles to disclose their meaning over time. Whatever else this is, it's a sincere and serious attempt to make sense of a work that asks far more questions than it answers. Visually, it's handsome – in Ben Baur's designs the Grail dwells amid the dark wood and sombre drapes of a 19th-century mansion. By Act Three, decay (or if you prefer, liberation) has set in; Kundry (Kristina Stanek) has shed her Victorian frock and an altarpiece of Christ has been turned to the wall.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
SEC ends probe of Illumina's Grail acquisition
This story was originally published on MedTech Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily MedTech Dive newsletter. The Securities and Exchange Commission has concluded its investigation into Illumina's 2021 acquisition of liquid biopsy maker Grail and recommended no enforcement action be taken, the company said Thursday. Illumina spun off Grail in 2024, following several tumultuous years in which regulators had challenged the $8 billion takeover, ultimately forcing the separation. During that time, activist investor Carl Icahn waged a proxy battle that saw shareholders vote to oust Chairman John Thompson in May 2023 and CEO Francis deSouza resign three weeks later. In an earnings statement for the first quarter, the DNA sequencing company also said it expects $85 million in tariff-related costs to reduce earnings per share by 25 cents in fiscal 2025. Illumina bought Grail back after it had first spun off the business in 2016. But regulators objected to the move, warning Illumina's dominance in the sequencing market would deter development of rival multi-cancer early detection tests. Last year, Illumina avoided a 432 million euro fine from the European Commission after the Court of Justice ruled the EC did not have the authority to investigate the Grail acquisition. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission also dismissed its case against Illumina and Grail after the spinoff. In its latest filing, Illumina said it received on May 1 a termination letter from the SEC, which stated the regulator did not intend to recommend any enforcement action after concluding its investigation. The San Diego, California-based company plans to cut $100 million in costs to mitigate the impact of expected hits to revenue and operating income stemming from the company's China business. Executives said on the earnings call that Illumina expects minimal instrument placements in the China region this year after the company's ability to export sequencing instruments was restricted. China's Ministry of Commerce placed Illumina on its unreliable entity list in February, shortly after the Trump administration ordered a new tariff on Chinese imports. Illumina is engaging with regulators in China on solutions to permit its long-term presence in the market, company executives said. The company lowered its full-year forecast for non-GAAP EPS to a range of $4.20 to $4.30, down from the prior guidance of about $4.50, primarily due to tariffs. Recommended Reading Illumina's DNA sequencers hit with China import ban Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Irish Times
25-04-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
‘Impossible' to achieve a net-zero economy by 2050 and transition to clean energy could push up electricity prices
It could be described as a ferocious, quick-fire double punch. The target? The critical players leading Ireland's clean energy transition over coming decades and pursuit of the Holy Grail, a net-zero economy by 2050. The rude awakening, in effect, poured scorn on big talk that it's simply a matter of time before Ireland becomes 'the Saudi Arabia of wind '; exporting vast quantities of electrons to power mainland Europe. First came an unusually outspoken report from the National Economic and Social Council (Nesc) released on Good Friday afternoon, saying Ireland's policy on the transition to green energy lacks clarity, with stakeholders not on the same page from a strategic standpoint. We may have 'a unique energy advantage in Europe', yet questions about how the transition will be made remain unanswered and, perhaps most damning, 'much of Ireland's policy action for transition in the power sector is headed into fog'. READ MORE Second came the verdict this week of the Irish Academy of Engineering (IAE), an all-island think tank, declaring energy policy needs to 'go beyond wishful thinking and to be replaced by the realities of engineering, finance and project delivery'. Its cold assessment of available technologies suggests it is impossible to achieve the legal requirement and policy objective of climate neutrality by mid-century. And there is an absence of a plan, as it sees it, to deliver 352 essential, large energy infrastructure projects. Key questions about renewable energy capacity requirements, the rationale for surplus power generation, its optimal use, price competitiveness and the method of energy export remain unanswered — National Economic and Social Council These range across onshore and fixed-bottom wind offshore, solar, interconnectors, transmission lines, battery storage and backup generation. It includes 'many hundreds of kilometres of overhead transmission lines'. The absence of hydrogen and floating offshore technology is notable – though it does not dismiss them as non-runners. Those most responsible for the transition and associated infrastructure development are the Government (including key departments delivering policy and dictating market conditions), ESB , EirGrid and the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities . As there is a national mandate to accelerate the scale-up of renewables, other State agencies are in the mix, ranging across planning (especially marine), enterprise and local development. While the finger of blame was not directed at any single actor, collective responsibility could not be clearer, as 'visibility and certainty are low' across the board – as Nesc put it. Easter break aside, none has disputed the withering assessments. Nesc detailed failings and gaps that risk a lack of action on transition to clean energy that will add costs for Ireland – that also runs contrary to the narrative foreseeing lots of cheap renewables. 'There is a lack of evidence-based certainty about future energy prices in Ireland and, if anything, consumers might expect higher rather than lower energy costs as the transition progresses. This is despite the cost of renewable power production being competitive with that of fossil fuels over the long term.' Compounding matters are issues about future reliability of the country's energy supply. This may undermine national competitiveness and the transition narrative 'with an absence of actions to reinforce both the energy transition and economic resilience'. Nesc identifies four primary risks. On electricity supply, it warns reliability may worsen over periods of the transition if not addressed. There is 'no clear visibility of the power system's reliability beyond 2032'. Clarity is needed on total system cost of transition in the power sector and the distribution of those costs, while 'key questions about renewable energy capacity requirements, the rationale for surplus power generation, its optimal use, price competitiveness and the method of energy export remain unanswered'. On enterprise opportunities, it says 'there is no single, comprehensive estimate available to policymakers of the sales, exports and jobs, etc that can be expected from delivering transition targets'. The IAE pulls no punches on energy reliability and security. It questions the feasibility of decarbonising the electricity sector and wider energy sector by 2050, given 'an unavoidable dependence on natural gas' that will still apply then and maybe beyond. Much of its concerns relate to ensuring power supply when demand will increase from 34 terawatt hours (TWh) in 2024 to 80TWh by 2050. It also highlights vulnerability to possible disruptions to the supply side of natural gas due to heavy reliance on it as the energy source of last resort for electricity generation. The Government's move to create an offshore LNG reserve to address security of supply risk is inadequate both in terms of storage capacity and infrastructure. 'A small, leased floating storage regasification unit operated to not impact on the operation of the market is unlikely to be sufficient,' says IAE energy and climate action committee chairman Eamonn O'Reilly, the former head of Dublin Port. Ireland is an island with no indigenous energy sources that can provide the energy security the country needs, he adds. 'Renewables can supply a lot of energy but need backup to ensure reliability of supply. Because renewables cannot get over the first hurdle of reliability, they cannot provide energy security. In 2024, Ireland's near 5,000 megawatts (MW) of wind provided less than 500MW of power for 2,127 hours' – equivalent to 88 days over a year. 'No amount of oversupply of renewables can guarantee power when the wind and sun are not sufficiently available, not even Government's enormous 2050 target of 54,000MW. There will always be a requirement for alternative backup power sources to ensure reliability.' Similar concerns apply to interconnectors, the IAE says. In 2024, 15 per cent of the country's electricity requirement was met by imports. 'The need for energy security suggests Ireland should have a low, or very low, ultimate dependence on interconnectors because we have no control on the supply that might be available when we need it most.' O'Reilly accepts there are many complexities in the transition feeding into their position, which is not advocating rowback – 'it is not climate denial; we are not saying don't do renewables'. [ Why international firm Corio withdrew from plans for Sceirde Rocks wind farm off Connemara's coast Opens in new window ] The IAE backs 'an inevitable compromise on net zero by 2050 ... but you can never predict the future. You can only plan on the basis of the technology you have today. So you can't get to net zero by 2050. No way.' Despite this, it still backs moves to maximise renewables while 'other technologies that could become available over the next 25 years include floating offshore wind, hydrogen and small modular nuclear reactors'. Those advocating hydrogen and floating, including the ESB, should get their act together and even proceed to planning 'and see where it goes', he says. 'But you can't rely on hydrogen and floating to get us to net zero by 2050. If we over-rely on that you might find you can't power the country.' Government has set a target to achieve a climate-neutral electricity system by 2050 – and accepted the imposition of enormous financial penalties by the EU if this objective is not achieved – 'without first understanding and demonstrating how it is feasible', he says. Echoing Nesc concerns, O'Reilly notes 'this has been done without estimating how much the endeavour will cost and what impact it will have on the already high price consumers pay for electricity in Ireland'. Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the Nesc findings would inform the future approach to the energy transition. Previously, the Coalition decided to establish a new infrastructure unit within the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in tandem with reforms to tackle regulatory barriers impeding growth and development. There are many in the renewables sector who believe his response is acknowledgment that the Government needs to be more rigorous and strategically coherent. [ Irish electricity prices, already Europe's highest, may rise further due to 'required investment' Opens in new window ] 'The scale of resources needed to deliver a secure and stable green energy system means that we must accelerate investment, both public and private,' Martin said. He announced a new 'climate investment clearing house' to accelerate progress and to work with all stakeholders 'to ensure we have the conditions in place to achieve this energy transformation in an effective, timely and sustainable manner, while ensuring the ongoing competitiveness of the Irish economy'. He is to host a joint Government-industry forum on offshore renewables in coming weeks, 'to scope out the role of the clearing house and how we can best progress delivery of Ireland's offshore renewable energy objectives'. The cross-department Offshore Wind Delivery Taskforce in place since 2022 includes key State agencies, but industry sources say they could be more involved, particularly in bringing solutions to the table. Nobody questions the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications ' determination to deliver, along with that of the ESB and EirGrid, but they contend a robust mechanism to ensure accountability in other agencies is largely absent. [ Take fewer flights or switch to an EV – what's the best way to reduce my carbon emissions? Opens in new window ] Ireland aims to transform its power system over the next 25 years by reducing fossil fuel use and ramping up renewables, accepting this is key to addressing climate change . They may be brutally frank in tone, but neither report is saying 'we shouldn't be doing this'. Nesc recommends a phased approach to drive progress. Immediate actions include 'improving conditions for clean energy infrastructure (planning, skills, financing, grid and supply chains) and establishing new institutional arrangements for better co-ordination'. [ Ardnacrusha at 100: What could happen if Ireland showed similar ambition today and invested 20% of national budget in energy? Opens in new window ] Next should be moves 'to address key knowledge gaps, to demonstrate sustainable renewable power demand, and to ensure economic benefits are realised domestically'. In the longer term is a need 'to produce competitively priced energy for export, to develop export methods and to manage associated challenges, if proven practical and viable'. Ireland's decarbonisation potential includes ability to meet all, or almost all, of our power demand from renewable energy sources – to reach 'domestic net-zero emissions', Nesc concludes. There is also the prospect of producing surplus clean energy, it says, to power enterprise and spur new opportunities – and to export surplus clean energy – if proven practical and viable. Nesc analyst Dr Cathal FitzGerald, however, said its research reveals uncertainty about the impact on our economic resilience in terms of energy reliability, price, jobs and exports. 'These in turn highlight broader issues to be resolved and a strong imperative for action.' The energy transition must be progressed despite all the complexities involved, he underlined, while being mindful 'the cost of inaction would be enormous and devastating'.
USA Today
19-04-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Behind the scenes of the sponsorship of a PGA Tour Champions event
Behind the scenes of the sponsorship of a PGA Tour Champions event Show Caption Hide Caption Strong winds hit the first day of the Galleri Classic golf tournament Strong winds hit Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage on the first day of the Galleri Classic golf tournament The Galleri Classic PGA Tour Champions event in Rancho Mirage has lost its title sponsor, Grail. Tournament organizers are seeking a new multi-million dollar sponsor, highlighting the importance of corporate funding for golf tournaments. Potential sponsors are looking for advertising and marketing opportunities, often aligning with local charities and high-profile events. The ideal sponsor would utilize the tournament for corporate events and entertainment, similar to past sponsors like Nabisco. Way back in the 1960s, a powerful California politician named Jess Unruh uttered a phrase that has echoed through time: Money is the mother's milk of politics. With one slight alteration, the phrase could just as easily apply to the Coachella Valley today: Money is the mother's milk of golf tournaments. The recent news that Grail was leaving as title sponsor of the PGA Tour Champions' Galleri Classic in Rancho Mirage couldn't be that surprising to anyone paying close attention. Grail has been the title sponsor for all three years of the senior tour event, and its message about its Galleri blood test for multiple kinds of cancer detection certainly rang true with many senior players and the older demographic of fans. But as the company went public last summer and as other changes within the company took place, Grail holding on to the Galleri Classic seemed less and less likely. And so the PGA Tour Champions and tournament organizers find themselves in a position that many tournaments face. How do you replace a big corporation with another big corporation to keep a golf tournament alive? The Coachella Valley seems like a natural fit for any golf sponsor, but history has shown us that isn't always true. Ask Humana, CareerBuilder, ANA and Chevron. More: Desert's PGA Tour Champions event seeks new sponsor as Grail opts out of Galleri Classic What kind of money are we talking about? Make no mistake, title sponsorships run into the millions of dollars, no matter what the tournament. Each event is different, with different purse demands, production demands and infrastructure demands, but it's millions of dollars whether it's the PGA Tour, the LPGA, PGA Tour Champions or DP World Tour. That might seem like a lot of money to spend on golf, but it isn't as much money as you think when you chalk the dollars up to advertising and marketing. Looked at that way, the money starts to make more sense. Consider that American Express, the title sponsor of the PGA Tour event in La Quinta each January, reported a net income for fiscal year 2024 of $10.1 billion, or $14.01 per share of stock. The money American Express spends on The American Express golf tournament begins to look more and more like pocket change. But American Express wants more than just the television exposure for its money. It wants to connect with local charities, and it wants its brand to be associated with top-level events, like the PGA Tour and concerts that week. The sponsorship of a golf tournament can provide a company with many opportunities, and what a title sponsor wants drives the decision to spend the money. One goal of golf sponsorship is brand recognition. All-Nippon Airways, or ANA, had almost no presence in the United States before it took over as sponsor of the LPGA tournament in Rancho Mirage, renamed the ANA Inspiration. Before that, if you typed ANA into a search engine, you would get the American Nurses Association. Now, ANA has signage on the outfield walls of Dodger Stadium. If you've been in the desert long enough, you might remember the amazing amount of money RJR Nabisco spent on the LPGA event, known then as the Nabisco Dinah Shore. The company would fly in top sales people, top customers and its corporate executives for a week of sunshine, pro-am play, a celebrity tennis tournament and party after party, including an entertainment show featuring Shore herself. The money spent that week went a long way to making customers, vendors and employees happy. In some ways the LPGA tournament that started Thursday was secondary to the corporate focus. There is also the sponsor who is part of the community. Think about FedEx, which sponsors the tournament in Memphis, where its corporate headquarters are. The desert's LPGA event is now the Chevron Championship and moved to Houston, close to Chevron's oil business. The Royal Bank of Canada, or RBC, sponsors the PGA Tour's Canadian Open. What kind of sponsor would be best for the desert's PGA Tour Champions event? The tournament and the tour are looking for a five-year commitment from a company that perhaps will use the two one-day pro-ams in the event much as Nabisco did with the LPGA event in the 1980s and 1990s. Certainly not to the same extent that Nabisco did, but it would be nice to have a company that could utilize the week for some recreation and entertainment for the company as well as perhaps some business being conducted. Sponsorship of the desert's PGA Tour Champions event will cost far less than sponsorship of a PGA Tour event. But the money is only part of the issue as the event seeks the right sponsor. It's a lot like a jigsaw puzzle, finding the right pieces – money, sponsorship needs, golf course, calendar dates and television times – to fit together for the perfect picture. Desert golf fans can hope the pieces fall together in the coming weeks. At this point, any sponsor is better than no sponsor at all. Larry Bohannan is the golf writer for The Desert Sun. You can contact him at (760) 778-4633 or at Follow him on Facebook or on X at @larry_bohannan.
