Some devices will power themselves but the more complex will contribute to the world’s huge data storage energy bill The internet of things (IoT) – that ever-expanding ecosystem of digital sensors, home appliances and wearable smart devices – attracts its fair share of attention. Speculation is rife on how the 23bn-odd (and counting) “things” will improve quality of life, streamline business operations and ultimately fuel economic benefits to the tune of up to $11tn per year by 2025.Less often considered is the cost to the environment of such a vast network of devices. With the full extent of the IoT far from being realised, even experts are divided on whether it will spell doom or salvation for the environment

I-City and Huawei have recently combined forces to speed up the development of more advanced smart homes that can track and manage appliances, lights, air conditioners and various other devices.  This project is possible due to the popularity of Cloud, Communications and IoT in the marketplace, and is scheduled to target Kuala Lumpur in Comverse@I-City project in 2017. See Also: Will autonomous microgrids drive IoT in smart cities? Huawei’s strength in Communications and IT, combined with I-Berhad’s property development experience is a recipe for success

Google’s self-driving project may graduate from X Labs, the company’s moonshot incubator, in a few months, according to project leader and ex-Hyundai CEO John Krafcik. Speaking at the Nikkei Innovation Forum in Palo Alto two months ago, Krafcik said that the project will become its own division inside Alphabet, Google’s holding company, and would greatly expand its staff and physical size. See Also: What’s happening with Google’s self-driving car project? The self-driving project has already started hiring its own executives, according to ReCode, including chief legal officer Kevin Vosen