Return to Transcripts main page
Connect the World
Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Holding After Deadly Attacks; U.N. Relief Chiefs Speaks Candidly About Gaza Recovery Efforts; Police Hunt For Jewels And Thieves After Louvre Robbery; Multiple Online Services Hit By Major Tech Outage; United States Strikes 7th Civilian Boat In The Caribbean; Diwali, The Hindu Festival Of Lights, Begins Today. Aired 10-11a ET
Aired October 20, 2025 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:00:24]
ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Abu Dhabi, this is CONNECT THE WORLD with Becky Anderson.
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome to the second hour of the show from our Middle East programming headquarters. I'm Becky Anderson in Abu Dhabi,
where the time is just after 6:00 in the evening.
Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner return to Israel as the Gaza cease fire seems to survive a major test amid attacks between Hamas and the IDF.
There is an urgent manhunt in France after chainsaw wielding thieves steal priceless jewels from the Louvre Museum.
Plus, a massive outage has impacted hundreds of apps and websites. We will tell you what we are learning later this hour.
We start -- and we start with two key U.S. mediators, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, back in
Israel today after Israel's cease fire with Hamas is holding but under strain, their new visit coming in the wake of deadly weekend attacks in
Gaza from both sides.
Israel's military says it hit Hamas targets in a wave of strikes after Hamas fire killed two of its soldiers. Gaza health officials report 44
people killed in the Israeli attack. Hamas's armed wing denies violating the cease fire.
Well, Kushner spoke to CBS News about that and the hurdles faced in bringing this peace plan to fruition.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JARED KUSHNER, SENIOR ADVISER TO PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: We wanted the hostages to come out. We wanted a real cease fire that both sides would
respect. We needed a way to bring humanitarian aid into the people, and then we had to write all these complex words to deal with the 50 years of
stupid word games that everyone that region is so used to playing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, Jeremy Diamond back with us this hour. You just heard Jared Kushner's position there on a Sunday news show in the United States. What
more are you learning at this point, Jeremy?
JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: Well, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, President Trump's Special Envoy have sat down today with the
Israeli prime minister, and this meeting comes at a critical time, as we are witnessing the most fragile moment yet for this cease fire, of which we
are 10 days into it, and major questions, of course, about its survival.
After yesterday, we saw the most serious test for this cease fire to date, two Israeli soldiers were killed yesterday morning, according to the
Israeli military in a Hamas attack using RPG fire and sniper fire that was directed at these troops.
Following that, a wave of Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip, killing at least 45 people in southern, central and northern Gaza, the most serious
instance of Israeli airstrikes that we've seen in the Gaza Strip since the ceasefire has taken place.
And so, now, it seems that calm has once again returned to Gaza, you know, relatively to yesterday, aid is flowing back in, those Israeli airstrikes
seem to have ceased.
And amid all of this, Kushner and Witkoff sitting down with the Israeli prime minister to talk not only about making sure that this cease fire
actually stays in place right now, but also to look at the next phases of all of this.
We know, of course, that Hamas still has more bodies of deceased hostages to hand over. But then beyond that, there are the next steps to talk about,
everything to negotiate from Hamas handing over power in Gaza, the creation of this international stabilization force, and eventually seeing the
Israeli military withdraw from the 53 percent of the Gaza strip that they still currently control under the current agreement.
So, critical days, critical hours, and all of this as Kushner and Witkoff are here and the Vice President J.D. Vance also set to arrive in the region
later this week.
ANDERSON: The ceasefire then seemingly holding at this point, it's fragile, but it is holding, as far as we can tell. Question is, what happens next?
What can we expect? What are the expectations on further detail about these next stages, phase two, if you will?
DIAMOND: Well, it's all very delicate. I mean, you know, the way that this whole agreement was structured is that all of the parties agreed kind of in
principle, to the broad outlines of this 20 point plan, but certainly not to the details of anything beyond the first phase of this, which involved,
of course, the release of the hostages, the release of Palestinian prisoners and detainees on the Israeli side, and the entry of much needed
humanitarian aid.
[10:05:03]
But everything else that I was talking about, from the handover of power, the creation of this international stabilization force, and critically, how
and you know, what mechanism will be used to disarm Hamas in Gaza, that all needs to be negotiated, and it is being negotiated amid, you know, the
constant political crosswinds that the Israeli prime minister is facing here in Israel.
You know, it took the killing of these two soldiers yesterday for the far right members of Netanyahu's government to immediately call for a return to
all-out war against Hamas. That is not the decision that the Israeli Prime Minister took here, instead opting for a wave of airstrikes, certainly
deadly strikes, but something far short of a return to a state of war against Hamas.
But you know how we get from where we are now to Hamas disarming and Hamas giving up power in Gaza, you know is going to require weeks and weeks of
negotiations, Becky.
ANDERSON: Yes, Jeremy, good to have you. Thank you very much.
Well, the United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator says that he felt overwhelmed after seeing the destruction in Gaza after more than two years
of war with Israel during a drive through the enclave over the weekend.
Tom Fletcher talked about recovery efforts and paid tribute to the Palestinian people for their resilience. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TOM FLETCHER, UNITED NATIONS EMERGENCY RELIEF COORDINATOR: So, we're driving through South of Gaza City now. So, these are parts of Gaza
actually visited back in the start of the year. And vast, vast areas that I came through then that were standing and now completely pulverized,
flattened wasteland. It's just such a massive, massive task ahead. It's hard not to be -- to be overwhelmed by that.
But the people here picking their way through the rubble and putting their tents back on their homes.
They -- I mean, of all the people in this equation, they're the ones who don't look overwhelmed. Somehow they're just living.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: That's Tom Fletcher posting at the weekend as he made his way through Gaza. Let's get you Sam Rose now, he's the acting director of UNRWA
in Gaza.
And Sam we just heard from Tom Fletcher describing how he felt overwhelmed by the devastation, the destruction on the road to and in Gaza City. He
spoke about recovery efforts. He talked about the resilience of the Palestinian people.
Let's talk about recovery, what does that look like in Gaza at this point? As far as you can tell.
SAM ROSE, ACTING DIRECTOR, UNRWA GAZA: Thanks, Becky for having me on. I'm speaking to you from Amman today, but in close contact with my 12,000 staff
in Gaza every day. We've been through post conflict recovery in Gaza before, in other parts of the world before, but we've never been through
anything like this. We're talking decades of work, you know, several years just to remove the rubble, just to remove the ordinance that lies on the
ground that poses a major risk to children, to aid workers, to Civil Defense workers, and we need a political environment in which this is
permissible and is able to happen.
What we've had in Gaza over several decades is donor funded projects that have then been destroyed in subsequent phases of conflicts and hostilities.
So, unless there is a political track, and that's the least that we owe the Palestinian people who've gone through all this, then all of this will
remain a pipe dream, but we have the capacity, we have the will, and we have the spirit of the population of Gaza to make it work.
ANDERSON: The immediate effort, of course, is getting aid and supplies in. So, what is the situation on the ground? You've got 12,000 staff, as you
say, on the ground, you should be in a good position to give us a really good sense of what's going on and how the renewed attacks on both sides
over the weekend have impacted that flow. And let's call it in inverted commas at this point, because it's not enough, but that flow of aid that is
getting in.
ROSE: Yes, the past 24 hours were devastating. We lost four people who were sheltering in an UNRWA school, staff member lost her father, her mother,
her brother and other family members after two years of this and the borders were completely -- were completely closed. We had families that,
for the first time, were allowing their children to play at night. And some of those children, unfortunately, didn't, didn't come back.
[10:10:12]
And yes, like you say, the borders were completely closed so people were already exhausted and shot to pieces because they felt that, you know,
albeit this would be precarious, that they were moving on to something else.
Now, the fear is that this just becomes the latest phase of the conflict and a new kind of type of confrontation, and the trucks have started
flowing again today, but we're talking like you say, far less in terms of the number of trucks that are coming in, and importantly, the types of
supplies that are being permitted to enter are not sufficient. We're not getting equipment in that's needed to repair water works and water networks
so that people, children, families, have clean water. We're not getting educational materials, stationary, backpacks in for children who are so
desperate to go back to school.
And my organization, UNRWA, we're not being permitted to bring anything in, and we're not the only organization that's not being not permitted to bring
anything in. NGOs also that have been blocked from entry of supply.
So yes, the last few days have been a marked improvement on what we've seen in the past, but we continue to face major bureaucratic and political
impediments in what should be the easiest place in the world for humanitarians to work.
ANDERSON: Yes. So, is there any evidence that UNRWA is likely to be able to operate effectively again anytime soon?
ROSE: I mean, look, there are a couple of things I would say. One is that we have not stopped operating throughout out the conflict. The conflict, in
terms of the aid needs, is has all too often, been reduced to trucks and bags of flour. Now those supplies are desperately needed, but a bag of
flour and a food parcel will not turn the tide on a famine.
What's needed alongside that is provision of basic services, and that's what we in UNRWA have continued to do. My staff, at great risk to
themselves, have continued that for two days without -- sorry, two years without a break. We're talking 15,000 primary health care consultations
every day, water and garbage collection.
So, providing public health that prevents children from succumbing to infectious diseases. So, the services continue, and those services need to
be complemented with the aid supplies coming in.
Quite frankly, I found it -- find it outrageous that we got a population in famine, and my organization is not being permitted to bring the food that
we have waiting outside into garter organized. We are being told that we can hand this food over to other organizations, but then those
organizations are being told that they cannot involve us in the distribution of those supplies inside of the Gaza Strip.
So, we're still dealing with these aggressive impediments that are meaning that the starving people of Gaza are not getting the support that they
need. We need all elements of the system here to come together. We're hopeful that with this new political track that there are opportunities,
but we wait to see it. We call on those who have influence to try and make it happen.
ANDERSON: So, given that you've, you know, highlighted the challenges that your organization still faces, and we know that this has been an ongoing
issue for you, and we know we hear your appeal today, I just wonder finally, if you can talk to what Tom Fletcher described as the resilience
of the Palestinian people. What about that sense?
I mean, how much is the world asking for Palestinians to remain resilient in the days, weeks and months to come?
ROSE: Yes. I mean, look, I think we do that -- I don't want to disagree with Tom, but doing the population a disservice to call them resilient,
what they've gone through is unconscionable and unforgivable and unacceptable, and the world has let the people of Palestine, the people of
Gaza, down without -- there's no doubt of that.
But what the people show is an amazing spirit to continue throughout this existing becomes the purest form of nonviolent resistance.
And a colleague said to me only this morning, you know, love, hope and light will return to Gaza. So, there is this unfathomable spirit of the
people, and we have to do everything that we can so that that they have a future, that their lives and their futures are safeguarded.
[10:15:09]
The Palestinians in Gaza can have the same dreams, the same hopes, the same freedoms as the people of Israel and as the people indeed of the West Bank
deserve as well.
It's extraordinary, the spirit that the people have shown over the past few years, but what they've gone through will only beginning to understand it.
And hopefully, Becky, you'll be able to go to Gaza soon yourself, and I'll be there when you go, and you'll be able to see it yourself, and you'll be
able to tell story of what people have gone through, what they continue to go through.
ANDERSON: Well, and we've been asking for access of courses as international media organizations for two years. We remind our viewers that
our Palestinian colleagues have done the most remarkable job in providing us with images and with sound on the ground, we continue to press for
access, not just me, not just this organization, but international organizations continue to press for that access. It's good to have you.
Thank you very much indeed, Sam.
Right, in France, eight of the nine priceless artifacts stolen from the Louvre on Sunday remain unaccounted for, and the museum remains closed
while police investigate. The thieves themselves are also missing. They got away on Sunday carrying irreplaceable items from the crown jewel
collection. Well, now the race is on to retrieve those pieces intact.
Here's what one expert on these types of cases had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHRISTOPHER MARINELLO, LAWYER AND FOUNDER, ART RECOVERY INTERNATIONAL: Well, these were very important pieces of cultural heritage, and the
thieves don't really care about that. What they care about is converting this into cash as quickly as possible and hiding their crime.
So, there's a race going on right now with the BRB, the French local police and to recover these items before they get broken up, because they will
melt down the precious metals. They will recut the stones with no regard for the peace integrity.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, CNN's Melissa Bell back with us this hour from Paris. As we just heard, there is a chance that these pieces of history, effectively are
being broken up for sale right now. What are authorities saying at this point, Melissa?
MELISSA BELL, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That for sure, Becky, is the worst case scenario for French authorities who really spoken about
the cultural significance of these pieces of jewelry is worn, of course, by the former queens of France in the 19th century.
There is also, of course, the possibility, as we speak about, a race against time, regardless of what has happened to the jewels itself, since
we just have no way of knowing, for the time being, those eight pieces of jewelry still entirely at large this afternoon, Becky.
The other big question, and the other big race against time, is getting for authorities get their hands on the robbers.
This is -- this is where they made their entrance into the Louvre Museum yesterday morning, Becky. Through that window using that truck that we
showed earlier, with this mechanical ladder and those very basic tools that we spoke about earlier on together, the angle grinder, blow torch,
equipment with which they could have cut through that window, but also the display cases inside as they managed to open them, setting off alarms and
altercation with security guards, we understand, within seven minutes, they were in and out and they were making their way back down this key along the
Seine River on their motorcycles that way.
One of the big questions, of course, is whether they even still in the country. We were speaking to a French Senator earlier who said that she
believes that the pieces of jewelry and the robbers themselves could well have left France.
Remember, it is very quick to get to Belgium, to get to Italy, to get to Spain, to get to Germany, you can flee the country relatively quickly,
given the size of European countries.
So, this is -- at this stage, a manhunt that will be spread even further than the borders of France. The big danger, of course, is that they have
managed to flee the country. And the greatest concern for French authorities that what that guest just had to say could be right that these
pieces of cultural heritage, these national treasures, may never be received intact, Becky.
ANDERSON: How surprising is it that these thieves were able to access the Louvre and that room very specifically as easily as they did? What are
authorities saying about security in what is clearly, you know, an incredibly important institution full of incredibly important and priceless
stuff?
BELL: And whatever else is uncovered and however else this story develops, Becky, the fact is, this was a massive security breach at what is the
world's most visited museum.
There are a number of questions about that. A lot of political statements have been made by various party. A great deal of criticism about how this
could have been allowed to happen.
[10:20:08]
There is we understand from the country's highest Constitutional Court, this report as yet unpublished, but that a couple of newspapers have had a
chance to get their eyes on, there was warning of security failures at the Louvre even before this happened, this entire wing said, the report only
had about a third of the rooms with security CCTV cameras in them, and that they warned could provide a weakness.
Now, the room in question did, as it happened, have CCTV security images, and we understand that they're being poured over by authorities.
But clearly the question of how such a grand operation could have been conducted under the nose of passer buyers and the substantial security
teams inside the Louvre clearly a huge embarrassment for France.
We've heard also from the French president yesterday, very quickly trying to address this, saying, look, the robbers will be found, the pieces of
jewelry will be brought back. Whatever else happens, Becky, this is a huge security failure here at the Louvre on Sunday morning.
ANDERSON: Yes, good to have you. Thank you very much indeed. Melissa Bell is in Paris for you.
Still to come, what caused a massive tech outage impacting hundreds of popular websites. Today you may have been impacted yourself. We are
following all of the developments on this story, a few more after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Well, did you experience some major tech issues today? So, you are not alone. Amazon Web Services say that the underlying problem that
caused a global internet outage for millions of people has been solved and sites are now coming back online. AWS is the major provider of cloud
services for hundreds of major companies.
Well, CNN's Clare Sebastian following this story for us. We were certainly impacted here in Abu Dhabi. I know colleagues impacted all over the world.
What more can you tell us about this outage, why it happened, and how it was fixed?
CLARE SEBASTIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, like, I think Becky, this is one of those moments when you start to see the vulnerability in the way that
the internet is structured, the sort of architecture where you have these single points of failure.
Because Amazon Web Services, the cloud arm of Amazon is such a dominant player, about 30 percent of the market share of global cloud services.
So, what seems to have happened seems to originate in one of their regions in Northern Virginia. Essentially, they have a database called DynamoDB.
It's a service that allows companies to store their data in the cloud much more cost effective and sort of resizeable. It's very sort of flexible and
efficient way to store data.
But the way that those databases connect to the company's websites, a system called DNS, domain name system that essentially is where the issue
occurred. So those websites for several hours were not able to access their data. One expert described it as if the websites had temporary amnesia for
those few hours. So that's why people couldn't access a wide range of websites, from social media, sites like Snapchat and Facebook all the way
to sort of Coinbase a cryptocurrency website, even airlines. We saw real world impact, Delta Airlines in the U.S. saying that there were a couple of
minor flight delays this morning caused by this.
[10:25:24]
But having said that, the fix came fairly quickly. It was about 3.5 hours between the first issue being reported and Amazon saying that they had
found and fixed this underlying issue, but we are see -- still seeing the recovery underway. Some other Amazon Web Services functions are still
experiencing problems, according to Amazon, but as I say, that is sort of coming slowly back online.
I think what we will see going forward are big questions about how companies can mitigate this risk and sort of diversify their cloud
providers to avoid the situation where you have this single point of failure, Becky.
ANDERSON: Clare, our viewers will be asking themselves, you know, what about the big one? This one may have been fixed. What's the risk out there,
and how well safeguarded or not are these companies that use, you know, a massive service like AWS?
SEBASTIAN: Well, look, I think, as I said, it is a wake up call. Most of the time, everything functions perfectly well. Amazon Web Services has
grown to be this major player. Because its systems, number one are so cost effective for companies.
And number two, seem to be pretty reliable and robust most of the time. By the way, for Amazon, it is by far the most profitable part of the business,
and allows them to scale e-commerce, because they can make money off this cloud provider.
But as I said, I think going forward, the question will be about diversification. Should companies really put all their eggs in one basket
when it comes to who hosts their website and databases and all the other functions that Amazon Web Services offer. And I think companies are going
to be going back and looking at how they mitigate this risk by diversifying going forward, Becky.
ANDERSON: Yes, it's good to have you, Clare. Thank you very much indeed. Clare Sebastian on the story of the day, it has to be said. Thank you.
Let's get you up to speed on some of the other stories that are on our radar right now. And at least two people are dead after a cargo plane slid
off the runway and into the sea at Hong Kong International Airport. You see the jet here, officials say the victims were airport security workers whose
patrol vehicle actually plunged into the water along with the plane when it veered off course while landing. Four crew members on the plane were taken
to hospitals for treatment.
Well, the match between Tel Aviv football rivals, Hapoel and Maccabi was called off on Sunday because violent clashes between supporters. More than
a dozen people injured in the violence at Bloomfield stadium.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping wants to push ahead with his strategy to strengthen China's economy in a new five-year plan that he presented to the
communist party's top decision makers at a closed-door meeting. The new plan is expected to focus on China's economic security and on technical
innovation.
Well, coming up, U.S. President Donald Trump threatening to hit Colombia with tariffs because he says the country has not done enough to crack down
on the drug trade. Will he follow through? More on that is after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:30:56]
ANDERSON: Welcome back. You watching CONNECT THE WORLD with me, Becky Anderson from your Middle East programming headquarters. These are your
headlines.
And key U.S. negotiators are in Israel today, working to keep the tenuous Israel-Hamas cease fire intact. Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met with
the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier. Their visit follows deadly weekend attacks in Gaza, with both sides accusing the other of cease
fire violations.
Well, the Louvre remains closed to visitors after a stunning jewel heist at the weekend. Eight of the nine items taken on Sunday are still unaccounted
for, and a manhunt for the thieves is ongoing.
All of the objects taken are considered important pieces of French history, including an emerald and diamond necklace, given by Napoleon to his second
wife.
Online services should be back to normal now for millions of web users after a massive tech outage. Impacted popular web sites, streaming
platforms and gaming sites earlier today, at the center of that outage. Amazon Web Services, or AWS, the major provider of cloud computing services
for a host of companies.
Well, U.S. President Donald Trump says he will announce tariffs on goods from Colombia today, in plans to end all U.S. financial support to the
country. He says, Colombian President Gustavo Petro has done nothing to stop the flow of drugs into the United States.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: They are a drug manufacturing machine -- Colombia. And we are not going to be part of it. So, we're going
to drop all money that we're giving to them. They -- it has nothing to do with them stopping drug production.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, it comes on the heels of the seventh U.S. strike on a civilian vessel in the Caribbean allegedly used for drug trafficking, and
it was a Colombian boat that was targeted on Sunday.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says all three people on board were killed. Well, CNN's. Kevin Liptak is at the White House.
Kevin, it's good to have you. Can you just explain what the White House thinking is here with regard Colombia, in the first instance, the kind of
wider policy we see emerging on narco-traffickers. And what the end game is at this point?
KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Well, I think overall, the strategy here is a quite a combative one. The president's approach to Latin
America really turning into this escalating clash that began in Venezuela, and the president there, Nicolas Maduro, but now seems to be expanding to
Colombia as well.
And when you talk to officials, their aim and the president's aim, they claim is to cut down on narco-trafficking into the United States, but it is
clear that it is also certainly alienating the countries in that region, but also drawing a lot of legal questions and legal scrutiny in the United
States, including on Capitol Hill, not necessarily among Republicans, but certainly among Democrats, who have a lot of questions about these boats
that the US is just blowing out of the water one after the other. They have really been provided no information besides those videos that you've been
showing that really don't clarify exactly who is on these boats.
Now, when it comes to Colombia. This all started over the weekend after the president there, President Petro claimed that the boat that the U.S. sank
was not, in fact, narco-traffickers, but belonged to a humble family of fishermen. That was his quote, and that has drawn the ire of President
Trump, who responded by calling President Petro a lunatic and saying that he would cut off American assistance to Colombia and also slap new tariffs
on that country.
Now, U.S., assistance to Colombia had been in decline, just like foreign aid all around the world, but it still amounted to hundreds of millions of
dollars, and so, that could have a significant effect.
I think, to answer your question about what the end game is here, I think in Venezuela, I think, it's clear. When you talk to administration
officials, their goal is to oust Maduro.
[10:35:01]
And whether that's through some of these covert CIA operations that the president has authorized, or through other methods, it's very evident that
the goal at the end of the day, is regime change, and that, I think, is going to raise a lot of eyebrows in the United States, where, you know,
intervention in Latin America has quite a mixed history, whether it's Chile or Guatemala or Cuba, those have not always been successful And I think you
know, for even some of the President's supporters, they are questioning what all of this intervention is kind of leading up to.
But I think for today, we're on the lookout for what exactly the tariff rate will be on Colombia, how the president continuous to go after the
president there, but certainly, it all points to this escalating clash, not just with Venezuela, but to an expanding number of countries in the region.
ANDERSON: Good to have you. Kevin. Thank you very much. You are watching CONNECT THE WORLD. There is a lot more news ahead. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Well, imagine calling the company that you founded, quote the most boring A.I. company in the world. Well, that is exactly how the CEO of
AppliedA.I. describes his company, which is embedding artificial intelligence into mission critical workflows. Every business can now access
its Opus platform that uses intelligent agents for A.I. powered automation.
Look, as part of our intelligent future series that explores how A.I. and advanced tech is shaping or reshaping our lives. I sat down with
AppliedAI's CEO for a deep dive into his world, including the question of the hour, are we sitting on the cusp of an A.I. bubble? Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Do you trust the Sam Altmans of this world, Elon Musks of this world, others who are involved at the kind of frontier of all of this to be
having those same conversations? About ethics, morals, and the rest of it?
ARYA BOLURFRUSHAN, FOUNDER AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, APPLIEDAI: Tough question, Becky.
ANDERSON: It's good to have you.
BOLURFRUSHAN: Pleasure to be here, Becky. Thank you.
ANDERSON: You famously call the company that you founded and run the most boring A.I. company in the world.
BOLURFRUSHAN: Yes.
ANDERSON: So, what does the most boring A.I. company in the world do?
BOLURFRUSHAN: So, a lot of innovation happens when things are boring. And it was like, yes, well, we started this before A.I. was cool kind of 4-1/2
years ago, with the clear vision of, like, no one consumes A.I. You consume the business results that A.I. generates.
[10:40:00]
I think it was Bezos who, in very early days of the Internet said, I don't know how this is going to play out. And then, the peak of the Internet
hype, it was also peak clarity, like, we knew everything was going to change, and everything did change.
He said, but what won't change is people want things cheaper, faster, and more of them, and that, that won't change. So, we applied that same
thinking of what are very concrete applications of A.I. that make things cheaper, faster, and higher quality. And that in this current hype is
boring stuff.
ANDERSON: I'm interested that you use the term in this current hype. Because before we talk about what AppliedAI does, I have to ask you, do you
think that we are sitting on the cusp of an A.I. bubble at this point?
Sam Altman said the other day, people are getting really overexcited about A.I.
BOLURFRUSHAN: So, it depends. There is multiple kind of layers of this A.I. One is the -- that kind of as a real estate layer, with all the data
centers, this and all that investment happening everywhere.
There is the chips layer, which was speaking about Nvidia earlier. What do you put in the actual real estate.
Then, there's the other data layer, and how do you train these models, and there is a lot of operations there.
And then, there is the models, the LLM layer, and then, there is the application layer.
So, the LLM layer may have a hype, because it is a commodity of some sort. At some stage, I think memory is something that may keep it, but I do think
at the application level, trying to be as object as possible is underhyped.
ANDERSON: Well, you lead me seamlessly into talking about applied A.I.
BOLURFRUSHAN: Yes.
ANDERSON: Then, let's do that so our viewers can get a real sense of what you do.
BOLURFRUSHAN: Yes.
ANDERSON: You founded this company in 2021. You moved to headquarter it here in 2022.
BOLURFRUSHAN: Yes.
ANDERSON: So, let's talk about what it's doing three years on.
BOLURFRUSHAN: We help enterprises rewire and puts and create a A.I. digital twin with humans as part of the solution. We are making the case for the
human. We think there is a minimum amount that will -- that there is an uncompressible cost, which we call the cost of oversight. Which, luckily
for us, the governments are still run by humans. And we'll kind of regulate ourselves into relevancy.
And we call this supervised automation, where it's this marriage between human and A.I. The A.I. works, the human checks -- the A.I. works, the
human checks.
Almost like, think about like when we went to the moon, we had mission control, right? There is lots of humans watching the machines.
ANDERSON: Given where the Elon Musks of this world believe we are going as far as sort of robotics and automation --
(CROSSTALK)
BOLURFRUSHAN: Yes.
ANDERSON: You know, you say today, in 2025 that humans have to be part of the process.
(CROSSTALK)
BOLURFRUSHAN: Yes.
ANDERSON: Because it certainly helps the story that says, otherwise, you know, the business that you are in is going to rip the heart out the jobs
market.
BOLURFRUSHAN: Yes, yes. Yes.
ANDERSON: But you cannot be certain, can you?
BOLURFRUSHAN: There is something we spend lot of brain damage internally thinking about it. For there to be regulation, for there to be some sort of
oversight, there needs to be a penalty. So, if you remove the human completely, then, how do you enforce regulation? So, humans, in a way, are
like morality control, right? There has to be some supervision about this machine, and that, I think, for enterprises, at least, in the regulated
spaces will remain, and that's the rest bite of humans. We're the supervisor.
ANDERSON: Arya, how does an organization like yours benefit from the ambition that Abu Dhabi and the UAE have to be at the absolute top table
when it comes to global A.I. players? I mean, there is a massive A.I. race out there, isn't it?
(CROSSTALK)
BOLURFRUSHAN: Yes.
ANDERSON: Across a myriad of sort of levels --
(CROSSTALK)
BOLURFRUSHAN: I think it's a the race.
ANDERSON: It's the race. Absolutely.
BOLURFRUSHAN: The challenge we gave ourselves is to export A.I. from Abu Dhabi and compete in the U.S., compete in Europe and win these contracts up
against the very best.
ANDERSON: You are the biggest A.I. exporter from the UAE to the U.S., as I understand it at present. Right?
BOLURFRUSHAN: Yes. Yes, yes. Yes, yes.
ANDERSON: What does that actually mean?
BOLURFRUSHAN: That means that we are built A.I. here, and we are -- our first 30 customers were not in the UAE, they are all in the U.S.
So, it was like kind of rewiring the mind of not -- just because you're based in Abu Dhabi, doesn't mean your market is only here, and you have to
go to the big players here, and sell there. So, but you can actually compete globally. And I think that was a challenge, obviously, because
everyone asks us why you're in Abu Dhabi? Why (INAUDIBLE)? Why are you not in London? Why are you wanting to Paris?
We've been able to attract really, really tough talent. So, we haven't felt the cost of talent, or the cost of being not elsewhere here. That's --
(CROSSTALK)
ANDERSON: And they will invest in you, of course.
BOLURFRUSHAN: Yes --
ANDERSON: And a number of your key investors are local to Abu Dhabi. Right?
(CROSSTALK)
BOLURFRUSHAN: Yes. Yes. So, right?
[10:45:01]
So, one of our lead investor is G42. Has been a very early kind of founding investor in us. They have been phenomenal. We also have Bessemer invested
in the U.S. Palentir invested s in the U.S., and other consulting firm, leading or invested on us. Yes.
ANDERSON: These are big household names.
BOLURFRUSHAN: Yes.
ANDERSON: And certainly, for those who -- any knowledge of the A.I. and sort of advanced tech world.
(CROSSTALK)
BOLURFRUSHAN: Yes.
ANDERSON: How do you benefit as an organization from having these investors involved?
BOLURFRUSHAN: For a lot of them, we were their first ever UAE investment, which was -- for them, was very small investments, but for us, it's a big
deal.
So, one, we spent their great thought partner. So, for example, we gave the keynote at their first DEF CON in S.F. For an Abu Dhabi based A.I. company,
to give a keynote at a DEF CON, a Palantir was quite incredible.
We have now issued four research papers that we think are world leading. So, you know, Open A.I. is in our slack. Anthropic is in our slack. We are
speaking to them about research partnerships. And people don't usually relate, you know, this part of the world with leading research.
ANDERSON: People are, frankly, I think, massively intimidated by a tech that they simply do not understand. Do you understand that concern, Arya?
BOLURFRUSHAN: A hundred percent. I think it's evolutionary fear. It's a -- it's like -- it's a saying of like, it's not an A.I., they will take your
job. It's the human that's mastered A.I. that will definitely take your job. So, we launched the Opus Academy, and we have these online trainings
where we are doing these full certifications on every single part of -- in three, four hours, maximum a day. You're certified.
Learn how to use these tools immediately, if you want to have a chance for that. And then, very soon, think about the outcome base. And the question
is not like, is it three, four years from now? It's, you know, 18 months.
(CROSSTALK)
ANDERSON: It's now.
BOLURFRUSHAN: Yes. And the good chance that you, the best friend of your kids, will be an A.I.
ANDERSON: That is worrying though.
BOLURFRUSHAN: Yes.
ANDERSON: Isn't it?
BOLURFRUSHAN: Yes. It is. Because ever present, full attention, full memory, fully knowledgeable. There is -- there is some serious species
level questions that I think we need to start addressing. And I think it starts with making sure there is a home for people to go there this place,
making sure there is a way to have a human in the loop.
ANDERSON: We are going to leave at that.
BOLURFRUSHAN: Yes.
ANDERSON: Thank you very much, indeed.
BOLURFRUSHAN: Thank you very much. Thank you.
ANDERSON: Excellent.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: You're watching -- and you are watching CONNECT THE WORLD. There is a lot more news ahead. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Well, nearly 7 million Americans turned out to protest U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday, according to organizers. That included
more than 100,000 people across New York City. Mr. Trump's hometown, certainly, where he used to live.
The nationwide No Kings rallies stemmed from what protesters see as the president's abuse of power, including mass deportation raids and federal
troop deployments. Now, Mr. Trump called the protest a joke. He posted this A.I.-generated video showing him in a fighter jet, wearing a crown and
dropping something brown on protesters.
[10:50:02]
One has to assume that was a joke from the U.S. president.
Well, the U.S. Senate is back in session this week as the country enters day 20 of the federal government shutdown, but there is no indication that
democratic and republican lawmakers will come to an agreement on a funding bill anytime soon.
CNN's Camilla DeChalus tells us what they are saying.
CAMILA DECHALUS, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: The government shutdown is now entering its fourth week, and it is very clear that there is still no clear
path forward for lawmakers take to potentially reopen the government. Now, lawmakers still remain deeply divided over how to fund the government, and
both parties are really blaming each other for the continued stalemate.
Now, the Republican side, the House Speaker Mike Johnson, has really been pointing the finger, saying that it's the excessive democratic spending
priorities that they have when it comes to health care and funding for public broadcasting, and it's some of the reasons that he's claiming that
the negotiations have stalled. But Democrats are really pushing back on this argument, saying that it's really Republicans who are the ones trying
to make massive, sweeping cuts to health care and social programs. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. MIKE JOHNSON (R-LA): They want to reinstate free health care, paid for by taxpayers to illegal aliens. That's $200 billion as part of it. They
want to -- they want to give money back to the corporation for Public Broadcasting. They want to take a half a billion dollars from rural
hospitals, and they want to engage in all sorts of spending on foreign projects around the globe.
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So --
JOHNSON: That is actually on paper. That's their kind of proposal. We can't do that.
REP. HAKEEM JEFFRIES (D-NY): We are talking about the largest cut to Medicaid in American history. Hospitals, nursing homes and community-based
health centers are closing all across America because of what Republicans have done with their one big, ugly bill, and now they refuse to extend the
Affordable Care Act tax credits.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DECHALUS: Now, both sides are really framing this as a fight over health care spending, not just about reopening the government, but also about what
the country should prioritize moving forward.
And as the government shutdown continues, there is really this building pressure we're seeing not just from federal workers who are going without a
paycheck, but also from constituents who are calling their lawmakers and really voicing their concerns about how much longer this is going to go on.
Camilla DeChalus, CNN, Washington.
ANDERSON: Well, London's Metropolitan Police say they are -- I quote them here, actively looking into a media report containing new allegations
against Britain's Prince Andrew.
Now, The Mail on Sunday reported that in 2011, the prince tried to enlist a police officer to dig up dirt on sexual accuser -- sexual assault accuser,
Virginia Giuffre.
Giuffre was a victim of Jeffrey Epstein, and she died by suicide earlier this year. More on that as we get it.
All right. To our "PARTING SHOTS" tonight, around the world, we are saying Happy Diwali to those who celebrate the festival of lights, of course,
begins today, and the temple town of Ayodhya rang in the holiday with the Guinness World Record, setting displayed 2.6 million lamps, celebrating the
triumph of lightness over darkness. But in a world that is becoming more conscious of the environment.
There is one Diwali tradition that is undergoing some change. CNN's Polo Sandoval has the details.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
POLO SANDOVAL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is an iconic Indian holiday celebrated by the lighting
of lamps, big family dinners, and in some places, setting off firecrackers or crackers, as they are called in India.
Vendors in New Delhi, they are stocked up with all types of illuminations to mark the occasion, which symbolizes the triumph of lights over darkness.
But some residents are worried that India's persistent pollution will once again put a damper on the festivities.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): I think we should not burn crackers, but rather spend a healthy and wealthy Diwali. The less the
pollution, the better it is for us.
SANDOVAL (voice over): The air quality index in the country's capital has been hovering at levels considered poor or very poor ahead of the holiday.
And each year, the smog gets worse. Around this time because of crop burning in colder temperatures, which trap pollutants in the air. There are
bans on traditional firecrackers in New Delhi to try to reduce pollution levels.
But recently, the Indian top court permitted the use of so-called green crackers for a limited time during Diwali. Some residents say it brings
some of the joy back to the festival.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): It's a good order. Every year children celebrate Diwali with a lot of restrictions. This year, they can
just celebrate, and that's why children are very happy.
SANDOVAL (voice over): Manufacturers say the green crackers emit 20 to 30 percent less pollutants. But that's still a concern for environmentalists
who say the crackers may be cleaner and quieter, but they still give off some harmful admissions.
VIMLENDU KUMAR JHA, ENVIRONMENTALIST: Delhi, already has a pollution baseline, you know, of being one of the worst polluted cities of the world.
And each year, we see in -- on the eve of Diwali or the dead night of Diwali, the air quality index reaches almost 20 to 30 times worse than the
permissible limits.
[10:55:06]
SANDOVAL (voice over): Delhi's environment minister says preparations are underway to conduct clouds seeding after the holiday, to clean up the air.
The lights of Diwali are once again shining, but not without casting a spotlight on one of India's lingering health and environmental problems.
Polo Sandoval, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, that is it for CONNECT WORLD. Stay with CNN, my colleagues with "ONE WORLD" up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
