Latest
-
AI
Meta begins job cuts as it shifts from metaverse to AI devices
Meta Platforms Inc is beginning to cut more than 1,000 jobs from the company's Reality Labs division, part of a plan to redirect resources from virtual reality and metaverse products toward AI wearables and phone features.
-
AI
Fury over Grok sexualised images despite new restrictions
Global outrage persisted Jan 15 over sexualised deepfakes created by Elon Musk's AI tool Grok, even after his social media platform X said it was blocking the chatbot from undressing images in certain locations.
-
Technology
Japan probing Musk's Grok AI service over inappropriate images
TOKYO, Jan 16 (Reuters) - Japan said on Friday that it has become the latest country to probe X over Elon Musk's artificial intelligence service Grok, stating that the government would consider every possible option to prevent the generation of inappropriate images.
-
Technology
Italy probes Microsoft's unit over sale practices for 'Call of Duty' and 'Diablo' video games
MILAN, Jan 16 (Reuters) - Italy's competition authority on Friday said it had opened two investigations on Microsoft's Activision Blizzard unit over allegedly "misleading and aggressive" sale practices for video games "Diablo Immortal" and "Call of Duty Mobile".
-
Technology
Exclusive-TikTok to tighten age checks in Europe as regulators ramp up pressure
STOCKHOLM, Jan 16 (Reuters) - TikTok will start rolling out new age-detection technology across Europe in the coming weeks, it told Reuters on Friday, as the ByteDance-owned platform faces regulatory pressure to better identify and remove accounts belonging to children under 13.
-
Internet
Beware of online ads with elaborate backstories. They may not be from a real small business
Faster and more sophisticated digital tools are only making it even harder for consumers to spot if what they are seeing is too good to be true.
-
Technology
Factbox-Taiwan contract chipmaker TSMC's US investments
Jan 16 (Reuters) - The U.S. and Taiwan reached a trade deal on Thursday under which Taiwanese companies will invest $250 billion to boost production of semiconductors, energy and artificial intelligence in the United States.
-
AI
OpenAI expects another ‘seismic shock’ from China amid speculation of new DeepSeek release
There is heightened anticipation about a potential major DeepSeek release around the Lunar New Year.
-
Technology
BBC to strike content deal with YouTube, FT reports
Jan 16 (Reuters) - The BBC plans to produce programmes for Google's YouTube for the first time, the Financial Times reported on Friday, as the British public broadcaster looks to generate more money as many viewers turn to streaming platforms.
-
Technology
Anthropic appoints Microsoft veteran Irina Ghose as India MD
BENGALURU, Jan 16 - Artificial intelligence startup Anthropic has appointed former Microsoft executive Irina Ghose as its managing director for India, the company said on Friday.
-
Mobile apps
An app’s blunt life check adds another layer to the loneliness crisis in China
In China, the names of things are often either ornately poetic or jarringly direct. A new, wildly popular app among young Chinese people is definitively the latter. It's called, simply, "Are You Dead?"
-
Technology
India's Infosys rises after strong 2026 view; lifts IT index
Jan 16 (Reuters) - Infosys rose 5% on Friday after unexpectedly raising its fiscal 2026 revenue forecast, pointing to a possible turnaround for India's $283 billion IT industry as AI-led partnerships drive deals.
-
AI
Jailed Chinese AI chatbot developers appeal in landmark pornography case
Defendants given prison sentences for creating sexual content for profit via their AI emotional companions.
-
AI
Wikipedia inks AI deals with Microsoft, Meta and Perplexity as it marks 25th birthday
Wikipedia unveiled new business deals with a slew of artificial intelligence companies on Jan 15 as it marked its 25th anniversary.
-
Technology
Taiwan aims to be strategic AI partner with US under tariff deal
TAIPEI, Jan 16 (Reuters) - Taiwan aims to become a close strategic artificial intelligence partner with the United States thanks to a deal to reduce tariffs and boost Taiwanese investment in the country, Taiwan Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun said on Friday.
-
Social media
Social media sites block 4.7 million underage accounts in Australia
Tech giants have blocked 4.7 million accounts under Australia's world-first social media ban for under-16s, the country's online safety watchdog said Jan 16.
-
Technology
White House says 25% semiconductor tariffs a 'phase one' action
WASHINGTON, Jan 15 (Reuters) - The U.S. Commerce Department's 25% national security tariff on certain high-end semiconductors announced on Wednesday is a "phase one" action to protect the sector and could be followed by other announcements pending negotiations with other countries and companies, a White House official said on Thursday.
-
Technology
AI hyperscalers will drive higher US corporate bond supply in 2026, analysts say
WASHINGTON, Jan 15 (Reuters) - U.S. corporate bond issuance is expected to increase substantially in 2026, driven in part by AI hyperscaler companies' build-out needs, analysts forecast.
-
Technology
California approves Verizon acquisition of Frontier, clearing way for closing
Jan 15 (Reuters) - The California Public Utilities Commission on Thursday approved Verizon Communications' $20 billion deal to acquire fiber-optic internet providers Frontier Communications , clearing the way for the deal to close on Tuesday after Verizon agreed to a series of conditions.
-
Technology
Blackstone could invest up to $4.65 billion for data center in Germany, Handelsblatt reports
Jan 15 (Reuters) - Blackstone could invest up to 4 billion euros ($4.65 billion) for a data center in Lippetal, Germany, Handelsblatt reported on Thursday, citing sources.
