Latest
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Technology
Publishers seek to join lawsuit against Google over AI training
Jan 15 (Reuters) - Publishers Hachette Book Group and Cengage Group asked a California federal court on Thursday for permission to intervene in a proposed class action lawsuit against Google over the alleged misuse of copyrighted material used to train its artificial intelligence systems.
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Technology
Taiwan chip deal is worth a total of $500 billion, US Commerce Secretary Lutnick says
WASHINGTON, Jan 15 (Reuters) - Under the terms of a new U.S. trade deal with Taiwan, companies from Taiwan will invest $250 billion and the island's government will invest another $250 billion to expand semiconductor manufacturing in the United States, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told CNBC on Thursday.
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Technology
Netflix inks global deal to stream Sony Pictures' films after theatrical window
Jan 15 (Reuters) - Netflix and Sony Pictures Entertainment have reached a new agreement that would bring films such as "Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse" to the streaming giant's customers worldwide after they play in cinemas, the companies said on Thursday.
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Technology
Musk dealt blow over Grok deepfakes, but regulatory fight far from over
STOCKHOLM/LONDON, Jan 15 (Reuters) - Elon Musk's Grok chatbot is testing Europe's ability to clamp down on deepfakes and digital undressing of images online, even after regulators scored a rare win by forcing Musk's xAI to curb the creation of sexualized images.
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Technology
Canada privacy watchdog expands probe into X, cites Grok deepfakes
Jan 15 (Reuters) - Canada's privacy watchdog said on Thursday it was expanding an existing probe into X following reports that the social media platform's Grok AI chatbot was making non-consensual sexually explicit deepfakes.
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Technology
Verizon offers $20 credit to customers affected by massive wireless outage
Jan 15 (Reuters) - Verizon Communications said on Thursday it is offering a $20 credit to hundreds of thousands of customers impacted by its 10-hour outage on Wednesday that the U.S. wireless company said was caused by a software issue.
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Technology
SiFive to adopt Nvidia technology for speedy links between chips
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan 15 Reuters) - SiFive, which makes blueprints for parts of complex chips, said on Thursday it will become the first maker of RISC-V chip designs to integrate Nvidia technology that creates speedy links between chips.
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Technology
German AI startup Parloa triples valuation to $3 billion in latest fundraise
Jan 15 (Reuters) - German startup Parloa has raised $350 million in a late-stage round that tripled the valuation of the artificial intelligence-driven customer service platform to $3 billion in less than a year.
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Smartphones
Xiaomi packs new Note 15 series with enhanced battery life and durability; priced from RM799
The company in a presentation today (Jan 15) said it took note of customers' feedback to enhance the Note 15 series models with improved battery performance for all-day use.
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Technology
AI video startup Higgsfield hits $1.3 billion valuation with latest funding
Jan 15 (Reuters) - AI video generation startup Higgsfield raised $80 million in new funding, valuing the company at over $1.3 billion, it told Reuters, as investors rush to develop the sector amid booming demand for the new technology.
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Technology
India warns Apple it will proceed with antitrust case after company plays for time
NEW DELHI, Jan 15 (Reuters) - India has issued a final warning to Apple that it will proceed in an antitrust case against the U.S. tech giant as the company has delayed responses to officials for over a year and undermined the investigation, a confidential order shows.
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Technology
Australia social media ban hits 4.7 million teen accounts in first month
SYDNEY, Jan 15 (Reuters) - Social media companies have collectively deactivated nearly five million accounts belonging to Australian teenagers just a month after a world-first ban on under‑16s took effect, the country's internet regulator said, a sign the measure has had a swift and sweeping impact.
