Technology

Verisk pulls plug on $2.4 billion AccuLynx deal after FTC review delay

Dec 29 (Reuters) - Data ‌analytics firm Verisk said on Monday it ‌had pulled the plug on its planned $2.35 ‌billion acquisition of roofing software maker AccuLynx, pinning the termination on a regulatory review delay.

Technology

Nvidia takes $5 billion stake in Intel under September agreement

Dec 29 (Reuters) - ‌Nvidia has purchased Intel shares worth $5 ‌billion, the American semiconductor firm ‌said in a filing on Monday, carrying out a transaction announced in September.

Technology

Russian billionaire Potanin acquires minority stake in cloud provider Selectel

MOSCOW, Dec 29 (Reuters) - A ‌joint venture controlled by Russian billionaire Vladimir Potanin has ‌acquired a 25% stake in IT infrastructure provider Selectel, ‌one of the venture's partners said on Monday, as Moscow seeks to boost development of home-grown artificial intelligence models.

Technology

Google co-founder explains one of the company’s most infamous failures

During a talk at Stanford for the engineering school's centennial year, Google and Alphabet Inc. co-founder Sergey Brin recalled why Google Glass failed. He was joined onstage by Stanford president Jonathan Levin and Dean Jennifer Widom.

Technology

South Korea's L&F slashes value of battery material supply deal with Tesla

SEOUL, Dec ‌29 (Reuters) - South Korean battery material maker L&F said on Monday the value of its 2023 supply ‌deal with Tesla has shrunk to $7,386 from an earlier projection of $2.9 billion, without providing reasons for ‌the sharp cut.

Social media

TikTok challenge of violently kicking doors unnerves residents, puts US police on alert

The challenge invites participants to bang on or kick doors in an effort to startle the residents, and then post a video online.

Streaming

Why Spotify’s latest problem could change music forever

While the shadow library says it aims to preserve humanity's culture, its pirated content has wider implications for the future of streaming.

Technology

SoftBank to buy DigitalBridge in $4 billion deal to bolster AI infrastructure push

Dec 29 (Reuters) - SoftBank Group will ‌acquire digital infrastructure investor DigitalBridge Group in a deal valued at $4 billion, the ‌companies said on Monday, as the Japanese investment firm looks to deepen ‌its AI-related portfolio.

Technology

Larry Ellison, not Elon Musk, was the tech titan who defined 2025

When the year began, a billionaire with close ties to the White House was a lock for the most newsworthy tech titan of 2025. But 12 chaotic months later, Larry Ellison, not Elon Musk, can justifiably lay claim to the title.

Internet

Gmail to let users change their addresses while keeping data

Under the shift, which Google said would eventually be rolled out to all users, old addresses would remain active. Messages and services would not be lost.

Cybersecurity

German hacker group urges monthly Digital Independence Day

The campaign encourages users to move to independent digital services that offer stronger data protection.

VR

Virtual reality opens doors for older people to build closer connections in real life

Like many retirement communities, The Terraces serves as a tranquil refuge for a nucleus of older people who no longer can travel to faraway places or engage in bold adventures.

Video games

A gaming tour de force that is very, very French

Without a blockbuster budget or much experience, the creators of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 astounded the industry with an emotional narrative and old-school design.

Technology

Coupang announces $1.18 billion compensation to South Korean users for data leak

SEOUL, Dec 29 (Reuters) - South ‌Korean e-commerce company Coupang announced on Monday a compensation deal ‌worth 1.69 trillion won ($1.18 billion) to holders of 33.7 million ‌accounts for a massive data leak that triggered a backlash from users and lawmakers. 

Video games

‘Marvel Cosmic Invasion’ revives an arcade beat-’em-up experience

Gamers of a certain age will remember when beat-'em-ups ruled arcades. The cabinets inhaled quarters as four players teamed up to brawl their way to save Maggie Simpson or battle Shredder across New York.

Cybersecurity

Understanding personal cyber insurance: what it covers and what it doesn't

Is it time for Malaysians to consider personal cyber insurance as a protection against potential losses? Here's what experts want you to know.

Technology

Louis Gerstner, former IBM CEO who revitalized 'Big Blue,' dies at 83

Dec 28 (Reuters) - Louis Gerstner, the ‌former CEO and chairman of IBM, died on Saturday, aged ‌83.

Technology

Amazon halts plans for drone delivery in Italy

ROME, Dec 28 (Reuters) - ‌Amazon said on Sunday it ‌has decided not to pursue plans ‌to deliver goods by drone in Italy, saying that while it had made good progress with ‍aerospace regulators, broader business regulatory ‍issues did not ‌support the project.

Technology

Coupang founder Kim Bom apologises for data leak, pledges compensation

SEOUL, Dec 28 (Reuters) - ‌Online retailer Coupang's founder Kim Bom apologised for the first time ‌for a recent leak of customer data and pledged to unveil ‌a compensation plan as soon as possible, in a statement posted on the South Korean company's website.

AI

Sam Altman hints at the radical design choices behind OpenAI’s upcoming devices

The OpenAI CEO and Jony Ive are developing gadgets designed to give people new ways of interacting with AI.