Technology

NYSE-parent Intercontinental Exchange develops platform for 24/7 tokenized securities trading

Jan 19 (Reuters) - Intercontinental ‌Exchange said on Monday that it had developed a ‌platform for trading and on-chain settlement of tokenized ‌securities, in a move to capitalize on global demand for U.S. equities.

AI

Mother of Elon Musk's child sues his AI company over sexual deepfake images created by Grok

The mother of one of Elon Musk's children is suing his AI company, saying its Grok chatbot allowed users to generate sexually exploitive deepfake images of her that have caused her humiliation and emotional distress.

Technology

Japan, US narrow first $550 billion investment picks, including SoftBank-linked plan, sources say

(Adds missing code, no change ‌to text)

Technology

Trump wants tech giants to pay for power. They’d love to

US President Donald Trump is calling for an emergency wholesale electricity auction that, his administration says, will force technology companies to pay for the new power they need to run massive AI data centres under construction across the country.

Gadgets

US$2 rental batteries are helping to power South Africa

The batteries offer an affordable system for those who lack reliable power and the money to buy their own solar panels.

Gadgets

Blind fans were given touch tech to follow Africa Cup games, but not for the final

Despite the availability of haptic, or touch, devices for visually impaired supporters at the Africa Cup of Nations, none were available when Senegal defeated Morocco 1-0 in front of 66,526 supporters in Sunday's (Jan 18) final.

AI

OpenAI introducing ads to ChatGPT

OpenAI announced on Jan 16 it will begin testing advertisements on ChatGPT in the coming weeks, as the wildly popular artificial intelligence chatbot seeks to increase revenue to cover its soaring costs.

Social media

Social media addiction's surprising challenger? Anti-doomscrolling influencers

Olivia Yokubonis, armed with a kind voice and scientific research, often pops up in feeds on social platforms, gently reminding viewers that they might not remember the video they saw two videos before she appeared on the screen.

Technology

South Korea's Lee, Italy's Meloni agree to strengthen cooperation in AI, chips

SEOUL, Jan 19 (Reuters) - ‌South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Italian ‌Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni agreed on Monday ‌to expand cooperation in sectors such as artificial intelligence, aerospace, chips and critical minerals, according to the Blue House.

AI

Does AI create new ideas, or just repeat old ones?

Systems like OpenAI's GPT-5 are accelerating research in math, biology and chemistry. But there is a debate over whether it can do that work on its own.

Video games

A new video game traps players in an online scam centre

'Blood Money: Lethal Eden' taps into a rising anxiety in China by simulating the experiences of people trafficked for the scam industry.

AI

Confiding in code: When ChatGPT is the third wheel in your relationship

Counsellors note a growing trend in Malaysia where people in relationships prefer confiding in chatbots rather than their partners, which sometimes leads to tension.

Technology

Sequoia to join GIC, Coatue in Anthropic investment, FT reports

Jan 18 (Reuters) - Venture ‌capital firm Sequoia is joining Singapore's ‌GIC and U.S. investor Coatue in a ‌funding round for Anthropic which aims to raise $25 billion at a $350 billion valuation, the Financial Times reported ‍on Sunday, citing sources familiar ‍with the matter.

Technology

South Korea to negotiate with the US for favourable chip tariff terms, official says

SEOUL, Jan ‌18 (Reuters) - South Korea will seek ‌favourable terms for U.S. tariffs ‌on imports of memory chips, a presidential office spokesperson said at a ‍televised briefing on Sunday.

Social media

'Take a break': YouTube targets the endless scrolling of teens

YouTube has announced it will expand its protection settings for child and teen accounts with new tools to help parents manage their children's viewing and restrict content by age, including new controls for the popular short videos known as "Shorts".

Technology

Elon Musk's X limits Grok's sexually explicit AI image generation

X's chatbot Grok is getting restrictions on its ability to sexualise photos of people after weeks of international criticism and complaints that the software was digitally "undressing" women.

Technology

Buy Steve Jobs' bow ties, desk and more Apple history at this auction

In March 1976, Apple cofounders Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak both signed a $500 check weeks before the official creation of a California company that would transform personal computing and become a global powerhouse.

Drones

Amazon testing drone flights in UK ahead of 2026 air delivery launch

Just weeks after Amazon axed its plans to launch its first drone delivery service in Italy, the company has started to test drone flights in the UK ahead of the planned launch of an airborne delivery service there later in 2026.

Technology

Musk seeks up to $134 billion from OpenAI and Microsoft

(This Jan 17 story has been repeated with ‌no changes to text)

Technology

EU to bar Chinese suppliers from critical infrastructure, FT reports

Jan ‌17 (Reuters) - The ‌European Union ‌is moving to phase out ‍Chinese‑made equipment ‍from the ‌zone's critical infrastructure, ‍barring ​companies ⁠such as Huawei and ZTE ‌from telecom ⁠networks, ‍solar systems and ‍security scanners, the ‌Financial Times reported on Saturday.