Cybersecurity

Google sues Chinese ‘Darcula’ group over alleged phishing scheme

Alphabet Inc's Google filed a lawsuit against alleged Chinese cybercriminals, accusing the group of orchestrating a vast phishing campaign designed to dupe Americans into turning over their credit card numbers. 

AI

China’s Qwen and DeepSeek edge out US AI models in Christian values benchmark

US start-up Gloo's Flourishing AI Christian benchmark tested how the output of AI models 'help people flourish', CEO Pat Gelsinger said.

Technology

Fermi denies report that Amazon was prospective tenant in stalled project

Dec 17 (Reuters) - Data center real estate investment company Fermi  on Wednesday denied a report that said Amazon was a prospective tenant and that it withdrew funding from the company's project.

Technology

OpenAI discussed raising tens of billions at about $750 billion valuation, the Information reports

Dec 17 (Reuters) - OpenAI has held preliminary talks with some investors about raising funds at a valuation of around $750 billion, the Information reported on Wednesday.

Technology

Exclusive-Amazon, Walmart shareholder pushes firms to report impact of Trump's immigration policies

NEW YORK, Dec 18 - A union-aligned investment group sent letters to Amazon, Walmart and Alphabet on Wednesday, asking how U.S. President Donald Trump's immigration policies were impacting their finances and supply chains, according to the documents seen by Reuters.     

Technology

Apple opens iPhone to alternative app stores in Japan

(Corrects first paragraph to reflect that the changes apply only to iPhones, not other Apple devices)

Technology

Nvidia director Harvey Jones sells $44 million in shares held for over three decades

Dec 17 (Reuters) - Nvidia board member Harvey Jones sold more than $44 million worth of company stock, a regulatory filing showed on Wednesday.

Technology

Micron forecasts blowout earnings on booming AI market, shares rise 7%

Dec 17 (Reuters) - Micron Technology forecast second-quarter adjusted profit at nearly double what Wall Street analysts expected on Wednesday, as prices soar for memory chips amid tight supplies and booming demand from artificial intelligence data centers.

Technology

FTC probes Instacart's AI pricing tool, source says; shares drop

Dec 17 (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Trade Commission is probing Instacart, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters, as the retail platform faces criticism over its artificial intelligence-driven pricing tool.

Technology

Amazon shakes up AI team as veteran Prasad leaves, DeSantis promoted

Dec 17 (Reuters) - Amazon is shaking up its artificial intelligence team with one long-time veteran heading for the exit and another taking over a more expansive group that includes AI models, custom silicon and quantum computing. 

Technology

Coinbase pushes into stock trading, event contracts as retail battle heats up

Dec 17 (Reuters) - Coinbase said on Wednesday it will start letting users trade stocks and event contracts tied to real-world outcomes, as the exchange expands beyond its crypto roots to compete more directly with rivals.

Technology

Exclusive-Google works to erode Nvidia's software advantage with Meta's help

Dec 17 (Reuters) - Alphabet's Google is working on a new initiative to make its artificial intelligence chips better at running PyTorch, the world's most widely used AI software framework, in a move aimed at weakening Nvidia's longstanding dominance of the AI computing market, according to people familiar with the matter.

Technology

Brazil to get satellite internet from Chinese rival to Starlink in 2026

BRASILIA, Dec 17 (Reuters) - Chinese low Earth orbit satellite company SpaceSail will start providing internet access to remote areas in Brazil in the first half of 2026, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's chief of staff, Rui Costa, said on Wednesday.

Technology

US gaming platform Roblox pledges changes to get Russian ban lifted

LONDON, Dec 17 (Reuters) - U.S. gaming platform Roblox is willing to make changes to some of its features in Russia, it said on Wednesday, as it seeks to overturn a ban imposed on it earlier this month.  

Technology

Oracle says Michigan data center project talks on track without Blue Owl

Dec 17 (Reuters) - Oracle said talks for an equity deal to support its Michigan data center project remain on schedule and do not include Blue Owl Capital, after a report of stalled negotiations with the crucial partner knocked its shares down 5% on Wednesday.

Technology

Coursera to buy Udemy, creating $2.5 billion firm to target AI training

Dec 17 (Reuters) - Online education platform Coursera said on Wednesday it would buy rival Udemy in an all-stock deal, valuing the combined company at $2.5 billion, as the industry consolidates after a post-pandemic slowdown and heightened investor scrutiny.

Technology

Factbox-By the numbers: How the Netflix and Paramount bids for Warner Bros stack up

Dec 17 (Reuters) - Warner Bros Discovery's board rejected Paramount Skydance's $108.4 billion hostile bid, saying it failed to provide adequate financing assurances, in a blow to the David Ellison-run company's ambitions to grow its media empire.

Technology

Warner Bros Discovery board rejects rival bid from Paramount

LOS ANGELES, Dec 17 (Reuters) - Warner Bros Discovery's board spurned Paramount Skydance's $108.4 billion hostile takeover bid on Wednesday, calling the offer "illusory" as it accused the studio giant of misleading shareholders about its financing.

Technology

Analysis-Qatar bets on cheap power to catch up in Gulf AI race

DUBAI, Dec 17 (Reuters) - Qatar is banking on its abundant, low-cost energy to make up for lost time in the Gulf's artificial intelligence race, hoping that cheap power and deep pockets will help it catch up with regional rivals that have already secured a head start.

Technology

Analysis-Crypto investors show caution, shift to new strategies after crash

Dec 17 (Reuters) - The recent crypto market bust has left some investors more cautious, after hitting some of the hottest and most-hyped corners of the industry the hardest. It may also provide a boon to emerging strategies that seek to more actively manage risks.