OpenAI has raised concerns about Chinese companies attempting to access US AI technologies to enhance their models. In a statement released on Tuesday, OpenAI highlighted the critical need to protect its intellectual property and the most advanced capabilities in its AI systems. The company emphasised that it has put in place countermeasures to safeguard its innovations and is working closely with the US government to protect the technology from being exploited by competitors and adversaries.
These comments come in response to the White House’s ongoing review of national security risks posed by Chinese AI companies, particularly the rapidly growing startup DeepSeek. The US government has been looking into potential threats as China increasingly seeks to advance its AI capabilities. David Sacks, the White House’s AI and crypto czar, explained that Chinese firms are using an AI technique called “distillation,” which allows them to extract knowledge from leading US AI models, further raising concerns about intellectual property theft.
OpenAI’s statement underscores the challenges and security risks that arise as AI becomes a critical technology with broad applications, from national defence to economic competitiveness. The company’s efforts to protect its proprietary AI models are part of a broader push by the US to ensure that its technological edge is not compromised by foreign competitors who might attempt to bypass intellectual property protections. The situation highlights the increasing geopolitical tension surrounding AI development, especially as China continues to make significant strides in the field.
South Sudan has lifted a temporary ban on Facebook and TikTok, imposed following the spread of graphic videos allegedly showing the killings of South Sudanese nationals in Sudan. The National Communications Authority confirmed on 27 January that the disturbing content, which had sparked violent protests and retaliatory killings across South Sudan, has been removed from the platforms.
The videos, which documented ethnically targeted attacks in Sudan’s El Gezira state, had led to widespread outrage. Rights groups blamed the Sudanese army and its allies for the violence, while the army denounced the incidents as isolated violations. South Sudanese authorities urged for a balanced approach to addressing online incitement while protecting the public’s rights.
The unrest highlights the volatile relationship between social media and violence in the region. Authorities continue to call for action to address the root causes of such content while promoting accountability and safety.
Hugging Face has introduced Inference Providers, a new feature that allows developers to run AI models on third-party cloud services. Partnering with companies like SambaNova, Fal, Replicate, and Together AI, the platform now offers users the flexibility to deploy models on different infrastructures directly from their project pages.
Previously, Hugging Face primarily focused on its in-house AI hosting solutions, but the company is shifting towards a more collaborative approach. By integrating with external serverless providers, developers can now scale their models without managing hardware, making deployment easier and more cost-efficient. Users will pay standard provider rates, and Hugging Face Pro subscribers will receive additional free credits.
Since its founding in 2016, Hugging Face has grown into a leading AI model hub, backed by major investors like Google, Amazon, and Nvidia. With its latest move, the company continues to expand its ecosystem, making AI more accessible for developers worldwide.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has called Chinese startup DeepSeek’s R1 model “impressive,” highlighting its ability to deliver advanced AI performance at a fraction of the cost. According to DeepSeek, its R1 model is 20 to 50 times cheaper to use than OpenAI’s own models, offering significant affordability without sacrificing quality.
Chinese AI, DeepSeek gained global recognition last month when it revealed that training its DeepSeek-V3 model required less than $6 million in computing resources, leveraging lower-cost Nvidia H800 chips. In contrast, Altman noted that OpenAI remains committed to prioritising increased computing power, suggesting this as an important factor in achieving AI progress.
The emergence of DeepSeek has disrupted the AI industry, leading to a significant sell-off in tech stocks, including Nvidia, which recorded a historic single-day loss of $593 billion in market value. Analysts say DeepSeek’s cost-efficient approach raises doubts about the necessity of the massive financial investments made by US tech firms in AI development.
As DeepSeek continues to attract attention, the startup’s success underscores a shift in the AI market, with low-cost models challenging traditional notions of progress in AI.
Leonardo CEO Roberto Cingolani held talks with Airbus to strengthen European collaboration in the satellite industry. Discussions with Airbus and Thales aim to create alliances to better compete globally with major players like the US and China. Cingolani emphasised the need for robust European partnerships to address increasing global competition in this sector.
Leonardo already has strong ties with Thales, sharing two joint ventures: Thales Alenia Space and Telespazio, which specialise in satellite manufacturing and services. Airbus and Thales Alenia Space are recognised as Europe’s leading producers of satellites for various applications, including telecommunications, navigation, and surveillance.
Meanwhile, Italy is considering Elon Musk’s Starlink system to meet immediate satellite needs for secure government communications. Opposition parties have criticised this potential reliance on Musk’s technology, though Cingolani stressed that Leonardo could ensure the protection of transmitted data, aligning with government priorities for security.
Google Maps will rename the Gulf of Mexico as the ‘Gulf of America’ for users in the United States, reflecting an official update to the US Geographic Names System. However, users in Mexico will continue to see the original name, while others worldwide will view both names side by side. Alphabet’s Google confirmed the change on social media, highlighting its standard practice of adapting location labels based on recent regional naming disputes.
The name change stems from an executive order signed by US President Donald Trump hours after taking office on 20 January, as part of his pledge to prioritise nationalist symbolism. Alongside this decision, Trump restored the name of North America’s highest peak, Denali, to its previous designation of Mount McKinley. These actions have reignited debates about historical and cultural naming conventions.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum responded light-heartedly, suggesting that North America could be renamed ‘Mexican America’ in reference to an old regional map. Google, which has navigated other geopolitical naming controversies, cited its consistent approach, such as labelling disputed waters as ‘Sea of Japan (East Sea)’, ‘Israel (Palestine)’, or ‘Persian Gulf (Arabian Gulf)’ in different regions.
The renaming has sparked mixed reactions, with critics accusing it of unnecessary politicisation and cultural erasure. Google’s application of the changes reflects its policy of balancing local preferences and global clarity in its mapping platform.
Researchers at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands have developed a cutting-edge electric bicycle designed to improve cycling safety. Equipped with laser sensors and LiDAR technology, the ‘Delft SenseBike’ collects detailed data on moving and stationary objects, including cyclists, pedestrians, and vehicles. This data aims to create a three-dimensional map of road users’ behaviour to prevent accidents.
The project addresses a significant gap in data about cycling safety, even in a country with 22 million bicycles and 37,000 kilometres of cycle paths. Holger Caesar, one of the researchers, emphasised that the technology could one day alert drivers to unpredictable cyclist movements or even contribute to the design of self-stabilising bikes.
With cycling accidents leading to 270 deaths in the Netherlands in 2023, almost half involving collisions with vehicles, researchers hope this technology will save lives. While the team does not plan to create autonomous bicycles, their work highlights the potential of technology to make roads safer for all users without diminishing the joy of cycling.
The European Commission has invited major social media platforms, including Facebook, TikTok, and X, to participate in a “stress test” on 31 January to assess their efforts in combating disinformation ahead of Germany‘s election next month. The test is part of the Digital Services Act (DSA), which requires companies to implement measures mitigating risks on their platforms. Similar tests were successfully conducted for the European Parliament elections last year.
EU spokesperson Thomas Regnier explained that the exercise would involve various scenarios to evaluate how platforms respond to potential challenges under the DSA. Senior compliance officers and specialists from companies such as Microsoft, LinkedIn, Google, Snap, and Meta have been invited to collaborate with German authorities in the closed-door session.
TikTok has confirmed its participation, while other platforms have yet to comment. The initiative underscores the European Union‘s commitment to ensuring transparency and accountability from tech giants in safeguarding democratic processes during elections.
Google secured an injunction from London’s High Court on Wednesday, preventing the enforcement of Russian legal judgments against the company. The rulings related to lawsuits filed by Russian entities, including Tsargrad TV and RT, over the closure of Google and YouTube accounts. Judge Andrew Henshaw granted the permanent injunction, citing Google’s terms and conditions, which require disputes to be resolved in English courts.
The Russian judgments included severe ‘astreinte penalties,’ which increased daily and amounted to astronomical sums. Google’s lawyers argued that some fines levied on its Russian subsidiary reached numbers as large as an undecillion roubles—a figure with 36 zeroes. Judge Henshaw highlighted that the fines far exceeded the global GDP, supporting the court’s decision to block their enforcement.
A Google spokesperson expressed satisfaction with the ruling, criticising Russia’s legal actions as efforts to restrict information access and penalise compliance with international sanctions. Since 2022, Google has taken measures such as blocking over 1,000 YouTube channels, including state-sponsored news outlets, and suspending monetisation of content promoting Russia‘s actions in Ukraine.
The Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, India, has embraced cutting-edge technology to better manage the world’s largest gathering of humanity. Facial recognition software, AI, and advanced crowd-monitoring systems ensure a safer and more organised festival for the expected 400 million visitors. Sarita Singh’s experience highlights the impact of these advancements. Separated from her son and mother-in-law, she was reunited with them within hours thanks to facial recognition software linked to over 2,700 CCTV cameras.
Authorities use AI-powered tools to count crowds, detect surges, and prevent stampedes at the sprawling 4,000-hectare site. Nearly 93 million visitors were recorded in the festival’s first nine days alone. The AI systems also monitor for fire hazards and trespassing, providing real-time alerts to on-ground personnel. Underwater drones add another layer of safety, sending alerts if accidents occur during the ritual dips in the holy rivers. Multilingual chatbots on the official Kumbh app further assist visitors from diverse regions.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has praised technology integration, describing the event as a ‘union of data and technology.’ The digital tools being deployed reflect the changing era of the Maha Kumbh, which not only honours ancient traditions but also embraces modern innovations to enhance the experience for millions of devotees.
