Foxconn, the Taiwanese electronics giant best known for assembling Apple’s iPhones, has taken a big step into the AI arena by launching its large language model, ‘FoxBrain.’ Built on Meta’s Llama 3.1 architecture, FoxBrain is optimised explicitly for traditional Chinese and Taiwanese language use, marking a milestone as Taiwan’s first AI language model.
Developed swiftly over four weeks using 120 of Nvidia’s powerful H100 graphics processors, FoxBrain is positioned as a high-performing AI model, particularly strong in data analysis, problem-solving, code generation, and decision-making tasks. Foxconn admitted that while FoxBrain slightly trails China’s DeepSeek model, it nonetheless approaches global benchmarks and boasts capabilities well-suited for complex reasoning tasks.
The company initially intends FoxBrain to streamline internal operations, mainly focusing on enhancing manufacturing processes, improving supply chain management, and fostering smarter decision-making. Foxconn also aims to collaborate with technology partners, making its AI findings publicly accessible through open-source channels to encourage broader adoption and innovation across industries.
Nvidia was pivotal in FoxBrain’s development, providing infrastructure and expertise through Taiwan’s most powerful supercomputer, ‘Taipei-1,’ in Kaohsiung. Foxconn is set to unveil more details about FoxBrain at Nvidia’s GTC developer conference later this month, highlighting its ambition to become a leader in hardware manufacturing and AI-driven technologies.
China is stepping up the use of AI and big data in elderly and social care as it seeks to address economic challenges posed by a shrinking workforce and an ageing population.
Civil affairs minister Lu Zhiyuan announced the initiative at the ‘Two Sessions’ political gathering, highlighting efforts to make services more accessible and efficient.
The country’s population has declined for a third consecutive year, with over 310 million people now aged 60 and above.
Officials are increasingly turning to technology to drive future growth. Local governments have moved swiftly to integrate AI into public services, with DeepSeek‘s chatbot gaining traction since its latest version was released in January.
Despite restrictions on AI chip sales imposed by the United States, DeepSeek’s cost-effective model has outperformed several Western competitors, reinforcing China’s position in AI development.
President Xi Jinping has reaffirmed the government’s support for AI, recently meeting with leaders from top technology firms, including DeepSeek, Tencent, Huawei and Xiaomi.
The push for AI adoption in social welfare services reflects a broader strategy to maintain economic stability and innovation in the face of demographic challenges.
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The United States Department of Labor is investigating Scale AI, a data labeling startup backed by Nvidia, Amazon, and Meta, for its compliance with fair pay and working conditions under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
The inquiry began nearly a year ago during Joe Biden’s presidency, with officials examining whether the company meets federal labour regulations. Scale AI has been cooperating with the department to clarify its business practices and the evolving nature of the AI sector.
Founded in 2016, Scale AI plays a crucial role in training advanced AI models by providing accurately labeled data. The company also operates a platform where researchers exchange AI-related insights, with contributors spanning over 9,000 locations worldwide.
In response to the investigation, a company spokesperson stated that the majority of payments to contributors are made on time, with 90% of payment-related inquiries resolved within three days.
Valued at $14 billion following a late-stage funding round last year, Scale AI serves major clients such as OpenAI, Cohere, Microsoft, and Morgan Stanley.
The company insists that contributor feedback is overwhelmingly positive and maintains that it prioritises fair pay and support for its workforce.
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Samsung’s upcoming XR headset is expected to feature a 4K micro-OLED display from Sony, according to recent reports.
The 1.35-inch screen is slightly smaller than Apple’s Vision Pro but offers a higher resolution and a wider colour gamut.
The Vision Pro has struggled to gain mass appeal due to its high price, leaving space for rivals to introduce alternatives.
Samsung’s device is likely to be positioned as a direct competitor, offering premium features at a potentially more accessible price point.
Other companies are also preparing to challenge Apple in the XR space. Sony’s high-end model is already available, and Meta is reportedly expanding its Quest lineup. Samsung has hinted at additional smart glasses, though details remain scarce.
Apple may respond with an updated Vision Pro, adding to the competition in the XR market. With several key players developing new headsets, 2025 could be a defining year for immersive technology.
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Reddit has introduced new tools to help users follow community rules and track content performance, aiming to boost engagement on the platform. The update comes after a slowdown in user growth due to Google’s algorithm changes, though traffic from the search engine has since recovered.
Among the new features is a ‘rules check’ tool, currently being tested on smartphones, which helps users comply with subreddit guidelines. Additionally, a post-recovery option allows users to repost content in alternative subreddits if their original submission is removed. Reddit will also suggest subreddits based on post content and clarify posting requirements for specific communities.
The company has enhanced its post insights feature, offering detailed engagement metrics to help users refine their content. This follows Reddit’s December launch of Reddit Answers, an AI-powered search tool designed to provide curated summaries of community discussions, which is still in beta testing.
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Microsoft has announced plans to invest an additional 5.4 billion rand (about $296.81 million) by 2027 to enhance its cloud and AI infrastructure in South Africa.
The investment comes in response to the increasing demand for the company’s Azure services in the region, with a particular focus on meeting the needs of businesses integrating AI technology into their operations.
Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President of Microsoft, revealed the initiative during an event in Johannesburg, confirming that the company would also fund technical certification exams for 50,000 individuals.
These exams will cover crucial digital skills, including cloud architecture, AI, and cybersecurity, aiming to address the shortage of skilled professionals in high-demand sectors.
The new investment builds on Microsoft’s previous spending of 20.4 billion rand to establish South Africa’s first enterprise-grade data centres in Johannesburg and Cape Town.
These data centres have become essential hubs for handling the computational demands of AI, as local businesses look to adopt AI-driven solutions.
The company’s broader strategy includes a global commitment to invest around $80 billion in 2025 to further develop data centres and deploy AI and cloud-based applications. South Africa, as a growing tech hub, is expected to play a key role in Microsoft’s plans for the future.
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AxeleraAI, a promising AI chipmaker based in Eindhoven, Netherlands, has been awarded a €61.6 million ($66 million) grant by the European Union to develop its Titania chip.
The grant, provided by EuroHPC, aims to bolster Europe’s AI capabilities by supporting the development of a chip specifically designed for “inference” computing in data centres.
However, this initiative is part of the EU’s broader strategy to enhance its AI sector and reduce its dependency on US and Chinese technologies.
Fabrizio Del Maffeo, CEO of AxeleraAI, expressed pride in the award, viewing it as a significant opportunity for the Dutch company to expand its business.
The new chip will be built on the open-source RISC-V standard, a growing alternative to more traditional chip systems like those from Intel and Arm. AxeleraAI’s existing Metis chip is already being used in edge AI applications, such as monitoring safety in factories through CCTV analysis.
While the company does not aim to compete with industry giants like Nvidia in training AI models, Del Maffeo stated that the Titania chip is designed to excel in running large AI models once they are trained.
This shift towards more affordable inference computing is expected to become increasingly important as the demand for AI solutions grows. AxeleraAI has already raised $200 million from investors, including Samsung, since its founding in 2021.
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Amazon Prime Video is introducing AI-powered dubbing for select movies and series in English and Spanish, aiming to expand its reach and enhance accessibility.
The feature, launching on Wednesday, will initially be available on 12 licensed titles that currently lack dubbing support.
With over 200 million customers worldwide, Prime Video‘s adoption of AI technology follows a growing trend among media companies using artificial intelligence to enhance viewer experiences.
Other firms, such as Disney’s ESPN, have also explored AI-driven solutions to personalise content and attract younger audiences.
The integration of AI-assisted dubbing reflects a broader industry shift towards technology-driven innovation in content distribution.
By using AI to bridge language barriers, Prime Video seeks to engage a wider audience and improve the global accessibility of its library.
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Google has reported receiving over 250 complaints globally about its AI software being used to create deepfake terrorist content, according to Australia’s eSafety Commission.
The tech giant also acknowledged dozens of user reports alleging that its AI program, Gemini, was being exploited to generate child abuse material. Under Australian law, companies must provide regular updates on their efforts to minimise harm or risk hefty fines.
The eSafety Commission described Google’s disclosure as a ‘world-first insight’ into how AI tools may be misused to produce harmful and illegal content.
Between April 2023 and February 2024, Google received 258 reports of suspected AI-generated extremist material and 86 related to child exploitation. However, the company did not specify how many of these reports were verified.
A Google spokesperson stated that the company strictly prohibits AI-generated content related to terrorism, child abuse, and other illegal activities.
While it uses automated detection to remove AI-generated child exploitation material, the same system is not applied to extremist content.
Meanwhile, the regulator has previously fined platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Telegram for failing to meet reporting requirements, with both companies planning to appeal.
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Singapore authorities have filed additional charges against three men in a widening investigation into server fraud, which may involve AI chips, court documents revealed on Thursday.
The suspects are accused of deceiving tech firms Dell and Super Micro by falsely representing the final destination of the servers they purchased.
Officials have stated the servers could contain Nvidia chips but have not confirmed whether they fall under US export controls.
The case is part of a broader probe involving 22 individuals and companies suspected of fraudulent transactions. US authorities are also investigating whether Chinese AI firm DeepSeek has been using restricted American chips.
Singapore has confirmed that some servers were sent to Malaysia, where authorities are now examining if any laws were violated.
Two suspects, Aaron Woon and Alan Wei, face additional fraud charges, while a third, Li Ming, had his earlier charge updated to include an alleged offence dating back to 2023.
Lawyers representing the men have either declined to comment or stated that the case is complex due to its international scope.
Meanwhile, Singapore police have seized 42 electronic devices and are analysing bank statements as they work with foreign law enforcement to trace the movement of funds.
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