Nvidia has forecast strong growth for the first quarter, reinforcing confidence in the booming demand for AI chips. Orders for the company’s new Blackwell semiconductors were described as ‘amazing’, with CEO Jensen Huang stating that AI is advancing rapidly.
Investors had raised concerns last month after Chinese startup DeepSeek claimed to have developed cost-efficient AI models, but Nvidia’s results eased doubts.
Shares initially rose before fluctuating in extended trading, continuing a trend that has seen Nvidia’s stock surge over 400% in two years. The company generated $11 billion in revenue from Blackwell-related products in the fourth quarter, accounting for around half of its total data centre revenue.
Analysts had expressed scepticism about the transition to Blackwell and competition from DeepSeek, but the latest figures reassured investors.
Margins remain under pressure, with Nvidia forecasting a slight drop to 71% in the first quarter, below Wall Street estimates. Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress expects a recovery later in the year as production scales up and costs decline.
Despite some concerns about oversupply in AI infrastructure, Chinese firms have reportedly increased orders for Nvidia’s H20 AI chip, further supporting demand.
Nvidia’s fourth-quarter revenue rose 78% to $39.3 billion, surpassing expectations. Data centre sales surged 93% to $35.6 billion, continuing strong growth from the previous quarter.
Investors remain focused on Nvidia’s ability to maintain momentum in a competitive AI landscape, particularly as tech giants like Microsoft and Meta commit substantial investments to AI expansion.
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Alibaba has made its AI model Wan 2.1 publicly available, enhancing competition in video and image generation. The move aligns with growing interest in open-source AI, following the recent rise of cost-effective models from firms such as DeepSeek.
The company introduced four variants of Wan 2.1, capable of generating images and videos from text and image input. Each model supports varying levels of complexity, with the most advanced handling 14 billion parameters for improved accuracy.
In January, the company unveiled an upgraded version of its AI model, later rebranded as Wan, with a focus on generating highly realistic visuals. The model has achieved top rankings on VBench, a leaderboard assessing video generative AI capabilities.
A preview of Alibaba’s reasoning model, QwQ-Max, was also released, with plans for an open-source launch.
The firm announced a $52 billion investment in cloud computing and AI infrastructure over the next three years. The commitment highlights its long-term focus on advancing AI and maintaining a competitive edge in the rapidly evolving sector.
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Europe’s top court has ruled that Google’s decision to block an Enel e-mobility app from Android Auto could be considered an abuse of market power. The judgment reinforces competition rules and may push major tech firms to allow easier access for rival apps.
The case stemmed from a €102 million fine imposed by Italy’s antitrust authority in 2021 for restricting access to Enel’s JuicePass app.
Google challenged the penalty, arguing security concerns and the absence of a specific app template. However, the Court of Justice of the European Union backed the Italian regulator, stating that dominant companies must ensure interoperability unless valid security risks exist.
The court clarified that companies should develop necessary templates within a reasonable timeframe.
Although Google has since introduced the requested feature, the ruling may set a precedent for similar cases. Legal experts see it as aligning with EU competition law, citing past decisions against IBM and Microsoft.
The ruling also supports the objectives of the Digital Markets Act, which aims to regulate dominant digital platforms.
The decision is final and unappealable, meaning the Italian Council of State must now rule on Google’s appeal in line with the court’s findings.
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Italy is demanding 12.5 million euros ($13 million) from Elon Musk’s social network X following a tax probe linked to a broader investigation into Meta. The case, which focuses on value-added tax (VAT) claims for the years 2016 to 2022, is significant as it raises questions about how social networks provide access to their services. Italian tax authorities argue that user registrations on platforms like X, Facebook, and Instagram should be considered taxable transactions, as they involve the exchange of personal data for a membership account.
This case could have major implications for the tech sector in Europe, potentially altering the way business models are structured in the 27-nation European Union, as VAT is a harmonised EU tax. Although the claim of 12.5 million euros is a small amount for X, the outcome of this case could influence future tax policies across the region. Both X and Meta must respond to the tax authority’s observations by late March or early April, with the option to either accept the charges or challenge them in court.
The investigation also comes at a sensitive time, as US President Donald Trump has criticised digital taxes in countries like Italy that target US tech firms. Musk, who has strong ties with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, is also keen to expand his Starlink business in the country. If no agreement is reached, Italy’s Revenue Agency may pursue a lengthy judicial review, which could take up to 10 years to resolve.
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An online education company has filed a lawsuit against Google, claiming its AI-generated search overviews are damaging digital publishing.
Chegg alleges the technology reduces demand for original content by keeping users on Google’s platform, ultimately eroding financial incentives for publishers. The company warns this could lead to a weaker online information ecosystem.
Chegg, which provides textbook rentals and homework help, says Google’s AI features have contributed to a drop in traffic and subscribers.
As a result, the company is considering a sale or a move to go private. Chegg’s CEO Nathan Schultz argues Google is profiting from the company’s content without proper compensation, threatening the future of quality educational resources.
A Google spokesperson rejected the claims, insisting AI overviews enhance search and create more opportunities for content discovery. The company maintains that search traffic remains strong, with billions of clicks sent to websites daily.
However, Chegg argues that Google’s dominance in online search allows it to pressure publishers into providing data for AI summaries, leading to fewer visitors to original sites.
The lawsuit marks the first time an individual company has accused Google of antitrust violations over AI-generated search features. A similar case was previously filed on behalf of the news industry. A US judge overseeing another case involving Google’s search monopoly is handling this lawsuit as well.
Google intends to challenge the claims and is appealing a previous ruling that found it held an illegal monopoly in online search.
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Nvidia has filed a lawsuit against the European Commission for accepting a referral from Italy to review its acquisition of AI startup Run:ai. The US chipmaker argues that the Commission violated a recent court ruling that restricts its powers over minor transactions. This case follows growing concerns over the Commission’s use of Article 22, which allows it to review smaller mergers that fall below EU merger thresholds, a move companies have criticised as overreach.
While the case will not impact the approval of the AI‘s deal, which was cleared in December, a ruling in favour of Nvidia could curb the European Commission’s ability to regulate similar transactions in the future. Nvidia argues that the decision breaches legal principles, including proportionality and equal treatment, and undermines legal certainty for businesses operating in the EU.
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On Valentine’s Day in San Francisco, the NBA Tech Summit took place ahead of the NBA All-Star weekend, showcasing the latest trends in sports, media, and technology. With the help of NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang and legendary Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr, the audience was introduced to the evolution of event broadcasting, companies set to make significant investments in the coming years, and the future of basketball as a sport.
The panels also included renowned basketball experts, media figures, and former NBA players. A common consensus emerged: robotics and AI will reshape the sport as we know and significantly help athletes achieve far better results than ever before.
However, this is not exactly a novelty, as many innovations were presented ahead of the Paris Olympics, where certain programmes helped analysts and audiences follow their favourite events in greater detail.
The future of the NBA and the role of fans during matches
The same idea applies to the NBA, particularly with the integration of augmented reality (AR) and a feature called ‘Tabletop’, which allows the display of a virtual court with digital avatars tracking player movements in real time.
A feature like this one generated the most interest from the audience, as it enables viewers to watch matches from various angles, analyse performances in real-time, access interactive player data, and simulate alternative outcomes—essentially exploring how the game would have unfolded if different decisions had been made on the court.
An important aspect of these innovations is that fans have the opportunity to vote for competition participants, ask real-time questions, and take part in virtual events designed to keep them engaged during and after match broadcasts.
AI plays a crucial role in these systems, primarily by analysing strategies and performances, allowing coaches and players to make better-informed decisions in key moments of the game.
Player health as a priority
With a packed schedule of matches, additional tournaments, and extensive travel, professional basketball players face daily physical challenges. To help preserve their health, new technologies aim to minimise potential injuries.
Wearable health-tracking sensors embedded in equipment to collect data on physical parameters were introduced at the NBA Summit. This technology provides medical teams with real-time insights into players’ conditions, helping prevent potential injuries.
Basketball spirit through cutting-edge technology: What did the NBA Tech Summit deliver? 9
Biometric sensors, motion-analysis accelerometers, injury-prevention algorithms, dehydration and fatigue tracking, and shoe sensors for load analysis are just some of the innovations in this field.
Ultra cameras, ultra broadcasts, ultra experience
For fans of high-resolution and interactive matches, the latest technological advancements offer new viewing experiences. While still in the final development stages, fans can already enjoy Ultra HD 8K and 360-degree cameras, along with the highly anticipated ‘player cam’ perspective, which allows for close-up tracking of individual players.
It is also possible to independently control the camera during matches, offering a complete view of the court and arena from every possible angle. Additionally, matches can be broadcast as holograms, providing a new dimension in 3D space on specialised platforms.
The integration of 5G technology ensures faster and more stable transmissions, enabling high-resolution streaming without delays.
Fewer mistakes, less stress
Refereeing mistakes have always been part of the sport, influencing match outcomes and shaping the history of one of the world’s most popular games. In response, the NBA has sought to minimise errors through Hawk-Eye technology for ball and boundary tracking.
A multi-camera system monitors the ball to determine whether it has crossed the line, touched the boundary, or shot on time. AI also analyses player contact in real time, suggesting potential fouls for referees to review.
Beyond these features, the NBA now operates a centralised Replay Centre, offering detailed analysis of controversial situations where AI plays a crucial role in providing recommendations for quicker decision-making. Additional innovations include hoop sensors, audio analysis for simulating unsportsmanlike fouls, and more.
Environmental sustainability and awareness
As an organisation reliant on cutting-edge technology, the NBA is also focused on environmental awareness, which is increasingly becoming a key aspect of the league. Modern arenas utilise solar energy, energy-efficient lighting, and water recycling systems, reducing electricity consumption and waste.
Digital tickets and contactless payments contribute to sustainability efforts, particularly through apps that enable quicker and more eco-friendly entry to arenas and access to various services.
Partnerships with environmental organisations are a crucial part of the NBA’s sustainability initiatives, with collaborations including the Green Sports Alliance and the NRDC. These efforts aim to reduce the environmental impact of events while enhancing the fan experience.
For basketball fans (and followers of other sports adopting similar advancements), the most important takeaway is that the fundamental rules and essence of the game will remain unchanged. Despite the inevitable technological progress, the core spirit of basketball, established in Springfield in 1891, will continue to be preserved.
More than 1,000 musicians have joined forces to release a silent album as part of a protest against the UK government’s proposed changes to copyright laws. The changes would allow AI companies to use artists’ work to train models without needing permission, a move critics argue would undermine creators’ rights. The silent album, titled ‘Is This What We Want?’, features empty studios and performance spaces, symbolising the potential loss of control over their work.
The changes have sparked outrage from high-profile artists such as Kate Bush, who warned that this could lead to the exploitation of musicians by tech companies. The protest album, which includes contributions from other major artists like Ed Sheeran and Dua Lipa, aims to highlight the negative impact of such reforms on the livelihoods of creators.
The UK government argues that these changes will help boost the AI and creative industries, allowing them to reach their full potential. However, the controversy over copyright law is growing, with many in the music industry urging a rethink before any new regulations are finalised.
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The European Court of Justice has backed Italy‘s antitrust authority in a ruling against Google, stating that the tech giant’s refusal to allow Enel’s JuicePass app to work with its Android Auto platform could constitute an abuse of market power. This decision supports a 2021 fine of 102 million euros imposed by the Italian watchdog after Google blocked the e-mobility app. Google had argued that the refusal was due to security concerns and the absence of a specific template for compatibility, but the court disagreed, stating that dominant companies must ensure their platforms are interoperable with third-party apps unless doing so would harm security.
Although Google has since resolved the issue, the ruling sets a precedent for future cases involving platform dominance. The court acknowledged that companies could refuse interoperability if it compromises platform security, but if this is not the case, they must develop a compatible template in a reasonable timeframe. Google claimed the feature was only relevant to a small percentage of cars in Italy at the time, but the ruling now forces the company to comply with the antitrust decision. The case is final and cannot be appealed, and the Italian Council of State will follow the court’s guidance in its future ruling.
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US President Donald Trump has directed his trade officials to revive investigations into digital service taxes imposed by foreign countries on American tech giants.
The move could lead to new tariffs on imports from nations like France, Canada, and India, which have introduced taxes targeting major firms such as Google, Meta, Apple, and Amazon. Trump argues that these levies unfairly exploit US companies and has vowed to protect America’s tax base from foreign appropriation.
The renewed probe follows previous investigations during Trump’s first term, where the US Trade Representative found that several countries discriminated against American firms, paving the way for potential retaliatory tariffs.
While the Biden administration initially imposed 25% tariffs on goods from countries with digital taxes, these duties were suspended to allow for global tax negotiations. However, with talks stalling and the US rejecting the 15% global minimum tax, Trump has now abandoned the deal entirely.
As tensions grow, the US could impose fresh tariffs on billions of dollars worth of foreign imports. Trump has not yet revealed the specific tariff rates or the value of goods that may be targeted in this latest round of trade actions.
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