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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The National Institute of Standards and Technology is set to cut up to 500 staff members, a move that could devastate the US AI Safety Institute and its related programme, Chips for America. Recent reports indicate that these cuts are primarily aimed at probationary employees, with some already receiving verbal notice of termination.
Established under a previous US presidential directive, the AI Safety Institute has faced an uncertain future ever since its inception. The current government’s plans to reduce its workforce are raising concerns among experts, who warn that such reductions will hinder the nation’s capacity to develop critical safety standards in AI development.
Critics from various AI safety and policy organisations have voiced their alarm, emphasising that these cuts occur at a time when specialised expertise is essential. The potential loss of institutional knowledge could leave the government ill-equipped to manage emerging risks in artificial intelligence.
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Apple has pushed back against proposed remedies from the UK’s competition watchdog, arguing they could hinder innovation in the mobile browser market. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is investigating Apple and Google’s dominance in browser engines and cloud gaming distribution through app stores, with potential regulatory measures under consideration.
In its response, Apple stated that mandating free access to future WebKit updates or iOS features used by Safari would be unfair, given the significant resources required to develop them. The company warned this could lead to ‘free-riding’ by third parties and discourage further investment in browser technologies.
The UK CMA’s investigation aims to increase competition in the mobile browser space, where Apple’s WebKit engine is a key player. However, Apple insists that the proposed changes would harm its ability to innovate and could ultimately reduce the quality of browser experiences for users. The regulator is expected to continue assessing industry feedback before making a final decision.
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Mexico has strongly opposed Google’s decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the ‘Gulf of America’ for US users of Google Maps. President Claudia Sheinbaum has urged the tech giant to reverse the change, which follows a decree by the US government under President Donald Trump. She argues that the long-established name is internationally recognised and should not be altered unilaterally.
Sheinbaum reiterated Mexico’s stance on Thursday, stressing that Google has yet to address the country’s concerns. She pointed out that the US government’s authority extends only to its territorial waters and does not justify a broader renaming of the Gulf. While the name remains unchanged for users in Mexico, Google Maps outside the two countries now displays both names.
If Google refuses to restore the original name, Mexico is prepared to take legal action, Sheinbaum warned. ‘If necessary, we will file a civil suit,’ she stated, adding that the government’s legal team is already exploring its options. Google has not yet responded to the controversy.
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The Dutch government plans to cut bureaucracy and increase investment in artificial intelligence to help the country’s tech startups thrive, Prime Minister Dick Schoof announced. His comments follow a report by TechLeap, which revealed a sharp decline in small firms securing significant funding. Despite a 47% increase in venture capital investment in 2024, the number of Dutch startups receiving more than €100,000 fell dramatically, with most funding coming from foreign investors.
Schoof, speaking at TechLeap’s annual event in The Hague, stressed the urgency of creating a business-friendly environment to attract venture capital. He warned that Europe risks being left behind by the US and China if immediate action is not taken. Eindhoven, home to chip giant ASML, has been a key driver of the Dutch economy, but the slowdown in startup growth raises concerns about long-term innovation.
Two Dutch firms, hotel software developer Mews and AI-powered auditing company DataSnipper, achieved unicorn status last year, but industry leaders remain cautious. With the government now vowing to intervene, the hope is that streamlined regulations and targeted investments will help revive the country’s startup ecosystem.
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Australia has banned Chinese AI startup DeepSeek from all government devices, citing security risks. The directive, issued by the Department of Home Affairs, requires all government entities to prevent the installation of DeepSeek’s applications and remove any existing instances from official systems. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke stated that the immediate ban was necessary to safeguard Australia’s national security.
The move follows similar action taken by Italy and Taiwan, with other countries also reviewing potential risks posed by the AI firm. DeepSeek has drawn global attention for its cost-effective AI models, which have disrupted the industry by operating with lower hardware requirements than competitors. The rapid rise of the company has raised concerns over data security, particularly regarding its Chinese origins.
This is not the first time Australia has taken such action against a Chinese technology firm. Two years ago, the government imposed a nationwide ban on TikTok for similar security reasons. As scrutiny over AI intensifies, more governments may follow Australia’s lead in limiting DeepSeek’s reach within public sector networks.
Young people in Guernsey are being offered a free six-week course on AI to help them understand both the opportunities and challenges of the technology. Run by Digital Greenhouse in St Peter Port, the programme is open to students and graduates over the age of 16, regardless of their academic background. Experts from University College London (UCL) deliver the lessons remotely each week.
Jenny de la Mare from Digital Greenhouse said the course was designed to “inform and inspire” participants while helping them stand out in job and university applications. She emphasised that the programme was not limited to STEM students and could serve as a strong introduction to AI for anyone interested in the field.
Recognising that young people in Guernsey may have fewer opportunities to attend major tech events in the UK, organisers hope the course will give them a competitive edge. The programme has already started but is still open for registrations, with interested individuals encouraged to contact Digital Greenhouse.
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.
Chinese AI startup DeepSeek has announced that its Janus-Pro-7B model has surpassed competitors, including OpenAI’s DALL-E 3 and Stability AI’s Stable Diffusion, in benchmark rankings for text-to-image generation. This achievement solidifies DeepSeek’s reputation as a key player in the rapidly evolving AI market.
According to a technical report, the Janus-Pro model builds upon its predecessor by incorporating enhanced training processes, higher-quality data, and advanced scaling, resulting in improved stability and more detailed image outputs. The company credited the inclusion of 72 million high-quality synthetic images, combined with real-world data, for the model’s superior performance.
This success follows the launch of DeepSeek’s new AI assistant based on the DeepSeek-V3 model, which has become the top-rated free app in the US Apple App Store. The news sent shockwaves through the tech industry, leading to declines in shares of companies like Nvidia and Oracle, as investors reassessed the competitive dynamics in AI development.
OpenAI and Stability AI have yet to comment on the claims. DeepSeek’s achievements highlight the growing influence of Chinese firms in cutting-edge AI innovation, setting the stage for heightened competition in the global tech market.
TikTok users in the United States remain in limbo as the popular app continues to be unavailable for download from Apple and Google app stores. The platform, owned by China’s ByteDance, resumed service following a temporary shutdown, but legal uncertainties have prevented its return to digital storefronts.
The impasse stems from a US law requiring ByteDance to divest TikTok or face a nationwide ban due to national security concerns. President Trump recently extended the enforcement deadline, sparking debates about potential buyers, including high-profile figures like Elon Musk. However, no clear resolution has emerged, leaving users and tech giants caught in legal purgatory.
Some frustrated fans have resorted to selling devices with TikTok pre-installed for exorbitant prices on platforms like eBay. Others are attempting workarounds, such as location changes or VPNs, to regain access. Despite these efforts, confusion about TikTok’s long-term future has prompted some users to abandon the app entirely, citing dissatisfaction with political interference.
As negotiations continue, TikTok’s status in the US remains precarious, with both users and the company waiting anxiously for clarity on its fate.
