TikTok is expanding its e-commerce push by launching TikTok Shop in France, Germany and Italy. Already active in Spain and Ireland, the feature allows users to buy products directly within the app via videos, livestreams and a dedicated shop tab.
Customers can now browse, order, and get personalised product suggestions without leaving TikTok. However, users under 18 won’t be able to access content linked to TikTok Shop, with the platform promising stricter moderation.
The move has sparked concern among French retailers, with trade groups calling on the government to act against what they see as unfair competition from platforms like TikTok, Shein and Temu. Lawmakers are also investigating TikTok’s impact on young users.
For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.
The Coimisiún na Meán has warned that differing interpretations of the Digital Services Act (DSA) by EU regulators are hindering a unified approach to online platform regulation.
Maria Donde, Director of International Affairs at Coimisiún na Meán, highlighted the challenges of aligning various regulators’ approaches to the DSA, which has left room for interpretation.
She emphasised the importance of finding common ground, especially as the DSA, which came into effect last February, imposes transparency and election integrity requirements on platforms.
The DSA requires each EU member state to appoint a Digital Services Coordinator as a point of contact for platforms. Ireland, home to major platforms like TikTok and X, is at the forefront of enforcement.
Donde stressed the need for a consistent voice within the EU, particularly as the law faces criticism globally. The US government has condemned the EU’s regulatory approach, calling it a threat to free speech and accusing Europe of sidelining US tech companies.
The European Commission has already initiated several investigations under the DSA, targeting platforms such as X, TikTok, and Temu. These probes are ongoing, with potential fines for non-compliance reaching up to 6% of a company’s global turnover.
For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.
Microsoft is marking its 50th anniversary as a pillar of modern computing, having grown from humble beginnings into a $2.9 trillion tech titan. Once known for Windows and Office, the company now bets big on AI to shape its future.
Under CEO Satya Nadella, Microsoft has shifted to cloud-based services and embraced AI through its partnership with OpenAI. While its cloud business thrives, critics note the firm still trails rivals like Google and AWS in building core AI technologies.
Despite past missteps in mobile and social platforms, Microsoft remains a major force, with ventures like Xbox, LinkedIn, and a bid for TikTok. As it turns 50, the tech giant is navigating a new era, one where AI defines the next frontier.
For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.
AI is revolutionising biology by helping scientists uncover hidden proteins that traditional methods struggle to detect.
Researchers have developed two AI models, InstaNovo and InstaNovo+, designed to identify unknown proteins, which could improve disease research and treatment development.
Proteins, the functional components of cells, often differ from their genetic blueprint due to modifications after production.
Such variations can be difficult to analyse using conventional tools. InstaNovo, inspired by OpenAI’s GPT-4, translates mass spectrometry data into amino acid sequences, while InstaNovo+ refines these results using a noise-reduction technique similar to AI image generation.
Together, they outperform standard methods in complex protein sequencing tasks, particularly for challenging targets like human immune proteins.
Scientists believe these models could help explain biological mysteries, such as how stingrays adapt to different water environments or why pancreatic cancer leads to severe muscle wasting.
While the tools are promising, researchers caution that AI-generated results require verification. Nonetheless, AI sequencing is expected to complement traditional database searches, pushing biological research into new frontiers.
For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.
Apple is reportedly working on a revamped version of its Health app, which will feature an AI coach designed to help users improve their health instead of simply tracking basic data.
The AI coach will offer personalised advice based on data collected from users’ medical devices, with a particular focus on food tracking.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who initially reported on the project in 2023, now indicates that development is progressing, with the new feature expected to launch as part of iOS 19.4, possibly by spring or summer 2026.
The AI coach is currently being trained using data from Apple’s physicians, and the company plans to incorporate more medical professionals to provide health-related content, including videos, instead of relying solely on general advice. The new service is reportedly being referred to as Health+.
For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.
The US is just days away from imposing a ban on TikTok unless a deal is struck with its Chinese parent company ByteDance. The ban, set to take effect on Saturday, would affect 170 million American users of the popular app.
However, President Donald Trump has expressed confidence that an agreement will be reached in time. He extended the deadline from January to April 5 to give ByteDance more time to find a non-Chinese buyer for TikTok’s US operations.
Trump mentioned that there is significant interest from potential buyers, with private equity firm Blackstone reportedly evaluating a minority investment in TikTok’s US business.
The discussions are centred on ByteDance’s existing non-Chinese shareholders, including Susquehanna International Group and General Atlantic. Washington’s main concern is that TikTok’s ownership by ByteDance allows the Chinese government to potentially influence the app and collect data on Americans.
Despite the pressure, TikTok has yet to comment on the situation. If no agreement is reached by the deadline, TikTok faces the risk of being banned, though the app would remain on users’ devices if already installed. However, new users would not be able to download it.
The app is already banned in countries like India over similar national security concerns.
For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.
Studio Ghibli-style artwork has gone viral on social media, with users flocking to ChatGPT’s feature to create or transform images into Japanese anime-inspired versions. Celebrities have also joined the trend, posting Ghibli-style photos of themselves.
However, what began as a fun trend has sparked concerns over copyright infringement and the ethics of AI recreating the work of established artists instead of respecting their intellectual property.
While OpenAI has allowed premium users to create Ghibli-style images, users without subscriptions can still make up to three images for free.
The rise of this feature has led to debates over whether these AI-generated images violate copyright laws, particularly as the style is closely associated with renowned animator Hayao Miyazaki.
Intellectual property lawyer Even Brown clarified that the style itself isn’t explicitly protected, but he raised concerns that OpenAI’s AI may have been trained on Ghibli’s previous works instead of using independent sources, which could present potential copyright issues.
OpenAI has responded by taking a more conservative approach with its tools, introducing a refusal feature when users attempt to generate images in the style of living artists instead of allowing such images.
Despite this, the controversy continues, as artists like Karla Ortiz are suing other AI generators for copyright infringement. Ortiz has criticised OpenAI for not valuing the work and livelihoods of artists, calling the Ghibli trend a clear example of such disregard.
For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.
Fashion retailer H&M is set to introduce AI-generated ‘twins’ of 30 real-life models, which will be used in social media and marketing campaigns. The company says this move, made in collaboration with Swedish tech firm Uncut, explores new creative possibilities while preserving a ‘human-centric’ approach.
H&M has emphasised that models will maintain control over how their digital replicas are used, including receiving payment similar to traditional modelling contracts. However, the announcement has sparked backlash across the fashion industry.
Critics, including influencer Morgan Riddle, fear that AI models could take away job opportunities from photographers, stylists, and other production crew. Trade unions like Equity have voiced concern over the lack of legal protections for models, warning that some are being pushed into unfair contracts that compromise their rights and ownership over their image.
The company says AI-generated images will be clearly marked and used responsibly, complying with platform rules on disclosing synthetic content. H&M is not alone in testing the waters—other fashion brands such as Levi’s and Hugo Boss have also experimented with AI-generated visuals, prompting debates about the future of creative jobs in the industry.
Why does it matter?
While H&M highlights potential upsides like less travel and increased flexibility for models, union leaders insist stronger protections and industry-wide agreements are urgently needed to prevent exploitation in the evolving digital fashion landscape.
TSMC says future chip factories in the US will take two years or less to complete, a big step forward from the five years needed for its first Arizona plant. The goal is to narrow the technology gap with its cutting-edge Taiwanese fabs.
While the first US fab makes chips on a 4nm process, TSMC aims to start 3nm production in 2028 and reach 2nm ‘before 2030.’ This would bring American output closer to the most advanced nodes used in Taiwan.
For Apple, which relies heavily on TSMC, the move reduces geopolitical risks tied to China–Taiwan tensions. Critics, however, point out that all R&D remains in Taiwan, limiting the US’s chances of true semiconductor leadership.
For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.
Researchers at Caltech have developed a groundbreaking silicon device that could help quantum computers communicate over long distances.
The innovation, created by a team led by Professor Mohammad Mirhosseini, successfully converts microwave photons into optical photons, overcoming a major challenge in quantum networking. Their findings were recently published in Nature Nanotechnology.
Quantum computers rely on microwave photons to store and process information, but these particles require near-zero temperatures and lose data when travelling through standard internet cables.
Optical photons, however, can move efficiently over long distances at room temperature. The new device acts as a bridge between the two, using a vibrating silicon beam to convert microwave signals into optical ones with remarkable efficiency.
Built from silicon to minimise noise, the transducer outperforms older systems by 100 times while maintaining the same level of signal clarity.
The breakthrough brings the concept of a quantum internet closer to reality, offering a scalable way to link quantum computers across vast networks in the future.
For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.
