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Microsoft invests $2.2 billion in Malaysian cloud expansion

Microsoft is set to launch its first cloud region in Malaysia, featuring three data centres in the greater Kuala Lumpur area.

The centres, known as Malaysia West, will begin operations by mid-year, marking a significant step in the company’s $2.2 billion investment in the country.

However, this move is part of Microsoft’s broader plan to expand its cloud and AI services in Southeast Asia. Microsoft estimates the investment will generate $10.9 billion in revenue and create over 37,000 jobs in Malaysia over the next four years.

Laurence Si, managing director of Microsoft Malaysia, stated that the company’s operations in Malaysia remain on track despite concerns over US export controls on semiconductor chips.

Microsoft remains confident in its relationships with stakeholders and its ability to meet its investment commitments.

Local businesses are expected to benefit from enhanced cloud and AI capabilities, with the country aiming to become a leading hub for technological innovation in the region.

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Ofcom backs broadband competition to expand full-fibre coverage

Britain should maintain competition in the broadband market to boost full-fibre coverage to 96% of premises by 2027 while capping prices on slower-speed services, UK telecoms regulator Ofcom announced on Thursday.

The cap would limit what BT’s Openreach can charge for connections up to 80Mbit/s, an increase from the current 40Mbit/s limit.

Ofcom’s previous measures, including encouraging new providers to use Openreach’s infrastructure, have helped increase full-fibre coverage from under 25% to nearly 70% of homes.

It now proposes keeping high-speed broadband prices free from regulation until 2031 while ensuring affordability for those relying on older copper-fibre connections.

In rural areas where commercial networks are less viable, Ofcom plans to support Openreach in expanding full-fibre access. The regulator’s consultation on these proposals will run until June 12, with final decisions expected in March 2026. BT shares rose 0.5% following the announcement.

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Baidu dismisses claims of leaked user information

Chinese tech giant Baidu has denied claims of an internal data breach after the teenage daughter of a senior executive was accused of sharing users’ personal information online.

The controversy erupted when internet users alleged that the daughter of Baidu vice president Xie Guangjun had posted private details, including phone numbers, following an online dispute.

Baidu insisted that neither employees nor executives have access to user data and claimed the information came from illegally obtained ‘doxing databases’ on foreign platforms.

The company has filed a police report regarding false claims, including allegations that Xie had given his daughter access to Baidu’s databases.

Xie apologised, stating that the data had been sourced from overseas social networking sites.

The case comes amid ongoing crackdown in China on data privacy breaches, with stricter laws in place to prevent unauthorised sharing of personal details.

The controversy has impacted investor confidence, with Baidu’s shares falling more than 4% in Hong Kong trading.

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SpaceX strengthens ties with Filtronic through expanded agreement

Filtronic has expanded its partnership with SpaceX, securing a larger contract to supply advanced E-band SSPA modules for the Starlink satellite network.

The agreement builds on their initial collaboration signed in April last year, reinforcing Filtronic’s role in supporting one of the world’s leading space technology firms.

As part of the deal, Filtronic has issued 10.95 million warrants to SpaceX at an exercise price of 92.8p. These warrants give SpaceX the option to subscribe for up to 5% of Filtronic’s existing share capital, with vesting linked to confirmed purchase orders.

The issuance of warrants was approved under existing shareholder authorities granted at Filtronic’s annual general meeting in October.

Chief executive Nat Edington described the agreement as a validation of Filtronic’s technology and a step towards securing further supply commitments for the Starlink constellation. The company expects to trade slightly ahead of market expectations for the financial year ending May 2026.

Following the announcement, Filtronic’s shares rose by 3.17% to 107.3p at 10:55 GMT.

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Mark Zuckerberg confirms Llama’s soaring popularity

Meta’s open AI model family, Llama, has reached a significant milestone, surpassing 1 billion downloads, according to CEO Mark Zuckerberg. The announcement, made on Threads, highlights a rapid rise in adoption, with downloads increasing by 53% since December 2024. Llama powers Meta’s AI assistant across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, forming a crucial part of the company’s expanding AI ecosystem.

Despite its success, Llama has not been without controversy. Meta faces a lawsuit alleging the model was trained on copyrighted material without permission, while regulatory concerns have stalled its rollout in some European markets. Additionally, emerging competitors, such as China’s DeepSeek R1, have challenged Llama’s technological edge, prompting Meta to intensify its AI research efforts.

Looking ahead, Meta plans to launch several new Llama models, including those with advanced reasoning and multimodal capabilities. Zuckerberg has hinted at ‘agentic’ features, suggesting the AI could soon perform tasks autonomously. More details are expected at LlamaCon, Meta’s first AI developer conference, set for 29 April.

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Nvidia introduces high-performance AI machines for the future

At GTC 2025, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang unveiled a new generation of AI-focused personal supercomputers designed to redefine computing in the era of AI. The two new machines, DGX Spark and DGX Station, are powered by Nvidia’s Grace Blackwell chip platform and promise to deliver unprecedented AI computing power at the edge.

DGX Spark, available immediately, features the GB10 Grace Blackwell Superchip, capable of up to 1,000 trillion operations per second. Meanwhile, the DGX Station, set for release later this year, is built with the GB300 Grace Blackwell Ultra Desktop Superchip and 784GB of memory. According to Nvidia, these supercomputers will allow users to prototype, fine-tune, and deploy AI models with greater efficiency.

Huang described the devices as the future of computing, highlighting their role in supporting AI applications across enterprises. Nvidia has partnered with major manufacturers, including Asus, Dell, HP, and Lenovo, to bring these machines to market. As AI adoption continues to surge, these systems could become essential tools for developers and businesses looking to stay ahead in an increasingly AI-driven world.

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Google Gemini launches Audio Overview and Canvas

Google’s Gemini team has introduced two new features aimed at improving user interaction with documents and coding projects. The first, Audio Overview, transforms uploaded documents into audio podcasts presented by AI hosts.

The feature, initially part of Google’s NotebookLM, is now available to all Gemini users, regardless of their subscription plan.

While it currently supports only English, additional languages will be added soon. Users can easily generate podcasts from documents, which can then be shared, downloaded, and accessed via web or mobile.

In addition to Audio Overview, Gemini has launched Canvas, an interactive tool designed to help users create and refine work. Canvas offers features that allow users to generate first drafts, edit content, and receive feedback on tone, length, and formatting.

Once completed, the work can be exported directly to Google Docs. Canvas also supports coding, helping developers create prototypes for web apps, Python scripts, and games, while students can use it to learn coding concepts.

These innovative tools highlight Google’s ongoing commitment to enhancing the user experience and revolutionising how people engage with digital content and coding. Gemini’s new features are now available to all users globally, with Canvas already rolling out to both Gemini and Gemini Advanced users.

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Nvidia holds back on optical technology for GPUs

Nvidia’s CEO, Jensen Huang, has s tated that a promising new chip technology, co-packaged optics, is not yet reliable enough for use in the company’s flagship GPUs.

The technology, which uses laser beams to transfer data via fiber optic cables instead of traditional copper, is more energy-efficient and faster.

However, Huang emphasized that copper connections remain ‘orders of magnitude’ more reliable than today’s optical alternatives, making them the preferred choice for now.

Speaking at Nvidia’s annual developer conference in San Jose, Huang announced that the company will use co-packaged optics in two upcoming networking chips designed for server switches, increasing their energy efficiency by three and a half times.

These switch chips will be released later this year and into 2026, marking a gradual technological step forward. However, Huang clarified that Nvidia currently has no plans to implement optical connections between GPUs, as reliability remains a key priority for its AI-focused customers like OpenAI and Oracle.

Silicon Valley startups such as Ayar Labs, Lightmatter, and Celestial AI have invested heavily in co-packaged optics, seeing it as essential for building more powerful AI systems. Nvidia itself has backed some of these ventures, despite Huang’s cautious approach.

While optical connections could eventually help AI models process complex tasks more efficiently, Nvidia is prioritizing proven technology for its near-term roadmap, ensuring stability in an industry preparing to invest hundreds of billions in AI infrastructure.

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Tencent sees surge in profits and revenue

Tencent, a leading Chinese tech giant, has reported impressive financial results for the fourth quarter and full year, boosted by its strategic investment in AI.

For the three months ending December 31, Tencent’s net profits soared by 90% year-on-year to 51.3 billion yuan ($7.1 billion), while its revenue increased by 11% to 172.4 billion yuan, surpassing analyst expectations.

The company’s strong performance was attributed to AI-driven enhancements in its advertising platform, growing video account engagement, and solid results from its gaming division.

For the full year, Tencent’s revenue reached 660.3 billion yuan, up 8% from the previous year, with net profits jumping 68% to 194.1 billion yuan.

CEO Pony Ma highlighted the role of AI in driving innovation, noting that Tencent had reorganized its AI teams to focus on fast product development and advanced model research.

The company’s stock price has surged to its highest in nearly four years, reflecting strong investor confidence.

The increased AI interest follows the unexpected global success of DeepSeek, a Chinese startup whose chatbot development caught the attention of investors, positioning China as a competitor to Western tech leaders like OpenAI.

Ma expressed Tencent’s admiration for DeepSeek and confirmed its active integration of their technology. Tencent has also started testing its own AI model, ‘Hunyuan Thinker’, which aims to offer more professional and human-like responses.

Despite its financial successes, Tencent faces ongoing challenges, including a sluggish domestic economy and political tensions, particularly with the US.

In January, the US added Tencent to a list of firms linked to China’s military, a move the company and the Chinese government have criticized as unjustified.

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Google acquires Wiz in $32 billion deal

Google has finalized a $32 billion acquisition of Israeli cybersecurity firm Wiz, sealing the deal just weeks after Donald Trump’s inauguration.

The agreement, a significant increase from Google’s initial $23 billion offer, was aided by the expectation of a friendlier antitrust review under the new administration, sources familiar with the negotiations said.

Wiz had considered an IPO before returning to the negotiating table, with new Chief Financial Officer Fazal Merchant playing a key role in shaping the deal alongside CEO Assaf Rappaport.

Google’s cloud chief, Thomas Kurian, was also instrumental in the agreement, which includes an unusually high $3.2 billion breakup fee should regulatory issues derail the transaction.

With Wiz boasting 70% annual revenue growth and over $700 million in annualized revenue, Google viewed the premium price as justified.

However, concerns remain over potential antitrust scrutiny, particularly given Google’s ongoing legal battles with the US Department of Justice over its dominance in search and ad technology.

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