The European Commission has launched the OpenEuroLLM Project, a new initiative aimed at developing open-source, multilingual AI models. The project, which began on February 1, is supported by a consortium of 20 European research institutions, companies, and EuroHPC centres. Coordinated by Jan Hajič from Charles University and co-led by Peter Sarlin of AMD Silo AI, the project is designed to produce large language models (LLMs) that are proficient in all EU languages and comply with the bloc’s regulatory framework.
The OpenEuroLLM Project has been awarded the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) Seal, a recognition granted to high-quality initiatives under the Digital Europe Programme. This endorsement highlights the project’s importance as a critical technology for Europe. The LLMs developed will be open-sourced, allowing their use for commercial, industrial, and public sector purposes. The project promises full transparency, with public access to documentation, training codes, and evaluation metrics once the models are released.
The initiative aims to democratise access to high-quality AI technologies, helping European companies remain competitive globally and empowering public organisations to deliver impactful services. While the timeline for model release and specific focus areas have not yet been detailed, the European Commission has already committed funding and anticipates attracting further investors in the coming weeks.
At the annual Almaty Digital Forum, experts highlighted the growing importance of preparing for the AI revolution sparked by the sudden rise of the Chinese AI company DeepSeek. The company’s appearance at the forum raised questions about the future of AI and humanity, particularly due to the affordability of DeepSeek’s AI models, which cost just $6 million to develop, compared to the $40-100 million investments from other global players. This has made AI solutions more accessible to smaller developers and countries.
During the forum, Kaan Teryioglu, CEO of VEON Group, emphasised that AI’s potential lies in enhancing human capabilities across various sectors. Experts agreed that AI will no longer be dominated by tech giants, with smaller developers now able to harness its power. However, concerns were raised about the risk of cultural homogenisation if AI technologies are not adapted to local languages and values.
The forum also showcased Central Asia’s ambition to keep up with global AI developments, with high-level representatives from several countries, including Kazakhstan, Armenia, and Uzbekistan, in attendance. Kazakhstan, in particular, is planning to train a million AI professionals by 2030, with the goal of boosting AI exports to $5 billion by 2029. The government is also launching Alem.ai, a hub for AI research, start-ups, and international collaboration, expected to play a key role in the country’s AI future.
Kazakhstan’s ambitious plans have attracted the attention of global tech giants, who are already in discussions about establishing offices at Alem.ai. With a focus on developing local talent and fostering innovation, Kazakhstan aims to position itself as Central Asia’s intellectual capital and a key player in the global AI landscape. The forum’s success, with over 220 tech companies and 80 local start-ups participating, signals that the country’s plans may not be overly ambitious after all.
India‘s finance ministry has issued an advisory urging employees to refrain from using AI tools like ChatGPT and DeepSeek for official tasks, citing concerns over the potential risks to the confidentiality of government data. The directive, dated January 29, highlights the dangers of AI apps on office devices, warning that they could jeopardise the security of sensitive documents and information.
This move comes amid similar actions taken by other countries such as Australia and Italy, which have restricted the use of DeepSeek due to data security concerns. The advisory surfaced just ahead of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s visit to India, where he is scheduled to meet with the IT minister.
Representatives from India’s finance ministry, OpenAI, and DeepSeek have yet to comment on the matter. It remains unclear whether other Indian ministries have implemented similar measures.
Elon Musk has brought in a group of young engineers, many with little government experience, to reshape the US federal infrastructure. Among them is Gavin Kliger, a 2020 University of California graduate, who now serves as a special adviser at the Office of Personnel Management. Previously a senior software engineer at AI startup Databrinks, Kliger has also worked at Twitter. His online writings reflect a scepticism towards established political structures, and he has defended figures like Matt Gaetz while promoting controversial policy ideas.
Luke Farritor, another key figure, was a former SpaceX intern and a Thiel Fellow. He worked on software for rocket components and gained recognition for helping decipher an ancient Greek scroll. Reports indicate he has been granted access to USAID systems and is listed as an engineer in the Department of Health and Human Services. He and Musk’s aides have also sought entry into systems managing over $1 trillion in government contracts and payments.
Edward Coristine, the youngest of the group, appears to have only recently graduated from high school and was briefly enrolled at Northeastern University. He spent three months at Neuralink, Musk’s brain-interface company, and is now listed as an ‘expert’ in government records. Business filings link him to several tech ventures, including a company named Tesla.Sexy LLC, which remains active.
Musk’s influence on federal operations continues to expand as his team gains access to critical government systems. A US Office of Personnel Management spokeswoman declined to comment on the appointments.
AMD has announced it will release its next-generation data centre GPUs, the Instinct MI350 series, earlier than originally planned. CEO Lisa Su revealed during the company’s Q4 2024 earnings call that strong demand and smooth development have allowed AMD to move up production to mid-2025, rather than the latter half of the year.
The move comes as AMD looks to gain ground on industry leader Nvidia, whose dominance in the data centre market continues to pose a challenge. Despite this, AMD’s Instinct GPU sales surpassed $5 billion in 2024, and the company expects its data centre division to see double-digit growth in 2025. Major customers such as Meta, Microsoft, and IBM have contributed to AMD’s momentum in the AI computing sector.
Su expressed confidence in the expansion of AMD’s data centre business, forecasting substantial growth in AI-related computing over the coming years. Investors responded positively to the announcement, with AMD’s stock rising by over 4% following the earnings report.
Chinese companies are increasingly backing DeepSeek‘s AI, marking a pivotal moment for the industry. Firms like Moore Threads and Hygon Information Technology are enabling their computing clusters to support DeepSeek’s R1 and V3 models, which use domestically produced graphic processing units (GPUs). Analysts have hailed this as a ‘watershed moment,’ particularly as these models rival those run on global high-end chips.
Huawei has also joined the trend, integrating DeepSeek’s models with its Ascend cloud service and partnering with AI infrastructure start-up SiliconFlow. This integration showcases the growing potential of Chinese-made chips to support competitive large language models, reducing reliance on US hardware. Additionally, major Chinese tech companies such as Alibaba, Baidu, and Tencent have made DeepSeek’s models available through their cloud services.
DeepSeek’s rise has captured significant attention, especially after the launch of its free AI assistant, which surpassed ChatGPT in app downloads within days. The company’s approach, requiring far less computing power than its US counterparts, has further fueled its success. While DeepSeek is gaining traction globally, some countries, including Italy and the Netherlands, have raised privacy concerns, leading to investigations and blocks on its app.
US authorities are considering whether to add Chinese online retailers Shein and Temu to the Department of Homeland Security’s forced labour list, according to a Semafor report. The Trump administration has not reached a final decision and may opt against the move, sources said.
Both companies strongly denied any involvement in forced labour. Shein stated it complies fully with the US Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, while Temu emphasised its strict prohibition of involuntary labour through its Third-Party Code of Conduct.
Discussions on the retailers’ status come as tensions between the US and China escalate. Beijing recently imposed targeted tariffs on US imports and warned companies such as Google about possible sanctions, responding to the latest trade measures introduced by Washington.
The European Commission has unveiled new guidelines restricting how AI can be used in workplaces and online services. Employers will be prohibited from using AI to monitor workers’ emotions, while websites will be banned from using AI-driven techniques that manipulate users into spending money. These measures are part of the EU’s Artificial Intelligence Act, which takes full effect in 2026, though some rules, including the ban on certain practices, apply from February 2024.
The AI Act also prohibits social scoring based on unrelated personal data, AI-enabled exploitation of vulnerable users, and predictive policing based solely on biometric data. AI-powered facial recognition CCTV for law enforcement will be heavily restricted, except under strict conditions. The EU has given member states until August to designate authorities responsible for enforcing these rules, with breaches potentially leading to fines of up to 7% of a company’s global revenue.
Europe’s approach to AI regulation is significantly stricter than that of the United States, where compliance is voluntary, and contrasts with China‘s model, which prioritises state control. The guidelines aim to provide clarity for businesses and enforcement agencies while ensuring AI is used ethically and responsibly across the region.
China has introduced a series of measures targeting US businesses, including Google, farm equipment makers, and the owner of Calvin Klein, following the implementation of new US tariffs on Chinese goods. Among these measures, China launched an investigation into Google for potential violations of anti-monopoly laws, although no further details were provided. Despite its minimal presence in China, Google continues to collaborate with local advertisers.
China’s Ministry of Commerce also added US firms PVH Corp and Illumina to its ‘unreliable entity’ list, accusing them of actions that harmed Chinese companies. The companies could face significant sanctions, including trade freezes and restrictions on foreign staff. PVH has already been under scrutiny for its ties to the Xinjiang region.
As part of a broader response, China imposed 10% tariffs on US farm equipment, which could impact companies like Caterpillar, Deere & Co., and AGCO. Tesla’s Cybertruck, a model that has yet to receive regulatory approval, could also be affected. These new tariffs, set to take effect on February 10, signal an escalation in trade tensions between China and the US, extending beyond the tech sector.
These moves mark a significant increase in trade restrictions, building on previous actions taken under former US President Biden’s administration. Analysts suggest that these measures may be used as leverage, with the potential for de-escalation if either side chooses to back down.
Next week, Paris will host the AI Action Summit, where representatives from nearly 100 nations, including the US and China, will gather to discuss the future of AI. With the backing of both France and India, the summit aims to address AI development’s safe deployment, focusing on areas where France has a competitive edge, such as open-source systems and clean energy for powering data centres. The summit will also look at AI’s impact on labour markets and the promotion of national sovereignty in the increasingly global AI landscape.
Key industry figures, including top executives from Alphabet and Microsoft, are expected to attend. Discussions will involve a range of topics, including a potential non-binding communiqué that could reflect a global consensus on AI principles. However, it remains uncertain whether the US will align fully with other countries, given the Trump administration’s policies and tensions over issues like AI chip exports to China.
Unlike previous AI summits, which focused on safety regulations, the Paris event will not be creating new rules. Instead, the emphasis will be on how to ensure the benefits of AI reach developing nations, particularly through affordable AI models. In addition, France plans to showcase its clean energy capabilities, leveraging its nuclear power sector to address the growing energy demands of AI technologies, with some commitments expected from businesses and philanthropies to support public-interest AI projects globally.
