Samsung Electronics has introduced its latest Galaxy S25 smartphones, powered by Qualcomm’s chips and Google’s AI model. With a competitive pricing strategy, the Galaxy S25 series remains in the range of $799 to $1,299, aiming to boost sales amidst fierce competition from Apple and other Chinese manufacturers. The release, which includes a preview of a slimmer Galaxy S25 Edge model, comes as Samsung seeks to regain market share after losing ground in the premium smartphone sector last year.
While Samsung boasts advanced AI features, analysts note that distinguishing its in-house voice assistant, Bixby, could prove challenging. Industry expert Thomas Husson remarked that without a standout application that leverages AI capabilities effectively, convincing consumers to choose an AI-based smartphone might be difficult. Despite this, the new Galaxy S25 is designed to provide a more personalised user experience, including features like the ‘Now Brief’ service, which offers tailored recommendations based on stored data and enhances user convenience.
In a notable shift, Samsung opted for Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Mobile Platform for the entire Galaxy S25 lineup, moving away from its own Exynos chips. However this change may impact Samsung’s chip business, as the mobile division has been a significant customer for its semiconductor products. Following the announcement, Samsung shares dipped by 1.1%, trailing the overall market performance. The company’s sell-through of the new series is crucial, particularly as sales of its foldable phones have stagnated amid stiff competition from Chinese rivals.
Preliminary fourth-quarter results from Samsung indicated profits fell short of expectations due to high chip development costs and increasing competition in the smartphone market. Moving forward, Samsung plans to use its Exynos chips in upcoming foldable devices, highlighting the ongoing strategic shifts to adapt to rapidly changing market conditions.
ByteDance, the Chinese tech giant behind TikTok, has allocated over 150 billion yuan ($20.64 billion) for capital expenditure this year, with a significant focus on AI, according to sources familiar with the matter. About half of the investment will support overseas AI infrastructure, including data centres and networking equipment. Beneficiaries of this spending are expected to include chipmakers Huawei, Cambricon, and US supplier Nvidia, although ByteDance has denied the accuracy of the claims.
The investment aims to solidify ByteDance’s AI leadership in China, where it has launched over 15 standalone AI applications, such as the popular chatbot Doubao, which boasts 75 million monthly active users. Its international counterparts include apps like Cici and Dreamina, reflecting ByteDance’s strategy to adapt its AI offerings globally. The company also recently updated its flagship AI model, Doubao, to rival reasoning models like those developed by Microsoft-backed OpenAI.
ByteDance’s international spending aligns with its efforts to expand AI capabilities abroad amid challenges like the uncertain future of TikTok in the United States. While ByteDance’s $20 billion plan is substantial, it remains modest compared to the AI investments of US tech giants like Google and Microsoft, which spent $50 billion and $55.7 billion respectively on AI infrastructure in the past year. The spending will also bolster ByteDance’s partnerships with suppliers such as Nvidia, from which it has procured custom AI chips tailored to China despite US export restrictions.
OpenAI has told an Indian court that removing training data used for its ChatGPT service would conflict with its legal obligations in the United States. The company, backed by Microsoft, is defending a copyright lawsuit filed by Indian news agency ANI, which accuses OpenAI of using its content without permission and demands the deletion of ANI’s data from ChatGPT’s memory.
In a January 10 filing, OpenAI argued that Indian courts lack jurisdiction as the company has no physical presence or data servers in India. It also emphasised its legal obligation in the US to preserve training data while litigation is ongoing. OpenAI denied wrongdoing, asserting its systems make fair use of publicly available data, a stance it has maintained in similar copyright disputes globally.
ANI insists the Delhi court has the authority to rule on the case, citing concerns over unfair competition and alleging that ChatGPT reproduces its content verbatim. OpenAI, however, countered that ANI manipulated prompts to elicit such responses. The court is set to hear the case on January 28, marking a key moment in India’s scrutiny of AI and copyright law.
Lonestar Data Holdings has unveiled plans to establish the first-ever data centre on the Moon, targeting a launch late next month aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. The data centre, named Freedom, will be integrated with Intuitive Machines’ Athena moon lander, leveraging the Moon’s unique environment for security and energy efficiency.
The company, led by CEO Chris Stott, views the lunar surface as an ideal location for secure, disaster-resilient data storage. Powered by solar energy and equipped with naturally cooled solid-state drives, Freedom is designed for non-latency-sensitive applications such as data recovery. Backup operations will be supported by a ground-based facility in Tampa, US.
As the demand for energy-intensive data centres grows on Earth, Lonestar joins a burgeoning space industry exploring off-planet solutions. While competitors like Lumen Orbit also seek a foothold in this nascent field, challenges remain. High launch costs, maintenance limitations, and the risk of mission failure loom large over these ambitious projects.
With initial funding of nearly $10 million and support from partners including the Isle of Man government and AI firm Valkyrie, Lonestar is set to push the boundaries of data storage and space technology.
Infosys, India’s second-largest software services exporter, anticipates a major shift in the way IT firms approach talent management. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, CTO Rafee Tarafdar highlighted the evolving market, driven by emerging technologies such as generative AI.
Tarafdar noted that the traditional ‘pyramid’ model, where most employees are at the entry level, may give way to a more dynamic framework. Infosys is actively experimenting with strategies to upskill its workforce while creating roles that did not exist before, including specialists in responsible AI and model engineering.
In addition to re-skilling existing employees, the company has developed bespoke small language models tailored to industries like banking and IT operations, offering these as services to clients. With AI creating both challenges and opportunities, Infosys believes a blend of evolving skills and innovative hiring will shape the future of tech talent.
As the IT sector grapples with rapid innovation, India’s Infosys remains focused on adapting its workforce to meet new demands, ensuring it remains at the forefront of the global technology industry.
Sarah de Lagarde’s world turned upside down after a train accident in 2022 cost her an arm and part of her leg. Offered a basic prosthetic by the NHS, she found its functionality limited and struggled with everyday tasks for nine months. However, her life changed when she received an advanced AI-powered bionic arm that learns her movements and anticipates her intent by detecting muscle signals. With this, she regained the ability to perform delicate actions, such as picking up an egg or pouring water.
The remarkable advancements in robotics are not limited to prosthetics. Intelligent machines are being developed to match human dexterity in fields ranging from healthcare to agriculture. Cambridge-based Dogtooth Technologies has created robots capable of picking soft fruit as delicately as human workers, while other projects aim to handle hazardous nuclear waste or assist in complex industrial tasks. Robots like Boston Dynamics’ Atlas and Google’s DEX-EE are already demonstrating the ability to adapt and learn through embodied AI, mimicking human reflexes and movements.
Despite these breakthroughs, experts caution that AI-driven robots are still years away from matching the natural abilities of the human hand. Current limitations include sensory integration, haptic feedback, and adaptability to new environments. Safety, ethical concerns, and potential job impacts are also key issues as this technology develops. Still, pioneers like de Lagarde envision a future where robotic dexterity can assist not only people with disabilities but also support the elderly and others in need, highlighting the transformative potential of AI.
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.
Researchers from Scotland are developing an AI tool that could enable high-street opticians to detect early signs of dementia using retinal photographs. By analysing nearly a million eye scans, the NeurEYE team, led by the University of Edinburgh, has created an algorithm capable of assessing the health of blood vessels in the retina, which can reveal signs of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s long before symptoms arise. This innovation could revolutionise early diagnosis, offering patients and their families valuable time to prepare and adapt.
The retina’s blood vessels are small and fine, making them ideal indicators of health issues, including conditions affecting the brain. Professor Baljean Dhillon of the University of Edinburgh highlighted the retina’s potential as a “biological barometer” for brain health, accessible through simple, inexpensive eye examination equipment. The research team hopes to roll out a prototype later this year, with plans for wider implementation in 2026, allowing opticians nationwide to integrate this tool into routine eye tests.
Early diagnosis of dementia can significantly improve patient care and family preparedness. Retired engineer David Steele, whose mother’s Alzheimer’s was detected too late, believes such technology could have spared his family years of struggle. Specialist optometrist Ian Cameron also emphasised the importance of regular eye tests, noting that advancements in eye care can lead to earlier detection of various conditions, from diabetes to neurological disorders, ultimately improving overall health outcomes.
Google is making a significant new investment in AI by committing more than $1 billion to Anthropic, according to a report by the Financial Times. Anthropic, a competitor to OpenAI, focuses on developing advanced AI models and tools, positioning itself as a major player in the growing AI sector.
The investment underscores Google’s ongoing commitment to bolstering its AI capabilities in a highly competitive market. As the race to dominate AI innovation intensifies, tech giants like Google are increasingly supporting smaller firms that specialise in cutting-edge developments to stay ahead.
Anthropic, founded in 2021 by former OpenAI executives, has quickly gained recognition in the AI community. The company aims to create more reliable and interpretable AI systems. Google’s backing is expected to strengthen Anthropic’s research and development efforts, further establishing it as a prominent force in the AI landscape.
Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is once again under fire by the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) over its ad-free subscription service. Introduced in 2023, the fee-based option offered European users the ability to opt out of personalised ads, with a subsequent price cut of 40% implemented later that year. However, BEUC claims these changes are merely superficial and fail to address deeper concerns about fairness and compliance with EU consumer and privacy laws.
BEUC’s Director General, Agustin Reyna, criticised Meta for not providing users with a fair choice, alleging that the company still pressures users into accepting its behavioural advertising system. Reyna called on consumer protection authorities and the European Commission to investigate Meta’s practices urgently, emphasising the need for decisive action to safeguard users’ rights. The consumer group also accused Meta of misleading practices, unclear terms, and failing to minimise data collection while restricting services for users who decline data processing.
In response, a Meta spokesperson defended the company’s approach, arguing that its November 2023 updates go beyond EU regulatory requirements. Despite these assurances, EU antitrust regulators have raised concerns, accusing Meta of breaching the Digital Markets Act. They claim the ad-free service forces users into a binary choice, sparking broader concerns about how the tech giant balances profit with consumer protection.
As pressure mounts, Meta faces growing scrutiny over its compliance with EU laws, with regulators weighing potential measures to address BEUC’s allegations and ensure fair treatment for European users.
