Meta has introduced a new policy framework outlining when it may restrict the release of its AI systems due to security concerns. The Frontier AI Framework categorises AI models into ‘high-risk’ and ‘critical-risk’ groups, with the latter referring to those capable of aiding catastrophic cyber or biological attacks. If an AI system is classified as a critical risk, Meta will suspend its development until safety measures can be implemented.
The company’s evaluation process does not rely solely on empirical testing but also considers input from internal and external researchers. This approach reflects Meta’s belief that existing evaluation methods are not yet robust enough to provide definitive risk assessments. Despite its historically open approach to AI development, the company acknowledges that some models could pose unacceptable dangers if released.
By outlining this framework, Meta aims to demonstrate its commitment to responsible AI development while distinguishing its approach from other firms with fewer safeguards. The policy comes amid growing scrutiny of AI’s potential misuse, especially as open-source models gain wider adoption.
OpenAI has announced a new partnership with Kakao to develop AI products for South Korea. This marks OpenAI’s second major alliance in Asia this week, following a similar deal with SoftBank for AI services in Japan. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who is on a tour of Asia, also met with leaders from Samsung Electronics, SoftBank, and Arm Holdings. The partnership with Kakao is seen as part of OpenAI’s broader strategy to expand its AI presence in the region, with a focus on messaging and AI applications.
Kakao, which operates South Korea’s dominant messaging app KakaoTalk, plans to integrate OpenAI’s technology into its services as part of its push to grow its AI capabilities. Although Kakao has lagged behind rival Naver in the AI race, the company is positioning AI as a key growth engine. Altman highlighted the importance of South Korea’s energy, semiconductor, and internet sectors in driving demand for AI products, noting that many local companies will play a role in OpenAI’s Stargate data centre project in the US.
In addition to his work with Kakao, Altman met with executives from SK Group and Samsung to discuss AI chips and potential cooperation. SK Hynix, a key player in the production of AI processors, has been in discussions with OpenAI regarding collaboration in the AI ecosystem. Altman also indicated that OpenAI is actively considering involvement in South Korea’s national AI computing centre project, which is expected to attract up to $1.4 billion in investment.
Following the announcement, Kakao’s stock fell by 2%, after a 9% surge the previous day.
US telecom giant AT&T and Finnish network equipment maker Nokia have signed a multi-year agreement to upgrade AT&T’s voice services and 5G network automation. This deal comes after Nokia lost a significant contract to Swedish rival Ericsson in 2023, which led to Ericsson securing a $14 billion deal to build a network for AT&T covering 70% of its US wireless traffic by 2026. Nokia, however, remains involved with AT&T through a smaller agreement for fibre network development and a new contract focused on cloud-based voice applications and network automation.
The deal will enhance AT&T’s core network, enabling new voice services, including the integration of AI and machine learning. Although the financial details of the agreement were not disclosed, Nokia’s involvement is seen as crucial in bolstering its long-standing relationship with AT&T. Nokia’s president of Cloud and Network Services, Raghav Sahgal, emphasised that this agreement will allow for the deployment of new 5G functionalities.
Nokia recently reported stronger-than-expected earnings, driven by higher demand for telecoms equipment, particularly in North America and India. The company remains optimistic about its prospects in 2025, especially with plans to capitalise on the AI boom. Last year, Nokia also agreed to acquire Infinera for $2.3 billion to strengthen its position in the growing data centre and AI markets.
Waabi, a self-driving technology company, announced a partnership with Volvo’s driverless systems unit on Tuesday to develop autonomous big rigs. The collaboration aims to integrate Waabi’s virtual driver system, sensors, and computing into Volvo’s VNL Autonomous truck, which will be produced at Volvo’s New River Valley factory in Virginia.
The partnership comes as truck manufacturers and fleets look for ways to address driver shortages and reduce operational costs. Waabi, backed by Nvidia and Uber, uses its digital simulator, Waabi World, for testing and validation, with plans to launch commercial pilots in Texas within four years.
Unlike Tesla, which relies on a vision-only approach for its self-driving technology, Waabi uses a unique system to simulate real-world driving situations. The company also indicated that the deal with Volvo is not exclusive and they aim to integrate their technology with other truck manufacturers.
Volvo’s venture capital arm invested in Waabi in 2023, joining other backers such as Khosla Ventures and Porsche Automobil Holding. Waabi’s CEO Raquel Urtasun said trucking was a natural starting point for their technology, with plans to expand into areas like robotaxis and humanoid robots in the future.
Taiwan has officially banned government agencies from using DeepSeek AI, citing security risks and concerns over potential data exposure to China. The move strengthens previous guidance, which only advised against its use.
Premier Cho Jung-tai announced the decision after a cabinet meeting, stressing the importance of safeguarding national information security. Officials raised fears over possible censorship on DeepSeek and the risk of sensitive data being transferred to China.
The digital ministry had initially stated on Friday that government departments should avoid the AI service but did not explicitly prohibit it. The latest announcement formalises the ban, aligning with Taiwan’s broader approach to restricting Chinese technology.
Authorities in several other countries, including South Korea, France, Italy, and Ireland, have also scrutinised DeepSeek’s handling of personal data.
Norwegian-founded startup Tana has raised $25 million to fuel its AI-powered productivity platform, which has already drawn significant attention with a waitlist of over 160,000 users. The company’s software uses AI to streamline task management, automatically capturing, organising, and acting on information from meetings, notes, and conversations. With an approach reminiscent of object-oriented programming, its ‘Supertag’ feature transforms unstructured data into actionable insights.
Led by Tola Capital, the latest funding round brings Tana’s valuation to $100 million, with backing from investors such as Lightspeed Venture Partners and Northzone. Angel investors include notable tech figures like Google Maps co-founder Lars Rasmussen and Dropbox co-founder Arash Ferdowsi, highlighting the growing interest in AI-driven workplace tools. The startup, headquartered in Palo Alto with operations in Norway, is spearheaded by ex-Googlers Tarjei Vassbotn and Grim Iversen, the latter having worked on the now-defunct Google Wave.
Tana integrates with multiple workplace tools like Zoom and is designed to evolve as it processes more data, aiming to address long-standing challenges in productivity software. While currently best suited for tech-savvy professionals, the founders believe their AI knowledge graph will reshape how businesses handle information in the future. Investors are betting on Tana’s long-term vision, with some already using the platform to manage their own operations.
The European Union is preparing to introduce new regulations that would hold e-commerce platforms such as Temu, Shein, and Amazon Marketplace accountable for illegal or unsafe products sold online. Under the proposed customs reforms, online retailers will be required to provide data before goods arrive in the EU, allowing officials to inspect and monitor shipments more effectively.
Currently, consumers purchasing goods online are considered the official importers for customs purposes. The proposed changes would shift this responsibility to online platforms, making them liable for ensuring compliance with EU safety standards, as well as collecting duty and VAT. The reforms also include the creation of a central EU customs authority (EUCA) to oversee inspections and identify risks before shipments enter the bloc.
The draft proposal aims to improve consumer safety and close regulatory gaps in online commerce. E-commerce giants have not yet responded to the proposed changes, which could have significant financial and operational implications for their businesses.
Google’s X has spun out a new startup, Heritable Agriculture, which applies AI to revolutionise plant breeding. Using machine learning, the company analyses plant genomes to identify combinations that enhance yields, reduce water consumption, and increase carbon storage in soil.
The startup was founded by Brad Zamft, a former Google X researcher with a background in physics and biotech. Under his leadership, Heritable has tested thousands of plants using AI-powered models, running experiments in controlled growth chambers and field sites across the United States. Unlike gene-editing firms, Heritable focuses on refining traditional breeding methods rather than modifying DNA directly.
The company has secured investment from FTW Ventures, Mythos Ventures, and Google itself, though financial details remain undisclosed. As it steps into independence, Heritable Agriculture aims to commercialise its AI-driven approach, potentially reshaping the future of sustainable farming.
Chinese internet users have been captivated by the DeepSeek AI app, which has gained immense popularity since its launch during the Lunar New Year holiday. Users have explored its predictive and analytical capabilities, with some posing questions on politics, economics, and even personal matters. For example, law professor Wang Jiangyu asked how China should respond to US President Donald Trump’s tariffs, receiving a comprehensive seven-point answer that included potential new tariffs on US industries and other strategic moves. The model’s detailed responses have impressed users, though it censors certain politically sensitive topics, such as questions about Xi Jinping or the Tiananmen Square protests.
DeepSeek’s low-cost yet powerful AI has made waves in the tech sector, surpassing ChatGPT in downloads on the Apple App Store. The Hangzhou-based startup has become a source of national pride, with users sharing personal experiences, such as using the app to predict their fortunes or interpret dreams. This surge in popularity has drawn attention to the company’s rapid growth, and its founder, Liang Wengfeng, has emerged as a pop culture figure.
Despite its success, DeepSeek’s claims about the minimal cost of training its latest AI model—less than $6 million in computing power—have raised scepticism among some experts. Nevertheless, the platform’s effectiveness has prompted comparisons to the billions invested by US tech giants in AI development. The app’s rapid rise has also led to investigations by authorities in several countries, including Japan, South Korea, and several European nations, over concerns about its handling of personal data.
SoftBank Group CEO Masayoshi Son announced on Monday that he has agreed with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman to establish a joint venture in Japan, called SB OpenAI Japan, to offer AI services to corporate clients. This venture will be jointly owned by OpenAI and a company set up by SoftBank and its telecoms arm. In addition, SoftBank will pay $3 billion annually to integrate OpenAI’s technology across its group companies.
Son’s involvement with OpenAI is deepening, with reports indicating that SoftBank plans to invest between $15 billion and $25 billion in the company. SoftBank is also committing $15 billion to Stargate, a joint venture with OpenAI and Oracle to build AI capacity in the US. Son’s support for OpenAI follows a period of retrenchment for the investment giant, but he is reasserting his influence in the tech sector after setbacks in SoftBank’s tech portfolio.
In the context of rising competition, China’s DeepSeek has prompted some investors to question the immense funds being poured into US-based AI companies. However, Altman believes global demand for AI computing power will continue to surge. Son and Altman also met with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Monday to discuss further developments.
