At the NeurIPS conference in Vancouver, Ilya Sutskever, co-founder of OpenAI, predicted that artificial intelligence will become increasingly unpredictable as its reasoning abilities grow. Speaking to thousands of attendees, Sutskever explained that while advancements in AI have relied on scaling data and computing power, this approach is nearing its limits due to finite resources like the internet.
To overcome these challenges, Sutskever suggested that AI could begin generating its own data or evaluating multiple responses to improve accuracy. He envisions a future where superintelligent machines, capable of reasoning like humans, become a reality. However, this reasoning power could lead to unexpected outcomes, as seen with AlphaGo’s famous move in a 2016 board game match or unpredictable strategies from advanced chess algorithms.
Sutskever emphasised that AI’s evolution will make it ‘radically different’ from what we know today, with deeper understanding and potential self-awareness. Yet, he warned that this reasoning could complicate predictability, as AI analyses millions of options to solve complex problems. This shift, he stated, marks the beginning of a new chapter in AI.
For eight years, TeraFeng has shared her glamorous Shanghai lifestyle with over 500,000 followers on Chinese social media. Her audience, primarily financially independent urban women, has proven to be a valuable market for high-end and niche brands. In recent months, Feng’s switch to livestream selling on Xiaohongshu, a platform similar to Instagram, has seen her sell products ranging from luxury suits priced at 15,000 yuan ($2,060) to premium rice costing 60 yuan per kilogram.
Xiaohongshu has long been used for lifestyle inspiration but has struggled to find success in e-commerce. As Chinese consumers on other platforms like Taobao and Pinduoduo hunt for discounts, Xiaohongshu attracts a different crowd — users willing to spend on quality and aspiration-driven products. Influencers and brands are embracing this trend, with companies like L’Oreal and Coach launching stores and partnering with livestream hosts to drive sales. These livestreams adopt a relaxed, conversational style, contrasting the aggressive sales tactics on other platforms.
Brands are seeing tangible results. For example, Ms Min, an independent fashion label, experienced a spike in sales after actress Dong Jie featured it in a livestream. Marketing agencies like Magic Advertising, which works with luxury clients like Max Mara and LVMH, are also eyeing Xiaohongshu for growth. While analysts predict the platform’s annual sales could surpass $100 billion by 2025, experts suggest it will remain a niche player compared to China’s e-commerce giants like Tmall and JD.com. Nonetheless, Xiaohongshu’s ability to connect luxury brands with eager, affluent consumers marks it as a growing force in China’s online retail landscape.
Elon Musk’s AI startup, xAI, revealed on Saturday that the latest version of its Grok-2 chatbot will be available for free to all users of the social media platform X. The new version of Grok-2 is part of xAI’s continued efforts to integrate AI technology into the platform, providing users with more advanced and efficient tools for interaction.
While the chatbot will be free for everyone, Premium and Premium+ users will benefit from higher usage limits and will be the first to experience new features as they are rolled out. This tiered approach ensures that paying users receive an enhanced experience, with priority access to future updates and capabilities.
xAI has been quietly testing the new Grok-2 model for several weeks, fine-tuning its performance and features in preparation for the public release. The improved version is expected to offer better capabilities and user interactions, marking a significant step forward in AI development for social media platforms.
Google has launched the second generation of its AI model, Gemini, along with innovative applications like real-time AI-powered eyeglasses and a universal assistant, Project Astra. CEO Sundar Pichai called it the dawn of a ‘new agentic era,’ where virtual assistants can autonomously perform complex tasks under user supervision.
Gemini 2.0 now powers features such as AI Overviews in Google Search and includes advancements in image and audio processing. Google also revealed tools like Project Mariner for automating web tasks and Jules, an AI tool for software coding.
The company’s focus on embedding AI in widely used products like Search, YouTube, and Android is seen as a strategy to outpace competitors like OpenAI. Its Project Astra prototype can process multilingual conversations and integrate data from Maps and Lens. Testing on AI-enabled eyeglasses marks Google’s return to wearable tech, challenging rivals like Meta in the augmented reality space.
More than 20 price comparison websites across Europe, including Germany’s Idealo and France‘s LeGuide, criticised Google’s proposed changes to its search results, claiming they fail to comply with EUDigital Markets Act (DMA) requirements. The Act prohibits companies from favouring their own products and services on their platforms.
Google’s latest proposal includes redesigned search results to balance comparison sites and supplier websites, alongside testing an older ‘ten blue links’ format in some countries. However, the websites argue Google has disregarded feedback from over a year of discussions.
The critics, in an open letter, called on the European Commission to take decisive action, including fines, to ensure compliance. Google referred to a November statement highlighting efforts to meet DMA requirements.
Elon Musk announced that SpaceX’s headquarters is now officially located in Starbase, Texas, marking another shift for the billionaire’s companies away from California. The decision follows Musk’s earlier comments about relocating both SpaceX and social media platform X to Texas, citing dissatisfaction with California’s policies.
SpaceX‘s new base will be at its existing site in Boca Chica, Texas, while X will settle in Austin. Musk has also moved SpaceX’s incorporation to Texas, aligning with earlier actions to transfer Tesla’s incorporation after a Delaware court ruling.
Musk has increasingly favoured Texas, moving Tesla’s headquarters there in 2021 and choosing the state as his personal residence due to its tax benefits. While California remains Tesla’s main engineering hub in the United States, Musk continues to deepen his business operations in Texas.
Google has revealed that a trial of its traditional search result layout, featuring 10 blue links per page, negatively impacted both users and hotels. The test, conducted in Germany, Belgium, and Estonia, aimed to gauge the format’s viability under new EU digital regulations. The results showed users were less satisfied and took longer to find desired information, with hotel traffic dropping by over 10%.
The test was part of Google’s efforts to align with the EU’s Digital Markets Act, which prohibits favouritism towards its own services. However, the return to the older layout, implemented last month, left hotels at a disadvantage and reduced the ability of users to locate accommodations efficiently. “People had to conduct more searches and often gave up without finding what they needed,” stated Oliver Bethell, Google’s Competition Legal Director.
The trial results come as Google faces mounting pressure from price comparison websites and the European Commission. Over 20 comparison platforms have criticised Google’s compliance proposals, urging EU regulators to impose penalties. Google has indicated it will seek further guidance from the Commission to develop a suitable solution. This tension underscores the challenges tech giants face in balancing business interests with regulatory compliance and user experience, particularly in Europe’s increasingly stringent tech landscape.
Nvidia has refuted social media claims suggesting it plans to limit chip supplies to China, categorically stating that these rumours are false. In a post on a popular Chinese platform, the company reaffirmed its dedication to providing top-quality products and services to Chinese customers, highlighting the importance of the region to its business.
The denial comes at a time of heightened scrutiny over global semiconductor trade, with geopolitical tensions influencing market dynamics. Nvidia’s statement emphasises its continued focus on meeting the needs of its Chinese clientele, despite speculation circulating online.
This clarification is expected to reassure stakeholders in one of Nvidia’s most significant markets, where demand for advanced chips continues to grow, particularly in artificial intelligence and high-performance computing sectors. The company’s swift dismissal of the claims underscores its commitment to maintaining strong ties with China.
Warner Bros Discovery has announced a significant restructuring of its operations, separating its traditional cable TV businesses like CNN and TNT from its growing streaming platforms such as Max and Discovery+. This move is aimed at adapting to the ongoing decline in cable subscriptions while positioning itself for potential sales or industry mergers.
The company’s shares rose over 15% following the announcement, with analysts noting that the split could make its linear TV networks more attractive to buyers. The restructuring mirrors similar efforts by media giants like Comcast, which recently launched a spin-off for its cable assets. Despite this, Warner Bros Discovery’s $40 billion debt remains a challenge in attracting buyers for its cable unit.
Streaming and studio operations, now placed in a separate division, continue to show promise, with growing returns on investment. CEO David Zaslav, known for orchestrating major deals, hinted at further industry consolidation in the near future. Warner Bros Discovery’s new structure is widely seen as a proactive measure to navigate a shifting media landscape.
The US Commerce Department announced a preliminary deal to provide German auto supplier Bosch with up to $225 million in subsidies to produce silicon carbide (SiC) power semiconductors in California. The funding supports Bosch’s $1.9 billion transformation of its Roseville facility, with an additional $350 million in proposed government loans. This effort draws from the $52.7 billion fund established in 2022 to bolster US semiconductor production and research.
Bosch plans to begin manufacturing SiC chips, critical for electric vehicles, telecommunications, and defence, by 2026. These chips, known for their energy efficiency, play a vital role in improving electric vehicle performance and charging capabilities. The Commerce Department estimates the project could represent over 40% of US-based SiC manufacturing capacity once fully operational.
The investment aligns with Bosch’s strategy following its 2023 acquisition of TSI Semiconductors and highlights the growing importance of domestic chip production after pandemic-related supply chain disruptions. Representative Doris Matsui, who helped craft the semiconductor funding law, praised the move as a step toward advancing clean energy technologies and electric vehicle development in the US.
