Stellantis, the world’s fourth-largest carmaker, has announced an expanded partnership with French AI firm Mistral. The move aims to accelerate the company’s ability to analyse industry data, improving decision-making speed. The integration of AI is becoming more common in the automotive sector, with many manufacturers using the technology to assess customer feedback and monitor manufacturing quality.
Ned Curic, Stellantis’ Chief Engineering and Technology Officer, highlighted the significance of this collaboration, noting that it enables the company to perform data analysis in minutes rather than weeks. This rapid processing allows for quicker decision-making, improving operational efficiency.
This strategic shift comes shortly after Stellantis underwent management changes following the unexpected departure of CEO Carlos Tavares in December. The restructuring appears to be part of a broader effort to streamline operations and better position the company for the future.
Japanese startup ArkEdge Space revealed on Friday that it helped build an observation satellite for Taiwan’s space agency that has captured what may be the highest-quality Earth imagery from a spacecraft smaller than a suitcase. The optical satellite, ONGLAISAT, took 2.5-metre resolution images after being launched into orbit around 400 km above Earth in December.
Takayoshi Fukuyo, ArkEdge’s CEO, described the clarity of the images as comparable to aerial photography, despite the satellite’s small size. Black-and-white photos, including those of Seattle suburbs and Argentina’s Patagonia, were released showing impressive detail. The satellite, co-developed with the University of Tokyo, mounts Taiwan’s space agency’s optical equipment onto a compact cubesat.
ONGLAISAT’s mission will conclude in early March, but the optical technology demonstrated during the mission will contribute to future satellite projects. Taiwan, keen to strengthen its space infrastructure amid rising tensions with China, is also progressing with other space ventures, including weather satellites and satellite internet collaborations with Amazon’s Kuiper. Additionally, Taiwan’s space agency has deepened partnerships with Japanese space companies like Space One and ispace.
OpenAI announced on Thursday that it is evaluating US states as potential locations for data centres supporting its ambitious Stargate project, which aims to secure the US’s lead in the global AI race. The project is seen as crucial for ensuring that AI development remains democratic and open, rather than falling under authoritarian control, according to Chris Lehane, OpenAI’s chief global affairs officer.
Stargate, a venture backed by SoftBank, OpenAI, Oracle, and other investors, is set to receive up to $500 billion for AI infrastructure. A significant portion of this investment, $100 billion, will be deployed immediately, with the rest scheduled over the next few years. Texas has been designated as the flagship location for Stargate’s data centres. An initial site under construction in Abilene is expected to begin operations later this year.
The announcement follows the rise of DeepSeek, a Chinese AI model that challenges the traditional view that AI development requires large, specialised data centres. DeepSeek’s use of cheaper chips has raised concerns among investors, leading to a significant drop in tech stock values, including a record $593 billion loss for Nvidia, the leading AI chipmaker.
OpenAI is considering data centre locations in approximately 16 states, with plans to expand the Stargate network to five to ten campuses in the coming months.
Vice President JD Vance will lead the US delegation to a major AI summit in Paris next week, but technical staff from the AI Safety Institute will not be included. Around 100 countries will take part in discussions on AI’s potential during the event on 10 and 11 February.
Representatives from the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy will attend, including Principal Deputy Director Lynne Parker and Senior Policy Advisor Sriram Krishnan. However, the Trump administration has scrapped plans for officials from the Commerce and Homeland Security departments to join, including members of the AI Safety Institute.
The institute, created under former President Joe Biden, focuses on AI risk mitigation and has collaborated with companies like OpenAI and Anthropic. Its future under the new administration remains uncertain, especially following Trump’s decision to revoke a Biden-era AI executive order.
The absence of Commerce Department officials may reflect ongoing transitions following the 20 January inauguration. The Paris summit will focus less on AI dangers than previous meetings in Bletchley Park and Seoul, a topic dismissed by some in the technology sector.
Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing will visit France from Sunday until February 12 to attend the AI Action Summit as a special representative of President Xi Jinping. The summit will bring together representatives from nearly 100 countries to discuss the safe development of AI.
A foreign ministry spokesperson, Lin Jian, said China is eager to strengthen communication and collaboration with other nations at the event. China also aims to foster consensus on AI cooperation and contribute to the implementation of the United Nations Global Digital Compact.
Vice President JD Vance is leading the US delegation to the summit, but reports suggest that the US team will not include technical staff from the AI Safety Institute.
Sberbank, Russia’s largest bank, has announced plans to collaborate with Chinese researchers on AI projects. The move comes as China’s DeepSeek has disrupted the global tech industry with its low-cost AI models, challenging US rivals like Nvidia. Sberbank, which has transformed from a Soviet-era state savings bank into a major AI player under CEO German Gref, aims to leverage its network of scientists to join forces with China’s AI researchers.
Sberbank’s First Deputy CEO, Alexander Vedyakhin, confirmed the plans but refrained from naming specific Chinese partners. DeepSeek, a startup based in Hangzhou, has gained significant attention for its ability to produce advanced AI models at a fraction of the cost of American counterparts. This development could further fuel competition in the AI sector, especially amid growing tensions between the West and nations like Russia and China.
The strategic partnership between Russia and China is deepening, with both countries emphasising AI as a key area of cooperation. As Moscow faces Western sanctions due to the war in Ukraine, collaboration with China is seen as essential for advancing in AI and other technological fields. However, Russia’s AI projects remain somewhat secretive, making it difficult to assess their true capabilities. Despite this, Sberbank’s First Deputy CEO noted that DeepSeek’s models have outperformed Russia’s GigaChat in scientific tasks, though Sberbank’s model remains competitive in banking applications.
Vedyakhin also highlighted the efficiency of DeepSeek’s approach, noting that its success proves high-quality AI can be achieved without massive investments in infrastructure. This philosophy aligns with Sberbank’s strategy, which focuses on low-cost AI solutions rather than the large-scale projects seen in the US. The bank’s AI platforms, like its Kandinsky text-to-image model and GigaChat Lite, are publicly available, following the transparent approach that has made DeepSeek successful.
Workday has announced plans to cut around 1,750 jobs, or 8.5% of its workforce, as it shifts focus towards AI and international expansion. CEO Carl Eschenbach said the layoffs would help prioritise investments in AI while also freeing up resources to strengthen the company’s presence in different markets. Shares of the California-based human capital management firm rose over 4% in premarket trading following the announcement.
The industry has faced a slowdown in enterprise spending due to high interest rates affecting tech budgets. Workday expects to incur charges of up to $270 million related to the job cuts, with $60 million to $70 million recognised in the fourth quarter. The company, which had around 18,800 employees as of January last year, also plans to close some of its office spaces as part of its cost-cutting strategy.
Workday faces growing competition in the human capital management sector as rivals consolidate through acquisitions. Recent deals include Paychex’s $4.1 billion purchase of Paycor and ADP‘s $1.2 billion acquisition of WorkForce Software. Despite the job cuts, Workday reaffirmed that its financial performance remains on track, with annual subscription revenue expected to reach $7.70 billion and fourth-quarter revenue forecasted at $2.03 billion.
Thailand plans to draft a strategic plan for its semiconductor sector within 90 days, aiming to attract new investments amid the growing trade tensions between the US and China. The country’s national semiconductor board will engage a consultancy to create an industry roadmap, with Narit Therdsteerasukdi, secretary-general of the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI), leading efforts to promote the sector. As part of these efforts, Narit is also organising roadshows in the US and Japan to draw in semiconductor investments.
The semiconductor industry has faced significant disruption due to the US-China trade war, and further instability is expected as US President Donald Trump’s renewed tariffs on Chinese imports continue. Despite this, Thailand’s semiconductor sector has seen growth, with inbound investment applications reaching a decade-high of 1.14 trillion baht ($33.5 billion) in 2023. The country aims for 500 billion baht in new investments by 2029, focusing on power electronics, including semiconductors for electric vehicles, data centres, and energy storage systems.
Thailand is positioned as a key player in the global semiconductor market, ranking second among emerging economies for semiconductor manufacturing. Companies like Analog Devices, Sony, Toshiba, and Infineon have facilities in Thailand, and investment in printed circuit boards, essential for electronic devices, has also surged. Thailand’s neutral position in the ongoing trade conflict makes it an attractive destination for investors seeking stability.
However, Thailand faces stiff competition from other Southeast Asian countries, particularly Malaysia, which is aiming for over $100 billion in semiconductor investments. Despite this, Thailand’s growth potential remains strong, driven by its growing reputation as a manufacturing hub for electronics.
OpenAI is set to introduce an education-focused version of its chatbot to around 500,000 students and faculty at California State University. The rollout, covering 23 campuses, aims to provide personalised tutoring for students and administrative support for faculty members. The initiative is part of OpenAI’s broader effort to integrate its technology into education despite initial concerns about cheating and plagiarism.
Universities such as the Wharton School, the University of Texas at Austin, and the University of Oxford have already adopted ChatGPT Enterprise. In response, OpenAI launched ChatGPT Edu in May last year to cater specifically to academic institutions. The education sector has become a growing focus for AI companies, with Alphabet investing $120 million into AI education programs and preparing to introduce its Gemini chatbot into school-issued Google accounts for teenage students.
Competition in AI-driven education is intensifying. In the UK, Prime Minister Keir Starmer inaugurated the first Google-funded AI university in London, providing teens with AI and machine learning resources. As AI adoption in schools increases, major tech companies are vying for a dominant role in shaping the future of digital learning.
Australia has banned Chinese AI startup DeepSeek from all government devices, citing security risks. The directive, issued by the Department of Home Affairs, requires all government entities to prevent the installation of DeepSeek’s applications and remove any existing instances from official systems. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke stated that the immediate ban was necessary to safeguard Australia’s national security.
The move follows similar action taken by Italy and Taiwan, with other countries also reviewing potential risks posed by the AI firm. DeepSeek has drawn global attention for its cost-effective AI models, which have disrupted the industry by operating with lower hardware requirements than competitors. The rapid rise of the company has raised concerns over data security, particularly regarding its Chinese origins.
This is not the first time Australia has taken such action against a Chinese technology firm. Two years ago, the government imposed a nationwide ban on TikTok for similar security reasons. As scrutiny over AI intensifies, more governments may follow Australia’s lead in limiting DeepSeek’s reach within public sector networks.
