According to sources familiar with the matter, Apple is in early talks with Tencent and ByteDance to integrate their AI models into iPhones sold in China. This comes as Apple rolls out OpenAI’s ChatGPT in other markets, but regulatory restrictions in China prevent the availability of the chatbot there. To comply with local rules and counter the declining market share, Apple is exploring partnerships with Chinese firms that already have government-approved AI models.
Potential partners include ByteDance’s Doubao and Tencent’s Hunyuan, part of a growing field of AI services in China. Although Apple previously discussed using Baidu’s Ernie model, reports suggest technical disagreements halted progress. Baidu’s shares dropped following news of these challenges, while Tencent’s stock saw a boost.
Apple faces increasing pressure in China’s competitive smartphone market, where domestic rivals like Huawei are surging ahead. Huawei’s recent AI-equipped models have attracted consumers, contributing to a 42% spike in sales. In contrast, Apple’s third-quarter sales dipped slightly, underscoring the need for a successful AI integration strategy to regain momentum in China.
The US Commerce Department has finalised a $458 million grant for SK Hynix to support an advanced chip packaging plant and AI research facility in Indiana. The South Korean company, a key supplier for Nvidia, plans to invest $3.87 billion in the project, which will produce high-bandwidth memory chips used in AI systems. The government will also provide $500 million in loans as part of the deal.
The Indiana facility is expected to create 1,000 jobs and strengthen the US semiconductor supply chain. SK Hynix’s CEO, Kwak Noh-Jung, highlighted the importance of building a resilient AI chip infrastructure in the United States. This grant is part of the $39 billion program approved by Congress in 2022 to boost domestic semiconductor production.
The Commerce Department has issued grants to major chipmakers like Intel, Micron, and TSMC. With the SK Hynix deal complete, only Samsung’s $6.4 billion award remains pending. The initiative aims to bolster US leadership in semiconductor technology and reduce reliance on foreign manufacturing.
Apple has accused Meta of making excessive interoperability requests that could compromise user privacy and security, intensifying the rivalry between the two tech giants. Under the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), Apple must allow competitors access to its services or face significant fines. Apple claims Meta’s 15 requests — more than any other company — could expose sensitive data like messages, emails, and passwords.
Meta, which seeks integration for products like its Quest VR headsets and smart glasses, dismissed Apple’s privacy concerns as a cover for anticompetitive practices. Apple cited Meta’s past privacy violations in Europe as a reason for caution.
Meanwhile, the European Commission has outlined measures to ensure Apple complies with the DMA, including clear timelines and feedback mechanisms for developers. A final decision on Apple’s compliance with the law is expected in March 2025.
The Dutch government announced plans to expand its investment screening law to include emerging technologies like biotech, AI, and nanotechnology. The move aims to protect national security amid growing global tensions, with threats such as cyberattacks and espionage becoming more prevalent. Economy Minister Dirk Beljaarts emphasised the importance of safeguarding Dutch businesses, innovations, and the economy.
In addition to biotech and AI, the updated law will cover sensor and navigation technology, advanced materials, and nuclear technologies used in medicine. The government expects these changes to take effect by the second half of 2025.
Introduced in 2023, the investment screening law allows the Dutch government to block foreign takeovers of critical infrastructure or technology that could threaten national security. This comes after the Netherlands imposed restrictions on semiconductor exports to China under US pressure.
Instagram is poised to account for more than half of Meta Platforms’ US advertising revenue by 2025, according to research firm Emarketer. This anticipated growth is largely attributed to the platform’s enhanced monetisation strategies, particularly its focus on short-form video content such as Reels, which competes directly with TikTok and YouTube Shorts.
The increasing engagement with Reels has attracted marketers seeking to capitalise on the popularity of short videos, leading to a significant rise in ad placements. In 2024, Instagram’s ad revenue was primarily derived from its Feed (53.7%) and Stories (24.6%). However, the combined revenue share from Explore, Reels, and potentially Threads is projected to grow to 9.6% in 2025.
Jasmine Enberg, principal analyst at Emarketer, notes that users now spend nearly two-thirds of their Instagram time watching videos, underscoring the platform’s shift towards video-centric content. Additionally, if a TikTok ban were to be enforced in the US, Reels could become a prominent alternative for advertisers, further boosting Instagram’s market share.
Deutsche Bank is advancing its blockchain ambitions with a Layer 2 platform called Dama 2, designed to address regulatory concerns surrounding the use of public blockchains. Built on Ethereum, the platform is part of a broader effort to integrate tokenised assets into financial systems.
According to Boon-Hiong Chan, Deutsche Bank’s Asia-Pacific lead for innovation, public blockchains like Ethereum pose challenges for institutions due to concerns over transaction validators and potential interactions with sanctioned entities. Dama 2 aims to mitigate these risks by offering a more controlled network, allowing banks to curate trusted validators and provide regulators with monitoring tools to trace fund movements.
The initiative forms part of Project Guardian, a collaborative effort led by the Monetary Authority of Singapore, which includes major financial players like JPMorgan Chase and DBS Group. With Dama 2 leveraging ZKsync technology, Deutsche Bank is paving the way for tokenised funds and hopes to roll out a minimum viable product next year, subject to regulatory approval.
A coalition of Dutch technology firms, including chip equipment maker ASML, has announced plans to contribute approximately $230 million towards infrastructure development in Eindhoven, one of Europe’s fastest-growing technology hubs. This initiative aligns with the Dutch government’s “Operation Beethoven,” a €2.5 billion programme aimed at improving housing, transport, education, and electricity in the region.
The corporate funding will complement public investment, supporting projects coordinated by the regional development agency Brainport. Willem van der Leegte, CEO of manufacturing giant VDL Groep, a key ASML supplier, emphasised the mutual benefits of the collaboration, stating, “What is good for the region is good for the companies, and vice versa.” Other prominent contributors include chipmaker NXP and health technology firm Philips.
Eindhoven’s rapid growth as a technology hub has placed increased demand on local infrastructure. By joining forces, public and private sectors aim to create sustainable development that supports both the region’s workforce and the companies driving innovation.
The Dutch Data Protection Authority (DPA) has imposed a €4.75 million ($4.98 million) fine on Netflix for not adequately informing its customers about how their personal data was being used between 2018 and 2020. The fine follows a detailed investigation that began in 2019, which revealed that Netflix’s privacy statement was insufficiently clear regarding the company’s data practices. Specifically, the DPA found that the streaming giant did not provide customers with enough information on how their data was being processed or used.
The investigation also uncovered that when customers sought to understand which personal data Netflix was collecting, they did not receive clear answers. This lack of transparency was deemed a violation of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which sets strict requirements on companies to protect user privacy and ensure clear communication about data usage.
In response to the findings, Netflix has since updated its privacy statement and improved how it informs customers about its data collection practices. Despite these changes, the company has objected to the fine, though it did not provide a comment when approached by the press.
This fine highlights the increasing scrutiny on companies to comply with GDPR and underscores the importance of clear, transparent data handling practices, especially for tech giants like Netflix that handle vast amounts of personal information.
Basis, an AI startup, has secured $34 million in a Series A funding round to develop its AI-powered accounting automation product. The round, led by Khosla Ventures, attracted a diverse group of investors, including NFDG (the AI-focused fund managed by former GitHub CEO Nat Friedman and ex-Apple executive Daniel Gross), OpenAI board members Larry Summers and Adam D’Angelo, and Google’s chief scientist Jeff Dean.
The New York-based company is part of a growing group of AI startups creating autonomous agents—systems capable of performing tasks independently. Basis’ product, designed specifically for accounting firms, can handle various workflows such as entering transactions, verifying data accuracy, and integrating with popular ledger systems like QuickBooks and Xero. The product has already shown promising results, with large firms like Wiss reporting a 30% reduction in time spent on manual accounting tasks. Basis functions similarly to a junior accountant, allowing staff to focus on reviewing the AI’s work rather than completing tasks themselves.
Basis also aims to address the critical shortage of accountants in the US, exacerbated by retiring baby boomers and a decline in younger generations entering the profession. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the accounting sector employs over 3 million people, but the number of candidates sitting for the CPA exam has fallen by 33% between 2016 and 2021. The shortage has led many firms to outsource work to countries like India. Moreover, with AI’s potential to automate tasks traditionally performed by accountants, the sector is expected to experience significant disruption. A 2023 OpenAI paper suggested that automation powered by large language models could eventually impact all accountant and auditor roles.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has filed criminal complaints against Apple’s subsidiaries in France and Belgium, accusing the tech giant of indirectly benefiting from conflict minerals sourced from the region. The DRC, a major supplier of tin, tantalum, and tungsten — essential components in electronic devices — alleges that minerals smuggled through its conflict zones fuel violence and atrocities, including mass rapes and killings, often perpetrated by armed groups.
While Apple claims to audit suppliers and maintain a transparent supply chain, international lawyers representing the Congolese government argue the company relies on minerals pillaged from Congo. The legal filings accuse Apple of covering up war crimes, handling stolen goods, and misleading consumers about the integrity of its supply chain. The complaints also criticise the industry-funded ITSCI certification scheme, claiming it falsely legitimises minerals sourced from conflict zones.
Belgium’s historical role in the exploitation of Congo’s resources was highlighted by Congolese lawyers, who called on Belgium to support their legal efforts. Both France and Belgium are seen as jurisdictions that emphasise corporate accountability. Judicial authorities in these countries will decide whether to pursue criminal investigations against Apple and its subsidiaries.
This legal action reflects Congo’s broader struggle to end the illicit trade of its resources, which has contributed to decades of violence. Millions have died or been displaced due to conflicts linked to mineral exploitation, underscoring the urgent need for stricter enforcement of ethical supply chain practices.
