E-commerce and trade

IBM boosts US manufacturing with $150 billion pledge

IBM has announced a major $150 billion investment in the US over the next five years, with a significant portion earmarked for expanding production of quantum computers and mainframes.

The move follows similar commitments from tech giants like Nvidia and Apple, as industry leaders respond to the Trump administration’s push for increased domestic manufacturing.

Of the total sum, more than $30 billion will be dedicated to scaling up IBM’s US-based manufacturing of quantum systems and mainframes, vital for processing vast data and critical tasks.

IBM, which operates one of the world’s largest quantum computing fleets, stated the investment reflects both technological ambition and a strategic gesture towards current US trade policies.

While the quantum computing field has seen exciting advancements, including new chip generations from rivals like Google, opinions remain divided on when practical applications will emerge.

IBM’s latest investment signals long-term confidence in the technology, even as the company navigates recent challenges, including the cancellation of 15 government contracts during federal cost-cutting efforts.

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Cyberattacks against US soar in early 2025

Cyberattacks targeting the US surged dramatically in early 2025, according to a new report from cybersecurity firm Trellix. Between October 2024 and March 2025, advanced persistent threats (APTs) increased by 136% compared to the previous quarter.

China’s cyber operations showed significant sophistication, with groups such as APT40 and Mustang Panda leading the charge. APT41, another Chinese-affiliated group, intensified its activities by 113%, focusing on exploiting both new and known vulnerabilities rather than relying on phishing tactics.

Analysts noted that nearly half of these threats originated from China, while over a third were linked to Russia. Meanwhile, Russia’s APT29, also known as Midnight Blizzard, primarily targeted transportation, shipping, and telecommunications sectors.

The report highlighted that government institutions remained the primary focus of hostile cyber actors. However, the telecommunications industry experienced a sharp 92% increase in APT attacks, while the technology sector faced a staggering 119% rise.

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Apple partners with Anthropic on AI coding tool

Apple is reportedly collaborating with Anthropic, a startup backed by Amazon, to develop a new AI-powered coding platform called ‘vibe coding’, according to Bloomberg.

The platform will use Anthropic’s Claude Sonnet model to write, edit, and test code on behalf of programmers, updating Apple’s existing Xcode software instead of launching an entirely separate tool.

‘Vibe coding’ refers to a growing trend in AI development where intelligent agents generate code autonomously instead of relying on manual programming. Apple is said to be testing the system internally for now, with no confirmed decision on whether it will become publicly available.

The move comes as tech firms race to lead in generative AI. While Apple previously introduced a similar tool, Swift Assist, it was never released to developers amid concerns from engineers about possible slowdowns in app creation.

Apple and Anthropic have not commented publicly on the reported collaboration.

With rivals like OpenAI pushing ahead—reportedly negotiating a $3 billion acquisition of coding assistant Windsurf—Apple is equipping its devices with more advanced chips and AI features, including ChatGPT integration, to compete in the rapidly evolving landscape instead of falling behind.

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AI to boost India’s media and entertainment sector

AI could boost revenues by 10% and reduce costs by 15% for media and entertainment firms, according to a report by EY, unveiled during the first WAVES Summit.

The report, A Studio Called India, outlines how AI is reshaping the global media landscape—transforming everything from content creation and personalisation to monetisation and distribution.

India, already a global leader in content production and IT, is well-positioned to lead this AI-driven shift.

EY highlighted India’s unique combination of technical skill, creative depth, and a rapidly expanding AI ecosystem, which positions it as a critical hub in the evolving media value chain instead of remaining just an outsourcing destination.

Indian companies are increasingly using generative AI for tasks like campaign optimisation, audience targeting, automated dubbing, and voice cloning.

These tools enable faster localisation of international content and allow global studios to scale up multi-language releases without sacrificing cultural authenticity or narrative integrity.

With 2.8 million people directly employed and around 10 million in indirect roles, India’s media sector is growing rapidly, driven by digital platforms, government support, and rising demand for AI-enhanced content services.

EY concluded that India offers foreign investors a powerful combination of creative scale, cost advantage, and favourable policies instead of regulatory barriers.

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Nvidia moves to comply with US export rules

Nvidia is planning to redesign its AI chips to comply with tightened US export restrictions, aiming to retain its foothold in China instead of pulling back.

According to a report by The Information, the chipmaker has already informed major Chinese clients, such as Alibaba, ByteDance, and Tencent, about its revised strategy. The discussions reportedly occurred during CEO Jensen Huang’s visit to Beijing in mid-April.

The visit came just after Washington expanded its curbs on high-performance AI chip exports to China, specifically targeting Nvidia’s H20 chip.

Originally developed to meet earlier US rules, the H20 has now also been deemed too powerful for export under the new regulations. The US government says the move is aimed at preventing China’s military from accessing cutting-edge AI.

Nvidia previously warned that the latest restrictions could cost it up to $5.5 billion in lost revenue. Instead of backing away, the company is now preparing redesigned chips to stay within legal bounds while continuing to serve Chinese tech firms.

Customers have been told that prototype chips could be ready by June.

In addition, Nvidia is developing a tailored version of its next-generation AI chip, Blackwell, specifically for China. These efforts underline Nvidia’s attempt to balance regulatory compliance with its commercial interests in one of the world’s largest AI markets.

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RackBank launches $118 million AI data centre park in India

RackBank has opened a new AI data centre park in Nava Raipur, Chhattisgarh, with an initial investment of ₹10 billion (around $118 million).

Instead of relying on conventional data infrastructure, the facility focuses on GPU-based computing, AI processing and data analytics, and is expected to generate over 500 jobs, primarily in the IT sector.

Spread across 13.5 acres, the park includes a designated Special Economic Zone and begins operations with a 5 MW capacity. Rather than stopping there, RackBank plans to scale the facility to 150 MW, which could draw an additional ₹20 billion in investment.

The park has been designed to position India as a competitive force in AI infrastructure.

Instead of standard cooling methods, RackBank is deploying its proprietary direct-to-chip and Varuna liquid immersion systems, which aim to cut cooling costs by up to 70% and enhance energy efficiency.

The company envisions the centre as a hub for academic, industrial and governmental collaboration, helping businesses leverage India’s growing GPU capabilities.

Officials see the initiative as a major step toward digital self-reliance. Rather than concentrating such developments in traditional tech hubs, the project puts Chhattisgarh on the national map for data management and AI innovation.

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Google admits using opted-out content for AI training

Google has admitted in court that it can use website content to train AI features in its search products, even when publishers have opted out of such training.

Although Google offers a way for sites to block their data from being used by its AI lab, DeepMind, the company confirmed that its broader search division can still use that data for AI-powered tools like AI Overviews.

An initiative like this has raised concern among publishers who seek reduced traffic as Google’s AI summarises answers directly at the top of search results, diverting users from clicking through to original sources.

Eli Collins, a vice-president at Google DeepMind, acknowledged during a Washington antitrust trial that Google’s search team could train AI using data from websites that had explicitly opted out.

The only way for publishers to fully prevent their content from being used in this way is by opting out of being indexed by Google Search altogether—something that would effectively make them invisible on the web.

Google’s approach relies on the robots.txt file, a standard that tells search bots whether they are allowed to crawl a site.

The trial is part of a broader effort by the US Department of Justice to address Google’s dominance in the search market, which a judge previously ruled had been unlawfully maintained.

The DOJ is now asking the court to impose major changes, including forcing Google to sell its Chrome browser and stop paying to be the default search engine on other devices. These changes would also apply to Google’s AI products, which the DOJ argues benefit from its monopoly.

Testimony also revealed internal discussions at Google about how using extensive search data, such as user session logs and search rankings, could significantly enhance its AI models.

Although no model was confirmed to have been built using that data, court documents showed that top executives like DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis had expressed interest in doing so.

Google’s lawyers have argued that competitors in AI remain strong, with many relying on direct data partnerships instead of web scraping.

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AI chip restrictions and tariffs weigh on Samsung’s global strategy

Samsung has warned that rising US tariffs could dampen global demand for its electronics, including smartphones and semiconductors.

Despite reporting record quarterly revenue of £41.6 billion and a modest profit rise driven by strong phone and chip sales, the company expressed concerns about the uncertain trade environment.

Executives cited possible risks to sales in the second half of 2025 due to escalating tariff tensions.

While some clients have accelerated orders to avoid incoming levies, Samsung said this may create a sales lull later in the year.

Delayed tariffs affecting countries like South Korea and Vietnam, where Samsung manufactures key components, are expected to take effect in July. US restrictions on AI chip sales to China are also weighing on the company’s outlook.

Samsung refrained from providing financial guidance for the next quarter, citing unpredictable global trade dynamics.

As tariff uncertainty continues, major tech companies like Apple are also reassessing supply chains, with many shifting chip production out of China in anticipation of further disruptions.

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Trump administration eyes overhaul of Biden-era AI chip export rules

The Trump administration is reviewing a Biden-era rule that restricts global access to US-made advanced AI chips, with discussions underway to eliminate the current tiered system that governs chip exports, according to sources familiar with the matter.

The existing rule, known as the Framework for Artificial Intelligence Diffusion, was introduced by the US Department of Commerce in January and is set to take effect on 15 May.

It divides the world into three groups: trusted allies (like the EU and Taiwan) with unlimited access, Tier 2 countries with chip quotas, and restricted countries such as China, Russia, Iran and North Korea.

Officials are considering replacing this structure with a global licensing regime based on government-to-government agreements—aligning with Donald Trump’s broader trade strategy of negotiating bilateral deals and using US-made chips as leverage.

Other possible changes include tightening export thresholds: under current rules, orders under the equivalent of 1,700 Nvidia H100 chips only require notification, not a licence. The new proposal could reduce that threshold to around 500 chips.

Supporters of the change argue it would increase US bargaining power and simplify enforcement. Critics, however, warn that scrapping the tier system may complicate compliance and drive countries toward Chinese chip alternatives.

Tech firms such as Oracle and Nvidia, along with several US lawmakers, have criticised the current framework, saying it risks harming American competitiveness and pushing international buyers toward cheaper, unregulated Chinese substitutes.

The Commerce Department declined to comment.

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Tariff tensions flare over Amazon price display

Amazon has dismissed reports that it would begin displaying added tariff charges next to product prices on its website, clarifying that no such move is planned. The speculation arose after Punchbowl News reported Amazon would list import costs alongside prices, citing an anonymous source.

The rumour prompted a sharp rebuke from the Trump administration, which labelled the supposed plan a ‘hostile and political act’ before the company issued its denial.

According to Amazon, only its budget storefront, Haul, briefly explored the idea internally, but the proposal was never approved. A company spokesperson confirmed there are no plans to implement tariff disclosures on product listings.

President Donald Trump reportedly called Amazon founder Jeff Bezos to complain about the matter, but later praised him publicly for resolving what he described as a misunderstanding.

Tariffs introduced by the Trump administration have caused growing concern among businesses, including Amazon competitors Temu and Shein, which recently announced price increases due to rising import charges.

Both companies have now adjusted how they communicate these costs to customers. Economists warn that the wider effects of the trade war could push consumer prices higher and worsen inflation.

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