US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled that Musk did not meet the high standards required to block the move. However, the judge indicated that she would expedite a trial on the matter, which is expected to take place later this year.
Musk, who co-founded OpenAI in 2015 but left before its major success, argued that OpenAI had initially sought his charitable funding to create AI for the public good, but has since shifted its focus towards making profits.
His lawyer, Marc Toberoff, expressed satisfaction that the judge had agreed to a swift trial, claiming that the case involves urgent public interest concerns.
OpenAI, which is seeking to become a for-profit entity to attract the necessary capital for its AI projects, welcomed the court’s decision.
The company emphasised that its goal is to develop advanced AI models to benefit society. Musk’s legal action, which also includes antitrust claims, stems from his frustration with OpenAI’s shift in direction since he departed from the organisation.
For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.
Nvidia and Broadcom are conducting manufacturing tests with Intel’s advanced 18A chip-making process, signalling potential confidence in the struggling company’s technology.
Sources indicate that the tests, though preliminary, could lead to major contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) is also evaluating Intel’s capabilities, though it is unclear if it has sent test chips for validation.
Despite the interest, Intel’s foundry business has faced repeated delays, with its 18A process now pushed back another six months due to challenges in qualifying essential intellectual property.
The company has struggled to secure major external clients, with most of its foundry revenue still coming from its own chip production.
The US government sees Intel as critical to restoring domestic semiconductor manufacturing and has explored deals to strengthen its position, including potential partnerships with TSMC.
Intel has signed agreements with Microsoft and Amazon for chip production, though details remain vague. Industry experts suggest that many chip designers are waiting to see if Intel can reliably deliver on its foundry promises before committing to large-scale production.
Financial setbacks have placed additional pressure on Intel, with its foundry revenue declining 60% last year and break-even projections now delayed until at least 2027.
For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.
Vietnam‘s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has instructed officials to fast-track approval for Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service under a pilot programme.
Speaking to US business representatives in Hanoi, Chinh highlighted the country’s commitment to attracting foreign investment while maintaining control over key sectors. Vietnam recently adjusted its regulations to allow satellite internet providers to operate locally under strict government oversight.
Alongside discussions on Starlink, Chinh addressed Vietnam’s growing trade surplus with the United States.
The Southeast Asian nation, which recorded a record trade surplus last year, is under pressure to increase imports of American goods such as aircraft, arms, liquefied natural gas, and pharmaceuticals. By doing so, Vietnam hopes to avoid potential tariffs threatened by President Donald Trump.
Vietnamese officials are engaging in talks with US businesses and foreign investors to ease concerns over trade tensions and their impact on the country’s export-driven economy.
Further meetings with international companies are planned as the government works to strengthen economic ties while managing geopolitical challenges.
For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.
CoreWeave, backed by Nvidia, announced on Tuesday that it is acquiring AI developer platform Weights & Biases as part of its efforts to expand its cloud platform ahead of its upcoming IPO. The deal will merge CoreWeave’s infrastructure and managed cloud services with Weights & Biases’ AI model training and monitoring tools, which are used by major tech companies such as OpenAI and Meta.
While the financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, technology news site The Information reported that it could be valued at approximately $1.7 billion. CoreWeave, based in Roseland, New Jersey, has seen significant growth, with an eight-fold increase in revenue forecast for 2024.
CoreWeave, whose customers include companies like Meta, Microsoft, and hedge fund Jane Street, is aiming for a valuation exceeding $35 billion in its IPO later this year. The acquisition is seen as a move to strengthen CoreWeave’s position in the competitive AI market ahead of its New York listing.
For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.
Britain’s competition regulator has approved Synopsys’ $35 billion acquisition of Ansys after the companies addressed concerns about the potential negative impact on innovation and pricing.
In December, the regulator raised alarms that the deal could reduce competition in the chip design software market, possibly leading to higher prices and less innovation.
However, following negotiations and the companies’ offer of remedies to mitigate these concerns, the regulator decided not to refer the deal for an in-depth phase-2 investigation.
Synopsys, a major player in the chip design software industry, announced the acquisition in January. The deal, which will be a mix of cash and stock, aims to strengthen Synopsys’ portfolio and expand its offerings in the design and development of complex products.
Ansys, a well-established provider of simulation software, is used by a range of industries, from aerospace to sports equipment, to design and optimise products like aeroplanes and tennis rackets.
The acquisition marks a significant move for Synopsys, enhancing its capabilities in the design and development of advanced technology.
The deal is expected to bring together the strengths of both companies, allowing them to offer a broader set of solutions to customers in various sectors, from semiconductor manufacturing to engineering and consumer goods.
For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.
Donald Trump has called for the repeal of the CHIPS and Science Act, a key piece of legislation passed in 2022 to support semiconductor manufacturing in the US.
Trump criticised the law during a speech to Congress, describing it as a waste of hundreds of billions of dollars and suggesting the funds should instead be used to reduce national debt. His remarks mark his most forceful criticism of the act to date.
The CHIPS Act, signed by President Joe Biden, allocated $39 billion in subsidies for US semiconductor production and related industries, along with $75 billion in government-backed loans.
The initiative was part of a broader strategy to reduce reliance on foreign-made chips and address national security concerns.
Trump argued that rather than offering financial incentives, the government could avoid imposing tariffs to encourage semiconductor companies to build factories in the US.
However, the program has garnered support from officials, including Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, who played a key role in securing investments from leading global semiconductor firms like Samsung, Intel, and TSMC.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul defended the CHIPS Act, emphasising its role in bringing significant investment and job creation to the state, including Micron’s $100 billion investment in Central New York.
Trump’s comments have raised concerns about the future of these grants and the potential impact on such developments.
For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.
The US-China trade war has reignited, putting pressure on financial markets, including cryptocurrencies. Tensions escalated after China imposed new tariffs of up to 15% on US farm imports, including wheat, corn, and meat. An additional 10% tax was placed on other key exports such as soybeans, pork, seafood, and fruit, set to take effect on 10 March.
This latest move follows President Donald Trump’s decision to double tariffs on Chinese goods to 20%, announced a day earlier. The US government also confirmed that tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada would rise to 25%, causing a widespread downturn in risky assets.
Bitcoin (BTC), often seen as a hedge against economic instability, was not spared from the market sell-off. The leading cryptocurrency dropped by 2% on the day, trading near $84,200 at the time of writing, according to CoinDesk and TradingView data. Investors remain cautious as geopolitical tensions weigh on sentiment.
For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.
Eutelsat shares surged by over 60% on Tuesday, continuing a remarkable rise that saw them increase by 68% the day before. This spike came after geopolitical tensions raised the possibility of OneWeb satellites, owned by the French satellite operator, replacing Elon Musk’s Starlink service in Ukraine. Since Friday, Eutelsat’s stock has nearly tripled in value following a public dispute between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and former US President Donald Trump, which has cast doubt on the future of Starlink in the country.
Analysts suggest that the surge in Eutelsat’s stock is driven by the potential for OneWeb to secure the Ukrainian military’s satellite contract, with OneWeb being seen as a viable alternative to Starlink. The situation gained further momentum after a White House official revealed that Trump would pause military aid to Ukraine, potentially allowing Europe to increase its support. On Tuesday, the European Commission unveiled an ambitious 800 billion euro defense plan, further strengthening Europe’s role in the region.
Eutelsat has recently committed to increasing its satellite capacity for Ukraine, highlighting its growing importance for European defence. The French satellite operator has faced challenges, including concerns over rising debt and strong competition from US companies like SpaceX’s Starlink. Despite these hurdles, recent developments have rekindled investor confidence, with shares rising sharply after hitting all-time lows in February due to ongoing financial difficulties.
For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.
Skype, the pioneering internet calling service that revolutionised communication in the early 2000s, will make its final call on May 5, as Microsoft retires the platform after two decades.
This move is part of Microsoft’s strategy to concentrate on its Teams service, which has become central to its business communication offerings, particularly since the pandemic.
Despite its early success and a peak of hundreds of millions of users, Skype struggled to compete with newer services like Zoom and Slack.
The platform’s decline was partly due to its inability to adapt to the mobile era, while Microsoft’s Teams has successfully integrated with Office applications, securing its position in the corporate sector.
Microsoft has assured Skype users that they will be able to transition smoothly to Teams, with their contacts and chats migrating automatically. While Skype had once been a major player, its decline mirrors other Microsoft missteps, such as its failed ventures with Internet Explorer and Windows Phone.
For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.
DeepSeek’s progress is a clear sign of the growing influence of Chinese companies in the AI sector, according to a spokesperson for China’s parliament. Lou Qinjian, speaking to reporters on Tuesday, praised the achievements of DeepSeek’s young team, describing their work as ‘commendable’.
He highlighted the company’s open-source approach and its efforts to spread AI technology globally, contributing ‘Chinese wisdom’ to the world.
The AI startup has been widely celebrated in China, particularly for rolling out AI models that offer a significantly lower cost than those developed by US rivals like OpenAI.
While some countries, including South Korea and Italy, have removed DeepSeek’s chatbot from their app stores over privacy concerns, it has been embraced within China, where local governments and tech firms are integrating it into their systems.
Based in Hangzhou, DeepSeek is rapidly advancing its next-generation model, set to succeed its R1 release from January, as it continues to make waves in the global tech sector.
For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.
