Japan is set to introduce its first cryptocurrency-backed credit card, thanks to a partnership between Slash Vision Labs and a Japanese credit card issuer. While specific details about the issuer remain under wraps, the deal is expected to bring the Slash Card to market in 2025. The card will be fully compliant with Japan’s cryptocurrency and payment regulations and aims to make cryptocurrency payments more accessible, with unique features such as ‘Pay-to-Earn’ airdrops for global and domestic crypto projects.
Slash, known for supporting memecoin projects like Chiitan Coin (CTAN), has also made moves to integrate crypto into various aspects of Japanese pop culture. Through its platform, Slash has already enabled payments for manga content on Comilio, a platform allowing users to pay for manga with cryptocurrency. The company’s broader mission includes introducing cryptocurrency payment solutions and expanding Web3 opportunities in Japan.
The move aligns with Japan’s growing interest in integrating cryptocurrencies into mainstream finance and entertainment, marking another step in the country’s embrace of digital assets and their growing role in daily transactions.
The US Justice Department has urged a federal appeals court to reject TikTok‘s emergency request to delay a law requiring its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest from the app by 19 January or face a nationwide ban. TikTok argued the law threatens to shut down one of America’s most popular social media platforms, which boasts over 170 million US users, while the Justice Department maintains that continued Chinese ownership poses a national security risk.
While the law would not immediately block users from accessing TikTok, the Justice Department admitted the lack of ongoing support would eventually render the app inoperable. A three-judge appeals court panel recently upheld the divestment requirement, and ByteDance has asked the US Supreme Court to review the case.
The controversy places TikTok’s future in the hands of the incoming presidential administration. President Joe Biden could grant a 90-day extension to the divestment deadline before President-elect Donald Trump, who has vowed to prevent a ban, takes office on January 20. Trump’s stance on TikTok has been consistent since his unsuccessful attempts to ban the app during his first term.
The law also strengthens the US government’s powers to ban other foreign-owned apps over data security concerns, following a broader trend initiated under Trump, including an earlier attempt to block Tencent-owned WeChat. As legal battles continue, TikTok’s operations in the US hang in the balance.
Hong Kong is moving quickly to position itself as a global crypto hub, with plans to expedite licensing for crypto trading platforms next year. Joseph Chan, Acting Secretary for Financial Services, announced a streamlined licensing process and the establishment of a consultative panel to ensure sustainable and secure innovation in the sector.
The government is also considering broader financial policies, including potential investments in digital assets. While crypto remains a minimal part of the Exchange Fund’s strategy, Chan said external managers could explore diversified holdings.
These steps align with Hong Kong’s earlier efforts to lead in crypto innovation. A proposed stablecoin framework and a plan to waive taxes on crypto gains for wealthy investors reflect the city’s ambitions to attract global asset managers and strengthen its financial hub status.
Yelp has launched a series of updates, including AI-powered review insights, a personalised home feed, and an upgraded inbox for business owners. These changes aim to enhance user experience and streamline business interactions.
The new AI review insights categorise feedback into food quality, service, and ambiance, each scored from 1 to 100 with sentiment ratings. Users can access relevant reviews directly through the app. Initially available for restaurant, food, and nightlife listings, the feature is exclusive to iOS users.
Business owners also benefit from a redesigned inbox to manage customer interactions more efficiently, reflecting Yelp‘s broader effort to support businesses and users alike.
Alphabet, the parent company of Google, is doubling down on AI to reshape its core search business, which generates the majority of its $300 billion annual revenue. At the Reuters NEXT conference in New York, Alphabet President Ruth Porat described AI as a ‘generational opportunity’ for the company, with tools like AI-generated query overviews aiming to make search more intuitive. However, challenges such as AI ‘hallucinations,’ where incorrect information is generated, remain a key hurdle.
Beyond search, Alphabet is channeling its AI expertise into healthcare advancements. Porat highlighted innovations like AlphaFold, which predicts protein structures to aid drug discovery, and AI tools that could prevent blindness or enhance the doctor-patient relationship by reducing screen time for medical professionals. These efforts reflect the company’s broader commitment to applying technology for societal benefits.
Alphabet’s financial investments in AI are substantial, with $50 billion projected in capital expenditures for 2024, including data centres and chips. Porat emphasised the need for these investments to yield tangible returns while shaping the future of both technology and human connection.
The European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) is reviewing the European Commission‘s response to a March ruling that its use of Microsoft 365 violated the bloc’s data protection laws. Monday marked the deadline for the Commission to address the EDPS order to halt unlawful data flows and renegotiate its contracts with Microsoft.
On Tuesday, EDPS Wojciech Wiewiórowski confirmed receipt of the Commission’s report, emphasising the complexity of the case and hinting that a detailed analysis will take time. Both the Commission and Microsoft are appealing the EDPS decision, with related cases set to progress through the courts in 2025.
The outcome could have significant implications for the Commission’s use of tech platforms and broader data privacy enforcement in the EU. For now, all parties remain tight-lipped, extending the uncertainty over the resolution of this high-profile dispute.
Automattic, the company behind WordPress, announced its acquisition of WPAI, a startup specialising in AI tools for WordPress. WPAI’s offerings include CodeWP, a tool for creating plugins using AI, and AgentWP, an AI assistant for site builders. While these tools will be discontinued in their current form, Automattic plans to integrate their capabilities into its own suite of products.
The founding team of WPAI will join Automattic to spearhead AI initiatives within the WordPress ecosystem. According to Automattic, their efforts will focus on creating new AI-driven solutions to simplify development, enhance website management, and improve user experience all while staying true to WordPress’s open-source values.
This acquisition comes on the heels of Automattic’s recent purchase of Harper, a Grammarly competitor for developers. Together, these moves highlight Automattic’s growing investment in AI technologies to streamline content creation and site functionality for its millions of users worldwide. Financial details of the WPAI deal were not disclosed.
WPAI has expressed a commitment to advancing AI standards for WordPress and collaborating closely with the community to ensure thoughtful and innovative implementation. These developments could redefine how developers and users interact with WordPress, making the platform even more accessible and efficient.
OpenAI has launched its text-to-video AI model, Sora, to ChatGPT Plus and Pro users, signalling a broader push into multimodal AI technologies. Initially limited to safety testers, Sora is now available as Sora Turbo at no additional cost, allowing users to create videos up to 20 seconds long in various resolutions and aspect ratios.
The move positions OpenAI to compete with similar tools from Meta, Google, and Stability AI. While the model is accessible in most regions, it remains unavailable in EU countries, the UK, and Switzerland due to regulatory considerations. OpenAI plans to introduce tailored pricing options for Sora next year.
The company emphasised safeguards against misuse, such as blocking harmful content like child exploitation and deepfake abuse. It also plans to gradually expand features, including uploads of people, as it enhances protections. Sora marks another step in OpenAI’s efforts to innovate responsibly in the AI space.
China has launched an anti-monopoly investigation into US chipmaker Nvidia, citing possible violations linked to its acquisition of Mellanox Technologies in 2020. The move is widely seen as retaliation against recent US restrictions on China’s semiconductor sector, including curbs on advanced chip exports.
Nvidia, which dominates China’s AI chip market, is accused of breaching conditions tied to the Mellanox deal, such as fair trade requirements and restrictions on bundling products. The probe comes amid heightened trade tensions, with Beijing encouraging local companies to avoid US chips and Washington tightening export controls on critical semiconductor technologies.
Analysts suggest the investigation is unlikely to significantly impact Nvidia in the near term, as its most advanced chips are already restricted from sale in China. However, the company faces growing competition from domestic firms like Huawei. China accounted for 17% of Nvidia’s revenue last year, down from 26% two years prior, as US-China tech conflicts continue to reshape the global semiconductor landscape.
TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, have filed an emergency motion with a federal appeals court to temporarily halt a US law that would force ByteDance to sell TikTok by 19 January or face a nationwide ban. The companies argue that without the delay, the popular app could shut down in the US, affecting 170 million monthly users and numerous businesses reliant on the platform.
The motion follows a decision by an appeals court panel upholding the divestment requirement. TikTok’s lawyers assert the Supreme Court should have time to review the case and highlight President-elect Donald Trump’s stated intention to prevent the ban. The incoming administration, they argue, could reconsider the law and render the case moot.
The law granting the US government authority to ban foreign-owned apps over data security concerns has faced criticism, with TikTok warning the decision could disrupt services globally. As the January deadline looms, ByteDance faces challenges in demonstrating sufficient progress toward a divestment to secure an extension, even as political and legal battles intensify.
