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Alphabet invests big in AI and data centres

Alphabet has confirmed it will proceed with a planned US$75 billion investment this year to expand its data centre infrastructure, reinforcing its push into generative AI.

CEO Sundar Pichai reiterated the company’s commitment at Google Cloud’s annual conference, describing AI as ‘the biggest opportunity’ yet for the tech giant.

The funds will go towards essential hardware such as chips and servers that underpin Alphabet’s core services, including Search, and power its AI models like Gemini.

The investment figure, first revealed in February, exceeded market expectations by nearly 30 percent and reflects the intensifying race among major tech firms to dominate the AI space.

Despite the ambitious scale, Alphabet’s strategy faces uncertainty. Rising geopolitical tensions risk inflating supply chain costs, and investors remain cautious as they wait for clearer returns on such massive outlays.

Market pressure continues to mount on Big Tech to turn AI enthusiasm into tangible financial performance.

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AI boom drives TSMC revenue surge

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) reported record-breaking sales for March and the first quarter of the year, driven by robust demand for AI technologies.

March revenue reached NT$285.96 billion (US$8.70 billion), while quarterly revenue climbed to NT$839.25 billion, reflecting a 41.6 percent year-on-year increase.

The chipmaker confirmed that the sales performance aligned with internal expectations, attributing the surge largely to continued global investment in AI development.

Despite a temporary production setback caused by the Jan. 21 earthquake in southern Taiwan, which forced the scrapping of some wafers, the company’s growth momentum remained strong.

TSMC is set to provide further financial details and its second-quarter outlook at an investor conference on 17 April. Meanwhile, the company has announced an additional US$100 billion in United States investment, building on its ongoing US$65 billion expansion in Phoenix, Arizona.

However, its stock price has dropped below NT$1,000, closing Thursday at NT$863, amid a strengthening US dollar and broader economic uncertainties.

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Nissan backs Wayve to power self-driving tech

Nissan Motor has partnered with UK-based AI company Wayve to develop the next generation of its autonomous driving technology, marking the first time a major automaker has publicly backed the start-up.

The carmaker intends to integrate Wayve’s AI Driver software into its ProPilot system, with a launch targeted for its fiscal year 2027, ending in March 2028.

Wayve claims the AI Driver platform, built on its embodied AI foundation model, will significantly enhance collision avoidance and overall safety.

Designed to navigate complex real-world conditions in a human-like way, the software will work in tandem with next-generation Lidar to deliver a more advanced driver assistance system.

The collaboration follows a $1.1 billion Series-C funding round led by SoftBank in 2024, which also saw support from Microsoft and NVIDIA.

Nissan’s endorsement signals a major leap forward for Wayve’s technology, as the race to commercialise autonomous driving intensifies across the automotive industry.

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Google offers steep discounts to US federal agencies

Google is offering a 71% discount on its business apps package to US federal agencies as part of a new agreement with the General Services Administration (GSA).

The move is aimed at capitalising on President Trump’s cost-cutting efforts, which include reducing government contracts. If fully adopted by federal agencies, the deal could save up to $2 billion.

The pricing structure will now be based on government-wide usage, rather than the individual agency agreements that previously offered smaller discounts. The GSA views the agreement as part of its broader strategy to create cost savings for the federal government.

A shift like this could help Google expand its presence in the government sector, where Microsoft currently holds an 85% market share.

As part of its push, Google has enhanced its Workspace suite with AI-driven features from its Gemini model. The platform has already been used by some government entities, including the US Air Force’s Air Force Research Laboratory, since 2021.

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Gerry Adams targets Meta over use of his books

Gerry Adams, the former president of Sinn Féin, is considering legal action against Meta for allegedly using his books to train AI. Adams claims that at least seven of his books were included in a large collection of copyrighted material Meta used to develop its AI systems.

He has handed the matter over to his solicitor. The books in question include his autobiography Before the Dawn, prison memoir Cage Eleven, and reflections on Northern Ireland’s peace process Hope and History, among others.

Adams is not the only author voicing concerns about Meta’s use of copyrighted works. A group of writers filed a US court case in January, accusing Meta of using the controversial Library Genesis (LibGen) database, which hosts over 7.5 million books, many believed to be pirated.

The discovery followed a searchable database of titles from LibGen being published by The Atlantic, which led several authors to identify their works being used to train Meta’s Llama AI model.

The Society of Authors has condemned Meta’s actions, with chair Vanessa Fox O’Loughlin calling the move ‘shocking and devastating’ for authors.

Many authors are concerned that AI models like Llama, which power tools such as chatbots, could undermine their work by reproducing creative content without permission. Meta has defended its actions, claiming that its use of information to train AI models is in line with existing laws.

Adams, a prolific author and former MP, joins other Northern Irish writers, including Booker Prize winner Anna Burns, in opposing the use of their work for AI training without consent.

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Rapid AI growth raises global energy demands

The global demand for AI technology is set to consume nearly as much energy by 2030 as Japan does today, with much of that coming from data centres. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), electricity demand from data centres will more than double by 2030, driven largely by AI.

Some AI data centres will require up to 20 times more energy than the average one, raising concerns about the environmental impact.

While AI’s rapid adoption could increase energy consumption, the IEA believes it also holds the potential for reducing overall greenhouse gas emissions. AI could improve energy efficiency, assist in designing grids for renewable energy, and optimise industrial processes.

However, the report warns that without careful regulation, AI’s growth could strain energy systems and harm the environment, particularly if fossil fuel-powered plants are used to meet energy demand.

Efforts to mitigate the impact of AI include harnessing its capabilities to design energy-efficient systems, optimise transport, and assist in critical infrastructure management. Yet, some experts argue that AI’s energy demands might outpace these benefits unless governments take proactive steps.

Claude Turmes, former Luxembourg energy minister, warned that the IEA’s optimistic outlook overlooks the severe risks to energy systems, urging stronger regulatory measures.

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Anker raises prices amid rising US tariffs

Chinese tech company Anker, one of Amazon’s largest sellers, has raised prices on a fifth of its products on the platform since last Thursday. The price hikes, averaging 18%, are a direct result of the recent increase in US tariffs on Chinese goods.

The majority of the price rises occurred after 7 April, when President Donald Trump imposed an additional 50% import duty on Chinese imports.

It follows a broader trend where US import tariffs on Chinese goods have now reached 145%, while Beijing retaliated by raising tariffs on US products to 125%.

In response, China’s largest cross-border e-commerce association warned that many Chinese businesses selling on Amazon are considering price hikes or may leave the US market altogether.

Anker, a major player in the e-commerce space since its founding in 2011, has leveraged its bargaining power to implement these price increases.

With 5,000 employees and annual revenues of 22.17 billion yuan ($3 billion), Anker is able to absorb some of the tariff pressure while many of its competitors face similar challenges.

The company has also hinted at expanding into non-US markets, including Europe and Southeast Asia, as it seeks to navigate the increasingly challenging trade environment.

Anker and Amazon did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

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EU prepares new data strategy for AI growth

The European Commission will soon launch a consultation on its upcoming Data Union Strategy, a key part of efforts to boost Europe’s leadership in AI.

The strategy, set to be published by the end of the year, aims to make it easier for businesses and public bodies to share data securely and efficiently across the EU.

The initiative supports the broader AI Continent Action Plan, expected to be unveiled this week, which seeks to encourage faster adoption of AI technologies by European companies.

Instead of relying on fragmented systems, the Commission wants to improve data access, digital infrastructure, and cloud capabilities while investing in talent and streamlining complex processes.

The plan includes the creation of AI factories where companies can train models using EU-based resources, and a separate Cloud and AI Development Act later this year will promote energy-efficient investments to support these goals.

Public feedback on the Data Union Strategy will be gathered from April to June as part of the consultation process.

Despite the ambition, the Commission acknowledges ongoing concerns such as uncertainty around international data flows and challenges accessing suitable data for generative AI.

Strict privacy laws like the GDPR, instead of enabling wider AI training, have led to frustration from major tech firms over regulatory delays in Europe.

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EU plans new law to tackle online consumer manipulation

The European Commission is preparing to introduce the Digital Fairness Act, a new law that aims to boost consumer protection online instead of adding more regulatory burden on businesses.

Justice Commissioner Michael McGrath described the upcoming legislation as both pro-consumer and pro-business during a speech at the European Retail Innovation Summit, seeking to calm industry concerns about further EU regulation following the Digital Services Act and the Digital Markets Act.

Designed to tackle deceptive practices in the digital space, the law will address issues such as manipulative design tricks known as ‘dark patterns’, influencer marketing, and personalised pricing based on user profiling.

It will also target concerns around addictive service design and virtual currencies in video games—areas where current EU consumer rules fall short. The legislation will be based on last year’s Digital Fairness Fitness Check, which highlighted regulatory gaps in the online marketplace.

McGrath acknowledged the cost of complying with EU-wide consumer protection measures, which can run into millions for businesses.

However, he stressed that the new act would provide legal clarity and ease administrative pressure, particularly for smaller companies, instead of complicating compliance requirements further.

A public consultation will begin in the coming weeks, ahead of a formal legislative proposal expected by mid-2026.

Maria-Myrto Kanellopoulou, head of the Commission’s consumer law unit, promised a thoughtful approach, saying the process would be both careful and thorough to ensure the right balance is struck.

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New rules in Thailand aim to tackle foreign P2P crypto services

Thailand has introduced a new legal framework targeting foreign, unregulated peer-to-peer (P2P) crypto platforms to combat online financial crime. The Thai SEC announced cabinet approval of updated emergency decrees, imposing strict measures on digital asset businesses in the country.

The amendments impose severe penalties on foreign crypto platforms, including up to three years in prison, fines of 300,000 baht (around $8,700), or both, for violations.

The SEC’s updated rules also empower authorities to block suspicious transactions and demand that crypto service providers report any scam-related activity. Other sectors, such as commercial banks, telecom companies, and social media platforms, now have joint responsibilities for preventing cybercrime.

SEC Secretary-General Pornanong Budsaratragoon stated that the aim is to reduce money laundering risks and minimise damage from online crimes. It will be achieved through stronger enforcement in collaboration with digital agencies.

Despite these stringent measures, Thailand remains open to innovation in the crypto sector. The country has made strides toward adopting blockchain technology, such as planning a blockchain-based trading platform for securities firms. It is also considering a stablecoin backed by government bonds.

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