ByteDance, the company behind TikTok, has introduced OmniHuman-1, an advanced AI system capable of generating highly realistic deepfake videos from just a single image and an audio clip. Unlike previous deepfake technology, which often displayed telltale glitches, OmniHuman-1 produces remarkably smooth and lifelike footage. The AI can also manipulate body movements, allowing for extensive editing of existing videos.
Trained on 19,000 hours of video content from undisclosed sources, the system’s potential applications range from entertainment to more troubling uses, such as misinformation. The rise of deepfake content has already led to cases of political and financial deception worldwide, from election interference to multimillion-dollar fraud schemes. Experts warn that the technology’s increasing sophistication makes it harder to detect AI-generated fakes.
Despite calls for regulation, deepfake laws remain limited. While some governments have introduced measures to combat AI-generated disinformation, enforcement remains a challenge. With deepfake content spreading at an alarming rate, many fear that systems like OmniHuman-1 could further blur the line between reality and fabrication.
At the annual Almaty Digital Forum, experts highlighted the growing importance of preparing for the AI revolution sparked by the sudden rise of the Chinese AI company DeepSeek. The company’s appearance at the forum raised questions about the future of AI and humanity, particularly due to the affordability of DeepSeek’s AI models, which cost just $6 million to develop, compared to the $40-100 million investments from other global players. This has made AI solutions more accessible to smaller developers and countries.
During the forum, Kaan Teryioglu, CEO of VEON Group, emphasised that AI’s potential lies in enhancing human capabilities across various sectors. Experts agreed that AI will no longer be dominated by tech giants, with smaller developers now able to harness its power. However, concerns were raised about the risk of cultural homogenisation if AI technologies are not adapted to local languages and values.
The forum also showcased Central Asia’s ambition to keep up with global AI developments, with high-level representatives from several countries, including Kazakhstan, Armenia, and Uzbekistan, in attendance. Kazakhstan, in particular, is planning to train a million AI professionals by 2030, with the goal of boosting AI exports to $5 billion by 2029. The government is also launching Alem.ai, a hub for AI research, start-ups, and international collaboration, expected to play a key role in the country’s AI future.
Kazakhstan’s ambitious plans have attracted the attention of global tech giants, who are already in discussions about establishing offices at Alem.ai. With a focus on developing local talent and fostering innovation, Kazakhstan aims to position itself as Central Asia’s intellectual capital and a key player in the global AI landscape. The forum’s success, with over 220 tech companies and 80 local start-ups participating, signals that the country’s plans may not be overly ambitious after all.
A bipartisan working group is being established in Congress to develop policies supporting digital assets. Representative French Hill announced the initiative, emphasising the need for clear regulatory guidelines. The group will work alongside White House officials, including crypto and AI adviser David Sacks.
President Donald Trump has ordered a separate cryptocurrency task force to explore regulations and the possibility of a national crypto reserve. Trump has positioned himself as a pro-crypto leader, pledging to promote adoption. In contrast, former President Joe Biden’s administration took a stricter stance, cracking down on exchanges such as Coinbase and Binance over alleged regulatory violations.
Lawmakers and officials are now seeking a balance between fostering innovation and ensuring consumer protection. The growing role of cryptocurrencies in the economy has intensified calls for clearer legislation, with both Congress and the executive branch pushing for new frameworks.
Elon Musk has brought in a group of young engineers, many with little government experience, to reshape the US federal infrastructure. Among them is Gavin Kliger, a 2020 University of California graduate, who now serves as a special adviser at the Office of Personnel Management. Previously a senior software engineer at AI startup Databrinks, Kliger has also worked at Twitter. His online writings reflect a scepticism towards established political structures, and he has defended figures like Matt Gaetz while promoting controversial policy ideas.
Luke Farritor, another key figure, was a former SpaceX intern and a Thiel Fellow. He worked on software for rocket components and gained recognition for helping decipher an ancient Greek scroll. Reports indicate he has been granted access to USAID systems and is listed as an engineer in the Department of Health and Human Services. He and Musk’s aides have also sought entry into systems managing over $1 trillion in government contracts and payments.
Edward Coristine, the youngest of the group, appears to have only recently graduated from high school and was briefly enrolled at Northeastern University. He spent three months at Neuralink, Musk’s brain-interface company, and is now listed as an ‘expert’ in government records. Business filings link him to several tech ventures, including a company named Tesla.Sexy LLC, which remains active.
Musk’s influence on federal operations continues to expand as his team gains access to critical government systems. A US Office of Personnel Management spokeswoman declined to comment on the appointments.
A federal judge in California has indicated that some aspects of Elon Musk’s lawsuit against OpenAI may proceed to trial. Musk will be required to testify, with a jury ultimately deciding the outcome. The lawsuit challenges OpenAI’s transition from a nonprofit to a for-profit entity, a move Musk argues contradicts its original mission.
Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers is reviewing Musk’s request to block OpenAI’s conversion before the trial. While she has not yet ruled on the injunction, she suggested Musk’s legal team may need to present more evidence. OpenAI’s lawyers argue that the restructuring is necessary to secure investment and continue developing advanced AI models.
The dispute has intensified as OpenAI seeks billions in funding, which is conditional on its corporate restructuring. Experts note that such nonprofit-to-for-profit transitions are rare, typically occurring in healthcare rather than AI startups. OpenAI maintains that Musk should compete in the market rather than pursue legal action.
AMD has announced it will release its next-generation data centre GPUs, the Instinct MI350 series, earlier than originally planned. CEO Lisa Su revealed during the company’s Q4 2024 earnings call that strong demand and smooth development have allowed AMD to move up production to mid-2025, rather than the latter half of the year.
The move comes as AMD looks to gain ground on industry leader Nvidia, whose dominance in the data centre market continues to pose a challenge. Despite this, AMD’s Instinct GPU sales surpassed $5 billion in 2024, and the company expects its data centre division to see double-digit growth in 2025. Major customers such as Meta, Microsoft, and IBM have contributed to AMD’s momentum in the AI computing sector.
Su expressed confidence in the expansion of AMD’s data centre business, forecasting substantial growth in AI-related computing over the coming years. Investors responded positively to the announcement, with AMD’s stock rising by over 4% following the earnings report.
Trump’s crypto czar, David Sacks, has argued that stablecoins could help maintain US dollar dominance, just as lawmakers push for clearer regulations in the sector. His statement came after Senator Bill Hagerty introduced the GENIUS Act, a bill aimed at setting legal standards for stablecoins and ensuring their reserves are backed mainly by US Treasury Bills.
At a press conference alongside key Republican lawmakers, Sacks outlined Trump’s digital asset strategy, suggesting that stablecoin regulation could be a priority under the administration. He also addressed questions about Trump’s plan for a Bitcoin reserve, stating that assessing its feasibility is a key goal for the crypto council, though he declined to confirm whether the US government would actively accumulate BTC.
Meanwhile, Congress appears to be accelerating efforts to formalise crypto policy, with key committees forming dedicated groups to oversee digital asset regulations. Lawmakers, including Senate Banking Committee Chair Tim Scott and House Financial Services Committee Chair French Hill, have signalled a coordinated push to establish a comprehensive framework for stablecoins and broader crypto adoption.
Chinese companies are increasingly backing DeepSeek‘s AI, marking a pivotal moment for the industry. Firms like Moore Threads and Hygon Information Technology are enabling their computing clusters to support DeepSeek’s R1 and V3 models, which use domestically produced graphic processing units (GPUs). Analysts have hailed this as a ‘watershed moment,’ particularly as these models rival those run on global high-end chips.
Huawei has also joined the trend, integrating DeepSeek’s models with its Ascend cloud service and partnering with AI infrastructure start-up SiliconFlow. This integration showcases the growing potential of Chinese-made chips to support competitive large language models, reducing reliance on US hardware. Additionally, major Chinese tech companies such as Alibaba, Baidu, and Tencent have made DeepSeek’s models available through their cloud services.
DeepSeek’s rise has captured significant attention, especially after the launch of its free AI assistant, which surpassed ChatGPT in app downloads within days. The company’s approach, requiring far less computing power than its US counterparts, has further fueled its success. While DeepSeek is gaining traction globally, some countries, including Italy and the Netherlands, have raised privacy concerns, leading to investigations and blocks on its app.
China has introduced a series of measures targeting US businesses, including Google, farm equipment makers, and the owner of Calvin Klein, following the implementation of new US tariffs on Chinese goods. Among these measures, China launched an investigation into Google for potential violations of anti-monopoly laws, although no further details were provided. Despite its minimal presence in China, Google continues to collaborate with local advertisers.
China’s Ministry of Commerce also added US firms PVH Corp and Illumina to its ‘unreliable entity’ list, accusing them of actions that harmed Chinese companies. The companies could face significant sanctions, including trade freezes and restrictions on foreign staff. PVH has already been under scrutiny for its ties to the Xinjiang region.
As part of a broader response, China imposed 10% tariffs on US farm equipment, which could impact companies like Caterpillar, Deere & Co., and AGCO. Tesla’s Cybertruck, a model that has yet to receive regulatory approval, could also be affected. These new tariffs, set to take effect on February 10, signal an escalation in trade tensions between China and the US, extending beyond the tech sector.
These moves mark a significant increase in trade restrictions, building on previous actions taken under former US President Biden’s administration. Analysts suggest that these measures may be used as leverage, with the potential for de-escalation if either side chooses to back down.
Next week, Paris will host the AI Action Summit, where representatives from nearly 100 nations, including the US and China, will gather to discuss the future of AI. With the backing of both France and India, the summit aims to address AI development’s safe deployment, focusing on areas where France has a competitive edge, such as open-source systems and clean energy for powering data centres. The summit will also look at AI’s impact on labour markets and the promotion of national sovereignty in the increasingly global AI landscape.
Key industry figures, including top executives from Alphabet and Microsoft, are expected to attend. Discussions will involve a range of topics, including a potential non-binding communiqué that could reflect a global consensus on AI principles. However, it remains uncertain whether the US will align fully with other countries, given the Trump administration’s policies and tensions over issues like AI chip exports to China.
Unlike previous AI summits, which focused on safety regulations, the Paris event will not be creating new rules. Instead, the emphasis will be on how to ensure the benefits of AI reach developing nations, particularly through affordable AI models. In addition, France plans to showcase its clean energy capabilities, leveraging its nuclear power sector to address the growing energy demands of AI technologies, with some commitments expected from businesses and philanthropies to support public-interest AI projects globally.
