Apple is headded into consumer robotics, unveiling research that highlights the importance of expressive movements in human-robot interaction. Drawing inspiration from Pixar’s Luxo Jr., the company’s study explores how non-humanlike objects, such as a lamp, can be designed to convey intention and emotion through motion.
A video accompanying the research showcases a prototype lamp robot, which mimics Pixar’s iconic animated mascot. The study suggests that even small movements, such as turning towards a window before answering a weather query, can create a stronger connection between humans and machines. The lamp, operating with Siri’s voice, behaves as a more dynamic alternative to smart speakers like Apple’s HomePod or Amazon’s Echo.
This research comes amid speculation that Apple is working on a more advanced smart home hub, possibly incorporating robotic features. While details remain scarce, rumours suggest a device resembling a robotic arm with an integrated screen. Though Apple’s consumer robotics project is still in early stages, the findings hint at a future where expressive, intelligent robots become a part of everyday life.
France is set to receive an unprecedented €83 billion in AI-related investments, with Canadian firm Brookfield committing €20 billion by 2030. The majority of this funding will be allocated to data centres, including a massive one in Cambrai with a capacity of up to one gigawatt. This surge in investment follows the announcement of a €50 billion AI campus project between France and the UAE.
A key factor behind France’s appeal is its energy infrastructure. With 65% of its electricity generated from nuclear power and another 25% from renewables, the country offers a sustainable solution for tech companies seeking to reduce their carbon footprint. This has positioned France as an attractive location for power-intensive AI data centres.
Alongside international funding, France’s public investment bank Bpifrance has pledged €10 billion to support AI startups, while telecom giant Iliad is investing €3 billion in AI-focused infrastructure. With the AI Action Summit set to take place in Paris, more investment announcements could be on the horizon.
Amazon has removed references to ‘inclusion and diversity‘ from its latest annual report, signalling a shift away from diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The change follows an internal memo from December, in which Amazon announced it was winding down certain DEI programmes by the end of 2024. Instead of maintaining separate initiatives, the company plans to integrate DEI efforts into broader corporate processes.
Tech giants such as Meta and Google have also been scaling back diversity programmes, facing pressure from conservative groups threatening legal action. Disney has similarly adjusted its DEI approach, removing mentions of its ‘Reimagine Tomorrow‘ programme while introducing an initiative to hire US military veterans. The trend reflects a broader corporate retreat from diversity-focused policies that gained traction after the 2020 protests against racial injustice.
Political opposition to DEI has grown, with President Donald Trump’s administration vowing to eliminate diversity policies in the private sector. In response, attorneys general from twelve US states, including New York and California, have reaffirmed their commitment to enforcing civil rights protections against workplace discrimination. The debate over DEI’s future remains contentious as businesses and lawmakers continue to clash over its role in corporate America.
Oracle has introduced new AI features to its NetSuite corporate finance software, aiming to streamline common business tasks. Unlike competitors focused on developing general-purpose AI assistants, Oracle is integrating targeted tools to automate tedious processes. One of the latest additions helps generate price quotes for complex purchases through chatbot-driven interactions, making it easier for businesses and consumers to configure products like customised bicycles.
The AI-powered quoting tool allows sales professionals to quickly compile prices based on customer requirements, reducing time spent on manual calculations. Oracle‘s approach focuses on enhancing efficiency rather than competing in the race to build massive AI models. Instead, the company partners with firms like Canadian startup Cohere to power its AI tools.
Oracle’s recent collaboration with OpenAI to build large data centres has raised speculation about further AI partnerships. While no formal announcements have been made, Oracle executives have indicated a willingness to work with OpenAI in the future. The company’s AI strategy prioritises practical applications that help businesses close deals faster and lower operational costs.
Chinese automaker Great Wall Motor and the nation’s top telecom providers are integrating DeepSeek’s cutting-edge AI model into their systems, marking a significant step in China’s push to lead the global AI race. Great Wall Motor, the country’s first listed car manufacturer, has incorporated DeepSeek’s technology into its ‘Coffee Intelligence’ connected vehicle system to enhance its smart car capabilities. Meanwhile, China’s three major telecom giants, China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom, are collaborating with DeepSeek to promote the widespread adoption of advanced AI solutions, signalling a broader effort to modernise the country’s tech infrastructure.
Integrating DeepSeek’s AI platform has ignited a wave of optimism among investors, who see it as a potential game-changer for China’s tech sector. Shares of AI-related companies, including chipmakers, software developers, and data centre operators, have recently surged as market participants bet on the transformative impact of the technology. However, some firms have tempered expectations, cautioning that the immediate business benefits remain uncertain. For instance, Capitalonline Data Service, a cloud computing provider, saw its shares soar 49% last week after deploying DeepSeek’s model but emphasised that the long-term financial impact is still unclear.
Similarly, MeiG Smart Technology, a Shenzhen-based company specialising in IoT devices, reported that its work on adapting DeepSeek’s AI is in its early stages and has yet to generate new revenue. Despite this, its shares jumped 33% in three days, reflecting the market’s enthusiasm for AI-driven innovation. Other tech heavyweights like Tencent and Huawei have also announced plans to integrate DeepSeek’s technology, further fueling the narrative of China’s AI ambitions.
Why does it matter?
The rapid adoption of DeepSeek’s AI model tells us a lot about China’s determination to compete globally in the AI arena, with both private and state-owned enterprises rallying behind the technology. While the immediate economic impact remains uncertain, the move underscores the growing importance of AI in reshaping industries from automotive to telecommunications.
Google has scrapped its diversity-based hiring goals and is reviewing its inclusion initiatives, aligning with other US businesses scaling back such efforts. Chief People Officer Fiona Cicconi confirmed the company would no longer set aspirational diversity targets, marking a shift from commitments made in 2020 to improve representation across leadership roles.
A goal set by CEO Sundar Pichai in 2020 aimed for 30% of leadership hires to come from underrepresented groups by 2025. Reports indicate Google had reached 60% of its five-year objectives by early 2024. However, recent regulatory filings show that the company removed previous statements about making diversity a core focus, reflecting its broader reassessment of DEI programmes.
Alphabet Workers Union criticised the move, calling it part of a larger trend against workplace diversity in the tech sector. As a federal contractor, Google also cited the need to comply with changing regulations and executive orders affecting DEI initiatives. Internal employee groups such as “Black Googler Network” and ‘Trans at Google’ will remain in place, continuing to inform company policies.
Other major technology firms, including Meta and Amazon, have also reduced their DEI commitments. Conservative groups have challenged corporate diversity policies following a 2023 US Supreme Court ruling against affirmative action in university admissions, increasing pressure on businesses to revise their approaches.
Greece is taking steps to address the impact of AI on the labour market by strengthening its Labour Market Needs Assessment Mechanism and implementing retraining programs. Speaking at a conference in Brussels, Labour Minister Niki Kerameus highlighted the rapid pace of AI development and its transformative effects on the workforce. She emphasised the need for protective measures to ensure workers benefit fully from AI’s potential.
Kerameus outlined two key initiatives Greece is focusing on. The first involves mapping current and future labour market needs, especially for new skills and specialities driven by AI. The Ministry of Labour is enhancing its market needs with a diagnostic mechanism to track real-time employee skills and labour market demands.
The second initiative involves retraining programs to help workers adapt to the evolving job landscape. Kerameus reassured that while AI will continue to change how people work, it should not be feared. Greece is prioritising skills programs, particularly in digital and green sectors, and aims to involve 10% of the active workforce in these initiatives by 2026.
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.
Salesforce is cutting more than 1,000 jobs while simultaneously hiring employees to support its growing AI business, according to a Bloomberg report. Affected workers will have the opportunity to apply for other positions within the company, but it remains unclear which divisions will see the largest reductions. Salesforce has not yet commented on the job cuts.
The customer relationship management software giant had over 72,000 employees as of early 2024. CEO Marc Benioff previously announced that Salesforce had secured more than 1,000 paid deals for its AI-driven platform, Agentforce. The latest layoffs follow previous reductions, including 700 jobs cut in early 2024 and another 300 later in the year.
The job cuts highlight the company’s shift towards artificial intelligence, as it seeks to capitalise on growing demand for AI-powered tools. Despite the reductions, Salesforce continues to invest in AI products and expand its workforce in areas aligned with its future growth strategy.
Indian entrepreneur Bhavish Aggarwal is investing $230 million into Krutrim, an AI startup he founded, as part of India’s push to establish itself in the global AI market. The company, which develops large language models (LLMs) for Indian languages, aims to raise a total of $1.15 billion by next year, with Aggarwal seeking additional funding from external investors.
In a significant move, Krutrim has made its AI models open source and announced plans to build India’s largest supercomputer in partnership with Nvidia. The firm recently introduced Krutrim-2, a 12-billion parameter model that has demonstrated strong performance in Indian language processing and code generation. It has also launched BharatBench, a new evaluation framework designed to assess AI models’ proficiency in Indian languages.
The investment follows the launch of Krutrim-1, India’s first large language model, and aligns with broader efforts to position India as a key player in AI, traditionally dominated by the US and China. Krutrim has also begun hosting Chinese AI lab DeepSeek’s models on domestic servers, signalling India’s growing role in the AI ecosystem. With a supercomputer set to go live in March, the company is poised for rapid expansion in the coming months.
