Baidu, China’s tech giant, is set to unveil the next version of its AI model, Ernie 5, in the second half of 2025. This new iteration will introduce multimodal capabilities, allowing it to process and convert a variety of formats such as text, video, images, and audio, offering significant advancements in AI technology.
The release is timed to respond to increasing competition in China’s rapidly developing AI sector, particularly from the startup DeepSeek. The company has gained attention with a reasoning model that rivals OpenAI’s GPT while offering lower costs. Despite being one of the first to enter the AI space in China after the debut of ChatGPT in 2022, Baidu has faced challenges in gaining widespread adoption of its Ernie model.
Baidu’s AI offerings have struggled to keep pace with competitors like ByteDance’s Doubao chatbot and DeepSeek in terms of user uptake. The company maintains that its latest version, Ernie 4, is comparable to OpenAI’s GPT-4, but the adoption rate has been slower than anticipated. CEO Robin Li acknowledged the unpredictable nature of innovation, noting DeepSeek’s rise as a reminder that the future of AI is uncertain and can emerge from unexpected places.
Li also stressed the importance of continued investment in data centres and cloud infrastructure to keep up with the evolving demands of AI, even as newer models, such as DeepSeek’s, challenge the cost-efficiency of large AI models.
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Salesforce has announced plans to invest $500 million in AI initiatives in Saudi Arabia as global competition for AI investment intensifies. The company will introduce Hyperforce, its cloud platform architecture developed in partnership with Amazon Web Services, to the country. The investment was revealed at LEAP 2025, Saudi Arabia’s major global tech event, which secured nearly $15 billion in new AI-related investments.
As part of the initiative, Salesforce will collaborate with major firms, including Capgemini, Deloitte, IBM, and PwC, to expand the use of its AI-driven customer service platform, Agentforce. Additionally, it will introduce Arabic language support for its AI product suite, making its technology more accessible in the region.
Salesforce recently announced plans to establish a regional headquarters in Riyadh, aligning with Saudi Arabia‘s broader push to become a major player in the AI sector. The company has also committed to upskilling 30,000 Saudi citizens by 2030, reflecting its long-term commitment to developing AI talent in the region.
EDF has announced the selection of four sites on its land for data centres as it seeks to accelerate investment in energy-intensive digital infrastructure. The state-owned utility made the announcement during France’s AI summit, where political and business leaders are discussing developments in artificial intelligence. With its extensive nuclear energy capacity, France is positioning itself as a reliable and clean power source for data centres.
The identified sites have existing grid connections with a combined estimated power capacity of 2 gigawatts. EDF is also searching for two additional locations to expand its infrastructure further. The company plans to offer tailored support to digital firms looking to develop projects, ensuring smoother implementation of new data centres.
EDF has previously been in talks with companies to power large-scale data centres in France. However, concerns remain over potential delays due to grid connection challenges. The initiative reflects France’s broader strategy to attract AI and digital investments while leveraging its nuclear energy resources to meet rising demand.
AI chip startup Positron has raised $23.5 million in a bid to compete with industry leader Nvidia. The Reno-based company, which manufactures its chips in Arizona, claims its processors consume less than a third of the power of Nvidia’s high-performance H100 chips while maintaining similar capabilities. Investors in the funding round included Valor Equity Partners, Atreides Management, and Flume Ventures.
Positron’s chips are designed for AI inference, the stage where trained AI models are used rather than developed. While demand is currently higher for training chips, analysts predict that inference chips could soon become the more sought-after option as AI applications expand. This shift has led major players such as OpenAI, Google, and Meta to invest heavily in AI infrastructure, with spending expected to reach tens of billions of dollars this year.
Although Nvidia dominates roughly 80% of the AI chip market, rising costs and concerns over reliance on a single supplier have pushed major tech firms to seek alternatives. With its latest funding, Positron positions itself as a strong contender in the growing US and global AI chip industry, offering a more energy-efficient option for future AI applications.
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France has positioned itself as a major player in artificial intelligence, attracting over €100 billion in investment, thanks in part to its reliable nuclear energy. At the AI Action Summit in Paris, President Emmanuel Macron highlighted the country’s clean power supply as a key advantage in luring tech firms. Among recent investments is a $10 billion supercomputer project by UK-based Fluidstack, expected to require 1 gigawatt of electricity, equivalent to one of France’s smaller nuclear reactors.
However, experts warn that delays in connecting power-hungry data centres to the grid could hinder progress. While data centres can be built in under a year, constructing the necessary transmission lines often takes five years due to permitting and public consultation requirements. The United States is seen as having a clear advantage in fast-tracking infrastructure development.
In response, state-owned utility EDF has designated four sites with pre-existing grid connections, potentially cutting project timelines by several years. While these efforts may help, the challenge of scaling infrastructure remains a significant obstacle to France’s AI ambitions.
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At the AI summit in Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that Europe would reduce regulations to foster the growth of AI in the region. He called for more investment, particularly in France, and highlighted the importance of simplifying rules to stay competitive globally. Macron drew comparisons to the rapid reconstruction of the Notre-Dame cathedral, stating that a similar streamlined approach would be adopted for AI and data centre projects across Europe.
European Union digital chief Henna Virkkunen echoed Macron’s comments, promising to cut red tape and implement business-friendly policies. With the US pushing ahead with lighter AI regulations, there is increasing pressure on Europe to follow suit. Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet, emphasised the need for more ecosystems of AI innovation, similar to the one emerging in France. The EU had previously passed the AI Act, which is the world’s first comprehensive set of AI regulations, but many at the summit urged a more flexible approach.
At the summit, France announced a major push for AI investment, including €109 billion from the private sector, and the launch of the Current AI partnership. This initiative, backed by countries like France and Germany, aims to ensure AI remains inclusive and sustainable. However, not all voices at the summit supported reducing regulations. Concerns were raised about the potential risks of weakening safeguards, particularly for workers whose jobs might be affected by AI advancements.
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The United Arab Emirates‘ Energy Minister, Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei, stated on Wednesday that he does not believe the Chinese AI app DeepSeek will impact the demand for nuclear energy. DeepSeek, a Chinese startup, has developed AI models that deliver comparable results with much lower computing power, resulting in significant energy savings.
However, Al Mazrouei expressed confidence that this advancement will not reduce the growing need for nuclear energy in the UAE. He highlighted that nuclear power remains a critical component of the country’s strategy for diversifying energy sources and ensuring energy security in the long term.
The UAE has been investing heavily in nuclear energy as part of its efforts to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and to meet its climate goals. The Barakah nuclear power plant, which is set to become one of the largest nuclear power stations in the Middle East, is a key part of this initiative.
Al Mazrouei also noted that nuclear energy offers a reliable and scalable solution that can complement renewable energy sources, especially as the UAE looks to meet rising energy demands. While AI advancements like DeepSeek may contribute to energy efficiency, the UAE remains focused on expanding its nuclear energy infrastructure to support its future growth and sustainability objectives.
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Jake Denton, a former researcher at the Heritage Foundation, has been appointed as chief technology officer of the US Federal Trade Commission. He replaces Stephanie Nguyen, who had held the position since 2022. The role was first established during the Obama administration to provide insights on emerging technology challenges.
Denton steps into the role as Andrew Ferguson takes over as FTC chairman. Ferguson has voiced concerns about Big Tech’s dominance while cautioning against excessive regulation that could hinder US innovation. Denton has supported artificial intelligence legislation and has urged stronger US involvement in shaping global AI policies.
The Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025, linked to potential conservative policies under a future Trump administration, has outlined proposals for antitrust enforcement that align with right-leaning priorities. Some suggestions have even questioned the FTC’s necessity. Meanwhile, the agency is preparing for a trial against Meta in April and is pursuing an antitrust lawsuit against Amazon.
Ferguson’s stance on ongoing FTC investigations remains unclear, including probes into Microsoft’s partnership with OpenAI and potential consumer protection issues. Trump has praised Ferguson as a leader who supports innovation, making his regulatory approach to Big Tech a key focus in the coming months.
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Google has expanded its AI-powered note-taking tool, NotebookLM Plus, to individual users subscribed to the Google One AI Premium plan. Initially launched for enterprises, the paid version offers significantly higher usage limits, allowing users to create up to 500 notebooks and process 300 sources per notebook. It also supports 500 chat queries and 20 AI-generated audio summaries daily.
Priced at $20 per month, the subscription also includes access to Google’s Gemini AI across Gmail, Docs, and 2TB of cloud storage. Students in the US over 18 years old can get a 50% discount, bringing the price down to $9.99 per month. Google has yet to reveal the number of users for NotebookLM but reports suggest millions of visits in recent months.
Google is also working on expanding NotebookLM’s features, including support for more languages in its AI-generated audio summaries and the launch of a dedicated mobile app. The company emphasised that both free and premium users would continue receiving a high-quality experience as it refines the service.
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Greece‘s Ministry of Education is developing an AI-powered digital assistant aimed at helping students bridge learning gaps. Set to launch in the 2025-2026 school year, the tool will analyse student responses to exercises, identifying areas where they struggle and recommending targeted study materials. Initially focused on middle and senior high school students, it may eventually expand to lower elementary grades as well.
The AI assistant uses machine-learning algorithms to assess students’ strengths and weaknesses, tailoring study plans accordingly. Integrated with Greece’s Digital Tutoring platform, it will leverage over 15,000 interactive exercises and 7,500 educational videos. Teachers will also have access to the data, allowing them to better support their students.
Education Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis highlighted that the project, part of the “Enhancing the Digital School” initiative, is designed to complement, not replace, traditional teaching methods. The initiative, which aims to modernise Greece’s education system, will be funded through the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility. Approval is expected in March, after which competitive bidding will begin for the project’s implementation.
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