TikTok has returned to US app stores after President Donald Trump temporarily delayed a ban on the Chinese-owned social media platform. The app, which briefly went offline last month due to a new law requiring its parent company, ByteDance, to sell its US operations or face a ban, is now available for download again.
Despite TikTok resuming service, Google and Apple had initially removed it from their stores while awaiting assurances that they would not be penalised for hosting the app. Trump signed an executive order extending the deadline for TikTok’s sale by 75 days, allowing the platform to operate in the US without immediate repercussions.
The delay has sparked interest from potential buyers, including former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt, as analysts estimate TikTok’s US business could be worth up to $50 billion. The app, which had over 52 million downloads in 2024, remains one of the most popular in the country.
The law requiring ByteDance to sell TikTok’s US assets was signed last April by then-President Joe Biden, driven by national security concerns over potential Chinese government influence. That move marks an unprecedented step in US policy, granting the government broad authority to ban or force the sale of foreign-owned apps. Trump has stated that he is discussing TikTok’s future with multiple parties and expects to make a final decision by February.
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Thomson Reuters has won a legal battle against Ross Intelligence, after a judge ruled that the law firm’s use of Thomson Reuters’ legal content to train an AI model violated US copyright laws. The case stems from a 2020 lawsuit where Thomson Reuters accused the now-defunct legal research firm of using its Westlaw platform to build a competing AI system without permission.
Judge Stephanos Bibas confirmed that Ross Intelligence’s use of the content did not qualify as “fair use” under US copyright law, which permits limited use of copyrighted material for purposes such as teaching or research. Thomson Reuters expressed satisfaction with the ruling, stating that copying its content for AI training was not a fair use.
This case is part of a broader trend of legal challenges involving AI and copyright issues, with authors, artists, and music labels filing similar lawsuits against AI developers for using their works without compensation. These cases all involve the claim that tech companies have used vast amounts of human-created content to train AI models, raising concerns about intellectual property rights and the ethics of AI development.
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The Dutch government plans to cut bureaucracy and increase investment in artificial intelligence to help the country’s tech startups thrive, Prime Minister Dick Schoof announced. His comments follow a report by TechLeap, which revealed a sharp decline in small firms securing significant funding. Despite a 47% increase in venture capital investment in 2024, the number of Dutch startups receiving more than €100,000 fell dramatically, with most funding coming from foreign investors.
Schoof, speaking at TechLeap’s annual event in The Hague, stressed the urgency of creating a business-friendly environment to attract venture capital. He warned that Europe risks being left behind by the US and China if immediate action is not taken. Eindhoven, home to chip giant ASML, has been a key driver of the Dutch economy, but the slowdown in startup growth raises concerns about long-term innovation.
Two Dutch firms, hotel software developer Mews and AI-powered auditing company DataSnipper, achieved unicorn status last year, but industry leaders remain cautious. With the government now vowing to intervene, the hope is that streamlined regulations and targeted investments will help revive the country’s startup ecosystem.
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US Vice President JD Vance criticised Europe’s heavy-handed AI regulations at a Paris summit, warning they could stifle innovation. He argued the EU’s approach, including the Digital Services Act and GDPR, burdens smaller firms with high compliance costs, which could harm AI’s transformative potential. Vance also dismissed content moderation policies as authoritarian censorship.
The United States and Britain opted not to sign the summit’s declaration advocating inclusive, ethical, and safe AI. Vance emphasised America’s intention to lead AI innovation and resist regulatory frameworks that might hinder its progress. French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen countered by stressing that regulation is essential to build public trust in AI.
Geopolitical competition dominated discussions, with Vance warning of potential risks in partnering with China. He cautioned against allowing authoritarian regimes to influence critical information infrastructure through subsidised technology exports. Although he didn’t name DeepSeek, a recent Chinese AI development, his remarks highlighted growing concerns about maintaining technological leadership.
The summit exposed significant policy differences, with the US prioritising rapid AI advancement over stringent safety measures. Critics labelled this a missed opportunity to address broader AI risks, including supply chain security and workforce disruptions.
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Elon Musk announced on Thursday that his AI chatbot, Grok 3, is nearing completion and will be released in the next week or two. In a video call at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, Musk stated that Grok 3 exhibits powerful reasoning capabilities, outperforming other AI models in tests conducted so far. This new AI is being developed through Musk’s company, xAI, which he founded to rival OpenAI and Google.
Musk, also a co-founder of OpenAI, has been outspoken in his criticism of the AI startup. Recently, a consortium led by Musk made a $97.4 billion offer to acquire OpenAI’s nonprofit assets, a move that comes amid Musk’s ongoing legal battle with OpenAI. He is challenging the company’s decision to transition to a for-profit model, arguing that it undermines its original nonprofit mission.
In addition to discussing AI, Musk shared his thoughts on reducing US government spending, suggesting that $1 trillion could be saved by cutting inefficiencies. He also spoke on international matters, advising the US to be less involved in other countries’ affairs. Musk’s comments followed a partnership announcement with UAE AI Minister Omar Al Olama on a futuristic underground transport system called the “Dubai Loop.”
Musk’s remarks at the summit highlighted his wide-ranging influence, not only in technology but also in global political and economic discussions.
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China’s chipmaking equipment purchases are expected to decline in 2025, following three years of growth, due to overcapacity and increasing restrictions from US sanctions. After purchasing $41 billion in equipment in 2024, which accounted for 40% of global sales, China’s spending is predicted to fall by 6% to $38 billion this year, marking the first decline since 2021. The drop in demand is attributed to reduced purchases in response to export controls and an excess of manufacturing capacity.
Despite these challenges, China has been a key driver for the global wafer fabrication equipment market over the past few years, even as other sectors saw downturns. Much of China’s equipment buying has been linked to stockpiling efforts in response to US sanctions aimed at limiting China’s ability to produce advanced chips, particularly for military use. Chinese firms, like SMIC and Huawei, have continued to advance in chip production, although at a higher cost and with more effort, while also focusing on expanding in the mature-node chip market.
In addition to growing its domestic production capabilities, China’s leading equipment manufacturers, such as Naura Technology Group and AMEC, are expanding internationally. However, the country still faces significant challenges in self-sufficiency, particularly in areas like lithography systems, testing, and assembly tools. While China’s domestic companies have made strides in equipment sales, they still rely heavily on foreign suppliers for advanced technology in these areas.
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Apple has partnered with Chinese tech giant Alibaba to develop AI features for iPhones in China, aiming to bolster its presence in a highly competitive market. The collaboration follows months of uncertainty over Apple’s AI strategy in the country, where rivals like Huawei have already integrated AI tools into their devices. The move marks a shift from Apple’s earlier preference for Baidu, which reportedly fell short of the company’s expectations.
The partnership could help Apple regain lost ground after a decline in iPhone sales during the holiday season, a period typically strong for the company. The AI-powered features have been submitted for regulatory approval in China, a crucial step before their rollout. Apple’s stock saw a 1.5% rise following the news, while Alibaba’s US-listed shares gained 2.6%.
Apple’s decision to work with Alibaba was reportedly influenced by the e-commerce giant’s vast datasets on user shopping and payment habits, which could enhance AI model training and improve personalised services. As Apple anticipates strong sales growth in the current quarter, this partnership could play a key role in driving renewed demand for iPhones in China.
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Brazil’s finance minister, Fernando Haddad, has dismissed claims that the country is considering taxing US tech companies in retaliation for new American tariffs on steel imports. The report, published by Folha de S.Paulo, suggested that President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s administration was weighing levies on firms such as Amazon, Meta, and Google. Haddad stated that the information was incorrect and reaffirmed that the government would only make decisions based on concrete developments.
The United States is expected to introduce new 25% tariffs on steel and aluminium imports, adding to existing trade restrictions. As one of the largest suppliers of steel to the United States, Brazil has been closely monitoring the situation. Haddad emphasised that the government would adopt a measured approach, making announcements only when appropriate to avoid misinterpretation.
Previous discussions within Brazil‘s finance ministry have explored the possibility of taxing big tech firms as part of broader fiscal policies. However, no formal decision has been made, and Haddad’s comments suggest that any future action will depend on concrete economic considerations rather than speculation.
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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Foxconn, the world’s largest contract electronics manufacturer and Apple’s main iPhone maker, is prepared to adjust its production strategies in response to new US tariffs. Chairman Young Liu stated that the company is capable of planning its manufacturing around these changes, particularly with US President Donald Trump’s recently announced 25% tariff on all imports from Mexico and Canada, which has been paused until March 4.
Liu explained that Foxconn operates factories in both the United States and Mexico and will adjust production capacities based on the impact of the tariffs. He emphasised that Foxconn has the flexibility to move its operations between countries, minimising the overall effect of the tariffs on the company. However, Liu also warned that such tariffs are detrimental to the global economy, potentially shrinking markets.
Foxconn remains committed to working with US partners to align its manufacturing strategies with President Trump’s push for more domestic production. Despite the uncertainty around the tariffs, the company is prepared to adapt as necessary.
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