US telecom giant AT&T and Finnish network equipment maker Nokia have signed a multi-year agreement to upgrade AT&T’s voice services and 5G network automation. This deal comes after Nokia lost a significant contract to Swedish rival Ericsson in 2023, which led to Ericsson securing a $14 billion deal to build a network for AT&T covering 70% of its US wireless traffic by 2026. Nokia, however, remains involved with AT&T through a smaller agreement for fibre network development and a new contract focused on cloud-based voice applications and network automation.
The deal will enhance AT&T’s core network, enabling new voice services, including the integration of AI and machine learning. Although the financial details of the agreement were not disclosed, Nokia’s involvement is seen as crucial in bolstering its long-standing relationship with AT&T. Nokia’s president of Cloud and Network Services, Raghav Sahgal, emphasised that this agreement will allow for the deployment of new 5G functionalities.
Nokia recently reported stronger-than-expected earnings, driven by higher demand for telecoms equipment, particularly in North America and India. The company remains optimistic about its prospects in 2025, especially with plans to capitalise on the AI boom. Last year, Nokia also agreed to acquire Infinera for $2.3 billion to strengthen its position in the growing data centre and AI markets.
Waabi, a self-driving technology company, announced a partnership with Volvo’s driverless systems unit on Tuesday to develop autonomous big rigs. The collaboration aims to integrate Waabi’s virtual driver system, sensors, and computing into Volvo’s VNL Autonomous truck, which will be produced at Volvo’s New River Valley factory in Virginia.
The partnership comes as truck manufacturers and fleets look for ways to address driver shortages and reduce operational costs. Waabi, backed by Nvidia and Uber, uses its digital simulator, Waabi World, for testing and validation, with plans to launch commercial pilots in Texas within four years.
Unlike Tesla, which relies on a vision-only approach for its self-driving technology, Waabi uses a unique system to simulate real-world driving situations. The company also indicated that the deal with Volvo is not exclusive and they aim to integrate their technology with other truck manufacturers.
Volvo’s venture capital arm invested in Waabi in 2023, joining other backers such as Khosla Ventures and Porsche Automobil Holding. Waabi’s CEO Raquel Urtasun said trucking was a natural starting point for their technology, with plans to expand into areas like robotaxis and humanoid robots in the future.
WhatsApp has identified an advanced hacking campaign targeting nearly 90 users across more than two dozen countries. The attack, linked to Israeli spyware firm Paragon Solutions, exploited a zero-click vulnerability, meaning victims’ devices were compromised without them needing to interact with any malicious files. The messaging platform, owned by Meta, has since taken steps to block the hacking attempts and has issued a cease-and-desist letter to Paragon.
While WhatsApp has not disclosed the identities of those targeted, reports indicate that journalists and members of civil society were among the victims. The company has referred affected users to Citizen Lab, a Canadian watchdog that investigates digital security threats. Law enforcement agencies and industry partners have also been alerted, though specifics remain undisclosed.
Paragon, which was recently acquired by US investment firm AE Industrial Partners, has not commented on the allegations. The company presents itself as a responsible player in the spyware industry, claiming to sell its technology only to governments in stable democracies. However, critics argue that the continued spread of surveillance tools increases the risk of human rights abuses, with spyware repeatedly found on the devices of activists, journalists, and officials worldwide.
Cybersecurity experts warn that the growing use of commercial spyware poses an ongoing threat to digital privacy. Despite claims of ethical safeguards, the latest revelations suggest that even companies with supposedly responsible practices may be engaging in questionable surveillance activities.
Chinese internet users have been captivated by the DeepSeek AI app, which has gained immense popularity since its launch during the Lunar New Year holiday. Users have explored its predictive and analytical capabilities, with some posing questions on politics, economics, and even personal matters. For example, law professor Wang Jiangyu asked how China should respond to US President Donald Trump’s tariffs, receiving a comprehensive seven-point answer that included potential new tariffs on US industries and other strategic moves. The model’s detailed responses have impressed users, though it censors certain politically sensitive topics, such as questions about Xi Jinping or the Tiananmen Square protests.
DeepSeek’s low-cost yet powerful AI has made waves in the tech sector, surpassing ChatGPT in downloads on the Apple App Store. The Hangzhou-based startup has become a source of national pride, with users sharing personal experiences, such as using the app to predict their fortunes or interpret dreams. This surge in popularity has drawn attention to the company’s rapid growth, and its founder, Liang Wengfeng, has emerged as a pop culture figure.
Despite its success, DeepSeek’s claims about the minimal cost of training its latest AI model—less than $6 million in computing power—have raised scepticism among some experts. Nevertheless, the platform’s effectiveness has prompted comparisons to the billions invested by US tech giants in AI development. The app’s rapid rise has also led to investigations by authorities in several countries, including Japan, South Korea, and several European nations, over concerns about its handling of personal data.
SoftBank Group CEO Masayoshi Son announced on Monday that he has agreed with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman to establish a joint venture in Japan, called SB OpenAI Japan, to offer AI services to corporate clients. This venture will be jointly owned by OpenAI and a company set up by SoftBank and its telecoms arm. In addition, SoftBank will pay $3 billion annually to integrate OpenAI’s technology across its group companies.
Son’s involvement with OpenAI is deepening, with reports indicating that SoftBank plans to invest between $15 billion and $25 billion in the company. SoftBank is also committing $15 billion to Stargate, a joint venture with OpenAI and Oracle to build AI capacity in the US. Son’s support for OpenAI follows a period of retrenchment for the investment giant, but he is reasserting his influence in the tech sector after setbacks in SoftBank’s tech portfolio.
In the context of rising competition, China’s DeepSeek has prompted some investors to question the immense funds being poured into US-based AI companies. However, Altman believes global demand for AI computing power will continue to surge. Son and Altman also met with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Monday to discuss further developments.
The US administration under President Donald Trump is weighing stricter controls on Nvidia’s H20 chips, which were specifically designed for the Chinese market. Discussions, still in the early stages, build on previous export restrictions established by former President Joe Biden to limit the shipment of advanced AI chips to China. Nvidia’s H20 chips comply with existing US regulations but could face additional curbs due to concerns about China’s rapid progress in AI technology.
The potential restrictions come amid mounting unease about China‘s competitive edge in AI. Recent developments, such as the launch of DeepSeek‘s cost-efficient AI assistant, have intensified worries that China may be narrowing the gap with the US in AI development. RAND researcher Lennart Heim revealed that the possibility of further controls on AI chip exports had been discussed for over six months, originating during Biden’s tenure.
Nvidia has expressed its willingness to collaborate with the US government as the administration formulates its policy on AI exports. The company’s stock, already trading lower, saw additional losses following the report. Despite previous restrictions, Nvidia’s H20 chips have so far remained compliant with US regulations and available for shipment to China.
The US Commerce Department is investigating whether DeepSeek, the Chinese AI company that recently launched a high-performing assistant, has been using US chips in violation of export restrictions. These chips are prohibited from being shipped to China, raising concerns about DeepSeek’s rapid rise in the AI sector. Within days of launching, its app became the most downloaded on Apple’s App Store, contributing to a significant drop in US tech stocks, which lost around $1 trillion in value.
The US has imposed strict limits on the export of advanced AI chips to China, particularly those made by Nvidia. These restrictions aim to prevent China from accessing the most sophisticated AI processors. However, reports suggest that AI chip smuggling from countries like Malaysia, Singapore, and the UAE may be circumventing these measures. DeepSeek has admitted to using Nvidia’s H800 chips, which were legally purchased in 2023, but it is unclear whether it has used other restricted components.
The controversy deepened when Anthropic’s CEO Dario Amodei commented that DeepSeek’s AI chip fleet likely includes both legal and smuggled chips, some of which were shipped before restrictions were fully enforced. While DeepSeek has claimed to use only the less powerful H20 chips, which are still permitted to be sold to China, the investigation continues whether these practices undermine US efforts to limit China’s access to cutting-edge AI technologies.
Chinese state-backed social media accounts played a key role in amplifying the launch of DeepSeek’s AI models last week, according to an analysis by the firm Graphika. These accounts, including those of Chinese diplomats and media outlets, used platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, and Weibo to highlight DeepSeek’s challenge to US dominance in the AI sector. This online activity coincided with a significant drop in US tech stocks, including a record one-day loss for Nvidia, shedding $593 billion in market value.
Graphika’s report suggested that this was part of a broader strategy by China to use AI to enhance its global influence and counter American leadership in critical technological fields. The surge in online discussion about DeepSeek’s AI capabilities was noticeable, especially on X, where it surpassed US rival ChatGPT in downloads from Apple’s app store shortly after its release. DeepSeek’s AI assistant also claimed to have been developed at a much lower cost than US competitors, raising concerns about a potential price war in the sector.
While China celebrates DeepSeek’s advancements as a victory over US efforts to limit its tech growth, the US has raised suspicions about whether the company improperly accessed American technology. The Commerce Department is investigating whether DeepSeek used banned US chips in its models, further intensifying tensions between the two countries over AI and tech competition. Meanwhile, major US companies like Microsoft and Meta continue their AI investments despite the challenges.
Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s planned $14 billion acquisition of Juniper Networks faces a legal challenge from the US Department of Justice. Officials argue the deal would harm competition by leaving just two major players—HPE and Cisco—controlling over 70% of the US networking equipment market.
HPE had announced the all-cash acquisition over a year ago, aiming to strengthen its AI capabilities. Both companies defended the deal, saying their networking solutions complement each other and would enhance competition against global rivals. They criticised the DOJ’s market definition, calling it outdated.
Regulators noted that Juniper’s innovations forced HPE to lower prices and invest in new technology under its ‘Beat Mist’ campaign. Eliminating this competition, they claim, would reduce incentives for innovation and cost savings in the industry.
Legal proceedings could take up to eight months, with an October deadline for completion. Authorities in the UK and European Union have already approved the deal.
Germany’s SAP is seeing increasing global demand for software that helps companies manage and document sustainability efforts, despite weakening climate protection targets in the US. SAP’s CFO, Dominik Asam, stated that the need for reliable sustainability data and analysis tools will remain strong, especially with growing investor focus on the issue. This comes as the US formally announced its intention to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement, a decision set to take effect in January 2026.
Despite the shifting political landscape, Asam remains optimistic about the future of sustainability initiatives. At the World Economic Forum in Davos, he spoke with many investors who continue to show strong interest in sustainability efforts. SAP is focusing on its Green Ledger software, which aims to make sustainability reporting as verifiable as financial reporting. This will become a requirement under the European Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) in 2028.
While currently used mainly by SAP and chemical company Covestro, the software is expected to see broader adoption. Asam anticipates a surge in contracts in the latter half of this year, highlighting the growing importance of sustainability reporting for businesses worldwide.
