American TikTok creators are urging their followers to connect on platforms like Instagram and YouTube after a federal appeals court upheld a law that could ban TikTok in the US unless its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, sells its American operations by January 19. The looming deadline has sparked anxiety among creators and businesses reliant on TikTok’s vast reach, which includes 170 million US users.
The platform’s popularity, especially among younger audiences, has turned it into a hub for creators, advertisers, and small businesses, with features like TikTok Shop driving significant economic activity. Some creators, like social media influencer Chris Mowrey, expressed fears about losing their livelihoods, emphasising the potential economic blow to small enterprises and content creators.
While some users are bracing for a shutdown, others remain sceptical about the ban’s likelihood, holding off on major changes until more clarity emerges. In the meantime, creators like Chris Burkett and SnipingForDom are diversifying their presence across platforms to safeguard their communities and content. For many, the uncertainty surrounding TikTok’s future is a stark reminder of the fragile nature of digital ecosystems.
The US government has authorised the export of advanced AI chips to a Microsoft-operated facility in the United Arab Emirates. This approval comes as part of Microsoft’s $1.5 billion partnership with Emirati AI firm G42, where the US tech giant holds a minority stake and a board seat. G42 uses Microsoft’s cloud services to support its AI applications.
Concerns arose over potential risks of US AI technology being transferred to China, prompting scrutiny from lawmakers. They sought clarity on G42’s connections to Chinese authorities before permitting the deal to proceed. The export licence requires strict compliance measures, ensuring restricted access to the UAE facility by individuals or organisations from nations under US arms embargoes, including China.
AI-related national security risks, such as the facilitation of weapons development, remain a key issue for US officials. The Biden administration has implemented regulations requiring major AI developers to share system details with the government. G42 has publicly stated its commitment to aligning with international standards in collaboration with US partners and the UAE government.
Ownership ties also add complexity, with G42 partly owned by Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund and chaired by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE’s national security advisor. The deal underscores a delicate balancing act as Washington navigates strategic and economic interests in the AI sector.
Meta Platforms has partnered with Invenergy to purchase green energy credits from four large solar projects in the United States, supporting its goal to power operations with 100% clean energy. These projects, generating 760 megawatts—enough to power approximately 130,000 homes—will be located in Ohio, Texas, New Mexico, and Arkansas and are expected to connect to the grid between 2024 and 2027.
The deal is part of Meta‘s broader strategy to meet the energy demands of its data centres sustainably, including prior agreements with geothermal and solar initiatives. While Meta won’t directly use the power, the credits will offset its energy footprint.
Urvi Parekh, Meta’s head of global energy, stated the projects reaffirm Meta’s commitment to environmental sustainability. The move comes amid rising energy demands from the company’s expanding global operations.
Microsoft has introduced Copilot Vision, an AI-powered feature available in a limited US preview for users of Microsoft Edge. This experimental tool, part of the Copilot Labs program, can read web pages to answer user queries, summarise and translate content, and even assist with tasks like finding discounts or offering gaming tips. For example, it can provide recipes from a cooking site or strategic advice during an online chess game.
To address privacy concerns, Microsoft emphasises that Copilot Vision deletes all processed data at the end of each session and does not store information for model training. The feature is initially restricted to a pre-approved list of popular websites, excluding sensitive or paywalled content, though Microsoft plans to expand compatibility over time.
Microsoft’s cautious rollout reflects ongoing efforts to balance innovation with publisher concerns over AI’s use of web data. The company is collaborating with third-party publishers to ensure the tool benefits users without compromising website content or functionality.
FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has proposed requiring US communications providers to certify annually that they have plans to defend against cyberattacks. The move comes amid growing concerns over espionage by ‘Salt Typhoon,’ a hacking group allegedly linked to Beijing that has infiltrated several American telecom companies to steal call data.
Rosenworcel highlighted the need for a modern framework to secure networks as US intelligence agencies assess the impact of Salt Typhoon’s widespread attack. A senior US official confirmed the hackers had stolen metadata from numerous Americans, breaching at least eight telecom firms.
The FCC proposal, which Rosenworcel has circulated to other commissioners, would take effect immediately if approved. The announcement follows a classified Senate briefing on the breach, but industry giants like Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile have yet to comment.
A senior US official revealed that a Chinese hacking group, known as ‘Salt Typhoon,’ has stolen vast amounts of Americans’ metadata in a broad cyberespionage effort targeting US telecommunications. While specific figures remain undisclosed, the hackers are said to have breached at least eight American telecom firms, including Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile.
Call record metadata — detailing who called whom, when, and where — was a key target, exposing sensitive personal and professional patterns. In some cases, telephone audio intercepts were also reportedly stolen. The campaign remains active, with the White House prioritising efforts to counter the intrusions.
Government agencies, including the FBI and the National Security Council, have briefed lawmakers and President Joe Biden on the matter, highlighting the severity of the breach. Efforts to secure the nation’s telecommunications infrastructure are ongoing.
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has begun directly monitoring financial technology (fintech) companies partnering with banks across the United States. New system like this one aims to enhance oversight by identifying risks associated with these partnerships before they threaten banking stability. The monitoring system also allows regulators to maintain consistent supervision, even if fintech firms change their banking partners.
The move comes amid heightened scrutiny of bank-fintech collaborations, following the collapse of Synapse Financial Technologies in April. The startup, backed by Andreessen Horowitz, had provided critical services enabling fintech firms to offer financial products via FDIC-insured banks. Its failure left thousands of users without access to their funds and brought significant regulatory attention to the sector.
In response, the FDIC has proposed strengthening bank record-keeping requirements and expanding the definition of brokered deposits to include fintech-related funds. While these rules are not expected to take effect before 2025, the new monitoring framework provides examiners with an additional tool to safeguard financial stability without waiting for legislative approval.
FDIC Chairman Martin Gruenberg, who is stepping down in January, has played a central role in developing this regulatory approach. His leadership has been pivotal in navigating the challenges posed by the evolving relationship between traditional banking and fintech startups.
Salesforce shares soared to a record high of $368.7 on Wednesday, climbing 11% after surpassing quarterly sales estimates and offering an optimistic outlook for its AI-driven products. The company’s newly launched Agentforce platform, designed to autonomously handle tasks, has become a key driver of this growth, with Salesforce banking on its potential to transform enterprise operations.
In a post-earnings call, executives highlighted Agentforce’s initial success, noting 200 deals closed since its late October release. Analysts expressed confidence in its long-term potential, predicting significant gains by 2026. The positive results prompted at least 20 analysts to raise their price targets, with the new median estimate sitting at $380—indicating a further 15% potential upside.
Salesforce’s market valuation surged by over $35 billion, reaching $316.85 billion. Third-quarter revenue grew by 8% to $9.44 billion, surpassing expectations. The momentum also lifted other US cloud companies, including Oracle, ServiceNow, Datadog, and Snowflake, which posted gains of 3% to 4%.
The company now forecasts fiscal year 2025 revenue of $37.8 billion to $38 billion. Analysts remain optimistic about Salesforce’s strategic push into AI and the revival of enterprise spending, positioning the firm for continued success heading into 2026.
US agencies have briefed senators on ‘Salt Typhoon,’ a Chinese cyber-espionage campaign allegedly targeting American telecommunications networks. Officials claim the hackers stole call metadata and other sensitive information, affecting at least eight US telecom firms and dozens of companies worldwide. The breaches have sparked bipartisan concern, with some senators pressing for stronger preventive measures and legislation.
Telecom giants like Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile acknowledged the incidents but downplayed the impact on customer data. Federal agencies, including the FBI and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, emphasised the challenge of fully removing hackers from networks, while incoming FCC Chair Brendan Carr pledged to strengthen cybersecurity defences.
China has denied the allegations, calling them disinformation. Meanwhile, a Senate subcommittee hearing on December 11 will focus on the risks posed by such cyber threats and explore ways to protect US communications infrastructure.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is reportedly in discussions with Nvidia to produce its Blackwell AI chips at TSMC’s new facility in Arizona, according to sources familiar with the matter. This move would mark a significant expansion of Nvidia’s chip production outside Taiwan, where the Blackwell series has been manufactured since its unveiling in March. The chips, celebrated for their generative AI and accelerated computing capabilities, are in high demand and boast speeds 30 times faster than previous models for tasks like chatbot responses.
The Arizona facility, set to begin volume production next year, represents a major US investment by TSMC, which is building three plants in Phoenix with substantial US government subsidies. If finalised, Nvidia would join Apple and AMD as plant customers. However, sources indicate that the chips would still need to be sent back to Taiwan for advanced packaging due to the lack of chip-on-wafer-on-substrate (CoWoS) capacity in Arizona. All of TSMC’s CoWoS operations remain centralised in Taiwan.
TSMC’s expansion into the US aligns with Washington’s push to bolster domestic semiconductor manufacturing amid geopolitical concerns over Taiwan. Neither TSMC nor Nvidia has commented on the talks, emphasising the confidentiality of the ongoing discussions.
