US strategies to maintain technological leadership over China include a combination of the CHIPS and Science Act and export controls. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo recently underscored the importance of technological innovation over solely blocking China’s advancements, suggesting that maintaining a competitive edge is essential. The CHIPS Act aims to strengthen the US’s economic security, while export controls are designed to protect critical intellectual property.
Combining these policies may be the most effective way to sustain US leadership. Export controls serve to slow China’s technological progress, complementing the domestic benefits of the CHIPS Act. However, ensuring the effectiveness of export controls demands close coordination with supply chain partners. Non-compliance by any party in the supply chain can compromise these efforts.
Expanding export controls beyond advanced technologies to mature processes presents a significant challenge. Managing compliance across numerous companies and countries raises costs and logistical complexity. Additionally, aligning with countries that share economic interests can reduce these difficulties. Collaborative efforts with strategic partners ensure export controls remain effective and sustainable.
The potential relocation of production from Taiwan to mitigate instability in the Taiwan Strait poses another challenge. Working with regions that complement US production goals, rather than those with conflicting interests, will be critical to achieving long-term success in export control implementation.
Google is introducing major updates to its Maps Timeline feature, shifting towards enhanced privacy by storing location history locally on users’ devices. This change means that any unbacked location history data will be automatically deleted after three months unless users take action to save it. Notifications regarding the update will provide a six-month window to back up data, urging users to preserve personal memories or valuable travel records before permanent deletion.
To save Timeline data, users can utilise Google’s export tools on their devices or through the web. This process allows users to maintain access to their past location history while ensuring it remains private and under their control. However, some users have reported unexpected deletions, emphasising the importance of regular backups to avoid data loss.
These updates are part of the US-based tech giant’s broader efforts to address privacy concerns by limiting the storage of sensitive data on its servers. While this move enhances data security, users are encouraged to take proactive steps to back up important information, explore privacy features like incognito mode, and consider additional tools such as VPNs to protect their online activity.
Apple has requested to participate in the US antitrust trial against Google, arguing it cannot trust Google to safeguard their shared revenue agreements. These agreements make Google the default search engine on Apple’s Safari browser, generating an estimated $20 billion for Apple in 2022. Despite this lucrative partnership, Apple confirmed it has no plans to develop its search engine, regardless of the trial’s outcome.
The Department of Justice’s case against Google is a pivotal effort to curb the tech giant’s dominance in online search. Prosecutors allege that Google’s practices stifle competition and may push for drastic measures such as divesting its Chrome browser or Android operating system. Apple, aiming to protect its financial interests, plans to present witnesses in the April trial.
While Google has proposed easing its default agreements with browser developers and device manufacturers, it has resisted ending its ad revenue-sharing deals. Apple criticised Google’s ability to represent its interests as the trial escalated into a broader challenge to Google’s business model. A Google spokesperson declined to comment on the case.
According to state media reports, Iran has lifted its ban on Meta’s WhatsApp and Google Play, marking a tentative move toward easing internet restrictions. Known for its stringent online censorship, Iran has long restricted access to US-based platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, though many Iranians bypass these blocks using virtual private networks.
The decision, announced after a meeting led by President Masoud Pezeshkian, reflects a ‘positive majority vote’ to restore access to some popular foreign platforms. Information and Communications Technology Minister Sattar Hashemi hailed the move as the ‘first step in removing internet limitations.’
Social media has played a significant role in Iran, particularly as a tool for organising anti-government protests. In response to such restrictions, the United States has urged Big Tech companies to support efforts to circumvent censorship in countries like Iran.
A recent cybersecurity breach involving US healthcare platform ConnectOnCall has compromised sensitive information belonging to more than 910,000 patients. The telehealth service, owned by Phreesia, experienced unauthorised access between February and May 2024, exposing names, phone numbers, medical details, and in some cases, Social Security numbers. Phreesia promptly took action after discovering the breach, enlisting cybersecurity experts and notifying federal authorities.
ConnectOnCall facilitates after-hours communication for healthcare providers, making the data theft particularly alarming due to the permanent and sensitive nature of health records. Cybercriminals may use this information for identity theft, fraudulent insurance claims, and targeted phishing attacks. Phreesia has since taken the service offline, offering identity and credit monitoring to affected patients, while working to implement more robust security measures.
The breach highlights the growing threat posed by cyberattacks on US healthcare platforms, where data is not only invaluable but also irreplaceable. Experts urge vigilance, such as monitoring accounts, using strong passwords, and employing identity theft protection. With incidents like this on the rise, calls are growing for stricter regulations to safeguard patient information and prevent similar breaches in the future.
Researchers have achieved a milestone in AI, teaching it to predict the complex aromas of whiskies and even identify their origins. The study, conducted in Germany, utilised AI to analyse the molecular makeup of 16 American and Scottish whiskies. It then predicted the five strongest aroma notes and distinguished between the two countries of origin with remarkable accuracy.
The AI surpassed human experts in consistency and precision, identifying aromas like menthol and citronellol for US whiskies and smoky, medicinal notes for Scotch. This innovation could ensure flavour consistency in whisky production, detect counterfeit goods, and even find applications in blending recycled materials to reduce odours.
While promising, the study was limited to a small selection of whiskies, raising questions about its performance on broader varieties or aged batches. Experts also noted that flavour perception depends on external factors, highlighting room for further exploration in this emotive domain. Nonetheless, this blend of technology and tradition signals a new step for the whisky industry.
Ceneo, a subsidiary of Polish e-commerce platform Allegro, has filed a lawsuit against Google and its parent company Alphabet, seeking 2.33 billion zlotys ($567.6 million) in damages. The lawsuit claims Google’s preference for its price comparison services in search results caused significant harm to Ceneo’s business.
Ceneo’s demands include 1.72 billion zlotys for losses incurred and an additional 615 million zlotys in interest from 2013 to November 2024. The company also plans to seek statutory interest from the filing date until damages are paid. The case is tied to the European Union’s $2.7 billion antitrust fine against Google for leveraging its dominance in search to disadvantage smaller rivals.
A Google spokesperson responded to the lawsuit, expressing disagreement and stating the company’s ‘Shopping remedy’ has been effective in supporting brands, retailers, and comparison sites across Europe. Meanwhile, broader efforts to curb Google’s dominance include a US Department of Justice recommendation for Google to divest its Chrome browser and abstain from re-entering the browser market for five years.
Venture funding in Europe may be headed for a flat year overall, but European AI startups are thriving, with AI companies receiving 25% of the region’s VC funding in 2024, totalling $13.7 billion. This marks a significant rise from 15% four years ago and has led to the creation of new unicorns like Poolside and Wayve. According to James Wise of Balderton Capital, breakthrough AI technology in Europe can now attract hundreds of millions, or even billions, of euros at the early stages, similar to the US.
The collective value of European AI companies has doubled in four years, reaching $508 billion, now making up nearly 15% of the region’s entire tech sector. While much of the funding still comes from outside Europe, especially the US, the local AI ecosystem is flourishing with a growing talent pool. In 2024, 349,000 people were employed by AI companies in Europe, a 168% increase since 2020, indicating a buoyant and increasingly productive sector.
Wise suggests that the rise of smaller, highly productive AI companies will be the future, with generative AI tools significantly boosting efficiency in various industries. This growing adoption of AI tools is likely to continue benefiting the European AI sector in the long run, even if the category becomes less distinct in the future.
The Biden administration has initiated a trade investigation targeting Chinese-made legacy semiconductors, which power everyday goods like cars and telecom equipment. This ‘Section 301’ probe aims to address concerns about China’s state-driven expansion in chip manufacturing, which US officials warn could harm American semiconductor producers. Departing President Joe Biden had already imposed a 50% tariff on Chinese semiconductors, set to take effect 1 January, while tightening export controls on advanced AI and memory chips.
Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo revealed that Chinese legacy chips account for two-thirds of semiconductors in US products, with many companies unaware of their origin—a finding she called alarming, particularly for the defence industry. US Trade Representative Katherine Tai stated that China’s subsidised chip pricing threatens global competition, enabling rapid capacity growth and undercutting market-oriented producers.
China’s commerce ministry has criticised the probe, calling it protectionist and a potential disruptor to global supply chains. Meanwhile, a public hearing on the issue is scheduled for March, with the probe expected to conclude within a year. The investigation follows the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on semiconductor supply chains, prompting the US efforts to bolster domestic chip production with $52.7 billion in subsidies.
As the Biden administration transitions to President-elect Donald Trump’s leadership in January, this probe may offer Trump an opportunity to escalate tariffs on Chinese imports, echoing the trade practices he implemented during his prior term. Critics, including the US tech industry, have urged officials to approach the investigation collaboratively to avoid further disruption.
Samsung Electronics, Texas Instruments, and Amkor Technology are set to receive a combined $6.75 billion in chip manufacturing incentives from the US Commerce Department. The funding aims to bolster domestic semiconductor production and strengthen the supply chain.
Samsung will receive up to $4.745 billion, slightly reduced from the initial $6.4 billion estimate, reflecting scaled-down investment plans. The South Korean tech giant plans to invest $37 billion by 2030 to build chip production facilities, a research centre, and a packaging site. These projects are expected to solidify the US as a hub for advanced semiconductor manufacturing.
Texas Instruments has secured up to $1.61 billion for expanding its chip production facilities in Texas and Utah. The company is investing over $18 billion through 2029, creating 2,000 manufacturing jobs. Amkor Technology will receive $407 million to help build a $2 billion semiconductor packaging plant in Arizona, its largest in the US. This facility will cater to chips for autonomous vehicles, 5G/6G, and data centres.
These awards form part of a broader $39 billion subsidy programme for domestic semiconductor manufacturing. Over $33 billion of the allocated funding has now been finalised, with the US positioned as the sole nation hosting all five leading-edge chipmakers.
