tech firms

China may permit Alibaba to purchase Nvidia's RTX chips, according to a report by The Information. The potential approval would mark a notable shift in Beijing's stance on access to advanced Nvidia technology, amid ongoing US-China tensions over semiconductor exports. The report is drawing attention because it could signal easing restrictions affecting both Chinese tech firms and Nvidia's business in China.

Ireland's Data Protection Commission has fined Google €403 million for breaches of the EU's General Data Protection Regulation. The Irish watchdog, which is Google's lead regulator in Europe, imposed the penalty following an investigation into the company's data handling practices. The ruling adds to a series of major GDPR fines against large technology firms in recent years.

President Trump is set to hold a meeting with leading technology chief executives on artificial intelligence policy. US House Speaker Mike Johnson said the discussion will centre on finding balance, presumably between fostering innovation and addressing risks such as regulation, safety and economic impact. The gathering draws attention given the major role tech firms play in the AI race and the administration's evolving stance on overseeing the technology.

Ireland's Data Protection Commission has fined Google €403 million following an inquiry into how the company processes users' location data. The regulator found Google's handling of location information breached European data protection rules. The decision is one of the larger GDPR fines issued to a major technology company and is expected to prompt scrutiny of how location data is collected and used across the industry.

China has introduced new travel rules affecting technology companies and skilled workers, sparking concern among tech giants and their employees. Reports suggest the measures could complicate international business trips and the movement of talent, particularly in fields like artificial intelligence. Observers say the uncertainty raises questions about how global tech firms operating in China will adapt, and whether the country risks deterring the foreign expertise and investment its technology sector relies on.

China may permit ByteDance and Alibaba to purchase Nvidia's RTX PRO 5500 chips, according to a Quartz report. The move would mark a limited easing of restrictions on Nvidia's high-end hardware reaching Chinese tech firms, allowing two of the country's biggest companies access to chips otherwise constrained by US export controls.

China is leaning into open-source artificial intelligence, with state-linked coverage framing it as a deliberate strategy for the country's tech sector. The approach is presented as a way to spread Chinese AI models globally and accelerate domestic innovation despite export controls on advanced chips. Analysts see the push as an attempt to shape international AI standards and compete with closed models from US firms.

A filing shows ByteDance, the Chinese parent company of TikTok, gained access to more than 2,000 Nvidia B200 chips through NScale's Norway data center, with a Singaporean subsidiary called Spring contributing 73% of the UK neocloud's 2025 revenue. The arrangement raises questions about how Chinese firms obtain restricted advanced US AI chips despite export controls.

Oracle is reported to be contractually obliged to pay investors in a data centre project even if the site never receives an electricity connection, highlighting the risks of the AI-driven data centre building boom. The Financial Times report has drawn attention to how tech companies are taking on power supply risks as grid capacity struggles to keep up with demand.

Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine's minister of digital transformation, is moving to establish what officials describe as a 'Robot Army' programme intended to speed up the development and deployment of ground combat robots on the battlefield. The initiative aims to coordinate Ukrainian and allied defense tech firms to scale uncrewed systems as manpower shortages persist. Details on funding, timelines and specific systems remain limited so far.

Instinct, a startup building AI agents, has raised $1 billion in funding at a $10 billion valuation. The round places the young company among the most highly valued players in the fast-growing AI agent sector, where investors have been pouring capital into firms developing autonomous software that can complete tasks on behalf of users. The deal adds to a string of large funding rounds for AI startups this year.

DigiTimes Asia reports that China's artificial intelligence industry is moving beyond playing catch-up with Western rivals and entering a commercialization phase. The shift is tied to domestic semiconductor progress, including DRAM maker CXMT and advances in hardware packaging, suggesting Chinese firms are beginning to monetize AI at scale. Observers are watching whether domestic supply chains can sustain the momentum.

Mastercard, former Meta executive Sheryl Sandberg and former Google CEO Eric Schmidt are investing in a finance platform serving small businesses, according to Forbes. The backing from a major payments company and two of tech's most prominent figures signals growing investor interest in lending and financial tools aimed at small firms, an area often underserved by traditional banks.

Nvidia stock is in focus after reports that China is considering allowing domestic tech firms ByteDance and Alibaba to purchase certain Nvidia AI chips. The reported move would mark a partial easing of Beijing's stance on US semiconductor purchases amid ongoing trade tensions, and investors are watching for confirmation and what it could mean for Nvidia's China revenue.

Reports say China may permit Alibaba and ByteDance to purchase new Nvidia chips, a potential easing of restrictions on US-made AI hardware for major Chinese tech firms. If confirmed, the move would give two of China's biggest companies access to advanced semiconductors critical for artificial intelligence development, with significant implications for US-China tech and trade tensions.

Businesses are increasingly adopting open-weight AI models as a way to manage the high costs of proprietary technology. With expensive licensing and computing expenses weighing on companies, open-weight alternatives offer a cheaper, more flexible option. The trend suggests growing demand for AI tools that firms can deploy and adapt on their own terms without heavy vendor fees.

China has reportedly given approval for Nvidia's RTX PRO 5500 chips to be supplied to major Chinese tech firms including Alibaba and ByteDance, despite ongoing US export restrictions on advanced semiconductors. The report suggests Nvidia may still find ways to serve Chinese customers with compliant hardware, even as Washington tightens rules on AI-related chip sales to China.

China's government will permit ByteDance and Alibaba to purchase new Nvidia chips, according to a report by The Hindu. The move would give two of China's largest technology companies access to advanced US-made semiconductors for artificial intelligence work, and is drawing attention amid ongoing tensions over US export controls on chip sales to China.

Ad-tech company 33Across has rebranded as WealthStage, repositioning itself as an advertising platform for banks, trading apps, lenders, brokers and insurers. The company says its AI engine scores household wealth to target financial ads, pointing to an estimated $124 trillion changing hands between generations by 2048 as the market opportunity. Questions are being raised about which data sources feed the wealth-scoring system and what parts of the old 33Across business remain.

The New York Times' DealBook examines whether safety concerns around artificial intelligence could complicate plans by AI companies to go public. With several major AI firms expected to pursue stock market listings, questions about oversight, liability and regulatory scrutiny of AI risks are emerging as potential obstacles for investors and underwriters weighing the sector's IPO prospects.

Japan's Defense Ministry is planning a new framework to back startups developing unmanned aerial vehicles and related products, according to the Japan Times. The initiative would give emerging defense technology firms a clearer route into supplying the Self-Defense Forces, reflecting Japan's broader push to strengthen its domestic defense industrial base and catch up on drone capabilities amid regional security concerns.

Dario Amodei, chief executive of AI company Anthropic, is set to have dinner with President Donald Trump at the White House. The meeting signals growing engagement between leading artificial intelligence firms and the US administration, as policymakers weigh regulation, investment and national security issues around AI development.

China has reportedly loosened its chip restrictions, potentially allowing ByteDance and Alibaba to purchase high-end Nvidia chips. The move would mark a notable shift in Beijing's stance on advanced semiconductors for its largest tech companies. If confirmed, it could ease supply concerns for Chinese AI firms and signal recalibration in the US-China technology standoff. Details on the scope and timing of the change remain limited.

Citing The Information, reports say China may permit Alibaba and ByteDance to purchase new Nvidia chips, signalling a possible easing of restrictions on US semiconductor sales to major Chinese tech firms. The news highlights the continuing tug-of-war over access to advanced AI hardware, with Chinese companies keen to secure Nvidia's latest processors for their artificial intelligence and cloud computing ambitions.

Bloomberg Government's BGOV OnPoint reports that a rogue AI incident has led key technology firms to call for a pause in AI development. The report ties the industry intervention directly to concerns over unsafe or uncontrolled artificial intelligence systems. Further details of which companies are involved and what the pause would cover are not provided in the available reporting.

Chinese technology stocks are lagging behind their US counterparts in the AI race, even as domestic champions Huawei and DeepSeek make measurable progress in artificial intelligence. The gap has drawn attention from investors weighing China's homegrown AI advances against the market dominance of American firms, with the discrepancy between corporate progress and stock performance raising questions about valuations.

British celebrities have won their lobbying campaign against AI companies seeking free use of creative work, and are now cautioning Australia against adopting similar exemptions. Their intervention signals that artists' pressure can shape government policy on AI and copyright, with the UK debate serving as a warning for other countries weighing tech-friendly rules that would let firms train models on creative work without payment.

Chinese regulators are considering whether to approve the sale of Nvidia's RTX Pro 5500 workstation GPUs to ByteDance and Alibaba, according to a Bloomberg report. The decision comes amid ongoing US-China tensions over advanced chip exports, with Nvidia's China business restricted by Washington's trade controls and Beijing scrutinising purchases of American semiconductor technology by its biggest tech firms.

Autonomous driving software firm Momenta and Stellantis' Chinese joint venture with Dongfeng have agreed to co-develop intelligent driving technology. The partnership will focus on bringing advanced driver assistance systems to vehicles sold in China, one of the world's largest but most competitive auto markets. The move underscores how global automakers are pairing with local tech suppliers to stay relevant against fast-moving Chinese competitors.

Spin Master has acquired a toy technology startup, adding new tech capabilities to its portfolio of toys and games. Details on the target company, deal size, and strategic rationale have not yet been widely reported. The move fits Spin Master's pattern of buying innovative firms to strengthen its product lineup in the competitive toy industry.

Huawei's latest smartphone chip is closing the performance gap with leading competitors, according to industry coverage. The development signals continued progress by the Chinese tech firm in domestic semiconductor design despite export restrictions limiting its access to advanced foreign chip technology.

Bridgewater argues that the surge in capital spending on artificial intelligence can only be justified if adoption scales broadly across the economy. The investment firm's view feeds into a growing debate about whether massive outlays by tech companies on data centres and chips will deliver returns, or whether current spending levels rest on unproven demand for AI products and services.