US Lawmakers Urge UK Court to Hold Open Hearing on Apple's Challenge of Secret Backdoor Order
A group of US lawmakers has urged the head of the UK's surveillance court to hold an open hearing into Apple's anticipated challenge of a secret government legal demand. The alleged order, revealed by The Washington Post in February, reportedly requires Apple to create a backdoor allowing UK authorities to access cloud-stored data worldwide.
Rostislav Panev Extradited to US for LockBit Ransomware Role
Rostislav Panev, a dual Russian and Israeli national, was arrested in Israel in December 2024 and has been awaiting extradition. The Department of Justice announced that Panev has been extradited to the United States for his role in the LockBit ransomware gang.
TikTok Potential Buyers Emerge
TikTok's popularity has attracted various potential buyers. Steven Mnuchin, former US Treasury Secretary, is putting together an investor group to purchase the app. Oracle, Walmart, Microsoft, Rumble, and Perplexity AI have also expressed interest. These companies see TikTok as a platform with immense marketing potential and opportunities for integration with their existing services.
DeepSeek Goes Viral
DeepSeek, a state-subsidized Chinese AI lab, has gone viral after reports of significant spending on AI infrastructure. This has sparked concerns about national security and foreign influence.
Chaos In AI Agents
the term 'ai agent' is being used by multiple companies, including openai, google, and perplexity, to describe their latest artificial intelligence releases. but what do these terms mean, and how do they differ from one another?
Startups Weekly: Zolve, Blackwall, Infinite Uptime, Vento, YC Demo Day 2022
This week in startup funding news, Zolve, a neobank for highly skilled foreigners moving to the U.S. without credit history, raised $51 million in equity and secured $200 million in debt. Blackwall, an Estonia-based startup that protects SMBs from malicious online traffic, raised a €45 million Series B round. Infinite Uptime, an Indian startup that helps factories optimize equipment usage via sensor-based predictive maintenance, raised a $35 million Series C funding round to expand into the U.S. and other markets. Vento, an early-stage Italian VC firm, is launching a €75 million fund to back Italian startup founders, including those living abroad.
China's DeepSeek AI Startup Under New Restrictions
DeepSeek, a Chinese AI startup that rose to fame with its open 'reasoning' model, R1, is now operating under new restrictions. The company's employees are restricted from traveling abroad freely, and the government is playing a role in screening potential investors.
ChatGPT: OpenAI's Text-Generating AI Chatbot
ChatGPT is a revolutionary AI chatbot developed by OpenAI that can generate human-like text responses to user prompts. It has many applications, including content creation, language translation, and more.
The Electric State: A World of Robots
The Electric State is a Netflix original movie that takes place in an alternate version of the 1990s where sentient robots have existed for decades. The story follows heroes played by Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt as they sneak into an area where these robots are exiled. The film's visual effects supervisor, Matthew E. Butler, aimed to create a world where these robots look deliberately different from modern-day designs.
Tern AI develops GPS alternative using edge computing
Tern AI has developed a new GPS alternative that uses edge computing to derive its own position. This makes it safer and more accurate than traditional GPS, as it does not rely on external signals. The company claims that its system can track movements with precision, even in areas where GPS struggles, such as parking garages or tunnels.
Google Releases Open AI Models Gemma 3 with Restrictive License
Google has released a family of open AI models, Gemma 3, with restrictive licensing terms that have sparked concerns about their potential for commercial adoption. The models are intended to be used for various applications, including natural language processing and computer vision. However, the licensing terms may limit their use in certain industries or applications.
Google Replaces Google Assistant on Android Phones with Gemini
Google announced that it will replace Google Assistant on Android phones with Gemini later this year. The company will upgrade users from Assistant to Gemini, making the latter accessible on more devices. Gemini has been touted as a more advanced virtual assistant than Assistant, offering new ways of getting help and info.
Klarna Files for US IPO, Aims to Raise $1 Billion
Klarna, a Swedish fintech company, has filed its F-1 prospectus for an initial public offering (IPO) in the United States. The company aims to raise at least $1 billion, valuing itself at around $15 billion. This marks a significant step forward for Klarna, which has been developing its own AI system and has reported a profit in recent years.
Bench Acquired After Abruptly Shutting Down
After acquiring bankrupt accounting startup Bench, CEO Jesse Tinsley pledged to honor past customer payments. However, some customers claim they're being charged for services they previously paid for.
TikTok's Future in US Hangs in Balance as Oracle Emerges as Leading Contender to Manage App
TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, has until April to finalize a sale to a US-based buyer. A new report suggests that Oracle is the leading candidate to serve as the cloud technology partner for managing TikTok in the US. This deal would allow ByteDance to have a hands-on role in TikTok's operations.
