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.

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.

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.

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 may permit Alibaba and ByteDance to purchase new Nvidia chips, according to a report by The Information relayed by Investing.com and Yahoo Finance. The potential approval would mark a shift for two of China's largest tech companies, which have faced restrictions on accessing advanced US-made semiconductors amid ongoing US-China trade tensions over chip exports.

A young entrepreneur has built a defense technology startup now valued at $3.7 billion, with backing from prominent venture firm Sequoia. Fortune reports the story of how the Gen Z founder scaled the company, highlighting the growing wave of young founders entering the defense tech sector and investor appetite for startups serving national security markets.

China is considering permitting ByteDance and Alibaba to purchase new Nvidia chips, according to a report by The Information carried by Reuters. The potential move would ease Beijing's stance on access to advanced US semiconductors for two of its largest technology companies, with implications for the AI race and ongoing US-China tech tensions.

Artificial intelligence companies and labor unions are forming an alliance to push their shared interests in the debate over data center development, according to an exclusive report. The unusual partnership pairs tech firms seeking to expand computing infrastructure with unions focused on jobs, energy costs and community impacts as data centers face growing local and political opposition.

Mastercard, former Meta executive Sheryl Sandberg and former Google CEO Eric Schmidt are among the investors backing a financial platform aimed at small businesses, according to Forbes. The involvement of such high-profile names in corporate tech and payments highlights growing investor interest in lending and financial tools for small firms, an area often underserved by traditional banks. Details on the funding amount and the company's plans were not immediately available.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Faith-based community groups are asking Microsoft to commit 1% of its data center spending to local communities, and the company has so far not responded publicly. The demand reflects growing pressure on tech firms building large data centers, as residents and organizations seek a share of the economic benefits from facilities that consume land, power and water. Microsoft's silence on the request is itself drawing attention.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The European Union's updated product liability framework is widening its scope so claims no longer hinge solely on physical damage. Under the new rules, compensation can cover data loss, psychological harm and damage from software and AI-enabled products. Commentators say the shift significantly raises exposure for manufacturers and tech firms selling into the EU market.

Google has announced Project Suncatcher, an initiative to launch a prototype satellite designed to test the performance of AI chips in orbit. The company is exploring whether data centres could eventually operate in space, taking advantage of continuous solar power while avoiding land and cooling constraints on Earth. The project puts Google in competition with other tech firms weighing space-based computing.

New reporting indicates that middle market companies face the greatest difficulty building a business case for technology upgrades, more than smaller or larger firms. The finding highlights how mid-sized businesses often lack both the resources of large enterprises and the flexibility of small companies when weighing the return on investment for new technology spending.