Technology

Microsoft unveils $23 billion in new AI investments with big focus on India

BENGALURU, Dec 9 (Reuters) - Microsoft on Tuesday unveiled $23 billion in new artificial intelligence investments, with the bulk earmarked for India as the U.S. tech giant deepens its bet on one of the world's fastest-growing digital markets.

Technology

Reliance-Disney's JioHotstar to invest $444 million in south Indian content, executive says

CHENNAI, Dec 9 (Reuters) - India's JioHotstar plans to invest $444 million over five years to acquire and produce content from south India, an executive said on Monday, as the Walt Disney and Reliance Industries-owned streaming platform seeks to capitalize on growing demand for regional cinema.

Technology

Microsoft to invest $17.5 billion in India, CEO Nadella says

Dec 9 - Microsoft will invest $17.5 billion in India, its chief executive Satya Nadella said on social media platform X on Tuesday, as global behemoths race to build infrastructure in one the world's fastest growing digital markets.

Technology

Australia begins enforcing world-first teen social media ban

SYDNEY, Dec 10 (Reuters) - Australia on Wednesday became the first country to ban social media for children under 16, blocking access in a move welcomed by many parents and child advocates but criticised by major technology companies and free-speech advocates.

Technology

Indian AI royalty proposal targets data practices of OpenAI, Google

NEW DELHI, Dec 9 (Reuters) - An Indian government panel has proposed requiring AI companies to pay content creators a share of revenue for using their work to train models, a setback for companies such as OpenAI and Google that back free access to publicly available data.

Technology

Hedge fund managing partner Dmitry Balyasny taps AI as largest tail risk for 2026

ABU DHABI, Dec 9 (Reuters) - Hedge fund Balyasny Asset Management's managing partner said on Tuesday that the largest tail risk for the year ahead is if artificial intelligence surprises on the upside or the downside.

Mobile apps

ICEBlock app maker sues Trump administration over its pressure on Apple to remove app

The maker of an iPhone app that flagged sightings of US immigration agentssued the Trump administration for free speech violations on Monday, alleging that US Attorney General Pam Bondi used her "state power" to force Apple to remove the app.

Technology

Stellantis partners with Bolt for 2026 driverless ride-hailing trials in Europe

Dec 9 (Reuters) - Carmaker Stellantis is teaming up with Estonia-based ride-hailing platform Bolt to deploy driverless vehicles across Europe, with plans to begin on-road trials in 2026, the companies said on Tuesday.

Technology

Bitcoin's 2025 rollercoaster may end on a low

Dec 9 (Reuters) - With a series of record highs and crushing sell-offs, 2025 has been a rollercoaster ride for bitcoin, the world's largest cryptocurrency, which is at risk of ending the year with its first annual decline since 2022.

Technology

Google faces EU antitrust investigation over AI Overviews, YouTube

BRUSSELS, Dec 9 (Reuters) - Alphabet's Google faces an EU antitrust investigation into its use of publishers' online content and YouTube videos to train its artificial intelligence models.

Mobile apps

Reddit adds global teen safety features ahead of Australia ban

Reddit Inc is launching new safety features globally for all under-18s on its popular online forums ahead of Australia's groundbreaking social media ban.

AI

AI videos have flooded social media. No one was ready.

In the two months since Sora arrived, deceptive videos have surged on TikTok, X, YouTube, Facebook and Instagram, according to experts who track them. The deluge has raised alarm over a new generation of disinformation and fakes.

AI

AI browsers aren’t smart enough yet to take over the Internet

When OpenAI unveiled an artificial intelligence-based browser in October, Alphabet Inc investors expressed concern about what it would mean for Google Chrome, the ubiquitous gateway to the Internet used by billions globally.

Internet

Reddit says Australia's under-16 social media ban 'legally erroneous'

Online discussion site Reddit on Dec 9 condemned Australia's imminent social media ban for under-16s as "legally erroneous" but said it would comply with the landmark crackdown.

Wearables

Google says first AI glasses with Gemini will arrive in 2026

Alphabet Inc's Google said it's working to create two different categories of artificial intelligence-powered smart glasses to compete next year with existing models from Meta Platforms Inc: one with screens, and another that's audio focused.

Technology

Data centres: a view from the inside

The expansion of data centres to power the AI boom has more people wondering: what exactly is in a data centre?

Driverless vehicle

China trials unmanned trucks on world’s highest mine, 5,600m from sea level

Lead-zinc mine in Kunlun Mountains of Xinjiang sits at an altitude surpassing the world's highest human settlement, in the Peruvian Andes.

Technology

Aware Super CIO warns of 'orange' lights in AI financing as valuations soar

SYDNEY, Dec 9 (Reuters) - The chief investment officer of Australian pension fund Aware Super says there are flashing "orange" lights in some funding arrangements in the global artificial intelligence industry but earnings growth is backing up the sector's current valuations.

Technology

US FDA qualifies first AI tool to help speed liver disease drug development

Dec 8 (Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has qualified the first artificial intelligence tool designed to help doctors assess a severe form of fatty liver disease in drug trials, the agency said on Monday.

Technology

US startup seeks to reclaim Twitter trademarks 'abandoned' by Musk’s X

WASHINGTON, Dec 8 (Reuters) - A fledgling social media platform has asked the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to cancel trademarks for Twitter so it can take them for itself, contending that billionaire Elon Musk's X Corp has abandoned them.