Technology

Berlin on measures against U.S. tech giants: 'Nothing is off the table'

BERLIN (Reuters) - A German government spokesperson said on Friday that "nothing is off the table" with regards to punitive measures in response to the threat of U.S. tariffs.

Technology

EU to invest $1.4 billion in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and digital skills

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Commission will invest 1.3 billion euros ($1.4 billion) in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and digital skills through the Digital Europe Programme for 2025 to 2027, it said in a statement on Friday.

Technology

EU could charge fees on PayPal in U.S. tariff dispute, says senior lawmaker

BERLIN (Reuters) - The European Union could charge fees on PayPal as part of a tariff dispute with the United States, a senior European lawmaker said on Friday.

Internet

Japan's imperial family to start YouTube account

Japan's ancient imperial family will launch a YouTube account next week, the government said on March 28, in the latest attempt at public outreach by the tradition-bound monarchy.

Video games

China's tech giant Tencent: what you need to know

Chinese tech titan Tencent is set to invest US$1.25bil (RM5.54bil) in French video game maker Ubisoft, in exchange for a 25% stake in a new subsidiary of the Assassin's Creed publisher.

AI

People love Studio Ghibli. But should they be able to recreate it?

An update to ChatGPT made it easy to simulate Hayao Miyazaki's style of animation, which has flooded social media with memes.

Technology

Ubisoft jumps as much as 12% after Tencent invests in new unit

(Reuters) -Ubisoft shares rose as much as 12% on Friday after it announced plans to set up a subsidiary in which Tencent will invest 1.16 billion euros, as the French video game maker seeks to recover from weak performance in 2024.

Smartphones

Poco F7 priced from RM2,299, features flagship-tier processor and 50-megapixel camera

Poco has launched its latest series of budget flagship smartphones, the Poco F7 Pro and F7 Ultra, in Malaysia.

Social media

Facebook returns to its roots: Showing posts from friends and family

A new Friends Tab will feature posts from a user's friends and relatives, which was the original mission of the app.

Mobile apps

WhatsApp can now be the default calling and messaging app on iPhones

With the latest update to WhatsApp on iOS, users can now set the Meta-owned app as the default for calling and messaging.

Technology

India criticises X for calling compliance website a censorship tool

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India has criticised Elon Musk's X for wrongly labelling as a "censorship portal" an official website that allows tech companies to be notified about harmful online content, court papers reviewed by Reuters showed on Friday.

Video games

South Korea's life game 'InZOI' challenges 'The Sims'

South Korean game publisher Krafton released early access to its life simulation game InZOI on March 28, hoping its powerful lifelike graphics will unseat the decades-long dominance of The Sims hit franchise.

Mobile apps

Another problem with that Signal chat? The messages disappear.

The Presidential Records Act and the Federal Records Act require officials to preserve communications related to government business.

Technology

Yes 5G is offering 44GB of free mobile data for Hari Raya, here's how to claim it

Yes 5G has launched a Raya Bonanza campaign, offering 44GB of free mobile data to both its postpaid and prepaid customers.

Mobile apps

How well do you know your own group chats?

A journalist's inclusion in a national security discussion served as a reminder that you might not know every number in the chat — and that could be a big problem.

Robotics

US robotics companies push for national strategy, including a central office, to compete with China

American robotics companies are pushing for a national robotics strategy, including establishing a federal office focused on promoting the industry at a time when China is making intelligent robots a national priority.

AI

ChatGPT's viral Studio Ghibli-style images highlight AI copyright concerns

Fans of Studio Ghibli, the famed Japanese animation studio behind Spirited Away and other beloved movies, were delighted this week when a new version of ChatGPT let them transform popular Internet memes or personal photos into the distinct style of Ghibli founder Hayao Miyazaki. But the trend also highlighted ethical concerns about artificial intelligence tools trained on copyrighted creative works and what that means for the future livelihoods...

Internet

YouTube overtakes traditional TV networks thanks to viewers over 50

YouTube isn't just for young people. According to the latest Nielsen report, the streaming platform was the most popular way to watch TV in February, ahead of traditional channels.

Technology

Nvidia-backed CoreWeave prices downsized US IPO at $40 per share

(Reuters) - Nvidia-backed cloud computing firm CoreWeave said on Thursday it had priced its initial public offering at $40 per share, compared with the earlier range of $47 to $55 per share.

Technology

NASA, Boeing to start testing Starliner for next flight aimed at early 2026

(Reuters) - NASA said on Thursday it was moving toward certifying Boeing's CST-100 Starliner for crewed flights later this year or by early 2026 after its inaugural mission to the International Space Station was marred by a system fault, forcing an extended stay.