Technology

DeepSeek Tests V4 Coding AI, Raising Stakes in U.S.-China Tech Rivalry

China’s DeepSeek is testing a code-focused V4 model reportedly set for mid-February, intensifying competition in AI coding tools and scrutiny over security.

#artificialintelligence, #deepseek, #coding, #cybersecurity, #uschina

FIFA and Lenovo Unveil ‘Football AI’ for 2026 World Cup, Bringing Avatars, Analytics and New Data Questions

FIFA and Lenovo say AI will power team analysis, 3D player avatars for offside calls and stabilized ref cams at the 2026 World Cup—raising privacy issues.

#fifa, #worldcup2026, #ai, #var, #lenovo

China Opens Review of Meta’s Planned Manus AI Acquisition, Testing Reach of Export Controls

Beijing is probing whether Meta’s $2B–$3B deal for Singapore-based Manus improperly exported AI tech from China, raising risks for cross-border AI M&A.

#china, #meta, #ai, #exportcontrols, #mergers

At CES 2026, a smart lock and a sensor-filled LEGO brick signal the rise of ‘invisible’ computing

Aqara’s UWB Home Key deadbolt and LEGO’s SMART Play bricks move tech off screens and into everyday objects—raising new privacy and access questions.

#ces2026, #smarthome, #applehomekey, #lego, #matter

China Quietly Ties New Chip Fabs to 50% Domestic Equipment, Pressuring Global Toolmakers

China is quietly requiring new chip fabs and expansions to use at least 50% domestically made tools, threatening foreign suppliers as export controls tighten.

#china, #semiconductors, #chipmaking, #exportcontrols, #industrialpolicy

Korean Air Employee Bank Details Exposed After Hack of Former Catering Unit

Breach of a sold-off Korean Air catering firm exposed names and bank account numbers of about 30,000 staff, tied to a wider Oracle ERP exploit wave.

#cybersecurity, #databreach, #koreanair, #oracle, #cl0p

DeepSeek Paper Proposes ‘Manifold’ Fix to Stabilize Giant AI Models

A DeepSeek preprint outlines manifold-constrained hyper-connections to prevent training blowups in huge models, boosting reasoning with ~6.7% extra compute.

#ai, #deepseek, #machinelearning, #transformers, #china

OnePlus Teases Turbo 6 Lineup With 9,000 mAh Battery Ahead of Jan. 8 China Launch

OnePlus previews Turbo 6 and 6V gaming phones for China, touting a massive 9,000 mAh battery, up to 165 Hz display and rugged IP69K ratings.

#oneplus, #smartphones, #gamingphones, #battery, #china

France Moves to Ban Social Media for Under‑15s, Setting Up a Major EU Test

A French draft bill would bar platforms from serving under‑15s from Sept. 2026, tighten school phone rules, and reignite age‑verification debates.

#france, #socialmedia, #childsafety, #digitalpolicy, #ageverification

SoftBank to Buy DigitalBridge for $4 Billion, Expanding Push Into AI Infrastructure

SoftBank agreed to buy DigitalBridge for about $4 billion, aiming to scale data centers, connectivity and power for its AI ambitions amid heavy scrutiny.

#softbank, #digitalbridge, #aiinfrastructure, #datacenters, #manda

Scientists Unveil Cell-Sized Robots That Sense, Compute and Swim on Their Own

Penn and Michigan engineers report the smallest fully programmable autonomous robots yet—solar powered, temperature sensing swimmers that can be reprogrammed by light.

#robotics, #microrobots, #nanotechnology, #universityresearch, #semiconductors