Tech

TikTok sale deadline set for April 5

Trump aims to finalise TikTok sale by April 5 amidst potential buyers and lawmakers’ calls for deadline extension.

Published

3 weeks ago

April 1, 2025

Ahron Young

Trump aims to finalise TikTok sale by April 5 amidst potential buyers and lawmakers’ calls for deadline extension.

In Short

President Trump announced that a deal to sell TikTok will be completed by April 5, despite calls for an extension from lawmakers.

Potential buyers, including Blackstone and Perplexity AI, have emerged, but details of the sale remain unclear.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced that a deal to sell TikTok, used by over 170 million Americans, will be completed by April 5.

He expressed interest from potential buyers, indicating a desire to keep the app operational.

Despite calls from lawmakers for a six-month extension of the deadline and continued availability on app stores until October 16, Trump insists on the April 5 completion.

Details surrounding the sale process remain unclear, including potential buyers, ByteDance’s involvement, and implications for user experience and data privacy.

Potential buyer

Blackstone, a private equity firm, has emerged as a potential buyer, considering a minority investment in TikTok’s U.S. operations alongside ByteDance’s existing shareholders.

Reports suggest Blackstone may be a stronger candidate than Oracle, whose proposal raised security concerns under the Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act.

Additionally, Perplexity AI has proposed a plan to create a new company in the U.S., allowing government ownership of up to 50% following a future IPO.

Senators have deemed Trump’s deadline extension unlawful and argue that Congress should address the issue.

They assert that legislative action is needed to determine the future of TikTok.

Trump has also suggested he might reduce tariffs with China to facilitate the sale by the deadline.

Tech

Nvidia to build AI supercomputers in the U.S. for first time

Nvidia invests $500 billion in U.S. AI supercomputers, shifting production to Texas to strengthen supply chains and boost domestic growth amid rising tariffs and national tech pressures.

Published

3 days ago

April 18, 2025

Veronica Dudo

Nvidia invests $500 billion in U.S. AI supercomputers, shifting production to Texas to strengthen supply chains and boost domestic growth amid rising tariffs and national tech pressures.

Nvidia to build AI supercomputers in the U.S. for the first time — a $500 billion move that could redefine the global tech industry.

With new tariffs on imports from China and Taiwan, the chip giant is shifting production to Texas, partnering with Foxconn and Wistron.

Nvidia says the decision will strengthen its supply chain and boost domestic economic growth.

The announcement comes amid growing pressure to secure national tech infrastructure and reduce reliance on Asia. How will this impact jobs, prices, and America’s AI ambitions?

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Tech

‘Stuck in the past’: Has Apple lost its edge?

Apple, once an innovator, faces criticism for stale updates and designs, prompting comparisons to 1980s IBM and calls for Tim Cook’s departure.

Published

5 days ago

April 16, 2025

Ahron Young

Apple, once an innovator, faces criticism for stale updates and designs, prompting comparisons to 1980s IBM and calls for Tim Cook’s departure.

Apple, once a symbol of innovation, is now under fire for uninspiring product updates.

The headline “Has Apple lost its edge? Critics say it’s stuck in the past” captures growing frustration over recycled designs and underwhelming features.

From the original iPhone to the lacklustre Apple Intelligence, critics now compare the company to IBM in the 1980s. Is it time for Tim Cook to step aside?

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Tech

OpenAI explores social network to rival Elon Musk

OpenAI is considering a social network to rival Musk’s X, spurred by the success of its new image-generation feature.

Published

5 days ago

April 16, 2025

Ahron Young

OpenAI is considering a social network to rival Musk’s X, spurred by the success of its new image-generation feature.

In Short

OpenAI is considering creating a social network to compete with Elon Musk’s X and Meta’s Instagram, following high demand for its new image-generation tool.

The company has raised $40 billion in funding and is facing increased server demands, prompting efforts to temporarily limit the tool’s usage.

OpenAI is contemplating the development of a social network to rival Elon Musk’s X and Meta’s Instagram, according to an informed source.

This initiative is reportedly in the early stages and has emerged following the success of OpenAI’s latest image-generation tool, which has stressed the company’s servers.

The announcement was first reported by The Verge, while OpenAI has chosen not to comment on the matter.

Image-generation

In March, OpenAI launched its new image-generation feature designed to create various visual content, including diagrams, infographics, and logos. This tool also enables users to produce artistic renditions from their uploaded images.

Recently, images generated by this feature have gained significant traction on social media, with OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman recently using one for his profile photo on X. Altman noted the overwhelming popularity has led to increased server demands.

He mentioned that the company is currently looking to limit the feature’s usage temporarily while they enhance its efficiency.

The generative AI sector is highly competitive, particularly with the involvement of Musk’s xAI, which recently acquired X. The relationship between Altman and Musk has become contentious, particularly surrounding OpenAI’s move to become a for-profit entity.