Apple and Tencent Try to Regulate the WeChat Economy

Software startup Temporal Technologies Inc. is reportedly in advanced discussions to raise new capital, aiming for a valuation of $5 billion, which would mark a doubling of its worth from just three months prior. This surge in valuation is attributed to the ongoing boom in artificial intelligence (AI) technologies.

Twenty-eight advocacy groups have urged Apple and Google to ban the platforms Grok and X due to their involvement in nonconsensual deepfake content, highlighting growing concerns over digital privacy and consent.

Microsoft has successfully shut down a scam website that facilitated the theft of millions by fraudsters leveraging pirated software. This action underscores the company's commitment to combating cybercrime and protecting its users from malicious activities.

Elon Musk stated he was unaware of any explicit images of minors generated by Grok, an AI tool developed by his company xAI, amidst increasing global scrutiny over the tool's capacity to produce nonconsensual sexual images. Musk's comments were made in response to growing concerns from lawmakers and advocacy groups, urging major tech companies to remove Grok from their app stores.

Apple has introduced the Creator Studio, a platform designed to support emerging artists by offering a low-cost, user-friendly suite of creative tools that integrates seamlessly with its existing applications. This initiative aims to empower users with the necessary resources to develop their artistic skills and projects.

Apple has announced the launch of its Creator Studio, which integrates several of its applications into a single subscription model, similar to Adobe's Creative Cloud. Existing subscribers of previous Apple apps will be grandfathered into their current plans, while new users will need to select the Creator Studio option. This new offering is set to launch on January 28, 2026.

Apple is set to begin mass production of its first AI server chips in late 2026, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. This initiative will coincide with the construction of new data centers designed to support these chips, marking a significant step in Apple's artificial intelligence strategy.

Skild AI Inc., a rapidly growing robotics startup, has raised approximately $1.4 billion in a new funding round, elevating its valuation to over $14 billion, more than tripling its worth in just seven months. This significant financial backing underscores the increasing investor confidence in AI-driven technologies that enhance robotic learning capabilities.