Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, affectionately nicknamed “the people’s dad” in Taiwan, capped his visit to his birthplace by praising and encouraging key Taiwanese suppliers to boost production to meet soaring AI demand. Huang, who co-founded California-based Nvidia in 1993, has overseen the company’s meteoric rise, with its market value surpassing $5 trillion last year, placing it at the center of the global AI revolution.

During a rain-soaked impromptu press conference outside a Taipei restaurant, following a “trillion-dollar dinner” with suppliers, Huang highlighted the crucial role of Taiwan in Nvidia’s success. He singled out Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), the world’s largest maker of advanced AI chips, saying, “TSMC needs to work very hard this year because I need a lot of wafers.” He praised the company’s efforts and predicted it could more than double its production capacity over the next decade.

Huang also expressed concern about memory chip shortages, noting that “the entire supply chain is challenging this year because demand is so much more.” His visit included mingling with top executives, including Foxconn chairman Young Liu, while stepping out to greet enthusiastic fans and sign autographs.

“Nvidia wouldn’t be possible without Taiwan. There’s magic in this island. The companies here have extraordinary technology and culture,” Huang said, reflecting on his warm reception and the island’s vital role in the AI ecosystem. Huang arrived from China on Thursday and is scheduled to leave on Monday, leaving behind a wave of media coverage and adoring fans who followed his every move.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.

China has granted its leading AI startup, DeepSeek, conditional approval to purchase Nvidia’s H200 AI chips, with regulatory terms still being finalized, according to two sources cited by Reuters. Reuters also reported that Chinese tech giants ByteDance, Alibaba, and Tencent have received clearance to buy a combined total of over 400,000 H200 chips.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang told reporters in Taipei that his company had not been officially informed and believed that China was still finalizing the license. Nvidia has not commented specifically on DeepSeek’s approval. According to sources, China’s industry and commerce ministries have approved the purchases for all four companies but will impose conditions determined by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), which are still under discussion. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Ministry of Commerce, and NDRC did not respond to requests for comment.

DeepSeek, known for launching AI models last year at a fraction of the cost of U.S. competitors like OpenAI, did not respond to requests for comment. The H200, Nvidia’s second most powerful AI chip, has become a key point in U.S.-China tech relations. Despite strong Chinese demand and U.S. export approval, Beijing’s hesitancy has delayed shipments. Earlier this month, the U.S. formally approved Nvidia to sell H200 chips to China, but Chinese authorities retain the final decision on imports.

Any DeepSeek purchase could attract U.S. scrutiny. Reuters reported that a senior U.S. lawmaker alleged in a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick that Nvidia helped DeepSeek develop AI models later used by the Chinese military. DeepSeek is expected to release its next-generation AI model, V4, with advanced coding capabilities, in mid-February, according to The Information.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.

Canada’s federal court on wednesday (Jan 21), overturned a government order that would have shut down TikTok’s operations in the country, allowing the short-video platform to continue functioning for now, and directed Ottawa to review the case. In November 2024, Canada’s industry ministry had ordered TikTok’s business to be dissolved, citing national security concerns, though it did not block access to the app or prevent users from creating content. TikTok, which reports over 14 million monthly users in Canada, appealed the decision.

Federal court Judge Russel Zinn, in a brief ruling, set aside the order and referred the matter back to Industry Minister Melanie Joly for review, without providing any explanation. The industry ministry stated that Joly “will now proceed with a new national security review” but could not provide further comments due to legal confidentiality rules. TikTok welcomed the court’s decision and said it looked forward to cooperating with Joly.

Prime Minister Mark Carney has been pursuing closer ties with China to mitigate the impact of US tariffs on the Canadian economy. Concerns over TikTok’s ownership by Chinese company ByteDance have drawn scrutiny from Canada and other countries, with fears that China could use the app to collect user data or advance its interests. Last September, TikTok agreed to strengthen its safeguards to prevent children from accessing its Canadian platform after an investigation found its previous measures to protect minors and personal data were insufficient.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.

US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, met with Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Sanjay Malhotra on Saturday to explore greater collaboration, with a focus on the technology sector. Sharing the update on social media platform X, Gor said he “very much enjoyed” the meeting and highlighted discussions on enhanced cooperation, including the adoption of advanced U.S. technology.

During his visit, Gor also met N. Chandrasekaran, Chairperson of Tata Companies. On X, he described the meeting as productive, noting Tata’s 150-year legacy and substantial presence in the United States. Gor visited the US Consulate in Mumbai, marking his first trip to the city and signaling the start of efforts to strengthen the US-India partnership. He tweeted about the visit, emphasizing his team’s work to reinforce bilateral ties.

Gor’s Mumbai trip comes shortly after he presented his credentials to President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on January 14. He expressed gratitude for the trust placed in him and underscored his commitment to advancing US priorities in security, trade, energy, and technology while building a strong US-India partnership for the 21st century.

In his statements, Gor described it as an honor to serve in India during a period of significant promise and opportunity, and expressed eagerness to work closely with the Indian government and people on shared goals in defense, trade, technology, and critical minerals. Rashtrapati Bhavan, in a separate post on X, confirmed that President Murmu received credentials from Mr. Chandradath Singh of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Robert Zischg of Austria, and Mr. Sergio Gor of the United States.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from X/@USAmbIndia.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly making inroads into healthcare, offering tools that can answer medical queries, forecast risks, and support personalized health choices. But a new Singapore-based startup is challenging the notion that a single global AI model can safely cater to everyone. With structured screenings and national healthcare systems already in place, is there room for another AI health platform in Singapore? Hairianto Diman and Susan Ng explore this question with Hari V Krishnan, Co-founder and CEO of Genie Health.

Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.

This year, Nanyang Technological University (NTU) flagged three students for academic misconduct, alleging that they relied on generative AI tools in their assignments. What boundaries should govern AI usage, at what point does it become misconduct, and is it time to rethink how assignments are structured and evaluated? Steven Chia and Otelli Edwards discuss these questions with Associate Professor Ben Leong, director of the AI Centre for Educational Technologies at NUS, and Jeremy Soo, co-founder of Nex AI.

Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.

In Made in SG, Melanie Oliveiro interviews Singaporeans working in the artificial intelligence space to explore how they are shaping and mentoring the next generation of AI-driven content creators. Jayce Tham, co-founder of media agency CreativesAtWork and generative AI content studio Dear.AI, shares how professionals in Singapore can use generative AI to enhance storytelling, content marketing, and production processes. Filmmaker, influencer, and Dear.AI Creative Director Jaze Phua discusses how AI fuels creative expression, enabling content creators to blend humour, narrative, and pop culture to produce highly shareable, viral content.

Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.

During the daily market analysis segment on Open For Business, hosts Andrea Heng and Genevieve Woo engage in a detailed discussion with Mel Siew, who serves as the Portfolio Manager for Asia Public Credit at Muzinich & Co., covering insights, trends, and key developments impacting financial markets across the region.

Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.