Italy’s antitrust authority (AGCM) has ordered Meta Platforms to suspend WhatsApp contractual terms that could block rival AI chatbots, amid an investigation into alleged abuse of a dominant market position. Meta described the decision as “fundamentally flawed,” citing that the influx of AI chatbots strains systems not designed to handle them, and confirmed it will appeal.

The AGCM stated that Meta’s practices could limit output, market access, or technical development in the AI chatbot sector, potentially harming consumers. The investigation, which began in July over WhatsApp’s suspected market dominance, was expanded in November to include updated business platform terms. The watchdog noted that the conditions effectively exclude competitors’ AI chatbots from WhatsApp.

This action aligns with broader EU regulatory efforts to rein in Big Tech’s influence, contrasting with comparatively lenient U.S. oversight. The European Commission is coordinating with the AGCM to ensure Meta’s conduct is addressed effectively. EU regulators also launched a parallel investigation into Meta last month. The move underscores Europe’s increasingly strict approach to tech regulation, which has faced pushback from U.S. companies and criticism from the Trump administration, as regulators aim to balance fostering innovation with preventing anti-competitive practices.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.

In a sign of warming ties between Beijing and U.S. tech giants, China's Vice Commerce Minister Li Chenggang sat down with Apple COO Sabih Khan last Friday for talks aimed at deepening the company's footprint in the Chinese market. The meeting, confirmed by the Ministry of Commerce on Monday, comes as China rolls out the red carpet for foreign firms, urging Apple to forge stronger links with local partners and dive deeper into its massive consumer base of over 1.4 billion people.

This engagement highlights Apple's critical reliance on China, where more than 80% of its key suppliers—like Foxconn and Luxshare—handle production of iPhones, AirPods, and other gadgets that drive billions in annual revenue. With U.S.-China trade frictions lingering after President Trump's 2024 reelection, such high-level chats offer reassurance for Apple's factories in Shenzhen and stores in Shanghai, potentially easing concerns over tariffs or export restrictions.

The discussions echo recent visits by Apple executives, including COO Jeff Williams, signaling a steady commitment to these partnerships amid global supply chain shifts. For Apple, it spells opportunities to grow services like Apple Pay as hardware sales slow, while China gains from jobs, innovation, and investment in tech hubs—much like its outreach to Tesla. Investors may view this as bullish for AAPL stock, betting on stable access to one of the world's biggest markets.
​Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.

In a high-security laboratory in Shenzhen, Chinese scientists have achieved what the United States has long tried to prevent: a working prototype of a machine capable of producing advanced semiconductor chips—the same chips that power artificial intelligence, smartphones, and weapons crucial to Western military dominance, according to Reuters. Completed in early 2025, the prototype is now undergoing testing and occupies nearly an entire factory floor. It was developed by a team of former engineers from Dutch semiconductor company ASML, who reverse-engineered the company’s extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUV) machines, sources familiar with the project said.

EUV machines, which use beams of extreme ultraviolet light to etch circuits thousands of times thinner than a human hair onto silicon wafers, are at the heart of a technological Cold War. Only a handful of Western companies currently produce them. While China’s machine can generate extreme ultraviolet light, it has not yet produced fully functional chips. ASML’s CEO Christophe Fouquet previously stated that China would need “many, many years” to master such technology, yet the existence of this prototype suggests China may be closer to semiconductor independence than experts had expected. Despite this progress, significant technical hurdles remain, particularly in replicating the precise optical systems manufactured by Western suppliers.

China’s prototype was made possible in part by acquiring components from older ASML machines through secondary markets. Government officials reportedly aim to produce working chips using the prototype by 2028, though insiders suggest a more realistic target is 2030. The achievement marks the culmination of a six-year government initiative to achieve semiconductor self-sufficiency, a top priority of President Xi Jinping. While China’s semiconductor ambitions have been public, the Shenzhen EUV project has been shrouded in secrecy, overseen by Ding Xuexiang, a close confidant of Xi who leads the Communist Party’s Central Science and Technology Commission. Huawei plays a central role, coordinating a network of companies and state research institutes involving thousands of engineers, and has been described by sources as China’s version of the Manhattan Project.

The project recruited former ASML engineers, some working under aliases with false identification, as their expertise was essential to reverse-engineering the complex EUV technology. Despite non-disclosure agreements, enforcing intellectual property protections internationally has been difficult, and Dutch intelligence has warned that China has used extensive espionage programs to acquire advanced technological knowledge from the West.

China’s prototype is larger than ASML’s commercial machines to increase power, and it still lags behind in optical precision, partly due to difficulty replicating components from suppliers such as Germany’s Carl Zeiss. Research institutes, including the Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics, and Physics, have contributed breakthroughs that made the prototype operational in early 2025, though further refinement is needed. Parts are sourced from older machines and secondhand markets, including components from Nikon and Canon, and a team of young engineers works on reverse-engineering and reassembling components under close supervision.

Huawei remains deeply involved throughout the supply chain, from design to final integration into products like smartphones. Employees on the project often live on-site with restricted communications, and teams are isolated to maintain confidentiality. While China has yet to produce fully functioning chips on this prototype, the effort represents a significant step toward achieving domestic semiconductor independence and reducing reliance on Western technology.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.

OpenAI unveiled its GPT-5.2 AI model, following an internal “code red” reportedly issued by CEO Sam Altman in early December, which paused non-essential projects and redirected teams to speed up development in response to Google’s Gemini 3. According to the company, GPT-5.2 features enhancements in general intelligence, coding capabilities, and long-context comprehension. The model is expected to provide greater practical value for users, improving tasks like creating spreadsheets, designing presentations, and managing complex multi-step projects.

Google launched the latest version of its Gemini in November, showcasing Gemini 3’s strong performance across several widely recognized AI benchmarks. “Gemini 3 has had less of an impact on our metrics than we feared,” Altman told CNBC on Thursday, alongside Disney CEO Bob Iger. Google has not yet commented to Reuters.

Disney announced it is investing $1 billion in OpenAI and will allow the company to incorporate Star Wars, Pixar, and Marvel characters into its Sora AI video generator. OpenAI, which is backed by Microsoft, stated it has no plans to retire GPT‑5.1, GPT‑5, or GPT‑4.1 from its API. GPT-5.2 Instant, Thinking, and Pro versions will begin rolling out in ChatGPT on Thursday, starting with paid subscriptions.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.

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.

Authorities are alerting the public to a new scam that uses fake digital identity cards. Could our tendency to casually share NRIC or passport scans via messages or email be making it easier for scammers? Daniel Martin discusses this with Matthias Yeo, CEO of CyberXCenter, a company dedicated to strengthening cybersecurity in Singapore.
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.

OpenAI, the artificial intelligence company, is reportedly gearing up for an initial public offering (IPO) that could value it at as much as US$1 trillion, potentially ranking among the largest in history. The firm is expected to file with regulators by the second half of 2026, with a possible market debut in 2027. Hairianto Diman and Syahida Othman explore whether this trillion-dollar valuation is rooted in real fundamentals or driven by the growing hype surrounding AI’s future, alongside insights from Kyle Rodda, Senior Financial Market Analyst at Capital.com.

Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.