Technology

ByteDance says 'no plans' to sell TikTok after US ban law
ByteDance says 'no plans' to sell TikTok after US ban law

Chinese tech giant ByteDance has said it has no plans to sell TikTok after a new US law put it on a deadline to divest from the hugely popular video platform or have it banned in the United States. "ByteDance does not have any plans to sell TikTok."

Japan anime studio draws on talent of autistic artists
Japan anime studio draws on talent of autistic artists

Diagnosed with autism, Shoko Sakuma says she struggled working in accounting but now she is putting her childhood love of drawing to work in a special Japanese animation studio. The groundbreaking initiative aims to provide job training and confidence to people with autism who can find it hard to cope in Japan's often high-stress and long-hours work environment.

Snap shares pop after revenue tops expectations
Snap shares pop after revenue tops expectations

Shares in social media company Snap, which runs the youth-focused Snapchat, soared nearly 25 percent on Thursday after it reported more quarterly revenue than expected by analysts. Snap reported revenue of $1.2 billion compared with $989 million in the same period a year earlier.

Microsoft expands its AI empire abroad
Microsoft expands its AI empire abroad

Microsoft, the tech titan most closely associated with AI, has announced nearly $10 billion in investments in artificial intelligence abroad in recent months, the price it is willing to pay to remain a top player in this crucial market. Since February, Microsoft has unveiled AI investments of $3.4 billion in Germany, $2.1 billion in Spain and $2.9 billion in Japan, over two years.

Microsoft, Google earnings shine as AI drives revenue
Microsoft, Google earnings shine as AI drives revenue

Microsoft and Google on Thursday drubbed quarterly earnings expectations as the tech titans continued investing heavily in artificial intelligence promising to shake up the way people live. In its push, Microsoft has moved beyond OpenAI and signed partnerships with other promising AI startups such as Mistral AI, as well as investing heavily internationally.

Google parent Alphabet's Q1 profits beat estimates: company
Google parent Alphabet's Q1 profits beat estimates: company

Google's parent Alphabet on Thursday trounced revenue and profit expectations for the first quarter of this year, causing shares to leap more than 12 percent. Alphabet shares that ended the formal trading day down slightly leapt more than 12 percent to $177 in after-market trades that followed release of the earnings figures.

As 'news deserts' spread, US journalism fights on
As 'news deserts' spread, US journalism fights on

Baltimore Banner reporter Matti Gellman is first to leap in with questions during a recent press appearance by Maryland's state governor and celebrity chef Jose Andres at an urban farm. As for the Banner, the importance of its mission was underscored recently when a container ship crashed into a major Baltimore bridge, collapsing it within seconds.

Meta sees profits soar in first quarter
Meta sees profits soar in first quarter

Facebook-owner Meta on Wednesday said its quarterly profits soared last quarter as the company continues to see stellar ad growth across its family of world-leading social media apps. Last week, Zuckerberg unveiled the latest version of Meta AI, which is now being deployed as a beefed up smart assistant across its apps, which include Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger and Facebook.

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