Microsoft invests $1.5 billion in AI firm G42, takes minority stake

Microsoft President and Chief Legal Officer Brad Smith speaks during the annual Microsoft shareholders meeting in Bellevue, Washington on November 29, 2017. JASON REDMOND | AFP | Getty Images Microsoft will invest $1.5 billion into G42, an artificial intelligence firm based in the United Arab Emirates, as the U.S. giant looks to strengthen its position … Read more

How the U.S. government is regulating AI

The U.S. government is considering laws to help society adapt to the introduction of artificial intelligence. Early users of the technology are already seeing labor productivity gains. For example, Klarna, a buy now, pay later financial services provider, estimates that its AI assistant tool will increase its profit outcome by $40 million by the end … Read more

Biden and Japan’s Kishida forge new partnership, eyeing China and Russia

U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Wednesday unveiled plans for military cooperation and projects ranging from missiles to moon landings, strengthening their alliance with an eye on countering China and Russia. Mandel Ngan | AFP | Getty Images U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Wednesday unveiled plans for military cooperation and projects … Read more

Senior U.S. diplomat links AUKUS submarine pact to Taiwan

U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks on Australia, United Kingdom, United States (AUKUS) Partnership as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of the United Kingdom and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia participate at Naval Base Point Loma in San Diego, California, United States. Tayfun Coskun | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images The State Department’s No. 2 diplomat suggested … Read more

U.S. eyes change to military command in Japan as China threat looms: Reuters

U.S. President Joe Biden (L) and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (R) will agree next month to tighter military cooperation, including talks on the biggest potential change to Washington’s East Asia command structure in decades, two sources said. Kiyoshi Ota | AFP | Getty Images U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will … Read more

Biden to host Japan PM Kishida, Philippines President Marcos for White House summit

President Joe Biden will host Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for a White House summit next month amid growing concerns about North Korea’s nuclear program, provocative Chinese action in the South China Sea and differences over a Japanese company’s plan to buy an iconic American steel company. Eugene Hoshiko … Read more

North Korea fires ballistic missiles as Blinken visits Seoul

People are seen watching television at Seoul’s Yongsan Railway Station showing North Korea’s first test-firing of the new strategic cruise missile Pulhwasal-3-31. North Korea fired ballistic missiles into the sea on Monday for the first time in two months, as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Seoul for a conference hosted by President Yoon … Read more

Taiwan’s vice president-elect on ‘personal trip’ to U.S.; China objects

Taiwan’s vice president-elect and former de facto ambassador to Washington, Hsiao Bi-khim, is in the United States this week for a private visit, a senior Taiwanese official and a U.S. spokesperson said on Tuesday, a trip China said it “firmly opposes.” Annabelle Chih | Getty Images News | Getty Images Taiwan’s vice president-elect and former de facto ambassador … Read more

U.S. spy chief ‘cannot rule out’ that China would use TikTok to influence U.S. elections

China could use social media app TikTok to influence the 2024 U.S. elections, U.S. Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines told a House of Representatives intelligence committee hearing on Tuesday. Anadolu | Anadolu | Getty Images China could use social media app TikTok to influence the 2024 U.S. elections, U.S. Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines told a House of Representatives intelligence … Read more

Former U.S. official’s work for Chinese client stirs concern over disclosure loopholes

Former U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch wrote a letter to a senior Defense Department official last July on behalf of SZ DJI Technology Co Ltd, asking that her client be removed from a list of Chinese military companies. Alex Wong | Getty Images News | Getty Images When a Chinese drone company came under U.S. government scrutiny over its … Read more