Big Tech

TikTok finalizes Trump-backed US joint venture while ByteDance keeps 19.9% stake

TikTok announced a new US joint venture meant to keep the app operating domestically, giving Americans majority ownership and board control while ByteDance retains a 19.9% stake. Critics question whether the structure meets US legal requirements to sever operational ties with ByteDance and address national security concerns.

Google hires Hume AI CEO and engineers in licensing deal to boost Gemini voice and emotion features

Google DeepMind is hiring Hume AI’s CEO and several engineers under a new licensing agreement, aiming to integrate emotionally intelligent voice capabilities into its AI models while Hume continues selling its tech to other labs.

Google adds your Gmail and Photos to AI Mode to enable "Personal Intelligence"

Google is updating Search’s AI Mode with “Personal Intelligence,” letting users optionally connect Gmail and Google Photos so responses can be tailored using personal context from those services.

Wikimedia Foundation signs paid licensing deals for Wikipedia content used in AI training

The Wikimedia Foundation announced new licensing deals with major AI firms to charge for high-volume access to Wikipedia content used to train AI models, citing rising infrastructure costs from large-scale scraping.

Google adds optional Gemini feature that uses Gmail, Photos, Search, and YouTube data for personalized answers

Google is rolling out an optional Gemini “personal intelligence” feature for paid users that can connect to Gmail, Photos, Search, and YouTube to generate more personalized answers.

EU launches antitrust probe into Google's AI search summaries

The EU is investigating Google for potentially unfair practices related to its AI-generated search summaries, focusing on publisher compensation and data use restrictions against competitors.

Microsoft chooses Anthropic over OpenAI's GPT-5 for coding: Company explains why

Microsoft has opted for Anthropic's Claude Sonnet 4 over OpenAI's GPT-5 for coding tasks, citing better performance in internal benchmarks.

Only 1.2% of over one billion Africans have access to 5G networks: Report

A report reveals only 1.2% of Africans have access to 5G, highlighting significant connectivity gaps despite mobile growth.

After India, OpenAI launches its affordable ChatGPT Go plan in Indonesia

OpenAI has introduced its ChatGPT Go subscription plan in Indonesia, priced at $4.50 per month, following its launch in India.

Amazon has the best price on Apple’s new AirPods Pro 3

Apple's AirPods Pro 3 offer improved fit, noise cancellation, and audio quality, now available at a discounted price of $239.99.

My Favorite Amazon Deal of the Day: This 65-Inch TCL QLED TV

The 65-inch TCL QM7K QD-Mini LED TV is currently 41% off, priced at $877.99, offering premium features for gamers and general viewers alike.

A Cyberattack on Jaguar Land Rover Is Causing a Supply Chain Disaster

Jaguar Land Rover's production has halted for weeks due to a cyberattack, impacting thousands of jobs in its supply chain and causing significant financial losses.

Stay prepared with OwlBrief

Calm, curated briefings for real-world decisions.

DECISION-GRADE INTELLIGENCE

Get decision-grade intelligence in your inbox

A high-signal daily brief covering what changed and why it matters — delivered by email.

A handful of briefs — before your coffee gets cold.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. We don’t sell your email.