Business news

Business

U.S. nuclear energy growth faces critical challenges in uranium fuel supply chain

The vision of a U.S. nuclear power renaissance has a blind spot—uranium fuel—in the near term and long, according to a Stanford University-led industry meeting.

Business

Chinese AI unicorn MiniMax soars 109 percent in Hong Kong debut

Shares in Chinese AI startup MiniMax soared 109% as it went public in Hong Kong on Friday, raising US$619 million in a sign that strong investor demand is rewarding the country's rapidly developing sector.

Business

China to probe Meta's acquisition of artificial intelligence startup Manus

China said on Thursday it would assess and investigate Meta's acquisition of artificial intelligence startup Manus, in a move highlighting its technology rivalry with the U.S..

Business

New study urges stronger AI safeguards to protect worker safety and well-being

New research from Flinders University highlights the need for artificial intelligence (AI) systems to complement—not impede—worker safety and welfare in workplaces.

Business

Startups go public in litmus test for Chinese AI

Leading Chinese artificial intelligence startup Zhipu AI soared as it went public in Hong Kong on Thursday, a day before rival MiniMax also makes its market debut in a litmus test for the country's rapidly developing sector.

Business

What will 2026 look like for the UK's electric vehicle market?

In the UK, as in many other countries, the shift towards electric vehicles (EVs) has been rapid. Incentives, increased choice and some positive PR took the electric car sales to nearly 500,000 vehicles in 2025—around 24% ...

Business

Nvidia CEO praises robots as 'AI immigrants'

Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang described robots as "AI immigrants" on Tuesday, arguing they could solve a global labor shortage that is hampering manufacturing.

Business

China's BYD logs record EV sales in 2025

Chinese auto giant BYD sold 2.26 million electric vehicles last year, a company statement showed Thursday, setting a new record for any firm globally.

Business

Meta buys China-founded AI agent Manus

Facebook owner Meta has agreed to acquire Manus, an artificial intelligence agent created by a company founded in China but now based in Singapore, the two firms said.

Business

AI overestimates how smart people are, according to economists

Scientists at HSE University have found that current AI models, including ChatGPT and Claude, tend to overestimate the rationality of their human opponents—whether first-year undergraduate students or experienced scientists—in ...

Business

Rome pushes Meta to allow other AIs on WhatsApp

Italian regulators ordered Meta on Wednesday to open its WhatsApp chat platform to rival AI chatbots as it and EU authorities pursue a probe that the US tech giant is abusing its dominant market position.

Business

Federal judge halts Texas app store age verification law

A federal judge on Tuesday blocked a Texas law that would have required age verification and parental consent for minors downloading mobile apps, ruling the measure likely violates free speech protections.

Business

Who should get paid when AI learns from creative work?

As generative AI systems become more deeply woven into the fabric of modern life—drafting text, generating images, summarizing news—debates over who should profit from the technology are intensifying.

Consumer & Gadgets

Wearable tech can create more stress for frontline retail staff

With the Christmas trading period peaking, traditional surveillance technologies like CCTV can help reduce job stress caused by customer aggression, but QUT research has found wearable devices may increase stress levels among ...

Business

Spanish consumer group seeks to sue Google in data row

A Spanish consumer rights association on Friday said it had launched preliminary legal action against Google for allegedly collecting sensitive personal data and violating their right to privacy.

Business

TikTok signs joint venture deal to end US ban threat

TikTok said Thursday it has signed a joint venture deal with investors that would allow the company to maintain operations in the United States and avoid a ban over its Chinese ownership.