Technology Aaj

• DeepSeek has released a new AI model that a research firm identifies as the most cost-effective option among well-known models to operate. • The company is attempting to regain its market momentum after previously being overshadowed by domestic Chinese rivals such as Moonshot, MiniMax, and Z.AI. • This strategic move comes as DeepSeek faces intense competition from major Chinese tech giants, including Alibaba and ByteDance.

• US threats to sanction Chinese AI developers for alleged intellectual property theft and export-control violations are straining bilateral relations between the two superpowers. • This diplomatic feud risks dismantling collaborative efforts to establish a shared dialogue on AI safety and security. • The urgency of these safety talks is highlighted by a recent security incident at Hugging Face, demonstrating the risks posed by powerful frontier models.

• The European Union has imposed two significant fines on Google totaling approximately €890 million (nearly $1 billion) for antitrust violations. • The penalties include €460 million for favoring its own services and €430 million for "anti-steering" restrictions that prevented Google Play developers from directing users to cheaper external offers. • These actions highlight the EU's ongoing crackdown on big tech monopolies and the enforcement of fair competition within digital marketplaces.