Weekend opinion and week in review
Australia’s AI Capability Plan risks falling behind as global powers race ahead. With the 2025–26 Budget looming and elections on the horizon, experts warn the nation must act fast—or be left reliant on foreign tech giants while allies secure digital dominance.
The Pacific is a battleground of tech-geopolitics. China’s Space race might challenge U.S. dominance, while Trump seeks increase defence budgets from allies. Australia tied to AUKUS, must act—Labor’s caution risks irrelevance; a Liberal shift could align industry and security to counter rivals.
Xi Jinping’s summit signaled a shift, restoring business confidence. Alibaba’s $52B AI investment and ByteDance’s $21B push highlight China’s AI ambitions. With Beijing’s support, the nation is accelerating innovation on the global stage.
2025 sees AI giants and the proliferation of AI labs craft agentic systems, reshaping business and society. Anthropic’s $61.5B valuation fuels the race, while AI-to-AI communication boosts their reach. DeepSeek’s efficiency shows China countering U.S. dominance with affordable AI innovation.
In a new era of presidential power steering the AI economy, February’s briefings highlight OpenAI’s pivot to SoftBank, Apple’s $500B onshore tech push, Google’s antitrust woes, Nvidia’s uncertain record earnings, and Bybit’s $140M crypto bounty.
Xi Jinping signaled a shift in China’s approach to private tech firms, urging fair access and reduced financing hurdles. His remarks boosted confidence in Chinese tech stocks, with Alibaba jumping 3.2%. Analysts say China’s AI ambitions hinge on concrete policy changes rather than symbolic gestures.
Australia is done playing nice. The government has sanctioned Russian hosting provider ZServers and five employees for their role in the 2022 Medibank cyberattack, which exposed 9.7million customer records. This crackdown marks a historic first—engaging with these entities is now a criminal offense.
DeepSeek’s meteoric rise is shaking the global AI landscape. Launched during Lunar New Year this Chinese startup redefines AI with breakthrough efficiency and low-cost innovation. As Trump warns of disruption, investors and governments brace for a seismic tech revolution in 2025.
This week saw AI rivalry intensify and major tech earnings shake up the market. DeepSeek’s breakthrough rattled U.S. tech giants, while Microsoft and Meta’s results underscored the rewards—and risks—of AI investments. Here’s what’s driving Wall Street’s latest moves.
From TikTok’s dance-off to Instagram’s copycat moves, this week saw Trump forge powerful alliances with Silicon Valley’s elite. The launch of the $500B Stargate AI initiative and the fierce rivalry between Elon Musk and Sam Altman highlight a new era where politics and tech collide.
Cisco faces fallout from a massive data leak exposing critical files, while China accuses the U.S. of cyber espionage amid rising tech tensions. AI governance sparks debate as Europe enforces strict rules, and ASIC sues HSBC for $23M scam failures. Global cyber affairs take center stage this week.
The week saw cyber threats shadow Black Friday’s $70B sales, AI reshaping banking, and Meta’s nuclear energy ambitions. ByteDance and Nvidia clashed in the U.S.-China tech war, while Australia pushed Big Tech to fund journalism. A turbulent digital landscape sets the stage for 2025.
