China's Baidu misses quarterly revenue estimates on advertising weakness

Sweden's Wallenberg Group has partnered with AstraZeneca, Ericsson, Saab, and SEB to form a new AI company focused on developing advanced infrastructure for Swedish industry and research. This strategic consortium unites expertise from pharmaceuticals, technology, defense, finance, and investment sectors to enhance Sweden's global AI competitiveness. The initiative will develop secure, ethical AI systems, foster academia-industry collaboration, and address growing demands for computational resources needed by modern AI technologies. The venture complements the existing Wallenberg AI research program (WASP) and demonstrates Sweden's commitment to becoming a leader in responsible AI development and application.

Elon Musk approached Mark Zuckerberg and Meta for support in his $97 billion OpenAI acquisition bid, according to newly revealed court documents. Neither Zuckerberg nor Meta agreed to participate in the proposed takeover. OpenAI has subpoenaed Meta for communications related to this bid, seeking evidence of potential coordination, but Meta has objected to sharing what it considers private information. The legal dispute centers on Musk's claims that OpenAI violated its founding principles by transitioning from a nonprofit to a public benefit corporation with commercial interests. Meanwhile, Meta has expanded its own AI initiatives, hiring former OpenAI researchers and making significant investments in the sector.

South Korea has announced artificial intelligence as its highest policy priority to boost economic growth amid demographic challenges and trade pressures. The government plans to establish a ₩100 trillion ($71.56 billion) fund with private industry for strategic tech investments. Key initiatives include funding for AI-powered factories, chip development, self-driving vehicles, and other advanced technologies. The administration aims to position South Korea among the world's top three AI powers, with plans for tax incentives, regulatory reforms, and a centralized AI governance structure. Through these measures, the government hopes to raise the country's potential growth rate from 2% to 3% and offset the impact of record-low birth rates.

OpenAI will open its first India office in New Delhi this year, following India becoming its second-largest global user base after the US. The company has established a legal entity and started hiring locally to support India's AI mission. The team will focus on building partnerships with government, businesses, and academia while developing India-specific AI features. India has seen ChatGPT weekly users quadruple in the past year and ranks among OpenAI's top five developer markets globally. The company plans to host an Education Summit and India's first Developer Day to engage with the local AI community.