After US President Donald Trump approved Nvidia's H200 exports to China on 9 December, domestic GPU start-up Moore Threads responded with rapid action.

Russia has fallen behind China and the US in artificial intelligence (AI) development, hindered by supply restrictions on critical hardware, international sanctions, and a significant outflow of skilled professionals. Despite President Vladimir Putin's repeated calls for Russia to lead in the AI field, experts widely acknowledge that catching up is no longer feasible.

Trend Micro predicts that enterprise protection priorities in 2025 will be closely linked to AI technology development, but the market for actual implementation is still in its early stages. General Manager Bob Hung said that while customer inquiries about AI cybersecurity solutions are very high, actual order volumes remain limited. At this stage, revenue contributions still primarily come from traditional cybersecurity products.

The Indo-Pacific region has become the world's most critical theater for both technology manufacturing and geopolitical competition. As military tensions escalate across East Asia, executives are increasingly questioning whether their supply chains can withstand potential disruptions.

OpenAI has introduced a new safety research approach designed to improve honesty and transparency in large language models (LLMs). The method requires the model to provide a "confession" after answering a query, in which it self-assesses whether it lied, took shortcuts, or deviated from instructions, while also disclosing uncertainties and subjective judgments.

Apple chip leader Johny Srouji has reassured staff that he plans to stay with the firm for the foreseeable future, following reports that states he considered leaving for another tech company.

Google's TPU demand is expected to stay high through 2027, driven by AI applications like Gemini. However, production growth in 2026 may be limited by advanced packaging (CoWoS) and memory supply constraints.

South Korea aims to be a leading AI powerhouse, yet a report from the Korea Industrial Technology Association (KOITA) shows that only 56% of its AI startups last over three years. These companies rely significantly on external funding, highlighting a fragile R&D base in the industry.

Google said it plans to introduce its first AI-enabled smart glasses in 2026, expanding its push into consumer AI devices and positioning itself against rivals such as Meta. The company is developing two product categories: audio-only glasses that interface with its Gemini assistant, and eyewear with built-in displays capable of showing navigation, translations, and other augmented-reality overlays.

Chassis maker Catcher Technology stated that as the calendar moves into the year-end shopping season of 2025, promotional campaigns and a rebound in end-market demand are expected to support its business momentum.

IBM said on December 8 that it has agreed to acquire Confluent in an all-cash deal valuing the data-streaming company at US$11 billion. Under the agreement, IBM will purchase all outstanding Confluent shares for US$31 each, a price approved by both companies' boards and supported by Confluent shareholders representing about 62% of voting power. The transaction, funded with IBM's cash on hand, is expected to close by mid-2026 pending regulatory and shareholder approvals.