Character.AI is testing games on its desktop and mobile web apps to boost engagement, available to paid subscribers and a limited set of users on its free plan (Ivan Mehta/TechCrunch)

Ivan Mehta / TechCrunch:
Character.AI is testing games on its desktop and mobile web apps to boost engagement, available to paid subscribers and a limited set of users on its free plan  —  Character AI, a startup that lets users chat with different AI-powered characters, is now testing games on its desktop …

At least four UK teenagers have been arrested in connection with 764, a "Satanist" terror network targeting children online for sexual blackmail and violence (BBC)

BBC:
At least four UK teenagers have been arrested in connection with 764, a “Satanist” terror network targeting children online for sexual blackmail and violence  —  A teenager involved in what police have described as a Satanist terror network targeting children online for sexual blackmail …

An in-depth look at the UK's AI Safety Institute, whose researchers test AI systems for risks and for capabilities that might become dangerous in the future (Billy Perrigo/Time)

Billy Perrigo / Time:
An in-depth look at the UK's AI Safety Institute, whose researchers test AI systems for risks and for capabilities that might become dangerous in the future  —  In May 2023, three of the most important CEOs in artificial intelligence walked through the iconic black front door of No. 10 Downing Street …

Sources: Instagram and YouTube gear up to welcome TikTok users; two Meta employees say execs discussed resource allocation on January 15 to handle TikTok users (New York Times)

New York Times:
Sources: Instagram and YouTube gear up to welcome TikTok users; two Meta employees say execs discussed resource allocation on January 15 to handle TikTok users  —  Meta's Instagram and Google's YouTube are getting ready behind the scenes to welcome TikTok users, should the Chinese-owned app be banned from the United States.

TSMC says it will raise 2025 capital spending to $38B-$40B, an over 30% increase after three years of stagnation (Kathrin Hille/Financial Times)

Kathrin Hille / Financial Times:
TSMC says it will raise 2025 capital spending to $38B-$40B, an over 30% increase after three years of stagnation  —  World's biggest chipmaker faces less efficient operations in US and Japan but gets boost from AI demand  —  Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company has cut …

Canalys: China smartphone shipments rose 4% YoY to 285M units in 2024, with Vivo up 11% to a 17% market share, Huawei up 37% to 16%, and Apple down 17% to 15% (William Langley/Financial Times)

William Langley / Financial Times:
Canalys: China smartphone shipments rose 4% YoY to 285M units in 2024, with Vivo up 11% to a 17% market share, Huawei up 37% to 16%, and Apple down 17% to 15%  —  US tech giant faces competition on mainland as it struggles to introduce AI features on its flagship product