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Microsoft Adds DeepSeek’s AI Model to Azure, Expands AI Offerings

Microsoft announced on Wednesday that it has made DeepSeek’s R1 artificial intelligence model available on its Azure cloud platform and GitHub, expanding its AI offerings. The model will be added to the model catalog, joining over 1,800 other AI models offered by Microsoft, and will be accessible to developers using these platforms.

This move comes just days after DeepSeek launched a free AI assistant that promises to use significantly less data and cost much less than existing services, leading to a surge in downloads. By Monday, the assistant had overtaken OpenAI’s ChatGPT in downloads on Apple’s App Store, causing concern among tech investors.

Microsoft’s adoption of DeepSeek’s R1 model is part of the company’s effort to reduce its reliance on OpenAI, which developed ChatGPT. Microsoft is seeking to integrate both internal and third-party AI models into its flagship Microsoft 365 Copilot product. Additionally, Microsoft plans to offer customers the ability to run the R1 model locally on Copilot+ PCs, which may help address privacy and data-sharing concerns.

DeepSeek’s decision to store user data on servers in China could pose a challenge for its broader adoption in the U.S., where data security is a key concern. Microsoft and OpenAI are also investigating whether a group linked to DeepSeek unlawfully obtained data from OpenAI’s technology.

In response to DeepSeek’s rise in the AI space, OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman announced adjustments to their releases, including a new version of ChatGPT tailored for U.S. government agencies. Meanwhile, Chinese tech giant Alibaba also unveiled a new AI model, Qwen 2.5, marking the start of a busy period in the AI market.

 

China Responds to Trump’s Proposal for 50% U.S. Ownership of TikTok

China’s foreign ministry on Monday emphasized that companies should be allowed to make independent decisions regarding their operations and business deals, in response to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s suggestion of a 50% U.S. ownership stake in TikTok.

Key Points:

  • China’s Position: The Chinese government reiterated that businesses should retain autonomy over their operations and decisions, regardless of foreign government interventions or proposals. This statement came in light of Trump’s recent proposal for a U.S.-based ownership structure for the popular short-video platform TikTok, which has raised national security concerns in the U.S.
  • Trump’s Proposal: The former U.S. president suggested that a 50% U.S. ownership in TikTok could address security and data privacy concerns raised by his administration, particularly due to TikTok’s Chinese ownership.
  • Political Tensions: The exchange underscores the growing geopolitical tensions between China and the U.S., with both sides asserting their interests in the operations of global tech companies. China’s response signals its opposition to external interference in the business decisions of Chinese firms.

Apple Clarifies Siri Privacy After $95 Million Settlement

Apple has clarified its stance on Siri’s privacy practices following a $95 million settlement in a class action lawsuit that accused the company of recording private conversations after unintentional activations of its voice assistant. The lawsuit alleged that these conversations were then shared with third parties, including advertisers.

Apple denied the claims, stating that it has never sold or used Siri data to build marketing profiles. The company emphasized that no data was shared for advertising purposes, and no audio recordings were retained unless users explicitly consented to improve Siri’s performance. As part of the settlement, Apple agreed to pay up to $20 per device to affected users of Siri-enabled devices like iPhones and Apple Watches.

The company clarified that certain Siri features do require real-time data input from Apple servers to function correctly, but it uses the minimum amount of data necessary. Apple also reiterated its commitment to enhancing privacy features for Siri in the future.

This settlement comes amid ongoing legal scrutiny, including a similar lawsuit involving Google’s Voice Assistant, which is currently pending in federal court in California.