Reuters - Technology Report

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Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Google launching artificial intelligence research center in China

BEIJING (Reuters) - Alphabet Inc's Google said on Wednesday it is opening an artificial intelligence (AI) research center in China to target the country's local talent, even as the U.S. search firm's products remain blocked in the country.

Behind bitcoin boom, Japanese retail investors pile in

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's army of retail investors, no strangers to high risk bets in the past, have emerged as a major force in bitcoin's spectacular rally, now accounting for an estimated 30-50 percent of trading in the cryptocurrency as it spikes to record highs.

Apple to invest $390 million in chipmaker Finisar

(Reuters) - Apple Inc said on Wednesday it would invest $390 million in Finisar Corp, which it will use to build out a plant in Texas to make chips that power popular iPhone features such as face ID, animojis and portrait-mode selfies.

South Korea considers cryptocurrency tax as regulators grapple with 'speculative mania'

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea said on Wednesday it may tax capital gains from cryptocurrency trading as global regulators worried about a bubble, with Australia's central bank chief warning of a 'speculative mania" that has seen the digital asset making rip-roaring gains.

Deutsche Telekom, EWE to invest 2 billion euros in German fiber buildout

BERLIN (Reuters) - Deutsche Telekom is partnering with EWE AG [LANDWE.UL] to invest 2 billion euros ($2.4 billion) in building out a superfast glass-fiber broadband network in northwestern Germany, the companies said on Wednesday.

AT&T begins testing high-speed internet over power lines

NEW YORK (Reuters) - AT&T Inc has started trials in Georgia state and a non-U.S. location to deliver high-speed internet over power lines, the No. 2 wireless carrier said on Wednesday, marking its latest push to offer faster broadband service to more customers.

Toyota, Panasonic consider joint development of EV batteries

TOKYO (Reuters) - Toyota Motor Corp is considering making batteries for electric vehicles (EV) with Panasonic Corp , as it ramps up battery development to help meet its goal for green cars to comprise half of global sales by 2030.

British city of Sheffield gives Uber a welcome boost

LONDON (Reuters) - The northern English city of Sheffield has lifted a suspension on Uber's operating license after it provided satisfactory answers to questions about the taxi app's management, in a boost to the firm's British operations.

China's HNA says U.S lawsuit over failed deal 'baseless'

HONG KONG (Reuters) - China's HNA Group [HNAIRC.UL] said on Wednesday a U.S. lawsuit against the company and its Beijing-based unit Pactera Technology International Ltd over a failed acquisition was "baseless and without merit".

Founder of China's embattled LeEco placed on debt blacklist

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - The high-profile founder of struggling Chinese tech conglomerate LeEco has been placed on an official blacklist of debt defaulters, a further blow to a firm that had spent heavily to compete in areas from smart cars to online entertainment.