This week’s stories are about tech, AI and gadgets, coming from Korea, Netherlands and the USA

The White House moves to calm fears of tougher AI regulation

Senior officials in the White House are seeking to reassure technology companies that the Trump administration is not planning sweeping new regulations requiring advanced artificial intelligence (AI) models to undergo mandatory federal approval before public release.

The effort followed comments by Kevin Hassett, Director of the White House National Economic Council, who said the administration was considering a safety review process for AI systems similar to the way the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) evaluates prescription drugs before they reach the market.

I read this story at Politico and Hassett emphasized officials were studying a possible executive order that would make a framework for testing powerful AI models before release to ensure they do not generate cybersecurity or national security risks.

The remarks triggered concern across the technology industry, where executives and policy groups fear stricter oversight could slow innovation and weaken competition in the fast-moving AI sector, the story noted.

The White House is expected to issue an executive order outlining how the government plans to address risks posed by advanced AI systems, including their potential use in cyberattacks or the development of biological weapons.

According to people familiar with the discussions, officials are considering a system that could require leading AI developers such as OpenAI, Anthropic and Google to coordinate with the government before releasing new models.

Officials noted the administration aims to strike a balance between encouraging AI development and protecting the country from emerging threats linked to increasingly powerful systems.

The White House moves to calm fears of tougher AI regulation

Samsung to exit home appliance and TV sales business in China

Samsung Electronics is withdrawing its home appliance and television sales business in China as the South Korean technology giant faces mounting competition from local rivals and rising global business costs.

I read this story at Korea Herald and the company recently informed vendors in China of its decision to end sales operations for home appliances and TVs in the country.

Samsung’s mobile, semiconductor and medical equipment businesses will continue operating in China despite the restructuring, the story noted. (By the way I have a story here about a book mentioning the story of Samsung)

The move comes as Samsung struggles to maintain its position in one of the world’s largest consumer electronics markets, where Chinese manufacturers have gained market share in recent years.

Samsung’s China sales unit reported net profit of 168 billion won ($116 million) last year, down sharply from 300 billion won a year earlier, according to the story.

The company previously announced it was reviewing a broader business reorganization amid intensifying competition in the home appliance sector and growing uncertainty linked to global tariffs and supply chain risks.

Earlier this week, Samsung, the world’s largest television maker, also replaced the head of its TV division as it seeks to address increasing challenges in domestic and overseas markets.

Samsung to exit home appliance and TV sales business in China (Photo: Yonhap)

Dutch universities launch initiative to reduce reliance on Big Tech

Dutch universities are launching a nationwide effort to reduce their dependence on BigTech companies, citing concerns over data control, academic freedom and rising costs.

I read this story at ioplus.nl and the initiative, coordinated by the association Universiteiten van Nederland, brings together all 14 Dutch universities, the Dutch government and SURF, the IT cooperative for higher education and research.

A newly established committee chaired by Alexandra van Huffelen will oversee the strategy, which aims to strengthen digital sovereignty across the country’s academic sector.

Under the plan, Dutch universities will negotiate collectively with major suppliers while also investing in independent alternatives for cloud services, data infrastructure and artificial intelligence (AI) systems. The strategy marks a shift from isolated institutional efforts toward a coordinated national approach focused on protecting academic openness and freedom, according to the story.

A key objective is to reduce so-called “vendor lock-in,” where institutions become deeply dependent on a single provider’s technology, making it difficult or costly to switch systems.

To address the issue, universities and SURF are promoting modular digital infrastructure that allows services such as e-mail, file storage and collaboration tools to be replaced independently without disrupting broader systems.

The push for digital sovereignty also gained support from within universities themselves. In 2025, more than 600 researchers at Radboud University signed an open letter expressing concerns over the institution’s reliance on Microsoft 365, warning of potential risks to privacy and academic freedom, the story emphasized.

Dutch universities launch initative to reduce reliance on BigTech