This week’s stories are about tech, startup and sustainability, coming from Europe, Taiwan and the USA
1-ChatGPT gains a million users in just one hour
OpenAI’s new image generation feature has skyrocketed in popularity, leading to challenges with new user signups. The AI company’s audience for ChatGPT has been expanding rapidly, and the recent addition of image generation has further boosted its appeal. I saw this story at Engadget and OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman announced on X that ChatGPT “gained one million users in the last hour,” describing the surge as “biblical demand” for the tool.
Initially, OpenAI planned to offer image generation to all users, regardless of their subscription level. However, due to overwhelming interest, free-tier access was restricted. Now, the company is reporting ongoing “issues with new signups,” a problem that has persisted for over a day.
While ChatGPT’s image creation abilities have entertained many users—sometimes with unsettling results—the platform has also faced criticism from artists and creatives. Many claim their work is being used as training data for the AI without permission or compensation. A notable example involves images mimicking the animation style of Studio Ghibli. Altman himself has set one of these images as his X profile picture. However, some users have used ChatGPT to apply the studio’s aesthetic to disturbing or violent content, sparking renewed concerns over how artists can safeguard their work from unauthorized use.
As a side note, according to a blog post on the company’s website, OpenAI raised $40 billion in a round that values the company at $300 billion post-money. The funding round was led by SoftBank, including Microsoft, Coatue, Altimeter, and Thrive.
ChatGPT gains a million users in just one hour
2-Taiwan: China’s largest chipmaker SMIC poaches high tech workers
Taiwanese authorities accused China’s Semiconductor Manufacturing International Co. (SMIC) of unlawfully recruiting skilled professionals from the high-tech sector.
According to a statement from Taiwan’s Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau (MJIB), SMIC allegedly used a Samoa-registered entity as a front to establish a subsidiary in Taiwan under the pretense of foreign investment. I read this story at CNBC and the company reportedly been actively seeking to attract Taiwanese talent.
The ministry revealed that Taiwan initiated its investigation into the matter in December 2024. Authorities have probed 11 Chinese firms suspected of talent poaching, conducting searches at 34 locations and questioning 90 individuals.
As China’s leading semiconductor manufacturer, SMIC gained global attention in 2023 when it was identified as the producer of Huawei’s 7-nanometer smartphone chip. The company had already been placed on a U.S. export blacklist several years earlier.
China has been working to enhance its semiconductor production capabilities through SMIC, but the firm still lags behind industry leader Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC). U.S. chip export restrictions prevent SMIC from acquiring cutting-edge manufacturing tools from key suppliers like ASML, making it difficult to close the technological gap.
“Chinese firms frequently conceal their true identities using various tactics, such as posing as Taiwanese, overseas Chinese, or foreign-owned companies,” the ministry stated. “They also operate unapproved business sites in Taiwan and use employment agencies to falsely assign workers to local firms—all while being backed by Chinese capital.”
Taiwan: China’s largest chipmaker SMIC poaches high tech workers (Image: SMIC)
3-Wildfire simulator startup predicts risks for homes worldwide
In the summer of 2018, a catastrophic wildfire swept through Greece’s Attica region, leaving some homes untouched while others burned to the ground. Determined to understand why, four scientists from the University of Cambridge and Imperial College London—two of them Greek—began an extensive study on wildfire behavior.(By the way I have story here about the Turkish startup visa)
I read this story at The Next Web and their research led to the creation of Pinepeak in December 2023, a startup focused on bringing wildfire prediction technology from the lab to real-world applications.
Pinepeak’s system integrates machine learning trained on satellite data with physics-based modeling originally designed for jet engine research at the University of Cambridge. Since turbulence and airflow determine how fuel ignites in an engine, these same principles help predict wildfire spread. By analyzing chaotic fire behavior alongside environmental factors like terrain and weather, the company produces highly accurate forecasts, according to the story.
The startup’s technology can forecast wildfire probability with up to 90% accuracy, predicting not just where fires will start but also how they will spread, what they will affect, and when. This precision allows risk assessments down to individual homes worldwide. The data is invaluable for insurance companies, governments, and emergency responders.
Now, Pinepeak is preparing to expand. The company recently secured a spot in the University of Cambridge’s START Accelerator program, one of eight startups chosen. The program provides £40,000 in funding along with mentorship from experienced investors and entrepreneurs. Pinepeak also recently raised $322,000 (£250,000) in pre-seed funding.
