This week’s stories are about tech and startup, coming from Germany, Switzerland and the USA

1-Germany’a call to ban DeepSeek

Germany’s data protection authority has called on Apple and Google to remove the Chinese AI app DeepSeek from their app stores in the country, requesting illegal transfers of user data to China and serious privacy concerns.

I saw this story at Reuters and Federal Data Protection Commissioner Meike Kamp said that DeepSeek has failed to prove it adequately protects German users’ personal data under standards equivalent to those in the European Union. According to its own privacy policy, the company stores sensitive user information, including uploaded files and AI interactions, on servers based in China, the story emphasized.

Apple and Google must now review the request, though no specific deadline has been set. Google confirmed receipt and said it is assessing the request. Apple has not yet responded. DeepSeek also declined to comment, according to the story.

The move follows a wider pattern of European pushback against the Chinese AI startup. Italy previously blocked the app, and the Netherlands banned its use on government devices. Belgium has advised government staff not to use DeepSeek while further assessments are conducted. Spain’s consumer advocacy group OCU has also raised alarms, urging its national data protection agency to investigate.

Despite making headlines earlier this year for claims of creating an affordable AI model rivaling OpenAI’s ChatGPT, DeepSeek has attracted scrutiny over its opaque data handling practices, the story noted. The app is also under investigation in the United States, where lawmakers are drafting legislation to prohibit federal agencies from using Chinese-developed AI tools, as a side note.

Germany’a call to ban DeepSeek (Image: Getty Images)

2-Switzerland leads global deep tech investments

Switzerland invests more of its venture capital into deep tech than any other country, with the sector accounting for 60% of all Swiss VC funding between 2019 and 2025, according to a new report.

The Swiss Deep Tech Report 2025, released by the Deep Tech Nation Switzerland Foundation, found that startups focused on cutting-edge science and technology raised $1.9 billion in 2024, up from $1.4 billion in 2023. Funding is projected to climb to $2.3 billion in 2025.

I read this story at The Next Web and the report — developed with Dealroom.co and Startupticker — analyzed data from over 1,500 startups. It estimates Switzerland’s deep tech ecosystem is now worth more than $100 billion in combined enterprise value.(By the way I have a story here about a Turkish deep tech startup that raised more than 4 million USD)

ETH Zurich and EPFL ranked among Europe’s top four universities for producing deep tech spinouts, trailing only the U.K.’s Oxford and Cambridge, the report revealed.

Artificial intelligence is emerging as a dominant force within Swiss deep tech. AI-first startups received nearly one-third of all sector funding in 2024 — three times the share seen in 2020 — with investments spanning software for humanoid robots to chocolate-sorting algorithms, according to the story.

Other growing areas include robotics, climate tech, and biotech, buoyed by major rounds from companies like Neustark, Neo Medical and Transmutex, the story noted.  However, the report noted a funding gap: about 96% of late-stage investments in Swiss deep tech come from international, rather than domestic, funds — a potential growth area for local capital.

Switzerland leads global deep tech investments

3-Salesforce CEO:  AI handles up to half of company’s work

Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff says AI now responsible for 30% to 50% of the company’s operations, marking a major shift in how the software giant manages its workload.

In an interview with Bloomberg, Benioff described the growing role of AI as a “digital labor revolution,” noting that Salesforce has achieved about 93% accuracy with its AI tools. “It’s pretty good,” he said, though reaching 100% isn’t “realistic.” He added that other vendors lag behind due to a lack of data and metadata.

I saw this story at CNBC and the increased reliance on AI comes as tech companies across the board are seeking ways to cut costs and boost productivity. Salesforce is among those reshaping their workforce in response — the company laid off more than 1,000 employees earlier this year as part of a broader AI-focused restructuring, according to the story.

Other major firms are taking similar steps. Klarna CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski recently revealed the company reduced headcount by 40% in part due to AI integration, and Amazon’s CEO Andy Jassy said AI will play a key role in streamlining roles at the retail giant, the story added.

Benioff emphasized that as AI takes on more routine tasks, human workers can focus on more strategic and high-value responsibilities.

Salesforce CEO:  AI handles up to half of company’s work (Photo: CNBC)