Rina Chandran

Courts don’t know what to do about AI crimes AI-generated images and videos are stumping prosecutors in Latin America, even as courts embrace AI to tackle case backlogs.

Sora 2 is fun. But courts across the world are already struggling to address damage from deepfakes, which are increasingly used for financial scams, in political messaging, and to spread non-consensual sexual imagery, reports Juliana Bedoya for @restofworld.org
restofworld.org/2025/latin-a...

Young people in China are embracing AI therapy Cheap, accessible, and friendly AI tools can augment scarce professional help, but there are risks to overreliance on the technology.

Young people in China say that AI chatbots save them time and money, and are more discreet in a society where stigma around mental health persists. But there are risks to chatbots becoming therapists, writes @yilingliu95.bsky.social for @restofworld.org
restofworld.org/2025/young-p...

China’s most infamous ghost town is now training ground for driverless trucks The empty boulevards that once symbolized the mainland’s property bust now serve as testing grounds for hundreds of autonomous vehicles.

An abandoned luxury town that once symbolized China’s property bust now serves as a testing ground for autonomous vehicles @kinlinglo.bsky.social reports @restofworld.org
restofworld.org/2025/china-o...

Iran must move its capital from Tehran, says president as water crisis worsens Masoud Pezeshkian says subsidence is also ‘a disaster’ in city of 10 million, which consumes quarter of Iran’s water

Like Indonesia, Iran may have to move its capital from Tehran because of the city’s over-expansion, the lack of adequate water supplies and the growing threat of subsidence.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...

Livestream shopping stars face off against trolls, hagglers, and AI rivals Livestream sellers have built booming careers. Now, bots are threatening to steal their spotlight and their customers.

Livestream sellers have built booming careers. Now, bots are threatening to steal their spotlight and their customers, reports Linda Yulisman for @restofworld.org
restofworld.org/2025/indones...

AI is reshaping childhood in China Government support and tech companies’ drive for profit fuel a rush to integrate AI tools, from robot tutors to chatbots, in education and caretaking.

From toys to tutors, AI tools are flooding classrooms and households in China. They not only provide learning material but also companionship and emotional support, taking on a bigger role in the lives of kids, reports @violazhou.bsky.social @restofworld.org
restofworld.org/2025/ai-chin...

The UAE’s University of AI is a pipeline for top tech talent UAE has secured massive computing power. Its state-backed flagship university is now on the prowl for talent.

The UAE is luring AI researchers with a custom-built AI university that offers what many scientists dream of: abundant funding, vast computing power, and the full backing of the state. Can it be the Stanford of the Gulf? Amar Diwaker reports @restofworld.org
restofworld.org/2025/uae-ai-...

AI is helping judges to quickly close cases, and lawyers to quickly open them Brazil’s overburdened courts and lawyers are adopting artificial intelligence. But experts wonder whether it serves justice.

Judges are using AI to clear their dockets faster than ever before. But it's a “vicious circle,” as the same AI tools allow lawyers to open more and more cases in Brazil, reports Pedro Nakamura for @restofworld.org
restofworld.org/2025/brazil-...

Why I left Silicon Valley: Chinese tech workers talk about returning home Chinese-origin tech workers are abandoning the American dream and returning home, where state-led incentives and ambition are plentiful.

Amid anti-immigrant sentiment and political tensions, Chinese-origin tech workers are abandoning the American dream and returning home, where state-led incentives and ambition are plentiful, reports Selina Cheng for @restofworld.org
restofworld.org/2025/chinese...

Argentina wants to be an AI powerhouse, but its tech experts are leaving President Javier Milei pitched Argentina as an AI hub, but the few jobs and research opportunities are not enough to keep engineers at home.

President Milei’s plan to turn Argentina into an AI hub is undermined by budget cuts and a lack of jobs. Tech workers face a dilemma: stay and find jobs, support and funding, or move abroad for better opportunities, reports David Feliba for @restofworld.org
restofworld.org/2025/javier-...

What Trump’s H-1B crackdown means for Big Tech workers Companies like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft rely on skilled foreign workers. Experts say they’ll pay for the best — but the policy could redirect top talent elsewhere.

The new plan to add a $100,000 fee for H1-B visa applicants will hurt U.S. companies including Amazon, Google and Microsoft that rely on skilled foreign workers. The fee could redirect top talent elsewhere, experts told @tarykuh.bsky.social @restofworld.org
restofworld.org/2025/trumps-...

Why Bangladesh’s unlikely satellite engineers are still waiting for liftoff They went from national heroes to overworked caretakers — wrestling 12-hour shifts and uncertain futures.

Bangladesh’s first satellite engineers have gone from national heroes to overworked caretakers — wrestling 12-hour shifts and uncertain futures, even as Starlink is launched in the country. Jesmin Papri reports @restofworld.org
restofworld.org/2025/banglad...

Pentagon demands journalists pledge to not obtain unauthorized material Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is imposing strict new rules that would severely limit the ability of journalists to report on the Pentagon.

NEW: The Pentagon told journalists it will require them to pledge they won’t gather any information — even unclassified — that hasn’t been expressly authorized for release, and will revoke the press credentials of those who do not obey. @washingtonpost.com

The stealth real estate company fueling the UAE’s AI superpower dreams UAE's largest data center operator Khazna is challenging Western assumptions while building regional dominance.

The pace of the AI race is set by chip makers and data center operators. Khazna, a specialized real estate company, controls 70% of UAE's operational data center capacity, and is expanding into Turkey, France, Italy and Kenya. Divsha Bhat reports @restofworld.org
restofworld.org/2025/khazna-...

Banned in the U.S. and Europe, Huawei aims for the developing world’s AI Facing bans in the U.S. and Europe, the Chinese tech giant is targeting emerging markets to build data centers and push its AI chips, clashing with America’s goal to dominate the AI stack.

Barred from many Western markets by U.S.-led restrictions, Huawei is targeting emerging markets to build data centers and push its AI chips. But its gameplan clashes with America’s goal to dominate the AI stack, reports @violazhou.bsky.social @restofworld.org
restofworld.org/2025/huawei-...

When Africa’s internet breaks, this ship answers the call Undersea internet cables are critical in today’s hyperconnected world. The crew of the Léon Thévenin maintains one stretch of this global network.

Undersea cables carry over 95% of international data. A snapped undersea cable can disconnect hundreds of millions and pose national security risks. When Africa's internet breaks, this ship answers the call. Jess Auerbach and Stephanie Wangari report @restofworld.org
restofworld.org/2025/africa-...

Syria’s quest to build its own Silicon Valley Tech founders in Damascus are rebooting a war-torn country.

Assad is out. Startups are in. Syria’s tech industry was put on hold by 14 years of devastating civil war and crippling economic sanctions. Now it’s roaring back to life as tech founders try to rebuild the country. @emilywither.bsky.social for @restofworld.org
restofworld.org/2025/syria-t...

Countries are struggling to meet the rising energy demands of data centers Mexico's lagging energy grid is forcing companies, including Microsoft, to use generators.

In the midst of the AI boom, countries are scrambling to meet rising energy demands from data centers. Mexico's electric grid, for one, is struggling to keep up, forcing Microsoft to rely on generators: @dandiba.bsky.social and Pablo Jimenez Arandia @restofworld.org
restofworld.org/2025/ai-ener...

The myth of sovereign AI: Countries rely on U.S. and Chinese tech As countries pursue self-sufficiency in AI, they risk depending on foreign companies, undermining their independence and their goals.

Countries are investing billions in sovereign AI initiatives aimed at self-sufficiency. But Chinese and U.S. companies dominate the stack, often locking nations into long-term dependencies in chips and infrastructure: @restofworld.org
restofworld.org/2025/chinese-us-tech-foreign-ai-dependence

How Vietnam’s military built one of the hottest tech companies in Southeast Asia Over two decades, Viettel grew from a state telco into a tech powerhouse that makes everything from 5G chips to robots to affordable mobile phones.

A Vietnamese military-owned company has quietly become one of the most ambitious state-backed tech companies in the world that makes everything from 5G chips to robots to affordable mobile phones, @lamle52.bsky.social reports @restofworld.org
restofworld.org/2025/vietnam...

Why Apple can’t just quit China Patrick McGee, author of the new book Apple in China, on the too-close-to-break relationship between the world’s second-most valuable company and its biggest geopolitical rival.

The iPhone 17 launches today. One in five iPhones is now made in India, and Apple plans to expand production there. But Apple remains highly dependent on China. @patrickmcgee.bsky.social author of Apple in China, told @restofworld.org why Apple can't quit China.
restofworld.org/2025/apple-c...

Latin American musicians say AI is stealing their streams Musicians from Chile to Mexico say bots are stealing streams, siphoning income, and shortening the lifespan of songs. Even Bad Bunny isn’t safe.

Musicians in Latin America say AI bots are stealing streams, siphoning income, and shortening the lifespan of songs. Not even Bad Bunny is safe from AI slop, reports Laura Salamanca for @restofworld.org
restofworld.org/2025/ai-musi...

Indigenous group in Brazil takes TikTok to court over planned data center The Anacé Indigenous community is going to court to stop a planned TikTok data center they say is being built on their land.

Data centers need a lot of land, and this is leading to more conflicts. Brazil’s Anacé Indigenous community is going to court to stop a TikTok data center they say is being built on their ancestral land. @laismartins.com @theintercept.com Brazil for @restofworld.org
restofworld.org/2025/brazil-...

The app going against Uber by putting people over algorithms The founder of inDrive, the world's second-most downloaded ride-hailing app, is going beyond rides, and dreams of delivering education and health care through a super-app.

InDrive is rolling out its super app today, starting with Kazakhstan, and then Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Pakistan, Egypt, Brazil and Morocco over the next year. CEO Arsen Tomsky spoke earlier on why he wants to deliver more than groceries and rides: @restofworld.org
restofworld.org/2025/uber-al...

High-paying tech jobs are fueling a mini baby boom in Taiwan’s chip hub As Taiwan’s fertility rate plummets and young women increasingly choose to remain single, the island’s Silicon Valley is bucking the trend.

Like elsewhere in east Asia, Taiwan’s fertility rate hit record lows last year - except in the semiconductor hub of Hsinchu, where childcare perks and high salaries from tech cos have led to a mini baby boom, Hsiuwen Liu reports for @restofworld.org
restofworld.org/2025/taiwan-...

My mom and Dr. DeepSeek In China and around the world, the sick and lonely turn to AI.

When her mom, a kidney transplant patient in a small Chinese city, turned to DeepSeek for medical advice @violazhou.bsky.social asked doctors to review the chat logs. They said the AI bot was giving flawed advice. Read the firsthand account on @restofworld.org
restofworld.org/2025/ai-chat...

China’s chip startups are racing to replace Nvidia Tapping investor interest and ex-Nvidia talent, China’s AI chipmakers are seizing openings created by U.S. export controls.

Tapping investor interest and ex-Nvidia talent, China’s AI chipmakers are seizing openings created by U.S. export controls. Here are some of the hottest startups. @violazhou.bsky.social reports @restofworld.org
restofworld.org/2025/china-c...

Why China has a tech manufacturing advantage over the U.S. In his new book, author Dan Wang compares China’s “engineering” state that is enabling its rapid rise on the tech ladder, with U.S. policy and immigration rules that threaten to dent its edge.

In his new book, Dan Wang examines how China got so good at making things, and why the U.S. is falling behind. He told @violazhou.bsky.social that the “made-in-America” push is unlikely to dethrone China as the world’s tech manufacturing hub. Read in @restofworld.org
restofworld.org/2025/dan-wan...

AI robots are helping South Korea’s seniors feel less alone A ChatGPT-powered robotic companion called Hyodol is taking over some work from overburdened caregivers, much to the delight of seniors who treat them like grandchildren.

A ChatGPT-powered robotic companion is taking over some work from overburdened caregivers in South Korea, much to the delight of seniors who treat them like grandchildren, despite some concerns about over dependence, reports Michelle Kim for @restofworld.org
restofworld.org/2025/korea-a...

A Teen Was Suicidal. ChatGPT Was the Friend He Confided In.

Adam Raine, 16, died from suicide in April after months on ChatGPT discussing plans to end his life. His parents have filed the first known case against OpenAI for wrongful death.

Overwhelming at times to work on this story, but here it is. My latest on AI chatbots: www.nytimes.com/2025/08/26/t...