On January 14 2026, Chinese authorities ordered domestic firms to stop using cybersecurity software from more than 12 companies based in the United States and Israel, citing national security risks and potential data exposure. The decision affects major vendors such as Broadcom's VMware, Palo Alto Networks, CrowdStrike, Fortinet and Check Point Software Technologies, and is part of Beijing's broader push for technological self-reliance and a shift to local providers.

OpenAI struck a multi-billion agreement with Cerebras Systems to bring up to 750 megawatts of low-latency AI compute online over the next three years. The plan, set to roll out in tranches through 2028, complements a separate SB Energy partnership involving $500 million from each party and a 1.2 GW data center in Milam County.

According to Chainalysis, crypto theft totaled at least $14 billion in 2025, surpassing $12 billion in 2024. AI-enabled operations earned over $3.2 million per scheme, with daily income of $4,838 versus $518 without AI. In July and December 2025, separate reports and charges highlighted deepfake tactics and a $16 million case involving Coinbase users.

In the week of January 14, 2026, Meta began eliminating more than 1,000 roles, or about 10% of its Reality Labs workforce, and shutting several VR game studios after the division accumulated over $70 billion in losses since 2020. The company is reallocating billions in spending from VR to AI and Ray-Ban-branded smart glasses, even as it keeps pushing Horizon Worlds toward mobile platforms despite modest user numbers and weak VR headset sales.

PayPal confirmed it will support Google’s Universal Commerce Protocol, with its payment option set to appear in a new AI-driven checkout introduced on Sunday at the NRF convention in New York. The move follows a collaboration announced last September and coincides with PayPal Ventures’ participation in Klearly’s €12 million Series A.

Meta plans to reduce headcount at Reality Labs by around 10%, which could affect roughly 1,500 employees, with an announcement possible as soon as Tuesday, according to the New York Times. The shift aligns with budget moves toward AI and wearables as the metaverse unit faces sizable losses and softer user adoption.

US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that major technology firms should shoulder the electricity costs of their data centers so ordinary Americans do not face higher utility bills, after US power prices climbed around 40% over five years. He highlighted ongoing work with Microsoft, which is set to implement significant changes this week, while separate industry estimates point to rapidly rising electricity demand from data centers and AI workloads through 2030.

On January 12, 2026, Qatar is scheduled to sign the Pax Silica agreement, with the UAE set to follow on January 15, joining a U.S.-backed alliance focused on AI and semiconductor supply chains. The initiative groups nine countries in a "coalition of capabilities" to strengthen technology networks and reduce reliance on rival powers. Plans for 2026 include expanding membership, launching strategic projects and aligning policies to protect critical infrastructure and advanced technologies.