Daily tech: Sector Sees Rapid Developments Amid Controversies and Innovations

January 16 2025

FutureGate | The tech world is abuzz as Microsoft declares the arrival of the "quantum computing era," with executives emphasizing its transformative potential. This optimism has fueled investor confidence, leading to a surge in quantum computing stocks. Rigetti's price target has soared from $4 to $8.50, while D-Wave Quantum’s target jumped from $4.50 to $9, thanks to B. Riley Securities’ bullish outlook.

OpenAI continues to innovate with the launch of its agentic feature, "Tasks," enabling users to schedule ChatGPT actions for future execution. Meanwhile, BlackRock's growing influence in AI was marked by the appointment of one of its executives to OpenAI’s board, further strengthening ties between finance and technology.

TikTok faces imminent shutdown in the U.S., adding another layer of tension in the tech landscape. Legal challenges also confront Elon Musk, who is being sued for allegedly failing to disclose his Twitter stake in a timely manner.

On the cybersecurity front, the FBI successfully neutralized Chinese state-sponsored malware by hacking 4,200 infected U.S. computers. Microsoft rebranded its AI assistant as Microsoft 365 Copilot, integrating advanced virtual assistant tools into its suite to boost productivity. However, Instagram faced criticism for driving 90% of the traffic to , an AI app accused of enabling the creation of non-consensual images.