Business

DeepSeek not only has a cute whale as its logo, but is fast becoming a whale of a player in the AI game. The Chinese chatbot has leapt to the top of the iPhone App Store downloads leaderboard in the US, overtaking ChatGPT, and in France it's currently sitting in second place. It's free to use and open source, with the Chinese company saying it used cheaper computer chips and less data than its American rival OpenAI.

Tech giants like Nvidia, Meta and Alphabet have poured hundreds of billions of dollars into artificial intelligence, but now the supply chain everyone has been investing in looks like it has serious competition, and the news has spooked tech stocks worldwide. We take a closer look.

US President Donald Trump addressed business leaders in Davos, with a clear message: build in America, or face tariffs. FRANCE 24's Charles Pellegrin was on the ground to catch their reactions. IDA Ireland's CEO also spoke to FRANCE 24 about how Irish businesses are preparing for a second Trump presidency.

Syria's new interim government wants to privatise parts of its previously state-run economy in a bid to draw foreign investment, but says it needs international sanctions lifted to get the country back on its feet. Also in this edition: China tries again to prop up its struggling stock market, and the EU sets a new record for renewable energy production.

After Donald Trump accused the European Union of "treating the US very, very badly" by running a large trade surplus and threatened to slap new tariffs on Europe, the leaders of France and Germany showed a united front as they held talks in Paris. Plus, Netflix is raising subscription fees again in several countries, after it saw record numbers of new subscribers over the holiday period. 

After Donald Trump announced a $500 million private investment project into AI infrastructure, FRANCE 24's Charles Pellegrin speaks with Karin Kimbrough, chief economist at professional networking site LinkedIn, about how artificial intelligence will change the future of work. The company's recent report says the technology will force workers to change their job skills, but will also provide new opportunities. 

With global business and finance leaders gathered in Davos, the focus on day three of the World Economic Forum turns to Ukraine's economy and its unexpected resilience. FRANCE 24 Business Editor Charles Pellegrin speaks to Beata Javorcik, Chief Economist at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

Watch moreFighting to keep the lights on: Ukraine shows resilience to frequent power grid attacks

During his inaugural speech, US President Donald Trump threatened to "take back" the Panama Canal. Built by the US in the early 20th century, the waterway is a key maritime trade route. The US relinquished control of it back in 1999 in a deal that obliged the operator to charge ships fairly. We take a closer look at the economy behind the canal. Plus, Trump is promising to significantly change US trade policy through tariffs. But do these taxes protect domestic jobs and workers? 

Energy demand is skyrocketing, fuelled by the demand for artificial intelligence. But as Hitachi Energy CEO Andreas Schierenbeck tells FRANCE 24's Charles Pellegrin at the World Economic Forum in Davos, power grids are not up to scratch and need significant investments. The annual gathering in the Swiss Alps is being held as Donald Trump's return to the White House rattles the world. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen defended free trade and economic liberalism in her Davos keynote speech. 

On day two of the World Economic Forum in Davos, discussions are revolving around new US President Donald Trump following his inauguration. Whether it’s EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz or Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, they're all taking the stage and responding to Trump's return. Meanwhile, business leaders are recalibrating their policies to fit a new reality. FRANCE 24's Charles Pellegrin speaks to Julie Teigland, EMEIA Area Managing Partner at EY, about the advice she's giving to businesses.

Oxfam's annual inequality report shows the rapid acceleration of wealth accumulation by the world's richest in 2024, as 44 percent of the world continues to live in poverty. FRANCE 24's Business Editor Charles Pellegrin speaks with Oxfam International's Executive Director Amitabh Behar at the opening of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.