This Week in Tech - Space Meets AI, Kids Get Social Limits, and More

This week brought a mix of stories. AI developments in space, new ways to make games, policy shifts around social media, and a few regulatory check-ins that might shape how platforms operate. Nothing sensational, but each story shows something moving behind the scenes.

xAI Teams Up with SpaceX

xAI, the company co-founded by Elon Musk, announced this week that it’s working with SpaceX to integrate AI into some of the company’s space operations. We don’t have all the specifics yet, but we're sure it'll touch on things like managing satellites and processing data in orbit.

Google’s Project Genie Opens Game Creation

Project Genie went live this week, giving people new ways to create games using AI tools that handle level design, story beats, and mechanics suggestions. It’s not replacing studios or major engines, but it opens the door for more casual creators or hobbyists to experiment and see what they can build quickly. It’s a small release in some ways, but it could expand who gets to play with game creation without learning a ton of code first.

Africa–Middle East Tech at Web Summit Qatar

Over in Qatar, the Web Summit shined a light on Africa–Middle East tech collaborations. Startups from Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt, Morocco, and South Africa were talking to Gulf-based investors and ecosystem operators about cross-border products, funding, and day-to-day operational challenges. The conversations were practical: how to expand regionally, manage payments, or link African producers to Gulf markets.

Global Social Media Restrictions

A few countries rolled out new rules this week limiting how kids can use social media, continuing a trend that’s been creeping up globally for several years. The restrictions vary from age verification to time limits or content filters. It’s not crazy yet, but it shows regulators taking youth safety seriously and building on past efforts to keep platforms accountable, especially where younger users are concerned.

Sam Altman Responds to Anthropic’s Ad Campaign

Sam Altman spoke up this week in response to an ad campaign from Anthropic that questioned OpenAI’s ad inclusion. That's it.

TikTok Under the EU Microscope Again

The European Commission revisited TikTok’s design, looking at features that might encourage heavy use, especially among younger users. This comes under the Digital Services Act, which gives regulators authority to review platform design choices, not just content. TikTok has said it plans to respond and highlight existing safety tools, including screen time reminders, and there’s no final enforcement yet.

France Moves Away from Zoom and Teams

France announced that government institutions will stop using Zoom and Teams, opting instead for European-made platforms as part of a push for digital autonomy. Europe is reducing dependence on U.S.-based services. It isn’t sudden; it’s the latest step in a multi-year effort toward regional digital sovereignty.

Internet Archive and the AI Scraping Debate

The Internet Archive was in the news again as discussions about AI training data continue. Their library hosts a massive collection of digital material that is increasingly used in AI research, sparking tension between open access advocates and copyright holders. This week’s updates focused on legal frameworks and ongoing negotiations rather than technological breakthroughs.