Microsoft is laying off hundreds of employees at its Azure cloud unit in China. The move comes as the technology giant navigates tightening data regulations in both Washington and Beijing. The staff affected work in Beijing and Shanghai. Sources estimate the layoffs will impact between 200 and 400 workers. Credit: UNSPLASH These employees will cease employment at Azure and receive severance packages based on their tenure. Some workers will also receive up to seven months'

Colin Angle, the cofounder and former chief executive officer of iRobot, has launched a new physical artificial intelligence company called Familiar Machines and Magic. The startup has announced its first robot, an embodied artificial intelligence system designed to interact naturally with adults and families.

China's national security authority has warned of risks in using artificial intelligence relay services that provide access to overseas AI models. The Ministry of State Security described such services as intermediaries that aggregate access to multiple domestic and overseas models through a single interface.