The U.S. and Taiwan just inked a semiconductor-focused trade deal that lowers tariffs and pulls massive chip investment stateside. Taiwanese firms like TSMC will get tariff relief in exchange for at least $250B in U.S. investment, with matching credit guarantees to accelerate builds in chips, AI, and energy. The pact deepens Washington–Taipei ties as China watches closely, while chip suppliers and Nvidia-linked names get a boost. (Reuters)

Wikipedia is leaning into the AI boom on its own terms. The Wikimedia Foundation has signed paid data-access deals with Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, Mistral AI, and Perplexity, giving model builders official access to Wikipedia’s API instead of scraping the site. The move formalizes Wikipedia’s role as core infrastructure for generative AI while spotlighting the growing value of human-curated knowledge. As AI companies race to scale, Wikipedia is making sure the internet’s fact base doesn’t stay free by default. (CNBC)

Parloa just turned fast growth into a very big number. The Berlin-based customer service AI startup raised $350M, tripling its valuation to $3B in just eight months. Parloa already serves enterprises like SAP and Allianz and says the real edge isn’t answering calls, but remembering who’s calling. With rivals raising aggressively, the customer service market looks less winner-take-all and more capital-hungry arms race. (TechCrunch)

𝕏 is cracking down on spam by cutting off API access to InfoFi apps that pay users to post. The platform says incentive-driven crypto campaigns flooded timelines with low-quality replies and AI-generated slop. The move could cool crypto chatter on the app, but it also reduces junk data costs as X feeds its AI ambitions. For X, it’s another attempt to clean up feeds, lower data costs, and reset posting norms, even if it risks annoying a vocal user base. (Social Media Today)

Cloudflare is acquiring Human Native, a marketplace that handles transactions between AI developers and content creators. The goal is to make it easier for model builders to buy high-quality training data and harder to scrape it for free. Paired with Cloudflare’s AI crawler controls, the deal signals a push to formalize data licensing as AI demand keeps rising. The web’s next business model is starting to take shape. (CNBC)

Ever wanted to hang with a bunch of sloths?

Orlando is famous for its theme parks, high-speed rollercoasters, and massive crowds, but a new experience is taking a slower pace. Sloth World, the world’s first "slotharium," is scheduled to open this February.

Inspired by founder Ben Agresta’s first sloth, Brucie, the facility is a 7,500-square-foot indoor rainforest that ditches the traditional zoo feel. There are no cages or glass partitions here. Instead, the space is completely barrier-free, allowing more than 40 sloths from various species to roam across natural trees and vines.

Sloths have an incredibly slow metabolism, taking up to two weeks to digest a single meal. They spend most of their time resting. To protect their sensitive nature, Sloth World has instituted a strict daily capacity. "Sloth Ambassadors" will lead small groups through the enclosure, ensuring a quiet, intimate environment.

VIP presale tickets have sold out months in advance, showing that there is a significant market for travelers looking to trade crowded theme parks for a slower, more educational experience. A portion of the $49 ticket price supports rescue initiatives in Guyana, Costa Rica, and Peru.