Steve Mnuchin seeks AI partner to rebuild TikTok's algorithm in takeover bid: sources

Published

2 years ago

April 15, 2024

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Steve Mnuchin is angling to partner with an AI firm that can quickly rebuild TikToks algorithm as he looks to orchestrate a blockbuster bid to acquire the China-owned app, The Post has learned.

The former Treasury secretary first revealed last month that he was exploring a bid to buy TikTok after House lawmakers voted to pass a bill requiring its Beijing-based parent ByteDance to divest within six months or face a total US ban.

Now, insiders say Mnuchin is pitching a plan to rebuild TikToks algorithm in the US as the only likely way to satisfy Congressional concerns that the app poses a national security risk, as well as Chinas strict export laws that could block a sale.

The Senate is expected to hold hearings on the House bill later this year, although no vote has yet been scheduled.

Mnuchin believes that any effort to rebuild TikToks sophisticated algorithm would require a partner with access to advanced AI capabilities and expertise, the sources said. Given the size and complexity of the undertaking, the ex-Trump Cabinet member could partner with more than one tech firm, the sources added.

A spokesperson for Mnuchin declined to comment. TikTok did not return a request for comment.

Mnuchin has already said publicly that TikTok would need to be rebuilt in the US after an acquisition, arguing on CNBC that China will be fine selling it so long as theres not a technology transfer along the way.

Multiple experts told The Post that Oracle — the software giant headed by billionaire Trump donor Larry Ellison — is a logical candidate to join his bid. TikTok has already committed to storing the data of US users in servers operated by Oracle as part of “Project Texas,” a plan to satisfy national security and user privacy concerns.

Oracle did not return a request for comment.

When Mnuchin was Treasury secretary, Oracle nearly bought TikTok as part of the Trump administrations effort to force ByteDance to divest. Experts note that an Oracle deal wouldn’t likely to draw as much regulatory scrutiny as a deal with Big Tech firms like Google, Meta and Apple.

Oracle would make sense, given how involved theyve been in the history of this saga, according to Tobin Marcus, a former economic adviser to then-Vice President Biden during the Obama administration.

Microsoft, which is the chief investor in OpenAI, is another logical candidate. The Big Tech giant also came close to buying TikTok in 2020, with CEO Satya Nadella later remarking the aborted bid was the “strangest thing I’ve ever worked on.

Last month, the Washington Post reported that Mnuchin has told potential partners that he was in touch with Oracle as well as former Activision-Blizzard chief Bobby Kotick, who is also reportedly interested in buying the app.

A Kotick representative did not return a request for comment.

The app, which has more than 170 million American users, is sure to carry a hefty price tag. Bloomberg Intelligence estimated that its US business could be worth up to $40 billion, while others have put the price at $100 billion or beyond.

While some critics have blasted Mnuchin’s plan as far-fetched, rebuilding the algorithm is really the only option given Chinas strict export controls on AI, according to Andrew Grotto, the former senior director for cybersecurity policy under Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump.

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I dont think its easy, but I also think given the right level of resource expenditure, the skys the limit in some sense, Grotto said. Whether the product is any good or not at least as good as the original underlying algorithm of TikTok, thats a different question. It seems like a minimally viable product is achievable.

Rob Atkinson, president of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation think tank and a member of TikToks content and safety advisory council, agreed.

I dont know if its an irreplaceable algorithm, Atkinson said. It seems like with all the AI capabilities today, you could get a really good algorithm that would be maybe not 100% as good, but pretty good and over time would probably evolve to where it is today, if not better. So I dont think that would be the issue.

Rebuilding the app would be just one challenge for Mnuchins bid, which would need to secure approval from both the US and Chinese governments.

The road to the Senate floor is likely to be bumpy, according to Marcus, who views a vote as unlikely before the election. Calls for a ban swelled in March 2023 after TikTok CEO Shou Chews disastrous testimony on Capitol Hill, only to fizzle for more than a year, he noted.

The Senate certainly does not seem eager to just pick up the House bill and ram it through as-is, so theres definitely a possibility to make changes, Marcus said.

On the other side of the Pacific, critics say its a long shot for Mnuchin or any other potential buyer to secure the necessary approval from the Chinese government, which has repeatedly vowed to block any forced sale of TikTok.

One tech executive told The Post last month that a Beijing would see it as a huge besmirchment of their honor and integrity as a sovereign nation if the US government got its way.

Still, the Chinese government might find it difficult to turn down a huge market-value deal for TikToks US operations especially as its President Xi Jinping works overtime to reassure Western business leaders that the country is open for business.

I think theres a path for them signing off on it. I dont think Congress is bluffing, Atkinson said. You would diminish the value of a leading Chinese technology company by a significant amount. I think the Chinese government realizes they would be much better off if ByteDance can get a giant infusion of cash and use it to expand and do other things.

Critics also warn that delaying the sale-or-ban timeline for TikTok ensures that the Chinese Communist Party could use the app to meddle in the presidential election — one of the key reasons that lawmakers have pursued the legislation in the first place.

“The longer it remains under Beijings influence, the more control [Chinese President Xi Jinping] has over the news and information Americans under thirty-five consume and digest,” said Chris Fenton, a trustee at the US-Asia Institute. “Supporting a fair market sale to an American buyer as quickly as possible rewards investors, satisfies users, and protects national security interests.”

As The Post has reported, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is under pressure to hold a vote on the bill, which has drawn bipartisan support even as some lawmakers raise concerns that muzzling TikTok could violate the First Amendment or set a bad precedent on the targeting of specific companies via government legislation.

Senate lawmakers are reportedly debating potential changes to the bill including extending the six-month window or broadening its scope to target social media. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), who chairs the Senate Commerce Committee, reportedly wants to hold at least one public hearing before any potential vote.

Indeed, the House bills tight six-month divestment window is viewed as a major obstacle to the plan with 12 to 18 months seen as a more realistic timeline to close a deal that includes rebuilding a working version of the software, the sources added.

Prospective buyers are likely to seek an agreement that would allow TikTok to remain operational using its current software until the new algorithm is ready to be implemented even if that means exceeding the stipulated divestment window.

Cantwell has signaled she is in favr of an extended deadline, telling reporters it “would be a good component to guarantee success.”

Entertainment

Kendrick Lamar leads Grammy nominations as K-pop makes it mark

Published

18 mins ago

November 8, 2025

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Kendrick Lamar leads Grammy nominations as K-pop makes it mark

Kendrick Lamar is leading this year’s Grammy nominations, up for nine trophies, including record, song and album of the year.

The 38-year-old swept last year’s awards, taking home five gongs for his hit dis track Not Like Us.

The varied bag of Grammy nominees – featuring big names and a few surprises – also saw K-pop stars, a knighted British rocker and a Hollywood leading man make it into the Grammy competition.

Lady Gaga (who is up for record, song and album of the year too), Jack Antonoff and Canadian record producer-songwriter Cirkut follow Lamar with seven nominations each.

Sabrina Carpenter got six nods, matching her nomination tally for last year.

Alongside Lamar’s GNX, other albums to make it into the best album category this year include Lady Gaga’s Mayhem and Bad Bunny’s Debí Tirar Más Fotos (only the second all-Spanish language album to be nominated in the category, following the Puerto Rican rapper’s 2023 all-Spanish album Un Verano Sin Ti).

They are all potential first-time winners in the category.

Also up for the top album prize are Sabrina Carpenter’s Man’s Best Friend, Justin Bieber’s Swag, Clipse, Pusha T & Malice’s Let God Sort Em Out, Leon Thomas’s Mutt, and Tyler, the Creator’s Chromakopia.

Despite releasing a new album earlier this year, Taylor Swift, didn’t make it on to the best album nominees as The Life Of A Showgirl came out after the close of the eligibility period. The window ran from 31 August 2024 to 30 August 2025.

K-pop gets its moment

With K-pop typically ignored by the Grammys (BTS are the only K-pop artists to previously get a nod) this year saw two K-pop tracks in contention for best song.

Golden, the lead track from global phenomenon KPop Demon Hunters and APT, the megahit by former Blackpink member Rosé alongside Bruno Mars, both made it on to the list.

Rosé got nods in four other categories, including best record, while KPop Demon Hunters got three other nominations, including in the best pop duo/group performance category.

British artist Lola Young, who is the niece of acclaimed children’s writer Julia Donaldson, got a nod in the best new artist category, alongside Olivia Dean. Both topped the UK charts this year.

They will compete against KATSEYE, The Marias, Addison Rae, sombr, Leon Thomas and Alex Warren. Last year the category was won by Good Luck, Babe! singer Chappell Roan.

Timothée Chalamet is up for a Grammy

In less expected Grammy news, Sir Elton John also got a nod alongside US singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile for the song Never Too Late, which features on the soundtrack of the 2024 Sir Elton documentary of the same name.

Meanwhile, actor Timothée Chalamet got his first Grammy nod in the best compilation soundtrack for visual media category for his work on Oscar-nominated movie A Complete Unknown, in which he played Bob Dylan.

Nominations were announced by past Grammy winners, including Sabrina Carpenter, Doechii and last year’s best new artist winner, Chappell Roan.

Sharon, Kelly and Jack Osbourne came together to announce the rock and metal album nominations in tribute to Ozzy, who died in July. He had previously won in both categories.

The annual ceremony – which gives out a whopping 95 gongs in total – has four big categories: album, record and song of the year, and best new artist.

Following Beyoncé’s historic win for best album and best country album for Cowboy Carter, this year the country category has been divided into two: best traditional country album and best contemporary country album.

There’s also the new addition of a standalone category for best album cover.

Last year, Beyoncé made history as the Grammy’s most nominated artist, winning album of the year for the first time.

Winners will be chosen by the roughly 15,000 voting members of the Recording Academy.

The 68th Grammy Awards take place on Sunday, 1 February 2026, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

Main category nominees

Album Of The Year
DeBi TiRAR MaS FOtoS, Bad Bunny
Swag, Justin Bieber
Man’s Best Friend, Sabrina Carpenter
Let God Sort Em Out, Clipse, Pusha T and Malice
MAYHEM, Lady Gaga
GNX, Kendrick Lamar
Mutt, Leon Thomas
CHROMAKOPIA, Tyler, The Creator

Record Of The Year
DtMF, Bad Bunny
Manchild, Sabrina Carpenter
Anxiety, Doechii
Wildflower, Billie Eilish
Abracadabra, Lady Gaga
luther, Kendrick Lamar with SZA
The Subway, Chappell Roan
APT, Bruno Mars and Rosé

Song Of The Year
Abracadabra, Lady Gaga
Anxiety, Doechii
APT, Bruno Mars and Rosé
DtMF, Bad Bunny
Golden, EJAE, Audrey Nuna and REI AMI
luther, Kendrick Lamar with SZA
Manchild, Sabrina Carpenter
Wildflower, Billie Eilish

Best New Artist
Olivia Dean
KATSEYE
The Marias
Addison Rae
sombr
Leon Thomas
Alex Warren
Lola Young

Environment

US Customs delays force solar giant Qcells to furlough 1,000 workers

Published

1 hour ago

November 7, 2025

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US Customs delays force solar giant Qcells to furlough 1,000 workers

Solar panel giant Qcells announced today that it’s temporarily furloughing 1,000 US workers – 25% of its workforce – and reducing pay and shifts at its factories in northeast Georgia due to supply chain delays caused by US Customs.

Qcells furloughs 1,000 workers

The supply chain delays are hindering the company’s ability to import components to build its solar panels. This has resulted in Qcells’ two factories in Cartersville and Dalton being unable to operate at full capacity for several months.

Qcells spokeswoman Marta Stoepker shared the following statement in an exclusive with Channel 2 Action News in Atlanta:

The company says the furloughed workers, who were notified this afternoon, will retain full benefits and won’t be laid off. However, Qcells will no longer be using staffing agency employees in Georgia “at this time.”

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As Qcells introduced new supply chains to support its growing solar panel manufacturing facilities in Georgia, the company was recently forced to scale back production while our shipments into the US were delayed in the customs clearance process.

Although our supply chain operations are beginning to normalize, today we shared with our employees that HR actions must be taken to improve operational efficiency until production capacity returns to normal levels.

Stoepker said it expects to bring the furloughed workers back “in the coming weeks and months.” She continued:

Our commitment to building the entire solar supply chain in the United States remains. We will soon be back on track with the full force of our Georgia team delivering American-made energy to communities around the country.

Electrek’s Take

In January 2023, the Seoul-headquartered Qcells announced it would invest more than $2.5 billion to build a solar supply chain in Georgia – the largest-ever investment in clean energy manufacturing in the US to date. That included expanding the Dalton solar factory and building a fully integrated solar supply chain factory in Cartersville, Georgia, that will manufacture solar ingots, wafers, cells, and finished panels.

It’s not quite there yet, because that takes time. In the meantime, it’s being penalized by Customs. The US government under Trump says it’s keen on boosting domestic manufacturing. Why would it work against a company that’s onshoring an entire solar supply chain, including recycling?

Dalton and Cartersville employ nearly 4,000 people. Its total output will reach 8.4 GW of solar production capacity per year, which is equivalent to nearly 46,000 panels per day – enough to power approximately 1.3 million homes annually.

It’s ludicrous that it has been forced to furlough a quarter of its workforce due to the ineptness of the Trump administration’s US Customs policies. This is right up there with the ICE arrests at Hyundai’s plant in Georgia. Bravo.

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Environment

Toyota is yet again delaying EV battery plans

Published

2 hours ago

November 7, 2025

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Toyota is yet again delaying EV battery plans

The breakthrough EV batteries Toyota says will double driving range and cut charging times are facing another setback. The company is once again delaying plans for a new battery plant in Japan.

Why is Toyota delaying its EV battery plant this time?

Earlier this year, Toyota bought a 280,000-square-meter plot of land in Fukuoka, Japan, where it planned to build a plant to produce the more advanced EV batteries.

A location agreement was expected to be signed by April, but Toyota pushed back construction by several months, blaming slower-than-expected demand for electric vehicles.

The agreement was expected to be finalized this Fall, but that will no longer be the case. According to Nikkei, Toyota is delaying the EV battery plant for the second time. Toyota will review and adjust plans over the next year.

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Fukuoka governor, Seitaro Hattori, confirmed the news with reporters on Friday following a meeting with Toyota’s president, Koji Sato. Hattori also shut down claims that Toyota was planning to scrap the battery plant altogether.

Toyota again blamed slowing EV demand for the delay. The decision comes despite Keiji Kaita, president of Toyota’s Carbon Neutral Advanced Engineering Development Center, confirming at the Japan Mobility Show just last week that it’s “sticking on the schedule” to introduce its first solid-state battery-powered EV by 2028.

Last month, Toyota said it aimed to “achieve the world’s first practical use of all-solid-state batteries in BEVs” after securing a partnership with Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. to mass-produce them. It’s also working with Japanese oil giant Idemitsu.

Toyota-solid-state-battery-EV — Idemitsu’s value chain for solid electrolytes used in all-solid-state EV batteries (Source: Idemitsu)

The company recently revealed a solid-state battery pack prototype that it claims can deliver 747 miles (1,200 km) range and 10-minute fast charging, but will we ever see it actually in production?

Electrek’s Take

Toyota has been making empty promises about EV batteries for almost a decade now. It initially planned to introduce solid-state EV batteries in 2020, then pushed it to 2023, then 2026, and now it’s saying it will be around 2028.

Mass production is likely closer to the end of the decade, if Toyota doesn’t delay it again. While it’s blaming the slowing demand, global EV sales are still on the rise. According to Rho Motion, global EV sales topped 2 million for the first time in a single month in September 2025. Through the first nine months of the year, EV sales are up 26% compared to the same period in 2024.

Even with the US ending the $7,500 federal tax credit and other policies designed to promote electric vehicles, global adoption will continue building momentum over the next few years.

Is it a demand issue, or is Toyota just looking for another excuse? With rivals like Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai, BMW, and Honda advancing next-gen EV batteries, Toyota will only fall further behind if it continues delaying key projects.

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