World's Biggest YouTuber PewDiePie Moves to Japan

PewDiePie, the world's biggest YouTuber, has moved to Japan with his wife and two dogs John Lamparski GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/File
PewDiePie, the world's biggest YouTuber, has moved to Japan with his wife and two dogs John Lamparski GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/File
TT
20

World's Biggest YouTuber PewDiePie Moves to Japan

PewDiePie, the world's biggest YouTuber, has moved to Japan with his wife and two dogs John Lamparski GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/File
PewDiePie, the world's biggest YouTuber, has moved to Japan with his wife and two dogs John Lamparski GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/File

The world's top YouTube star, Swedish gaming streamer PewDiePie, has moved to Japan after the country relaxed its Covid-19 entry rules for some visa-holders.

The 32-year-old has a huge online following, with 111 million subscribers on YouTube, but has faced controversy over offensive jokes in the past, AFP said.

He posted a video this week documenting his arrival with his wife and dogs in Japan, which has some of the strictest virus border controls in the world.

"For so long we doubted whether we could even make this move, and we went through all the ups and downs, and obviously it's been a really long journey," said the streamer, whose real name is Felix Kjellberg.

"But I just really, really appreciate everyone who was supportive of us going... it just feels amazing to be here, finally."

Japan has allowed in foreign business visitors, students and other new residents since March but remains closed to tourists, although the prime minister has pledged a gradual easing of the rules from next month.

Details of who will be allowed to enter and when are yet to be announced, although Japanese media reports say group tours may be first to resume and that the government is discussing scrapping Covid-19 testing on arrival.

Japan welcomed a record 31.9 million foreign visitors in 2019 and had been on track to achieve its goal of 40 million in 2020 before the pandemic hit.

Kjellberg, who previously lived in Britain, said in 2019 he had bought a house in Japan.

The star has landed himself in hot water several times, including over videos containing anti-Semitic remarks and racial slurs, and in 2016 he was temporarily blocked from Twitter after joking he had joined the ISIS group.

Kjellberg also previously said he was "sickened" after hearing that the gunman behind the 2019 New Zealand mosque massacre had promoted his videos before opening fire.



OpenAI Offers to Help Countries Build AI Systems

ChatGPT maker OpenAI's initiative to help countries build infrastructures for 'sovereign' artificial intelligence systems comes as it faces competition from China-based DeepSeek. Lionel BONAVENTURE / AFP
ChatGPT maker OpenAI's initiative to help countries build infrastructures for 'sovereign' artificial intelligence systems comes as it faces competition from China-based DeepSeek. Lionel BONAVENTURE / AFP
TT
20

OpenAI Offers to Help Countries Build AI Systems

ChatGPT maker OpenAI's initiative to help countries build infrastructures for 'sovereign' artificial intelligence systems comes as it faces competition from China-based DeepSeek. Lionel BONAVENTURE / AFP
ChatGPT maker OpenAI's initiative to help countries build infrastructures for 'sovereign' artificial intelligence systems comes as it faces competition from China-based DeepSeek. Lionel BONAVENTURE / AFP

OpenAI on Wednesday announced an initiative to help countries build their own artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructures, with the US government a partner in projects.

The San Francisco tech firm's move to put its technology at the heart of national AI platforms around the world comes as it faces competition from Chinese rival DeepSeek, AFP said.

DeepSeek's success in delivering powerful AI models at a lower cost has rattled Silicon Valley and multiplied calls for US big tech to protect its dominance of the emerging technology.

"It's clear to everyone now that this kind of infrastructure is going to be the backbone of future economic growth and national development," OpenAI said in a blog post.

"This is a moment when we need to act to support countries around the world that would prefer to build on democratic AI rails, and provide a clear alternative to authoritarian versions of AI that would deploy it to consolidate power."

The OpenAI for Countries initiative was launched under the auspices of a Stargate drive announced by US President Donald Trump to invest up to $500 billion in AI infrastructure in the United States.

"We've heard from many countries asking for help in building out similar AI infrastructure," OpenAI said.

"In response to these interested governments, OpenAI is offering a new kind of partnership for the Intelligence Age."

OpenAI, in "coordination" with the US government, will help countries build datacenters and provide customized versions of its ChatGPT AI tailored for local languages and cultures to improve healthcare, education and public services, according to the tech firm.

Projects are to involve "local as well as OpenAI capital".

Partner countries would invest in the broader Stargate Project to expand "US-led AI leadership," OpenAI said.