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TikTok Fans Anxiously Await Its Return to US App Stores 

TikTok still could not be downloaded from the Apple and Google app stores in the United States on Tuesday. (dpa)
TikTok still could not be downloaded from the Apple and Google app stores in the United States on Tuesday. (dpa)
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TikTok Fans Anxiously Await Its Return to US App Stores 

TikTok still could not be downloaded from the Apple and Google app stores in the United States on Tuesday. (dpa)
TikTok still could not be downloaded from the Apple and Google app stores in the United States on Tuesday. (dpa)

Three days after ByteDance's TikTok went dark and then was quickly revived in the United States, users who deleted the app were anxiously checking iPhone and Android devices to find it still unavailable to be downloaded again.

Some looking to make a quick profit from TikTok fans' desperation listed devices on eBay with the app purportedly downloaded for up to $50,000.

TikTok still could not be downloaded from the Apple and Google app stores in the United States on Tuesday, trapped in legal purgatory by the two tech giants. US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday delaying the enforcement of a ban on the Chinese-owned popular short-video app by 75 days, the legality of which is unclear.

TikTok resumed service after Trump's assurances that the company and its partners would not face hefty fines to keep the app running, but it was yet to return to app stores. Other apps owned by ByteDance, including Lemon8 and CapCut, were also no longer available.

Meanwhile the search to find a buyer for TikTok continued. Trump said on Tuesday he was open to billionaire Elon Musk's buying the app if the Tesla CEO wanted to do so.

And the chair of the House Select Committee on China, John Moolenaar, met businessmen Kevin O'Leary and Frank McCourt about the potential divestiture of TikTok.

Billionaire businessman McCourt's Project Liberty consortium has made a formal offer to buy it, valuing the app without its algorithm at around $20 billion. O'Leary joined the effort, Project Liberty said earlier this month.

In an interview with CNBC on Tuesday, O’Leary said he would be interested in a TikTok deal, but it’s not possible under current law.

"That 50/50 deal, I would love to work with Trump on, so would every other potential buyer ... But the problem with some of these ideas is they are inconsistent with the ruling of the Supreme Court," the investor told CNBC.

The back-and-forth has brought out mixed feelings from users, including some who planned to abandon TikTok after seeing Trump so heavily involved in the negotiations that could result in TikTok eventually being sold to one of his allies in the tech industry.

"I do not want to continue being a pawn in this hellscape. I am not saying it will make a difference to TikTok but it will make a difference to me," said Nicole Norman, a TikTok user, on Meta's Threads app. "I will not be back on TikTok."

Others, however, want TikTok back, which is not possible as long as Apple and Google parent Alphabet do not make it available.

"I’ve been checking every day," said travel content creator Lauren Scott. Scott, 29, currently in Brazil, read in some Facebook groups that Americans abroad may be able to access the app if they deleted and re-downloaded it. But that proved not to be the case, leaving her in limbo.

The delay may be because Google and Apple are awaiting additional protections before bypassing the ban that punishes the companies for hosting or distributing the app, according to analysts.

A notice on Apple's App Store said: "TikTok and other ByteDance apps are not available in the country or region you're in". Google Play showed: "Downloads for this app are paused due to current US legal requirements."

Some users have been tinkering with multi-step processes to gain access, such as trying to change their location in their phones.

"Really hoping TikTok comes back to the app store ASAP, not wanting to do any of that VPN stuff to get it back," said Lauren Nader, a TikTok user, on Threads.

Google, Apple and TikTok did not respond to requests for comment.

US legislators last year passed a law upheld by the US Supreme Court requiring ByteDance to either sell TikTok or face a ban, citing national security concerns. Many Democratic and Republican lawmakers still want to see ByteDance sell the app.

Trump suggested the United States government should be a half-owner of TikTok's US business in return for keeping the app alive, and warned that he could impose tariffs on China if Beijing failed to approve a deal.

China indicated this week for the first time it would be open to a transaction keeping TikTok operating in the United States, with its foreign ministry saying on Monday that companies "decide independently" on matters of their operations and deals.

Some users still on TikTok have suggested that the app's algorithm is "feeling different" since it came back online, fanned by fears about the future of the tool under a new ownership structure.

TikTok welcomed users back on Sunday with the message, "Thanks for your patience and support. As a result of President Trump's efforts, TikTok is back in the US!"

"I deactivated my account after it was 'back' this morning. I'm done with taking credit for the messes he starts," said TikTok user Janel Samson on Threads.

Over 200 iPhone and Android devices with the app downloaded were listed on the site for sale as of Tuesday night.

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Technology

Albudaiwi: GCC States Have Given Increasing Attention to AI Sector

Albudaiwi highlighted the GCC General Secretariat's commitment to building fruitful partnerships with regional and international centers in the field of AI. (File Photo)
Albudaiwi highlighted the GCC General Secretariat's commitment to building fruitful partnerships with regional and international centers in the field of AI. (File Photo)
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Albudaiwi: GCC States Have Given Increasing Attention to AI Sector

Albudaiwi highlighted the GCC General Secretariat's commitment to building fruitful partnerships with regional and international centers in the field of AI. (File Photo)
Albudaiwi highlighted the GCC General Secretariat's commitment to building fruitful partnerships with regional and international centers in the field of AI. (File Photo)

Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Albudaiwi said that the leaders of the GCC foresaw the future and worked to achieve integration and convergence in various fields. They emphasized that the journey of cooperation should not be confined to specific areas but should encompass everything that touches human life, security, development, and the economy.

Accordingly, the GCC states have given increasing attention to the AI sector, recognizing its pivotal role in shaping the features of the new global economy.

His statement was made during his participation in the Parliamentary Legislative Forum "Best Legislative Practices in the Field of Artificial Intelligence," held on Tuesday in Abu Dhabi.

He explained that the estimates of the GCC states' investments in this sector have reached tens of billions of dollars over the past few years, with ambitious plans to increase these investments to hundreds of billions by 2030.

This reflects our countries' strategic direction towards building a knowledge-based economy founded on innovation and advanced technologies, and bolstering the region's position as a leading global hub in this field.

Here, the role of legislation becomes prominent in building renewable legal frameworks that strike a balance between two fundamental matters: encouraging innovation and openness to development, as well as protecting rights and human and societal values.

Albudaiwi also highlighted the GCC General Secretariat's commitment to building fruitful partnerships with regional and international centers in the field of AI.

These include the International Center for Artificial Intelligence Research and Ethics (ICAIRE), which is affiliated with the Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as well as cooperation with leading international organizations such as WIPO and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). This cooperation has led to joint Gulf workshops and events, contributing to the exchange of expertise and capacity building.

He touched upon the initiative of the General Secretariat and the approval of the Ministerial Committee for Digital Government to form a team concerned with artificial intelligence and emerging technologies in June 2021.

This team works to support research and development among GCC countries in this field, improve digital government services, and create a flexible regulatory and legislative environment that responds to future requirements.

The secretary-general underscored that the current stage requires the formulation of an integrated vision that elevates cooperation between legislative councils, governments, the private sector, civil society, and academic institutions.

He added that our responsibility today is not limited to enacting new laws, but extends to shaping a social and legislative contract that places the human being at the heart of the AI equation.

He expressed hope that the forum would produce practical recommendations that enhance Gulf legislative cooperation and support the exchange of experiences with international partners to keep pace with the future and ensure the responsible use of AI.

Technology

Musk Reportedly Names Veteran Banker Anthony Armstrong as xAI Finance Chief

(FILES) Elon Musk looks on during a news conference with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on May 30, 2025. Photo by Allison ROBBERT / AFP)
(FILES) Elon Musk looks on during a news conference with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on May 30, 2025. Photo by Allison ROBBERT / AFP)
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Musk Reportedly Names Veteran Banker Anthony Armstrong as xAI Finance Chief

(FILES) Elon Musk looks on during a news conference with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on May 30, 2025. Photo by Allison ROBBERT / AFP)
(FILES) Elon Musk looks on during a news conference with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on May 30, 2025. Photo by Allison ROBBERT / AFP)

Elon Musk has named Anthony Armstrong, a former Morgan Stanley banker who advised him on the acquisition of X, as the new chief financial officer of his artificial intelligence group xAI, the Financial Times reported on Monday.

Armstrong will lead the finance operations for both xAI and social media platform X, the report said, citing several people familiar with the matter.

Veteran dealmaker Armstrong has been working with xAI for several weeks and was formally appointed the CFO in recent days, the newspaper said.

xAI and X did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Armstrong could not be immediately reached.

Musk launched xAI in 2023 to challenge Big Tech's AI push, accusing industry leaders of excessive censorship and lax safety standards.

Armstrong will also be responsible for steering the social media business back to financial stability following an exodus of advertisers after Musk relaxed its content moderation standards.

As Morgan Stanley's global head of tech M&A, Armstrong was part of the team Musk enlisted to manage the $44 billion purchase of Twitter in 2022. As the Morgan Stanley-financed deal took shape, Armstrong and Musk developed a close relationship, according to the report.

Earlier this year, Armstrong helped Musk oversee the Office of Personnel Management during his stint in Washington at the Department of Government Efficiency.

Armstrong will replace Mike Liberatore as finance chief of xAI. Liberatore left the artificial intelligence startup this year following clashes with members of Musk's inner circle over corporate structure and aggressive financial targets, the FT report said.

Armstrong's X account now features the xAI logo next to his name, indicating his new role as an employee.

His appointment as CFO comes amid a broader wave of executive departures. In July, X CEO Linda Yaccarino resigned, and over the summer, xAI's Liberatore and general counsel Robert Keele also left the company.

Additionally, X's finance chief Mahmoud Reza Banki exited after less than a year in the role, the FT report said.

xAI is reportedly in discussions for a new funding round that could value the company at approximately $200 billion, though investors say the deal has not yet been finalized, the report added.

Technology

KAUST, Deloitte Sign MoU to Explore AI Applications in Saudi Arabia

The agreement aims to create a platform where scientific breakthroughs in AI meet business applications. (SPA)
The agreement aims to create a platform where scientific breakthroughs in AI meet business applications. (SPA)
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KAUST, Deloitte Sign MoU to Explore AI Applications in Saudi Arabia

The agreement aims to create a platform where scientific breakthroughs in AI meet business applications. (SPA)
The agreement aims to create a platform where scientific breakthroughs in AI meet business applications. (SPA)

The King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and Deloitte Middle East signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to launch a new collaboration aimed at advancing the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in Saudi Arabia.

A statement on Monday said the agreement aims to create a platform where scientific breakthroughs in AI meet business applications, ensuring that cutting-edge research is not confined to academic circles but instead reaches industries, markets, and communities across Saudi Arabia.

Through this partnership, Deloitte and KAUST will jointly develop projects that address some of the most complex AI challenges, while also focusing on preparing the next generation of AI talent through lectures, workshops, internships, and exchange opportunities.

The two entities will collaborate on knowledge transfer through joint seminars and conferences, with the ambition of commercializing new AI models and intellectual property emerging from the projects. The partnership will also focus on policy and governance, closely examining the ethical implications of AI technologies and their social impact in the Kingdom.

Deloitte Middle East Partner Sultanbek Khunkaev said: “By partnering with KAUST, we seek to ensure that the transformative power of AI is harnessed to deliver real societal and economic outcomes.”

Professor Gianluca Setti, Dean of the Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Sciences and Engineering Division at KAUST, stated: “We aim to accelerate the development of responsible AI solutions and create new opportunities for talent and knowledge exchange that support Saudi Arabia's leadership in AI and contribute to both national and global priorities.”

The partnership will not be limited to laboratories or classrooms. Industry-specific solutions will be developed in areas where AI can make an immediate impact, whether in health, finance, energy, or logistics, and benchmarking efforts will help establish best practices for adoption. A range of initiatives will grow from the MoU, with both partners committed to developing strategies that can be scaled beyond the Kingdom.