China Weighs TikTok Sale to Musk as U.S. Ban Looms, While New Trademark Highlights AI Innovations
Jan/14/2025
Amid escalating tensions over TikTok’s ties to its Chinese parent company ByteDance, Beijing is reportedly considering a deal to sell the app's U.S. operations to Elon Musk, potentially involving his social network X. The move hinges on whether the U.S. Supreme Court upholds a law requiring TikTok’s divestiture by January 19, citing national security concerns. While China favors retaining TikTok under ByteDance’s ownership, discussions of a Musk-led acquisition remain preliminary, with neither ByteDance nor Musk confirming involvement. Meanwhile, TikTok's recent U.S. trademark filing on December 24 underscores its investment in AI technologies, including software for chatbot simulations, natural language processing, and machine learning. This application aligns with the app’s broader strategy to enhance digital interaction, even as its U.S. future hangs in the balance.
