TikTok Ban Approved - Now Comes the Drama

In partnership with

There’s a reason 400,000 professionals read this daily.

Join The AI Report, trusted by 400,000+ professionals at Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI. Get daily insights, tools, and strategies to master practical AI skills that drive results.

Sign up now for free and work smarter, not harder.

TikTok’s Ban is on the Books. Now What?

TikTok just hit a legal dead end, and things are somehow murkier than ever. The Supreme Court ruled the U.S. can ban the app unless Chinese parent company ByteDance sells it off - but now everyone’s playing hot potato with the January 19 deadline.

Here’s the breakdown:

• Supreme Court ruling: The Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act withstands First Amendment scrutiny. TikTok must be sold or banned starting January 19.

• Biden Administration: Passing the issue to President-elect Trump, saying actions to enforce the law will fall to the next administration.

• President-elect Trump: Promised to “review the situation” but gave no concrete plan.

• ByteDance: Reportedly mulling a sale, with whispers of Elon Musk as a possible broker or buyer.

• TikTok’s Plan: Ready to go dark on Sunday, regardless of what others do.

• App stores and services: Apple, Google, and Oracle have been silent about how they’ll handle TikTok under the law.

The bigger picture:

Despite years of debate and legal battles, it’s unclear who will actually enforce the ban, how it will happen, or whether ByteDance will ever sell TikTok. For now, it seems TikTok is buying itself more time in the geopolitical standoff.

Get Massive Samsung Store Credit for Free

Big reveals are expected at Samsung’s January 22nd Unpacked event, but for now, we’ll enjoy the fresh minty aesthetic. You can reserve interest in the S25 for free, giving you up to $1250 in credits.

The Nintendo Switch 2 Plays It Safe (And That’s Okay)

Nintendo’s known for taking big risks—dual screens, motion controls, cardboard contraptions - but its latest move is decidedly… safe. Enter the Switch 2: a bigger, better version of the original Switch, with no gimmicks or drastic overhauls. And honestly? That’s probably for the best.

Here’s what we know so far:

• Improved hardware: A bigger display and redesigned Joy-Con controllers, though specs are still under wraps.

• Backward compatibility: It plays (most of) your old Switch games, and Switch Online subscriptions will carry over.

• Same form factor: Still a hybrid tablet-console you can play on the go or dock for TV use.

Why the safe play? The original Switch sold over 146 million units, rekindled love for portable gaming, and solidified Nintendo’s dominance. The Switch 2 doubles down on what works, without reinventing the wheel.

Zoom out: Nintendo may be playing it safe here, but don’t count out its weird side. Projects like Labo prove it’s still got that quirky edge - just not at the cost of its flagship console.

Instagram Brings Back a Classic Feature (with a Diabolical Twist)

Remember Instagram’s old “activity” feed, where you could see what your friends liked? It’s making a comeback - sort of. Now, the spotlight’s on Reels. Instagram head Adam Mosseri announced a new tab in the Reels feed that shows which videos your friends have liked or commented on, complete with temporary “notes” they leave.

Here’s the breakdown:

• The pitch: Instagram wants to help users “connect over content” by sharing friends’ activity on Reels.

• The vibes: It’s nostalgic, but also a little invasive - because let’s be honest, do you really want everyone knowing you liked everycat video on the internet?

• The drama: Unlike TikTok’s ultra-personalized vibe, this feature assumes you share tastes with your friends, which might not always land well.

The catch: Instagram hasn’t clarified if you can opt out of showing your activity in the new feed. And as X (formerly Twitter) learned, people don’t love having their likes broadcast (we’re looking at you, Ted Cruz).

Zoom out: With TikTok potentially banned in the U.S., Instagram is vying for attention. Will this feature bring users closer—or make them rethink every double-tap?

Adam Scott on Those Weird Severance Computers

The eerie retrofuturism of Severance isn’t just an aesthetic - it’s interactive. Adam Scott, who plays Mark in the Apple TV Plus series, revealed that the cast really does use those strange Lumon computers on set. When you see characters sorting “scary” numbers in the show’s unnervingly bright office, they’re actually refining numbers on functional devices designed specifically for the series.

Here’s what makes them unique:

• Old meets new: The Lumon computers blend vintage vibes (think Apple IIe nostalgia) with touchscreen monitors and a keyboard-trackball combo.

• Designed for surrealism: The ergonomic oddities and custom interface make them just familiar enough to feel unsettling—a perfect match for the show’s vibe.

• It’s not just acting: The functionality of the computers allows actors to perform real tasks, adding to their immersion and the story’s mystery.

Zoom out: The weirdness of the Lumon machines amplifies Severance’s themes of disconnection and intrigue, making both viewers and characters question what’s really happening in that ominous basement.

Quick Bits

• Microsoft triples down on AI: Microsoft announced the formation of CoreAI - Platform and Tools, introduced pay-as-you-go agents for Copilot Chat, and bundled AI Office features into Microsoft 365, signaling a deepened commitment to AI integration. 

• Looming TikTok ban impacts tech giants: The impending TikTok ban poses significant financial challenges for companies like Google and Apple, which face potential fines if they continue supporting the app without ByteDance’s divestiture. 

• Nvidia CEO skips inauguration: Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, will not attend President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration, opting to celebrate the Lunar New Year abroad, while other tech leaders plan to attend. 

• China’s memory chip advancements: Chinese memory chip companies, such as ChangXin Memory Technologies, are rapidly increasing their global market share, challenging established players like Samsung and Micron.