Will Douglas Heaven / MIT Technology Review:
Researchers at OpenAI, Anthropic, and others are studying LLMs like living things, not just software, to uncover some of their secrets for the first time  —  By studying large language models as if they were living things instead of computer programs, scientists are discovering some of their secrets for the first time.

Sam Knight / New Yorker:
A look at WhatsApp's enormous global reach and influence, and how the messaging app became the dominant platform for everyday conversation worldwide  —  The platform has become a core technology around the world, relied on by governments and extended families alike.  What are we all doing there?

Cristina Criddle / Financial Times:
Microsoft warns Chinese companies, especially DeepSeek, are winning AI adoption outside the West, gaining significant market share in the Global South  —  DeepSeek's technology is being rapidly adopted across Africa and beyond, tech group's research shows  —  Microsoft has warned …

Decrypt:
The NYC token, launched by ex-New York City Mayor Eric Adams on January 12, saw its market cap drop from ~$600M to ~$100M after suspicious liquidity activity  —  On-chain data shows unexplained liquidity withdrawals as Eric Adam's NYC token's market cap continues to bleed.  —  In brief

Financial Times:
Sources: Balderton cashed out ~$2B of its Revolut stake in the past year, turning an early £1M bet into a historic European VC win; its fifth fund returned 25x  —  Balderton Capital led $75bn fintech's first funding round and retains substantial stake even after cashing out $2bn