LivaNova submits nerve stim for sleep apnea to FDA, raises 2025 guidance

 LivaNova (Nasdaq: LIVN)

 today announced 12-month data from its OSPREY study supporting an FDA submission of the aura6000 system.

The London-based medtech company recently completed its submission based on meeting OSPREY’s primary safety and efficacy endpoints. It submitted six-month data and provided 12-month interim results with plans to share the full 12-month dataset during the review.

aura6000 is an investigational implantable proximal hypoglossal neurostimulator. LivaNova hopes to bring it to market to treat adult patients with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). If successful, the implant could rival Inspire Medical’s neurostimulator as an alternative to traditional CPAP sleep respiratory systems.

Year-long data shared today by LivaNova highlighted a 65% responder rate in the treatment arm, with responders defined as those who realized at least a 50% improvement from the baseline apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and an AHI value below 20. The study features a differentiated neurostimulation modality called proximal hypoglossal nerve stimulation (p-HGNS). It utilizes six electrodes placed on the proximal trunk of the hypoglossal nerve for broad access to the muscles controlling the airway.

“OSPREY is the first major multi-center randomized, controlled pivotal trial of hypoglossal nerve stimulation. Patients in the device stimulation group experienced a rapid onset of therapy with continued improvement over time,” said Dr. Atul Malhotra, lead investigator for the study, who is also a professor of medicine at University of California San Diego School of Medicine and sleep medicine specialist at UC San Diego Health. “Responder rates in the treatment group were strong throughout the first year with one in four patients responding on day one, 50% responding by month three, and 65% responding by the 12-month mark. In addition, patient-reported outcomes for daytime sleepiness and functional outcomes of sleep quality demonstrated meaningful improvement over the course of 12 months.”

More on the data shared by LivaNova

When comparing baseline median values to six and 12 months of therapy (assessed at the seven- and 13-month follow-up visits, respectively), OSPREY subjects showed significant reductions in AHI and oxygen desaturation index (ODI) over time.

AHI and ODI reduced by 68%, LivaNova said. After 12 months of treatment, OSPREY subjects in the device stimulation group experienced clinically meaningful improvements in the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and the Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire (FOSQ).

LivaNova also reported no serious adverse device-related or procedure-related events during OSPREY.

“The OSPREY trial demonstrated rapid and sustained improvement for patients who received active proximal hypoglossal nerve stimulation, including those with severe obstructive sleep apnea, elevated body mass index, and high risk of complete concentric collapse,” said Ahmet Tezel, chief innovation officer of LivaNova. “The OSPREY 12-month results further validate the potential of this therapy as a treatment alternative for the large and growing OSA population. With the strength of our clinical data, expertise of our neuromodulation team, and strategic growth opportunity ahead, we are eager to bring this innovation to patients.”

First-quarter results and raised guidance

In addition to the OSPREY results, LivaNova shared first-quarter financial results today that topped Wall Street estimates.

Shares of LIVN rose 8.5% to $38.13 apiece before the market opened today.

The company reported losses of $327.3 million. That equals $6.01 per share on sales of $316.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025.

LivaNova reported a massive bottom-line slide of nearly $300 million on a sales increase of 7.5%. It attributed the losses to an Italian Supreme Court Decision determining that LivaNova can be held liable for the established environmental liabilities of SNIA (a former parent of Sorin). It said the SNIA environmental liability accounted for €333.3 million ($360.4 million).

Adjusted to exclude one-time items, earnings per share came in at 88¢. That landed 12¢ ahead of expectations on Wall Street. Sales also topped projections as experts forecast $302.4 million in revenue.

“In the first quarter, LivaNova delivered solid revenue growth, driven by the ongoing success of the Essenz rollout, demand for Cardiopulmonary consumables, and strong Neuromodulation performance in the Europe and Rest of World regions,” said Vladimir Makatsaria, CEO of LivaNova. “This top-line result, coupled with operational efficiencies, contributed to meaningful operating income growth and cash generation. Importantly, we also achieved significant regulatory and clinical milestones in our obstructive sleep apnea program, including our PMA submission and 12-month data from the OSPREY trial. These achievements reflect effective execution across the organization and reinforce our focus on talent, innovation, growth, and operational excellence.”

LivaNova now expects full-year revenue growth between 6% and 7%, raising its previous range from between 5% and 6%. It expects adjusted EPS, however, to land between $3.60 and $3.70, dropping 5¢ at each end of the range. That now incorporates the impact of the SNIA decision and currently applicable tariffs.

https://www.massdevice.com/livanova-submits-nerve-stim-sleep-apnea-fda/

Trump to sign order on drug prices as early as next week: reports

 U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order as early as next week that would revive an effort to decrease drug costs by tying the amount the government pays for some medicine to lower prices abroad, Politico reported on Wednesday, citing three people familiar with the matter.

https://whbl.com/2025/05/07/trump-to-sign-order-on-drug-prices-as-early-as-next-week-politico-reports/

LNG Is A Key Bargaining Chip In Tariff Talks With Asian Nations

 Asian nations are ramping up energy imports from the U.S. to gain leverage in tariff talks with President Trump, though concessions in areas like autos and agriculture may prove harder to secure, according to a new report from Nikkei.

"Asian trading partners have been the most forthcoming in terms of doing the deals," said Scott Bessent, Trump’s chief tariff negotiator, pointing to India, South Korea, and Japan.

Negotiations are underway with Vietnam, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, and India ahead of the July 9 deadline, after the U.S. paused tariffs for 90 days in April. Except for China—which has retaliated—over 100 countries are engaging to avoid fallout.

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is a key bargaining chip. Asian economies are pledging more imports of U.S. LNG, which is expected to see demand rise as countries shift from coal. “In the longer term, Asia could buy more U.S. LNG for future decades,” said Alex Froley of ICIS.

The Nikkei report says that Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam are expanding LNG purchases, while Indonesia may focus on other fuels like LPG and crude oil. Some are eyeing a potential $44 billion LNG project in Alaska. Bessent hinted that a “big energy deal” there involving “the Japanese and perhaps the Koreans, perhaps the Taiwanese” could influence tariffs.

South Korea is coordinating a visit to Alaska, and Taiwan’s CPC signed a non-binding letter to participate. Japan’s JERA called it "one of the promising procurement sources," though cost remains a barrier.

Automotive trade remains tense. Trump has criticized the lack of U.S. cars in Asia. Japan had a $48 billion auto surplus with the U.S. in 2024. While Tokyo may ease crash-test rules and expand preferential treatment for imports, actual gains are doubtful. “It’s difficult to drive large and powerful American cars on narrow Japanese streets,” said Takashi Imamura of Marubeni Institute.

Japan’s automakers already produce extensively in the U.S. “Trump’s complaints may be just a ploy to have the upper hand in the overall negotiations,” Imamura added.

In agriculture, the U.S. is pushing for expanded exports of rice, soybeans, and corn. Japan is a key target, though Tokyo refuted claims of a “700%” tariff on rice. Political resistance is strong, particularly ahead of Japan’s upper-house elections.

Still, Japan and South Korea are already top buyers of U.S. rice, pork, and wheat. “Asia already relies on the U.S. for agricultural imports like soybeans, wheat and corn,” said Keisuke Sano of Nomura Research Institute. But broader shifts will be slow: “It will take more time, as that requires a change in culture,” he noted.

Thailand is exploring expanded U.S. imports but faces opposition from farmers and environmental groups.

South Korea is also leveraging shipbuilding. Its Hyundai Heavy Industries signed an MOU with Huntington Ingalls to explore U.S. shipyard investments. The U.S., once a global shipbuilding leader, now seeks Asian investment to revive the industry. “We’ve got to look at all options,” said U.S. Navy Secretary John Phelan.

Security spending may factor in too. Trump called the U.S.-Japan defense treaty “one-sided” and wants allies to pay more. Before an April 16 meeting, Trump said Japan was negotiating both tariffs and “the cost of military support.” Later, he clarified the military issue was “another subject” but repeated that allies “have gone rich” while the U.S. “has been ripped off.”

Defense imports may be included in deals. Taiwan’s President Lai pledged “additional arms procurements” to help reduce its trade gap with the U.S., according to the report. 

Recall, we wrote late last month that India could be the most likely to sign a major U.S. trade deal. 

We noted that India is the nation most likely to announce the first major trade deal with the Trump admin not only because of Apple's decision to shift all US-focused iPhone production from China to India, but because India and China have a bit of a regional superpower rivalry between them, with the former recently surpassing the latter as the world's most populous country (China is facing a crippling demographic crisis in several decades that would rival Japan's), and with ambitions to overtake China's GDP over the next 2 decades.

Case in point, Indian trade negotiators are planning to showcase the country’s large pipeline of Boeing plane orders and the potential for more to come as they seek a favorable deal with the US, Bloomberg reported citing people familiar with the matter. In the absence of a deal, Indian goods exports to the US face up to 26% levies after Trump’s 90-day pause on implementation of reciprocal tariffs ends in July.

The plan is to get Indian carriers’ existing orders and under-negotiation deals with the American planemaker counted in discussions for a bilateral trade pact that could potentially shield the country from higher US tariffs.

Along with Air India, Akasa Air-operator SNV Aviation and SpiceJet have placed a combined order for 590 aircraft worth $67 billion with Boeing in recent years. With deliveries and payments for 506 of those planes staggered over several years, India wants to highlight how these private purchases would serve to narrow the more than $47 billion trade surplus New Delhi runs with Washington — a key gripe of President Donald Trump.

https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/lng-key-bargaining-chip-tariff-talks-asian-nations

Real ID Is Not About Keeping You Safe

 by Connor O'Keefe via The Mises Institute,

Today, after nearly two decades of implementation and delays, the federal government’s new identification requirements for traveling by plane domestically or entering federal buildings technically go into effect. This federally-compliant ID card—known as Real ID—can only be attained with specific records and documents laid out by the federal government. It’s labeled by a black or gold star in the upper right corner.

Even though DHS Secretary Kristi Noem promised that, at least initially, people without a Real ID will only have to face some “extra scrutiny” at security checkpoints, it’s safe to assume that, as the full requirement sets in over the next several weeks and months, some number of people will show up to airports unaware that they no longer have the documents required to board their plane. And, because the process of getting through most domestic airports was grueling enough before the deadline, many expect air travel to be especially arduous during the transition.

Because of the absoluteness of this new requirement and the harsh punishments for non-compliance—just picture what would happen to you if you tried to get into a federal building or onto a plane without the accepted forms of ID—it can be easy to write off the Real ID requirement as some new rule that, while annoying, is probably being implemented for a good reason.

It’s not.

As mentioned above, the Real ID Act was passed twenty years ago in 2005. It was one of the many measures rolled out in the wake of the 9/11 attacks that was presented to the public as being necessary to ensure that similar attacks would never happen again.

The original bill specified that the federal government would refuse to accept any form of ID that did not meet the requirements Congress had passed by May of 2008. But as that date drew closer, few states had implemented the new provisions. Some governors had vocally refused to comply because they opposed what was, in effect, the implementation of a national identification database.

That prompted the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to delay the deadline several times—first to 2011, then a complicated range of deadlines from 2013 to 2017 based on age and state of residence, and then to one universal deadline in October 2020.

Then the pandemic hit, and the deadline was extended again to 2021, then 2023, and finally to today, May 7, 2025.

If these new ID requirements were as crucial to the safety of air travelers—and the American public at large—as the federal government has claimed, the sheer time it’s taken to implement would be unacceptable. That alone is a sign that, perhaps, the federal government’s motivations are not what they say.

And indeed, if you look back at how and why the 9/11 attacks occurred, it’s clear that preventing a similar attack is—at most—an extremely thin excuse for this new federal ID system.

None of the 9/11 hijackers used fake IDs or pretended to be someone else when they checked in and boarded their flights. At the time, an ID check was only required during check-in, and the rule was not always enforced. All of the hijackers who were asked to show ID presented legitimate forms of identification—mostly foreign passports.

One hijacker was flagged at check-in because he did not have a photo ID. Two other hijackers were similarly flagged by a joint FBI and FAA pre-screening system after identifying themselves.

But the government’s rules at the time only required the three flagged hijackers’ checked luggage to be set aside until they had boarded their flights—a rule meant to prevent people from sending bombs onto flights they would then purposefully miss, as is suspected to have happened in the famous 1988 Lockerbie bombing. All three hijackers were allowed to board their planes.

So, it’s hard to see how anyone can seriously argue that some new ID requirements that would have done nothing to stop the 9/11 attacks are crucial for preventing future attacks of the same nature.

The truth is that the Real ID is just the latest chapter in the federal government’s twenty-plus years of using 9/11 as an excuse to protect and expand its power.

Washington could have pursued the most plausible path to avoid future 9/11s by calling off the completely unnecessary meddling it had been conducting in the Middle East. The wars our government had waged, supplied, and bankrolled in the region had first strengthened the popularity of anti-American thought among certain radical factions of Sunni Islamists. Osama bin Laden was then able to seize on that sentiment and use his reputation as an anti-Soviet fighter in Afghanistan to convince a couple hundred followers to adopt his strategy of targeting the US directly to draw the Americans into a war like the one he thought led to the Soviet Union’s collapse.

Instead, American politicians and bureaucrats decided to act as though the American public’s security could best be attained if they first gave themselves significantly more power and then used it to try and pacify the entire Middle East with the very same methods that had just convinced nineteen young men to fly planes into American buildings.

And as the neoconservatives and establishment war hawks have helped boost the popularity of bin Ladenite thought with over two decades of relentless wars, incursions, covert operations, and air campaigns, American officials also seized on the opportunity to expand their power here at home.

The federal government, of course, nationalized airport security—even though the private contractors handling it before were already tasked specifically with enforcing FAA rules, and the 9/11 hijackers had not packed anything that the FAA prevented them from taking on the plane. The attack was not an airport screening failure. But now it’s all handled by a group that will continue to operate in every commercial airport in the country regardless of how abysmal it is at detecting banned items.

Beyond the airport, the federal government gave itself sweeping new authorities to conduct surveillance on everyone, including American citizens, with the passage of the Patriot Act. Taking after the regime in Beijing that they love to demonize for the same reasons, federal bureaucrats in Washington built up extensive systems to monitor digital communication and track the American population with technologies like facial recognition.

Real ID is the next major development in that effort. While the federal requirements, as of now, are limited to the specific documents and “mandatory facial image capture” needed to attain a state ID, the law leaves the government plenty of room to expand those requirements to include biometric identifiers in federal databases like retinal scans, fingerprints, or DNA.

In other words, while the issues with the initial Real ID rollout will mostly be limited to a few occasional long waits at the DMV or airport, the bill lays the groundwork for the federal government to force anyone who wants a state ID to forfeit biometric identifiers or facial recognition data to federal databases that would constitute the kind of detailed de facto national ID system that the biggest tyrants of history could have only dreamed of wielding.

That may seem a bit far-fetched. But it is naïve to think that, in the aftermath of another terrorist attack, the politicians and bureaucrats who are always searching for any excuse to expand their power would not use some new powers that they already gave themselves.

If we allow that day to come, we’ll yearn for the days when our big problems consisted of long airport lines.

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/real-id-not-about-keeping-you-safe

Saudi Arabia Pressed Trump To Stop Attacks On Yemen Ahead Of Visit

 Via Middle East Eye

Saudi Arabia has been lobbying the US to stop all US attacks on Yemen ahead of President Donald Trump's visit to the kingdom, warning that it would create an "embarrassing situation" for Riyadh and the US, Middle East Eye can reveal.

Saudi Arabia has resisted the US bombing campaign in Yemen since the Biden administration began strikes in 2024, but their insistence that attacks stop picked up last week as they became more concerned about the scope of the strikes, two US officials told MEE on the condition of anonymity. "Trump appears to be meeting a Saudi ‘ask’ to stop strikes ahead of his visit," one of the US officials told MEE.

“The pressure from the Saudis to end this has intensified since last week. They told us that attacks on Yemen while POTUS is there would be playing with fire,” the official added, using an acronym for the US President.

Trump announced on Tuesday that “effective immediately”, the US would stop bombing Yemen. The officials could not confirm whether Trump was swayed by the Saudi lobbying alone or decided to stop the campaign based on his calculations.

The US strikes also came under intense criticism from some of Trump’s closest allies, such as media personality Tucker Carlson and Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene.

Shortly before Trump’s announcement, Greene mocked the entire premise of the campaign, writing, “I’ve never seen a Houthi. Nor has anyone else I know.”

Trump says he will 'honour' his word with Houthis 

Trump said the Houthis informed the US on Monday night that “they don’t want to fight anymore, they just don’t want to fight”.

“We will honour that. We will stop the bombings,” Trump said, saying that the group promised not to attack ships.

Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi confirmed Trump’s announcement on X, adding that his country had been mediating a “ceasefire” between the US and the Houthis. “In the future, neither side will target the other, including American vessels, in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait, ensuring freedom of navigation and the smooth flow of international commercial shipping,’ al-Busaidi wrote on X.

Arab and US officials told MEE that Saudi Arabia has been fiercely “pre-negotiating” Trump’s visit. Saudi Arabia wants to focus on economic deals and military sales, Arab officials say.

MEE reported last week that Riyadh sought assurances from the US it would keep discussions of normalization with Israel off the agenda during Trump’s visit.

Saudi Arabia says it needs to see steps toward the creation of a Palestinian state and a ceasefire in Gaza before it recognizes Israel. 

Israel bombs Sanaa same day as US 'ceasefire'

The “ceasefire” between the US and the Houthis could also reveal deeper schisms between Trump and Israel. Trump announced his halt in attacks the same day Israel pummeled Sanaa airport.

Neither Trump nor Oman’s foreign minister made any mention of the Houthis stopping their attacks on Israel in their announcements. Over the weekend, a Houthi ballistic missile hit a parking lot close to Terminal three at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, sending shockwaves through Israel.

Saudi Arabia has been deeply sceptical of the US bombing campaign against the Houthis since it began under the Biden administration in 2024.

All the narratives are wearing off.
Vietnam was a pointless war and we lost.
There were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.
Afghanistan was a waste.
And we gained nothing from any of those wars.
Saudi Arabia has nuclear weapons and the 19 terrorists from 9/11 were all Saudis.…

— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) May 6, 2025

Yemen descended into civil war in 2014 when the Iran-aligned Houthis seized Yemen's capital, Sanaa. A year later, Saudi Arabia led a coalition of Arab states, including the United Arab Emirates, to restore the internationally recognized government.

The Saudi-led coalition launched thousands of air strikes on Yemen, which failed to dislodge the Houthis but resulted in hundreds of thousands of civilian deaths and a major humanitarian crisis. The Houthis responded by lobbing missiles and drones at civilian infrastructure in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Saudi Arabia and the Houthis struck a truce in 2022. Although technically expired, the two sides have refrained from attacking each other. The Saudis' efforts to reach a political settlement with the Houthis have been complicated by the group’s attacks on international shipping and US and Israeli strikes.

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/saudi-arabia-pressed-trump-stop-attacks-yemen-ahead-visit

FAA Announces New Measures to Address Newark Airport Disruptions

 The FAA on Wednesday announced it is taking “immediate steps” to alleviate severe disruptions at Newark Liberty International Airport (KEWR).

After a tumultuous weekend that saw 951 delays and 226 cancellations, per data from FlightAware, the airport on Monday entered its second week of operational challenges. On Tuesday alone it recorded another 374 delays and 150 cancellations. Flight activity at the airport over the past seven days is down 23 percent compared to the same week last year.

Disruptions softened Wednesday morning. But according to the FAA’s operations plan, the agency expects to activate a ground stop at Newark in the afternoon. Driving the chaos are air traffic controller (ATC) staffing shortages, equipment issues, and ongoing construction—scheduled to last until mid-June—on one of Newark’s three runways used for commercial traffic, the FAA said.

In response, the regulator is implementing an action plan that includes critical “technological and logistical” upgrades at the Philadelphia Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) facility’s Area C, which manages the airspace in Newark. It will also increase staffing. On April 28, controllers at the site “temporarily lost radar and communications with the aircraft under their control, unable to see, hear, or talk to them,” the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) said Monday.

Speaking with CNN, an anonymous controller described the equipment issues as the “most dangerous situation you could have” and said the energy in the control tower was “hectic.”

Per a U.S. Department of Transportation media advisory, Secretary Sean Duffy is scheduled to reveal the agency’s “all-new, state-of-the-art air traffic control infrastructure plan” on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. EDT. The announcement comes about four months after a fatal collision between a U.S. Army helicopter and commercial passenger jet brought public scrutiny on the nation’s aviation system.

Trouble at TRACON

The Philadelphia TRACON lies at the heart of Newark’s malaise.

Controllers at the facility took over management of Newark’s airspace from the New York TRACON (N90) in July, a move the FAA said was intended to address N90 staffing shortages. The agency said the site has 22 certified professional controllers (CPCs) and another 21 controllers and supervisors in training. It added that it has a “healthy pipeline with training classes filled through July 2026.” On Monday, though, The Air Current reported that the FAA is searching for experienced ATC supervisors to address continued shortages.

The problem is not limited to Newark. Per NATCA, the FAA needs to hire more than 3,000 ATC personnel to meet nationwide staffing targets. The issue gained renewed attention on Friday, when United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby claimed that “over 20 percent of the FAA controllers for EWR walked off the job.”

NATCA on Monday clarified that controllers did not “walk off,” which the FAA later confirmed. Per CNN, three controllers, a supervisor, and a trainee took 45 days of leave under the Federal Employees Compensation Act to deal with the trauma of losing radio and communications for 60 to 90 seconds. During that stretch, personnel lost touch with a FedEx MD-11 and were unable to guide it into Newark.

“It was just by the grace of God that there wasn’t another plane in his way,” the anonymous controller told the outlet.

Radar data from Newark is fed to the Philadelphia TRACON through telecommunications wires from the FAA’s standard terminal automation replacement system (STARS) in New York. The controller told CNN this feed is not redundant and has gone down at least twice before.

“What we’re seeing here at the Philadelphia TRACON…that actually can be what’s going to happen across the country,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned on Friday.

Beyond increasing controller staffing, the FAA on Wednesday said it will create a new STARS hub in Philadelphia and make upgrades to improve the speed and reliability of communications, such as replacing copper telecommunications wiring with fiberoptic technology. A temporary backup system will be stood up in Philadelphia during the switch to fiberoptic. 

Grander Plans

Beyond staffing, Newark’s disruptions stem from what Duffy on Friday described as an “incredibly old” ATC system. The transportation secretary has repeatedly touted a “state of the art” replacement, which could come online within three to four years and be backed by a $15 billion support package from Congress.

“We use floppy disks. We use copper wires,” Duffy said. “The system that we’re using is not effective to control the traffic that we have in the airspace today.”

Duffy, appointed by President Donald Trump in January, has frequently placed blame on the previous administration for the status quo. On Tuesday, he posted a link to a December 2024 report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) that urged the FAA to modernize ATC technology.

“A government watchdog warned [former President Joe] Biden & [Transportation Secretary Pete] Buttigieg about the failing air traffic control system,” Duffy wrote on X. “They knew the air traffic control system was strained AND STILL DID NOTHING!”

According to The Washington Post, the FAA under Trump paused the work of an expert panel reviewing its management of ATC systems. But it also raised starting salaries for ATC trainees and implemented cash bonuses to boost hiring and retention.

https://www.flyingmag.com/faa-announces-new-measures-to-address-newark-airport-disruptions/

'OpenAI offers to help countries build AI systems'

 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.

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.

https://tech.yahoo.com/ai/articles/openai-offers-help-countries-build-173629029.html