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ByteDance Sets Ambitious $20 Billion Budget For 2025, Focusing On AI Expansion

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

January 23, 2025

ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, is planning a substantial capital investment of over 150 billion yuan ($20.64 billion) in 2025, with a significant portion directed towards advancing artificial intelligence, sources familiar with the matter revealed.

Approximately half of this budget will be allocated overseas, primarily for AI infrastructure projects such as data centers and networking technology. This strategic expenditure is expected to benefit major players like Huawei Technologies, Cambricon Technologies, and U.S. chipmaker Nvidia, according to the sources, who wished to remain anonymous due to the sensitive nature of the information.

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ByteDance, however, dismissed the claims, stating that the details regarding its spending are inaccurate, without providing further clarification.

In response, Nvidia declined to comment, while Huawei and Cambricon did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

This investment comes as ByteDance aims to consolidate its position as a leader in AI technology. Despite starting 2024 behind its competitors, the company now boasts over 15 independent AI applications, surpassing rivals such as Baidu and Tencent. Notable among its creations is the popular chatbot, Doubao. The spending plan is also set to strengthen ByteDance’s AI capabilities abroad, especially at a time when the future of TikTok remains uncertain in the United States, where a 75-day delay in the enforcement of a potential ban on the app was recently signed into effect by U.S. President Donald Trump.

While ByteDance, a privately held company, does not typically disclose financial figures, the new spending strategy represents a significant step forward. The Financial Times had earlier reported that the company plans to invest $12 billion in AI infrastructure, with additional funds allocated to secure Nvidia chips outside China, where the U.S. imposes restrictions on high-tech exports.

ByteDance is already the largest consumer of Nvidia’s H20 AI chips, which were specifically designed for the Chinese market in light of the restrictions. Additionally, it is Nvidia’s top client in Asia for cloud-based chips, sources have indicated.

In China, ByteDance’s AI applications include Doubao, which boasts 75 million active users, as well as the text-to-video tool Jimeng, the image generator Xinghui, and platforms like Kouzi and Maoxiang for chatbot creation and emotional support. Internationally, ByteDance has adapted its leading apps for foreign markets, with Doubao being known as Cici and Jimeng as Dreamina outside China.

ByteDance recently updated its flagship AI model, also called Doubao, positioning it to compete with Microsoft-backed OpenAI’s advanced reasoning products.

Despite these ambitious plans, ByteDance’s AI investments remain modest compared to its American counterparts. In 2024, Alphabet, Google’s parent company, allocated $50 billion for chips, data centers, and related expenses, while Microsoft spent $55.7 billion in its fiscal year, with a considerable portion devoted to AI infrastructure.

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Cyprus’ Strong Youth Employment Rate Still Does Not Guarantee Early Independence

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

September 16, 2026

Young people in Cyprus have a relatively high employment rate, but they leave the parental home later than the EU average, according to Eurostat data.

Cypriots left home at an average age of 27 in 2025, compared with 26.3 years across the EU. At the same time, 72.3% of people aged 20 to 29 in Cyprus were employed, well above the EU average of 65.5%.

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Strong Employment Does Not Mean Early Independence

Only nine countries recorded higher youth employment rates than Cyprus. Iceland led at 85.3%, followed by the Netherlands at 84%, Malta at 82.1%, Switzerland at 78.3% and Germany at 77%.

Norway recorded 76.5%, Ireland 76.1%, Denmark 74.8% and Austria 74.6%. Eurostat said countries where young people leave home earlier generally tend to have higher youth employment rates.

Southern Europe Sees Later Moves

Finland had the lowest average age for leaving the parental home at 21.4 years, followed by Denmark at 21.8 and Estonia and Lithuania at 22.7. Croatia recorded the highest average at 31.5 years, followed by Greece and Slovakia at 30.9. Spain and Italy both stood at 30.2 years.

Across the EU, the average has remained close to 26 since 2002, rising only slightly from 26.2 years in 2024 to 26.3 years in 2025.

Cyprus Labour Market Is Cooling

The figures come as Cyprus’ labor market shows some signs of easing, although demand for workers remains relatively strong by European standards.

Separate Eurostat data showed Cyprus had the EU’s largest annual decline in its job vacancy rate in the second quarter of 2026. The rate fell to 2.6% from 3.3% a year earlier, but remained above the EU average of 2.0% and the euro area average of 2.1%.

Cost Of Living Remains A Factor

Housing and other living costs can also affect how quickly young workers establish independent households. Eurostat reported that Cyprus’ household consumption price level was 89.2% of the EU average in 2025.

A relatively lower overall price level does not eliminate affordability pressures for people on modest incomes. For younger workers, the issue can be whether wages are sufficient to cover rent, utilities, food and other basic expenses.

Cyprus therefore combines relatively high youth employment with a later transition to independent living, suggesting that access to work and the ability to afford a separate household do not always move together.