This week in tech news, several major players made headlines with significant announcements and developments. OpenAI, the artificial intelligence research organization, canceled the release of its next major AI model, o3, in favor of a "simplified" product offering. According to CEO Sam Altman, OpenAI will instead release GPT-5, a model that integrates o3 into ChatGPT and its API.

In a surprising turn of events, TikTok returned to US app stores nearly a month after it was removed due to a national security law that banned the app. Apple and Google restored the video-sharing platform, as well as video editor CapCut and social media app Lemon8, which were also removed to comply with the law. The apps were restored after US Attorney General Pam Bondi sent Apple a letter stating that the ban wouldn't immediately be enforced, Bloomberg reports.

Meanwhile, Apple CEO Tim Cook teased the upcoming release of a new iPhone SE, likely to be the fourth generation of the device. This will be the first iPhone SE release in three years, and it's expected to ditch the Touch ID home button in favor of the same chip that powers the iPhone 16.

In other news, Elon Musk's bid to buy OpenAI for $97.4 billion came with a condition: the organization must remain a nonprofit. Musk's lawyers claim that his offer is "serious" and contingent on OpenAI's commitment to its current status.

Meta's CTO Andrew Bosworth faced criticism from employees unhappy with the company's latest policies, particularly the cutting of DEI programs. In an internal chat, Bosworth told frustrated employees they were free to quit if they couldn't adapt to the changes.

Tesla emerged victorious in a defamation lawsuit filed by Zhang Yazhou, who claimed that a Tesla Model 3 crashed due to faulty brakes in 2021. A Chinese court ordered Zhang to pay $23,000 in damages and issue a public apology.

In the world of social media, Pinksky launched an Android version of its photo-centric platform built on top of Bluesky, aiming to attract former Instagram users with its open technology.

Google DeepMind researchers showcased miniature humanoid robots playing a game of soccer, demonstrating their ability to learn movement skills like walking, kicking, and recovering from falls.

Google expanded its NotebookLM Plus, a paid AI-based note-taking and research assistant, to users subscribed to the Google One AI Premium plan. The service now offers higher usage limits and premium features.

Zeta, a provider of banking software, raised $50 million from a strategic investor at a $2 billion valuation, marking a 70% increase in the startup's valuation since 2021.

Google Maps users in the US will now see the Gulf of America instead of the Gulf of Mexico, following an executive order from President Trump. International users will see both names, while users in Mexico will only see the Gulf of Mexico.

Perplexity, an AI search engine, used a creative strategy to increase its mobile app installs by roughly 50% during the Super Bowl, according to data from Appfigures. Instead of buying an expensive ad, Perplexity used X to encourage users to download its app for a chance to win $1 million.

Finally, Tumblr announced its plans to join the open social web by migrating to the WordPress infrastructure. Once complete, Tumblr users will be able to federate their blogs via ActivityPub, just like WordPress.com users.