TikTok, the popular social media app, has made a surprise return to Apple and Google's US app stores, bringing temporary relief to its users and creators. However, the app's future remains uncertain, with employees facing layoff fears and ongoing political tensions between the US and China.

According to a transcript of a company all-hands meeting, TikTok chief Shou Chew expressed confidence that the app can make progress in stabilizing its situation in the US. Chew acknowledged the years of political miscalculations that led to the app's current predicament, but assured employees that the company has made progress in building trust. He also highlighted the app's stabilized advertising business and exceeding user engagement goals.

Despite the return to app stores, TikTok's leaders have been quietly mounting a pressure campaign to address the issue of legal assurances needed to host the app. Key executives, including policy chief Michael Beckerman, held off-the-record Q&A sessions with TikTok creators to stress that Apple and Google have the necessary legal assurances to host the app without facing significant fines.

However, the app's fate is far from certain. President Donald Trump and China still need to work out a deal that could see TikTok become at least partially owned by a US sovereign wealth fund. Trump has made clear that he wants to use TikTok as a bargaining chip with China, leaving the app's destiny uncertain.

In addition to the ongoing political tensions, TikTok employees are also concerned about potential layoffs. During the all-hands meeting, Chew warned that "certain teams" had become "bloated" and "clunky," and that the company needs to remove overlap in roles and responsibilities to offer better job security. This warning has sparked fears of impending layoffs among employees.

In other tech news, Google executives dodged questions about the company's decision to end its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and allow its AI to be used for weapons. CEO Sundar Pichai and top lawyer Kent Walker failed to provide clear answers, citing legal directions and the need to comply with federal contractor status.

Meanwhile, Meta has faced a rough week, with employees expressing frustration and whispers of lawsuits following Mark Zuckerberg's "low-performer" layoffs. The company's stock price continues to climb, but the layoffs have caused significant unrest among employees.

Elon Musk's bid to buy OpenAI has also made headlines, with the billionaire entrepreneur offering $97.4 billion to acquire the nonprofit. While the offer is unlikely to be accepted, it has succeeded in making the conversion of OpenAI to a for-profit company more expensive and messy.

As the tech industry continues to navigate these complex issues, one thing is clear: the future of TikTok and other major tech companies remains uncertain, with ongoing political tensions, layoffs, and shifting priorities shaping the landscape.