US tech industry

A US jury has ruled that Apple must pay a record $5.7 billion in a patent dispute over haptic technology, the vibration feedback used in its devices. The verdict ranks among the largest patent damages awards in US history and is expected to trigger appeals and scrutiny of how Apple licenses touchscreen feedback technology.

Ireland's Data Protection Commission has fined Google €403 million for breaching the EU's General Data Protection Regulation, according to the Irish Times. The penalty from Google's lead European regulator ranks among the larger GDPR fines issued to a major technology company, and the ruling is likely to fuel ongoing debate about how EU watchdogs police the data practices of large US platforms.

Speaker Mike Johnson is set to join Donald Trump for meetings with leading technology executives focused on the risks posed by artificial intelligence. The talks come as Washington weighs how to regulate fast-moving AI development while keeping the US competitive, and they signal that AI policy is moving up the agenda for lawmakers and industry leaders alike.

US House Speaker Mike Johnson says President Trump's meeting with technology chief executives will focus on finding the right balance on artificial intelligence. The discussion is expected to weigh innovation and industry growth against regulation and safety concerns. The meeting brings the Trump administration face to face with leading AI companies as Washington shapes its approach to governing the fast-moving technology.

Reports say China could permit its major technology companies to purchase new Nvidia chips, a shift in its stance on the US chipmaker's products. The move would matter for both Chinese AI development and Nvidia's access to a key market, though details on which chips and under what conditions remain unclear.

The Financial Times reports that US companies are increasingly adopting cheaper 'open' AI models rather than relying solely on costly proprietary systems from major vendors. Businesses are drawn to open models for their lower cost and greater flexibility, a shift that could reshape how enterprises buy artificial intelligence and put pressure on providers of expensive closed systems.

Dario Amodei, chief executive of AI company Anthropic, is set to have dinner with President Donald Trump at the White House. The meeting signals growing engagement between leading artificial intelligence firms and the US administration, as policymakers weigh regulation, investment and national security issues around AI development.

A US court has ordered Apple to pay $5.7 billion for infringing a haptics patent used in the iPhone and Apple Watch. The ruling, one of the largest patent damages awards against the company, covers the vibration technology behind its devices' tactile feedback. It is expected to draw appeals and renewed scrutiny of Apple's licensing practices.

Nvidia's newest AI chips could be cleared for sale in China, according to a MarketScreener report. The story is drawing attention because US export controls have sharply restricted Nvidia's ability to sell advanced chips to Chinese customers, so any reopening of that market would be a major shift for the semiconductor industry and for US-China tech relations.

The Trump administration's rollback of fuel economy standards is projected to save US automakers about $60 billion in technology costs, according to Quartz. By easing requirements that would have pushed manufacturers to develop more fuel-efficient vehicles, the change reduces spending on advanced engines, electric drivetrains and efficiency tech. The move is likely to renew debate over emissions, consumer fuel costs and the pace of the auto industry's shift toward electrification.

Reports suggest China may allow Alibaba and ByteDance to purchase Nvidia's newest AI chips, a shift from earlier restrictions on advanced US semiconductor exports. If confirmed, the move would ease access to critical hardware for two of China's largest technology companies and could signal a thaw in US-China tensions over chip trade. Observers are watching for official confirmation from both governments.

China may permit Alibaba to purchase Nvidia's RTX chips, according to a report by The Information picked up by NDTV Profit. The reported move would mark a significant shift in China's stance on foreign semiconductor purchases amid ongoing US-China technology tensions. The news is drawing attention across global semiconductor and tech industry watchers, with implications for both Nvidia's China business and Chinese AI development.

Huawei's latest smartphone chip is closing the performance gap with leading competitors, according to industry coverage. The development signals continued progress by the Chinese tech firm in domestic semiconductor design despite export restrictions limiting its access to advanced foreign chip technology.

Y Combinator, the influential Silicon Valley startup accelerator, has formed a political action committee that has already contributed to 66 campaign committees, marking a significant step into electoral politics. The move signals that the startup world, long wary of direct political spending, is becoming more willing to put money behind candidates and causes aligned with its interests.

The US government has taken equity stakes in four quantum computing startups, extending Washington's recent pattern of direct investments in strategic technology companies. The move signals federal interest in securing a foothold in quantum computing, a field seen as critical to national security and economic competitiveness, and is drawing attention to how far the government will go in backing private tech firms.

Neko Health, the full-body scanning health startup co-founded by Spotify billionaire Daniel Ek, has expanded to the United States. The company, which launched in Europe offering rapid preventive scans that use AI to assess skin and cardiovascular health, is opening its American operations as interest in consumer preventative diagnostics grows. Tech coverage is highlighting the move as a high-profile bet on early disease detection.

The White House's new artificial intelligence chief has publicly outlined the priorities and membership of the administration's AI task force, according to a Wall Street Journal exclusive. The announcement details who will shape US AI policy and what the panel intends to focus on, drawing attention from policy watchers and the tech industry.

German media are asking whether the country's young startups could become its next technology champions. The discussion comes as Germany, long strong in industrial manufacturing, looks to new companies in areas like software, climate tech and AI to drive growth and competitiveness. Commenters weigh whether these firms can scale globally or will be outpaced by rivals in the US and Asia.

A news roundup flags three developing stories: natural gas prices, a slowdown in hiring, and negotiations around data center projects. US natural gas prices remain a concern for consumers and industry, while a cooling labor market is raising economic questions. Meanwhile, governments and tech companies are increasingly treating data center siting as a matter of diplomatic and economic strategy.

A California man stands accused of illegally exporting roughly $300 million worth of Nvidia chips to China without the required US government authorization. The case highlights ongoing enforcement of American export controls restricting advanced semiconductors from reaching China, where such hardware is in demand for artificial intelligence development.

BeatViz has launched an AI Director tool designed to create full-length music videos automatically. The announcement was carried across multiple US news outlets, marking the company's entry into AI-generated video production for musicians. Details on pricing, availability, and how the tool handles licensed music were not included in the coverage, and reactions from artists or industry figures have not yet been reported.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed new legislation aimed at protecting the state's workers from threats posed by artificial intelligence. The laws, reported by the Guardian, are intended to shield jobs and labour rights as AI adoption spreads through workplaces. The move positions California, home to much of the US tech industry, at the centre of the debate over regulating AI's impact on employment.

Donald Trump met with leading technology executives, and reports say the discussion left questions around artificial intelligence safety unresolved. CNBC reports that AI safety is more unsettled than ever following the talks, with no clear commitments or regulatory direction emerging. Observers are weighing what the meeting signals for US policy on AI oversight and the industry's relationship with the White House.

The US Federal Trade Commission has opened an investigation into leading artificial intelligence companies, including Anthropic and OpenAI. The probe targets the AI giants' practices as regulators step up scrutiny of the fast-growing sector. Details of the FTC's specific concerns and potential outcomes have not yet been made clear.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed new laws designed to protect workers from the threats posed by artificial intelligence in the workplace. The measures come amid growing concern across the United States about AI-driven decision-making affecting jobs, hiring and working conditions. California, home to much of the US tech industry, is among the most active states in regulating AI, and the move is being closely watched nationally as a possible model for other states.

The US Federal Trade Commission has opened investigations into OpenAI and Anthropic, two of the leading artificial intelligence companies, to examine potential risks their products may pose to consumers. The inquiries are part of a broader regulatory scrutiny of the fast-growing AI industry, and follow increasing pressure on governments worldwide to assess safety, accuracy and privacy concerns around AI tools.

Huawei is accelerating the rollout of its Tau chip across the new Mate 90 smartphone series, another step in its push to overcome US export restrictions through home-grown semiconductor technology. The company says the foldable Mate XT 2 is on track to reach 1 million sales. The developments underline China's continued progress in domestic chip capability despite Washington's curbs.

Japanese tech outlet Impress Watch examines whether the Trump administration's push for 'superintelligence' marks a shift from the AI era to a new 'SI' era. The piece weighs the administration's ambitions around artificial superintelligence against the framing of artificial general intelligence and agentic AI, prompting debate about how US policy could reshape the direction of the global AI race.

The Pentagon has brought in Elon Musk and Palmer Luckey to help advise on future military direction, according to TechCrunch. The pairing of the Tesla and SpaceX chief with the Anduril founder signals a deepening role for tech executives in defense planning, a move likely to fuel debate over private industry's influence on the US military.

Tech entrepreneurs Elon Musk and Palmer Luckey are set to advise the US government on the future of warfare, according to Engadget. Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, and Luckey, founder of defense startup Anduril and creator of the Oculus Rift, will bring private-sector perspectives on military technology to government decision-making. The pairing of two prominent figures from the commercial tech and defense industries is drawing attention to the growing role of Silicon Valley in national security policy.

Pete Hegseth, the US defense secretary, has brought Elon Musk in on a project to develop military weapons, according to Forbes. The pairing of the Pentagon chief with the tech billionaire is drawing attention given Musk's role in defense-adjacent industries such as SpaceX and his influence in the Trump administration.