US technology industry

Experts say a plan backed by Donald Trump to license Patriot missile production for Ukraine, rather than supply the systems directly, could take years to implement. Setting up licensed manufacturing would require technology transfers, industrial agreements and training, raising questions about whether such an arrangement could help Ukraine's air defenses in the near term.

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.

Posts discuss a state dinner at the White House where President Trump hosted Chinese leader Xi Jinping, with technology executives reportedly among the guests. Users are sharing clips and reactions to the meeting, with commentary focused on the symbolism of the two leaders dining together and the presence of tech industry figures at the table. The discussion appears to centre on US-China relations and what the gathering signals.

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.

US lawmakers are reportedly struggling to craft policies that keep up with the rapid spread of artificial intelligence, with one account describing the challenge as something that 'dumbfounds us all'. The story, circulated by several US outlets, highlights Congress's difficulty in regulating technology that is reshaping industries faster than legislation can be written. No specific bill or lawmaker is named in the available coverage.

Reporting from Taipei frames Taiwan as the potential deciding factor in the escalating technology rivalry between the United States and China. Taiwan's tech industry produces more than 90 percent of the world's most advanced semiconductors, the chips that power AI servers, giving the island outsized strategic importance as both superpowers compete for dominance in artificial intelligence.

Reports indicate China is considering relaxing restrictions on NVIDIA's AI chips, a potential shift in its stance on foreign semiconductors amid the ongoing US-China technology standoff. Any easing would affect Chinese companies seeking high-end AI hardware and could reshape the competitive landscape for global chipmakers.

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.

Volkswagen's deal with Chinese battery maker Gotion is drawing attention as a case study in the limits of Western efforts to reduce dependence on China. Despite political pressure to de-risk supply chains, the automaker continues to rely on Chinese partners for critical battery technology and production, underscoring how deeply intertwined the European and Chinese industrial bases remain.

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.

A renewed debate is under way over whether artificial intelligence poses an existential threat to humanity. Commentators are weighing warnings from researchers and industry leaders about advanced AI systems against arguments that such fears are exaggerated, as AI tools spread rapidly into everyday life and governments consider how or whether to regulate the technology.

President Donald Trump met with Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei at the White House and rejected calls to slow the AI race with China. The meeting signals the administration's intent to keep the United States accelerating in artificial intelligence rather than pausing development for safety coordination with Beijing, a stance that divides AI industry leaders and safety advocates.

China is considering allowing ByteDance and Alibaba to buy Nvidia's newest chips, according to a report by The Information. The deliberation comes amid ongoing US-China tensions over semiconductor exports, with Washington restricting sales of advanced Nvidia technology to Chinese companies. Any approval would signal a shift in Beijing's stance and could ease pressure on major Chinese AI firms seeking cutting-edge hardware.

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.

Ford is working to develop electric vehicles capable of competing with Chinese automakers, who currently lead the market on cost and technology. InsideEVs reports from behind the scenes at Ford, examining how the company is rethinking its EV design, manufacturing and supply chain in an effort to close the gap with China's fast-moving car industry.

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.

The Department of Transportation, joined by aviation industry groups, is asking Congress for $30 billion to modernize the US air traffic control system and national airspace. The request covers upgrades to aging infrastructure, including radar, communications and technology systems. It comes amid heightened attention to airline safety following recent incidents and delays tied to outdated equipment, with lawmakers now weighing how to fund the overhaul.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang says AI distillation — the practice of training smaller models on the outputs of larger ones — is normal competition. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has previously described the same practice as 'theft', echoing claims that companies like DeepSeek built models using American AI outputs without authorisation. The exchange highlights a divide over whether model distillation is legitimate industry practice or misappropriation of US technology.

A US lawmaker says the commercialization of fusion energy will 'change everything,' arguing that bringing the technology to market would transform the global energy landscape. The comments add to growing political and industry momentum around fusion, which promises abundant carbon-free power but remains years away from widespread commercial deployment.

In his Observer column, John Naughton argues that AI companies' use of apocalyptic messaging baffles most citizens. Firms simultaneously promote their technology as transformative while warning it could be catastrophic, and Naughton suggests this dual narrative serves industry interests rather than public understanding. Commenters online have echoed the critique, noting the argument is familiar among AI skeptics and media critics.

China now accounts for roughly 60% of global humanoid robot patents, underlining its widening lead in the robotics sector, according to a report carried by the Korea Herald. The patent dominance points to heavy Chinese investment in humanoid technology and raises questions about future competitive pressure on US, Japanese, Korean and European firms racing to commercialise humanlike robots.

An American-developed battery technology is being pitched as a way to loosen China's dominance over the electric vehicle supply chain. China currently controls much of the world's battery production and critical mineral processing, making any credible US alternative strategically significant. Industry coverage suggests the technology could reduce Western automakers' dependence on Chinese suppliers, though questions remain over cost, scale and timelines.

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.

Forbes argues that the greatest threat to American leadership is not artificial intelligence itself but a slowdown in its development. The piece contends that slowing AI progress, whether through regulation or hesitancy, risks ceding technological ground to competitors such as China. The argument is feeding into the ongoing debate in Washington and industry over how fast AI should be allowed to advance.

Todd Blanche, the US Deputy Attorney General, publicly defended policies touching artificial intelligence and hospital deals, prompting debate about the Justice Department's approach to antitrust enforcement in healthcare and technology. Critics question whether the department is going soft on consolidation in hospitals and AI industry concentration, while supporters argue the stance reflects a pro-innovation agenda.

Lockheed Martin, the US defense contractor, is drawing attention for its work combining artificial intelligence with space systems. The company is developing AI-enabled defense technologies alongside its satellite and space programs, positioning itself for growing military demand in both areas. Observers are weighing what these investments mean for the company's future role in US national security and the defense industry's broader technology shift.

A start-up leader has warned that Europe risks falling behind in artificial intelligence unless it adopts a more optimistic approach to the technology. The comments add to ongoing debate over whether Europe's regulatory caution is holding back its AI and start-up sectors compared with the United States and China.

A US startup has developed a new drone propulsion system designed to improve range, payload capacity and speed. The announcement suggests the technology could make drones more capable for commercial and industrial uses, where flight time and carrying capacity are key limitations. Details about the company and how the system works remain limited, and the claim has drawn attention within the drone and aerospace community.

US lawmakers are drafting plans to block China's access to American AI chips, escalating technology export restrictions between the two countries. Chipmakers Nvidia and AMD, which rely heavily on the Chinese market, are lobbying President Trump to intervene and soften the measures. The dispute highlights the growing tension between national security concerns in Washington and the commercial interests of the US semiconductor industry.

US solar manufacturer First Solar has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against China's JA Solar, according to Reuters. The case adds to rising trade and technology tensions between American and Chinese solar companies, with First Solar accusing its rival of using its protected technology. The outcome could affect competition in the global solar panel market.

WIRED has published an exclusive interview with Andrew Boyd, chief executive of spyware firm Paragon Solutions, in which he discusses how the company polices its powerful espionage tools. Boyd reportedly reveals the limits of Paragon's promise to keep bad actors from abusing its surveillance technology, raising fresh questions about oversight in the commercial spyware industry.

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.

Pittsburgh International Airport has introduced a new robot pilot program, according to Airport Experience News. The initiative will test robotic technology within the airport as part of efforts to modernise the passenger experience and streamline operations. Details on which robots will be deployed and what tasks they will perform have not yet been fully outlined, but industry watchers are following the trial closely.