Alright, buckle up tech enthusiasts, because today’s headlines are a rollercoaster! We’ve got resuscitations, rivalries, and radical innovation – the usual chaos in the tech world. Let’s dive in.
Photo source:atelier-yuwa.ciao.jp
First up, the EV sector is buzzing. Geely’s (specifically, HiPhi) is seeing a lifeline thanks to a $100 million investment from a Lebanese businessman. Talk about a plot twist! Meanwhile, competition is heating up. Analysts are reporting that BYD overtook Tesla in European EV sales last month, a significant milestone signaling a shift in market dominance.
Chang’an Auto is playing the long game, announcing 35 new ‘smart’ vehicles over the next three years and aiming for solid-state battery validation by 2026. And Xiaomi? They’re not messing around – 258,000 deliveries projected for 2025, with over 28,000 in April alone. Oh, and they just unveiled their first SUV, the YU7, boasting a ludicrous 0-60mph in 3.23 seconds.
But here’s a curveball: the US Senate voted to overturn California’s ban on gasoline car sales. It’s a win for the oil industry and a setback for climate goals, folks – prepare for the political fallout!
Now, let’s talk chips. TSMC and others are lobbying the US Commerce Department to ditch semiconductor tariffs. Xiaomi is flexing its tech muscle with the next-gen O1 processor, a 16-core GPU monster. Intel’s new Xeon 6 series is also here, even powering NVIDIA’s DGX B300!
And, of course, AI. Anthropic dropped its Claude 4 models (Opus and Sonnet), while a massive data center project – ‘StarGate’ – is taking shape in the UAE with a who’s who of tech giants (G42, OpenAI, Oracle, NVIDIA, SoftBank, and Cisco). Robotics are also getting competitive with the upcoming Crowngo Robot Fighting Competition.
Let’s unpack a bit about this rapid AI development: The launch of Claude 4 shows we’re seeing increasingly capable models—it’s not just about chatbots anymore, it’s about complex problem-solving. The StarGate data center signals massive investment in AI infrastructure, critical for training and deploying these large language models.
Why does TSMC lobbying matter? Semiconductor tariffs hinder innovation and raise costs. Protecting the chip industry is vital for maintaining technological competitiveness.
The California gas car ban reversal is a big deal: It underscores the political tug-of-war surrounding green initiatives and demonstrates the powerful influence of industry lobbying.
Lastly, a mixed bag of other news: Shenzhou 20 astronauts completed their first spacewalk, Lenovo reported solid revenue, and Apple is reportedly gearing up for smart glasses in 2026. Plus, some serious regulatory scrutiny for JD.com’s delivery platform. It’s a wild ride out there! Stay tuned.
