Tobias

Rumors allege Chinese livestreamer Xinba is under investigation and detained following claims his “Cotton Secret” sanitary napkins caused cancer. Xin Selection denies the accusations. This follows Xinba’s announcement of retirement due to health issues, handing operations to his wife. Notably, Xinba has announced similar departures before. The controversy stems from numerous reports of cancer diagnoses among users of “Cotton Secret,” which was found to contain thiourea in testing. The company asserts the thiourea levels pose no health risk, and regulators claim the product met standards upon previous inspection. Alleged victims have remained silent since the initial accusations.

Xiaomi Auto has hired Fabian Schmlz, Lamborghini’s former chief exterior designer, as Head of Exterior Design, Europe, since April 2025. Based in Germany, Schmlz’s experience includes designing the Lamborghini Temerario and contributing to Porsche models like the Taycan prototype. This appointment highlights Xiaomi’s commitment to design innovation and attracting top-tier talent to strengthen its position in the competitive EV market, particularly in Europe. His experience will allow Xiaomi to cater to European consumer preferences and aesthetics, blending them with broader technological goals.

FTC Commissioner Slaughter publicly questioned the status of an FTC complaint against Snap’s AI chatbot, filed with the DOJ earlier this year, citing potential risks to young users. The complaint’s referral was deemed “in the public interest,” yet its progress remains unknown. Slaughter’s remarks underscore growing concerns about transparency and accountability in AI oversight, especially given the potential for harmful content targeting children. The lack of updates from the DOJ or Snap, coupled with internal FTC divisions and political complexities, highlights the challenges of regulating rapidly evolving AI technologies.

AppLovin (APP) and Robinhood (HOOD) shares jumped 7% after-hours following S&P Global’s announcement of their inclusion in the S&P 500, effective September 22nd. AppLovin replaces MarketAxess (MKTX), and Robinhood replaces Caesars Entertainment (CZR). This is a significant validation, especially for Robinhood. While index inclusion typically boosts share prices, the long-term benefits for AppLovin, in the competitive mobile advertising sector, and Robinhood, requiring sustained profitability, remain to be seen.

Wu Xiaoqiu anticipates the rise of Chinese tech giants like Nvidia and Apple, though acknowledges short-term challenges. He highlights the potential of numerous smaller tech firms (“mini-Huaweis”) and established companies to drive innovation. A shift in investor focus from traditional dividend stocks to technology ventures is expected, supported by regulatory reforms. Wu emphasizes the importance of tech IPOs for market maturation, requiring a supportive ecosystem including talent acquisition and access to resources, to compete globally.

President Trump threatens a Section 301 trade investigation against the EU in response to “discriminatory fines” levied on U.S. tech giants Google and Apple. This follows the EU’s antitrust fine of nearly $3.5 billion on Google and ongoing scrutiny of Apple’s tax practices, including a $14 billion back tax bill in Ireland. Trump argues the EU unfairly penalizes American companies, impacting U.S. investments and jobs, and vows to nullify these penalties. The move could escalate trade tensions and impact the tech sector.

Anthropic has reportedly agreed to a $1.5 billion settlement in a copyright lawsuit brought by authors who alleged their works were used without permission to train AI models. The proposed settlement includes payments of $3,000 per book plus interest and a commitment to destroy datasets containing the allegedly infringing material. This landmark case addresses copyright law in AI development. The plaintiffs’ attorney emphasized the importance of respecting copyright laws for AI training. The lawsuit, filed last year, claimed “large-scale copyright infringement.” Following a substantial funding round, experts believe this settlement could clarify legal frameworks around AI training data.

The U.S. tech industry’s eight trillion-dollar companies saw a collective market cap increase of $420 billion this week, reaching $21 trillion, despite Nvidia’s downturn. Alphabet and Apple rallied after a favorable antitrust ruling, which also allows their continued AI partnership. Broadcom secured a $10 billion AI client, likely OpenAI, propelling its entry into the trillion-dollar club. Tesla shares climbed following news of a proposed compensation package for Elon Musk. Google, Apple, Amazon, and Meta all face antitrust scrutiny, reflecting an industry wide push towards regulation.

Alibaba, JD.com, and Meituan are intensifying competition in China’s hard discount retail sector. Meituan recently launched “Happy Monkey,” a self-operated supermarket, joining Alibaba’s rebranded “Super Hema Suan NB” and JD.com’s quietly launched discount supermarkets. This model focuses on offering high-quality products at significantly lower prices by streamlining product selection, negotiating directly with suppliers, and emphasizing private label brands. Unlike traditional retail, hard discount prioritizes cost control and efficient supply chains, potentially benefiting consumers with lower prices and increased value.

Roblox (RBLX) introduced “Roblox Moments,” enabling users 13+ to share in-game short videos, challenging TikTok and YouTube. AI tools will democratize 3D content creation, impacting the developer economy. These moves come as Roblox faces regulatory scrutiny and legal challenges concerning child safety. Safety chief Matt Kaufman emphasized moderation of “Moments” content and AI-generated creations. The company is expanding age estimation programs amid allegations of failing to protect underage users from exploitation.