Tech

Five key developments are summarized: escalating US-China trade tensions with a potential cooking oil embargo; the financial sector preparing for earnings season; the ongoing government shutdown’s impact, including Treasury Department layoffs and airport disruptions; Boeing’s anticipated strongest delivery numbers since 2018; and the DOJ’s seizure of $15 billion in Bitcoin linked to a “pig butchering” scam, representing its largest forfeiture action. Additionally, JPMorgan survey results reveal differing economic perceptions based on income.

Nscale, a UK-based AI cloud infrastructure provider, confirmed it is considering an IPO, aiming for a listing potentially in late 2025. This follows a $14 billion deal with Microsoft, part of a larger $23 billion agreement for Microsoft to acquire around 200,000 Nvidia GB300 GPUs. This deal, combined with previous funding rounds including a $1.1B Series B, highlights Nscale’s rapid growth driven by the increasing demand for AI infrastructure. Investors include Dell, Nvidia and Nokia. The potential IPO could significantly impact the European tech and AI ecosystem.

Honor is developing a “robot phone” featuring an AI-connected camera mounted on a robotic arm that extends from the device. The company plans to showcase this innovation at Mobile World Congress. This project reflects a trend among Chinese tech firms to integrate AI and robotics into consumer devices. Honor’s $10 billion investment over five years aims to make it a leading AI-driven device company, offering AI-powered tools for personalized shopping, taxi hailing, and intelligent camera adjustments. This strategic focus aims to differentiate Honor in the competitive smartphone market.

Honor is aggressively pursuing AI integration in its smartphones, aiming to become a top-three brand in China. Its new AI features, debuting on the Magic8, allow users to compare prices and find deals across e-commerce platforms, saving money. Honor is investing heavily in AI, envisioning a future where AI becomes the primary user interface, offering personalized services. Collaborations with Alibaba and others support this strategy, enabling features like smart photo suggestions and voice-activated taxi hailing. Honor’s long-term goal is to connect businesses with consumers via AI.

Apple unveiled updated MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, and Vision Pro models, all powered by the new M5 chip, promising significant performance upgrades. The MacBook Pro starts at $1,599, the iPad Pro at $999, and the Vision Pro, now with a Dual Knit Band, at $3,499. The M5 chip boasts a fourfold increase in compute performance with enhanced AI capabilities. This launch is strategically timed before the holiday season, while analysts are monitoring Apple’s pricing amid geopolitical concerns.

Waymo, Alphabet’s self-driving unit, is expanding into Europe with its robotaxi service launching in London. Testing begins soon with human safety specialists, aiming for a commercial launch in 2026, pending regulatory approval. London will be Waymo’s second international city after Tokyo. The fleet will use Jaguar I-PACE EVs, with Moove managing vehicle operations. Waymo highlights safety benefits, reporting significantly fewer injury-causing collisions compared to human drivers, citing 100 million autonomous miles driven. The move aligns with the UK’s AV pilot framework and London’s “Vision Zero” initiative, while Wayve provides competition.

Pony.ai and WeRide, autonomous driving tech firms already listed in the US, have received approval from China’s regulator for secondary listings on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX). Each plans to issue approximately 102 million new shares. This move aims to secure capital for global expansion into regions like the Middle East and Europe. Pony.ai CEO cites Hong Kong’s proximity to China as a key factor. Both companies are also expanding robotaxi operations, partnering with Uber in the US and operating in Chinese cities.

U.S. equities experienced volatile trading influenced by trade tensions and economic signals. Trump’s China trade threats, specifically regarding cooking oil, added market uncertainty. Despite this, positive earnings reports from major financial institutions and hints of a potential pause in the Federal Reserve’s tightening monetary policy offered some support. Oracle’s move to diversify AI chip suppliers, lessening reliance on Nvidia, signals a healthy competition. Chinese firms are increasingly choosing Hong Kong for IPOs amid stricter regulations elsewhere.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced that adult ChatGPT users will soon have access to a less censored version, potentially including erotic materials, starting in December. This policy change, driven by competition and user demand, follows the implementation of age-gating and safety tools. Previously, ChatGPT was intentionally restrictive to protect mental health. OpenAI is also bolstering protections for minors and releasing a new ChatGPT version with more personality options. This shift occurs amid regulatory scrutiny and concerns regarding AI safety.

ASML anticipates a significant decline in China sales for 2026, despite overall net sales projected to match or exceed 2025 levels. This guidance follows concerns about ASML’s growth trajectory. While Q3 net sales fell short of expectations, net profit slightly beat estimates. Geopolitical tensions and export restrictions impact ASML, but analysts remain bullish, citing AI chip foundry expansion and China’s semiconductor efforts as long-term growth drivers. Stronger smartphone/PC sales and AI-driven memory growth also favor ASML.