Technology

The combined wealth of Elon Musk, Larry Ellison, and Mark Zuckerberg has reached $1.03 trillion, approaching Berkshire Hathaway’s market cap. This wealth surge stems from their significant equity stakes in Tesla, Oracle, and Meta, driven by investor enthusiasm for AI advancements. Ellison’s wealth nearly doubled this year due to Oracle’s cloud and AI focus, while Zuckerberg’s increased with Meta’s strategic shift and AI integration. Musk may become the first trillionaire under a potential Tesla compensation plan tied to an $8.5 trillion valuation.

BYD believes Western automakers lag behind in EV technology despite claims from Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz of their competitive readiness. BYD cites its early entry into the Chinese market, in-house battery production (like its Blade Battery), and China’s robust EV supply chain as key advantages. BYD’s Stella Li emphasizes the company’s continued “room to develop,” indicating confidence in maintaining its technological lead, while Western manufacturers face challenges in adapting to the competitive EV landscape, especially in battery technology and supply chain efficiency.

Via Transportation, Inc. announced the pricing of its IPO of 10,714,285 Class A shares at $46.00 per share, expected to begin trading on the NYSE under “VIA” on September 12, 2025, and close on September 15, 2025. Underwriters have a 30-day option to purchase an additional 1,607,142 shares. Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Allen & Company LLC, and Wells Fargo Securities are lead bookrunners. Via provides technology to optimize public transit networks, using real-time data and on-demand algorithms to modernize transportation systems in hundreds of cities across more than 30 countries.

OpenAI is acquiring Statsig, a product development startup, for $1.1 billion to enhance its capabilities in feature testing and data optimization. Statsig CEO Vijaye Raji will become OpenAI’s technology chief within the applications unit, reporting to Fidji Simo. Statsig will operate independently, serving existing customers. This acquisition follows OpenAI’s purchase of Jony Ive’s AI devices startup, IO, and analytics database company Rockset, demonstrating its aggressive expansion strategy. A previous attempt to acquire AI-assisted coding tool Windsurf was unsuccessful.

Huawei Chairman Guo Ping addressed new hires in July 2025, discussing the company’s strengths and weaknesses in a “decoupling world.” Acknowledging restricted access to advanced technologies, Guo emphasized Huawei’s strong domestic base and ambition to become a global leader in ICT and smart devices. He highlighted strategies like “hardware-software synergy” and “non-Moore’s Law approaches” to overcome limitations and offer “another option” to the world. Guo urged new employees to seize opportunities in the dynamic industry and contribute to reshaping it.

8×8, Inc. has extended its partnership with Southampton FC, continuing as an official partner for Men’s and Women’s First Teams through the 2025/26 season. 8×8’s cloud-based technology is integral to the club’s operations, enhancing matchday experiences and fan engagement through streamlined communications. The partnership focuses on fostering deeper connections with supporters via personalized interactions and timely updates. The renewed agreement includes increased brand visibility and collaborative community outreach programs, leveraging 8×8’s unified platform to elevate fan experiences and operational efficiency.

Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei met with Xi’an Jiaotong University leaders to discuss deeper collaboration in research, education, and talent development. Ren emphasized the importance of fundamental research, particularly mathematics, and Huawei’s strategy of collaborative innovation with universities. He expressed confidence in China’s technological advancement, highlighting opportunities in chip development through mathematical solutions and diverse operating systems. Ren stressed the crucial role of education and talent cultivation.

China’s appliance exports rose 6.2% in H1 2025, with Haier maintaining its top global refrigerator brand position for the 17th year with a 22.8% market share. Fueled by domestic trade-in policies and overseas expansion, especially in Europe and Southeast Asia, Haier is achieving significant growth. Its success is driven by technological innovation, specifically the Magnetic Control Full Space Preservation, and user co-creation for products like the Wheatwave refrigerator, targeting younger consumers. Haier also leads in setting global refrigeration standards, building user trust.

Former Intel CEO Craig Barrett argues that Intel’s survival is crucial for U.S. chip manufacturing dominance. He believes underinvestment hinders Intel’s ability to compete with TSMC and Samsung. Barrett proposes a $40 billion collective investment from Intel’s major customers like Apple, Google, and NVIDIA to secure domestic chip supply and potential price advantages. He also urges adoption of advanced technologies and tariffs on imported chips to boost demand. Some of his suggestions align with current U.S. policies and Intel’s existing technology investments.

AOL, once a major internet player, will terminate its 34-year-old dial-up service on September 30, 2025, marking the end of an era for the company and a small number of remaining users. The shutdown also includes the AOL Dialer software and AOL Shield browser. Despite its decline, AOL’s dial-up still had approximately 250,000 users in the US, mainly in areas lacking broadband infrastructure. This move reflects AOL’s struggles to adapt to modern technology after past successes.