Drones, robots and self-driving vehicles are becoming the new proving ground for artificial intelligence. Machines are taking on more decision-making themselves, rather than relying on the cloud. The reason is speed. When a system has to react in milliseconds, waiting on a round trip to external servers is not an option, whether it's avoiding a collision or detecting an unauthorized drone. Elan Microelectronics chairman I-hau Yeh says this shift, moving AI processing from edge computing directly onto the device itself, is becoming essential for unmanned systems. Few applications demand more speed and accuracy than counter-unmanned aircraft systems, or C-UAS: technology built to detect and respond to unauthorized drones.
Tesla has reportedly selected Samsung Electro-Mechanics and LG Innotek to supply camera modules for the Cybercab, a move that would give the South Korean suppliers a foothold in the automaker's purpose-built robotaxi as both expand beyond smartphones into automotive and physical AI applications.
Tesla's latest quarterly results fell short of market expectations, but another development attracted equal attention: CEO Elon Musk adopted a noticeably more cautious tone when discussing the company's Robotaxi ambitions.
US transportation authorities have allowed Amazon's Zoox to operate commercially on a limited basis, making it the first paid robotaxi service approved in the country. This follows efforts by Trump administration officials to relax certain rules in an effort to encourage development in autonomous driving technology.
Taiwan and the US are deepening auto trade ties that could influence consumer choice, supply-chain resilience, and tariff policy beyond the island's borders. The latest comments from the American Institute in Taiwan come as Taiwan weighs lower car import duties, a move that could affect prices, jobs, tax revenue, and trade dynamics worldwide.
Global automakers are facing slower market growth, the rapid rise of Chinese carmakers, and sustained EV investment, with Volkswagen, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz under strain in recent years. While German automakers still lead the global auto industry, revenue and profitability have come under broad pressure over the past two years as competition shifts from volume growth to product value and operating efficiency.
Samsung Electronics and Hyundai Motor Group used the San Francisco AI Summit to outline separate artificial intelligence (AI) expansion plans spanning semiconductors, autonomous driving and robotics.
US efforts to restrict Chinese technology from connected vehicles are expanding beyond hardware and software sourcing, as proposed legislation introduces ownership thresholds that could affect even automakers headquartered outside China.
Surging AI server demand is reshaping supply and demand across the global memory market. With DRAM prices rising sharply over the past year, the resulting cost pressure is beginning to spill into the automotive industry.
Amnon Shashua will step down as CEO of autonomous driving technology supplier Mobileye once the company appoints a successor, marking the biggest leadership transition since he co-founded the Israeli firm in 1999.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's whirlwind visit to Japan in mid-July extended well beyond product announcements and public appearances. Alongside a joint event with gaming giant Sega Corporation, Huang used the trip to promote what he has repeatedly described as Nvidia's next major AI frontier—physical AI—sparking renewed discussion across Japan's industrial sector about the country's role in the emerging technology.
Xpeng is transforming into a physical AI supplier over the next 10 years, with robotaxi, humanoid robots, and flying cars as its three core product lines, chairman Xiaopeng He told Automotive News. The company also aims to move beyond the carmaker label and adopt a Tier 1 supplier model, working with operating partners around the world to build a business model that can be replicated globally.
China's falling robotaxi supply chain costs could help push the global autonomous taxi market to US$1 trillion by 2040, with Waymo and Tesla leading worldwide as Baidu, Xpeng and WeRide scale rapidly in China, according to Morgan Stanley.
