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.
Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang has used a rare public intervention to argue that the US should back open-source artificial intelligence, not just the largest closed systems. His message comes as Silicon Valley debates whether AI's next phase will reward broad adoption and customization, or concentrated control and pricing power.
Microsoft is no longer framing artificial intelligence as a race to build the single best model. Instead, it is positioning itself as the platform where customers can choose among many models. This shift could broaden its enterprise reach while reducing dependence on any one AI leader.
LG Electronics reported a strong second quarter, supported by record sales and one-time gains, while accelerating a shift toward robotics and artificial intelligence infrastructure. The company is increasingly framing its future around physical AI, even as it continues to rely on premium appliances, televisions, and vehicle electronics to support near-term earnings.
The rapid expansion of AI infrastructure is reshaping one of the semiconductor industry's most overlooked component markets. Soaring demand for high-end multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs) is prompting suppliers to reallocate production capacity and driving a new round of price increases that extend beyond AI-specific products.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella laid out how the company is scaling its AI infrastructure and platform to keep pace with demand. He outlined these plans during an earnings call on July 29, when he also announced record revenue above US$331 billion for fiscal year 2026 (ending on June 30), with Microsoft Cloud earnings surpassing US$214 billion and Azure earnings surpassing US$100 billion.
Italy and the US are set to sign a cooperation agreement tied to the US-led Pax Silica initiative on July 31, as Rome expands efforts to secure critical raw materials and semiconductor supply chains.
Meta Platforms' second-quarter results showed a widening gap between its fast-growing advertising business and the cost of building AI infrastructure. Free cash flow fell to US$784 million, while the company lifted the lower end of its 2026 capital expenditure forecast to US$130 billion.
Microsoft reported stronger-than-expected fiscal fourth-quarter results, driven by accelerating Azure cloud growth and rising adoption of its AI products, reinforcing investor confidence that the company's heavy investments in AI are generating commercial returns. Robust guidance for the current quarter and continued enterprise demand also eased concerns over spending on AI infrastructure.
