Panasonic (6752.T) is aiming to develop a new type of higher-capacity battery in about two years, a breakthrough that could significantly extend the driving range of electric vehicles for its key client, Tesla (TSLA.O). The Japanese company is working on a technology that will eliminate the anode in batteries during the manufacturing stage to increase energy density. Panasonic claims this technology is likely to provide a “world-leading level” of capacity by the end of 2027. If successful, this improvement would result in a 25% increase in battery capacity. This could boost the driving range of Tesla’s most affordable SUV, the…
Author: Raja Zahid Khanzada
Alphabet’s (GOOGL.O) subsidiary Waymo announced on Thursday that it will offer its autonomous rides on Via Transportation’s (VIA.N) public transit platform, starting with Chandler, Arizona. The service will be introduced this fall as part of the city’s on-demand, small-scale public transportation service, Chandler Flex, which is powered by Via’s software. According to Via, its suite of software and technology-enabled services powers public transportation systems in hundreds of cities across more than 30 countries. “We’re delighted that this partnership with Waymo paves the path for AVs (autonomous vehicles) to become accessible to millions of global public transit riders, enhancing mobility, lowering…
A U.S. judge ruled on Wednesday that Amazon (AMZN.O) violated consumer protection law by gathering Prime subscribers’ billing information before disclosing the service’s terms. This decision marks a partial victory for the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The ruling by U.S. District Judge John Chun, in a case accusing Amazon of using deceptive practices to generate Prime subscriptions, puts the company at a disadvantage during the trial. However, a company spokesperson stated that Amazon had done nothing wrong. The FTC is set to argue that the online retailer signed up tens of millions of customers for Prime without their consent…
On Wednesday, Meta Platforms (META.O) unveiled its first consumer-ready smart glasses with a built-in display, hoping to continue the momentum of its Ray-Ban line, which was an early consumer success in the artificial intelligence era. At Meta’s Connect event, CEO Mark Zuckerberg showcased the Meta Ray-Ban Display and a new wristband controller, earning applause despite some technical issues during the demonstration. Zuckerberg described the smart glasses as the ideal tool for humans to achieve the AI promise of “superintelligence.” “Glasses are the ideal form factor for personal superintelligence, because they let you stay present in the moment while getting access…
Chinese AI developer DeepSeek stated it spent $294,000 on training its R1 model, a figure significantly lower than those reported by its U.S. competitors. This information, published in an academic paper, is likely to restart the debate about China’s position in the race to develop artificial intelligence. The rare update from the Hangzhou-based company—the first estimate of R1’s training costs it has ever released—appeared in a peer-reviewed article in the academic journal Nature on Wednesday. In January, DeepSeek’s release of what it claimed were lower-cost AI systems prompted a global sell-off in tech stocks, as investors worried the new models…
On Thursday, Huawei for the first time outlined its long-term chip plans and announced it will launch some of the world’s most powerful computing systems. This move underscores China’s push to reduce its reliance on foreign semiconductor suppliers like Nvidia. Breaking years of secrecy about its chip business, Huawei (HWT.UL) detailed the launch timelines for its Ascend artificial intelligence (AI) chips and Kunpeng server chips. This announcement could significantly raise the stakes in the ongoing US-China rivalry for technological supremacy. Eric Xu, Huawei’s current rotating chairman, also revealed that the company now has its own proprietary high-bandwidth memory, a technology…
Nvidia (NVDA.O) announced on Thursday it would invest $5 billion in Intel (INTC.O), providing a major boost to the struggling U.S. chipmaker just weeks after the White House arranged an extraordinary deal for the federal government to take a significant stake in the company. The investment will immediately make Nvidia one of Intel’s largest shareholders, giving it approximately 4% of the company after the new shares are issued. This show of support marks a new opportunity for Intel after years of failed turnaround efforts and caused a sharp increase in the U.S. manufacturer’s shares. Once the leading company in the…
Indian health officials have issued a health alert after infections and deaths from a rare water-borne “brain-eating” amoeba have doubled compared to last year in the southern state of Kerala. While the numbers remain small, Altaf Ali, a doctor on a government task force to contain the spread, told AFP that officials were “conducting tests on a large scale across the state to detect and treat cases.” Officials have reported 19 deaths and 72 infections from the Naegleria fowleri amoeba this year, including nine deaths and 24 cases in September alone. Last year, the amoeba was responsible for nine deaths…
The equity market surged sharply on Thursday, closing at a fresh record high, as investor sentiment was boosted by a landmark Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement signed between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. The Pakistan Stock Exchange’s (PSX) benchmark KSE-100 Index settled at 157,953.46 points, a gain of 1,775.65 points, or 1.14%, from its previous close of 156,177.81. During the session, the index reached an intraday high of 158,082.55 points, climbing by 1,904.74 points, or 1.22%. The session’s low was recorded at 156,978.85 points, which was still 801.04 points, or 0.51%, higher than the previous day’s close. “The news about the defense…
US President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday signed a major tech deal, with Trump hailing the “unbreakable bond” between the United States and Britain. The agreement was finalized on the second day of the president’s state visit, which has been marked by grand ceremonies. A day after being treated to a day of royal pageantry by King Charles III at Windsor Castle, Trump flew to Starmer’s Chequers country residence for talks on complex issues, including the ongoing wars in Ukraine and Gaza. Britain’s efforts to court the unpredictable Trump on his second state visit appeared…
