White elephant

Samsung is dragging its feet over the launch of its chip fab in Taylor, Texas, thanks to an awkward lack of customers willing to buy what it plans to churn out.

China lifts rare earth curbs 

The US government has walked back its export bans on chip design software for Chinese firms. The revocation, reported by Bloomberg, is part of a broader trade deal with Beijing, which is dropping its own export restrictions on rare earths in return.

AI darling used shell firms and backend routes to access banned Nvidia tech

A senior US official has accused Chinese AI startup DeepSeek of supporting China’s military and intelligence services, while using shell companies and regional data centres to skirt around US export controls on advanced semiconductors.

Semiconductor outfit gutted as creditors take the reins

Wolfspeed has managed to chop more than two-thirds off its $6.5 billion debt pile in a move that leaves its shareholders with barely a crumb.

Rene Haas warns that locking down tech hurts everyone

Arm CEO Rene Haas has taken a swipe at US chip export bans, warning that trying to stifle China’s AI development is more likely to shrink the entire tech economy than give anyone a competitive edge.

AI firms train abroad to bypass export controls

Chinese firms are bypassing US chip bans not by smuggling silicon but by flying training data overseas and using rented Nvidia-powered servers in Malaysia to do the heavy lifting.

Ren tries to downplay progress as trade talks get dicey

Huawei’s founder Ren Zhengfei has tried to cool the narrative around his company’s AI chips, claiming the US is giving it too much credit saying it is a good generation behind.

Worried that Apple might get Chinese intelligence

The Fruity Cargo Cult Apple’s plan to launch its flashy new artificial intelligence kit in China is going nowhere fast, thanks to regulators in Beijing dragging their feet. The snag seems to stem from an unfortunate side effect of Donald Trump’s trade war.

Chinese tech firms face chip design disruption under new export rules

Chinese tech companies designing advanced chips in Taiwan are facing fresh barriers as the US tightens restrictions on critical software tools used in chip design.

Middle Eastern megafab plans tests US national security nerves

TSMC is apparently snuffling around the United Arab Emirates as a possible spot for a new chip fab, despite the fact that it might anger the US ruler Donald Trump who insists that all fabs are belong to him.