E-commerce and trade

Apple faces EU crackdown over closed technology

The European Commission has ordered Apple to grant rival smartphone, headphone, and virtual reality companies access to its technology and mobile operating system.

The directive, part of the bloc’s Digital Markets Act, aims to curb the dominance of major tech firms and enhance competition. A separate mandate also requires Apple to establish a structured process for responding to interoperability requests from app developers.

Apple strongly criticised the decision, arguing that it places unfair constraints on its ability to innovate and benefits competitors without imposing the same restrictions on them.

Expressing concerns, the company warned that the new rules could negatively impact its products and European users, adding that the additional regulatory burden might slow progress.

The European Commission, however, dismissed Apple’s objections, stating that the order simply enforces existing laws and provides regulatory clarity.

Failure to comply could result in an investigation and potential fines of up to 10% of Apple’s global annual revenue. The ruling underscores the EU’s determination to rein in the power of Big Tech and ensure a more competitive digital market.

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AI firm Cognite targets India as global tech hub

Cognite, the Saudi Aramco-backed industrial software company, has launched an AI services centre in Bengaluru as part of its global expansion strategy.

The firm, which specialises in optimising industrial operations, is seeking contracts with major Indian conglomerates and has already secured deals with a leading cement manufacturer and a major automotive firm.

While declining to name the companies, Cognite’s executives confirmed significant investments in the Indian market, with plans for further expansion.

Chief Executive Girish Rishi described India as a key growth destination, highlighting its appeal as an alternative to China for global tech firms.

Cognite’s parent company, Aker ASA, and major shareholders like Saudi Aramco have been supporting its global push, as AI-driven solutions increasingly play a role in industrial automation, safety, and efficiency.

The company, which recently relocated its headquarters to the US, counts AkerBP, Japanese refiner Cosmo Energy Holdings, and US-based Koch Chemical among its major clients.

India’s rapidly expanding technology sector has drawn interest from several global giants, including Apple, Tesla, and Jabil, following the Indian government’s incentives to attract international firms.

With AI transforming industries worldwide, Cognite’s move signals growing confidence in India’s capabilities as a major player in the global tech ecosystem.

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EU faces pressure to boost semiconductor supply chain

Leading semiconductor firms are calling on the European Commission to introduce a follow-up to the 2023 EU Chips Act, arguing that a new policy must extend beyond manufacturing to include chip design, materials, and equipment.

Industry groups say the original programme, while encouraging investment, has failed to attract advanced chipmakers or build a competitive supply chain. Approval processes have also been criticised for being too slow, delaying key projects.

Following discussions in Brussels with European lawmakers, representatives from industry groups ESIA and SEMI Europe announced plans to formally request a ‘Chips Act 2.0’ from the Commission.

They argue that the EU must take decisive action to strengthen the entire semiconductor industry, including research and development as well as supplier subsidies.

European Parliament Member Oliver Schenk highlighted how other regions, such as Taiwan, have successfully integrated suppliers into their chip manufacturing ecosystem, whereas Europe still lacks such cohesion.

The meeting included major semiconductor companies such as NXP, Infineon, Bosch, and STMicroelectronics, alongside equipment makers ASML, ASM, and Zeiss.

Meanwhile, a coalition of nine EU countries has pledged to work with the Commission to strengthen Europe’s semiconductor capabilities.

The Commission has yet to outline specific plans, but it has previously stated its intention to launch investment initiatives this year, particularly in artificial intelligence and technology.

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Microsoft invests $2.2 billion in Malaysian cloud expansion

Microsoft is set to launch its first cloud region in Malaysia, featuring three data centres in the greater Kuala Lumpur area.

The centres, known as Malaysia West, will begin operations by mid-year, marking a significant step in the company’s $2.2 billion investment in the country.

However, this move is part of Microsoft’s broader plan to expand its cloud and AI services in Southeast Asia. Microsoft estimates the investment will generate $10.9 billion in revenue and create over 37,000 jobs in Malaysia over the next four years.

Laurence Si, managing director of Microsoft Malaysia, stated that the company’s operations in Malaysia remain on track despite concerns over US export controls on semiconductor chips.

Microsoft remains confident in its relationships with stakeholders and its ability to meet its investment commitments.

Local businesses are expected to benefit from enhanced cloud and AI capabilities, with the country aiming to become a leading hub for technological innovation in the region.

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Ofcom backs broadband competition to expand full-fibre coverage

Britain should maintain competition in the broadband market to boost full-fibre coverage to 96% of premises by 2027 while capping prices on slower-speed services, UK telecoms regulator Ofcom announced on Thursday.

The cap would limit what BT’s Openreach can charge for connections up to 80Mbit/s, an increase from the current 40Mbit/s limit.

Ofcom’s previous measures, including encouraging new providers to use Openreach’s infrastructure, have helped increase full-fibre coverage from under 25% to nearly 70% of homes.

It now proposes keeping high-speed broadband prices free from regulation until 2031 while ensuring affordability for those relying on older copper-fibre connections.

In rural areas where commercial networks are less viable, Ofcom plans to support Openreach in expanding full-fibre access. The regulator’s consultation on these proposals will run until June 12, with final decisions expected in March 2026. BT shares rose 0.5% following the announcement.

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Disney’s next-gen robots powered by Nvidia’s Newton

Disney’s dream of bringing lifelike robotic characters to its theme parks is closer to reality, thanks to a new collaboration with Nvidia and Google DeepMind. At GTC 2025, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang introduced Newton, an advanced physics engine designed to enhance how robots interact with their surroundings. The first to benefit from this technology will be Disney’s next-generation entertainment robots, including the Star Wars-inspired BDX droids, one of which made a surprise appearance on stage during Huang’s keynote.

Newton is engineered to improve the expressiveness and adaptability of robots, enabling them to handle complex tasks with greater precision. The open-source engine will allow developers to simulate interactions with real-world elements such as fabric, sand, and food, making robotic movement more natural. Nvidia confirmed that Newton will integrate seamlessly with Google DeepMind’s robotics toolkit, including MuJoCo, its multi-joint simulation engine.

Disney has long experimented with robotic characters for its theme parks, showcasing controlled demonstrations at events like SXSW. With the introduction of Newton, Disney Imagineering sees an opportunity to roll out these robots across multiple park locations starting next year. The collaboration between Nvidia, Disney, and Google DeepMind marks a major leap in entertainment robotics, promising theme park guests a more immersive and dynamic experience.

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Mark Zuckerberg confirms Llama’s soaring popularity

Meta’s open AI model family, Llama, has reached a significant milestone, surpassing 1 billion downloads, according to CEO Mark Zuckerberg. The announcement, made on Threads, highlights a rapid rise in adoption, with downloads increasing by 53% since December 2024. Llama powers Meta’s AI assistant across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, forming a crucial part of the company’s expanding AI ecosystem.

Despite its success, Llama has not been without controversy. Meta faces a lawsuit alleging the model was trained on copyrighted material without permission, while regulatory concerns have stalled its rollout in some European markets. Additionally, emerging competitors, such as China’s DeepSeek R1, have challenged Llama’s technological edge, prompting Meta to intensify its AI research efforts.

Looking ahead, Meta plans to launch several new Llama models, including those with advanced reasoning and multimodal capabilities. Zuckerberg has hinted at ‘agentic’ features, suggesting the AI could soon perform tasks autonomously. More details are expected at LlamaCon, Meta’s first AI developer conference, set for 29 April.

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California approves Tesla’s transport permit, but not for robotaxis

Tesla has received approval from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to operate a transportation service in the state, though the permit does not yet extend to autonomous vehicle operations. The transportation charter permit (TCP), granted on Tuesday, allows Tesla to use its own vehicles and employees as drivers for prearranged transport services. Initially, the company plans to use this permit for employee transportation, with the possibility of expanding to public services in the future.

Unlike Uber and Lyft, which operate under transportation network company (TNC) permits, Tesla’s TCP authorisation requires the company to own the vehicles and directly employ its drivers. The permit does not allow Tesla to test or deploy autonomous vehicles, nor does it grant the company participation in California’s Autonomous Vehicle Passenger Service Programs. Should Tesla wish to operate a driverless service, it would need additional approvals from both the CPUC and the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

Despite these restrictions, Tesla continues to push forward with its self-driving ambitions. CEO Elon Musk has announced plans to launch a robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, as early as June, using vehicles equipped with an updated version of the company’s Full Self-Driving software. While California regulators have not yet approved Tesla’s autonomous ride-hailing plans, the newly acquired permit may represent the first step towards that goal.

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Nvidia introduces high-performance AI machines for the future

At GTC 2025, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang unveiled a new generation of AI-focused personal supercomputers designed to redefine computing in the era of AI. The two new machines, DGX Spark and DGX Station, are powered by Nvidia’s Grace Blackwell chip platform and promise to deliver unprecedented AI computing power at the edge.

DGX Spark, available immediately, features the GB10 Grace Blackwell Superchip, capable of up to 1,000 trillion operations per second. Meanwhile, the DGX Station, set for release later this year, is built with the GB300 Grace Blackwell Ultra Desktop Superchip and 784GB of memory. According to Nvidia, these supercomputers will allow users to prototype, fine-tune, and deploy AI models with greater efficiency.

Huang described the devices as the future of computing, highlighting their role in supporting AI applications across enterprises. Nvidia has partnered with major manufacturers, including Asus, Dell, HP, and Lenovo, to bring these machines to market. As AI adoption continues to surge, these systems could become essential tools for developers and businesses looking to stay ahead in an increasingly AI-driven world.

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Nvidia holds back on optical technology for GPUs

Nvidia’s CEO, Jensen Huang, has stated that a promising new chip technology, co-packaged optics, is not yet reliable enough for use in the company’s flagship GPUs.

The technology, which uses laser beams to transfer data via fiber optic cables instead of traditional copper, is more energy-efficient and faster.

However, Huang emphasized that copper connections remain ‘orders of magnitude’ more reliable than today’s optical alternatives, making them the preferred choice for now.

Speaking at Nvidia’s annual developer conference in San Jose, Huang announced that the company will use co-packaged optics in two upcoming networking chips designed for server switches, increasing their energy efficiency by three and a half times.

These switch chips will be released later this year and into 2026, marking a gradual technological step forward. However, Huang clarified that Nvidia currently has no plans to implement optical connections between GPUs, as reliability remains a key priority for its AI-focused customers like OpenAI and Oracle.

Silicon Valley startups such as Ayar Labs, Lightmatter, and Celestial AI have invested heavily in co-packaged optics, seeing it as essential for building more powerful AI systems. Nvidia itself has backed some of these ventures, despite Huang’s cautious approach.

While optical connections could eventually help AI models process complex tasks more efficiently, Nvidia is prioritizing proven technology for its near-term roadmap, ensuring stability in an industry preparing to invest hundreds of billions in AI infrastructure.

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