Amazon is developing an AI-designed material aimed at reducing carbon emissions in its data centres. Created by Orbital Materials, the carbon-filtering substance acts like a sponge on an atomic level, selectively capturing CO2. The material represents a step towards Amazon’s goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2040.
Orbital Materials claims the new material could add just 10% to hourly GPU training costs for AI, significantly cheaper than traditional carbon offsets. Data centres increasingly demand more energy and water for cooling, posing sustainability challenges. Amazon Web Services (AWS), the world’s largest cloud-computing provider, plans to trial the innovation in 2025 at a single facility.
The partnership with Orbital spans three years, aiming to explore additional AI-designed materials for water and cooling needs. Orbital uses AI to simulate and develop these substances, with the material being synthesised in its lab established last year. The collaboration also includes making Orbital’s open-source AI tools available to AWS customers.
Orbital, co-founded by Jonathan Godwin, operates from Princeton and London and is backed by Radical Ventures and Nvidia’s venture arm. Godwin, formerly with DeepMind, emphasised the importance of sustainable innovations in addressing growing environmental concerns linked to AI-driven energy demands.
China has imposed a ban on exports of key minerals, including gallium, germanium, and antimony, to the US, citing national security concerns. The new restrictions, which take immediate effect, are part of Beijing’s broader effort to control dual-use materials that have both civilian and military applications. These minerals are critical in semiconductor production and military technology, such as infrared systems and night vision goggles. The export ban also includes graphite items, which will face stricter end-use reviews.
This move follows the US’s recent crackdown on China’s semiconductor industry, which included new export curbs targeting 140 Chinese companies. The escalation is part of the ongoing trade tensions between the two economic giants. While the US has not been a major market for these minerals this year, China’s dominance in their production, accounting for over 90% of gallium and germanium, makes the move significant for global supply chains.
Experts warn that the restrictions could further tighten access to these essential materials, particularly as prices for antimony have surged by over 200% this year. With the US also imposing its own tariffs and export controls, the situation is expected to intensify as both countries brace for continued economic rivalry, especially with President-elect Donald Trump’s stance on China.
Enron Corporation has announced its relaunch with a focus on tackling global energy challenges through technology and sustainable solutions. The company plans to invest in renewable energy infrastructure, advanced energy storage, and innovative power distribution systems to improve energy sustainability, accessibility, and affordability. Enron aims to address evolving demands such as renewable energy integration and climate resilience while maintaining a commitment to ethical business practices, transparency, and sustainability.
The company’s leadership has acknowledged its troubled past but now focuses on integrity and innovation. Enron’s new vision includes embracing decentralised technology, with hints of potential engagement with blockchain, which could play a significant role in reshaping the energy sector. It aligns with trends in permissionless innovation and could have broad implications for the crypto community.
While Enron’s new direction has sparked interest, a token called “Enron” has recently launched, but it appears to be an unofficial meme coin with no official ties to the company. Despite this, the launch of various Enron-related tokens has caught the attention of the crypto market. As the company redefines its role, Enron’s emphasis on integrating cutting-edge technology with sustainable energy solutions could offer opportunities for the energy and blockchain industries alike.
Once a prominent energy player, Enron’s downfall in 2001 due to accounting fraud led to one of the largest bankruptcies in US history. However, the company reemerged in 2004 as Enron Creditors Recovery Corp. Since then, it has focused on asset liquidation. Enron’s latest plans aim to rebuild and contribute to the global transition to renewable energy, marking a significant shift in the company’s legacy.
South Korean AI chipmakers Rebellions and Sapeon Korea have officially merged, forming a new company valued at approximately USD 928 million. The combined entity will continue under the name “Rebellions,” led by CEO Sunghyun Park. The merger aims to enhance the company’s global competitiveness in the fast-growing AI chip market by leveraging expertise across South Korea‘s telecom, government, and semiconductor sectors.
The merger brings together Rebellions, a fabless AI chip startup established in 2020, and Sapeon Korea, an affiliate of SK Telecom, to combine their strengths in AI chiplet technology. This integration is expected to accelerate innovation and improve efficiency, particularly in developing next-generation AI chips like REBEL, designed to meet the increasing demands of AI applications.
Looking ahead, Rebellions plans to expand internationally, with targeted entry into markets such as the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Japan. Strategic partnerships, including collaborations with SK Telecom and SK hynix, will help fuel the company’s global ambitions and support its expansion efforts.
Washington’s latest restrictions on semiconductor exports to China have heightened trade tensions between the world’s two largest economies, fueling concerns about potential Chinese countermeasures. Beijing, which has vowed to protect its interests, possesses several tools to retaliate against US firms, including tightened security reviews and trade restrictions.
China has already wielded security reviews against US companies, such as barring government purchases of Micron products in 2022. Analysts warn Intel, a significant player in China’s chip market, could face similar scrutiny. Additionally, US firms have historically reported bureaucratic hurdles like customs delays and intensified inspections during strained relations, underscoring the broader risks of doing business in China.
Beijing also maintains its ‘unreliable entities list,’ targeting foreign companies that are seen as violating Chinese interests. Actions under this framework include probes into firms like PVH Corp for compliance with US restrictions on Xinjiang cotton. Meanwhile, export controls on critical minerals, such as gallium and graphite—key to chipmaking and electric vehicles—are emerging as another leverage point in the escalating trade conflict.
China’s expanded oversight of dual-use technologies, effective December 1, adds another layer of control. By regulating items with civilian and military applications, Beijing aims to monitor US reliance on its supply chains. As tensions rise, both sides face economic and technological repercussions that could redefine global trade dynamics.
Airbus, Thales, and Leonardo are exploring plans to establish a European joint venture in the satellite sector, aiming to challenge Elon Musk’s Starlink network. Dubbed ‘Project Bromo’ after an Indonesian volcano, the initiative seeks to create a standalone European satellite company modelled after missile maker MBDA, jointly owned by Airbus, Leonardo, and BAE Systems.
The plan is still in the early stages, but discussions have advanced enough to outline a preferred structure. Instead of one partner acquiring the others’ assets, the proposal envisions pooling satellite resources into a new entity. Leonardo CEO Roberto Cingolani confirmed the MBDA-inspired approach, calling it the most viable model for such collaboration.
This initiative comes as Europe’s satellite industry struggles to compete with Starlink’s rapid growth in low Earth orbit. While the merger talks are separate from Airbus’s impending job cuts, they signal a broader effort to revitalise Europe’s space capabilities in the face of intensifying competition.
Chinese semiconductor firms targeted by new US export controls are doubling down on localising their supply chains and leveraging stockpiled resources to maintain production. The restrictions, the third major US crackdown in three years, impact 140 companies and focus on chipmaking equipment, software, and high-bandwidth memory. Despite the curbs, Chinese chip stocks saw slight gains as analysts noted the measures were less severe than expected.
Key companies like Naura Technology and Empyrean have vowed to accelerate domestic technology development. Some, such as Beijing Huafeng Test & Control Technology, reported fully localised supply chains. While the measures hit China’s reliance on foreign manufacturing equipment, imports of semiconductor machinery surged by a third this year, showing resilience in the face of external pressures.
The exclusion of ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT), a major AI chip component maker, surprised analysts. The move eased concerns for South Korean suppliers reliant on Chinese revenue, with shares of key partners like Jusung Engineering and Mirae Corp rebounding. The latest curbs reflect ongoing efforts to balance US security goals with the global semiconductor market’s interdependencies.
Heathrow Airport, one of the world’s busiest, is trialling an advanced AI system named ‘Amy’ to assist air traffic controllers in managing its crowded airspace. Handling nearly half a million flights annually, Heathrow aims to improve safety and efficiency through real-time data and advanced tracking capabilities provided by the AI system.
Amy integrates radar and 4K video data to give controllers a detailed visualisation of aircraft positions, even when out of sight. Designed by NATS, the UK’s air traffic management agency, the system offers vital information such as flight numbers and aircraft types, helping controllers make faster, more informed decisions. After testing on over 40,000 flights, NATS plans to fully operationalise a ‘digital contingency tower’ by 2027 to ensure backup in emergencies.
Despite its promise, experts caution against over-reliance on AI. They highlight potential limitations, such as insufficient contextual judgment and challenges in handling unexpected scenarios. Colin Rigby from Keele University emphasised that AI should complement human operators rather than replace them.
The adoption of similar AI-driven solutions is being explored by major airports worldwide, including those in Singapore, New York, and Hong Kong, signaling a shift toward digital transformation in air traffic management.
A team from Johns Hopkins and Stanford has trained robotic systems to perform surgical tasks with human-like precision. Using a da Vinci Surgical System, the researchers applied ‘imitation learning,’ where robots observe recorded surgical videos to replicate complex movements like suturing and tissue manipulation. This innovative method eliminates the need for manual programming and allows robots to learn from the combined expertise of skilled surgeons.
The AI-powered system combines imitation learning with advanced machine learning techniques, enabling it to convert visual data into precise robotic actions. Not only does it perform surgical tasks proficiently, but it can also self-correct in real time, such as retrieving a dropped needle without human intervention. Such adaptability could reduce complications and enhance patient outcomes.
This breakthrough accelerates the path toward autonomous robotic surgery. Researchers believe robots can now learn new procedures in days rather than months. While full autonomy in surgery remains a future goal, this advancement marks a significant step toward safer and more accessible healthcare worldwide.
Mexico’s recent constitutional reform, which dissolves the Federal Telecommunications Institute (IFT) and six other regulatory agencies, has drawn criticism for potentially undermining regulatory independence. Passed by the Senate and awaiting state legislature approval, the reform shifts oversight responsibilities from autonomous bodies to federal executive control, sparking fears of inefficiency and diminished regulatory effectiveness.
The IFT, instrumental in modernising Mexico’s telecommunications and broadcasting sectors, warned that eliminating institutional autonomy could disrupt competition enforcement and sector regulation. Critics, including the Mexican Association for the Right to Information (Amedi), argue the changes risk political interference, jeopardising impartiality in decision-making.
The reform also raises concerns about Mexico’s adherence to international agreements, such as the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which mandates independent regulators for telecommunications. The government has suggested transferring the IFT’s responsibilities to existing ministries or creating a new agency, leaving the sector’s future regulatory framework uncertain.
