NVIDIA has publicly rejected calls to embed kill switches or backdoors in its AI chips amid growing political pressure. The statement follows proposals from US lawmakers and accusations by Chinese authorities.
Chief Security Officer David Reber Jr. said any such backdoor would endanger global digital infrastructure and open doors for hackers. He reaffirmed NVIDIA’s commitment to fixing vulnerabilities, not creating them.
The controversy arises as the chipmaker navigates strict US export controls while maintaining its foothold in China with the H20 chip. A Chinese agency recently claimed these chips already contain hidden controls.
Reber distinguished transparent, user-controlled tools like remote wipe from covert backdoors, arguing they serve customers without risking the system integrity of the chips.
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Apple is increasing its domestic investment by an additional $100 billion, bringing its total commitment to US manufacturing to $600 billion over the next four years.
The announcement was made by CEO Tim Cook during a joint appearance with President Donald Trump at the White House, as the administration signals plans to impose steep tariffs on foreign-made semiconductors.
The investment includes a new American Manufacturing Program aimed at expanding US production of key Apple components, such as AI servers and rare earth magnets. Facilities are already under development in states including Texas, Kentucky, and Arizona.
Apple says the initiative will support 450,000 jobs across all 50 states and reduce reliance on overseas supply chains.
Apple’s expanded spending arrives amid criticism of its slow progress in AI. With its ‘Apple Intelligence’ software struggling for traction, and the recent departure of foundation model head Rouming Pang to Meta, the company is now shifting focus.
Cook confirmed that investment in AI infrastructure is accelerating, with data centres expanding in five states.
While Apple’s move has drawn praise for supporting American jobs, it has also stirred controversy. Some users expressed discontent with Cook’s public alignment with Trump, despite the strategic importance of avoiding tariffs.
Trump stated that companies investing in the US would not face the proposed import charges.
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An unexpected technical issue led United Airlines to temporarily ground all its mainline flights across key US airports. The disruption affected hundreds of departures, notably at hubs like Newark, San Francisco and Denver.
United Express flights remained unaffected, and in‑air services continued as planned. The airline reassured customers that safety was the top priority while staff worked to restore systems.
So far around 827 flights have been delayed and 23 cancelled. United confirmed that a cyberattack was not to blame for the outage.
Passengers reported delayed departures due to missing system data needed for take‑off. The airline noted delays may persist into the evening as technical fixes are completed
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A sweeping cyberattack has compromised the federal court filing system across multiple US states, exposing sensitive case data and informant identities. The breach affects core systems used by legal professionals and the public.
Sources say the Administrative Office of the US Courts first realised the scale of the hack in early July, with authorities still assessing the damage. Nation-state-linked actors or organised crime are suspected.
Critical systems like CM/ECF and PACER were impacted, raising fears over sealed indictments, search warrants and cooperation records now exposed. A dozen dockets were reportedly tampered with in at least one district.
Calls to modernise the ageing court infrastructure have intensified, with officials warning of rising cyber threats and the urgent need for system replacements.
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Rod Stewart is under fire for using AI-generated visuals in a tribute to Ozzy Osbourne during a recent US concert. The video showed a digitally recreated Osbourne taking selfies with late music icons in heaven.
The tribute, set to Stewart’s 1988 track Forever Young, was played at his Alpharetta performance. Artists like Whitney Houston, Kurt Cobain, Freddie Mercury, and Tupac Shakur featured in the AI montage.
While some called the display disrespectful and tasteless, others viewed it as a heartfelt tribute to legendary figures. Reactions online ranged from outrage to admiration.
Osbourne, who passed away last month at age 76, was honoured with global tributes, including flowers laid at Birmingham’s Black Sabbath Bench by fans and family.
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Taiwan’s Digital Minister, Huang Yen-nun, discussed deeper cooperation in digital and AI technologies with the United States during the recent APEC conference in Incheon—the talks from 3 August to 6 August marked a new phase in bilateral tech collaboration.
Huang confirmed that the APEC gathering had produced its first joint ministerial statement on digital and AI policy. Ministers pledged to enhance connectivity, prevent digital exclusion, promote trustworthy AI, and accelerate the adoption of responsible technology across the Asia-Pacific region.
Digital goals of Taiwan closely align with the APEC declaration, Huang said, particularly in areas such as online fraud prevention, resilience-building, and expanding the digital economy. He framed the agreement as a strong alignment with national priorities.
Michael Kratsios, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, was highlighted as a key ally. Huang also held talks with representatives from Japan and Southeast Asia to explore regional cooperation in emerging technologies.
Cybersecurity and semiconductors remain central to Taiwan’s leadership in the technology sector. However, Huang acknowledged that further investment and collaboration with digital trailblazers, such as those in the United States, are needed to maintain the country’s edge in high-value innovation.
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A new commission will begin work next month to explore creating a standalone Cyber Force as a military service. The Centre for Strategic and International Studies leads the effort in collaboration with the Cyber Solarium Commission 2.0.
The study responds to ongoing weaknesses in how the US military organises, trains and equips personnel for cyber operations. These shortcomings have prompted calls for a dedicated force with a focused mission.
The Cyber Force would aim to improve readiness and capability in the digital domain, mirroring the structure of other service branches. Cyber operations are seen as increasingly central to national security.
Details of the commission’s work will emerge in the coming months as discussions shape what such a force might look like.
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Two Chinese nationals have been charged in the US with illegally exporting millions of dollars’ worth of advanced Nvidia AI chips to China, violating the export controls.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) said Chuan Geng and Shiwei Yang operated California-based ALX Solutions, which allegedly shipped restricted hardware without the required licences over the past three years.
The DOJ claims that the company exported Nvidia’s H100 and GeForce RTX 4090 graphics processing units to China via transit hubs in Singapore and Malaysia, concealing their ultimate destination.
Payments for the shipments allegedly came from firms in Hong Kong and mainland China, including a $1 million transfer in January 2024.
Court documents state that ALX falsely declared shipments to Singapore-based customers, but US export control officers could not confirm the deliveries.
One 2023 invoice for over $28 million reportedly misrepresented the buyer’s identity. Neither Geng nor Yang had sought export licences from the US Commerce Department.
Yang was arrested on Saturday, and Geng surrendered soon after. Both appeared in a Los Angeles federal court on Monday and could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
Nvidia and Super Micro, a supplier, said they comply with all export regulations and will cooperate with authorities.
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A senior White House official has urged Asia-Pacific economies to support an AI future built on US technology, warning against adopting Europe’s heavily regulated model. Michael Kratsios remarked during the APEC Digital and AI Ministerial Meeting in Incheon.
Kratsios said countries now choose between embracing American-led innovation or falling behind under regulatory burdens. He framed the US approach as one driven by freedom and open-source innovation rather than centralised control.
The US is offering partnerships with South Korea to respect data concerns while enabling shared progress. Kratsios noted that open-weight models could soon shape industry standards worldwide.
He met South Korea’s science minister in bilateral talks to discuss AI cooperation. The US reaffirmed its commitment to supporting nations in building trustworthy AI systems based on mutual economic benefit.
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A new law in a US state has banned the use of AI for delivering mental health care, drawing a firm line between digital tools and licensed professionals. The legislation limits AI systems to administrative tasks such as note-taking and scheduling, explicitly prohibiting them from offering therapy or clinical advice.
The move comes as concerns grow over the use of AI chatbots in sensitive care roles. Lawmakers in the midwestern state of Illinois approved the measure, citing the need to protect residents from potentially harmful or misleading AI-generated responses.
Fines of up to $10,000 may be imposed on companies or individuals who violate the ban. Officials stressed that AI lacks the empathy, accountability and clinical oversight necessary to ensure safe and ethical mental health treatment.
One infamous case saw an AI-powered chatbot suggest drug use to a fictional recovering addict, a warning signal, experts say, of what can go wrong without strict safeguards. The law is named the Wellness and Oversight for Psychological Resources Act.
Other parts of the United States are considering similar steps. Florida’s governor recently described AI as ‘the biggest issue’ facing modern society and pledged new state-level regulations within months.
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