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Tech Weekly Roundup: Meta Faces Fraud Investigation, Trump Pushes Taiwan on Chip Training, and China-U.S. Trade Thaws

MarketDash Editorial Team
8 days ago
A bipartisan Senate duo is demanding Meta face investigations over allegedly profiting from fraudulent ads on its platforms. Meanwhile, the Trump administration is pushing Taiwan to ramp up U.S. chipmaking investments and worker training as part of broader trade talks. In other news, Xi Jinping highlighted progress in U.S.-China relations following reports Washington may greenlight Nvidia AI chip sales to Beijing.

It's been a busy week in tech, and the headlines are coming fast. Let's break down what happened across consumer technology, semiconductors, automotive, and more.

The Big Picture: Trade, Chips, and Regulatory Heat

Chinese President Xi Jinping is signaling that U.S.-China trade relations are maintaining "positive momentum" after a phone call with President Donald Trump. The timing is interesting because this comes on the heels of reports suggesting Washington might let Nvidia Corp. (NVDA) resume selling AI chips to China. If that happens, it would mark a notable shift in the ongoing tech Cold War between the two superpowers.

Speaking of chips, the Trump administration is reportedly putting pressure on Taiwan to significantly boost its chipmaking investments in the United States and train American workers in semiconductor manufacturing. This push is apparently part of broader trade deal negotiations, and it comes as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (TSM) struggles to replicate its Taiwan success at its Arizona facilities.

On the regulatory front, Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) are teaming up across party lines to demand investigations into Meta Platforms, Inc. (META). Their beef? They claim the social media giant is raking in profits from fraudulent advertisements plastered across Facebook and Instagram. It's rare to see bipartisan agreement on much these days, so when it happens, companies tend to pay attention.

Meanwhile, President Trump launched what the White House is calling an AI-driven initiative comparable to the Apollo program, aimed at rebuilding America's scientific edge. The details are still emerging, but the rhetoric suggests a sweeping national effort to maintain technological dominance.

Automotive: Tesla's European Troubles and Robotaxi Ambitions

Tesla Inc. (TSLA) is having a rough go of it in Europe. The electric vehicle maker registered just 6,964 new vehicles in October across the continent, representing a brutal 48.5% year-over-year decline from the 13,519 registrations it posted in October 2024. That's not the kind of trajectory any automaker wants to see.

But Tesla isn't sitting still. The company plans to double its robotaxi fleet in Austin, Texas, this December, less than six months after launching the autonomous ride-hailing service in the city. That's an aggressive expansion timeline, and Tesla is also clearing new regulatory hurdles in Nevada and Arizona for its autonomous ambitions.

In Europe, Tesla is offering free Supervised Full Self-Driving (FSD) rides to customers across multiple countries ahead of the planned February 2026 deployment of the technology in the region. CEO Elon Musk has been talking up FSD's latest update, suggesting it could be "the last puzzle piece" needed to usher in unsupervised autonomy for Tesla vehicles. We'll see if European regulators and customers buy into that vision.

Elsewhere in Musk's empire, Starlink signed a deal with Ukrainian telecom giant Kyivstar Group Ltd. (KYIV) to offer direct-to-cell technology. And in China, Tesla rival BYD Co. Ltd. recalled over 88,981 units of its Qin PLUS DM-i Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle over battery-related safety concerns.

On the autonomous vehicle front, Pony AI Inc. (PONY) reported third-quarter fiscal 2025 revenue growth of 72% year-over-year to $25.4 million. The adjusted loss per share narrowed to 14 cents from a loss of $3.50 in the year-ago quarter. More importantly, the company disclosed that its Gen-7 Robotaxis have achieved city-wide unit economics breakeven, which is a significant milestone for the autonomous vehicle industry.

Nio Inc. (NIO) reported fiscal third-quarter revenue of 21.79 billion Chinese yuan ($3.06 billion), up 16.7% year-over-year and 14.7% sequentially, though it missed the consensus estimate of $3.26 billion. The adjusted loss came in at 1.14 yuan (15 cents) per ADS, which actually beat analyst expectations for a 24-cent loss.

WeRide Inc. (WRD) and Uber Technologies Inc. (UBER) announced they're launching Level 4 fully driverless robotaxi commercial operations in Abu Dhabi. That's another data point suggesting autonomous vehicles are moving from science fiction to commercial reality, at least in select markets.

Li Auto Inc. (LI) reported third-quarter 2025 revenue of 27.4 billion Chinese yuan ($3.80 billion), slightly ahead of the analyst consensus estimate of $3.76 billion. However, adjusted net earnings per ADS showed a loss of 0.36 yuan (5 cents), missing the expectation of a 4-cent gain. The company is grappling with recall impacts and softer demand in China's increasingly competitive EV market.

Broadline Retail and Electronics: Alibaba's AI Breakout

Alibaba Group Holdings (BABA) is making serious waves with its newly revamped Qwen AI app, which smashed through 10 million downloads in its first week. That's an explosive start, and analysts are starting to see a clear path for Qwen to become China's next AI-era WeChat. The app's early success sent Alibaba's stock soaring.

On the earnings front, Alibaba reported second-quarter revenue of $34.81 billion, surpassing the analyst consensus estimate of $34.43 billion. Adjusted earnings per American Depositary Share came in at 61 cents, topping the analyst consensus estimate of 49 cents. The company's cloud and e-commerce engines are hitting full throttle.

Not content with software alone, Alibaba also launched its first artificial intelligence glasses in China, accelerating its push into the fast-growing smart wearables market. The company is clearly trying to establish itself across multiple AI-powered hardware and software categories.

Over at Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN), Amazon Web Services quietly operates one of the world's biggest data center empires, with more than 900 facilities across 50+ countries. That's far larger and more dispersed than most investors realize, and it's a critical piece of infrastructure as AI demand explodes.

Amazon is planning to invest up to $50 billion to expand artificial intelligence and supercomputing capabilities specifically for U.S. government customers using AWS. This is a massive bet on federal intelligence and security applications of AI.

On the legal front, Amazon secured a win after a federal judge blocked New York from enforcing a new labor law that would have allowed the state to intervene in private-sector union disputes normally handled by federal regulators. That's a significant victory for Amazon's approach to labor relations.

Keysight Technologies, Inc. (KEYS) reported fourth-quarter earnings of $1.91 per share, beating the analyst estimate of $1.83. Revenue came in at $1.42 billion, which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $1.38 billion. The stock rallied on the stronger-than-expected results.

Semiconductors: The Race for Advanced Chips Intensifies

Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD) announced it powered Zyphra's breakthrough in large-scale AI training, enabling the development of ZAYA1, the first Mixture-of-Experts foundation model trained on an AMD graphics processing unit and networking platform. This is a big deal because it shows AMD can challenge the dominance of rivals in AI training workloads, putting it in more direct competition with Google, Meta, and Alibaba models.

Semtech Corp (SMTC) reported third-quarter fiscal 2026 revenue of $267 million, just missing analyst estimates of $268.83 million. However, adjusted earnings came in at 48 cents per share, beating estimates of 45 cents per share. The stock slid on the mixed results.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (TSM) is expanding its cutting-edge 2-nanometer facilities from seven to ten sites to meet the artificial intelligence frenzy driving chip demand. This is a multibillion-dollar buildout, and it underscores just how confident TSMC is about sustained AI-driven semiconductor demand.

In a spicier development, Taiwan Semiconductor filed a lawsuit against its former Senior Vice President Wei-Jen Lo in Taiwan's Intellectual Property and Commercial Court after he recently joined chipmaking rival Intel Corp (INTC). These kinds of executive defection lawsuits are common in the semiconductor industry, where trade secrets and proprietary knowledge are worth billions.

Technology and Software: Cloud, AI, and Enterprise Earnings

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd (OTC:SSNLF) is accelerating its comeback in the chip manufacturing race, boosting 2-nanometer output and winning major new clients in a push to narrow its long-standing gap with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (TSM). If Samsung can close that gap, it would represent a significant shift in the semiconductor manufacturing landscape.

Oracle Corp (ORCL) is supercharging its Abu Dhabi cloud region with the Middle East's first Nvidia Corp (NVDA)-powered Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Supercluster. This is part of Oracle's push to enable sovereign AI capabilities for governments and enterprises in the region.

Dell Technologies Inc. (DELL) reported third-quarter revenue of $27.01 billion, missing the consensus estimate of $27.13 billion. However, adjusted earnings came in at $2.59 per share, beating estimates of $2.47 per share. The stock was volatile in after-hours trading despite a strong outlook. The company emphasized it's winning in AI infrastructure, which is becoming an increasingly important part of its business mix.

HP, Inc. (HPQ) reported fourth-quarter earnings of 93 cents per share, beating the analyst estimate of 92 cents. Revenue came in at $14.6 billion, topping the Street estimate of $14.48 billion. Despite the beat, the stock fell on news of layoffs and weak guidance for the coming quarters.

Autodesk Inc. (ADSK) reported third-quarter fiscal 2026 revenue of $1.85 billion, above the $1.81 billion analysts expected. Adjusted earnings came in at $2.67 per share, topping the consensus estimate of $2.50 per share. The CFO noted that "things were as we expected they would be," and the company highlighted that direct sales skyrocketed 85% in the quarter.

Smartphones and Communication Equipment: Security and Warehouse Automation

Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO) is doubling down on 5G-era security and artificial intelligence infrastructure, rolling out new firewall, encryption, and threat-detection technologies. As hackers get smarter and networks get more complex, Cisco is positioning itself as the essential security layer for the 5G and AI era.

Symbotic, Inc. (SYM) reported fourth-quarter losses of three cents per share, which met the analyst estimate. Revenue came in at $618.46 million, beating the Street estimate of $604 million. The stock climbed on the revenue beat, as investors remain optimistic about the company's warehouse automation technology.

Apple Inc. (AAPL) is pushing back against India's new antitrust penalty law that could theoretically expose the iPhone maker to fines of up to $38 billion. Apple has been trying to expand its manufacturing and sales presence in India, but regulatory challenges like this one complicate those efforts.

That's the week in consumer tech. From regulatory battles to AI breakthroughs to the ongoing semiconductor arms race, there's no shortage of drama in the technology sector. Keep an eye on how these stories develop, because they're shaping the competitive landscape for years to come.

Back to News

Tech Weekly Roundup: Meta Faces Fraud Investigation, Trump Pushes Taiwan on Chip Training, and China-U.S. Trade Thaws

MarketDash Editorial Team
8 days ago
A bipartisan Senate duo is demanding Meta face investigations over allegedly profiting from fraudulent ads on its platforms. Meanwhile, the Trump administration is pushing Taiwan to ramp up U.S. chipmaking investments and worker training as part of broader trade talks. In other news, Xi Jinping highlighted progress in U.S.-China relations following reports Washington may greenlight Nvidia AI chip sales to Beijing.

It's been a busy week in tech, and the headlines are coming fast. Let's break down what happened across consumer technology, semiconductors, automotive, and more.

The Big Picture: Trade, Chips, and Regulatory Heat

Chinese President Xi Jinping is signaling that U.S.-China trade relations are maintaining "positive momentum" after a phone call with President Donald Trump. The timing is interesting because this comes on the heels of reports suggesting Washington might let Nvidia Corp. (NVDA) resume selling AI chips to China. If that happens, it would mark a notable shift in the ongoing tech Cold War between the two superpowers.

Speaking of chips, the Trump administration is reportedly putting pressure on Taiwan to significantly boost its chipmaking investments in the United States and train American workers in semiconductor manufacturing. This push is apparently part of broader trade deal negotiations, and it comes as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (TSM) struggles to replicate its Taiwan success at its Arizona facilities.

On the regulatory front, Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) are teaming up across party lines to demand investigations into Meta Platforms, Inc. (META). Their beef? They claim the social media giant is raking in profits from fraudulent advertisements plastered across Facebook and Instagram. It's rare to see bipartisan agreement on much these days, so when it happens, companies tend to pay attention.

Meanwhile, President Trump launched what the White House is calling an AI-driven initiative comparable to the Apollo program, aimed at rebuilding America's scientific edge. The details are still emerging, but the rhetoric suggests a sweeping national effort to maintain technological dominance.

Automotive: Tesla's European Troubles and Robotaxi Ambitions

Tesla Inc. (TSLA) is having a rough go of it in Europe. The electric vehicle maker registered just 6,964 new vehicles in October across the continent, representing a brutal 48.5% year-over-year decline from the 13,519 registrations it posted in October 2024. That's not the kind of trajectory any automaker wants to see.

But Tesla isn't sitting still. The company plans to double its robotaxi fleet in Austin, Texas, this December, less than six months after launching the autonomous ride-hailing service in the city. That's an aggressive expansion timeline, and Tesla is also clearing new regulatory hurdles in Nevada and Arizona for its autonomous ambitions.

In Europe, Tesla is offering free Supervised Full Self-Driving (FSD) rides to customers across multiple countries ahead of the planned February 2026 deployment of the technology in the region. CEO Elon Musk has been talking up FSD's latest update, suggesting it could be "the last puzzle piece" needed to usher in unsupervised autonomy for Tesla vehicles. We'll see if European regulators and customers buy into that vision.

Elsewhere in Musk's empire, Starlink signed a deal with Ukrainian telecom giant Kyivstar Group Ltd. (KYIV) to offer direct-to-cell technology. And in China, Tesla rival BYD Co. Ltd. recalled over 88,981 units of its Qin PLUS DM-i Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle over battery-related safety concerns.

On the autonomous vehicle front, Pony AI Inc. (PONY) reported third-quarter fiscal 2025 revenue growth of 72% year-over-year to $25.4 million. The adjusted loss per share narrowed to 14 cents from a loss of $3.50 in the year-ago quarter. More importantly, the company disclosed that its Gen-7 Robotaxis have achieved city-wide unit economics breakeven, which is a significant milestone for the autonomous vehicle industry.

Nio Inc. (NIO) reported fiscal third-quarter revenue of 21.79 billion Chinese yuan ($3.06 billion), up 16.7% year-over-year and 14.7% sequentially, though it missed the consensus estimate of $3.26 billion. The adjusted loss came in at 1.14 yuan (15 cents) per ADS, which actually beat analyst expectations for a 24-cent loss.

WeRide Inc. (WRD) and Uber Technologies Inc. (UBER) announced they're launching Level 4 fully driverless robotaxi commercial operations in Abu Dhabi. That's another data point suggesting autonomous vehicles are moving from science fiction to commercial reality, at least in select markets.

Li Auto Inc. (LI) reported third-quarter 2025 revenue of 27.4 billion Chinese yuan ($3.80 billion), slightly ahead of the analyst consensus estimate of $3.76 billion. However, adjusted net earnings per ADS showed a loss of 0.36 yuan (5 cents), missing the expectation of a 4-cent gain. The company is grappling with recall impacts and softer demand in China's increasingly competitive EV market.

Broadline Retail and Electronics: Alibaba's AI Breakout

Alibaba Group Holdings (BABA) is making serious waves with its newly revamped Qwen AI app, which smashed through 10 million downloads in its first week. That's an explosive start, and analysts are starting to see a clear path for Qwen to become China's next AI-era WeChat. The app's early success sent Alibaba's stock soaring.

On the earnings front, Alibaba reported second-quarter revenue of $34.81 billion, surpassing the analyst consensus estimate of $34.43 billion. Adjusted earnings per American Depositary Share came in at 61 cents, topping the analyst consensus estimate of 49 cents. The company's cloud and e-commerce engines are hitting full throttle.

Not content with software alone, Alibaba also launched its first artificial intelligence glasses in China, accelerating its push into the fast-growing smart wearables market. The company is clearly trying to establish itself across multiple AI-powered hardware and software categories.

Over at Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN), Amazon Web Services quietly operates one of the world's biggest data center empires, with more than 900 facilities across 50+ countries. That's far larger and more dispersed than most investors realize, and it's a critical piece of infrastructure as AI demand explodes.

Amazon is planning to invest up to $50 billion to expand artificial intelligence and supercomputing capabilities specifically for U.S. government customers using AWS. This is a massive bet on federal intelligence and security applications of AI.

On the legal front, Amazon secured a win after a federal judge blocked New York from enforcing a new labor law that would have allowed the state to intervene in private-sector union disputes normally handled by federal regulators. That's a significant victory for Amazon's approach to labor relations.

Keysight Technologies, Inc. (KEYS) reported fourth-quarter earnings of $1.91 per share, beating the analyst estimate of $1.83. Revenue came in at $1.42 billion, which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $1.38 billion. The stock rallied on the stronger-than-expected results.

Semiconductors: The Race for Advanced Chips Intensifies

Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD) announced it powered Zyphra's breakthrough in large-scale AI training, enabling the development of ZAYA1, the first Mixture-of-Experts foundation model trained on an AMD graphics processing unit and networking platform. This is a big deal because it shows AMD can challenge the dominance of rivals in AI training workloads, putting it in more direct competition with Google, Meta, and Alibaba models.

Semtech Corp (SMTC) reported third-quarter fiscal 2026 revenue of $267 million, just missing analyst estimates of $268.83 million. However, adjusted earnings came in at 48 cents per share, beating estimates of 45 cents per share. The stock slid on the mixed results.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (TSM) is expanding its cutting-edge 2-nanometer facilities from seven to ten sites to meet the artificial intelligence frenzy driving chip demand. This is a multibillion-dollar buildout, and it underscores just how confident TSMC is about sustained AI-driven semiconductor demand.

In a spicier development, Taiwan Semiconductor filed a lawsuit against its former Senior Vice President Wei-Jen Lo in Taiwan's Intellectual Property and Commercial Court after he recently joined chipmaking rival Intel Corp (INTC). These kinds of executive defection lawsuits are common in the semiconductor industry, where trade secrets and proprietary knowledge are worth billions.

Technology and Software: Cloud, AI, and Enterprise Earnings

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd (OTC:SSNLF) is accelerating its comeback in the chip manufacturing race, boosting 2-nanometer output and winning major new clients in a push to narrow its long-standing gap with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (TSM). If Samsung can close that gap, it would represent a significant shift in the semiconductor manufacturing landscape.

Oracle Corp (ORCL) is supercharging its Abu Dhabi cloud region with the Middle East's first Nvidia Corp (NVDA)-powered Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Supercluster. This is part of Oracle's push to enable sovereign AI capabilities for governments and enterprises in the region.

Dell Technologies Inc. (DELL) reported third-quarter revenue of $27.01 billion, missing the consensus estimate of $27.13 billion. However, adjusted earnings came in at $2.59 per share, beating estimates of $2.47 per share. The stock was volatile in after-hours trading despite a strong outlook. The company emphasized it's winning in AI infrastructure, which is becoming an increasingly important part of its business mix.

HP, Inc. (HPQ) reported fourth-quarter earnings of 93 cents per share, beating the analyst estimate of 92 cents. Revenue came in at $14.6 billion, topping the Street estimate of $14.48 billion. Despite the beat, the stock fell on news of layoffs and weak guidance for the coming quarters.

Autodesk Inc. (ADSK) reported third-quarter fiscal 2026 revenue of $1.85 billion, above the $1.81 billion analysts expected. Adjusted earnings came in at $2.67 per share, topping the consensus estimate of $2.50 per share. The CFO noted that "things were as we expected they would be," and the company highlighted that direct sales skyrocketed 85% in the quarter.

Smartphones and Communication Equipment: Security and Warehouse Automation

Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO) is doubling down on 5G-era security and artificial intelligence infrastructure, rolling out new firewall, encryption, and threat-detection technologies. As hackers get smarter and networks get more complex, Cisco is positioning itself as the essential security layer for the 5G and AI era.

Symbotic, Inc. (SYM) reported fourth-quarter losses of three cents per share, which met the analyst estimate. Revenue came in at $618.46 million, beating the Street estimate of $604 million. The stock climbed on the revenue beat, as investors remain optimistic about the company's warehouse automation technology.

Apple Inc. (AAPL) is pushing back against India's new antitrust penalty law that could theoretically expose the iPhone maker to fines of up to $38 billion. Apple has been trying to expand its manufacturing and sales presence in India, but regulatory challenges like this one complicate those efforts.

That's the week in consumer tech. From regulatory battles to AI breakthroughs to the ongoing semiconductor arms race, there's no shortage of drama in the technology sector. Keep an eye on how these stories develop, because they're shaping the competitive landscape for years to come.