🤖 Apple vs. Meta in Robotics; X Blocks Signal; Intel Split Talks
Good morning. It’s February 17. Today we are covering:
Apple and Meta Are Set to Battle Over Humanoid Robots
Elon Musk's X blocks links to Signal, the encrypted messaging service
Broadcom, TSMC Weigh Possible Intel Deals That Would Split Storied Chip Maker
Tesla braces for delay to China licence as Trump trade tensions mount
Meta Says It'll Tattle to Trump if EU Keeps Being Mean
Let’s dive in.
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Apple and Meta Are Set to Battle Over Humanoid Robots
By Mark Gurman via Bloomberg
Apple and Meta are entering a new battleground with plans to develop AI-powered humanoid robots, positioning themselves at the forefront of this emerging technology.
Apple is accelerating efforts on multiple fronts, including a new external Mac display, potential monetization of its maps app, and a Vision Pro software update.
Simultaneously, Apple is facing challenges with Siri's AI overhaul and is racing to integrate AI features into iPhones for the Chinese market.
𝕏: Also in Power On: Apple explores monetizing Maps, details on its upcoming new Mac Studio Display, why it brought TV+ to Android, thoughts on its Vision Pro software refresh and much more - Mark Gurman (@markgurman)
Elon Musk's X blocks links to Signal, the encrypted messaging service
By Matt Binder via disruptionist
X, formerly known as Twitter, is currently blocking links to Signal.me, a domain used by the encrypted messaging service Signal for direct user contact. Attempts to share these links result in error messages citing potential harm or spam.
This restriction appears to be recent, as users previously could share Signal.me links without issue. Notably, other Signal domains like Signal.org and similar services such as Telegram remain unaffected.
Signal is a vital tool for journalists and whistleblowers due to its end-to-end encryption and on-device storage, ensuring confidential communication.
𝕏: new from me: Elon Musk's X appears to be blocking links to directly contact users on Signal Signal, the encrypted messaging app, has recently become a major tool for government workers looking to blow the whistle on DOGE - Matt Binder (@MattBinder)
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Broadcom, TSMC Weigh Possible Intel Deals That Would Split Storied Chip Maker
By Asa Fitch via Wall Street Journal
Broadcom and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) are exploring potential deals to acquire parts of Intel, which could lead to splitting the company.
Broadcom is interested in Intel's chip-design and marketing divisions, while TSMC is considering taking over Intel's manufacturing facilities.
These discussions are preliminary, and any potential deal would require approval from the U.S. government, which has expressed concerns about foreign entities operating Intel's U.S.-based factories.
𝕏: I have zero faith in any of the Intel TSMC rumor to happen. But, IF TSMC is even entertaining this idea it just confirms Intel has process IP that is a technical advantage over TSMC. Still, it makes absolutely no sense from a technology standpoint but boards are dumb so… - Ben Bajarin (@BenBajarin)
Tesla braces for delay to China licence as Trump trade tensions mount
By Zijing Wu via Financial Times
Tesla is facing potential delays in obtaining Chinese regulatory approval for its Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology, as escalating U.S.-China trade tensions may influence the licensing process.
Chinese authorities are reportedly considering using Tesla's FSD license as leverage in trade negotiations with the Trump administration, leading to an indefinite postponement of the approval timeline.
This delay could impact Tesla's strategy to enhance its semi-autonomous vehicle offerings in China, aiming to boost subscription revenues amid intensifying competition from local manufacturers like BYD.
𝕏: Tesla braces for delay to China licence as Trump trade tensions mount Chinese authorities weighing approval as a bargaining chip in trade negotiations with US Yup...this is going to be attempt at big deal, not small ball...everything is on the table… - Paul Triolo (@pstAsiatech)
Meta Says It'll Tattle to Trump if EU Keeps Being Mean
By AJ Dellinger via Gizmodo
Meta's Chief of Global Affairs, Joel Kaplan, stated at the Munich Security Conference that the company is prepared to involve President Donald Trump if the European Union continues to impose penalties on American tech firms.
Mark Zuckerberg has criticized European regulations, describing them as "institutionalizing censorship," and expressed intentions to collaborate with the Trump administration to counteract such measures.
The EU's Digital Services Act (DSA) imposes stringent regulations on major tech companies, leading to tensions between the U.S. and Europe over issues of free speech and tech governance.
𝕏: Meta is on the right side of history. Unlike the censorship and regulatory radicals in Brussels who are just afraid of people talking about all that's wrong with, in and about Europe. - Florian Mueller (@Florian4Gamers)
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