TL;DR

Trump eases AI chip export rules; DOJ targets Google ad-tech; OpenAI restructures with new Applications CEO.

Highlights

• Trump administration to rescind Biden-era AI chip export restrictions, benefiting Nvidia ; new controls may target countries diverting chips to China 1.
• DOJ seeks breakup of Google’s ad-tech business; Alphabet shares drop 8%+ as Apple considers AI-powered search alternatives 2.
• OpenAI appoints Instacart CEO Fidji Simo as CEO of Applications; Altman shifts focus to research, compute, and safety 3.
• IBM CEO warns of AI-driven HR job cuts, $100M federal contract loss, and urges reversal of NSF and CHIPS Act budget cuts 4.
• Stripe launches proprietary AI payments model and stablecoin accounts in 101 countries (excluding US, UK, Canada); $219B processed in April 5.
• Reports detail CCP-led intelligence campaign targeting AI research at Stanford 6; U.S. House passes H.R. 881 to block DHS funding to universities with CCP ties 12.
• NTT to acquire NTT Data in a $20B deal to expand AI-driven enterprise IT services; Shionogi to acquire Torii Pharma for $1.05B 7.
• WeRide stock surges 40% as Uber invests $100M to expand robotaxi partnership to 15 cities; Uber CEO cites Waymo as AV leader 8.
• Meta resumes facial recognition for smart glasses with AI “super sensing” 9; Google ends major privacy initiative.
• Meta faces new allegations of exploiting teens for ads; will use user content for AI training starting May 27 with opt-out 10.
• Arm Holdings posts record Q4 revenue ($1.24B) but stock drops 8% on weak Q1 guidance 11.
• Duke Energy beats Q1 earnings, citing demand from AI-driven data centers 13.

Commentary

The Trump administration’s decision to roll back AI chip export restrictions marks a significant shift for the global AI hardware supply chain, particularly for Nvidia and other U.S. chipmakers 1. While the move temporarily eases compliance burdens for many countries, there remains uncertainty as new targeted controls could impact nations implicated in chip diversion to China 1. This policy change provides relief for major AI hardware buyers in regions like the Middle East and Asia, but hardware vendors should remain alert to evolving enforcement 1.

Alphabet faces dual pressure from regulatory and commercial fronts: the DOJ’s push to break up Google’s ad-tech stack and Apple ’s public consideration of AI-native search providers threaten Google’s core business 2. The risk of losing default search status on iOS and the prospect of forced divestitures have sharply impacted Alphabet’s market cap and highlight the growing intersection of AI, antitrust, and platform power 2.

OpenAI ’s internal restructuring—with Fidji Simo taking over applications and Altman focusing on research and safety—reflects the company’s effort to scale commercial operations while maintaining a focus on foundational AI research 3. Stripe ’s launch of an AI-native payments model and stablecoin accounts demonstrates the rapid adoption of LLM architectures in fintech, especially outside the U.S., UK, and Canada 5. Meanwhile, IBM ’s warnings about AI-driven job shifts and underwhelming enterprise AI ROI point to persistent challenges in scaling AI across large organizations, compounded by federal R&D funding cuts and ongoing regulatory complexity 4.

Security and privacy remain in focus. The CCP’s intelligence campaign at Stanford 6 and the subsequent passage of H.R. 881 12 signal increased scrutiny of academic AI research and foreign influence. Meta ’s resumption of facial recognition 9 and its plan to use user-generated content for AI training—amid lighter U.S. privacy enforcement and new allegations of targeting teens—underscore the shifting privacy landscape and the need for robust compliance as companies deploy AI at scale 10.

For AI professionals, the week’s news highlights ongoing volatility in policy, regulation, and enterprise adoption. Close attention to supply chain changes, regulatory actions, and privacy frameworks will be critical as the sector navigates rapid growth and shifting global dynamics.