TL;DR

Nvidia launches China-compliant Blackwell chip; Google unveils Veo 3 and quantum cryptography breakthrough; Gulf, India, Pakistan expand AI.

Highlights

• Nvidia to launch a new Blackwell-based AI chip for China in June, priced at $6,500–$8,000, designed to comply with U.S. export controls and regain share from Huawei 1.
• Nvidia reports Q1 earnings Wednesday; analysts expect $43.2B revenue (+45% YoY), with options pricing in an 8% move 4.
• Google Quantum AI demonstrates a breakthrough that could make breaking 2048-bit RSA encryption 20x easier, accelerating timelines for quantum-safe cryptography 2.
• Google unveils Veo 3, an AI video generation model with advanced audio and dialogue features, now available to Pro subscribers in 71 countries (excluding UK) 56.
• SoftBank’s Masayoshi Son proposes a $300B US-Japan tech and AI fund, but U.S. Treasury has paused the plan 3.
• Nvidia secures AI chip deals with UAE and Saudi Arabia during Trump’s Middle East visit, raising national security questions and highlighting Gulf ambitions in AI 8.
• India’s Sarvam AI releases a 24B-parameter open-source LLM with strong STEM and Indian language capabilities, but adoption remains low 7.
• Pakistan allocates 2,000 MW for Bitcoin mining and AI data centers, offering incentives to attract foreign investment 9.
• China advances in robotics, AI, and EVs, with some sectors now rivaling or surpassing the U.S., amid ongoing strategic competition 13.
• Google DeepMind CEO warns generative AI could disrupt one in four jobs globally within five years, with women in wealthy countries at higher risk 14.
• Texas proposes strict social media ban for minors, requiring age verification and parental deletion rights, with exemptions for YouTube and TikTok 11.
• AI facial recognition used by New Orleans authorities to recapture an escaped inmate, prompting renewed privacy and civil rights concerns 12.
• Elon Musk reduces political spending to focus on Tesla , SpaceX, and xAI, following operational issues at X 15.

Commentary

Nvidia remains central to global AI hardware supply chains, with its new Blackwell-based chip for China exemplifying how export controls are reshaping product design and market access. The chip’s compliance-driven specifications and reduced price point reflect Nvidia’s efforts to regain share in a market where it has dropped from 95% to 50% following U.S. restrictions 1. Upcoming Q1 earnings will be closely watched for signals on inventory impacts and the company’s ability to navigate ongoing geopolitical and trade headwinds 4.

On the software front, Google ’s Veo 3 launch and rapid expansion to Pro subscribers signals intensifying competition in generative video and audio AI 56. The model’s advanced features and broader accessibility are likely to accelerate the spread of synthetic media, raising practical concerns about content authenticity and the adequacy of current guardrails. Meanwhile, Google’s quantum computing breakthrough compresses the timeline for quantum attacks on existing cryptography, underscoring the urgency for enterprises to adopt quantum-safe security protocols 2.

Investment and infrastructure developments are mixed. SoftBank’s proposed $300B US-Japan tech fund, while significant in ambition, is on hold due to U.S. fiscal priorities 3. In contrast, the Gulf region is moving forward with Nvidia chip deals, leveraging political capital to position itself as an emerging AI hub 8. Pakistan’s allocation of state-backed energy for AI data centers and crypto mining further illustrates how countries outside the traditional tech centers are seeking to attract digital infrastructure investment 9.

Elsewhere, India’s Sarvam AI open-source LLM launch highlights both technical progress and the persistent challenge of driving adoption in emerging markets 7. The use of AI facial recognition in law enforcement 12, and Texas’s proposed social media restrictions for minors 11, reflect ongoing tensions between technological capability, privacy, and regulation. Workforce disruption remains a key theme, with DeepMind ’s CEO warning of significant job impacts—particularly for women in developed economies—within the next five years 14.