TL;DR

xAI sues Apple/OpenAI; Nvidia launches Jetson Thor; U.S. takes 10% Intel stake via CHIPS Act.

Highlights

• xAI (Elon Musk) files $1B antitrust suit against Apple and OpenAI over alleged App Store favoritism; xAI drops public-benefit-corporation status 1.
• Nvidia launches Jetson AGX Thor ($3,499), a high-performance edge-AI platform for robotics; Agility Robotics and Boston Dynamics among early adopters 2.
• U.S. government converts $11B in CHIPS Act subsidies into a 10% non-voting equity stake in Intel ; further state investments possible 312.
• TSMC removes Chinese equipment from 2nm chip lines to comply with U.S. subsidy requirements, deepening U.S.-China tech separation 4.
• Silicon Valley launches "Leading the Future," a $100M PAC network to influence U.S. AI regulation ahead of 2026 elections 5.
• Nvidia Q2 earnings (due Wednesday) are a key market test; new 15% U.S. levy on China AI chip sales could impact guidance 6.
• Perplexity launches Comet Plus ($5/month) with an 80% revenue share to publishers, allocating $42.5M to address content compensation 7.
• OpenAI introduces ChatGPT Go in India at $4.60/month, undercutting rivals and intensifying price competition; Claude Sonnet 4 outperforms GPT-5 in coding benchmarks 8.
• YouTube faces criticism for undisclosed ML-driven video processing; Netflix issues formal generative-AI guidelines for content production 9.
• IREN doubles Nvidia Blackwell GPU fleet with $193M order, expanding AI cloud capacity; secures $102M in additional financing 10.
• Thoma Bravo to acquire Verint Systems for $2B, expanding its AI-driven enterprise software portfolio 11.
• U.S. data center-driven AI demand strains power grids, raising electricity bills; new energy and water regulations for data centers expected 14.
• China hosts first World Humanoid Robot Games; Nvidia ’s Jetson Thor features in showcased robotics platforms 15.

Commentary

Legal and regulatory maneuvering is front and center, with xAI suing Apple and OpenAI over alleged App Store bias, a move that could have implications for AI distribution and platform access 1. xAI’s exit from public-benefit-corporation status signals a shift toward more conventional corporate governance as it pursues litigation and financing 1. In parallel, Silicon Valley’s $100M PAC network is a notable escalation in efforts to shape upcoming U.S. AI regulation, reflecting industry concerns about potential overreach 5.

Hardware supply chains and state involvement continue to reshape the AI landscape. Nvidia ’s Jetson AGX Thor launch targets robotics, with major players like Agility Robotics and Boston Dynamics integrating the new platform 2. Meanwhile, TSMC ’s removal of Chinese equipment from its 2nm lines illustrates the impact of U.S. policy on global chip manufacturing 4. The U.S. government’s conversion of CHIPS Act grants into a 10% stake in Intel —alongside signals of possible further equity investments—marks a new phase of direct state participation in critical tech infrastructure 312.

On the commercial side, AI model and platform competition is intensifying. OpenAI ’s ChatGPT Go undercuts rivals in India, targeting a price-sensitive, high-growth market, while Claude Sonnet 4’s coding performance highlights ongoing model differentiation 8. Perplexity’s Comet Plus introduces a usage-based, publisher-friendly compensation model, addressing mounting concerns over content value in AI outputs 7. In the enterprise sector, Thoma Bravo’s acquisition of Verint Systems extends the trend of private equity consolidating AI-driven software assets 11.

Operational pressures are mounting as AI-driven data center growth drives up electricity costs and prompts new regulatory scrutiny on energy and water use 14. IREN’s large-scale Nvidia Blackwell GPU purchase underscores continued investment in AI cloud infrastructure 10. In China, the World Humanoid Robot Games and associated tech showcases highlight rapid progress in embodied AI, with Nvidia ’s hardware playing a visible role 15.

AI professionals should monitor regulatory developments, hardware supply chain adjustments, and evolving business models for content and cloud services. The intersection of policy, infrastructure, and market competition will remain volatile as AI adoption accelerates.