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Dutch tech giant ASML posts stable profits, warns on China sales
TechXplore· 2025-10-15 08:39
Core Insights - ASML has warned of a significant decline in its China business for 2026, despite reporting stable net profits for Q3 2025 [3][4] - The company reported net profits of 2.13 billion euros ($2.5 billion) for Q3 2025, slightly up from 2.08 billion euros in the same quarter last year, with net sales of 7.5 billion euros [3][6] - ASML's shares rose over 3% in Amsterdam, driven by solid sales and orders for its semiconductor production machines [2] Financial Performance - Net sales for Q3 2025 were in line with guidance, reflecting a good quarter for ASML, with expectations for Q4 sales between 9.2 billion and 9.8 billion euros [4][5] - For the full year 2025, ASML predicts a 15% increase in total net sales, with net bookings at 5.4 billion euros, slightly down from 5.5 billion euros in Q2 [7] Market Dynamics - Sales to China accounted for 42% of ASML's overall business in Q3 2025, up from 27% in Q2 [7] - The geopolitical landscape is affecting ASML, with US and Dutch export restrictions on advanced chipmaking tools to China amid rising tensions [2][8] - The company anticipates that the expanding AI market will drive annual sales to between 44 billion and 60 billion euros by 2030 [8] Geopolitical Context - A recent US Congressional report indicated that ASML and four other companies sold $38 billion worth of critical technology to China in 2024, raising national security concerns [9] - Tensions have escalated between China and the Netherlands, particularly after the Dutch government took control of the Chinese-owned chipmaker Nexperia due to national security issues [10]
Oracle and AMD expand AI partnership to keep up with demand
TechXplore· 2025-10-14 15:20
Core Insights - Oracle and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) are expanding their partnership to deploy 50,000 AMD graphic processing units (GPUs) starting in the third quarter of 2026, with plans for further expansion [3][4] - The initiative aims to create an AI "supercluster," which is a large, interconnected system of high-performance computers designed to function as a single entity [3] - The companies anticipate that next-generation AI models will exceed the capabilities of current AI infrastructure [4] Company Performance - AMD shares experienced a 3% increase prior to market opening, while Oracle's shares declined by 1.8% [4] - No specific financial details regarding the investment from either company in the expanded partnership have been disclosed [4]
Google to invest $15 bn in India, build largest AI hub outside US
TechXplore· 2025-10-14 08:57
Core Insights - Google announced a $15 billion investment in India over the next five years, focusing on establishing a significant data center and AI hub in the country [1][2][3] Investment and Infrastructure - The investment includes a "gigawatt-scale AI hub" located in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, which is expected to scale to multiple gigawatts [2][3] - This data center aims to serve as a "digital backbone" connecting various parts of India, enhancing the country's digital infrastructure [2][3] Market Demand and Growth - There is a surging demand for AI tools and solutions in India, projected to have over 900 million internet users by the end of the year [2] - The global data center market is experiencing phenomenal growth due to the increasing need for data storage and the operation of energy-intensive AI tools [2] Government and Industry Response - Indian officials, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, expressed support and gratitude for Google's investment, highlighting its significance for India's AI vision [3][5] - The investment is seen as a pivotal step for India to play a crucial role in the global tech landscape, with data being referred to as "the new oil" [5] Competitive Landscape - Other American AI firms are also expanding into India, with companies like Anthropic and OpenAI planning to establish offices in the country, indicating a growing interest in the Indian market [6][7]
What could burst the AI bubble?
TechXplore· 2025-10-11 15:10
Core Insights - Major tech firms have significantly increased in value over the past year, driven by advancements in AI, with expectations of transformative impacts across various sectors [1][2] - OpenAI's valuation has surged to US$500 billion from US$157 billion in the previous year, while Anthropic's valuation has nearly tripled, raising concerns from the Bank of England about a potential market correction [2][3] - The sustainability of these valuations is questioned, with discussions around whether they are based on realistic future profitability or merely speculative optimism [3][7] Valuation and Profitability - OpenAI, despite its high valuation, has not yet achieved profitability and may need to increase revenue tenfold to do so [11][12] - The US$500 billion valuation is particularly striking given OpenAI's reported loss of US$7.8 billion in the first half of the year, with some value attributed to a deal with Nvidia involving mutual investments [12][13] - AI firms, in general, are currently not profitable, with investments being made based on anticipated future gains rather than current financial performance [13][15] Market Dynamics and Risks - The rapid rise in valuations is seen as an early sign of a potential bubble, with the possibility of a correction if investor confidence wanes [6][10] - Historical parallels are drawn to the dotcom bubble, suggesting that minor events can trigger a reevaluation of investments, leading to a sell-off [10] - The major tech companies are investing heavily in AI infrastructure, which could lead to a bubble burst if the anticipated future does not materialize [15]
Austria finds Microsoft 'illegally' tracked students: Privacy campaign group
TechXplore· 2025-10-10 16:20
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Austria-based privacy group Noyb said Microsoft 365 Education installed cookies that collect browser data and are used for advertising purposes. Austria's data protection authority has determined that Microsoft "illegally" tracked students using its education software and must grant them access to their data, a privacy campaign ...
UK watchdog targets Google's 'strategic' role in search ads and a competitive market
TechXplore· 2025-10-10 16:09
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: A Google sign is displayed at the company's office in San Francisco, April 12, 2023. Credit: AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File Britain's antitrust watchdog on Friday labeled Google a "strategic" player in the online search advertising market, paving the way for regulators to force the company to change its business practices to ensure mo ...
EU questions Apple, Google, Snapchat, YouTube over risks to children
TechXplore· 2025-10-10 08:50
Core Viewpoint - The European Union is demanding major tech companies, including Apple, Google, Snapchat, and YouTube, to explain their measures for protecting children online, emphasizing the need for enhanced privacy, security, and safety [2][4]. Group 1: EU Actions and Regulations - The European Commission has initiated requests for information under the Digital Services Act (DSA) to assess the practices of Apple, Google, Snapchat, and YouTube regarding the protection of minors online [2][3]. - The EU is also investigating Meta's Facebook and Instagram, as well as TikTok, due to concerns about their platforms' addictive nature for children [4]. - Denmark, holding the rotating EU presidency, is advocating for collective action to safeguard minors, including a proposed ban on social media for children under 15 [5]. Group 2: Future Considerations - EU ministers are set to discuss age verification on social media and potential measures to enhance online safety for minors [6]. - A joint statement is expected to support EU chief Ursula von der Leyen's initiative to explore a potential EU-wide digital majority age, with plans to establish a panel of experts for further assessment [8].
Google wants right to bundle Gemini AI app with Maps, YouTube
TechXplore· 2025-10-09 12:40
Core Viewpoint - Google is seeking to maintain the ability to bundle its popular applications, such as Maps and YouTube, with its Gemini AI service, countering a Justice Department proposal that would restrict this practice [1][5]. Group 1: Legal Proceedings - Google's lawyer stated that there is no evidence that Google has achieved monopoly power in the AI market, nor that Maps or YouTube are monopoly products [2]. - Judge Amit Mehta, who previously ruled that Google monopolized search and search advertising, is working on a remedy for the company's illegal conduct [2][3]. - The Justice Department has proposed that the same restrictions applied to Google's Search, Chrome, and Play should also apply to Gemini, which Google opposes [5]. Group 2: Market Position - YouTube has become the leading TV service for viewers of all ages, surpassing all of Walt Disney Co.'s TV networks and streaming services combined, and generating more advertising revenue than all four major broadcast networks combined [6]. - Google Maps dominates the digital mapping and navigation market, with over 2 billion monthly users globally, significantly outpacing Apple Maps, which had "hundreds of millions" of users in 2020 [7]. - Over 5 million other apps and websites utilize the Google Maps Platform for location services, indicating its extensive reach in the market [8]. Group 3: Competitive Practices - During the trial, it was revealed that Google employs an "all-or-nothing" bundling strategy for device manufacturers, requiring them to preload multiple Google apps to access the Play Store [4]. - Google's lawyer argued that the AI industry is still evolving and that Google should not be restricted from using similar bundling tactics as its competitors, such as Microsoft's CoPilot AI in Office software [9]. - Judge Mehta expressed concerns about allowing Google to leverage its market position by requiring device makers to adopt Gemini to access other popular services like YouTube and Maps [10].
Air India's midair emergency sparks new alarm over the safety of the Boeing Dreamliner
TechXplore· 2025-10-06 19:47
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Officials inspect the site of Air India plane crash on the roof of a building in Ahmedabad, India, June 13, 2025. Credit: AP Photo/Ajit Solanki, File India's leading body of pilots has asked the civil aviation regulator to inspect all Boeing 787 Dreamliners operating in the country for electrical issues after one of the planes a ...
Google argues a forced sale of Ad Exchange is too risky
TechXplore· 2025-10-06 11:37
Core Argument - Google argues that a forced sale of its advertising exchange, AdX, is too risky, technologically challenging, and would disrupt the market [1][2]. Financial Impact - The advertising exchange is estimated to generate $15.9 billion in revenue by 2025, and a forced sale could create uncertainty and degrade services for smaller online publishers [2][5]. Legal Context - The trial addresses restoring competition in the display advertising market, where Google has been deemed to hold an illegal monopoly [3][4]. Proposed Solutions - The Justice Department suggests that Google should sell AdX and disclose the ad server's decision-making logic to enhance competition [4][5]. Technological Challenges - Google claims that separating AdX from its integrated system, Google Ad Manager, is technologically difficult due to the interdependence of the systems [8][10]. Market Uncertainties - Potential buyers may be deterred by ambiguities surrounding the sale, including the extent of assets and regulatory approvals required [13][14]. Impact on Small Publishers - A sale of AdX could negatively affect small publishers who rely on Google's advertising products for revenue, with some reporting significant portions of their income tied to AdX [17][19]. Security Concerns - Google emphasizes that divesting AdX could lead to increased data security risks and vulnerabilities, potentially making it a target for malicious actors [21][22].