The Pentagon announces AI deals with OpenAI, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Nvidia, and more — LLMs to be deployed on classified Department of War networks ‘for lawful operational use’

The U.S. Department of War announced agreements with seven AI providers, allowing it to deploy multiple LLMs for its use and avoiding lock up with a single vendor.
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Skyrocketing component prices push Big Tech capex to record $725 billion — Microsoft alone attributes $25 billion of AI budget to increased memory and chip costs

Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta plan to spend a combined $725 billion on capital expenditure in 2026, a 77% increase over last year’s record $410 billion.
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SoftBank plans robotics and AI firm in the US to build data centers — aims for $100 billion valuation and an IPO this year

SoftBank is planning to launch an AI and robotics startup in the U.S. to build data centers. The firm is gunning for a $100 billion valuation and aims to list the startup this year.
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Huawei could seize China’s AI chip crown in 2026 as Nvidia’s H200 shipments stall in regulatory limbo — Beijing pushes homegrown AI hardware dominance in a market projected to hit $67 billion by 2030

Huawei is reportedly on track to become China’s top AI chip supplier as Nvidia faces export restrictions and customs delays. Analysts forecast China’s domestic AI chip market could hit $67 billion by 2030.
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ASML’s roadmap for chipmaking lithography tools examined — from DUV to Low-NA, High-NA, Hyper-NA, and beyond

ASML shipped 48 EUV lithography systems and 131 immersion DUV tools in 2025, generating €32.7 billion in total revenue and ending the year with a €38.8 billion order backlog.
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Wingtech posts $1.3 billion loss and faces Shanghai delisting as Nexperia audit collapses — 57% of company’s assets can’t be verified

According to a filing to the Shanghai bourse on Wednesday, Wingtech’s stock will carry a delisting risk warning starting May 6th.
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Mark Zuckerberg says Meta is cutting 8,000 jobs to pay for AI infrastructure — insatiable compute demand means the company can’t rule out further headcount reductions

Meta spent $72.2 billion on capex in all of 2025. The midpoint of its new 2026 guidance would nearly double that figure in a single year.
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Intel details 18A-P process node, touts higher performance, lower power, and better thermals — 9% more performance, thermal conductivity improved by 50%

Intel details improvements of 18A-P that include higher performance, lower power, reduced variability, improved yields, and more.
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Linux exploit instantly grants administrator access on most distributions since 2017 — cryptography optimization snafu grants root privileges to local users

Zero-day exploit instantly grants administrator access on most Linux distributions since 2017

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Pentagon budget reveals it’s pursuing containerized 300kW+ laser weapons, ambitious Joint Laser Weapon System designed to shoot down cruise missiles — system part of $17.9 billion Golden Dome missile-defense initiative

New Pentagon FY2027 budget documents reveal the Joint Laser Weapon System, a containerized 300kW+ laser weapon designed to intercept cruise missiles as part of the US military’s Golden Dome missile-defense initiative.
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