Hormuz Shock Pushes Europe and Asia Toward Renewable Energy

The disruption of energy supplies caused by the war involving Iran is giving governments in Europe and Asia a stronger economic reason to accelerate renewable energy investment. The immediate concern is not climate policy but energy security: dependence on imported oil and natural gas has exposed major economies to sharp price increases and supply risks…

Nvidia’s AI Financing Model Faces Scrutiny Over Control and Circularity

Nvidia has paused some revenue-sharing arrangements with artificial intelligence cloud companies, according to reports, only weeks after introducing a financing model designed to help smaller providers obtain the expensive computing equipment needed to build large artificial intelligence systems. The reported pause does not amount to an abandonment of Nvidia’s broader financing strategy, but it highlights…

Robusta Coffee, a Heat-Tolerant Variety, Faces New Climate Test as Drought Risks Grow

A new study is challenging one of the coffee industry’s most repeated assumptions: that robusta coffee can provide a relatively reliable alternative to arabica as climate change makes traditional coffee-growing conditions more difficult. The research argues that robusta’s ability to tolerate higher temperatures has been repeatedly confused with broader climate resilience, particularly its ability to…

Anthropic Turns to Custom Chips to Reduce AI Infrastructure Dependence

Anthropic’s reported discussions with artificial intelligence chip startup MatX highlight a strategic problem that is becoming increasingly important for leading artificial intelligence companies: access to computing power is no longer simply a purchasing issue. It is becoming a question of how much control an AI developer wants over the hardware on which its models are…

Shein Rebuilt Its China Ties to Secure a Hong Kong Listing

Shein’s long-awaited stock market debut is the result of a significant strategic adjustment. After spending years presenting itself as a global company and pursuing listings in New York and London, the fast-fashion retailer is preparing to enter public markets through Hong Kong, after obtaining approval from Chinese regulators. The shift reflects more than a change…

Meta Settlement Pushes Social Media Toward Global Child Safety Rules

Meta’s settlement with almost all United States states over alleged harm to teenagers is becoming more than a costly legal resolution. It is emerging as a reference point for governments trying to determine how far social media companies should be required to go in protecting children from platform features that can encourage excessive use. Meta…

AI Upgrade Demand Revives Best Buy’s Electronics Sales

Best Buy’s decision to raise its annual sales and profit forecasts is providing an early indication that artificial intelligence is beginning to influence consumer electronics spending beyond the technology companies building AI itself. The US electronics retailer now expects annual revenue of $42.3 billion to $42.8 billion, compared with its previous range of $41.2 billion…

American Brands Lose China Ground as Local Competition Accelerates

China was once treated by American consumer companies as an almost indispensable engine of global growth. Its huge population, expanding middle class and rapidly developing cities created an opportunity that few multinational brands could ignore. But the assumptions behind that opportunity have changed. For companies such as Nike, Starbucks and General Motors, the problem is…

Coca-Cola Automates Custom Drinks to Capture the Next Beverage Boom

Coca-Cola is moving beyond the traditional soda fountain as changing consumer tastes push restaurants toward customized, visually distinctive and higher-value beverages. Inside its innovation facilities, the company is developing equipment that can automate products such as dirty sodas, refreshers and customized energy drinks, allowing restaurant workers to offer drinks that appear handcrafted without requiring the…