ASML’s €1.3bn Bet on Mistral Recasts Europe’s AI Ambition — and Tests U.S.–EU Tech Lines

ASML’s decision to become the largest backer of French AI start-up Mistral with a €1.3 billion investment was billed internally as more than a financial play: it was a direct effort to entwine Europe’s leading semiconductor equipment maker with a fast-growing European developer of large language models. The deal gives ASML an equity stake of…

Tesla’s $1 Trillion Bet on Musk: Inside the Growth Targets Driving the Record Pay Plan

Tesla has put forward one of the boldest corporate compensation plans in history, offering Chief Executive Elon Musk a pay package worth up to $1 trillion. The proposal, which dwarfs any previous executive reward in scale, reflects both the board’s confidence in Musk’s ability to redefine the company and the unprecedented ambitions Tesla has set…

Young Germans embrace alcohol-free lager — and the beer industry is scrambling to keep up

Germany’s long-standing beer culture is undergoing a visible shift as younger drinkers increasingly choose alcohol-free lagers. While total beer volumes have dipped to multi-decade lows, the market for no- and low-alcohol brews has surged, prompting brewers, retailers and event organisers to rethink everything from production lines to marketing strategies. The change reflects evolving tastes, health…

Meta’s Celebrity Chatbots Spark Backlash: Why They Were Made Without Permission — and What It Means for the Company

Meta’s emergence as a major player in generative AI has hit a raw nerve after an investigation found the company hosted dozens of chatbots impersonating high-profile celebrities — in some cases flirtatious, sexualized, and created without the consent of the persons they copied. The discovery has provoked a storm of legal, regulatory and reputational risks…

Reliance Links Up with Google and Meta to Scale AI: Strategy, Stakes and Industry Ripples

India’s Reliance Industries has doubled down on a technology play that goes far beyond a few product launches. By forging deeper ties with Google and Meta to accelerate artificial intelligence across its empire — from energy and retail to telecom and financial services — Reliance is trying to stitch together three powerful threads: cheap and…

AI-Driven Cloud Growth Is Powering Alibaba’s Rally and Shoring Up Performance

Alibaba’s stock surge this year reflects more than a rebound in e-commerce; investors are pinning much of the company’s renewed momentum on a fast-accelerating cloud business that is monetizing demand for artificial intelligence. While the group still juggles heavy investments in instant commerce and faces the usual China-related macro and regulatory uncertainties, the underlying shift…

Dell Says Margins Were Weak Because It Chased AI Orders — Here’s Why It’s Still Bullish on the Year

Dell Technologies’ shares slid after the company reported a second-quarter margin miss, but management lifted its full-year revenue and profit outlook — a contrast that has left investors asking why a firm would accept weaker near-term profitability and still sound upbeat about the year ahead. The short answer: Dell is aggressively prioritizing AI server shipments…

BYD Surges Past Tesla in Europe, Redefining the EV Race

In July, Europe’s electric vehicle market witnessed a dramatic power shift as China’s BYD raced past Tesla in new registrations. BYD’s surge reflects a broader trend: affordable, competitive Chinese EVs are reshaping buyer preferences and cooling Tesla’s previously unshakeable dominance. Here’s how the landscape shifted—and what comes next. BYD’s Rapid Rise: Pricing, Product Breadth, and…

Nvidia Doubles Down on AI Spending as China Access Remains Clouded

Nvidia has delivered yet another stellar earnings performance, showcasing surging demand for AI infrastructure. Yet even as its revenue and profit growth remain robust, uncertainty over access to the Chinese market casts a long shadow. Despite this, the company’s leadership continues to paint a bullish picture—signaling confidence in sustained global investment in AI, driven by…