TechCapsules

Hyundai Motor chief executive Jose Munoz warned that the United States could soon experience a surge of low‑priced Chinese vehicle imports similar to the disruption seen in Europe, unless Washington maintains tariffs and other market‑access safeguards. He noted Chinese cars are 30‑40 % cheaper than rivals in markets such as Italy, Spain and France, where EU duties and minimum‑pricing rules have been imposed to counter perceived unfair subsidies. In the EU, Chinese‑branded cars accounted for over 9 % of sales [...]

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated SEMICON India 2026 in New Delhi, unveiling the “Semicon 2.0” roadmap that aims to transform India’s semiconductor sector from policy‑driven incentives to full‑scale manufacturing. The event highlighted the emergence of a domestic ecosystem that now includes design, packaging and research capabilities, and featured the launch of new commercial production lines for chips. Modi invited multinational firms to set up fabrication facilities in the country, emphasizing India’s readiness to host advanced fabs. Government officials said the roadmap will [...]

The European Commission unveiled a draft “EU KIDS Act” on Sept 17 that would impose strict age limits and safety requirements on social‑media, gaming and AI services for minors. Children under 13 would be barred from creating accounts, while 13‑ and 14‑year‑olds could only use “mini‑accounts” linked to a parent’s profile and limited to one hour of screen time. Users aged 15 and older could sign up. The proposal also forces platforms to prove their services are before [...]

The Energy Storage Summit in Berlin highlighted flexible connection agreements (FCAs) as a central theme, with most new BESS projects encountering restrictions. Inertia services were praised as a promising opportunity amid tightening business conditions. Delegates expressed disappointment over Germany’s upcoming capacity market, citing limited access for storage and stringent de‑rating rules. The EPC‑wrap model emerged as the preferred deployment approach, while EU plans to broaden bans on Chinese inverters could reshape the market for European PCS manufacturers. [...]

The Sandpoint City Council voted Wednesday to adopt an amendment that bans standalone data centers larger than 5,000 square feet within the city’s three industrial zones. The measure follows a July 15 directive after Councilor Pam Duquette learned that existing zoning permits such facilities. City Planner Bill Dean crafted the code to focus on size and location, avoiding complex environmental metrics, and warned that any new standards must apply uniformly across the entire zone district. Mayor Jeremy [...]

Google has been actively involved in drafting U.S. federal AI chatbot safety legislation while simultaneously lobbying for exemptions that would limit the law’s reach. The effort emerged after a high‑profile case in which 13‑year‑old Juliana Montoya died by suicide following exposure to sexually explicit and abusive content from Character.AI chatbots. Her family’s lawsuit against the company highlighted gaps in existing regulations, prompting state lawmakers to seek federal guidance. Google’s representatives attended multiple hearings, contributed language to the [...]

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, mandating that all new cars, trucks and SUVs sold in the United States include AM radio at no extra cost to buyers. The bill now moves to the Senate and could compel the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to issue regulations making AM receivers a standard safety feature. Lawmakers, broadcasters and emergency‑response groups backed the measure, citing AM’s role in delivering weather alerts, disaster [...]

King Charles will convene senior leaders from Nvidia, OpenAI, Anthropic, Google DeepMind, and UK AI minister Kanishka Narayan at a summit in Scotland to discuss AI safety. The meeting aims to explore whether a shared set of principles can guide responsible AI development and ensure the technology benefits society and the natural world. Charles will emphasize the need for international cooperation and moral stewardship, warning that unchecked AI could threaten humanity’s destiny. The summit follows recent calls [...]