Key Takeaways

• Top story: Cambricon announces plans to triple AI chip output, aiming to close the gap with industry leader Nvidia.
• Nvidia partners with Fanuc to develop voice-controlled robots for smart factories.
• Australia enforces a nationwide social media ban for users under 16, intensifying global debates on digital youth safety.
• Scientists achieve faster, more energy-efficient germanium chips, promising broader impacts for next-generation electronics.
• The renewed focus on AI chip innovation reflects increased demand for generative AI solutions.

Introduction

On 7 December 2025, the tech news press review spotlights Cambricon’s move to triple its AI chip output as it seeks to challenge Nvidia’s industry dominance. This development reflects growing competition in the semiconductor sector. Meanwhile, Australia’s new social media ban for users under 16 highlights changing regulatory landscapes amid broader advances in robotics and chip innovation.

Top Story: Cambricon to Triple Chip Production Capacity

Cambricon Technologies announced plans to triple its AI chip production capacity over the next 18 months, positioning itself as China’s rival to Nvidia amid growing export restrictions. The company will invest $4.2 billion in new manufacturing facilities in Shanghai and Shenzhen, focusing on its latest MLU500 series designed for large language model training and inference.

CEO Chen Tianshi stated during a press conference that the expansion aims to meet increasing domestic demand for high-performance computing. Chen emphasized this represents a strategic pivot to ensure China’s AI ecosystem can advance regardless of external pressures. The announcement follows the recent tightening of U.S. restrictions on advanced chip exports to China.

Industry analysts described the move as significant but questioned whether Cambricon can match Nvidia’s performance advantages. Zhang Wei, semiconductor analyst at CICC, noted that while Cambricon is making progress in computational density, it still lags in software ecosystem maturity. Cambricon’s stock rose 7.2% after the announcement.

The company expects to begin ramped-up production by March 2026, with full capacity scheduled for June 2026. Initial customers are set to include Baidu, Alibaba Cloud, and several government research institutions.

Also Today: AI Governance

EU Passes Landmark AI Liability Framework

The European Parliament approved the AI Liability Directive on 6 December 2025 with a decisive 512-28 vote, setting clear rules for how consumers can seek damages for harm caused by artificial intelligence systems. The directive introduces the concept of “presumption of causality,” which shifts the burden of proof to AI developers and deployers in certain high-risk scenarios.

Digital Economy Commissioner Thierry Breton called the framework a necessary complement to the EU’s existing AI Act. Breton stated that together, these create the world’s most comprehensive governance system for artificial intelligence. The directive allows consumers five years to bring claims after discovering harm.

Industry reactions varied. The European Digital Rights group praised the protections, while tech industry association DigitalEurope warned about potential innovation risks. DigitalEurope Director General Cecilia Bonefeld-Dahl stated this could significantly increase legal risk for European startups.

Member states now have two years to incorporate the directive into national law, with the first implementations expected by January 2028. The framework is likely to influence AI regulation globally as companies adapt their systems to comply with EU standards.

DeepMind Establishes Independent AI Safety Board

Google DeepMind has created an independent AI Safety and Ethics Board with authority to pause or modify research projects deemed potentially harmful. The 11-member board includes external experts from computer science, ethics, and public policy. It has the power to review all high-risk research before publication.

DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis explained that as AI capabilities accelerate, traditional corporate governance structures are insufficient. The board will have direct reporting lines to Alphabet’s board of directors, bypassing Google’s management structure.

Board chair Yoshua Bengio, Turing Award winner and AI pioneer, emphasized the board’s independence. Bengio stated they have secured contractual guarantees that recommendations cannot be ignored without public disclosure. The board will use a novel risk assessment framework that examines both immediate and long-term societal impacts.

The move responds to growing pressure for AI labs to adopt stronger safety measures. OpenAI and Anthropic have announced similar but less powerful oversight mechanisms in recent months.

Also Today: Hardware Innovations

Samsung Unveils Quantum Dot OLED Smartphone Display

Samsung Display unveiled its first Quantum Dot OLED (QD-OLED) display technology for smartphones on 6 December 2025. The display offers 30% higher brightness and 45% lower power consumption than conventional OLED screens. The new “Neo OLED” displays also feature a 240Hz refresh rate and maintain the company’s thin profile.

Display division president Choi Joo-sun confirmed the technology will debut in Samsung’s Galaxy S26 Ultra in February 2026. Choi described this as the most significant advancement in mobile display technology in the past five years during the unveiling at Samsung’s Hwaseong campus.

The technology addresses key challenges in mobile displays by combining quantum dots’ color accuracy with OLED’s perfect blacks and low power requirements. DisplayMate Technologies awarded the screen its highest-ever A+ rating, especially praising improvements in outdoor visibility.

Analysts expect the technology to appear in other manufacturers’ premium devices by late 2026, potentially including Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro models. Samsung Display currently controls approximately 43% of the global smartphone display market.

RISC-V Foundation Reports 300% Membership Growth

The RISC-V International Foundation announced its membership has tripled over the past year, reaching more than 3,600 organizations across 70 countries. The open-source processor architecture is attracting broad attention as companies seek alternatives to proprietary designs amid ongoing chip supply concerns and geopolitical tensions.

RISC-V CEO Calista Redmond stated that the foundation is witnessing an unprecedented shift toward open hardware standards. Membership growth is particularly strong in automotive, aerospace, and IoT sectors, with 215 commercial RISC-V based chips now in production globally.

Major semiconductor companies including Qualcomm, MediaTek, and Nordic Semiconductor have launched or announced RISC-V based products recently. Arm Holdings has responded by adjusting licensing terms for certain customers.

The foundation will host its annual summit from 9 to 11 December 2025 in San Jose, where several companies are expected to announce new RISC-V implementations. Intel Foundry Services has already confirmed plans to showcase its first dedicated RISC-V manufacturing process node at the event.

Also Today: Digital Transformation

Walmart’s AI Inventory System Reduces Waste by 32%

Walmart reported its AI-powered inventory management system has reduced food waste by 32% across 4,600 U.S. stores since full deployment in June 2025. Developed in partnership with startup Shelf Engine, the system uses computer vision and predictive analytics to optimize ordering and stocking of perishable goods.

Kathleen McLaughlin, Walmart’s Chief Sustainability Officer, stated this represents not just cost savings but a significant sustainability achievement. The company estimates the system will prevent approximately 240,000 tons of food waste annually and improve fresh food availability by 18%.

The technology integrates ceiling-mounted cameras, weight sensors, and sales data for real-time inventory tracking. Machine learning algorithms forecast demand patterns by accounting for variables such as weather, local events, and historical purchasing trends, generating automated ordering recommendations.

Walmart plans to extend the system internationally to Canada and Mexico in early 2026. The company is also exploring similar technology for non-food inventory management across its supply chain.

Germany Launches Digital Identity Wallet Pilot

Germany’s Federal Ministry of Digital Affairs launched a nationwide digital identity wallet pilot program on 6 December 2025, allowing 500,000 citizens to store government IDs, driver’s licenses, and health insurance cards in a secure smartphone application. The “DigitalID” system uses blockchain technology for security while maintaining EU privacy standards.

Digital Minister Volker Wissing described the launch as a crucial step in Germany’s digital transformation journey. The system allows users to selectively share verified identity information with government agencies, financial institutions, and approved private companies without revealing unnecessary personal data.

Technical implementation relies on the European Union’s eIDAS 2.0 framework, ensuring compatibility with other EU member states. Security features include biometric authentication, device binding, and offline functionality with cryptographic verification.

The pilot will run through June 2026, with full nationwide implementation targeted for January 2027 if successful. Germany’s approach is being closely watched by other EU members developing their digital identity strategies.

What to Watch: Key Dates and Events

• 9 to 11 December 2025: RISC-V Summit in San Jose, featuring keynotes from Intel, Samsung, and Google
• 12 December 2025: FTC final hearing on Microsoft-Activision merger compliance
• 15 December 2025: Apple expected to release MacOS Sequoia with enhanced AI capabilities
• 5 to 8 January 2026: Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas
• 14 January 2026: European Commission AI Act enforcement begins with high-risk system regulations
• 21 January 2026: Quarterly earnings reports from Microsoft, Google, and Tesla

Conclusion

Cambricon’s plan to triple AI chip output signals China’s drive for self-reliance in advanced semiconductors, reshaping the global landscape amid ongoing export controls and competition in technology. This tech news press review also highlights significant changes in AI regulation and digital infrastructure. What to watch: key industry events in December 2025 and January 2026, including the RISC-V Summit, major software launches, and the beginning of EU AI Act enforcement.