Tesla’s Supervised Self-Driving Software Gets Dutch Approval, First in Europe
Tesla has received regulatory approval from Dutch authorities for its supervised self-driving software, marking the first such authorization in Europe. The milestone represents a significant step forward for autonomous vehicle regulation on the continent and could pave the way for approvals in other European markets.
The Dutch Road Transport Authority (RDW) certified that Tesla’s system meets European safety standards for advanced driver assistance systems. Unlike fully autonomous driving, Tesla’s supervised system requires driver attention and intervention capability at all times.
FTC Settles with Ad Companies Over X Boycott Probe
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission is negotiating settlements with major advertising companies following an investigation into coordinated boycotts against Elon Musk’s X platform. The probe examined whether companies violated antitrust laws by collectively pulling advertising from the social media platform.
Several major brands had suspended advertising on X following concerns about content moderation policies. The FTC’s intervention signals increased regulatory scrutiny of collective actions by advertisers against media platforms.
Semiconductor Spending to Reach $1.3 Trillion in 2026
Global semiconductor spending is projected to reach $1.3 trillion in 2026, marking the largest growth in two decades, according to market research firm Gartner. The surge is driven almost entirely by demand for AI-related chips, including GPUs, memory, and specialized AI accelerators.
TSMC, NVIDIA, Samsung, and other chipmakers are racing to expand capacity to meet insatiable demand from data center operators and AI developers.
Harvard’s Gabriel Kreiman Seeks $100 Million for AI Memory Technology
Harvard professor Gabriel Kreiman is seeking $100 million in funding to develop AI memory technology that could enable artificial intelligence systems to retain and recall information more like the human brain. The ambitious project aims to address one of the fundamental limitations of current AI systems.
Current large language models lack persistent memory across sessions and struggle with factual recall. Kreiman’s proposed system could enable AI to build and maintain long-term knowledge bases.
Tesla Earnings Preview: What to Expect
Tesla is scheduled to report first-quarter earnings on April 16, with investors closely watching indicators of demand for the company’s electric vehicles and energy products. The company faces intensifying competition in the EV market, particularly from Chinese manufacturers.
Analysts will be scrutinizing guidance for the highly anticipated Robotaxi launch and developments in Tesla’s Optimus humanoid robot program.
AI Infrastructure Stocks Climb as Data Center Boom Continues
AI infrastructure stocks have rallied sharply as investors bet on continued explosive growth in data center construction. Companies involved in power generation, cooling systems, and networking equipment are seeing increased demand as tech giants race to build out AI capacity.
PJM Interconnection is targeting 15 gigawatts of new power generation capacity to meet demand from data center construction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Tesla get approved for in Europe?
Tesla received Dutch regulatory approval for its supervised self-driving software, the first such authorization in Europe.
How much is global semiconductor spending expected to grow?
Global semiconductor spending is projected to reach $1.3 trillion in 2026, marking the largest growth in two decades.
What is Tesla’s Robotaxi?
Tesla’s Robotaxi is an anticipated fully autonomous ride-hailing service. The company is expected to provide updates in its April 16 earnings call.