AI Chip Race Heats Up as China Tightens Rules and Iran Buries Khamenei
The tech and geopolitical headlines crossing on Monday morning share a common thread: every major power is racing to control the infrastructure of the future while managing the fallout of a volatile Middle East.
The tech and geopolitical headlines crossing on Monday morning share a common thread: every major power is racing to control the infrastructure of the future while managing the fallout of a volatile Middle East.
In AI hardware, Anthropic is in early-stage talks with Samsung Electronics to manufacture a custom AI chip, according to reports from The Information and The Korea Herald [1][2]. The discussions could see Samsung produce Anthropic chips using its 2-nanometer foundry process and advanced packaging facilities, potentially at the company's Taylor, Texas fab, which is scheduled to begin mass production next year [2]. Anthropic signaled its semiconductor ambitions in May when it named Samsung, SK hynix and Micron as "strategic infrastructure partners" in its Series H funding round [2]. A Samsung deal would give Anthropic a diversified hardware stack beyond its existing reliance on Google, Amazon and Nvidia, and would mark another high-profile win for Samsung's foundry business as it tries to close the gap with TSMC [1][2].
Meanwhile, China's AI regulation is catching up with its consumer apps. ByteDance's Doubao and Alibaba's Qwen are disabling customized, humanlike AI agent features ahead of new Beijing rules taking effect July 15 [3][4]. The Interim Measures for the Administration of Artificial Intelligence Anthropomorphic Interaction Services, issued in April, target services that "simulate human personality traits, thinking patterns and communication styles to provide sustained emotional interaction" [3]. Doubao will take its agent feature offline on July 15, while Qwen's humanlike interactive agents will be disabled on July 10 and broader agent functions shut down July 15 [3]. The rules exclude customer service bots and workplace assistants but cite risks including extremist ideas, privacy leaks and user addiction [3].
On the world stage, Iran began a 12-hour funeral procession through Tehran on Monday for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a February 28 airstrike at the start of the Israel-U.S. war [5]. Tens of thousands of black-clad mourners lined the streets, with some carrying signs calling for the killing of U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu [5]. U.S. negotiations with Iran over the Strait of Hormuz, its nuclear program and a permanent end to the war appear on hold until after Khamenei's burial Thursday in Mashhad [5].
The Hormuz crisis is also rippling through energy markets. OPEC+ said Sunday that seven members including Saudi Arabia, Russia and Iraq will raise output by 188,000 barrels per day from August, the fifth consecutive monthly increase [6]. The move continues a gradual unwinding of 2023 production cuts, though analysts note the increase matters little while the Strait of Hormuz remains closed [6].