US technology industry

A US jury has ruled that Apple must pay a record $5.7 billion in a patent dispute over haptic technology, the vibration feedback used in its devices. The verdict ranks among the largest patent damages awards in US history and is expected to trigger appeals and scrutiny of how Apple licenses touchscreen feedback technology.

The Trump administration has barred major technology companies including Microsoft, Cognizant, Infosys and TCS from sponsoring foreign workers for permanent residency through an immigration program. The move affects thousands of skilled workers, many of them Indian nationals employed by outsourcing firms, and is drawing scrutiny over its impact on the tech industry and immigration policy.

Qualcomm has agreed to license patents covering Huawei's LogicFolding chip technology, according to a Bloomberg report dated October 5, 2026. The deal would let the US chipmaker use Huawei's logic-folding semiconductor patents, a notable crossover between two companies at the center of the US-China tech rivalry.

The United States is suspending participation of Microsoft and other major IT firms in a key green card permanent residency program, according to comments by Vice President JD Vance reported by Reuters. The move affects companies that rely heavily on skilled foreign workers and is likely to raise concerns across the technology industry about access to overseas talent and immigration policy direction.

Oxide Computer, the US server hardware startup, has raised a $445 million Series D funding round, announced on its company blog. The company, known for building rack-scale servers for on-premises data centers, has not detailed investors or valuation in the headline figure alone. The announcement is drawing attention in the technology community, where Oxide has a strong following for its approach to rethinking enterprise server hardware and software.

Donald Trump is awarding medals to Satya Nadella, Elon Musk, Michael Dell and other technology executives at a science summit, according to CNBC. The ceremony recognises contributions from leading figures in the US tech industry. Nadella, Microsoft's chief executive, features among the honourees drawing attention as viewers weigh the political significance of the administration honouring top tech leaders.

President Trump has given the United States' top science awards to Elon Musk and several other technology executives, according to Al Jazeera. The decision places industry leaders among recipients of the country's highest scientific honours, prompting discussion about the growing overlap between the Trump administration and major figures in the tech sector.

The United States has suspended a visa program used by major technology companies, with Microsoft named among the affected firms. The move, reported by Bloomberg, is expected to disrupt how tech companies recruit and transfer skilled foreign workers. Details on how long the suspension will last and which workers are affected remain limited.

The US National Security Agency has released new zero trust guidance aimed at helping organisations protect operational technology systems, such as those controlling industrial equipment and critical infrastructure. The guidance outlines how zero trust security principles can be applied to environments traditionally shielded by perimeter defences. It is drawing attention from cybersecurity professionals and critical infrastructure operators concerned about growing threats to industrial systems.

Schneider Electric is reportedly close to agreeing a deal to buy PTC, the US industrial software company, in a transaction valued at more than $20 billion, according to Bloomberg. The acquisition would mark a major push by the French electrical equipment group into industrial software and digital manufacturing technology.

A union at Micron Technology's chip operations in Taiwan has received official approval to go on strike, Reuters reports. Taiwan's government mediation process cleared the way for industrial action at the US memory-chip maker's facilities on the island. The move signals rising labor tensions at one of the world's largest semiconductor suppliers, though no strike date has been confirmed.

Chinese state investment funds are increasing their stakes in Hua Hong Semiconductor, one of China's leading chipmakers, as Beijing intensifies its push to build domestic capacity in older-generation, or legacy, chips. The move underscores the country's strategy of self-reliance in mature-node semiconductors, a segment less affected by Western export controls but vital for autos, industrial equipment and consumer electronics.

The US Department of War's Office of Strategic Capital has announced a $1.5 billion conditional loan commitment. Details on the recipient and the conditions attached to the financing have not been laid out in the announcement, which was published directly by the department. The Office of Strategic Capital typically backs critical technology and defense supply chain investments, so the move is being read as another step in federal efforts to strengthen strategic industrial capacity.

Washington Technology examines what defense and technology contractors must do to accelerate the adoption of new technologies within the US intelligence community. The piece focuses on barriers between industry and intelligence agencies and what fixes industry itself controls, such as meeting security requirements, tailoring products to classified environments, and easing procurement friction.

A Wall Street Journal analysis examines projections that US investment in artificial intelligence could reach roughly 9% of GDP, a level of spending comparable to historic infrastructure booms. The piece notes that the technology industry is counting on this wave of capital continuing, raising questions about whether such unprecedented outlays on data centers and computing power are sustainable or realistic.

US automakers face a triple challenge: new tariffs raising costs on imported parts and vehicles, the industry-wide shift toward electric vehicles, and competition in autonomous driving technology. Industry commentators are debating whether Detroit's legacy manufacturers can adapt quickly enough, with tariffs and uncertain EV demand adding pressure to already costly technology transitions.

Commentary is linking the classic American Dream to what is being called a 'moonshot economy' — the idea that bold, ambitious investment in frontier technologies and big national projects could restore upward mobility and economic optimism in the United States. The piece argues that reviving the dream may require the kind of large-scale ambition that defined the Apollo era.

The United States has suspended a permanent residency program affecting Microsoft, Adobe and other major tech companies, according to an Engadget report. The move has immediate implications for foreign workers at these firms seeking green cards, and lands amid ongoing debate over skilled immigration and its role in the US technology industry.

US space startup Xona Space Systems is preparing to launch its commercial alternative to GPS, a satellite-based positioning service designed to offer stronger, more secure and more precise signals than legacy navigation systems. The announcement is drawing attention in the space and technology community, as Xona's small-satellite constellation approach could reshape how industries from autonomous vehicles to logistics access positioning data.

Schneider Electric has agreed to acquire PTC, the US industrial software company, in a deal valued at more than $20 billion. The move would mark one of the largest acquisitions of an industrial technology firm, giving the French electrical equipment group a bigger stake in engineering and manufacturing software as interest in industrial digitalization grows.

Defense technology startup Anduril Industries has been awarded a contract related to US Navy shipyard operations. The award signals the Pentagon's continued shift toward non-traditional defense contractors for shipbuilding and shipyard modernization work. The win is drawing attention in defense and policy circles, with observers weighing what it means for established shipbuilders and the broader defense industrial base.

The United States has suspended a visa program used by major technology companies, with Microsoft among the affected firms, according to Bloomberg. The move impacts how tech companies sponsor foreign workers, and it is drawing attention across the industry and on developer forums, where users are debating its consequences for hiring and immigration policy.

President Donald Trump has awarded the top US science and technology medals to Elon Musk and five technology executives, according to Anadolu Agency. The honours recognise contributions to American science and innovation, but the choice of recipients from the tech industry is drawing attention given Musk's political closeness to Trump and the ongoing public debate over ties between the administration and Silicon Valley leaders.

Chinese state funds are stepping up financing for Hua Hong Grace Semiconductor, committing billions of yuan to support its new fabrication plant in Wuxi and expand mature-node chip production. The move, reported by the South China Morning Post, underscores Beijing's push to strengthen its domestic semiconductor industry amid ongoing US export restrictions on advanced chip technology.

The Trump administration is suspending Microsoft from a green card program tied to the H-1B visa system, according to an Associated Press report. The move, linked to Vice President JD Vance, bars the tech giant from the program, and the story is drawing widespread attention in technology and immigration policy circles.

South Korea has announced a Green Industrial Plan worth US$747 billion, designating solar power, batteries and electric vehicles as key growth sectors. The plan signals a major state-backed push into clean energy industries, positioning the country to compete with the US, China and the EU in the global race for green technology manufacturing and investment.

An opinion piece argues that with the current war project underway, the United States technology ecosystem is beginning to resemble China's, where state priorities and defence needs increasingly shape innovation, capital flows and the relationship between government and private tech firms. The claim touches on debates about defence-driven industrial policy, censorship and the blurring line between Silicon Valley and national security interests.

A new American report recommends a complete ban on exports of ASML's deep ultraviolet immersion lithography systems to China, going beyond existing restrictions on the Dutch chip-equipment maker. The proposal would tighten one of the most sensitive fronts in the US-China technology standoff, and industry observers are watching how Washington and The Hague respond.

Chinese AI developers are being credited with overtaking Western rivals in open-source artificial intelligence, according to new commentary from Yahoo Finance. The piece argues that freely available models released by Chinese companies now match or beat comparable Western offerings, raising questions about the United States' lead in AI and prompting debate among developers and industry watchers over the shifting balance of power in the global AI race.