VinFast teams up with Autobrains to develop low-cost self-driving tech

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Vietnamese electric vehicle maker VinFast has partnered with artificial intelligence company Autobrains to develop advanced autonomous driving technology, including a low-cost “Robo-Car” system. The collaboration is aimed at accelerating VinFast’s self-driving ambitions while reducing costs by moving away from expensive sensor-heavy approaches.

The partnership will focus on improving driver assistance systems for upcoming VinFast electric vehicles, building on the company’s existing Level 2 autonomy capabilities. Pilot testing of the enhanced technology is already underway on the VF 8 and VF 9 models, with plans to gradually roll out more advanced features across VinFast’s vehicle lineup.

In addition, the companies are exploring a new Robo-Car architecture designed to enable higher levels of autonomy without relying on costly LiDAR sensors, radar systems or high-definition maps. Similar to Tesla’s strategy, the system uses seven standard cameras combined with a compact, high-performance computing chip. Testing is currently taking place in controlled zones in Hanoi, with expansion planned to larger cities and international markets.

Texas governor bars state employees from using Shein, Alibaba products

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Texas Governor Greg Abbott has ordered a ban on state employees using products from several Chinese-owned companies, including Shein, Alibaba and TP-Link, citing concerns over data security and the privacy of Texans. The restriction applies to state-owned devices and networks and covers physical hardware, software and artificial intelligence tools.

The list of prohibited companies also includes online shopping platform Temu, battery maker CATL, Chinese drone manufacturer Autel and artificial intelligence firm iFlyTek. Abbott said the move was aimed at preventing potential access by the Chinese government to sensitive data handled by Texas state agencies.

The decision follows a broader trend among U.S. state and federal officials to limit the use of technology linked to China on security grounds. While Texas has taken a firm stance, the move comes as Washington and Beijing reached a temporary easing of tensions last October after years of trade and technology disputes.

Abbott’s order reflects ongoing concerns about foreign technology in government systems and adds Texas to a growing list of U.S. jurisdictions imposing restrictions on Chinese-linked products in the name of cybersecurity and national security.

Rift at influential Silicon Valley venture firm shows tech’s divide over ICE shooting

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A fatal shooting involving U.S. immigration agents has triggered a sharp political divide inside Silicon Valley, spilling into one of the region’s most influential venture capital firms. Partners at Khosla Ventures publicly distanced themselves from a colleague after comments defending the killing of a U.S. citizen during an immigration enforcement operation drew widespread backlash.

The incident involved the death of 37-year-old Alex Pretti, an intensive-care nurse, during a confrontation with federal agents in Minneapolis. The case has intensified national debate as video evidence appeared to contradict the administration’s account, even as officials defended the agents’ actions. The shooting is one of several involving immigration enforcement this month, heightening scrutiny of federal practices.

Tensions escalated after a senior partner at Khosla Ventures argued on social media that the shooting did not involve an innocent victim. Firm founder Vinod Khosla and other partners swiftly rejected the remarks, emphasizing that humanity should transcend politics. Several prominent technology executives echoed that view, praising Pretti and condemning violence.

The episode reflects a broader fracture within the U.S. tech industry, where long-standing progressive values increasingly clash with a growing faction openly supportive of hardline immigration policies. While some executives have aligned themselves with the Trump administration, others face mounting pressure from employees urging companies to speak out against immigration enforcement actions in U.S. cities.