SpaceX Joins Pentagon Drone AI Contest

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Elon Musk’s SpaceX and its subsidiary xAI are reportedly competing in a classified Pentagon challenge focused on developing voice-controlled autonomous drone swarm technology.

According to Bloomberg, the initiative is part of a $100 million prize competition launched in January that seeks to create systems capable of translating voice commands into digital instructions for managing multiple drones simultaneously.

The project aligns with the U.S. Defense Department’s broader strategy to accelerate domestic drone innovation and streamline development processes. The technology under consideration could play a role in future security applications, including protecting major events and critical infrastructure.

SpaceX’s participation follows its recent acquisition of xAI, combining aerospace engineering with advanced artificial intelligence capabilities ahead of the company’s planned IPO.

Major AI firms including OpenAI, Google, Anthropic and xAI previously secured Pentagon contracts worth up to $200 million each to advance AI adoption in defense systems.

Nexperia Secures $60M Loan to Boost Chip Output

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Dutch state-backed finance institution Invest International will provide semiconductor manufacturer Nexperia with a $60 million loan to support investments across its global production facilities.

The funding aims to expand output capacity, modernize manufacturing lines and improve operational efficiency.

Nexperia, based in the Netherlands and owned by China’s Wingtech, has been at the center of a geopolitical corporate dispute after Dutch authorities intervened last year by installing a European management team. The move caused tensions between Europe and China and disrupted global supply chains for basic automotive chips.

The new financing is expected to strengthen Nexperia’s production capabilities while preserving its internal resources for ongoing activities.

Separately, a Dutch court recently ordered an investigation into alleged mismanagement at the company but allowed the current European leadership to remain in place.

Starboard Targets Tripadvisor Board Shake-Up

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Activist investor Starboard Value is preparing to seek a major restructuring of Tripadvisor’s board, aiming to nominate a majority slate of directors to the company’s eight-member leadership team.

Starboard, which has built a stake of over 9% in the travel platform, is expected to outline its plans in a formal letter to the board. The move follows mounting pressure on Tripadvisor’s management after its shares dropped nearly 46% over the past year, recently hitting a record low.

The hedge fund has previously encouraged the company to consider selling TheFork, its restaurant booking business, as part of broader strategic changes.

The potential board overhaul signals rising investor frustration over performance and governance as Tripadvisor grapples with declining market confidence.