Germany-based Quantum Systems, which sells surveillance drones that are being used by Ukraine, raised €180M, tripling its valuation to €3B since May (Christina Kyriasoglou/Bloomberg)

Anduril Industries faced significant setbacks with its defense technology, particularly with the Altius drones, which Ukraine ceased using in 2024 due to operational problems and safety issues. Documents reveal that the company's fast-paced development approach contributed to these failures, impacting its reliability in critical defense applications.

Quantum Systems, a German drone manufacturer supported by Peter Thiel, has successfully tripled its valuation to €3 billion ($3.5 billion) following a recent funding round aimed at expanding its production capacity of unmanned aerial systems.

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. has commenced sales of its Quark S1 smart glasses in China, priced at approximately $537. These glasses are powered by Alibaba's Qwen AI models, marking the company's entry into the consumer hardware market. International versions are expected to be released in 2026.

Dell Technologies Inc. and HP Inc. have issued warnings about potential memory-chip supply shortages in the upcoming year, attributing this to the surging demand driven by the expansion of artificial intelligence infrastructure. This situation reflects the increasing reliance on AI technologies across various sectors, which is expected to strain supply chains.

Dell has raised its outlook for AI server shipments, indicating a positive trend in demand for its products, while HP has announced plans to cut up to 6,000 jobs by 2028 as part of a restructuring effort focused on artificial intelligence. This juxtaposition highlights the contrasting fortunes of two major players in the technology sector.

The Pentagon has identified Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., Baidu Inc., and BYD Co. as companies that provide aid to the Chinese military, as stated in a letter to Congress dated October 7. This classification comes amid ongoing tensions between the U.S. and China regarding technology and military cooperation.

The European Union has requested Shein to provide documents detailing measures aimed at preventing minors from being exposed to inappropriate content and the sale of illegal items, including childlike sex dolls and weapons on its marketplace. This scrutiny follows increasing concerns from French authorities regarding the appropriateness of such products available online.