Chip Tax Credits Get Boost in Trump Tax Bill | Bloomberg Tech 6/17/2025

President Trump's family is promoting a new "all-American" smartphone, the Trump Mobile T1, but supply chain experts are skeptical. Most smartphones—including possibly this one—are made in China, which dominates global production. Analysts are digging into the device's origins to see if the "built in the USA" claim holds up.

Editor’s Note: If the phone isn’t actually made in the U.S., it undercuts Trump’s "America First" branding—and highlights how deeply globalized tech manufacturing really is. For consumers, it’s a reminder to check those "made in" labels a little closer.

Waymo, the self-driving car company owned by Alphabet (Google’s parent), is taking a big step toward entering the New York City market. They’ve officially applied for a permit to test their autonomous taxis there—even though NYC doesn’t yet have rules in place for commercial robotaxi services. This signals Waymo’s ambition to crack one of the toughest and most lucrative ride-hailing markets in the country.

Editor’s Note: NYC’s chaotic streets are a far cry from the sunny, structured roads of Phoenix where Waymo currently operates. If they pull this off, it could be a game-changer for urban transportation—but regulators, taxi unions, and skeptical New Yorkers won’t make it easy. The move also puts pressure on cities to figure out how (or if) they’ll accommodate driverless cars in the future.

Google just rolled out its AI-powered "Search Live" feature, which uses generative AI to answer queries directly on the search page—no need to click through to other websites. While this might make searches faster and more convenient, critics argue it could starve publishers of traffic, further shrinking the already struggling digital media ecosystem.

Editor’s Note: If Google’s AI keeps pulling answers from the web without sending users to the original sources, it could spell trouble for content creators who rely on search traffic. It’s another step in the ongoing tension between big tech’s convenience and the sustainability of independent journalism and niche websites.

Google just rolled out a fresh way to search—using your voice in real time. Dubbed "Search Live," this feature was first teased at Google’s I/O event and is now officially available. Think of it like having a conversation with Google, where you can refine your search as you speak, making it more dynamic and interactive. Early impressions? It’s actually kind of fun.

Editor’s Note: Voice search isn’t new, but making it feel more natural and responsive could change how we interact with search engines. If this works smoothly, it might nudge more people away from typing—especially for quick, on-the-go queries. For Google, it’s another step toward blending AI into everyday tech in a way that doesn’t feel forced.

Anthropic is making its AI coding assistant, Claude Code, more versatile by allowing developers to run it on any remote MCP (Model Control Protocol) server. This move aligns with the broader industry trend where MCP is rapidly becoming the go-to standard for AI development, with new updates and integrations popping up constantly.

Editor’s Note: If you're a developer working with AI, this is a big deal—it means more flexibility in where and how you use Claude Code, without being locked into specific platforms. Since MCP is gaining traction as an industry standard, this update keeps Anthropic competitive while giving devs more freedom to integrate AI tools into their workflows. Basically, it’s another step toward making advanced AI tools as seamless and accessible as possible.