Connect with us

Published

on

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang speaks to the media at a hotel in Beijing, China July 16, 2025.

Alessandro Diviggiano | Reuters

Nvidia on Tuesday rejected Chinese accusations that its data center GPUs for artificial intelligence include a hardware function that could remotely deactivate the chips, which is commonly called a “kill switch.”

“NVIDIA GPUs do not and should not have kill switches and backdoors,” wrote Nvidia’s Chief Security Officer David Reber in a blog post on Tuesday.

The blog post comes after the Cyberspace Administration of China said last week that it needed Nvidia to provide documents about what it called security vulnerabilities in the H20, Nvidia’s data center AI chip intended for the Chinese market. The regulator specifically mentioned “backdoor” security risks, according to the New York Times.

The statement is an example of how Nvidia is navigating geopolitical conflict as its AI chips remain in high demand by countries and companies around the world. U.S. lawmakers have proposed legislation that would require AI chips under export regulations to be equipped with location-tracking systems.

The U.S. has placed export controls on some Nvidia chips to China because of national security reasons, saying that the country could use the chips to gain an advantage in AI or for military purposes.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has argued that it is better for the U.S. if Nvidia’s chips become the global standard for AI computers, especially among Chinese developers.

Read more CNBC tech news

The H20 generates billions in revenue per quarter for Nvidia in sales, although the company does not typically break out its revenue specifically. The chip was briefly banned from export to China in April.

The company said its guidance would have been about $8 billion higher except for lost sales from a recent export restriction on its China-bound H20 chips.

The Trump administration said in July that it would grant a waiver for the chips to resume sales.

Silicon Valley technologists and security experts generally believe that backdoors — when a device has a hidden function that would allow a government or attacker to secretly take data from a computer or otherwise control it — are untenable in products.

Apple, in particular, has publicly fought off government requests for what it calls “backdoors” in the past as well.

Nvidia declined to comment further on its blog post.

Reber argued in the blog post that secret backdoors are dangerous vulnerabilities that could be used by hackers, not just officials, and that they “violate the fundamental principles of cybersecurity.”

He also said that if a kill switch or backdoor were to be put in products like Nvidia GPUs, that they would harm U.S. national security interests.

“Hardwiring a kill switch into a chip is something entirely different: a permanent flaw beyond user control, and an open invitation for disaster,” Reber wrote. “It’s like buying a car where the dealership keeps a remote control for the parking brake — just in case they decide you shouldn’t be driving.”

Continue Reading

Technology

Airbnb beats on top and bottom lines for second quarter

Published

on

By

Airbnb beats on top and bottom lines for second quarter

Cheng Xin | Getty Images

Airbnb reported second-quarter results on Wednesday that beat analysts’ expectations.

Here’s how the company did based on average analysts’ estimates compiled by LSEG:

  • Earnings per share: $1.03 vs. 93 cents expected
  • Revenue: $3.10 billion vs. $3.04 billion expected

Revenue increased 13% from $2.75 billion during the same period last year. The company reported net income of $642 million, or $1.03 per share, up from $555 million, or 86 cents per share, a year earlier.

In the third quarter, Airbnb expects to report revenue of $4.02 billion to $4.10 billion, or $4.06 billion in the middle of the range. Analysts were expecting $4.05 billion for the period, according to LSEG.

In a letter to shareholders, the company said it had a strong second quarter, even against a volatile macroeconomic backdrop. U.S. President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff and trade policies plunged markets into chaos for much of April.

“Despite global economic uncertainty early in the quarter, travel demand picked up, and nights booked on Airbnb accelerated from April to July,” the company said.

Airbnb reported 134.4 million nights and seats booked, up 7% from a year ago and above the 133.35 million expected by StreetAccount.

Gross booking value, which Airbnb uses to report host earnings, service fees, cleaning fees and taxes, totaled $23.5 billion in the second quarter. That figure is above the $22.66 billion expected by analysts polled by StreetAccount.

Airbnb said it received authorization for new share repurchase program of up to an additional $6 billion of Class A common stock. The company said it repurchased $1 billion of Class A common stock during the second quarter, and previously had authorization to purchase $1.5 billion more as of June 30.

Airbnb shares were down slightly in extended trading. They’ve slipped 0.7% for the year as of Wednesday’s close, while the Nasdaq is up almost 10%.

Airbnb will hold its quarterly call with investors at 4:30 p.m. ET.

WATCH: Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky on AI

Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky on AI: The future is going to be more complex, not simpler

Continue Reading

Technology

DoorDash shares rise on earnings, revenue beat

Published

on

By

DoorDash shares rise on earnings, revenue beat

Doordash food delivery service in New York City on Feb. 13, 2025. 

Danielle DeVries | CNBC

DoorDash shares climbed about 5% in extended trading on Wednesday after the food delivery company reported better-than-expected earnings and revenue for the second quarter.

Here’s how the company did compared to analyst estimates based on LSEG’s consensus:

  • Earnings per share: 65 cents vs. 44 cents expected
  • Revenue: $3.28 billion vs. $3.16 billion expected

Revenue jumped 25% from $2.63 billion a year earlier, DoorDash said in a press release. The company reported net income of $285 million, or 65 cents a share, after recording a loss of $157 million, or 38 cents per share, in the same period a year ago.

Orders increased 20% from a year earlier to 761 million. Gross order value (GOV) rose 23% to $24.2 billion.

DoorDash shares have soared 54% this year as of Wednesday’s close, lifting the company’s market cap to $109 billion. The Nasdaq is up almost 10% in 2025.

Stock Chart IconStock chart icon

hide content

Doordash one day stock chart.

Delivery and rideshare stocks have strong demand and growth, says Bernstein's Nikhil Devnani

Continue Reading

Technology

Amazon’s Zoox robotaxi unit clears regulatory hurdle, safety probe

Published

on

By

Amazon's Zoox robotaxi unit clears regulatory hurdle, safety probe

Amazon’s Zoox robotaxi unit is ramping up vehicle production at a new facility in Hayward, California.

Zoox

Amazon‘s Zoox has cleared a key regulatory hurdle, paving the way for demonstrations of its self-driving robotaxis.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Wednesday that it granted Zoox an exemption from some requirements, a first for U.S.-built vehicles under a recently expanded program.

“Transportation innovators can be confident in getting speedy review of their vehicles and, as appropriate, exemption from Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards,” NHTSA Chief Counsel Peter Simshauser said in a release.

The company must remove all existing statements that its purpose-built vehicles meet all federal motor vehicle safety standards.

As part of the announcement, NHTSA said it’s closing a probe opened in March 2023 into Zoox’s self-certification that its robotaxi met federal safety standards.

“Through this new exemption process, we are excited to embark on this new path, put these discussions behind us, and move forward,” Zoox said in a statement.

The Department of Transportation in April announced it would expand a program that aims to speed up the autonomous vehicle exemption process to include domestically produced vehicles. Previously, it was limited to imported AVs.

Read more CNBC tech news

The easing of regulations will benefit Zoox and its competitors.

Tesla has announced that it plans to produce a two-seater CyberCab with no steering wheel or pedals down the line.

The expansion of the Automated Vehicle Exemption Program could make it easier for the company to conduct testing and operate on public, U.S. roadways if Elon Musk‘s automaker can meet the agency’s requirements.

Zoox, founded 11 years ago and purchased by Amazon for $1.3 billion in 2020, has been gearing up for further expansion this year.

The company in June opened a robotaxi manufacturing facility in the San Francisco Bay Area, where it aims to eventually produce 10,000 vehicles a year once it’s at full scale.

Zoox needs more of its toaster-shaped robotaxis to roll off the assembly line to fulfill its mission of deploying a commercial ride-hailing service in the U.S.

The company has eyed Las Vegas as its first commercial market, and said it plans to begin service there later this year.

— CNBC’s Lora Kolodny contributed reporting to this article.

Continue Reading

Trending