restofworld.org, as data

## Why Silicon Valley is divided over China’s powerful, cheap AI models Low-cost Chinese open-weight models are splitting tech executives and Washington over national security and competitiveness.## With Moonshot’s free Kimi K3, China changes the sovereign AI playbook Governments can now deploy top-tier AI locally, bypassing costly U.S. cloud rentals.## The global grassroots gatherings trying to humanize the AI boom Local tech groups in Kenya, India, and the U.S. are building communities and conversations around AI, but also face questions about privilege and reach.## A world of tech in your inboxExclusive stories, on-the-ground reporting, and analysis from our global newsroom — twice a week, every week. See the full picture of how technology is shaping the world.## Indian EV makers beat Tesla and BYD on energy efficiency Tata Motors and Mahindra topped a global ranking of battery efficiency, showing India's strength in building frugal electric cars — even as they lag on charging speed and driving range.## China’s EV makers are taking over the European factories Ford and Nissan can’t fill What seems like a rescue could prove to be a retreat, as Chery leads its rivals into the heart of Europe’s car industry.## What happened to China’s overseas EV factory boom? Three charts show China’s promised overseas production hasn’t materialized — yet.## Big Tech is moving data out of the Gulf through Iraqi oil pipelines U.S. hyperscalers secure "dark fiber" capacity along Iraqi land route to reduce latency and provide a backup to vulnerable subsea cables.## War in the Gulf could tilt the cloud race toward China Strikes on U.S. data centers highlight the risks of concentration and the growing role of geopolitics in cloud competition.