CarMax's growth was driven by consumers buying vehicles ahead of new US tariffs, but the company attributes its overall success to internal efforts such as inventory management and pricing. The deployment of artificial intelligence has improved operations, with AI-powered virtual assistant Skye seeing a 30% increase in containment rate during the quarter. CarMax's digital capabilities accounted for 80% of retail unit sales, with omnichannel sales at 66% and online sales at 14%, down from previous quarters.
https://www.pymnts.com/earnings/2025/carmax-increases-loan-loss-provisions-amid-uncertain-economic-outlook/France's armed forces ministry has agreed to support Dassault Aviation's VORTEX spaceplane demonstrator, with French government backing for the project coming as President Emmanuel Macron calls for accelerated deployment of Starlink-type satellites. The agreement was signed at the Paris Airshow between Sebastien Lecornu and Eric Trappier, CEO and Chairman of Dassault Aviation.
https://channelnewsasia.com/business/dassault-aviation-gets-french-government-support-its-vortex-spaceplane-demonstrator-5194716Electricity demand growth has been minimal in recent decades due to increased energy efficiency, but experts predict a surge in coming years, driven by the growing use of electronic devices, smart-home products and electric vehicles. Data centers, which power cloud computing and artificial intelligence, are a major contributor to this expected increase. The electricity used by data centers tripled to 176 Terawatt-hours between 2013 and 2023, according to the US Energy Department.
https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/business/money-report/why-electricity-prices-are-surging-for-u-s-households/3592123/The Dubai Open, a major chess tournament, is taking steps to combat technology cheating. Grandmaster and tournament organizer, Houda Mahdawi, has called for increased use of AI-powered tools to detect and prevent cheating. The move comes as the UAE government announces an Islamic New Year holiday for public and private sectors, starting on April 21.
https://www.thenationalnews.com/sport/2025/04/10/uaes-first-woman-chess-grandmaster-rouda-essa-alserkal-to-rub-shoulders-with-worlds-best-in-norway/Midjourney has released its Video V1 feature, which allows users to transform static images into short videos. The tool uses an image-to-video system that generates four 5-second clips, which can be extended up to 21 seconds with motion controls. Users can choose from two animation modes: automatic and manual, where the latter requires descriptive prompts for guidance. The video feature is priced at 8 times the cost of the original image.
https://www.ibtimes.sg/ai-startup-midjourney-launches-image-video-creation-model-v1-here-all-you-need-know-80431The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is investigating Tesla's full self-driving technology after four reported collisions, including a fatal crash in 2023. NHTSA is seeking information on Tesla's robotaxi development plans and the safety measures in place to handle reduced roadway visibility conditions such as sun glare or fog. The agency wants to know how many vehicles will be used for robotaxis and when they will become available for use by non-Tesla drivers. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has assured that human remote monitoring will focus on safety during trials, but NHTSA is pushing for more detailed information on the technology's capabilities in such conditions.
https://channelnewsasia.com/business/us-auto-safety-agency-reviewing-tesla-answers-robotaxi-deployment-plans-5195066Nvidia is partnering with Foxconn to produce its products using humanoid robots for the first time, marking a significant milestone in the company's robotics efforts. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang expects humanoid robots to be widely used in manufacturing facilities within five years. The partnership comes as Nvidia seeks to expand its presence in the AI chip space and capitalize on an anticipated robotics boom.
https://www.pymnts.com/artificial-intelligence-2/2025/nvidia-and-foxconn-aim-to-use-humanoid-robots-in-ai-server-factory/Pakistan's recent PECA Amendments of 2025 have rolled back digital free speech, disproportionately affecting journalists and exacerbating the "chilling effect" on self-censorship. A study by Digital Rights Foundation (DRF) warns that the government's overly broad approach to regulating digital spaces has led to a lack of clear oversight mechanisms and vague definitions in proposed AI legislation, posing threats to freedom of expression and data protection. The Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Act 2024 has been criticized for its failure to align with international best practices. Pakistanis prefer dual regulation on generative AI, including government and tech company oversight, to reduce misuse and protect against offensive content targeting religion or national symbols.
https://www.geo.tv/latest/610119-pakistans-free-speech-paradox-between-index-and-illusionThe Stockholm International Peace Research Institute's report reveals that nearly half of the world's nuclear warheads are kept in reserve, with Russia and the US holding most of them. China may now store some warheads on missiles during peacetime, according to the report. The SIPRI Director, Dan Smith, warns of a new nuclear arms race involving advanced technologies like artificial intelligence, cyber capabilities, space assets, missile defense, and quantum systems, which are redefining nuclear capabilities and deterrence.
https://www.koat.com/article/world-nuclear-warheads/65106715