Evening Brief - 2 November 2026

Trade policy collides with factory automation, Chinese chip makers grapple with investor doubt, Binance absorbs a multibillion-dollar breach, and US lawmakers press Meta on covert recording.

Trump labels industrial robot imports a national security threat

A presidential proclamation on 28 October designated foreign-manufactured industrial robots and machinery as national security threats, ordering trade negotiations within 180 days and leaving tariffs or quotas on the table if agreements fail. The directive targets factory automation used by GM, Ford, Tesla, Boeing, and Lockheed Martin, extending government scrutiny into supply chains for automotive assembly and aerospace fabrication. Read more →

Chinese AI chip makers post strong quarters but shares tumble over 10 per cent

Biwin Storage Technology and Moore Threads reported robust third-quarter revenue growth driven by AI infrastructure demand, yet both saw share prices drop more than 10 per cent in Thursday trading. Biwin fell 15.79 per cent despite supplying storage modules to Google and other hyperscale customers. The declines highlight the gap between operational performance and investor confidence in the mainland semiconductor sector. Read more →

Binance replenishes 90 per cent of stolen crypto after record heist

Binance has restored roughly 90 per cent of the $6.3 billion in cryptocurrency stolen during one of the largest exchange breaches in digital-asset history. The company is absorbing losses from its own reserves and has pledged to cover the remaining balance, which consists primarily of less-liquid tokens. Withdrawals are preparing to resume following the breach. Read more →

Two US senators demand answers on Meta's camera glasses and bystander recording

Ron Wyden and Edward Markey sent a letter to Mark Zuckerberg on 30 October, pressing Meta to explain how its AI-powered smart glasses protect bystanders from covert recording. The letter references incidents of filming without knowledge, including footage reviewed by Meta's AI labelling contractors, and sets a 26 November deadline for response. The move reflects rising regulatory scrutiny of wearable cameras across North America, Europe, and parts of Asia. Read more →

Compiled by OTW Briefing Desk from Opentechwire reporting.