Anthropic已启动自研AI芯片的前期研发工作，并与三星电子洽谈，计划将其作为潜在芯片代工合作方。此举效仿OpenAI，目的是加强对支撑自身大模型、成本高昂的算力硬件体系的自主掌控。

July 4, 2026 — China foreign minister met Sweden’s foreign minister in Stockholm. Beijing said bilateral ties, which were strained in recent years, have warmed since the Swedish minister’s visit last year and signalled a push to improve mutual trust, expand pragmatic cooperation and focus on a positive agenda. China urged Sweden to continue upholding the One China principle to consolidate the political basis for the relationship.

Xpeng chairman and CEO He Xiaopeng said China leads globally in both ADAS technology and related regulation, and the United Nations has approved intelligent-driving rules that fully clear L2-level functions. He said the approval means that from December this year L2 features such as NGP and NOA can be used and deployed worldwide, marking an important implementation milestone. He added only China and the U.S. have achieved large-scale L2 rollout to date, most regions including the EU have not, and Xpeng—now a member of the UN traffic-regulations drafting group—is actively aligning products to the new requirements.

Sweden prime minister Kristersson met China foreign minister Wang Yi in Stockholm on July 4. Wang conveyed greetings from Chinese leaders, said bilateral ties have faced difficulties and urged stronger dialogue, rebuilt mutual trust and improved mutual understanding. Wang also held talks with Sweden’s foreign minister and met Jacob Wallenberg, chairman of the Wallenberg group.

Shenzhen Customs data: Jan–Apr robot exports reached RMB 4.03 bln, 25.5% of national robot export value—roughly one yuan in every four. Backed by a complete Greater Bay Area ecosystem that compresses core components, finished machines, control systems and integration services into a shortened value chain, Shenzhen firms achieve faster product iteration and flexible delivery. Shenzhen-made robots are now exported to more than 100 countries and regions.

The New York Times reports Iran’s traditional conservative–reformist divide has been upended after the assassination of former supreme leader Khamenei, with the conservative camp splitting into pragmatists who favor ending hostility with the U.S. and opening the economy, and hardliners who reject concessions (including on nuclear issues) and advocate prolonging the war. Four senior Iranian officials and two IRGC members told the paper that public disagreements mask deeper backstage ruptures as factions compete to win the allegiance of new supreme leader Mujtaba. Pragmatists — reportedly including senior IRGC generals, parliament speaker Qalibaf, President Pezeshkian and national security council secretary Gen. Zolghadr — have gained the upper hand and have pushed for accepting a ceasefire, direct talks with U.S. Vice President Vance and an agreement with Trump. IRGC commanders have consolidated de facto governing power since the war began, and Deputy Vice President for Administrative Affairs Mohammad-Jafar Ghaempanah said the new supreme leader does not have final decision authority, indicating a shift toward more collective decisionmaking.