Grace Sharp

In the past, when people imagined what robots would be capable of, a few scenarios probably came to mind. Would they rise up in a metallic apocalypse, uniting against their creators like in the cult favourite ‘The Terminator’? Or would they become perfectly obedient servants, quietly handling the drudgery of life so humankind could finally enjoy some leisure? Even though these ideas sit at opposite extremes, it’s fair to say that neither vision included anything quite like Robert the Robot.

Washington has spent three years deciding which chips China is allowed to have. The Chip Security Act asks a different question entirely: where is every advanced American chip, right now, anywhere in the world? And, if you run a European data centre full of NVIDIA hardware, that question includes you. The bill, H.R. 3447 in the House and S.1705 in the Senate, directs the Commerce Department to require chip security mechanisms on export-controlled AI chips within 180 days of enactment.

Europe’s most valuable company just rewrote its own forecast. ASML’s Q2 2026 results, published July 15, beat guidance at €9.3 billion in net sales and a 54% gross margin, but the headline is the outlook. ASML now expects €43 to €45 billion in sales this year, a range that sits entirely above the €36 to €40 billion it set out in April. Companies do not move a full-year forecast like that halfway through the year because a few customers got enthusiastic.