AI and tech roundup: Meta, electric cars and oil

The worlds of technology and finance keep churning out news that affects a wide range of industries. From a revised oil demand forecast to antitrust charges against Meta and Tesla's preparations to launch FSD in China, here are the week's key stories.

Vitol, the world's largest independent oil trader, has revised its forecast for peak global oil demand. The company now expects the peak in the mid-2030s rather than the early 2030s, as previously projected. The reason is slower-than-expected adoption of electric vehicles. Vitol forecasts that by 2040, global oil demand will be roughly 5 million barrels per day above the current level. That suggests the oil industry will remain relevant for decades, despite efforts to move to renewable energy. The revised forecast may affect the investment strategies of energy companies and government energy policy.

The European Union has issued Meta preliminary charges of violating antitrust law. The European Commission believes that by restricting third-party AI assistants' access to WhatsApp users, Meta is hindering competition in the fast-growing AI market. Specifically, Meta has barred all AI assistants from WhatsApp except its own, Meta AI. The Commission intends to adopt interim measures to prevent serious and irreparable harm to the market. The case highlights regulators' growing scrutiny of the dominant position of big tech companies in artificial intelligence and their influence on competition.

Tesla continues preparing to launch its Full Self-Driving (FSD) system in China. Tesla Vice President Tao Lin said the company has built a local training center to adapt FSD to Chinese road conditions. No launch date has been announced yet, but Tesla is confident that FSD in China will be no worse than local drivers, and possibly better. FSD's arrival in the Chinese market will be an important step for Tesla, given the huge potential of China's market for electric vehicles and autonomous driving systems. Success in China could significantly strengthen Tesla's position in the global market for autonomous technology.

Also worth noting: the recall of 38277 Zeekr 001WE vehicles over high-voltage battery problems, the Amazon and STMicroelectronics collaboration on data centers, and Samsung Display's plans to expand OLED panel production for foldable iPhones. These developments show how dynamic and multifaceted today's technology industry is.

In short, the week brought important news from several sectors, from energy to artificial intelligence and electronics manufacturing. These events reflect current trends and also shape the future of technology and business. It is worth following how they unfold to understand how they will affect our lives and work.

*Meta is designated an extremist organization and banned in Russia.