Industry Trends

Meta has confirmed it will not sign the European Union's voluntary code of conduct for general-purpose artificial intelligence, just two weeks before the bloc's binding Artificial Intelligence Act takes effect on August 2, 2025. The social media giant cited "legal uncertainty" introduced by the voluntary guidelines and argued they exceed the scope of existing regulations, creating potential compliance risks for companies.

Netflix has revealed that it employed generative AI tools to create a building collapse sequence in the Argentine sci-fi series "The Eternals," which premiered on April 30, 2025. This marks the first time the streaming giant has used a generative AI-generated final shot in its original content, according to co-CEO Ted Sarandos.

Leading technology companies are rapidly advancing visual and conversational interfaces, integrating generative AI into everyday tools to enhance search and learning experiences. This wave of innovation highlights the industry’s push to make artificial intelligence more accessible and intuitive for global users.

The Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) on July 9 released its 2025-2030 IT Strategic Plan, outlining six core objectives to modernize defense cybersecurity, enhance data-driven decision-making, and foster collaboration with industry and academia. The initiative aims to create a secure digital ecosystem aligned with the Pentagon’s broader digital transformation goals, particularly supporting the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Chief Digital and AI Office (CDAO) in advancing AI integration and governance .

The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has taken a historic step by acquiring a 15% stake in MP Materials through a $400 million preferred stock purchase, making it the largest shareholder of the U.S.-based rare earth producer . This move aims to address critical national security vulnerabilities by reducing reliance on foreign (particularly Chinese) rare earth supplies, which are essential for advanced military systems, electric vehicles, and renewable energy technologies.

Nintendo has announced the second iteration of its Switch Online Playtest Program, opening applications on July 18th to 40,000 Switch Online + Expansion Pack members for a closed beta of an unannounced online service. This marks a significant expansion from the 10,000 participants in the 2024 trial, quadrupling the user base to gather broader feedback ahead of a potential full launch. The test will run from July 29th to August 11th, 2025, and supports both the current Nintendo Switch and the upcoming Switch 2, signaling strategic alignment with the next-gen console’s launch plans .

Amazon-owned live streaming platform Twitch is planning a full withdrawal from the Russian market, citing concerns over economic viability and mounting regulatory pressures, according to recent reports.

Online pharmaceutical sales in Russia soared by 35.7% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2025, reaching 139.5 billion rubles, triple the average growth rate of the sector. This marked the first time online drug sales accounted for over 1.15% of the total pharmaceutical market share.

South Korea's retail sector showed signs of recovery in May, with offline sales returning to growth after a four-month slump, driven by strong demand for high-value products, data from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy revealed on Wednesday.

The global toy market is poised for steady growth, projected to rise from $316.14 billion in 2024 to $445.97 billion by 2032, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.33%, according to latest insights.

The ongoing tension and volatility in the Middle East are significantly impacting the global shipping industry. On June 24, former U.S. President Donald Trump announced the immediate 生效 of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran, a move that caused international oil prices—previously soaring due to escalating conflicts—to plunge sharply. However, the region's uncertain situation continues to disrupt the shipping sector.

On June 24th, Amazon announced a major expansion of its rapid delivery services to more rural regions across the United States, marking a significant step in its efforts to bridge the urban-rural logistics gap. The e-commerce giant revealed plans to offer same-day or next-day delivery to over 4,000 small cities, towns, and rural communities by the end of 2025, bringing faster shipping options to areas that have long faced slower delivery timelines compared to urban centers.

On July 17, the U.S. House passed two key crypto bills, marking the first major step toward formal industry regulations. The moves aim to legalize digital assets and pave their way to mainstream financial status.

TikTok Shop’s US mid-year promotion has kicked off with a historic first-week performance, breaking records across multiple business models and product categories, according to updates on July 18.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced the initiation of a Section 301 investigation into Brazil. The probe will examine whether Brazil’s policies and practices in areas such as digital trade, electronic payment services, "unfair" preferential tariffs, intellectual property protection, ethanol market access, and deforestation-related measures negatively impact U.S. trade interests.

Singapore has shown strong momentum in the cross-border e-commerce sector, with a cross-border shopping penetration rate of 69%, ranking first in the world. Data shows that 98% of Singaporean consumers are willing to shop overseas, far exceeding the global average, and 69% of them make cross-border purchases at least once a month.