DEV Community: Raúl Ríos Trujillo

Jensen Huang resigns from Nvidia after third affair: from technical press to pink press with stock market fall

Raúl Ríos Trujillo — Fri, 13 Nov 2026 02:06:42 +0000

What promised to be a story from the tech section — the leader of the company that dominates AI chips — ended up being a soap opera with knock-on effects on Wall Street. Jensen Huang, Nvidia's co-founder and CEO for 33 years, tendered his resignation Thursday after a third affair within his own company was confirmed, adding to two previous extramarital affairs that had already rocked the silicon giant. What would once have been hallway gossip now makes front-page headlines across the U.S. media, except that this time the gossip costs billions of dollars.

The script had three acts. First, the relationship with Alice Huang, a Megaspeed executive whom U.S. intelligence points to as a possible Chinese spy, revealed by The New York Times on October 29. Second, the affair with Kimberly Powell, Nvidia's vice president of health who reported directly to him, reported by the same Times on November 11. And third, a separate relationship with another employee of the company that Reuters confirmed on Thursday, just as Huang had already announced his departure. Three women, three names, a CEO out of office.

The scandal would not have transcended beyond social networks if it had not caused a resounding fall in NVIDIA shares. The stock lost 4.3% in a single session, with intraday falls of up to 14%, and accumulates 11% in just five days, according to CNBC and Associated Press. Reuters reports that the company lost about $430 billion in market value in two sessions, while Axios estimates the loss since the first scandal broke out in late October at $1 trillion. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq also felt the hit, and Bernstein cut his price target on Nvidia in half, from $400 to $200. All because of a series of affairs that, in any other company, would be a matter of human resources and not a global stock market crisis.The U.S. press covered the outcome as if it were a final chapter of a television series: The Wall Street Journal announced Huang's dismissal, Politico highlighted the 8% drop in after-hours operations, NPR and PBS explained who Colette Kress is, the CFO who takes over as interim, and The New York Times maintained a minute-by-minute blog with each new detail. The funny thing is that the same media that normally cover Nvidia talking about chip architectures, CUDA and data centers now dedicated their covers to who kissed whom in a hotel during the March developer conference. The technical press became, for a few days, a show business magazine with a stock balance.And of course, the internet did what it does best: turn drama into memes. On Reddit, users of r/wallstreetbets joked that there will always be a "fourth and fifth affair" to keep the story alive, while on r/PeterExplainsTheJoke the joke of the "three-body problem" went viral, playing on the science fiction book and Huang's own shaky ending. AI-generated videos circulated on X and TikTok — ironically, almost certainly rendered on Nvidia graphics cards — showing Huang singing "Careless Whisper," "Confessions Part II" or being edited with Bill Clinton's famous line: "I didn't have sex with that woman."The punchline is almost poetic: the CEO of the company that provides the hardware for the most advanced artificial intelligence on the planet was brought down not by a Chinese competitor, not by a chip architecture failure, not by antitrust regulation, but by a chain of affairs that left the entertainment section to land on Wall Street's ledger. While memes continue to circulate and the stock market searches for a floor, an uncomfortable lesson remains for the technological media: when the power of a company depends so much on a single person, their personal life ceases to be private and becomes systemic risk. Sources:• The New York Times — Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and alleged Chinese spy relationship• The New York Times — Jensen Huang affair with Nvidia executive Kimberly Powell• Reuters — Former Nvidia CEO Huang had relationship with second employee• Associated Press — Jensen Huang steps down and Nvidia shares drop• CNBC — Nvidia stock closes down over 4% after CEO Jensen Huang announces resignation• POLITICO — Nvidia shares plummet as turmoil envelops chip-making behemoth• USA Today — Jensen Huang, Nvidia memes have lots to say about AI and Chinese spies• Breitbart — Roundup Meme: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang mercilessly mocked

Originally published in Digitalia.

China's Light Cavalry Solar Drone Completes First Flight with 30 Hours of Autonomy

Raúl Ríos Trujillo — Fri, 13 Nov 2026 01:45:58 +0000

The Light Cavoral solar drone, developed by the eleventh Research Institute of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), completed its first flight on November 11, 2026 in the northwest of the country. It is the first medium-sized and small-sized commercial UAV powered entirely by solar power in China, the developer confirmed.

The aircraft is 3.2 meters long and has a wingspan of 8 meters, with a take-off weight of 45 kilograms and a load capacity of more than 5 kilograms. Its service ceiling reaches 7,000 meters and it can remain in the air for up to 30 hours, operating continuously during the day and night thanks to a system of solar panels integrated into the wings that charge onboard batteries while flying.

The test flight validated the flight control, avionics, energy storage, stability and handling systems, from takeoff to landing. It can take off without the need for a runway after only 20 minutes of ground preparation, launching from a vehicle, making it suitable for rapid operations in remote areas or with limited infrastructure.

Light Cavalry is designed for commercial missions that require sustained coverage at low altitude: inspection of electrical transmission lines, pipelines and rail corridors, land surveying and mapping, natural resource surveys, rapid reconnaissance in disaster-stricken areas, and monitoring of large-scale targets. Its 30-hour autonomy would allow inspection missions covering several hundred kilometers in a single flight.

For Latin America and Mexico, China's advance in commercial solar drones has direct implications for the renewable energy and infrastructure sector. The ability to inspect transmission lines and pipelines with long-lasting, low-operational-cost aircraft could be a model to follow for countries with extensive power grids and hard-to-reach geographies.

The development marks the passage of solar UAV technology from the laboratory to the market, paving the way for the commercial application of solar-powered low-altitude aircraft in China. With this milestone, the country is positioned as a key player in the mid-size solar drone segment, a niche that is still underexploited on a global scale.

Sources:

• Global Times — China's first commercial-grade solar-powered drone completes maiden flight

• People's Daily Online — China's solar-powered drone completes maiden flight, filling commercial gap

• Interesting Engineering — Fully solar-powered drone with 30-hour endurance makes debut flight in China

• pv magazine Global — CASC completes maiden flight of solar-powered UAV in China

• CGTN — China's first commercial-grade solar-powered UAV makes maiden flight

Cover credit: Photo of the Light Cavalry solar drone via Global Times.

Originally published in Digitalia.

Trump proposes Tim Cook to lead Nvidia after Jensen Huang's resignation

Raúl Ríos Trujillo — Fri, 13 Nov 2026 01:16:14 +0000

President Donald Trump on Thursday proposed that Tim Cook, Apple's former chief executive and current chairman of the company's board, replace Jensen Huang at the helm of Nvidia, hours after the co-founder and CEO of the artificial intelligence chip company resigned following reports of extramarital affairs with two women. Trump suggested Cook as his successor on his Truth Social network, calling Huang a "fantastic job" and declaring, "There's only one man to take his place: Apple's TIM COOK. A legend replaces a legend!"

Huang's departure shakes up one of the world's most valuable companies and one of Trump's closest allies in Silicon Valley. Nvidia's board announced that Colette Kress, chief financial officer, will take over as interim CEO while a permanent replacement is sought. The resignation comes amid a board investigation into Huang's alleged affair with an employee of Megaspeed International, a Singaporean data center company suspected of having ties to Chinese intelligence, which has raised concerns among lawmakers about the security of AI chips.

Tim Cook, who announced his retirement from Apple on Sept. 1 after 15 years at the helm of the company, will maintain a close relationship with Trump. The president affectionately nicknames him "Tim Apple," and Cook has been a frequent interlocutor on trade and tariff issues. Apple recently committed to a $600 billion investment in the United States, a move that secured key tariff exemptions for its flagship products, including the iPhone.

The context of this proposal includes Trump's announcement of a 100% tariff on computer chips unless companies manufacture on U.S. soil, a move aimed at boosting domestic semiconductor production. Cook met with Trump in the Oval Office to discuss the issue, and Apple's stock rose after the announcement. Nvidia, meanwhile, has added more than $1 trillion in market value since the start of Trump's second administration.

For Mexico and Latin America, Cook's possible arrival at Nvidia would have direct implications on the device supply chain and on the availability of AI chips for companies in the region. Mexico, as a key electronics assembler and with a growing technology industry, could be affected by both tariff policies and any restructuring in the leadership of the world's two main AI hardware players.

The question now is whether Cook, who is preparing to hand over the helm of Apple to John Ternus, would accept a role at the helm of Nvidia amid turbulence and regulatory scrutiny. The answer will define the next chapter in one of the most important stories in the global tech industry. Sources:

• POLITICO — 'A Legend replaces a Legend': Trump floats Apple's Cook to head up Nvidia

• POLITICO — Jensen Huang resigns from Nvidia following affair reports

• Truth Social — Donald Trump on Tim Cook and Nvidia

• Euronews — Trump's China visit: US CEOs Musk, Cook and Nvidia's Huang join trade talks

• AP News — Trump plans 100% tariff on computer chips

Cover credit: Tim Cook, photograph by Austin Community College via Wikimedia Commons.

Originally published in Digitalia.

Jensen Huang Resigns as Nvidia CEO Following Affair Reports

Raúl Ríos Trujillo — Fri, 13 Nov 2026 01:08:31 +0000

Jensen Huang resigns as Nvidia's CEO following reports of inappropriate personal relationships, marking the end of a 32-year era at the helm of the company that led the generative AI revolution.

Nvidia's board of directors announced the departure following an internal investigation into professional conduct. Huang will chair the board as non-executive chairman while a successor is sought.

Nvidia, valued at more than $3 trillion, was the main beneficiary of the AI data center boom under Huang's leadership, who went from selling gaming graphics cards to dominating model-training hardware.

The news caused an immediate drop in the company's shares in pre-market trading, although analysts maintain that Nvidia's product roadmap is defined for the coming years.

Sources: The Verge, CNN, The New York Times, The Guardian, WIRED, Politico.

Originally published in Digitalia.

Robot assembles structure in orbit for the first time without astronauts

Raúl Ríos Trujillo — Fri, 13 Nov 2026 01:08:14 +0000

A robot assembles a structure in orbit for the first time without human intervention, demonstrating autonomous construction in space through the DARPA and Caltech project.

The robotic arm manipulated modular parts to erect a 3-meter structure in low-Earth orbit, validating technologies for future space stations and lunar habitats without the need for astronauts on spacewalks.

The test is part of DARPA's NOM4D program, which seeks to develop manufacturing in space to reduce launch costs and allow for structures too large for conventional rockets.

Caltech engineers controlled the robot from the ground, but all gripping, alignment, and assembly operations were autonomous, marking a milestone in space robotics.

Sources: Caltech, DARPA, New Scientist, TechSpot, ASSEMBLY Magazine.

Originally published in Digitalia.

UFORCE raises $700 million to take its battle-tested drones from Ukraine to a global industry

Raúl Ríos Trujillo — Thu, 12 Nov 2026 20:18:30 +0000

— $700 million at a $6 billion valuation: UFORCE, the Ukrainian company behind the MAGURA naval drones, has closed a Series A co-led by Valor Equity Partners and the UK National Wealth Fund.

— From war to global factory: the money goes to distributed production in the United States, Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East, with combat-proven systems.

— The caveat: the combat figures (more than a dozen warships destroyed, 300,000 flights) are reported by the company itself and have not been independently verified.

UFORCE, a defence-technology company founded in Ukraine and headquartered in London, announced today a $700 million Series A at a $6 billion valuation, according to the official announcement. The round was co-led by Valor Equity Partners and the UK National Wealth Fund, with participation from the U.S.–Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund.

The company builds autonomous uncrewed platforms across sea, land and air, plus the AI software, orchestration and command-and-control (C2) layer that operates them. Its thesis is straightforward: make defence a hundred times cheaper than offensive operations. Its catalogue includes the MAGURA family of uncrewed surface vessels, the NEMESIS family of strike platforms, the LIUT family of ground robotic platforms, the PREDATOR family of counter-drone turrets, and the C2 software that coordinates them all.

The MAGURAs have become the flagship product: according to the company, they have contributed to the destruction of more than a dozen Russian warships in the Black Sea and shot down helicopters and fighter aircraft. Ukrainian forces also use them as a mobile maritime base to launch NEMESIS drones on long-range strikes. The NEMESIS, meanwhile, have flown more than 300,000 combat flights and are in service with more than 100 units. These are the company's own figures, not independently verified, as DroneLife notes.

The money is not only for building more units, but for spreading production: the United States, Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East, close to the theatres where the systems are needed and able to keep supplying troops even as attacks on infrastructure in Ukraine continue. In the United States, UFORCE announced a partnership with ReconCraft to scale manufacturing of the MAGURA, and in the United Kingdom the National Wealth Fund is backing the expansion of engineering and manufacturing. The company is also a founding member of the EU-Ukraine Drone Alliance and works within NATO and the Joint Expeditionary Force networks.

The appointment that comes with the round is retired General Christopher G. Cavoli, former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe and a partner at Valor Equity Partners, who joins the UFORCE board. "Ukraine has shown the world how quickly battlefield innovation can move when engineers work side by side with the people who rely on their systems," Cavoli said. UFORCE chief executive Oleg Rogynskyy put it this way: "This investment will help us scale production for Ukraine and bring to allies solutions they can field, integrate and sustain at the speed of modern combat."

For Latin America, the UFORCE case matters because of cost, not the battlefield. The region's armed forces buy almost all their defence systems abroad, and the idea of cheap, combat-proven autonomous platforms changes the conversation about what a country that is not a military power can afford. Mexico, in particular, already has aerospace clusters and advanced manufacturing capacity, in Querétaro and Baja California among others, which in the United States and Europe are being converted for defence. The question is whether the region wants to be only a buyer of these systems or also part of their production chain.

What this doesn't cover: no unit prices for any platform, no detailed technical specifications, no announced contracts with specific governments, and no independent verification of the combat figures the company reports.

What's next: the start of MAGURA production in the United States with ReconCraft, the engineering expansion in the United Kingdom, the next steps of the EU-Ukraine Drone Alliance, and whether the $6 billion valuation holds at the next round.

Sources and credits: UFORCE / PR Newswire | Tech.eu | DroneLife. Cover image: UFORCE, via PR Newswire.

Originally published in Digitalia.

Diraq instala el primer ordenador cuántico de spin de silicio en un centro de datos comercial

Raúl Ríos Trujillo — Thu, 12 Nov 2026 13:33:44 +0000

Diraq ha instalado el primer ordenador cuántico de spin de silicio dentro de un centro de datos comercial, operativo ahora en Equinix en Sídney. El despliegue marca un paso hacia la integración de computación cuántica en infraestructura de producción tradicional. La compañía planea escalar el sistema a 256 qubits dentro del mismo despliegue en el próximo año.

El sistema utiliza qubits de spin de silicio, una tecnología que busca combinar la madurez del proceso de fabricación de semiconductores con coherencias más largas y mejor escalabilidad. La elección de un data center comercial permite acceso remoto, monitoreo continuo y operación en entorno controlado.

La ubicación en Sídney permite a clientes y socios probar cargas de trabajo cuánticas junto a sistemas clásicos, reduciendo latencia de red y simplificando la orquestación híbrida. Equinix aporta conectividad global y servicios de colocalización.

Diraq asegura que la arquitectura está diseñada para crecer modularmente. La meta de 256 qubits en doce meses implica mejoras en control criogénico, interconexión y calibración automatizada.

Para Latinoamérica, la noticia abre la discusión sobre acceso a hardware cuántico sin necesidad de laboratorios especializados, y el papel de centros de datos regionales como puertas de entrada a servicios cuánticos.

Los desafíos siguen siendo la corrección de errores, la estabilidad térmica y el costo operativo. La viabilidad comercial dependerá de la tasa de error lógica y del tiempo de coherencia alcanzado en producción.

La comunidad científica observa con interés la transferencia de tecnología de laboratorio a entorno industrial, un salto que históricamente ha tardado años.

Qué sigue: resultados de escalado a 64 y 256 qubits, métricas de disponibilidad y primeros casos de uso con clientes externos en el data center de Sídney.

Fuentes: The Quantum Insider | IT Press Releases

Publicado originalmente en Digitalia.