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Canada most recent country to consider tariffs on China-made EVs

Credit: Tesla/YouTube

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Canada is now mulling the possibility of placing tariffs on China-made electric vehicles, becoming the most recent country to consider a potential tax on EVs that come from the world’s largest automotive market.

The European Union and the United States have made similar moves in an effort to prioritize domestic manufacturing efforts and attempt to woo consumers to buy vehicles in a local market.

China is one of the most prominent manufacturers of EVs, as it has many companies offering cars for prices that are, in many cases, a fraction of what other countries and regions can offer.

The EU has considered getting rid of the tariffs before they even begin, as new reports suggest that officials from both sides have talked about abandoning the additional tax before its planned enforcement date of July 4.

Canada is now considering adding tariffs to those vehicles that are imported from China. A report from Reuters said that Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said on Monday that it would consider tariffs on China-made EVs as she called the country’s “state-directed policy of overcapacity” a factor of unfair competition:

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“Chinese producers are quite intentionally generating a global oversupply that undermines EV producers around the world, including here in Canada.”

Just last week, Doug Ford, the Premier of Ontario, said the country could consider the option of ” immediately match[ing] or exceed[ing] U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports, including at least a 100 percent tariff on Chinese electric vehicles.”

Ford said:

“Taking every advantage of low labor standards and dirty energy, China is flooding the market with artificially cheap electric vehicles. Unless we act fast, we risk Ontario and Canadian jobs.”

For comparison, the EU is considering duties of up to 38.1 percent on Chinese EVs, in addition to the 10 percent import tax that already applies to vehicles.

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Joey has been a journalist covering electric mobility at TESLARATI since August 2019. In his spare time, Joey is playing golf, watching MMA, or cheering on any of his favorite sports teams, including the Baltimore Ravens and Orioles, Miami Heat, Washington Capitals, and Penn State Nittany Lions. You can get in touch with joey at joey@teslarati.com. He is also on X @KlenderJoey. If you're looking for great Tesla accessories, check out shop.teslarati.com

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Elon Musk’s OpenAI lawsuit clears hurdle as trial looms

Elon Musk says OpenAI betrayed its nonprofit mission. Who should steer AI’s future—visionaries or shareholders?

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MINISTÉRIO DAS COMUNICAÇÕES, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Elon Musk’s lawsuit against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman has cleared a major hurdle. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers of the Northern District of California recently rejected OpenAI’s bid to dismiss the case, setting the stage for a high-stakes trial over the AI giant’s for-profit conversion. The ruling intensifies the rivalry between two tech titans vying for dominance in artificial intelligence (AI).

Elon Musk is an OpenAI co-founder who provided significant early funding. In the lawsuit, Musk alleged that OpenAI’s shift from a non-profit to a for-profit entity violates contractual obligations and constitutes fraud. Last year, The lawsuit was filed against Altman, OpenAI, and its key investor, Microsoft, aiming to block the conversion to a for-profit company.

In March, a ruling denied Musk’s request for a preliminary injunction. However, Judge Rogers recently expedited the trial and set it for March 2026. On Thursday, she dismissed some claims but upheld key allegations, allowing the case to proceed.

“Musk adequately alleges that the defendants promised to maintain OpenAI’s non-profit status and structure in order to obtain his contributions and that they intended to do so in order to obtain the capital needed to create a for-profit venture to enrich themselves,” Gonzalez Rogers wrote.

She also rejected OpenAI’s attempt to dismiss Musk’s claim of an implied contract. “Although there is no express contract, Musk adequately pleads in the alternative that there is an implied-in-fact contract,” the California judge noted.

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“In the world of litigation, this is a big win,” said a person close to Musk, highlighting the retention of “big-ticket items” like the fraud allegation.

OpenAI, which can appeal the decision, countersued Musk last month. It claims Musk’s lawsuit is a “bad-faith” effort to hinder its progress and benefit his AI venture, xAI.

OpenAI’s push to become a for-profit public benefit corporation aims to streamline fundraising but has sparked a backlash from AI experts like Geoffrey Hinton. Former employees warn that OpenAI’s change of direction could prioritize profits over its mission to advance AI for humanity’s benefit.

Financial Times attempted to contact OpenAI and its biggest investor, Microsoft. OpenAI declined to comment, and Microsoft did not respond.

As Elon Musk and OpenAI head toward trial, the outcome could reshape the AI landscape, with implications for governance, innovation, and the balance between profit and public good.

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Neuralink device gets FDA recognition for speech restoration

Neuralink device gets FDA’s ‘breakthrough’ designation. With Link, a man with ALS now types, navigates, and speaks.

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(Credit: Neuralink/YouTube)

Neuralink’s brain-computer interface (BCI) device, Link, has secured the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) “breakthrough” designation for restoring communication in patients with severe speech impairment. This milestone advances Elon Musk’s vision of merging human cognition with technology.

The Link device targets individuals with neurological conditions like Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), stroke, spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, and multiple sclerosis. In a recent X video, Neuralink’s third PRIME Study participant, Bradford G. Smith, who lives with ALS, showcased the device’s potential.

Using Link, Smith regained his ability to communicate, leveraging AI to narrate with a synthesized version of his former voice. “I am typing this with my brain,” Smith wrote. “It is my primary communication.”

Smith edited the X video with the help of Link. In the video, he demonstrated how Link enabled him to control a computer cursor to communicate, highlighting the BCI’s ability to interface with external devices.

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Before Link, Smith relied on an eye tracker, which limited communication in bright settings and restricted his mobility. Now, Neuralink’s implant enables him to connect more freely. His experience shows Neuralink’s progress in empowering paralyzed individuals and those with neurodegenerative diseases through revolutionary assistive solutions.

The company is also exploring applications for vision restoration and other health challenges. In 2024, Neuralink received the FDA’s ‘breakthrough device’ tag for its Blindsight device. Elon Musk explained that Blindsight would help people who have lost both eyes and function in their optic nerve to see. However, Neuralink’s current focus remains on mobility and communication.

Neuralink recently expanded its patient registry to include participants worldwide. The PRIME Study, likely the primary target for new registrants, tests Link’s base capabilities. Meanwhile, the CONVOY study explores Link’s ability to control robotic devices, like an assistive robotic arm. This broader access underscores Neuralink’s commitment to scaling its trials.

The company is reportedly preparing for a $500 million funding round, with preliminary talks valuing Neuralink at $8.5 billion pre-money and potentially $9 billion post-money, though terms remain fluid. Neuralink has not commented on the speculation about funding.

By earning FDA breakthrough status, Neuralink positions Link as a transformative tool for those with severe speech impairments. Smith’s experience illustrates its potential to restore independence, while ongoing trials and funding efforts signal the company’s ambition to redefine human-technology interaction for neurological conditions and beyond.

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Elon Musk

Tesla says it denied Musk CEO replacement report before it was published

Tesla says it responded to the WSJ’s request for comment, denying that it was in search of a new CEO to replace Elon Musk.

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(Credit: Tesla)

Tesla said that it denied seeking a replacement for CEO Elon Musk before a report was published claiming the company was considering a new frontman.

Last night, The Wall Street Journal reported that Tesla’s Board of Directors was looking for Musk’s replacement after he had devoted too much time to his role within the government. The publication revised its headline to the report no fewer than five times, initially stating the company was still seeking a replacement.

By the time the headline revisions were complete, it had outlined that Tesla had looked for a replacement a month ago, but had stopped its search following Musk’s commitment to Tesla during the company’s earnings call last month.

Shortly after the report surfaced, Board of Directors chairwoman Robyn Denholm officially issued a statement on behalf of Tesla:

“Earlier today, there was a media report erroneously claiming that the Tesla Board had contacted recruitment firms to initiate a CEO search at the company. This is absolutely false (and this was communicated to the media before the report was published). The CEO of Tesla is Elon Musk and the Board is highly confident in his ability to continue executing on the exciting growth plan ahead.  – Robyn Denholm.”

Tesla Board Chair slams Wall Street Journal over alleged CEO search report

Interestingly, Denholm’s statement indicates it had responded to a request for comment from the Wall Street Journal before the report was published. This is especially interesting because Tesla does not typically respond to media outreach, as it dissolved its media department several years ago.

Tesla typically makes its statements publicly on X.

Musk also responded to the report, indicating that the WSJ had committed an “extremely bad breach of ethics” by publishing a “deliberately false article” that did not include Tesla’s “unequivocal denial beforehand.”

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