WSJ Tech News Briefing

Episode: TNB Tech Minute: Pony AI and Stellantis to Deploy Robotaxis in Europe
Date: October 17, 2025
Host: Zoe Culkin (Wall Street Journal)

Overview

This Tech Minute episode delivers concise coverage of three major tech stories:

• The strategic partnership between Chinese autonomous driving company Pony AI and Dutch EV manufacturer Stellantis to deploy robotaxis in Europe;
• An emerging auto industry crisis as supply chain disruptions hit due to Dutch chip manufacturer Nexperia’s halted shipments;
• A high-profile lawsuit confronting the growing threat of AI-powered image manipulation targeting minors.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Pony AI & Stellantis Robotaxi Launch in Europe

[00:21–00:55]

• Announcement: Pony AI, a leader in Chinese autonomous driving, partners with Stellantis to introduce driverless vehicles in Europe.
• Immediate Steps:
  • Test driverless vehicles to be launched in Luxembourg (Pony AI’s European base) in the coming months.
  • Gradual rollout of robotaxis planned in multiple European cities starting next year.
• Industry Impact:
  • The collaboration intensifies the global robotaxi race, particularly among Chinese companies aiming for international expansion.
  • Seen as fueling "an already hot competition among Chinese robotaxi companies globally." (Zoe Culkin, 00:38)
• Potential Implications:
  • May accelerate EU cities’ adoption of autonomous transport.
  • Signals increased Chinese investment and competition in the European mobility sector.

2. Nexperia Chip Supply Chain Crisis

[00:55–01:33]

• Situation:
  • Dutch chipmaker Nexperia, recently seized by the Dutch government from Chinese owners, informs customers it will halt parts shipments.
• Industry Response & Risks:
  • Auto manufacturers and parts suppliers "race to understand their exposure and find alternative sources."
  • Immediate concern: "If Nexperia can't ship, then their vehicle production could be affected." (Zoe Culkin, 01:18)
• Widespread Impact:
  • Major auto brands such as BMW, Toyota, and Mercedes-Benz among those affected.
  • Highlights increasing vulnerability in the auto sector’s supply chain and tension between government interventions and industry stability.

3. Lawsuit Over AI-Generated Fake Nudes Targeting a Minor

[01:33–02:03]

• Incident:
  • A teenage girl in New Jersey sues the developer of “Clothoff,” an AI-driven clothes removal software, after a classmate allegedly used it to create a fake nude image of her.
• Legal Strategy:
  • Lawsuit, filed with help from a Yale Law professor, students, and a trial attorney, intends to confront "a new threat of AI to students." (Zoe Culkin, 01:53)
  • The alleged classmate faces a separate suit.
• Developer’s Defense:
  • Claims their software makes processing images of minors “impossible,” promising bans and stating: "it doesn't save any data."
• Broader Trends:
  • Case marks a high-profile escalation in legal action against AI misuse, focusing on minors’ digital safety.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On robotaxi race:
  "The plans add fuel to the already hot competition among Chinese robotaxi companies globally."
  — Zoe Culkin (00:38)

• On chip supply chain risk:
  "If Nexperia can't ship, then their vehicle production could be affected."
  — Zoe Culkin (01:18)

• On AI’s societal dangers:
  "It's intended to confront a new threat of AI to students."
  — Zoe Culkin (01:53)

Important Segment Timestamps

• [00:21] — Headline: Pony AI & Stellantis plan European robotaxi deployment
• [00:55] — Nexperia supply chain disruption and industry reaction
• [01:33] — Lawsuit over AI-generated fake imagery targeting teens
• [02:03] — Developer’s response to the lawsuit
• [02:18] — End of main content

Tone, Style, and Summary

The episode is brisk, factual, and urgent—reflecting the Wall Street Journal’s tech reporting style. Zoe Culkin efficiently highlights both business strategy and societal risks from technological change, anchoring each story with direct, no-nonsense reporting.

Listeners leave informed about high-stakes technology news: the robotaxi push in Europe, a brewing chip crisis that could hit major automakers, and a new front in the debate over AI’s ethical boundaries.