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Elon Musk in Riyadh: Robotics and AI Drive Saudi-US Strategic Partnership

Tesla, SpaceX, and xAI CEO Elon Musk and Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdullah Alswaha speak at the Saudi-US Investment Forum in Riyadh on Tuesday. (SPA)
Tesla, SpaceX, and xAI CEO Elon Musk and Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdullah Alswaha speak at the Saudi-US Investment Forum in Riyadh on Tuesday. (SPA)
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Elon Musk in Riyadh: Robotics and AI Drive Saudi-US Strategic Partnership

Tesla, SpaceX, and xAI CEO Elon Musk and Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdullah Alswaha speak at the Saudi-US Investment Forum in Riyadh on Tuesday. (SPA)
Tesla, SpaceX, and xAI CEO Elon Musk and Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdullah Alswaha speak at the Saudi-US Investment Forum in Riyadh on Tuesday. (SPA)

Tesla, SpaceX, and xAI CEO Elon Musk and Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdullah Alswaha took part on Tuesday in a high-profile dialogue session during the Saudi-US Investment Forum in Riyadh. The event underscored the strategic partnership between Saudi Arabia and the United States.

Alswaha said relationship between the two nations has entered a new phase, moving from an energy-based economy to one driven by innovation, technology, and artificial intelligence (AI), praising Musk's influence in advancing global technological transformation.

The minister stressed that under the leadership of Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Saudi Arabia has aimed to adopt transformative technologies, such as AI and robotics, positioning the Kingdom as a global innovation platform and a major hub for AI and the digital economy.

He also highlighted the Kingdom’s progress in enabling cloud services, digital infrastructure, and AI value chains, saying these efforts reflect Saudi Arabia’s ambition to lead in the post-data era. He underlined the Kingdom’s goal of becoming a hub for responsible and effective AI innovation.

The strategic partnership between Saudi Arabia and the United States is a foundation for building a smarter, more just, and sustainable global economy, he stressed, while underscoring the need for continued collaboration to drive innovation for the benefit of humanity.

For his part, Musk said humanoid robots represent a productivity revolution that could expand the global economy tenfold. This could lead to an economy of abundance and a model of “comprehensive high income” that goes beyond the traditional universal basic income concept.

He thanked Saudi Arabia for adopting the Starlink service in the aviation and maritime sectors, describing it as a significant step toward supporting the future of global communications technology.

He discussed potential cooperation in smart mobility, including RoboTaxi projects and The Boring Company’s tunnel transportation systems for Saudi cities. Such technologies, he said, could transform urban areas and improve transit efficiency.

Musk closed the session with an optimistic outlook for humanity, urging a model of progress that blends prosperity, exploration, and coexistence with advanced technology. He called for international cooperation to establish ethical frameworks for AI and emerging technologies.

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US May Target Samsung, Hynix, TSMC Operations in China

A man walks past the logo of Samsung Electronics displayed outside the company's Seocho building in Seoul on April 30, 2025. (Photo by Jung Yeon-je / AFP)
A man walks past the logo of Samsung Electronics displayed outside the company's Seocho building in Seoul on April 30, 2025. (Photo by Jung Yeon-je / AFP)
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US May Target Samsung, Hynix, TSMC Operations in China

A man walks past the logo of Samsung Electronics displayed outside the company's Seocho building in Seoul on April 30, 2025. (Photo by Jung Yeon-je / AFP)
A man walks past the logo of Samsung Electronics displayed outside the company's Seocho building in Seoul on April 30, 2025. (Photo by Jung Yeon-je / AFP)

The US Department of Commerce is considering revoking authorizations granted in recent years to global chipmakers Samsung, SK Hynix and TSMC, making it more difficult for them to receive US goods and technology at their plants in China, according to people familiar with the matter.

The chances of the United States withdrawing the authorizations are unclear. But with such a move, it would be harder for foreign chipmakers to operate in China, where they produce semiconductors used in a wide range of industries, Reuters said.

A White House official said the United States was "just laying the groundwork" in case the truce reached between the two countries fell apart. But the official expressed confidence that the trade agreement would go forward and that rare earths would flow from China, as agreed.

"There is currently no intention of deploying this tactic," the official said. "It's another tool we want in our toolbox in case either this agreement falls through or any other catalyst throws a wrench in bilateral relations."

Shares of US chip equipment makers that supply plants in China fell when the Wall Street Journal first reported the news earlier on Friday. KLA Corp dropped 2.4%, Lam Research fell 1.9% and Applied Materials sank 2%. Shares of Micron, a major competitor to Samsung and SK Hynix in the memory chip sector, rose 1.5%.

A TSMC spokesman declined comment. Samsung and Hynix did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Lam Research, KLA and Applied Materials did not immediately respond, either.

In October 2022, after the United States placed sweeping restrictions on US chipmaking equipment to China, it gave foreign manufacturers like Samsung and Hynix letters authorizing them to receive goods.

In 2023 and 2024, the companies received what is known as Validated End User status in order to continue the trade.

A company with VEU status is able to receive designated goods from a US company without the supplier obtaining multiple export licenses to ship to them. VEU status enables entities to receive US-controlled products and technologies "more easily, quickly and reliably," as the Commerce Department website puts it.

The VEU authorizations come with conditions, a person familiar with the matter said, including prohibitions on certain equipment and reporting requirements.

“Chipmakers will still be able to operate in China," a Commerce Department spokesperson said in a statement when asked about the possible revocations. "The new enforcement mechanisms on chips mirror licensing requirements that apply to other semiconductor companies that export to China and ensure the United States has an equal and reciprocal process.”

Industry sources said that if it became more difficult for US semiconductor equipment companies to ship to foreign multinationals, it would only help domestic Chinese competitors.

"It’s a gift," one said.