China’s chip breakthrough, Claude Code’s lead and Stripe’s AI deal hunt: this week’s top stories

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The AI race is unfolding across every layer of the technology stack. China is building alternatives to restricted chipmaking equipment, enterprises are weighing the rising cost of their preferred coding tools and investors are placing enormous bets on the platforms connecting developers to AI models.

The Information’s reporters are already inside the conversations shaping what comes next, giving subscribers an early view of the decisions that will define the industry. Subscribe for $299 and save 25% on the first year.

Here are four top stories this week that reveal how companies are navigating those pressures—and where the balance of power may be shifting.

China Begins Mass Production of Homegrown DUV Chip Tools

A state-backed Chinese company has begun producing critical chipmaking equipment domestically, marking an important step in Beijing’s effort to reduce its reliance on foreign semiconductor technology.

Anthropic’s Claude Code Reigns Despite Rising Interest in Codex, Open-Source Models

As Claude Code becomes more expensive for some businesses, rivals are courting cost-conscious developers. But many engineering teams are still willing to pay for the tool they believe performs best.

Nvidia Bet on Reflection for Open-Source AI. Now the Startup Is Playing Catch-Up.

Backed by Nvidia and billions in funding, Reflection AI set out to become an American leader in open-source models. It is now racing to deliver as competitors in the U.S. and China move ahead.

OpenRouter Financials Suggest Steep Price For Possible Acquirer Stripe

Stripe is exploring an acquisition of OpenRouter that could value the fast-growing AI model platform at close to $10 billion—a deal that would deepen Stripe’s push into the financial infrastructure behind AI.

Together, these stories show the AI boom expanding far beyond model development. Subscribe now and save 25% to follow the shifts before it becomes obvious to the rest of the market.

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