News/Investing
AMD beats revenue but stock drops 3% on $800M China export impact
AMD reported weaker-than-expected second-quarter earnings despite beating revenue estimates, with adjusted earnings per share of 48 cents versus the expected 49 cents, while revenue reached $7.69 billion against expectations of $7.42 billion. The chipmaker's stock dropped about 3% in extended trading as the company continues battling U.S. export controls that cost it $800 million in the quarter. Major AI customers like Meta and OpenAI are increasingly turning to AMD as an alternative to Nvidia's dominant graphics processing unit (GPU) offerings. Key financial results: AMD's mixed quarterly performance reflects both growth opportunities and regulatory headwinds in the AI chip market. Net...
read Aug 4, 2025Deluxe AI-partment in the sky: Apple boosts spending 61% as it builds private cloud empire
Apple is preparing to significantly increase its capital expenditures to build out AI infrastructure, with CFO Kevan Parekh confirming the company anticipates "substantial" growth in capex during its Q3 2025 earnings call. The tech giant is investing heavily in its own data centers powered by Apple Silicon chips as part of its Private Cloud Compute architecture, marking a strategic shift toward first-party AI infrastructure while maintaining some reliance on third-party platforms. What you should know: Apple's AI infrastructure spending surge reflects a major strategic pivot toward owning more of its compute stack. Capital expenditures jumped to $3.46 billion in Q3...
read Aug 4, 2025Tech giants plan $400B AI spending spree as infrastructure race heats up
Big tech companies have collectively spent $155 billion on artificial intelligence infrastructure in 2025 so far, exceeding the US government's spending on education, jobs, and social services combined. This massive capital expenditure race is set to accelerate dramatically, with the four largest tech giants planning to spend over $400 billion on AI-related infrastructure in the coming fiscal year alone. The big picture: Meta, Microsoft, Amazon, and Alphabet are locked in an unprecedented spending competition to build the data centers, servers, and semiconductor infrastructure needed to power AI services. Meta's year-to-date capital expenditure reached $30.7 billion, doubling last year's $15.2 billion...
read Jul 30, 2025Meta reports 22% revenue jump to $47.5B as CEO pitches personal AI
Meta smashed Wall Street expectations in Q2 2025, reporting $47.52 billion in revenue (up 22%) and $18.34 billion in net profit (up 36%), while CEO Mark Zuckerberg outlined his vision to "bring personal superintelligence to everyone." The tech giant now reaches 3.48 billion daily active users across its family of apps and is making massive AI investments to compete with Google and OpenAI in the race toward artificial general intelligence. What you should know: Meta's financial performance significantly exceeded analyst predictions across all key metrics. Revenue hit $47.52 billion versus the expected $44.8 billion, with earnings per share of $7.14...
read Jul 30, 2025Amazon backs Fable’s AI platform that turns text into TV episodes
Amazon has invested in Fable, a San Francisco AI startup launching Showrunner, which the company bills as the "Netflix of AI" for creating user-directed TV episodes through text prompts. The platform allows users to generate animated scenes or full episodes either from scratch or within existing story worlds, representing Amazon's bet on interactive AI entertainment as a new medium rather than just a cost-cutting tool. What you should know: Showrunner launches publicly this week after months in closed alpha testing with 10,000 users, initially free but eventually charging creators $10-$20 monthly for credits to generate hundreds of TV scenes. Users...
read Jul 29, 2025Samsung invests $150M in Rebellions as South Korea targets AI chip market
South Korean AI chip startup Rebellions has secured investment from Samsung as part of a $150-200 million funding round ahead of its planned IPO. The startup, which merged with Sapeon last year to create a potential Nvidia rival, is collaborating with Samsung to manufacture its AI inference chips using cutting-edge 4-nanometer technology. What you should know: Rebellions has raised $220 million since its 2020 founding and was last valued at $1 billion, with the current round expected to push that valuation higher. Major investors include SK Hynix (a South Korean memory chip giant), SK Telecom, Korea Telecom, and Saudi Aramco,...
read Jul 25, 2025King Gizzard pulls music from Spotify over CEO’s AI drone investments
King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard has pulled their entire catalog from Spotify, citing CEO Daniel Ek's investments in AI military drone technology through his defense company ties. The Australian rock band's departure marks the latest in a growing wave of artist boycotts targeting Spotify's leadership over ethical concerns, potentially signaling broader industry tensions around streaming platform investments. What you should know: The prolific rock band removed all 27 studio albums, plus live recordings and compilations, from the world's largest music streaming service. Their Instagram statement read: "Spotify CEO Daniel Ek invests millions in AI military drone technology. We just...
read Jul 25, 2025Asian markets fall as Tesla drops 8% despite Wall Street’s AI gains
Asian markets declined Friday following Wall Street's record-setting session, as gains from Alphabet and AI stocks were offset by Tesla's steep drop. The mixed performance reflects ongoing uncertainty around trade negotiations, with key meetings scheduled between U.S. and Chinese officials as tariff deadlines approach. Market performance: Asian indices mostly retreated despite Wall Street's continued momentum to new highs. Japan's Nikkei 225 fell 0.7% to 41,511.09, though markets found some relief after Trump announced a reduced 15% import tax on Japanese goods instead of the previously threatened 25% rate set for August 1. Hong Kong's Hang Seng dropped 1.1% to 25,383.07,...
read Jul 24, 2025Microsoft cuts 15K jobs while stock hits $500—CEO addresses concerns
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has acknowledged that the company's extensive layoffs in 2025 have been "weighing heavily" on him, addressing employee concerns in an internal memo following the elimination of over 15,000 positions this year. The cuts, which represent one of the largest workforce reductions in Microsoft's history, have coincided with the company's stock reaching record highs above $500, highlighting the tension between financial performance and employee morale during a period of industry-wide restructuring. What you should know: Microsoft has laid off approximately 15,000 employees in 2025, including 9,000 people announced just a week before the stock hit its $500...
read Jul 24, 2025SK Hynix posts record $6.7B profit as AI chip demand soars
SK Hynix posted record quarterly profits and announced plans to boost spending this year as the Nvidia supplier works to address investor concerns about slowing AI chipset demand. The South Korean memory chipmaker reported a 69% jump in operating profit to 9.2 trillion won ($6.69 billion) for Q2, driven by strong demand for high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips essential for AI processing. What you should know: SK Hynix is doubling down on AI chip production despite market uncertainties, positioning itself as the dominant player in advanced memory technology. The company plans to double HBM chip sales for the full year compared...
read Jul 23, 2025Great expectations: IBM’s AI mainframe refresh drives $17B revenue beat
IBM exceeded Wall Street expectations for second-quarter revenue and profit, driven by strong demand for its AI-enhanced mainframe systems and a recovery in its consulting business. The results reflect growing enterprise investment in AI infrastructure as businesses prioritize technology spending amid ongoing economic uncertainty. Key financial highlights: IBM reported revenue of $16.98 billion for the June quarter, up nearly 8% year-over-year and beating analyst estimates of $16.59 billion. The infrastructure segment, which includes mainframes, generated $4.14 billion in revenue, significantly exceeding estimates of $3.81 billion. Second-quarter adjusted earnings of $2.80 per share also surpassed expectations. IBM's "AI book of business"...
read Jul 23, 2025Google Cloud surges 32% as Alphabet raises AI spending to $85B
Google's parent company Alphabet exceeded Wall Street expectations in its second quarter earnings, reporting $96.43 billion in total revenue against an expected $94 billion. The tech giant also raised its 2025 capital spending target to approximately $85 billion from $75 billion, driven by massive demand for cloud computing services and the ongoing AI arms race among Big Tech companies. What you should know: Alphabet's strong performance was powered by robust growth in Google Cloud and steady digital advertising revenue. Google Cloud revenue surged nearly 32%, well above the estimated 26.5% increase that analysts had projected. Google's advertising revenue, which represents...
read Jul 22, 2025Former journalists help AI startups craft compelling investor narratives
Outside The Box Ventures has launched Founder's Box, an "accelerator" program that pairs former journalists with AI startups to help them craft compelling narratives for investors and the media. The 10-week program will invest $150,000 in each of 15 accepted AI companies, addressing what managing partner Katie Tarbox calls "a critical gap in the AI market: narrative clarity." Why this matters: Many AI startups struggle to articulate their value propositions clearly, especially when their technical advantages are subtle, making it harder for investors to differentiate between companies in an increasingly crowded market. How it works: The program connects AI founders...
read Jul 22, 20257 AI infrastructure stocks positioned for the boom beyond NVIDIA
The artificial intelligence boom has created a complex investment landscape where traditional tech giants compete alongside specialized infrastructure providers and emerging players across the entire AI value chain. Understanding where to allocate capital requires recognizing that AI's exponential growth demands massive investments in computing power, energy infrastructure, and specialized components that extend far beyond software companies. Smart investors are positioning themselves across multiple layers of the AI ecosystem, from the semiconductors that power machine learning to the data centers that house them. This approach recognizes that AI's infrastructure requirements create opportunities across industries that might not immediately appear connected to...
read Jul 21, 2025AI valuations now higher than 1990s dot-com bubble, Apollo economist warns
Apollo Global Management chief economist Torsten Slok has warned that the current AI bubble is more dangerous than the conditions leading up to the dot-com crash of the late 1990s. According to Slok's analysis, the top 10 companies in the S&P 500 today show higher price-to-earnings ratios than they did during the infamous tech bubble, suggesting severe overvaluation in AI-heavy stocks. What you should know: The market's AI frenzy has created valuation levels that exceed even the notorious dot-com bubble era. "The difference between the IT bubble in the 1990s and the AI bubble today is that the top 10...
read Jul 17, 2025Scammers use AI deepfakes of Indian chief minister to promote fake investment scheme
Scammers in India have used AI-generated deepfake technology to create a fraudulent video featuring Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu promoting a fake investment scheme. The incident highlights growing concerns about deepfake misuse in financial fraud, prompting government officials to warn of stern action against cyber criminals exploiting this technology. What happened: Cybercriminals created an AI-generated video of Chief Minister Naidu falsely endorsing an investment scam that promised massive returns for an initial investment of Rs 22,000 (approximately $260). The deepfake video was distributed across social media platforms, claiming that "one of India's most successful entrepreneurs has revealed how...
read Jul 14, 2025Benchmark Capital faces backlash over $75M Chinese AI investment
Benchmark Capital faced intense criticism after leading a $75 million funding round in Manus, an AI startup founded in China, with Republican senators and fellow venture capitalists questioning the firm's decision to invest in Chinese AI technology. The backlash highlights growing tensions in Silicon Valley over China-related investments, as geopolitical concerns increasingly influence venture capital decisions in the AI sector. The big picture: What was once considered standard international investment activity has become politically charged, with some investors now viewing Chinese AI investments as potentially aiding a strategic competitor. What they're saying: Critics framed the investment as fundamentally misguided from...
read Jul 14, 2025Tesla shareholders to vote on $2B xAI investment amid concerns
Tesla will hold a shareholder vote on whether Elon Musk's electric vehicle company should invest in his artificial intelligence startup xAI, the billionaire announced Sunday. The proposal comes as Musk continues consolidating resources across his business empire to compete with AI leaders like OpenAI, Meta, and Google, while Tesla shareholders grow increasingly concerned about his divided attention and outside activities. What you should know: Musk has been systematically channeling resources from his other companies into xAI as he builds his AI empire. In March, xAI acquired X (formerly Twitter), which it already used for training data and to distribute its...
read Jul 10, 2025Apple shareholder warns Tim Cook’s departure would trigger stock sell-off
Malcolm Ethridge, managing partner at Capital Area Planning Group and Apple shareholder, stated that replacing CEO Tim Cook would be a compelling reason to sell Apple stock. The comment came during a CNBC "Closing Bell" segment where Ethridge discussed Apple's leadership and the company's ongoing challenges in artificial intelligence development. What you should know: The discussion centered on Apple's current strategic position under Tim Cook's leadership and the company's AI capabilities. Ethridge, representing Apple shareholders' perspective, emphasized Cook's critical importance to the company's value proposition. The conversation addressed Apple's struggles in the AI space, highlighting potential competitive disadvantages as artificial...
read Jul 9, 2025Hats off! Nvidia becomes first company to hit $4T market cap
Nvidia hit a $4 trillion market cap on Wednesday, becoming the first company ever to reach this milestone. The chipmaker's stock jumped more than 2% as investors continue betting on the company's dominance in the generative AI hardware market, cementing its position as the world's most valuable company ahead of Microsoft and Apple. The big picture: Nvidia's meteoric rise reflects the explosive demand for AI infrastructure since ChatGPT's launch in late 2022, with the company establishing itself as the decisive leader in graphics processing units that power large language models. Graphics processing units (GPUs) are specialized computer chips originally designed...
read Jun 26, 2025AI drives bull market momentum, says Truist investment chief
AI dominance has emerged as the defining characteristic of the current bull market, according to Keith Lerner, co-chief investment officer at Truist Wealth, a major financial services firm. Speaking on CNBC's "Closing Bell," Lerner highlighted how artificial intelligence continues to drive market sentiment and investment flows, reinforcing the technology sector's outsized influence on broader market performance. What you should know: The discussion took place during CNBC's market wrap-up show, featuring insights from two prominent investment strategists analyzing daily market movements and future outlook. Who was involved: The segment included Stephanie Link, chief investment strategist at Hightower Advisors, alongside Lerner providing...
read Jun 20, 2025Mark Walter built $6.1B empire spanning Lakers, AI, and Guggenheim Partners
Mark Walter, the billionaire set to take controlling interest in the Los Angeles Lakers, has built his fortune through Guggenheim Partners, a global investment firm managing over $325 billion in assets. With a net worth of $6.1 billion according to Forbes, Walter's investment empire spans sports franchises, artificial intelligence ventures, and financial services, positioning him as a major player across multiple high-growth sectors. What you should know: Walter's business portfolio extends far beyond traditional investments, encompassing cutting-edge technology and entertainment properties. He serves as CEO of Guggenheim Partners and co-founder of holding company TWG Global, which he established with film...
read Jun 13, 2025OpenAI maintains Scale AI partnership despite Meta’s $14.8B investment
OpenAI will continue collaborating with Scale AI despite Meta's $14.8 billion investment for a 49% stake in the data labeling startup. The partnership underscores how major AI companies are prioritizing ecosystem collaboration over exclusivity, even as competitive dynamics intensify through strategic acquisitions. What you should know: Scale AI provides the massive datasets of labeled and curated training data that power sophisticated AI models like ChatGPT. Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, agreed to acquire a 49% stake in Scale AI for $14.8 billion on Friday, marking one of the largest AI startup investments to date. OpenAI CFO Sarah...
read Jun 13, 2025Singapore’s Temasek joins $100B AI infrastructure partnership
Singapore's Temasek has joined the AI Infrastructure Partnership, a major consortium backed by Microsoft, BlackRock, and MGX that aims to invest over $30 billion in AI infrastructure development. The partnership represents one of the world's largest coordinated efforts to build the data centers and energy facilities needed to power AI applications like ChatGPT, with plans to mobilize up to $100 billion including debt financing. What you should know: The AI Infrastructure Partnership has been steadily expanding its roster of major institutional investors since its September launch. Temasek joins after Kuwait Investment Authority became the first non-founder financial anchor investor earlier...
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