Tobias

Nvidia continues its AI chip dominance, reporting over 55% revenue growth for the eleventh consecutive quarter and projecting a 77% surge this quarter. The company is accelerating the rollout of its next-generation Vera Rubin AI system, aiming for ten times the performance per watt. Despite this, competition is intensifying with AMD’s upcoming Helios system and customers developing in-house chips. Nvidia’s CEO emphasizes that “compute equals revenue” in the booming AI landscape.

Samsung’s Galaxy S26 series integrates Google’s Gemini AI for agentic tasks, enhancing smartphone strategy. This move positions Gemini prominently, even as it’s slated to power Apple’s Siri. The S26 features Gemini for cross-app actions, Perplexity for web searches, and an upgraded Bixby. Notably, Gemini can now perform autonomous actions within third-party apps, a significant leap from previous models. This collaboration highlights the intense AI competition and Samsung’s role as a key distribution channel for Google’s consumer AI, preceding Apple’s own Gemini-powered Siri upgrade.

Samsung’s new Galaxy S26 series sees a $100 price hike on the S26 and S26+ due to a persistent global memory chip shortage, intensified by AI infrastructure demand. This shortage, expected to last into 2027, is driving up smartphone prices. While the S26 Ultra keeps its price, the overall market faces inflationary pressure. Samsung, banking on its third-gen “AI phones,” also introduces a new privacy display on the Ultra, but analysts question consumer value perception amidst rising costs.

Thrive Capital has reportedly invested $1 billion in OpenAI at a $285 billion valuation, reinforcing its status as a key backer. This is separate from OpenAI’s ongoing, potentially $100+ billion funding round aiming for an $800 billion valuation, in which Thrive is also expected to participate. OpenAI also acquired a stake in Thrive Holdings. The large funding round, expected to involve Nvidia, SoftBank, and Amazon early on, highlights immense confidence in AI’s future.

The software sector’s sharp sell-off is driven by AI disruption fears, impacting long-term valuations. This downturn highlights the importance of “terminal value” – a company’s perceived future worth. While near-term profits remain stable, AI’s potential to reshape future earnings power has shaken investor confidence. Changes in terminal value assumptions significantly influence stock prices more than short-term projections, prompting a re-evaluation of whether current market apprehension is justified or overblown.

Salesforce shares fell 5% in after-hours trading despite strong Q4 fiscal 2026 results, including revenue exceeding expectations. The dip was triggered by fiscal 2027 revenue guidance falling slightly short of projections, and broader AI concerns impacting software stocks. The company also announced a $50 billion share buyback and a raised long-term revenue target.

Google is bringing its robotics software venture, Intrinsic, in-house to bolster its physical AI and robotics efforts. Intrinsic’s Flowstate platform simplifies robot programming, aiming to make industrial automation more accessible. This integration allows Google to leverage its AI research and infrastructure, including Gemini models and DeepMind expertise, to compete in the industrial automation market. Partnerships, like the one with Foxconn, showcase Intrinsic’s potential to deploy AI-powered robots for manufacturing, driving efficiency and innovation.

Axon Enterprises’ stock surged over 17% after a strong Q4 earnings report, beating Wall Street expectations. The company’s software, particularly AI-integrated products like body camera assistants and license plate recognition, drove significant growth. Axon anticipates software to soon outpace hardware, projecting substantial revenue increases and ambitious 2028 targets. CEO Rick Smith highlighted AI as a pivotal, unprecedented opportunity for the company.

Nvidia is poised for another strong earnings report, driven by soaring demand for AI infrastructure. Analysts expect continued revenue growth, fueled by major cloud providers’ significant investments in AI. Nvidia’s dominance in AI chips, particularly its GPUs, makes it a key beneficiary of the AI boom. Investors will watch gross margins closely, given the memory chip shortage, and Nvidia’s ability to manage these costs will be a key indicator of its strength.

Bill Gates addressed foundation staff regarding his past ties to Jeffrey Epstein following the release of new emails. He stated his interactions were not illicit and he never stayed overnight at Epstein’s homes. Gates also admitted to an affair and mentioned an associate discussed personal relationships with Epstein. The foundation confirmed Gates answered questions candidly and took responsibility for his actions amidst ongoing scrutiny of Epstein’s associates.