Tobias

Intel’s stock has surged over 50% this month, driven by government and private sector investments. The U.S. government’s stake, acquired via a CHIPS Act investment, is now valued at $16 billion. Nvidia’s $5 billion investment signals confidence in Intel’s data center and PC solutions. Ongoing discussions with AMD for hardware supply further boost the stock. Under new leadership, Intel focuses on innovation and advanced technologies, aiming for a comeback after a challenging 2024. Competition remains fierce, requiring continued strategic execution.

Amazon’s Prime Air drone delivery program faces scrutiny after two MK30 drones collided with a construction crane in Tolleson, Arizona, prompting FAA and NTSB investigations. Drone delivery services in the area are temporarily suspended. The incident caused substantial damage to the drones and raises concerns about safety and reliability, potentially impacting consumer confidence. This follows previous crashes and investigations, highlighting ongoing challenges in scaling Amazon’s drone delivery service and achieving its goal of 500 million annual drone deliveries.

Perplexity AI has launched Comet, its AI-powered web browser, globally as a free service, challenging tech giants in the AI-enhanced browsing arena. Comet, initially a premium feature, aims to simplify web tasks with AI assistance. This free release is a strategic move to expand Perplexity’s user base amid competition from Google, OpenAI, and Anthropic, who are also developing AI-driven browser technologies. Perplexity is known for its AI search engine and revenue-sharing with publishers. Future plans include a mobile version and background processing capabilities.

Meta is expanding beyond advertising with Business AI, an AI-powered platform for businesses to enhance customer engagement. Launched at the 2025 Meta Connect conference, it enables personalized recommendations and faster purchasing via conversational interactions across Facebook, Instagram, and retailer websites. Integrations with CRM systems (Salesforce, Microsoft, etc.) are planned. Business AI will initially be a free add-on to Meta ad campaigns, with pricing for website integration. WhatsApp and Messenger integration are coming soon.

Tesla reported 497,099 vehicle deliveries in Q3 2025, a 7% increase YoY, exceeding analysts’ expectations. Production slightly decreased to 447,450 units. Model 3 and Y accounted for most production (435,826). European sales slumped due to competition, offset by increased U.S. demand before a key EV tax credit expired. Ford’s EV sales are significantly lower than Tesla’s. Tesla’s stock rose 40% in Q3, up 14% YTD. Energy storage deployments reached 12.5 GWh, with Elon Musk’s xAI as a major customer.

Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev predicts tokenization of real-world assets (RWAs) will revolutionize global finance, impacting equities and real estate. He believes major markets will establish frameworks within five years. Robinhood already offers tokenized U.S. stocks in the EU. Tenev sees tokenization increasing liquidity and democratizing investment access. He anticipates a merger between cryptocurrency and traditional finance, driven by the advantages of blockchain technology. While Europe may lead in regulation, the trend seems unstoppable with involvement from institutions like Morgan Stanley and BlackRock.

Hugging Face’s Thomas Wolf argues current AI models, like those from OpenAI, are unlikely to drive major scientific breakthroughs. Speaking at the Web Summit, he contrasted his view with the optimistic projections of AI leaders, emphasizing the limitations of predicting the “most likely next token” versus uncovering “unexpected truths.” He sees AI as a helpful “co-pilot” for scientists but believes their core architecture lacks the contrarian thinking needed for paradigm-shifting discoveries. While AI can assist in research, the human element of critical thinking remains essential.

OpenAI completed a $6.6 billion secondary share sale, valuing the company at $500 billion, a record for an AI firm. The sale, involving Thrive Capital, SoftBank, and others, allowed current and former employees to liquidate equity. While OpenAI authorized a larger sale, less than anticipated shares changed hands, seen as a sign of investor confidence. This follows a previous $1.5 billion deal and positions OpenAI as the most valuable private company, surpassing SpaceX. The sale aids employee retention amidst intense AI talent competition.

Samsung and SK Hynix shares surged following news of their partnership with OpenAI on the Stargate initiative. The collaboration aims to boost the supply of advanced memory chips crucial for next-generation AI, driving investor confidence. OpenAI emphasized the importance of these chips for powering its sophisticated AI models and is exploring AI data center development in South Korea. SK Hynix is mass-producing next-generation HBM chips, while Samsung is pursuing certification of its HBM4 chips by Nvidia, signaling a competition for leadership in the HBM market driven by AI demand.

Taiwan has rejected a U.S. proposal to evenly split semiconductor production between the two nations. U.S. officials expressed concerns over relying on Taiwan for 95% of its chip supply, aiming to onshore manufacturing. Taiwan, however, views its dominance in chip production, particularly through TSMC, as crucial for its economy and security, providing a “Silicon Shield.” Taiwanese officials focused trade talks on tariff reductions instead of production shifts. The disagreement reflects the complex balance of economic, technological, and geopolitical factors in the semiconductor industry.