Tobias

Microsoft has formed the MAI Superintelligence Team, led by Mustafa Suleyman (formerly of DeepMind and Inflection AI), to develop practical and human-centric AI solutions. This move follows Meta’s similar investment in AI research. Microsoft aims to diversify its AI model dependencies, currently relying heavily on OpenAI, by integrating models from Google and Anthropic. The team will focus on AI companions for education, medicine, and renewable energy, emphasizing responsible and ethical AI development amidst growing concerns about AI’s potential risks.

White House AI and Crypto Czar David Sacks dismissed the need for a federal bailout for the U.S. AI sector, asserting its inherent resilience. His comments followed discussions triggered by OpenAI’s CFO, who initially mentioned a federal “backstop” for infrastructure investments. Sacks highlighted the Trump administration’s focus on streamlining permitting and enhancing power generation to support AI development. This approach prioritizes market-driven innovation over government subsidies, although some analysts suggest a more nuanced approach considering AI’s strategic importance and global competition.

A report alleges Meta generated $16 billion in 2024 (10% of total revenue) from running ads for scams and banned goods on Facebook and Instagram. Internal documents reportedly show Meta generates $7 billion annually from “higher risk” scam ads, displaying 15 billion daily. While Meta claims it “aggressively” combats scam ads, the report suggests concerns exist about the financial impact of stricter regulation. This revelation raises investor and regulator concerns amid Meta’s AI investments, highlighting the challenge of balancing revenue with ethical advertising.

Wall Street declined Thursday amid concerns over AI stock valuations and a surge in corporate layoffs. Apple is reportedly in talks with Google to integrate Google’s AI into Siri, potentially costing Apple $1 billion annually. Despite solid sales, Costco shares dipped, with analysts scrutinizing its premium valuation. Disney replaced Penn Entertainment with DraftKings as ESPN’s official sportsbook partner, aiming to enhance its DTC business and boost engagement within the ESPN ecosystem.

OpenAI projects over $20 billion in annualized revenue this year, aiming for hundreds of billions by 2030. CEO Sam Altman emphasizes massive infrastructure expansion to meet AI model demand, with reported deals exceeding $1.4 trillion. CFO Sarah Friar’s suggestion of a potential federal “backstop” for semiconductor investments sparked controversy and was later clarified, with OpenAI asserting they do not seek government guarantees for data centers, relying instead on private sector investment. Analysts highlight the risks and competition in OpenAI’s aggressive expansion strategy.

Take-Two Interactive (TTWO) shares fell after Rockstar Games delayed Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA VI) to November 2026. Despite the delay and a net loss of $133.9 million, Take-Two reported a 33% revenue increase to $1.96 billion, driven by titles like “NBA 2K26” and “Red Dead Redemption 2.” The company raised its fiscal year bookings outlook to $6.38-$6.48 billion, citing strong mobile gaming performance and the success of “NBA 2K”.

Airbnb’s Q3 earnings surpassed revenue expectations, boosting shares. Revenue rose 10% year-over-year to $4.10 billion, exceeding the $4.08 billion estimate. EPS was $2.21, slightly below the expected $2.34. The company anticipates Q4 revenue between $2.66 billion and $2.72 billion, exceeding estimates. Nights and experiences booked increased by 9% to 133.6 million. Gross booking value reached $22.9 billion, a 14% increase. Adjusted EBITDA hit a record $2.1 billion. New features and AI integration are driving growth.

Tesla shareholders approved Elon Musk’s compensation package, potentially worth nearly $1 trillion, awarding stock options tied to ambitious performance goals, including market capitalization and profitability targets. The vote also addressed Tesla’s potential investment in xAI, but next steps are under deliberation. Despite opposition from advisory firms, the board actively campaigned for approval, emphasizing Musk’s crucial role. The plan lacks restrictions on Musk’s political activities or time commitment to Tesla, despite ongoing debate regarding his controversial statements on sales. A Delaware court ruling on a previous pay package adds further complexity.

Despite U.S. restrictions on advanced chip exports, China is making strides in AI development by leveraging domestically produced chips and strategic advantages. Huawei’s cluster approach links multiple chips to rival Nvidia’s performance. China’s access to affordable energy, driven by investments in renewables and nuclear, supports the high power consumption of these clusters. Government subsidies further incentivize the use of domestic hardware. The long-term challenge remains bridging the performance gap as Nvidia and TSMC innovate, given ongoing technological restrictions.

SoftBank Group shares tumbled over 8% amid a broader AI stock sell-off, reflecting investor concern over inflated sector valuations. This follows volatile trading for SoftBank, potentially erasing $53 billion in market cap this week, its worst performance since March 2020. Analysts attribute the decline to SoftBank being seen as an OpenAI proxy, vulnerable to shifting AI sentiment. Uncertainty around OpenAI’s partnerships and potential reliance on government funding are contributing factors. The downturn affected other Asian and U.S. tech companies, raising bubble concerns, though some experts see it as valuation fatigue rather than a collapse.