Tobias

Coinbase shares rose nearly 3% after reporting Q3 earnings that exceeded expectations, driven by a resurgence in retail and institutional crypto trading. Net income reached $432.6 million, or $1.50 per share, surpassing estimates. Revenue climbed to $1.87 billion, with transaction revenue reaching $1 billion. The exchange’s growth is attributed to a more favorable regulatory environment and improving trade relations. CEO Brian Armstrong emphasized the “everything exchange” vision, expanding tradable assets to 40,000. Coinbase is integrating prediction markets and tokenized equities in response to increasing competition.

San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie faces daily pressure to improve the city’s safety and economy. Following President Trump’s reversal of a federal surge plan, Lurie emphasizes San Francisco’s progress, citing data on business development and crime reduction. He highlights the AI sector’s impact, with venture funding surpassing 2021 levels. Crime rates are down, and tourism is up. The city is focused on attracting investment and fostering a broad-based recovery by removing red tape. He aims to support both tech companies and small businesses.

Palantir’s head of global communications, Lisa Gordon, expressed “concerns” over the company’s perceived shift towards the Trump administration, potentially causing internal tension. This shift, driven by CEO Alex Karp’s evolving political leanings and unwavering support of Israel, could impact internal culture and external relationships. Palantir, increasingly reliant on government contracts and defense work, faces ethical scrutiny over its work with agencies like ICE. Gordon acknowledged potential employee departures due to differing political views. The company must reconcile its evolving political stance to maintain employee trust and technological prowess.

While tech giants aggressively invest in AI data centers, Apple employs a “hybrid” strategy, blending internal infrastructure (“Private Cloud Compute”) with third-party resources. CFO Kevan Parekh highlights this balanced approach, prioritizing scalability and data privacy. Though Apple’s capital expenditure is increasing (projected $14.3 billion this year), it’s comparatively restrained. Apple Intelligence, utilizing proprietary chips, influences purchasing decisions. Operating expenses, driven by R&D, also reflect AI investments. Apple remains optimistic about future AI impacts, projecting sales growth despite concerns surrounding its unique AI strategy.

SpaceX is addressing NASA’s concerns about potential delays in its lunar lander for Artemis III by proposing a “simplified mission.” This follows NASA’s hint at reopening the lunar landing contract to competition, possibly including Blue Origin. SpaceX claims their streamlined approach ensures a faster, safer lunar return. NASA is evaluating proposals from both SpaceX and Blue Origin to accelerate HLS production, driven by U.S. space leadership concerns amid China’s lunar ambitions. SpaceX’s Starship has undergone 11 test flights; in-orbit refueling remains a key challenge. NASA has paid SpaceX $2.7B for HLS development.

Apple’s fiscal Q4 revenue surged 8% to $102.47B, exceeding estimates, with EPS at $1.85. Strong performance and rosy holiday quarter forecast boosted shares. Services achieved record revenue across all regions. iPhone sales grew 6%, limited by supply constraints. Q1 guidance projects significant revenue growth, driven by iPhone 17 demand. Management expects robust services growth. Apple ended the quarter with $132 billion in cash, returning $24 billion to shareholders. Price target raised to $300.

OpenAI released two reasoning models, gpt-oss-safeguard-120b and gpt-oss-safeguard-20b, designed to help developers classify and mitigate online harms. These “open-weight” models allow organizations to tailor them to specific policies and understand their decision-making, enhancing online safety. Developed in collaboration with ROOST, Discord, and SafetyKit, the models aim to address ethical concerns surrounding rapidly scaling AI and promote responsible AI development. They are available for download via Hugging Face.

Etsy CEO Josh Silverman will become executive chairman at year-end, with President Kruti Patel Goyal succeeding him on January 1, 2026. The leadership change coincides with Etsy’s Q3 earnings, which saw revenue exceed estimates but a decline in gross merchandise sales, triggering a 12% stock drop. Active buyers decreased, while Depop’s GMS surged. Silverman, who led Etsy through significant growth, faces challenges from increased competition. The company is integrating AI, including a partnership with OpenAI, to boost customer engagement.

Nvidia’s AI dominance highlights strategic alliances with Nokia and Eli Lilly, alongside domestic Blackwell GPU production in Arizona. The Fed is expected to cut rates. OpenAI completed its transition into a nonprofit and affirmed Microsoft’s stake. The government shutdown continues, causing legal challenges and impacting federal employees. Boeing faces a slight dip due to a $4.9B charge on the 777X delays, despite improved deliveries.

Character.AI will eliminate open-ended chats for users under 18 to bolster safety amid rising concerns about AI companions’ impact on vulnerable youth. The decision follows scrutiny, including a tragic suicide linked to the platform. The company will implement age verification and restrict chat functionality by November 25th. Character.AI is also establishing an AI Safety Lab and faces increased regulatory pressure. Other AI developers, including OpenAI and Meta, face similar concerns, prompting industry-wide safety reevaluation.