Tobias

Reddit has sued AI search engine Perplexity, data scraping service Oxylabs, AWMProxy, and SerpApi, alleging unauthorized scraping of user-generated content to train AI models. Reddit claims Perplexity illegally used its data, while Perplexity denies training models on Reddit content and accuses Reddit of “extortion.” This lawsuit, following a similar one against Anthropic, underscores the escalating battle over data rights in the AI era and the growing tension between content platforms and AI developers. The case could set precedents for data licensing and AI training practices.

Tesla’s Q3 earnings revealed a 12% revenue increase but a 37% net income drop due to price cuts to compete with Chinese EV makers and a surge in operating expenses driven by AI and R&D investments. This mixed performance and broader market concerns led to a dip in Tesla’s stock price. The market awaits upcoming earnings reports from tech giants to gauge overall market health. A recent crypto downturn disproportionately impacted smaller coins, highlighting the volatility of altcoins.

The East Wing of the White House is being demolished to make way for a $250 million ballroom, contradicting earlier assurances. A White House official cited unforeseen structural issues for the change. The project, championed by President Trump, will be privately funded, with disclosed contributors including Alphabet ($22 million from a legal settlement) and Lockheed Martin. Other potential donors include R.J. Reynolds, Booz Allen Hamilton, Palantir and NextEra Energy. Architectural design and engineering are led by McCrery Architects, Clark Construction and AECOM.

Tesla’s Q3 revenue beat expectations with a 12% increase, but earnings fell short, leading to a stock dip. Profitability declined due to price cuts and increased operating expenses driven by AI investments. The expiration of EV tax credits and slumping European sales, influenced by Musk’s public persona and competition, added complexity. Tesla is focusing on long-term projects like Cybercab, Optimus robots, and Robotaxi expansion, but offered limited guidance, concerning investors about their Full Self-Driving system. Energy generation and storage saw significant growth, fueled partly by Musk’s AI venture, xAI.

Country music star Martina McBride is advocating for AI guardrails to protect artists and fans from deepfake exploitation. She emphasizes the threat to artists’ reputations and the potential for AI-generated content to distort their messages and undermine trust. McBride highlighted the NO FAKES Act and a scam where a fan almost lost savings to an AI-generated impersonation of her. RIAA’s Morna Willens underscored the need for AI transparency, noting concerns about unauthorized use of artists’ music for AI training and the potential damage to emerging artists’ careers.

AI investments and acquisitions are increasingly followed by layoffs in the tech industry. Companies like Accenture, Meta, and HP, after investing in or acquiring AI startups like Snorkel AI, Scale AI, Windsurf and Humane, subsequently reduced workforce. This trend reflects a shift from prioritizing startup culture to rapidly optimizing for ROI and eliminating overlapping roles. While AI advancements may create new jobs, the immediate impact involves workforce restructuring, potentially impacting talent attraction and demanding greater employee protections related to acquisitions. The industry is aggressively recruiting in core AI roles despite overall reductions.

Morgan Stanley projects Amazon’s aggressive warehouse robotics expansion could generate $2-4 billion in annual savings by 2027. Amazon plans to add roughly 40 advanced robotics warehouses by 2027, aiming to automate 75% of operations. Analyst Brian Nowak cites GenAI advancements in retail, particularly robotics-driven efficiencies, as undervalued by the market. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy reports existing robotic deployments have already reduced fulfillment costs, suggesting potential for even greater savings. This automation could also significantly reduce future labor needs.

Applied Digital (APLD) secured a $5 billion, 15-year lease with a U.S. hyperscale data center operator for 200 MW capacity at its Polaris Forge 2 campus, bringing its total leased capacity to 600 MW. Despite the significant deal, APLD’s stock fell over 7%, although it’s still up nearly fourfold year-to-date. The agreement underscores the growing demand for AI infrastructure, with major cloud providers investing heavily. CEO Wes Cummins highlighted Microsoft, Meta, Oracle, Amazon, and Google as potential partners. Applied Digital’s 4 gigawatt active pipeline suggests further growth.

Amazon has unveiled Blue Jay, a robotic system automating warehouse tasks by consolidating picking, sorting, and consolidating into a single, space-efficient workflow. Currently being tested, it handles 75% of stored items and aims to alleviate strenuous work for employees. Amidst automation efforts, Amazon faces scrutiny regarding potential job displacement, though they maintain it will lead to more rewarding roles and are offering mechatronics apprenticeships. They also introduced AR glasses for delivery drivers, enhancing safety and efficiency with visual and audio alerts.

IBM reported a strong Q3, exceeding expectations with adjusted EPS of $2.65 and revenue of $16.33 billion. Revenue grew 9% year-over-year, driven by AI traction, with AI-related bookings surpassing $9.5 billion. IBM raised its full-year revenue growth forecast to “more than” 5% and free cash flow to $14 billion. Software and Consulting revenues also performed well, with Infrastructure experiencing a significant increase. Despite the positive results, shares dipped in after-hours trading.