Tech

Tech giants are investing heavily in AI infrastructure, sparking debate over whether these investments will drive cost savings or strain near-term returns. Increased capital expenditure guidance from Amazon, Microsoft, and Google fuels both optimism about AI’s potential and concern about profitability. Analysts debate whether short-term profitability concerns hinder long-term strategic advantages in AI. The key question is whether AI investments translate into productivity and value or remain unproven promises. Managing the short-term financial implications will be crucial for sustaining growth and investor confidence.

Snap Inc. (SNAP) shares rose 9% after announcing a $400M Perplexity AI collaboration and Q3 results exceeding expectations. The deal integrates Perplexity’s search engine into Snapchat, enhancing information discovery. Snap expects revenue generation from 2026. Q3 revenue reached $1.51B with increased daily active users. However, Snap anticipates lower Q4 DAUs due to age verification implementations and regulatory compliance. Snap is also advancing its hardware ambitions with the projected 2026 launch of its sixth-generation augmented reality glasses, Specs.

OpenAI CFO Sarah Friar clarified that the company is not seeking a government “backstop” for its infrastructure plans, despite earlier suggestions. Instead, she emphasized a collaborative approach between the private sector and government to build U.S. technological capacity. This comes as OpenAI undertakes $1.4 trillion in infrastructure agreements to meet AI demand. Friar projects $13B+ revenue this year, but spending commitments have raised concerns about financial sustainability, which CEO Sam Altman dismissed. Friar highlighted ongoing collaboration with the U.S. government, underscoring AI’s role as a national strategic asset.

Datadog’s shares surged 23% after exceeding Q3 earnings expectations, reporting $885.7 million in revenue, a 28% year-over-year increase. Fueled by strong demand for its AI-powered security solutions, Datadog forecasts Q4 revenue between $912 million and $916 million, surpassing Wall Street estimates. The company’s strategic investments in AI, including Bits AI Agents and LLM Observability enhancements, are driving growth. Datadog’s adjusted EPS reached 55 cents, and customers with over $100,000 ARR increased by 16%.

DoorDash shares plummeted 17% after announcing significant investments in autonomous delivery, a new tech stack, and acquisitions like SevenRooms and Deliveroo. While revenue beat expectations, earnings fell short, and Q4 adjusted EBITDA guidance was below consensus. Investors are wary of the aggressive spending impacting near-term profitability, despite CEO Tony Xu’s confidence in long-term growth. Analysts acknowledge the operational strength and potential long-term investor support, but caution that patience and consistent disclosure are needed.

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.