Tech

Workday’s stock plummeted after its earnings report, driven by a subdued financial outlook that failed to impress investors. While the company beat Q4 expectations, its guidance for the upcoming periods fell short of analyst predictions. This downturn is compounded by broader market anxieties surrounding AI’s potential impact on established software companies. Furthermore, a recent CEO transition adds to the uncertainty. Despite these headwinds, Workday is actively pursuing AI integration, reporting significant revenue from its AI products.

David Luan, head of Amazon’s Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) lab, is leaving the company less than two years after joining via an acqui-hire of his startup, Adept. Luan plans to “cook up something new,” focusing on teaching AI new capabilities as AGI development progresses. His departure follows a reorganization of Amazon’s AGI division, now led by Peter DeSantis. The FTC is scrutinizing acqui-hire deals, including Amazon’s acquisition of Adept, due to potential circumvention of regulatory oversight. Amazon declined to comment.

PayPal’s stock surged nearly 7% following a Bloomberg report that fintech rival Stripe is considering acquiring either the entire company or specific business units. This news comes amid PayPal’s recent stock decline and intensified competition. While PayPal faces growth challenges, Stripe is experiencing rapid expansion, recently achieving a $159 billion valuation. Stripe has focused on product development and growth, with an IPO not currently planned.

CNBC’s World’s Top Fintech Companies list, in partnership with Statista, is now accepting applications for its fourth edition. This ranking celebrates global fintech innovators, from established leaders to emerging startups in areas like payments, wealth management, and insurance. This year, a new category for RegTech companies has been added. Fintech’s growth, fueled by digital transformation and AI, continues to reshape financial services. Investment remains strong, with nearly $45 billion invested in the first half of 2025. Companies can apply through Statista’s portal by April 24, 2026, detailing their innovative tech-driven financial products and performance metrics.

U.S. stock futures are flat as investors digest tariff uncertainties following a Supreme Court ruling and President Trump’s new duties. In AI, Meta inked a major deal with AMD for GPUs, diversifying its supply chain after a similar Nvidia agreement. Eli Lilly launched a more convenient pen for its obesity drug, Zepbound, as competition in the GLP-1 market intensifies. Meanwhile, violence in Mexico following a cartel leader’s death disrupts trade and travel.

Waymo, an Alphabet company, has expanded its robotaxi service to Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Orlando, bringing its total U.S. operational cities to ten. This move deepens its autonomous vehicle dominance amidst a competitive landscape. The company plans a phased rollout, aiming for general availability in these new markets by late 2026, while continuing to address public trust and regulatory scrutiny.

Google is building its first Minnesota data center in Pine Island, utilizing 480 acres to support AI and cloud services. The project includes a significant renewable energy commitment through an agreement with Xcel Energy, facilitating 1,400 MW of wind, 200 MW of solar, and 300 MW of battery storage. While facing some local concerns about environmental impact and resources, the city has approved preliminary plans, anticipating substantial tax revenue. Google pledges to cover all energy costs and grid upgrades, ensuring no additional burden on existing ratepayers.

Anthropic launches Claude Cowork, an enterprise AI tool designed to boost knowledge worker productivity. The platform integrates with business tools like Google Drive and DocuSign, and offers customizable plugins for specific industries. Anthropic aims to make AI more accessible across professional roles, while acknowledging potential disruption for certain job functions. This move intensifies competition in the lucrative enterprise AI market.

Texas is set to become the global leader in data center capacity, surpassing Virginia. This shift is driven by surging demand from hyperscalers and AI, coupled with historically low vacancy rates. A significant 92% of the construction pipeline is already pre-committed, indicating sustained demand through 2030. However, power availability poses a major challenge, pushing expansion into new markets and prompting interest in on-site power generation.