Tech

.The EU has opened an antitrust probe into Meta’s policy allowing AI providers to access WhatsApp’s platform, questioning whether it breaches competition rules. Meta disputes the claims, saying the API isn’t built for AI chatbots and that the AI market is competitive. The investigation follows recent fines on Google, Apple and Meta for anti‑competitive practices. Regulators fear AI integration could create “gatekeeping” and privacy risks, prompting Meta to consider a cautious, limited rollout to avoid penalties and protect its market position.

Horizon Quantum, a Singapore‑based software firm, announced it is the first private company to operate a commercial quantum computer in the city‑state, deploying a proprietary processor built from components by Maybell Quantum, Quantum Machines and Rigetti. Founded in 2018, the startup aims to accelerate quantum‑enabled solutions for pharma, finance, logistics and materials while preparing for a Nasdaq listing via a SPAC merger that values it at about $503 million. The move aligns with Singapore’s national quantum strategy and positions Horizon to capture a share of the projected $30 billion global market.

OpenAI has agreed to acquire Neptune, a startup that provides monitoring and debugging tools for training large AI models. The two firms, already collaborators on a metrics dashboard, plan to deepen integration, with Neptune’s services being phased out as its technology is embedded into OpenAI’s training stack. The deal’s financial terms were undisclosed. This acquisition follows OpenAI’s recent purchases of Software Applications Incorporated, Statsig, and io, signaling its push to become a full‑stack AI infrastructure provider and strengthen model observability for enterprise customers.

Salesforce’s fiscal Q3 beat EPS expectations ($3.25 vs. $2.86) with $10.26 bn revenue, an 8.6% YoY rise, and net income up to $2.09 bn aided by a $263 m investment gain. The company highlighted accelerated cloud adoption for Tableau and MuleSoft, and forecast FY Q4 revenue of $11.13‑$11.23 bn with adjusted EPS of $3.02‑$3.04. Growth is driven by AI‑focused acquisitions (Regrello, Waii), the new Agentforce platform, and the $8 bn Informatica deal. Despite a 29% stock decline this year, free cash flow grew 22% to $2.18 bn, though below consensus.

Apple’s head of user‑interface design, Alan Dye, is leaving the iPhone maker to head a new creative studio at Meta, merging design, fashion and technology. Apple CEO Tim Cook announced veteran designer Stephen Lemay will succeed Dye, emphasizing that design remains a core strength. Dye, who joined Apple in 2006 and helped launch the “Liquid Glass” UI and the 2017 swipe‑up gesture, moves amid Meta’s aggressive push into AR/VR hardware, including Quest headsets and smart glasses. The hire highlights the growing competition for design talent and the belief that superior UI will be decisive in future consumer tech.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang met former President Donald Trump on Capitol Hill to discuss the proposed GAIN AI Act, which would force U.S. chipmakers to prioritize domestic sales of advanced AI processors over exports to markets such as China. Huang welcomed the bill’s exclusion from the NDAA, warning it would stifle innovation and harm U.S. competitiveness, and advocated for a single federal AI framework rather than fragmented state rules. He noted that tighter export controls could reshape global AI‑hardware supply chains, prompting firms like Nvidia and AMD to shift focus toward domestic and allied‑nation customers while navigating stricter compliance requirements.

Istara Digital unveiled an AI‑designed “moon vacuum” that extracts heat from lunar regolith and converts it into battery‑like power, cutting lunar‑night energy mass by up to 30 %. The system uses a sandboxed AI workflow that enforces mission‑critical constraints, eliminating hallucinated designs and accelerating validation. Benefits include faster development cycles, lower launch costs, and a strategic edge in the emerging lunar economy. Backed by Eric Schmidt and partnered with Lockheed Martin, Istara aims to extend the technology to Mars and asteroid mining, targeting a multi‑billion‑dollar off‑world power market.

Microsoft denied a report that it lowered growth targets for its AI software sales, stating that neither quotas nor overall AI‑product sales goals have changed. The story alleged that most Azure Foundry sales reps missed a 50% growth target, prompting a scaled‑back quota, but Microsoft said the outlet conflated growth and quotas. Adoption of Azure Foundry faces integration hurdles, pricing concerns, and stiff competition from Google, Amazon and others. Analysts will watch conversion of pilots to contracts, deal sizes, and data‑integration improvements to gauge Microsoft’s AI‑driven growth.

Micron announced it will exit the consumer “Crucial” memory business to focus on high‑performance AI chips and high‑bandwidth memory for data‑center workloads. The shift aims to meet surging AI‑driven demand and reallocate capacity to higher‑margin segments, despite a 3% stock dip after the news. Micron now competes with SK Hynix and Samsung as the sole U.S. supplier, supporting Nvidia, AMD and Google’s AI accelerators, while analysts raise its price target amid strong cloud‑memory growth.

Macy’s beat Q3 expectations, yet its stock fell as management warned of spending headwinds; American Eagle surged on strong ad‑driven sales. Employers face mixed hiring signals, with tariffs prompting layoffs and the ADP payroll estimate under scrutiny. OpenAI feels pressure from Alphabet’s Gemini 3 and Anthropic’s IPO plans, sparking a “code‑red” push for ChatGPT upgrades. Broadcast owners Nexstar and Sinclair pursue major mergers to counter shrinking cable revenues, despite antitrust and FCC hurdles. Boeing’s shares jumped over 10% after its CFO signaled higher 2026 deliveries and timely 737‑10 certification.