Tech

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman dismissed concerns about AI’s water consumption as “fake,” comparing AI’s energy use to humans. While acknowledging energy is a concern, he argued AI’s inference stage is now more efficient than human task completion. This debate occurs as data center energy demands surge, prompting investment in new power sources but also community opposition.

The U.S. is launching “Tech Corps,” an extension of the Peace Corps, to deploy STEM volunteers abroad and promote American AI capabilities. This initiative aims to assist partner nations in adopting U.S. AI solutions, countering China’s technological influence, particularly in developing economies. The program emphasizes “AI sovereignty” and fosters global partnerships, with India as a key participant. Tech Corps volunteers will provide technical support for 12-27 months, with on-site deployments beginning in fall 2026.

Donald Trump has demanded Netflix remove board member Susan Rice, calling her a “political hack” after she suggested Democrats would hold entities accountable for past Trump allegiances. This public spat occurs as Netflix faces intense DOJ scrutiny over its proposed $72 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, a deal complicated by a competing bid from Paramount Global and Skydance Media.

The stock market experienced a rebound last week, with the Nasdaq and S&P 500 posting gains. Major tech stocks surged, fueled by AI demand and increased hyperscaler spending. A Supreme Court ruling against tariffs provided some relief to consumer companies, though impacts on strategy persist. However, concerns in the private credit market, particularly around Blue Owl Capital, led to significant declines for major asset managers, introducing volatility to the financial sector.

India’s AI Impact Summit faced logistical issues and controversies, including Bill Gates’ withdrawal and a robot dog dispute. Despite disorganization, U.S. tech giants like Google and OpenAI reaffirmed their commitment to India’s AI market, drawn by its talent and consumer base. The government aims to attract $200 billion in AI investments, highlighting India’s continued importance as a growth frontier for global tech firms, even with occasional turbulence.

Tech giants are significantly increasing AI investments in India, with billions pledged by hyperscale cloud providers and domestic conglomerates for data centers and infrastructure. This surge aligns with India’s ambition to become a tech powerhouse, fostering deeper U.S.-India economic ties. While acknowledging India’s engineering talent, some analysts note a lag in private capital and suggest a focus on foundational challenges.

The Supreme Court’s decision to invalidate key Trump-era tariffs offers a significant financial relief for tech giants like Apple, potentially saving billions in import duties. This ruling could lead to reduced operational costs, improved profit margins, and may lessen the pressure to diversify manufacturing away from China. While the immediate impact is positive for Apple’s profitability, the broader implications include potential government refunds to importers, though the process remains uncertain. The future of trade policy and tariffs remains dynamic.

Phil Spencer, head of Microsoft Gaming, is retiring after 38 years. The division faces market challenges and declining revenue despite the Activision Blizzard acquisition. Asha Sharma, formerly of Instacart, will lead Gaming, emphasizing a commitment to players, developers, and console gaming, while vowing to avoid AI-generated content. Matt Booty will oversee content, reporting to Sharma. Xbox president Sarah Bond is also departing.

The National PTA is ending its partnership with Meta due to the social media company’s ongoing child safety legal battles. The PTA will not renew funding for its digital safety initiative with Meta in 2026. This decision comes as Meta faces lawsuits alleging it misled the public about app safety and failed to protect children from predators. Advocacy groups support the PTA’s move and urge them to review other “Big Tech” partnerships.

OpenAI is revising its infrastructure expansion plans, now targeting $600 billion in compute spend by 2030, down from $1.4 trillion. This shift aligns capital expenditure with projected revenues of over $280 billion by 2030. The company is also nearing a $100+ billion funding round, with Nvidia potentially investing $30 billion. Despite increased competition, OpenAI’s ChatGPT boasts over 900 million weekly users, and its Codex assistant has over 1.5 million weekly users.