Tech

Australian critical minerals and rare earths companies surged after a new US-Australia agreement to bolster essential material supply chains for defense and energy security. The deal, potentially worth $8.5 billion, spurred stock increases in companies like Lynas Rare Earths, Iluka Resources, and Pilbara Minerals. Smaller miners also saw significant gains. Alcoa, developing a gallium project in Western Australia, received a US equity investment commitment. The agreement aims to diversify sourcing amid concerns over China’s dominance and supply chain vulnerabilities. The US Export-Import Bank will also issue letters of interest for financing.

OpenAI is collaborating with Bryan Cranston, SAG-AFTRA, and other talent unions to strengthen protections against deepfakes on Sora, its AI video platform. This follows concerns over unauthorized AI-generated content using actors’ likenesses, including Cranston’s. The partnership includes UTA, ATA, and CAA, aiming to improve Sora’s safeguards and address copyright issues previously raised about OpenAI’s training data. OpenAI supports the NO FAKES Act and requires opt-in consent for voice and likeness usage, reflecting a commitment to protecting performers’ rights amidst growing deepfake concerns.

A public disagreement has emerged within the “PayPal Mafia,” specifically between Reid Hoffman and David Sacks, over AI development and regulation. Hoffman defends Anthropic as prioritizing responsible AI deployment, while Sacks accuses them of “fear-mongering” to push for regulatory capture. This dispute highlights the growing political fault lines within the tech community concerning AI safety and government oversight. The tensions are exacerbated by their contrasting political views and involvement with different AI companies.

Despite President Trump’s call for National Guard deployment, San Francisco shows strong recovery signs driven by AI investment. Crime is down, tourism is up, and real estate is revitalizing. The city is becoming an AI hub, attracting significant venture capital, exceeding previous investment peaks. While challenges like homelessness and retail vacancies persist, officials report increased safety and economic opportunity, emphasizing the city’s positive trajectory. Key tech figures initially supported Trump’s proposal, but later retracted their statements amid local opposition.

Apple’s stock surged nearly 4% to a record high, driven by strong early iPhone 17 sales in the US and China, surpassing its predecessor by 14%. Analysts attribute this success to upgraded features, strategic pricing, and advancements in AI integration powered by the A20 chip. Loop Capital upgraded Apple’s stock, raising the price target to $315, citing underestimated long-term growth potential. The successful iPhone Air launch in China further boosts investor confidence. Analysts anticipate strong September quarter results, fueled by iPhone momentum. Despite earlier volatility, Apple’s stock has rebounded strongly, signaling renewed investor confidence.

Anthropic launched Claude for Life Sciences, an AI solution targeting the biopharmaceutical and research sectors. It integrates with scientific tools and databases to streamline literature reviews, hypothesis generation, data analysis, and regulatory submissions. Claude Sonnet 4.5 enhances life science task performance. Partnerships with Benchling, PubMed, and other providers ease AI adoption. A demo showed Claude could reduce study analysis time from days to minutes. Anthropic aims for responsible AI integration, acknowledging AI can’t circumvent inherent scientific research constraints. The company focuses on maximizing AI’s value in specific, time-consuming processes.

U.S. equities rose, led by tech and boosted by economic optimism. The 10-year Treasury yield around 4% makes stocks attractive, prompting potential rotation from fixed income. Cramer’s Silicon Valley insights highlighted AI and market dynamics. Boeing (BA) surged on 737 MAX production increase approval, aiming for higher cash flow. Starbucks (SBUX) is predicted to rebound strongly, with Morgan Stanley raising its price target. Positive sentiment surrounds Starbucks’ turnaround and increased valuation of its Chinese ventures. Other stocks noted include SWKS, MRVL, DRI, CLF, and PLD.

Apple’s stock reached an all-time high driven by strong iPhone 17 demand, defying earlier concerns about tariff impacts and perceived shortcomings. Counterpoint Research indicates significant outperformance compared to the iPhone 16. Analysts are upgrading AAPL, citing compelling value in the base iPhone 17 model and robust performance from the iPhone Air. Loop Capital set a $315 price target, while Melius Research anticipates a “beat and raise” quarter and highlights the potential of an AI-enhanced Siri. Easing concerns over AI, regulations, and tariffs further boost market sentiment.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, acting as NASA administrator, stated SpaceX is “behind” on its Artemis program commitments. Citing the urgency of the space race against China, Duffy suggested opening the lunar landing contract to other companies like Blue Origin. NASA aims to establish a sustained lunar presence, but SpaceX’s delays, including Starship program setbacks, are a concern. Duffy aims to return to the Moon by 2028, potentially leveraging multiple commercial partners. Duffy emphasized his desire to achieve this goal within the current presidential term, but the ongoing government shutdown casts a shadow over the expediency of any contract openings.

Amazon’s stock faces pressure amid concerns about AWS growth compared to rivals Azure and Google Cloud. While AWS remains a key profit driver, its recent growth lagging behind competitors has fueled concerns about its cloud dominance. A recent AWS outage further amplified these anxieties. Analysts believe Amazon’s recovery depends on AWS growth acceleration through innovation and enhanced reliability, needing aggressive investment in new technologies to stay competitive and maintain customer trust.