Tech

U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna is touring the Rust Belt, promoting his “New Economic Patriotism” plan to revive American manufacturing. He envisions a “Marshall Plan for America,” funded by defense cuts and potential taxes on billionaires and AI tokens. Khanna is exploring a 2028 presidential bid, aiming to connect with working-class voters by addressing economic anxieties and China’s global economic influence.

Investors often err by fixating on past stock performance. Seasoned observers stress focusing on future growth potential, not historical gains. Dismissing stocks as “too expensive” after appreciation is a common mistake. Corning and Arm Holdings exemplify this principle, demonstrating compelling future growth narratives driven by technological innovation and market demand, justifying investment even after significant price increases. The key is assessing sustainable business models and future potential, not past performance.

Facing market volatility and the rise of generative AI, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff is prioritizing customer success and aggressive share buybacks. Despite concerns about AI disruption, Benioff emphasizes strong customer demand and record financial performance. The company has allocated $27.1 billion to stock repurchases, boosting earnings per share. Salesforce also plans to integrate AI, like Anthropic’s technology into Slack, to enhance its offerings and capitalize on the AI revolution.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is considering entering the cloud computing market due to significant data center investments and potential excess capacity. The company is exploring monetization of AI services through premium subscriptions, with tiered pricing models being tested. These moves indicate a strategic pivot to leverage technological prowess across high-growth sectors, potentially challenging established cloud giants.

Former CIA Director David Petraeus believes unmanned systems will drive significant challenges and growth in the next decade. He highlights conflicts in Ukraine and Iran as proof of evolving warfare, emphasizing the need for improved defenses against drones. Petraeus also anticipates a future of autonomous weapon systems operating with minimal human intervention, presenting both a daunting prospect and a substantial investment opportunity in defense technologies.

LG Energy Solution’s stock surged following a $1.6 billion deal to supply 1.5 GW of battery cells for DTE Energy’s Michigan energy storage projects. This significant contract underscores the growing demand for U.S.-manufactured batteries to enhance grid reliability and integrate renewables. LGES is expanding its North American production capacity to meet this escalating market need.

Meta is launching paid AI features for its Meta AI app and website, introducing subscription tiers priced at $7.99 and $19.99 per month. This move diversifies Meta’s revenue beyond advertising, directly challenging competitors like OpenAI and Google. The premium offerings will provide enhanced processing power, creative capacity, and advanced functionalities, aiming to “supercharge content” and “automate tasks.” Testing begins next month in Singapore, Guatemala, and Bolivia.

Snowflake has signed a $6 billion, five-year spending commitment with AWS, deepening their strategic alliance. This deal highlights Snowflake’s increased reliance on AWS infrastructure, including Graviton processors and GPUs for AI workloads. The agreement is a significant win for AWS amid its pursuit of AI-centric deals. Snowflake also announced strong quarterly results and its intent to acquire AI startup Natoma. The partnership underscores the growing importance of efficient, scalable infrastructure for the AI revolution.

Salesforce exceeded Q1 revenue and earnings estimates. However, its full-year guidance slightly missed analyst expectations, citing headwinds in marketing and commerce, plus impacts from acquisitions like Informatica. Despite a recent share price decline, the company highlighted strong growth in its AI-powered Agentforce and confidence in Slack’s future potential.

Zscaler’s stock plummeted over 30% due to disappointing fiscal year 2027 growth projections, despite strong third-quarter results. Investors are apprehensive about software company growth amid AI advancements. The cybersecurity firm forecast lower annual recurring revenue growth than expected and reported senior sales leadership departures. While CEO Jay Chaudhry expressed confidence, citing AI-driven cybersecurity demand, the market’s reaction indicates a preference for clear growth forecasts, leading to analyst downgrades and a range-bound stock outlook.