Tech

Waymo, Alphabet’s self-driving unit, is reportedly in advanced talks for a $15 billion funding round, potentially valuing the company at $110 billion. This capital will fuel fleet expansion and growth across 26 global markets, with ambitions for significant financial contributions to Alphabet by 2027. Waymo aims to more than double its previous funding, supporting its expanding robotaxi services in major US cities and upcoming international launches in London.

MetaX Integrated Circuits saw its shares surge 700% on its Shanghai debut, raising nearly $600 million. This remarkable IPO underscores China’s growing ambition in domestic AI chip development, driven by a strategic imperative for self-sufficiency amidst U.S. export controls. The company, focused on AI GPUs, joins other Chinese firms like Moore Threads in capitalizing on significant market demand and investor confidence in the nation’s burgeoning semiconductor ecosystem.

A Harvard Business School study found that AI’s effectiveness hinges on integration, not just implementation. While AI can boost individual performance and share expertise, the real future lies in AI-enabled teams, not AI replacing humans. Gains are significant for lower-skilled workers, but careful role evolution is needed. Managers currently lack training to effectively oversee AI, highlighting the need for strategic organizational redesign to truly leverage AI’s potential and protect human jobs.

Tesla’s stock has hit an all-time high, recovering from an early year slump. This surge is fueled by optimism surrounding Elon Musk’s autonomous driving advancements, with driverless vehicles now being tested without occupants. Investors anticipate this could unlock significant revenue through a robotaxi network. However, regulatory hurdles and safety concerns remain. Despite a challenging EV market and competition, some analysts remain bullish on Tesla’s potential to achieve full autonomy.

Oracle’s massive AI infrastructure spending, particularly its partnership with OpenAI, is drawing scrutiny from Wall Street. Analyst Jim Cramer warns that Oracle’s significant debt load and aggressive expansion for AI initiatives, including over $300 billion for OpenAI, could jeopardize its financial stability. He suggests fiscal prudence is needed, as this spending spree may be unsustainable and is already impacting tech stock valuations. A slowdown by Oracle could prompt competitors to re-evaluate their own spending, potentially boosting their stock prices.

Instagram is launching a dedicated app for smart TVs, initially on Amazon Fire TV, to expand its short-form video presence. The app will primarily feature Reels in their native vertical format, prioritizing user experience over immediate monetization. This move aims to capture more of the video entertainment market and diversify Instagram’s content offerings beyond mobile devices. Future expansions to other platforms and potential longer-form content are planned.

The U.S. House is considering the SPEED Act to streamline AI infrastructure permitting. The bill, supported by tech giants like OpenAI, Meta, and Microsoft, aims to accelerate AI development by reforming environmental review laws. Proponents argue it’s crucial for U.S. competitiveness against China. The legislation faces internal debate over amendments concerning presidential authority and clean energy project revival, with its final passage in the House uncertain.

AI coding startup Lovable has reached a $6.6 billion valuation after its latest funding round, featuring investment from Accel and Khosla Ventures. This significant jump triples its previous valuation, marking its third funding in 2025 and establishing it as a top European startup. Lovable, founded in 2023, reported $200 million in ARR by November, a testament to its rapid growth in the “vibe coding” sector. The company utilizes AI models to allow users to generate applications and websites via text prompts.

BMO Capital Markets has upgraded Amazon Web Services (AWS) forecasts, predicting robust 2026 growth fueled by accelerating customer commitments and AI integration, like Anthropic’s Claude. This, alongside a strong Q3 performance and market anticipation, suggests a significant rebound for Amazon stock, with analysts reiterating an “outperform” rating and an increased price target.

The robotaxi revolution is here, with Waymo leading in the U.S. and Baidu’s Apollo Go dominating China. Tesla and Zoox are entering the market, signaling rapid industry growth. While convenience and safety are driving adoption for some, consumer apprehension and practical challenges like cost and unpredictable behavior remain. Despite these hurdles, companies are investing heavily, with Waymo and Zoox scaling operations and Tesla pursuing a different autonomy strategy. Global competition is intensifying, with Chinese players expanding internationally.