#AI

Figma (FIG) shares fell 14% after hours following its first earnings report as a public company. While revenue beat expectations at $249.6 million (up 41% YoY), the report presented a mixed picture. Q3 revenue is projected at $263-$265 million, surpassing estimates. Full-year adjusted operating income is forecasted between $88-$98 million, with revenue exceeding $1.02 billion. Figma is innovating with AI-powered tools and strategic acquisitions. Concerns about AI displacing designers were addressed, with the CEO emphasizing AI’s role in augmenting design. The company reported a 129% net retention rate.

Microsoft and the GSA have reached an agreement to accelerate AI and digital technology adoption across federal agencies. The deal provides free services like Microsoft 365 Copilot and aims to modernize government IT infrastructure. This partnership, part of the GSA’s “OneGov” strategy, joins similar offerings from other tech giants. Agencies procuring through the GSA will access Microsoft’s suite, including Azure, Dynamics 365 and Sentinel, improving productivity and security. Microsoft expects over $3 billion in savings for the government in the first year, with projected cumulative savings exceeding $6 billion over three years.

Salesforce’s stock has significantly underperformed compared to Oracle, reversing their pandemic-era market cap crossover. Investors await Salesforce’s quarterly results amid slowing growth in its core CRM market. AI presents both a challenge and an opportunity, with Salesforce launching Agentforce, an AI-powered customer support system. Analysts are watching improvements in remaining performance obligations and the impact of the Informatica acquisition. Activist investors remain engaged, seeking further improvements in profitability. Oracle, meanwhile, benefits from cloud infrastructure commitments related to AI.

Anthropic, an AI company founded by ex-OpenAI researchers, secured $13 billion in Series F funding, boosting its valuation to $183 billion. Led by Iconiq, Fidelity, and Lightspeed, the round signifies strong investor confidence. Fueled by its AI assistant, Claude, Anthropic’s revenue run rate exceeded $5 billion in August with over 300,000 business customers. Capital will support safety research, enterprise demand, and global expansion, intensifying its rivalry with OpenAI, valued potentially at $500 billion.

OpenAI is acquiring Statsig, a product development startup, for $1.1 billion to enhance its capabilities in feature testing and data optimization. Statsig CEO Vijaye Raji will become OpenAI’s technology chief within the applications unit, reporting to Fidji Simo. Statsig will operate independently, serving existing customers. This acquisition follows OpenAI’s purchase of Jony Ive’s AI devices startup, IO, and analytics database company Rockset, demonstrating its aggressive expansion strategy. A previous attempt to acquire AI-assisted coding tool Windsurf was unsuccessful.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk predicts the company’s Optimus robots will drive 80% of its future value, potentially reaching a $25 trillion valuation. Facing challenges with EV competition and public perception, Musk aims to shift focus to AI-powered robotaxis and humanoid robots. While Tesla is on track to produce 5,000 Optimus robots in 2025 and deploy them in factories, it trails competitors like Waymo, Unitree and Boston Dynamics in both robotaxi and humanoid robot markets. A recent leadership change in Tesla’s robotics division adds further complexity. Optimus is envisioned as a versatile robot for various tasks.

NVIDIA’s GTC 2026, a key event for GPU technology and data center innovation, will be held in San Jose, California, from March 16-19. The conference is expected to showcase the debut of the Rubin GPU and Vera CPU, focusing on their performance and capabilities. GTC 2025 unveiled future GPU hardware plans, including Blackwell Ultra and the Vera Rubin architecture, along with software initiatives like NVIDIA Dynamo and Isaac GR00T N1. The industry anticipates insights into how these advancements will shape NVIDIA’s competitive edge.

The global push for online child safety is driving AI-powered solutions and regulatory scrutiny. The UK’s Online Safety Act and similar US legislation compel tech firms to protect minors from harmful content, with hefty penalties for non-compliance. Companies like Yoti are developing age verification technologies, raising privacy concerns. HMD Global’s Fusion X1 smartphone uses AI to block explicit content. The industry faces pressure to balance child protection with user privacy, requiring ethical implementation and responsible technology development.

Enterprise tech stocks, including MongoDB, Pure Storage, Snowflake, and Autodesk, rallied fueled by the artificial intelligence boom. MongoDB saw a 44% surge, while Pure Storage skyrocketed 33% after its deal with Meta. Snowflake’s AI Data Cloud is attracting customers, influencing nearly 50% of new logos. Autodesk, despite some challenges, is developing “AI-driven CAD engines.” These companies’ quarterly reports and executive commentary suggest the financial benefits of AI are broadening beyond Nvidia and cloud giants.

Alibaba (BABA) reported a mixed Q1 fiscal year performance. Net income beat expectations with a 78% jump, driven by equity gains and the Trendyol sale. Revenue, however, fell short of estimates. Cloud computing revenue soared 26%, fueled by AI demand, with AI-related product revenue growing at a triple-digit rate for the eighth consecutive quarter. Despite macroeconomic headwinds in China, Alibaba’s stock showed resilience. Investors are optimistic about AI initiatives and investments.