Expansion

Waymo is expanding its robotaxi service to four new US cities: San Diego, Las Vegas, Tampa, and Denver. This move intensifies the race against competitors like Tesla and Zoox. While Waymo possesses a large fleet and significant funding, it faces challenges in real-world deployment and needs to refine its systems for safety and resilience. The company aims for rapid scaling, targeting one million weekly trips this year.

Qualcomm’s stock surged 15% on ambitious data center expansion plans. The company projects $40 billion in non-handset revenue by 2029, including $15 billion from data centers, and aims for over $18 EPS. Key to this strategy is the new Dragonfly C1000 CPU for agentic AI workloads, with Meta planning to integrate it. Qualcomm is also expanding its portfolio with AI chips and interconnect solutions, leveraging its mobile expertise and existing hyperscaler relationships. An acquisition to bolster AI software capabilities further strengthens its competitive position.

AI firm Runway is establishing its European headquarters in London, committing over $200 million to the UK’s AI ecosystem by 2028. This strategic move leverages London’s talent pool and proximity to European clients, following similar expansions by Anthropic and OpenAI. Runway, known for its “world models” and video AI tools, will drive cutting-edge research and innovation in the UK.

Nvidia plans an ambitious expansion in Taiwan, including a new campus and a tenfold increase in annual spending, reaching up to $150 billion. This move highlights Taiwan’s critical role in the global AI race and Nvidia’s deep commitment to the region amidst geopolitical shifts and evolving export controls impacting its China business.

Anthropic, creator of the Claude chatbot, is significantly expanding its London operations with new office space for 800 employees. This move into the Knowledge Quarter, a hub for AI innovation, follows OpenAI’s similar UK expansion plans. Anthropic cites London’s talent pool and its role as a key research and commercial center outside the US as reasons for its growth. The expansion highlights London’s increasing importance as a global AI leader.

Amazon’s Zoox is expanding its robotaxi pilot programs to Austin and Miami, building on operations in Las Vegas and San Francisco. The company is increasing coverage in San Francisco and planning airport transfers in Las Vegas. Zoox is also testing in ten US cities and awaiting regulatory approval for commercial operations, aiming for 100 robotaxis on public roads soon. A partnership with Uber will integrate Zoox into its platform in Las Vegas.

Revolut achieved a record pre-tax profit of £1.7 billion in 2025, a 57% increase, with group revenue up 46% to $6 billion. This success fuels its U.S. expansion and follows its acquisition of a U.K. banking license. Business banking now accounts for 16% of total income, reflecting diversified revenue streams. The fintech giant, valued at $75 billion, aims to become a global bank.

CoreWeave’s shares fell 8% after issuing cautious revenue guidance. Despite missing EPS estimates, Q4 revenue grew 110% year-over-year. The company anticipates strong revenue for 2026 and plans significant capital expenditures for expansion, driven by surging AI infrastructure demand across various sectors. Supply chain constraints for Nvidia chips persist, but CoreWeave has resolved previous operational delays and boasts a substantial backlog and extended contract lengths. They are strategically prioritizing rapid capacity build-out to meet client demand, even at a short-term margin cost.

Waymo, an Alphabet company, has expanded its robotaxi service to Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Orlando, bringing its total U.S. operational cities to ten. This move deepens its autonomous vehicle dominance amidst a competitive landscape. The company plans a phased rollout, aiming for general availability in these new markets by late 2026, while continuing to address public trust and regulatory scrutiny.

Despite a stock dip, Lyft CEO David Risher remains confident, attributing success to a “customer-obsessed strategy” driving profits. While quarterly metrics missed expectations, Risher highlighted new initiatives like teen accounts and international expansion via FreeNow. He also emphasized ambitious plans for integrating autonomous vehicles through partnerships with Waymo and Baidu, aiming for market entry in 2026. Though Q1 guidance was cautious, Lyft’s Q4 revenue met expectations, and EPS beat estimates.