[BIG TECH]

BNP Paribas upgraded Apple to outperform from neutral, citing the company's ability to leverage rising memory prices to expand its smartphone market position.

A Texas man faces attempted murder charges after throwing a Molotov cocktail at Sam Altman's home, carrying documents linking the attack to concerns about artificial intelligence causing human extinction. The incident highlights growing hostility toward AI companies and their leaders.

Adobe's decades-long dominance in design software faces unprecedented challenge as competitors capitalize on customer frustration over pricing and AI integration.

Major technology companies successfully influenced European Union legislation to keep data centre environmental impacts secret. The secrecy clauses prevent public disclosure of energy consumption and water usage tied to digital infrastructure.

Netflix shares dropped after the company issued second-quarter guidance below analyst expectations. Despite the miss, investment executives remain confident in the streaming giant's long-term dominance.

Roku announced it operates in over 100 million households globally and commands more than half of all US broadband homes. The platform generated $4.15 billion in revenue during 2025.

Google is integrating websites directly into Chrome's AI assistant interface, allowing users to view web content alongside AI responses without navigating away. The shift further reduces the necessity of traditional link clicks.

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei is scheduled to meet with White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles on Friday, marking a significant step in resolving the AI company's conflict with the Pentagon.

YouTube has expanded its Shorts time limit controls, allowing users to set the daily watchtime cap to zero minutes on iOS and Android devices. This effectively removes Shorts from the app entirely.

Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings is leaving the company's board in June after 29 years, as the streaming giant shifts focus back to core operations following its abandoned bid for Warner Bros. Discovery.

Investigative reporter Ronan Farrow has published a deep-dive feature in The New Yorker examining OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's relationship with the truth, raising questions about his trustworthiness amid the company's rapid rise.

YouTube's mobile app now lets users share videos starting from a specific timestamp, making it easier to direct others to particular moments. The feature replaces the previous Clips tool.

Microsoft and other US technology companies successfully pressured the European Commission to keep datacenter environmental data confidential, with the secrecy clause adopted nearly verbatim from industry demands.

A TechCrunch analysis examines how algorithmic feeds—particularly TikTok's—influence what becomes culturally popular, sparking debate about the line between marketing and inauthentic growth tactics.

Opposition MPs are calling for the government to cancel its £330 million NHS contract with Palantir, citing the US company's controversial work with ICE and the Israeli military.

A Chinese laser chipmaker has surpassed Kweichow Moutai to claim the highest share price among mainland-listed stocks. The shift signals changing investor priorities toward advanced technology over traditional consumer brands.

Cloud Software Group, formed following a leveraged buyout by Vista Equity Partners and Elliott Investment Management, has released key earnings figures ahead of schedule. The move comes as the software sector grapples with uncertainty around artificial intelligence disruption.

Sequoia Capital has closed a $7 billion fundraise, marking the first major capital raise under co-stewards Alfred Lin and Pat Grady. The fund will focus on expanding the firm's artificial intelligence investments.

Meta has blocked its Oversight Board from expanding its influence beyond the company, rejecting the board's push to collaborate with other firms. The decision reflects Meta's shifting priorities and reduced investment in the independent policy body.

Netflix is launching a redesigned mobile app featuring a vertical video feed by the end of April. The update aims to simplify content discovery and reflect the company's expanding entertainment portfolio.

Meta is testing a redesigned web version of Threads that finally adds direct messaging. The update also improves navigation with new shortcuts to frequently used features.

Netflix projects its advertising business will double to $3 billion in 2026, while expanding its advertiser base to over 4,000 clients—a 70% year-over-year increase.

Apple announced that 30% of material across all products shipped in 2025 came from recycled sources, a company record. All Apple-designed batteries now use 100% recycled cobalt.

SpaceX has expedited a scheduled vesting date for employee shares to next week, positioning the company ahead of a planned IPO valuation exceeding $2 trillion.

Google blocked 8.3 billion ads in 2025 but suspended fewer advertisers, signaling a shift toward targeting problematic content rather than bad actors.

Anthropic has leased a significantly larger London office, signaling plans to expand its headcount from 200 to roughly 800 employees. The move comes amid escalating tensions between the AI startup and the US government.

The UK government is establishing a $675 million fund to invest in homegrown AI startups and reduce technological dependence on other nations. The initiative aims to bolster Britain's position in the global AI race.

A courtroom battle between Elon Musk and Sam Altman will determine whether OpenAI has strayed from its founding goal of ensuring artificial general intelligence benefits humanity.

Snap is laying off approximately 1,000 employees—16% of its global workforce—as CEO Evan Spiegel pursues cost reductions and profitability through artificial intelligence. The company is also closing more than 300 open positions.

Roku announced its streaming platform has surpassed 100 million active households, a significant milestone the company plans to leverage for advertising growth.

Australia's Canva is undergoing a significant transformation centered on generative AI capabilities as the design platform works to maintain relevance in a rapidly evolving market dominated by AI-powered tools.

Snap is eliminating 1,000 positions, representing 16% of its total workforce. The company attributes the cuts to advancements in artificial intelligence.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer summoned senior executives from Meta, TikTok, Google, and X to Downing Street on Thursday, warning that social media platforms are 'putting our children at risk' and signaling potential new restrictions.

Major technology companies are promoting a $90 billion data center expansion in Spain's Aragón region as a blueprint for Europe, even as local residents voice opposition to the massive buildout.

Tech giants are investing billions in data centers across Aragón, Spain, positioning the region as a model for EU AI infrastructure. Local residents report a more complicated reality.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is developing an artificial intelligence assistant to manage some of his responsibilities. The AI tool, referred to internally as a "Zuckbot," represents the company's latest venture into autonomous AI systems.

Google owns approximately 5% of SpaceX, down from 6.11% at the end of 2025, according to recent filings analyzed by Bloomberg. At a potential $2 trillion IPO valuation, the stake would be worth $100 billion.

Snapchat's parent company Snap Inc will lay off approximately 1,000 employees—16% of its staff—citing rapid artificial intelligence advancements. The cuts follow pressure from an activist investor and a declining stock price.

Doug Field, who led Ford's electric vehicle and technology strategy, is leaving the automaker. Field previously held roles at Apple and Tesla before joining Ford in 2021.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. reported a 58% surge in profit, driven by soaring demand for AI chips. The gains underscore continued strong investment in artificial intelligence despite geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

Prime Video displayed a "technical difficulties" message during an NBA game in overtime, leaving viewers unable to watch the critical final moments. The outage prompted reactions from players including LeBron James.

OpenAI is rolling out a cost-per-click pricing model for ChatGPT advertisers in the coming days, expanding its ad monetization options beyond existing models.

Apple is enrolling fewer than 200 Siri programmers in a multi-week coding bootcamp focused on AI tools, just two months before the company plans to announce a major overhaul of its voice assistant.

House Republicans are advancing legislation to impose US sanctions on Chinese entities that improperly extract data from leading American AI models to develop competing systems. The effort reflects Congress's broader push to maintain US dominance in the global artificial intelligence race.

YouTube has expanded its time management settings to allow users to set a zero-minute limit on Shorts, effectively removing the feature from their app on Android and iOS.

X has rolled out Cashtags, a feature enabling users to view real-time financial data for stocks and cryptocurrencies directly within their timelines. The feature is now available in the US and Canada.

General Catalyst appointed Palo Alto Networks CEO Nikesh Arora to its board as the firm's first lead independent director. The move expands the investment firm's governance structure.

Dell and HP shares dropped about 3% after hours Monday following Nvidia's denial of a report claiming the chip maker had spent over a year negotiating to acquire a major PC manufacturer.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa suggested billionaire Elon Musk could deploy equity-equivalence programs to satisfy the country's racial-equity requirements for rolling out Starlink internet service, signaling a potential path forward in their dispute.

The U.S. Energy Information Agency will require data centers to disclose their energy consumption details for the first time. The move aims to track power usage across the rapidly expanding sector.

LinkedIn's latest data reveals hiring has dropped 20% since 2022, but the platform attributes the decline to rising interest rates rather than artificial intelligence adoption.

The European Union is advancing a Digital Fairness Act to strengthen online consumer protections and establish stricter rules for big tech companies. EU Commissioner Michael McGrath outlined the initiative as part of a broader transatlantic approach to regulating the sector.

SpaceX is organizing facility tours for major potential investors as it prepares for what could be the largest initial public offering ever. The company aims to showcase its flagship operations across multiple U.S. locations.

OpenAI has secured $122 billion in its largest funding round to date, reaching an $852 billion valuation. Venture capitalist Vinod Khosla said the valuation is justified given the company's potential.

Doug Field, who led Ford's electric vehicle and software division, is leaving the company next month. Alan Clarke, a former Tesla engineer, will replace him as VP of advanced development projects.

Alphabet Inc.'s early investment in SpaceX positions the tech giant for a substantial windfall as the rocket company approaches a potential market debut, according to recent filings.

A Manhattan jury determined that Live Nation-Ticketmaster is an illegal monopolist, finding the company liable on three counts. The verdict opens the door to potential forced breakup of the live entertainment giant.

The FTC and eight states have reached a settlement requiring major ad agencies to stop coordinating brand safety rules that collectively avoid platforms like X. The agencies allegedly violated antitrust law by agreeing on shared content standards.

WPP, Dentsu, and Publicis have settled Federal Trade Commission claims that they colluded on misinformation policies that restricted ad revenue to conservative publishers.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. reached an all-time stock high as retail investors pile into the chipmaker amid renewed interest in artificial intelligence investments.

Google released a standalone Gemini app for macOS on Wednesday, one day after launching a Windows version. The native desktop application provides quick access to the AI assistant via keyboard shortcuts.

The European Commission has issued a supplementary statement of objections against Meta, threatening an interim ban on WhatsApp policies that allegedly prevent rival AI firms from operating on the platform.

SpaceX's finances reveal a stark divide: Starlink satellite internet is thriving while the company's rocket and AI businesses bleed cash. The space company's upcoming IPO hinges on investor appetite for Starlink's growth trajectory.

Amazon is launching a high-end television designed to blend into home décor as framed art when not in use, directly challenging Samsung's dominance in the category. The company also released a new $35 streaming stick.

Aparna Ramani, Meta's vice president of engineering for AI infrastructure, is leaving the company. She announced her departure Tuesday in an internal memo.

The European Union has unveiled an open-source app designed to verify users' ages online using legal identification. The tool aims to standardize age verification across the bloc and protect minors from harmful content.

Apple quietly threatened to remove Elon Musk's AI app Grok from its App Store in January over the platform's failure to prevent nonconsensual sexual deepfakes, according to NBC News.

Snap Inc. is laying off approximately 1,000 full-time employees, representing 16% of its global workforce. CEO Evan Spiegel announced the cuts as part of a cost-reduction strategy aimed at achieving profitability.

Spotify users in the US and UK can now buy physical books through the platform's Android app, with iOS support arriving next week.

Snap's proposed $400 million partnership with AI search startup Perplexity has fallen through. The company plans to announce significant layoffs Wednesday.

Uber is committing over $10 billion to robotaxis over the coming years, including $7.5 billion in vehicle purchases and $2.5 billion in equity stakes in manufacturers, according to sources and analyst estimates reported by the Financial Times.

Maine's legislature passed a bill prohibiting new data centers exceeding 20 megawatts of power capacity until November 2027, making it the first state to implement such a restriction. The measure now heads to Democratic Governor Janet Mills for approval.

SoftBank Group is expanding its lending syndicate for a $40 billion loan backing its OpenAI investment, testing creditor appetite for the Japanese conglomerate's debt-heavy AI strategy.

Microsoft has discontinued production of its Surface Hub 3 collaborative touchscreen display and canceled plans for a Hub 4 model, ending the company's push into large-format office displays.

Anthropic has received multiple venture capital offers valuing the AI safety company at up to $800 billion, more than double its $380 billion valuation from February.

Nvidia stock gained over 18% in the past ten days, marking its strongest run since 2023. CEO Jensen Huang disclosed in March that the chipmaker has accumulated $1 trillion in GPU orders extending through 2027.

Amazon is offering Prime Video subscribers a limited-time bundle that includes Apple TV Plus and Peacock Premium Plus for $19.99 per month, saving $9.99 monthly compared to separate subscriptions.

YouTube is adjusting its ad strategy for livestreams, holding back advertisements during moments of peak viewer engagement. The change aims to preserve the viewing experience without requiring a Premium subscription.

Meta has deepened its collaboration with Broadcom to design and manufacture custom chips for artificial intelligence infrastructure. The expanded partnership signals Meta's continued push toward vertical integration of its AI hardware stack.

Sam Altman's home was targeted twice in recent weeks, with a 20-year-old suspect allegedly motivated by extinction fears linked to AI development. The incidents signal growing unrest around rapid AI advancement.

Google's annual developer conference returns May 19-20, with the main keynote kicking off at 1PM ET on day one in Mountain View, California. Most sessions will be livestreamed for remote attendees.

Google's desktop search app for Windows, which mimics macOS Spotlight, is now available globally in English. The app works on PCs running Windows 10 or newer.

Lumen Technologies CEO Kate Johnson reports that artificial intelligence bots account for more than 50% of global internet traffic. The surge is forcing companies to reassess operations across customer service, security, and network management.

Tech stocks surged as the Nasdaq 100 heads toward its best performance in years. Amazon's announced $11.6 billion acquisition of satellite operator Globalstar fueled investor optimism in the sector.

IBM has become the first company to pay a penalty under Trump's new 'Civil Rights Fraud Initiative,' settling for $17 million without admitting misconduct. The settlement marks the opening salvo in the administration's effort to challenge diversity programs.

Amazon announced a merger with Globalstar Inc., the satellite internet provider that powers Apple's emergency SOS feature on iPhones and Watches. The deal strengthens Amazon's Leo satellite network as it competes with Spacex's Starlink.

Tesla is introducing streak tracking and usage statistics to its Full Self-Driving software, encouraging drivers to engage with the feature more frequently. The company has simultaneously simplified subscription access to the advanced driver assistance system.

Tech YouTuber Jon Prosser published a video on January 17th claiming to show the first look at iOS 26. The Front Page Tech creator teased major findings in a video that has generated significant attention.

Amazon has agreed to acquire satellite operator Globalstar for $11.57 billion, paying $90 per share in cash or stock. The deal, contingent on Globalstar meeting certain HIBLEO-4 replacement satellite milestones, is expected to close in 2027.

Alex Bores, a former Palantir employee who helped architect one of the nation's strictest AI regulations, is facing a major funding push from tech industry leaders seeking to derail his congressional bid.

Chip equipment maker ASML will omit order disclosures in its earnings report Wednesday, removing a key metric that has historically driven its stock valuation. The move injects uncertainty into the shares as they approach record highs.

Google is designating "back button hijacking" as a malicious practice and will penalize offending websites in Search rankings starting in June. Sites that interfere with browser back button functionality face demotion in search results.

Amazon is nearing a deal to acquire satellite operator Globalstar, expanding its satellite internet capabilities to compete with Elon Musk's Starlink.

Oracle has expanded its partnership with fuel cell maker Bloom Energy to procure up to 2.8 GW of capacity. The enterprise software company received a warrant to purchase $400 million in Bloom stock.

Microsoft is discontinuing its Outlook Lite app next month, ending support for the lightweight email client it launched in 2022. The app was designed for Android devices with limited storage and users in regions with slower internet connectivity.

Anthropic donated $20 million to Public First Action with explicit restrictions preventing the funds from influencing federal elections. The AI safety company says the money is earmarked for public education on AI policy.

Google has integrated Gemini AI into most of its Workspace apps, from Gmail to Sheets. Users who find the feature distracting can now remove it.

A verified @elonmusk TikTok account posted its first video promoting SpaceX and Tesla, garnering over 2 million views. A verified Instagram account bearing the same handle has also appeared but has not yet posted.

Dell Technologies and HP Inc. stock prices climbed following a report that Nvidia is exploring an acquisition to reshape the PC market. SemiAccurate cited sources claiming the GPU maker is pursuing a major deal in the sector.

Intel's stock jumped 53% over nine trading sessions, pushing its market capitalization above $300 billion. The rally follows announcements to acquire an Ireland fabrication plant and join Terafab.