Big Technology

Google is preparing to launch an experimental satellite into orbit, marking the first move by a major technology company toward building AI data centers in space. The project signals how Big Tech firms are looking beyond Earth to find power and cooling capacity for energy-hungry artificial intelligence systems. The announcement, reported by the New York Times, has drawn wide attention to the feasibility of orbital computing infrastructure.

The Wall Street Journal reports on the AI 'doomers' — researchers and commentators who warn that advanced artificial intelligence could pose existential risks to humanity — and argues they have wielded significant influence over how AI is developed and regulated. The piece has drawn attention in technology circles, where debates between those warning of catastrophic risk and those focused on nearer-term harms remain heated.

A new report examines how major technology companies are confronting physical security risks tied to the ongoing conflict involving Iran. The analysis also assesses Iran's broader political, economic, and military resilience, and outlines the limits of US military power in the Middle East as the war continues.

Major technology companies are using guarantee structures to keep roughly $300 billion in AI-related financial commitments off their balance sheets, according to a Financial Times report. The arrangements, often backing data centre and infrastructure deals, raise questions about how much risk the sector is actually carrying as AI spending accelerates.

Micron Technology's plan to invest roughly $100 billion in a chip factory complex near Syracuse, New York is drawing renewed attention, with coverage focusing on just how large the memory-making project will be. The bet is being framed as one of the biggest US semiconductor investments, with discussion centered on its scale, jobs, and impact on the region.

Michael Burry has sent a stark warning to investors in Big Tech stocks, cautioning them about the risks of the current rally. Burry, the investor best known for betting against the housing market before the 2008 crash, has a track record of contrarian calls, so his remarks are being closely watched. The warning lands amid renewed debate over stretched valuations in technology shares and the sustainability of the AI-driven market boom.

The Saudi Central Bank has raised its holdings in Meta Platforms stock, according to a regulatory disclosure picked up by financial news outlets. The move by the institution that manages the kingdom's reserves adds to growing Gulf interest in US technology shares. Investors are watching sovereign wealth exposure to Big Tech as Meta continues spending heavily on artificial intelligence.

An auto industry executive has publicly admitted that most companies are struggling to develop solid-state EV batteries, calling out an uncomfortable truth in the race to commercialize the technology. Solid-state batteries promise greater range, faster charging and improved safety, but mass production has proven difficult, and the comments suggest timelines may slip further than many manufacturers have publicly acknowledged.

Zalando's Partner Day event centered on artificial intelligence in online fashion, examining both the opportunities and the limits of the technology for e-commerce. Discussions reportedly covered what AI can and cannot do for the fashion retail business, drawing attention from industry watchers tracking how major European platforms adopt AI tools.

Meta stock is trading lower today, drawing attention from investors tracking big tech moves. The decline comes as traders reassess sentiment around the social media company's shares, though no single company announcement has been clearly tied to the drop. Market watchers are watching whether the weakness spreads across other mega-cap technology names.

Andrew Simon, a lawyer at Weil, appeared on the LegalQuants podcast to talk about running what he calls an "innovation startup" within the legal industry. The discussion covered how established firms can operate with a startup mindset when developing new legal technology and service models, drawing attention among listeners interested in the intersection of law and entrepreneurship.

Bloomberg Tech reports that AMD has acquired World Labs, the spatial-intelligence startup founded by AI researcher Fei-Fei Li, in a deal valued at $8.2 billion. The move signals AMD's push beyond chips into AI systems that understand 3D space and the physical world, a technology many see as a possible stepping stone toward more general artificial intelligence and advances in robotics.

Law firm Akin has hired Neil DuChez, previously a lawyer at Goldman Sachs, as a technology transactions partner based in New York. The move strengthens the firm's technology practice, adding someone with in-house experience at a major bank at a time when demand for tech transaction and licensing legal work continues to grow.

An expert argues the technology industry operates as a 'winner takes most' market, meaning a small number of leading firms capture the bulk of profits and market share while competitors struggle to keep up. The observation points to the concentration of power among dominant tech companies in areas like software, cloud computing and artificial intelligence, a trend that continues to draw scrutiny from regulators and analysts.

Real estate services firm JLL argues that physical AI — robots and intelligent machines working in buildings — is set to become the sector's next major transformation, following earlier waves of digitalisation and smart-building technology. The claim points to automation reshaping how properties are managed, operated and valued, though the company has released few details beyond the headline assertion.

Alex Kantrowitz, who runs the Big Technology newsletter and podcast, says OpenAI is taking bigger risks and making bolder moves in artificial intelligence than Meta. His comments come as the two companies compete to shape the next generation of AI products, with OpenAI advancing new models while Meta pushes its own open-source alternatives.