American tech titan in consumer electronics, software and services.
Warren Buffett has redirected about $6 billion of Berkshire Hathaway stock away from the Gates Foundation and toward four family foundations, and has accelerated plans to distribute his remaining shares by Dec. 31, 2034. He has said he reviewed Bill Gates’s testimony about Jeffrey Epstein and has met Gates in Omaha since the documents were released.
Moonshot AI has released Kimi K3, a 2.8-trillion-parameter open-weight model that has overtaken several leading U.S. systems on blind coding benchmarks and ranked competitively on broader tests. The model is scheduled to publish its weights on July 27. The launch is jolting tech markets, raising questions about pricing, open models and U.S.–China AI competition.
Chip shortages are pushing up RAM/NAND costs and pricing, pressuring low-end smartphones as memory chains shift toward AI data centers. Early data show India, then global markets, feeling the squeeze while premium devices hold steadier.
Christopher Nolan’s Odyssey has earned a rapturous reception, with Matt Damon as Odysseus delivering a trauma-haunted homecoming. Samantha Morton’s Circe and a star-studded cast anchor a three-hour IMAX epic that reframes heroism, war, and the cost of return. Audience reactions praise scale, visuals, and emotional gravity.
A roundup of refurbished iPhones and MacBooks is changing how consumers access premium devices. Retailers stress quality checks and warranties, making refurbished models a viable alternative to new purchases amid ongoing price hikes.
The latest wave of open-weight AI models from Chinese labs is expanding rapidly, offering cheaper, customizable options that are challenging premium, closed models. OpenRouter shows Chinese models occupying top spots for weekly token usage, while industry players push open-weight strategies to reduce costs and speed deployment. Analysts say most routine corporate AI work can be handled by these cheaper models, with premium providers reserved for the toughest problems.
A string of mixed earnings and regulatory updates has left investors watching for clues on growth. Wise has reported higher revenue and customer holdings amid expansion, while Feastables growth shows signs of slowing. Gym Group expands UK footprint, and World Cup-linked prediction markets see elevated activity.
A quartet of reviews and previews attests to Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, assembling the long-awaited wrap of his era-defining arc. The Guardian argues the project is a mega-scale triumph; Business Insider UK notes a mixed reception to its cast but calls the film a culmination; Independent surveys Nolan’s back catalogue with stark rankings, praising ambition while mulling over flaws.
Netflix is expanding its strategy to boost engagement by exploring always-on live channels, launching publisher deals for short-form video, and considering free-tier content as it intensifies competition with YouTube, Disney, and others. Analysts expect continued emphasis on ad-supported revenue and content diversification.
SK Hynix has raised $26.5bn by selling 177.9m American depositary receipts at $149 each, in the largest-ever US share sale by a foreign company. Its ADRs have begun trading on Nasdaq under temporary ticker SKHYV and will convert to SKHY; the company is using proceeds to expand fabs, packaging and EUV capacity as AI-driven memory demand surges.
Microsoft has announced 4,800 job cuts companywide, including 3,200 roles in Xbox during fiscal 2027 and 1,600 Xbox positions eliminated immediately. Xbox will spin out or divest five studios and reduce management layers as it restructures to strengthen margins while shifting resources toward AI and core franchises. The move has reduced Xbox headcount by about 20%.
OnePlus has announced it will stop launching new phones in Europe and North America and will focus new device rollouts on India and China. The company has said existing phones will keep receiving software support, but OxygenOS will be replaced globally by Oppos ColorOS with the Android 17 update.
A wave of luxury brand entrants and upgrades is reshaping the cruise industry. Independent reports that Celebrity Solstice has underdone a revamp, Four Seasons plans a third yacht, and luxury lines expand with new itineraries and onboard spaces. Readers are guided through what this means for travelers and the market.
WeWard has launched Walking Mode, a feature that locks social apps until users meet a walking goal. The feature aims to promote activity and reduce screen time. Venus Williams funds the project, with the app reporting 30 million users in 29 countries and a 25% increase in walking time on average.
OpenAI has shut Atlas, its AI-powered browser, and is redistributing its browser-like capabilities into the ChatGPT desktop app and a Chrome extension. The move follows leadership direction to trim side projects while preserving browsing intelligence within ChatGPT. Atlas-related tasks will now be handled inside Chrome and the desktop app, offering users in-page summaries, questions about pages, and task automation.
Luxshare Precision Industry plans to raise up to HK$24.3 billion in a Hong Kong share sale, pricing shares at HK$63.28, as it expands beyond Apple and strengthens its position in automotive electronics and data centers. The IPO follows a wave of Hong Kong listings this week and reflects a push to diversify revenue sources.
Menlo Ventures has backed Anthropic since 2023, turning a $4.1 billion pre-money valuation into a potential multi-billion-dollar windfall as Anthropic prepares to go public. The investment has reshaped Menlo, contributing to a new $3 billion fund and elevating Anthropic as a major challenger to OpenAI in AI safety and capability.
The US and Iran have exchanged fresh strikes this weekend and on Monday, reversing a recent interim ceasefire and re‑opening doubt over control of the Strait of Hormuz. President Donald Trump has declared the ceasefire "over," ordered further strikes and revoked a temporary oil waiver. Oil has jumped into the high $70s–$80s and global markets have fallen.
Enterprises are shifting from chasing the top model to integrating best-fit open-weight options, aiming to cut costs while preserving performance. Open-weight models are gaining traction as a flexible backbone for task-specific systems, with large labs facing pressure as organizations route work to cheaper, capable engines.
Fed minutes show policymakers are divided on whether to raise rates this year; markets are betting on a cautious path with speculation about AI inflation and Middle East tensions affecting decisions. Warsh has not provided a clear stand as minutes reflect a range of scenarios.
Meta has discontinued Muse Image, its Instagram-linked AI image generator, following privacy concerns. The feature, which automatically enrolled public accounts for image generation, is no longer available. The move comes after swift criticism from creators, unions and privacy advocates, who argued the feature violated consent and risked non-consensual image manipulation.
The Supreme Court has upheld birthright citizenship under the 14th Amendment, rejecting President Trump’s bid to end it. The ruling maintains that citizenship is granted at birth to anyone born in the United States, including children of undocumented migrants. Trump has pledged to seek a rehearing and press Congress on immigration.
Apple has filed a federal lawsuit in California accusing OpenAI, its hardware arm io Products and two former Apple engineers of misappropriating confidential designs, supplier data and manufacturing techniques to speed OpenAI’s hardware push. Apple is asking the court to block OpenAI from using the materials, to preserve and return evidence, and to award damages.
A roundup of recent headset reviews compares Jabra, Lenovo, Sony, Sennheiser, Bose and Bowers & Wilkins models, highlighting battery life, ANC quality, codecs and comfort. The stories cover hands-on impressions from multiple outlets across Europe.
OpenAI’s Sam Altman and Elon Musk are trading blunt exchanges as Apple accuses OpenAI of stealing trade secrets. Musk intensifies with taunts about SpaceX’s future IPO and Altman counters with notes on GPT-5.6 Sol’s benchmarks, amid OpenAI’s confidential IPO plans.
EU leaders are pursuing a staged, age-based approach to social media access for minors. A high-level panel has recommended delaying access for under-13s, with further steps for older teens. Von der Leyen has pledged action, and lawmakers are preparing draft legislation after the summer.
Economic data show AI-driven investment in data centers is lifting costs for memory chips and electronics, potentially sustaining inflation and nudging the Fed toward higher rates. June prices cooled slightly, but core inflation remains elevated; prices for consumer electronics have risen as Apple, Microsoft, and others lift prices amid higher chip costs.
Amazon Haul prices remain ultra-low as products ship directly from manufacturers, with delivery taking one to two weeks. Deals span Lego, Adidas, Levi’s, Philips and more, though some items are branded and subject to flash discounts.
Anya Taylor-Joy stars as Lucky, a con artist on the run after a $10 million heist falls apart. The seven‑episode Apple TV+ thriller follows a relentless FBI pursuit and a mob boss who won’t let her disappear, charting an antihero’s evolution from con‑artist to survivor.
Economists and AI researchers warn that AI could drive a transformation larger than the Industrial Revolution within a decade, bringing risks like job displacement but also rising living standards. The Stanford-led letter urges governments and industry to build incentives, guardrails, and institutions to steer AI so it complements humans.
The CPI has fallen 0.4% in June, bringing the 12‑month inflation rate to 3.5%. Energy costs led the decline, with gasoline down nearly 10% for the month, while food prices rose modestly. Core inflation remains sticky, and analysts warn a renewed oil rally could push prices higher again.
TSMC has pledged an additional $100 billion for Arizona as part of a broader push, taking total U.S. chipmaking investments to $265 billion. The company has raised its annual revenue forecast after record profits driven by AI demand, and plans to accelerate production of advanced 3-nanometer chips across the U.S., Japan and Taiwan.
Australia’s online safety regulator has found persistent gaps in detection and prevention of sexual-extortion and child sexual exploitation on major platforms. The latest transparency report shows rising complaints, gaps in proactive detection, and calls for stronger safeguards and preventive measures across services used by young people.
Governor Kathy Hochul has signed an executive order pausing state permits for new "hyperscale" data centers using 50 megawatts or more for up to one year. The order directs regulators to produce a Generic Environmental Impact Statement covering energy, water, air and community benefits, and it signals potential changes to tax breaks and grid-costing for large AI facilities.
HSBC and Bank of America analysts say Q2 earnings expectations remain elevated, led by energy and tech. Stocks facing mixed guidance, with Netflix and T-Mobile among notable names under watch ahead of results.
Apple has filed a federal lawsuit accusing OpenAI of stealing trade secrets to bolster its nascent hardware effort, alleging misuse by former employees and coordination across the organization. OpenAI denies the claims and says it is focused on innovation and fair competition. The case hinges on the 2016 Defend Trade Secrets Act and will rely on discovery to reveal the scope of alleged misconduct.
Meta has faced a federal lawsuit alleging its internal AI systems and monitoring tools discriminated against workers on legally protected leave in a May layoff round totaling about 8,000 jobs. The suit seeks an injunction to pause separations and an independent audit of the selection process while claims proceed in arbitration.
OpenAI is developing a screen-free, home AI companion that can control smart devices and access ChatGPT capabilities. The device is described as a personality-driven helper, designed to learn the owner over time. Bloomberg notes potential clashes with Apple’s trade secrets amid ongoing hardware discussions.
The Commerce Department has moved toward easing export controls for the United Arab Emirates, designating it as a privileged trading partner and enabling greater access to AI chips and related technology from Nvidia, Microsoft and OpenAI. The change centers on Gulf ties to U.S. tech and security interests.
China’s Cyberspace Administration has approved Apple’s AI services for use in the country, following a deal to integrate Alibaba’s Qwen AI into Apple’s operating systems. Apple’s China sales have risen, and Baidu is reportedly collaborating on Apple Intelligence features for Chinese users. The approval sets the stage for broader AI integration in China.
OpenAI has launched Codex Micro, a $230 mini keyboard designed for Codex users, with a joystick, dial and status keys. Co-designed with Work Louder, it previews a broader hardware strategy amid Apple’s lawsuit over alleged stolen secrets. Bloomberg has reported on a forthcoming, screenless smart speaker from OpenAI, expected in 2027.
China advocates international cooperation in AI at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference, forming WAICO with 29 nations to shape global governance. Beijing stresses a people-centered, inclusive AI future while expanding domestic AI capacity and energy-led infrastructure to power data centers.
US stocks have regained some ground after a day of whipsaw trading as Moonshot unveils Kimi K3, a 2.8-trillion-parameter model that rivals top OpenAI and Anthropic offerings. Apple briefly tops Nvidia in value, while chipmakers retreat on concerns over AI spend. Markets are parsing the implications for AI capex and the broader tech sector.