American computer scientist and tech executive, Google co-founder, Alphabet co-leader
Luxury hotel brands are entering the cruise space, offering mega-yacht-like experiences on shorter, curated itineraries. The trend includes brands like Four Seasons, Orient Express and Aman, moving beyond traditional cruise models as ultrawealthy travelers seek exclusive, shipboard living with extensive amenities.
California debates a 5% wealth tax; ultra‑rich residents have moved assets out of state, with Alphabet’s Larry Page and Sergey Brin among notable relocations. Tax plans are spurring residency audits and significant corporate and political pushback.
Miami-Dade County has seen 24 sales of properties above $30 million in H1 2026, roughly double the prior year, fueling expectations to surpass 2025’s record. The rise is tied to tax policy debates and growing tech presence, including Alphabet’s Miami expansion.
Two large budgets face significant cuts: Long Beach plans layoffs and service reductions, while New York City’s school district avoids broad cuts by offsetting deficits with state funds and debt management measures.
Google has reorganised its AI leadership: Demis Hassabis has stepped back from day-to-day running of DeepMind to become its chair and Alphabet chief scientist, and Koray Kavukcuoglu has been promoted to senior vice-president to run Google DeepMind. Several senior engineers, including Jeff Dean and Sanjay Ghemawat, have left to launch a new startup; Alphabet shares have fallen.
Vogue World is relocating a major fashion event to San Francisco, highlighting the city’s growing status as a hub for arts, culture, and tech. The move follows recent tech-driven economic and cultural shifts, with San Francisco now touted as a focal point for creative industries.
Anthropic has reported surging run-rate revenue and is considering a public listing this fall. Investors are forecasting a multi-trillion-dollar valuation, while safety and regulatory concerns persist amid fierce competition with OpenAI and Chinese challengers.
Berkshire Hathaway has expanded its Alphabet stake and outlines how it plans to use energy assets to support hyperscale computing, while facing renewed community resistance to data-centre projects. Abel says Berkshire will sell energy to AI customers only if it wouldn’t raise costs for other customers, and Buffett’s Alphabet investment continues to loom large as AI reshapes the portfolio.
Meta is developing a camera-free variant of its Ray-Ban AI glasses to address privacy concerns while preserving AI chat features. The move follows sustained criticism of camera-enabled glasses and regulatory scrutiny in Europe and Norway. The company is pushing audio and AI capabilities with safeguards like an LED recording indicator and anti-tampering features.
The festival’s age profile is shifting as fewer attendees are in their 20s and more are in their 40s and 50s, with three deaths reported this year. Organizers say the 2026 census hints at a slightly younger turnout than 2025, while officials note deaths were not linked to age. The trend could reshape the event’s culture, logistics, and public perception.
Leaders from tech giants including Nvidia, Apple, OpenAI and others have joined President Trump and Xi Jinping at a White House state dinner. The event comes as AI safety concerns rise, with executives split on how quickly to push frontier models and analysts urging caution while urging collaboration.
The upcoming US-China talks are focusing on artificial intelligence safety and governance as leaders consider dialogue mechanisms and potential safety standards, with a chorus of tech executives weighing in on how to pace AI development.
As states push new taxes on billionaires and high earners, voters face a wave of ballot measures and lawsuits. Washington contemplates a millionaire tax despite opposition from some business leaders; California weighs a billionaire wealth tax; Massachusetts has already seen revenue gains from similar levies, while other states move to cut or adjust taxes on high earners.
Presidents has awarded the National Medal of Science and Technology to Elon Musk, Jensen Huang, Sergey Brin, Lisa Su, Michael Dell, and Satya Nadella, in a ceremony linked to the Science: A New Golden Age Summit. The White House frames the award as a boost to America’s leadership in science and tech amid ongoing AI policy discussions.
The administration has suspended the PERM visa program for major tech firms, including Microsoft and Adobe, amid a broader push to curb immigration while championing U.S. tech growth. Trump honors industry leaders with national medals, highlighting a tension between immigration policy and a tech-driven economy.