From CNBC Technology · 40 stories
Frances Haugen Questions AI Companies' Self-Regulation Commitment
Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen expressed skepticism regarding AI companies' commitment to self-regulation, following a White House agreement signed by Meta's Mark Zuckerberg and other CEOs. Haugen questioned whether companies would adhere to the spirit of the rules or exploit loopholes, citing past tech industry behavior with regulation.
House Adjourns Early for Midterms, Delaying AI Regulation Legislation
The U.S. House of Representatives adjourned early for the midterm elections, canceling scheduled votes and postponing action on artificial intelligence regulation until after November. This decision, made by House Speaker Mike Johnson, has drawn criticism from Democrats and AI industry executives who advocated for immediate legislative intervention regarding AI safeguards.
Autonomous Trucking Company Aurora Expands Fleet and Targets Profitability
Autonomous trucking company Aurora is expanding its driverless semi-truck fleet to 200 by the end of the year, operating on key Texas routes. The company aims to achieve profitability by offering a "driver as a service" model, which analysts project could significantly reduce operating costs compared to human-driven fleets.
AMD Reaches $1 Trillion Market Cap for the First Time Amid 5-Day Stock Rally
AMD's stock surged 9% on Monday, pushing its market capitalization above $1 trillion for the first time, following a five-day rally that saw shares gain 24%. This milestone is driven by strong Q2 earnings, particularly a 107% increase in Data Center unit sales, fueled by demand for AI chips.
NASA Orders Two Additional Boeing Starliner Missions Amid SpaceX Dragon Retirement Plans
NASA plans to order two more Boeing Starliner crewed missions and assist with Starliner's thruster fixes and new rocket certification. This decision follows SpaceX's indication that it will retire its Crew Dragon spacecraft by 2030, leaving NASA reliant on Starliner for routine astronaut missions.
Trump Claims US is Renaming AI to 'Super Intelligence'
Donald Trump stated that the US is officially renaming artificial intelligence to "super intelligence," claiming the word "artificial" makes intelligence sound fake. He announced this during a speech at the UN General Assembly, suggesting all US documents and potentially global ones would adopt the new term.
AI Trade Drives Mixed Results in Wall Street Amid Cybersecurity Stock Rise
The stock market experienced mixed outcomes during the holiday-shortened week, influenced by AI-related trades and geopolitical tensions. The Dow Jones Industrial Average hit a record high before pulling back, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq saw gains. Cybersecurity stocks improved with investors anticipating more AI-driven cybersecurity solutions, despite semiconductor volatility. Renewed US-Iran tensions contributed to market uncertainty.
Blue Origin's First External Funding Round is Oversubscribed, CEO Confirms
Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp announced that the company's first external funding round is "oversubscribed" and still open, marking a significant shift from its previous sole funding by Jeff Bezos. This move aims to accelerate operations, develop new technologies, and attract talent in the competitive space industry.
Democratic Texas AG Candidate Vows to Probe Deloitte's Role in Voter Registration Delay
Nathan Johnson, a Democratic candidate for Texas Attorney General, announced plans to investigate Deloitte and other state vendor contracts if elected. This follows a software error, allegedly installed by Deloitte, that prevented the processing of at least 178,000 voter registrations. Johnson stated the investigation would examine the outsourcing of state functions and individual contracts.
AI cloud provider Nscale files for IPO on NYSE under ticker "NSCL"
Nscale, a cloud provider specializing in AI infrastructure, has filed to go public on the New York Stock Exchange. The company reported a $1.02 billion net loss on $140.6 million in revenue for the first half of 2026, with revenue increasing 1,252% year-over-year. This IPO filing indicates a move to secure further capital amidst high demand for AI computing resources.
Oracle Issues Force Majeure Notice for New Mexico Data Center Project
Oracle issued a "force majeure" notice to the developer of its New Mexico data center project, Project Jupiter, to mitigate potential cost increases. This action led to a 5% drop in Oracle's stock, as it signals potential delays or financial adjustments for the large-scale AI infrastructure development.
F-35 Fighter Jet Components Reportedly Diverted to Hong Kong
F-35 stealth fighter components, including a cockpit canopy and weapons bay door, were reportedly diverted to Hong Kong while in transit from Australia to the U.S. The incident raises concerns about the security of sensitive military technology, given China's past efforts to acquire F-35 related data.
Alibaba Unveils New AI Chip and Expands Data Center Capacity
Alibaba introduced the Zhenwu V900 AI chip, which offers three times the performance of its predecessor, and announced plans to expand Alibaba Cloud's global data center capacity to over 20 gigawatts by 2032. These developments signify Alibaba's increased investment in AI infrastructure and computing power, aligning with broader industry trends.
The Boring Company raises $3B Series D, led by UAE, valuing company at $23B
The Boring Company secured $3 billion in Series D funding, led by the United Arab Emirates, increasing its valuation to $23 billion. This funding will support the company's expansion, including plans to dig over 150 kilometers of tunnels in the UAE and continue existing projects.
US Faces Shortage of 157,000 Semiconductor Workers by 2030 Amid AI Chip Buildout
A new report by McKinsey and the SEMI Foundation indicates the U.S. will face a shortage of up to 157,000 semiconductor workers by 2030. This deficit in engineers and skilled technicians could impede the rapid expansion of chip manufacturing necessary to power AI advancements in the U.S.
Snap Launches Specs AR Glasses for Enterprise Market, Partnering with Nvidia, AWS, and Salesforce
Snap has released its Specs augmented reality glasses, priced at $2,195, and is targeting the enterprise market through partnerships with Nvidia, Amazon Web Services, and Salesforce. The company aims to position Specs as a computing device for business applications, moving beyond a consumer focus.
Amazon appoints cybersecurity expert Kevin Mandia to its board of directors
Amazon has added Kevin Mandia, founder of Mandiant and a cybersecurity veteran, to its board of directors. This appointment comes as companies face increasing cybersecurity threats, particularly those related to artificial intelligence.
TSMC's 2026 equipment demand nearly doubles, CapEx rises to $64B due to AI surge
TSMC has nearly doubled its projected semiconductor production equipment requirements for 2026 since late last year, driven by surging AI demand and new fab construction. This increase has pushed its 2026 capital expenditure budget to between $60 billion and $64 billion, raising concerns about equipment shortages across the industry.
UK Datacentres Projected to Create 75% Fewer Jobs Than Tech Sector Estimates
A new analysis by the environmental thinktank Verdant predicts that UK datacentres will create only 10,400 direct jobs, significantly less than the 40,000 jobs projected by the industry lobby group TechUK. This discrepancy raises questions about the economic benefits of rapid datacentre expansion, especially given their high energy consumption and the government's support for these projects.
Australia Proposes Digital Duty of Care Legislation for Social Media and Online Services
The Australian government released draft legislation for a Digital Duty of Care, requiring digital service providers to ensure a safe online environment and offer users control over social media algorithms. This initiative aims to protect users, especially those under 18, from harmful content and design features, with potential penalties for non-compliance.
Microsoft to Disclose Quarterly Azure Revenue, Consolidates Business Units
Microsoft will begin reporting quarterly revenue for its Azure cloud business and is restructuring its operating segments from three to two. This change provides more detailed financial insight into Azure's performance, aligning Microsoft's reporting closer to competitors like Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud.
World Liberty Financial, a Trump family crypto venture, receives conditional banking charter approval
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has granted conditional approval for World Liberty Financial, a crypto venture controlled by the Trump family, to operate like a bank. This approval allows the company to issue its USD1 stablecoin tokens directly in the United States, bypassing intermediaries. The decision has drawn criticism from Democratic lawmakers, who view it as an act of self-dealing due to the Trump family's financial interests in the venture.
Salesforce Integrates CRM Directly into Anthropic's Claude with "Claudeforce" Plugin
Salesforce and Anthropic have expanded their partnership, introducing "Claudeforce," a plugin that embeds Salesforce's CRM platform directly within Anthropic's Claude CoWork. This integration allows users to query, update, and act on live CRM data using Claude, potentially reducing the need to open the Salesforce application directly. The plugin launches with 37 pre-built sales skills and is available to select pilot customers, with an open beta planned for September.
Okta Exceeds Q2 Estimates, Reports Increased Demand for AI Identity Security
Okta surpassed Wall Street's fiscal second-quarter earnings and revenue estimates, driven by increased demand for identity security solutions related to AI agents. The company's shares rose 20% in extended trading, reflecting strong financial performance and strategic moves in the evolving AI security landscape.
Amazon to shut down Mechanical Turk crowdsourcing platform by September 2026
Amazon announced it will discontinue its Mechanical Turk (MTurk) crowdsourcing platform by September 30, 2026, after 21 years of operation. The closure reflects the platform's decline amid advancements in AI and increased competition from specialized data labeling services, impacting a significant number of data workers.
Nvidia reportedly plans over 15% price hikes for AI server customers next year
Nvidia is reportedly increasing prices for servers containing its AI chips, such as Vera Rubin and Grace Blackwell, by over 15% for some major customers, with these changes taking effect on systems shipped next year. This adjustment is attributed to the rising costs of memory chips, which are crucial components for Nvidia's GPUs and systems, impacting the overall cost structure for AI infrastructure.
OpenAI Completes $7 Billion Secondary Share Sale at $852 Billion Valuation
OpenAI completed a $7 billion secondary share sale, allowing current and former employees to sell stock based on an $852 billion valuation. This tender offer provides liquidity for employees and follows a $122 billion funding round in March.
Apple Opens Advanced Manufacturing Center in Houston, to Produce Mac mini and AI Servers
Apple opened its Advanced Manufacturing Center (AMC) in Houston, Texas, which will offer free training for small and medium-sized businesses. The facility, where Apple's advanced AI servers are already built, will also begin manufacturing Mac mini computers later this year. Apple CEO Tim Cook stated the company invested hundreds of millions of dollars into the facility.
Databricks Secures $5 Billion Funding Round at $190 Billion Valuation
Databricks has completed a $5 billion funding round, valuing the company at $190 billion. The company plans to use the capital to expand its enterprise AI capabilities, including its Unity AI Gateway governance tool and Genie agentic tool. This funding follows a previous $5 billion round six months prior and comes as Databricks reported crossing $7 billion in revenue run rate.
Cerebras Stock Falls 14% After Q2 Revenue Miss, Despite Raised Full-Year Outlook
Cerebras Systems' stock dropped 14% in extended trading following its second earnings report post-IPO, as the company reported Q2 revenue of $180 million, missing analyst expectations of $194 million. Despite this, Cerebras raised its full-year core revenue outlook to $880-$890 million and saw a 281% increase in AI cloud services revenue, indicating a shift towards services over hardware sales.
Manus to become independent after Chinese regulators unwind Meta's $2 billion acquisition
Manus, an AI startup, will resume independent operations after Chinese regulators mandated Meta unwind its $2 billion acquisition. This decision, issued by the National Development and Reform Commission in April, requires Manus to separate from Meta and has led to a data backup requirement for some users.
GAO Report Questions DOGE's Claimed $215 Billion in Federal Savings
A Government Accountability Office (GAO) report found that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) could not verify most of its claimed $215 billion in federal savings. The GAO identified issues with the transparency and reliability of DOGE's "Wall of Receipts," noting that many reported terminations of contracts and grants lacked sufficient evidence or did not occur. This matters because it casts doubt on the accuracy of reported government spending reductions and highlights a lack of accountability.
Airbnb Attributes Strong Growth to AI Investment, Reports Faster Feature Development
Airbnb's CEO Brian Chesky stated that AI has reduced product development time by 60% and increased the number of shipped features by 80% year-over-year. The company's stock surged 15% after reporting strong growth, which Chesky directly attributed to increased AI investment, indicating plans for significantly more spending on AI tokens.
Rep. Ro Khanna Introduces "Data Center Bill of Rights" to Empower Local Communities
Representative Ro Khanna (D-CA) has introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives proposing a "Data Center Bill of Rights." This resolution aims to grant local communities the authority to reject data center construction and regulate their development, addressing concerns about utility rate increases, energy and water consumption, and proximity to residential areas.
Hadrian Raises $1.37 Billion at Nearly $8 Billion Valuation for Defense Manufacturing
Hadrian, a manufacturing startup focused on defense and aerospace, secured $1.37 billion in a new funding round, bringing its valuation to approximately $7.9 billion. This investment will support scaling its workforce, software platform, and addressing production challenges in defense sectors, including submarines, munitions, and drones.
New Jersey Sues Amazon Over Alleged Antitrust Violations in Delivery Network
New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport has filed an antitrust lawsuit against Amazon, alleging the company abuses its power over third-party delivery contractors. The complaint claims Amazon's practices lead to lower wages and harsher working conditions for drivers by preventing unionization and restricting hiring between contractors. This is described as the first state-level monopsony conduct complaint.
Palantir's Q2 Revenue Jumps 93% to $1.94 Billion, Driven by Commercial Growth
Palantir reported second-quarter revenue of $1.94 billion, a 93% increase year-over-year, surpassing analyst estimates of $1.8 billion. This growth was primarily fueled by a 149% surge in U.S. commercial revenue and a 90% rise in U.S. government revenue. The company also raised its full-year revenue guidance, indicating continued expansion in its commercial sector.
Palantir CEO Alex Karp Criticizes Frontier AI Labs Over Data Control and IP
Palantir CEO Alex Karp reiterated his criticism of frontier AI labs like Anthropic and OpenAI, stating that enterprises should not have to surrender intellectual property to use their models. Karp argued that businesses should maintain control over their own models and data, working with application-layer companies like Palantir to keep data in-house. This stance highlights ongoing industry debate regarding data ownership and control in AI development.
Visa Acquires Fraud Prevention Firm BioCatch for $2.4 Billion
Visa is acquiring BioCatch, a fraud prevention company, for $2.4 billion in cash. This acquisition integrates BioCatch's behavioral biometrics technology into Visa's services to enhance cybersecurity and financial crime detection, addressing a global economy cost of over $1 trillion annually from scams and account takeovers.
OpenAI and Anthropic Increase Lobbying Spending Ahead of Elections
OpenAI and Anthropic spent a combined $3.17 million on federal lobbying in Q2 2026, marking a 23% increase from Q1. This surge occurs as AI companies intensify efforts to influence legislation ahead of midterm elections and their upcoming IPOs.