META INVESTMENT
Russian MPs back new state messaging app to combat WhatsApp and Telegram
Russia is developing a state-backed messaging app to reduce reliance on foreign platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram. It will integrate deeply with government services, offering messaging, calls, and unique functionalities. This move aims for digital sovereignty, spurred by Western tech exits and will compete with existing apps while raising concerns about personal freedoms.
Meta just made a $15 billion move to the AI frontier — here’s why it’s backing Scale AI’s 28-year-old prodigy
Meta taps Alexandr Wang to lead its bold new AI superintelligence lab, aiming to catch up with giants like OpenAI and Google. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is personally recruiting top talent, including Wang, the founder of Scale AI, in a massive push toward artificial general intelligence (AGI). With billions on the table and plans to hire 50 top researchers, Meta is going all-in. As reports from The New York Times and Bloomberg reveal, this move could reshape the future of AI. Discover what’s behind this big tech shake-up, and why this AI lab could change everything.
Meta builds AI superintelligence lab, eyes $10 billion deal with Scale AI's Alexandr Wang
Meta is launching a new AI lab focused on creating “superintelligence” — systems more powerful than the human mind. As part of the plan, Scale AI founder Alexandr Wang will join the effort, with Meta also negotiating a potential $10 billion investment in his company. The move is a bold step in Meta’s restructuring of its AI strategy, as it competes with giants like Google and Microsoft. CEO Mark Zuckerberg has committed up to $65 billion for AI infrastructure this year.
Fire sale at Byju’s; Meesho’s pre-IPO move
Troubled edtech startup Byju’s is selling its US assets at steep losses, mandated by a US bankruptcy court. This and more in today’s ETtech Top 5.
US Stock market future today: Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq futures flat as US-China trade talks continue and investors await key CPI inflation data
US Stock market future today is showing signs of caution as Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq futures hold steady during ongoing US-China trade talks. After a hopeful first meeting in London, investors are watching closely for progress on key issues like rare earth minerals access. With markets sensitive to every development, Chinese stocks dipped, showing nerves over the outcome. A stronger-than-expected US small business optimism report offers some relief, but all eyes are now on the upcoming May CPI inflation report. This could shake markets further if price pressures rise. Here’s everything you need to know about today’s market mood.
Meta is creating a new AI lab to pursue 'superintelligence'
Meta is reportedly launching a new AI lab focused on "superintelligence," exceeding human brain power. Led by Alexandr Wang of Scale AI, with billions in potential investment, the initiative aims to boost Meta's competitive edge in the intense AI race amid internal struggles and industry-wide efforts to achieve advanced AI.
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Meta's Zuckerberg is hiring for new AI team: Report
Meta's CEO, Mark Zuckerberg's plans to personally recruit around 50 people, including a new head of AI research for the AGI team is driven partly by frustration over the performance and reception of Meta's latest large language model, Llama 4, Bloomberg News reported.
Rapido’s fresh funding; Starlink’s gotcha moment
Rapido has bagged fresh capital from an investor ahead of its food delivery rollout. This and more in today’s ETtech Top 5.
Rednote joins wave of Chinese firms releasing open-source AI models
Open sourcing allows Chinese companies to demonstrate their technological capabilities, build developer communities and spread influence globally at a time when the US has sought to stymie China's tech progress with export restrictions on advanced semiconductors. Rednote's model, called dots.llm1, is available for download on developer platform Hugging Face. A company technical paper describing it was uploaded on Friday.
Meta set to throw billions at startup that leads AI data market
Scale AI, led by Alexandr Wang, has become a key player in the AI industry by providing crucial data labeling services. Meta is considering a multibillion-dollar investment in Scale, potentially exceeding $10 billion. Scale's growth mirrors OpenAI's, with both companies benefiting from the AI boom and their CEOs navigating the tech and policy landscape.
Meta in talks for Scale AI investment that could top $10 billion
This would be Meta’s biggest ever external AI investment, and a rare move for the company. The social media giant has before now mostly depended on its in-house research, plus a more open development strategy, to make improvements in its AI technology. Meanwhile, Big Tech peers have invested heavily: Microsoft has put more than $13 billion into OpenAI while both Amazon.com Inc. and Alphabet Inc. have put billions into rival Anthropic.
Sundar Pichai answers who would be next Google CEO
Sundar Pichai envisions AI as a crucial 'companion' for future Google leadership, emphasising the importance of responsible technology development. Despite AI advancements, Alphabet plans to continue expanding its engineering workforce through 2026, recognizing the enduring value of human talent. While AI enhances productivity, human intervention remains essential due to the technology's limitations.
If Elon Musk and President Donald Trump divorce, who gets Silicon Valley?
Elon Musk’s fallout with Donald Trump threatens Silicon Valley’s political ties, as tech leaders who followed Musk in supporting Trump may now face tough choices. Once seen as a key link between tech and Washington, Musk’s rift could jeopardise industry influence and benefits tied to AI, crypto, and satellite policy.
Quick commerce trade-off; Google still wants engineers
Quick commerce is gaining popularity at the expense of sales in other retail channels. This and more in today’s ETtech Top 5.
Google’s parent Alphabet to keep hiring engineers despite AI advances: Sundar Pichai
Sundar Pichai affirmed Alphabet Inc.'s commitment to expanding its engineering workforce through 2026, emphasising the enduring importance of human talent alongside increasing AI investments. Despite industry-wide layoffs driven by AI advancements, Google plans to grow its engineering base to leverage emerging opportunities. Pichai also addressed concerns about AI's impact on publishers, reiterating Google's dedication to directing traffic to websites.
Tata Communications announces TGN-IA2 subsea cable linking Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan to enhance connectivity
Tata Communications has launched the TGN-IA2 subsea cable system, enhancing connectivity across Asia by linking Singapore, Hong Kong, and Japan. Operated and managed by Tata Communications, this system offers scalable bandwidth solutions for hyperscalers and telecom operators.
Bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto may soon be richer than Warren Buffett, and Zuckerberg could be next
Satoshi Nakamoto, Bitcoin's creator, may soon become wealthier than Warren Buffett. A price surge could elevate Nakamoto's fortune. Nakamoto holds a substantial amount of Bitcoin. This holding is currently valued at over $120 billion.
US stocks mixed as investors await trade negotiations
US stock markets are stable today. Investors await updates on President Trump's tariffs. The S&P 500 remains near its all-time high. Dollar General's strong performance boosts the market. Trade deal hopes persist. Constellation Energy gains from a Meta Platforms deal. Treasury yields are steady. Hong Kong's Hang Seng rises. South Korean markets are closed for elections.
Meta’s nuclear power deal sends Constellation Energy stock soaring 10% after massive 20-year deal
Constellation Energy stock is soaring after Meta Platforms signed a 20-year deal to buy 1.1 gigawatts of nuclear energy from its Clinton Clean Energy Center starting in 2027. This move helps keep the Illinois plant open and supports Meta’s clean energy goals. It’s a major shift showing how tech giants are turning to nuclear power to meet AI-driven energy needs. The plant will stay connected to the regional grid, while Meta boosts its commitment to renewable energy. Investors and clean-energy watchers are eyeing this deal as a game-changer for both tech and power sectors.
Meta signs power agreement with Constellation nuclear plant
The deal could serve as a model for other Big Tech companies to support existing nuclear while they also plan to power data centers with new nuclear and other energy sources. Urvi Parekh, head of global energy at Meta, said, "One of the things that we hear very acutely from utilities is they want to have certainty that power plants operating today will continue to operate."
Meta aims to fully automate advertising with AI by 2026: Report
Meta also plans to let advertisers personalise ads using AI, so that users see different versions of the same ad in real time, based on factors such as geolocation, according to the report. Social media firms such as Snap, Pinterest and Reddit are increasingly investing in AI and machine learning tools to attract advertisers in an intensely competitive and crowded digital ad market.
Reliance only Indian firm in highly valued global technology companies list
Reliance Industries is the only Indian firm among the top 30 global tech companies by market value, ranked 23rd in a report on AI trends. The report highlights AI's rapid global impact, India’s lead in ChatGPT users, and massive investments fueling AI’s integration into products, infrastructure, and everyday life.
Top illegal betting site Parimatch draws more visits than Amazon, X
Some offshore operators have even adopted cash-on-delivery payment models, allowing minors to place bets without parental knowledge or access to digital payment. In such cases, agents physically collect cash from users before crediting it to their gaming wallets. The study also highlighted the rise of ‘surrogate’ websites such as batery.ai that mask their true purpose by mimicking legitimate gaming or tech platforms, misleading users as well as search engines—so that they can exploit SEO (search engine optimisation) techniques to attract users. One such domain, battery-bet.in, alone logged 276.6 million visits last fiscal.
Meta to use AI for 90% of privacy and safety checks: Report
The shift has raised concerns internally. A former Meta executive told NPR that faster product rollouts with fewer checks could increase the risk of real-world harm. “Insofar as this process functionally means more stuff launching faster, with less rigorous scrutiny and opposition, it means you’re creating higher risks,” the former executive said on condition of anonymity.
Meta to handover most of product risk assessments to AI
Meta plans to automate risk assessments for up to 90% of app updates, raising concerns about potential real-world harm due to reduced human oversight. While Meta claims this increases efficiency and focuses human judgment on complex issues, critics worry about the potential for unchecked risks, especially in sensitive areas like AI safety and misinformation handling.
The Times and Amazon announce an AI licensing deal
Amazon's use of editorial content from the Times could extend to the Alexa software found on its smart speakers. In some instances, excerpts from Times reporting will include attribution and a link back to the Times' website. Material from the Times will also be used to train Amazon's proprietary AI models, the company said.
Meta joins Anduril to build XR products for US armed forces
Meta and Anduril Industries are collaborating to deliver integrated extended reality (XR) products for the US military, funded privately. This partnership integrates Meta's AR/VR capabilities with Anduril's Lattice platform, an AI-powered command and control system, enhancing tactical decisionmaking. They've sent a joint proposed to Soldier Borne Mission Command (SBMC) Next, aiming to develop digital awareness system for soldiers.
Germany seeks to levy 10% tax on online platforms like Google
Germany plans a 10% tax on large online platforms like Google and Meta, citing tax evasion and monopoly concerns. Despite US opposition and potential trade tensions, the new government aims to join other countries taxing digital services. Culture minister Wolfram Weimer criticised the platforms' impact on competition and media power.
Nvidia to have final say on strong earnings season for Big Tech
Nvidia faces a crucial earnings test after a significant rally fueled by strong AI spending commitments from major customers and new demand from the Middle East. Investors are closely watching the supply of Blackwell chips, profit margins, and the impact of US export restrictions to China.
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