Monday, June 22, 2026

Lincoln Educational Services (LINC) is Benefiting from AI Momentum

Lincoln Educational Services Corporation (NASDAQ:LINC) is experiencing significant growth, driven by increasing demand for training in skilled trades that are less susceptible to AI disruption. In Q1 2026, the company reported a 22.5% revenue increase to $144 million, and its stock surged 115.44% over the past year, closing at $48.43 per share on June 18, 2026. The Wasatch Micro Cap Fund highlighted Lincoln as a key player benefiting from the ongoing expansion of AI and cloud-services data centers, which is creating more job opportunities in skilled trades.

Alan Greenspan, former chairman of the Fed, dies at age 100

Alan Greenspan, the influential former chairman of the Federal Reserve, passed away at the age of 100 due to complications from Parkinson's Disease. Known as 'the Maestro,' Greenspan led the Fed for 19 years, from 1987 to 2006, under four U.S. presidents, including Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush. His tenure was marked by significant events, including the dot-com boom and bust, and he famously warned of 'irrational exuberance' in 1996, a phrase that sent shockwaves through the markets. Greenspan's policies are credited with fostering the longest economic expansion in U.S. history, although they later faced criticism for contributing to the housing bubble that led to the Great Recession.

Vance hails 'great progress' in U.S.-Iran talks despite 'threatening' and 'whining'

U.S. Vice President JD Vance reported that negotiations between the U.S. and Iran have made 'very good progress,' despite some tensions. Iran has agreed to allow International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors back into the country, which Vance called a 'major milestone' in efforts to end Tehran's nuclear weapons program. The discussions, ongoing in Bürgenstock, Switzerland, faced strain when Iran announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz in response to Israeli strikes on Lebanon, but Vance emphasized that the talks continued productively. He highlighted the importance of establishing a deconfliction mechanism to avoid further escalation in the region.

Tencent tests AI assistant in China's most popular app as it looks to catch up with rivals

Tencent is testing an AI assistant named Xiaowei within WeChat, aiming to enhance its competitive edge in China's rapidly evolving AI landscape. The assistant, currently in a small-scale trial, allows users to interact through text or voice, facilitating communication with friends and access to mini-programs. With WeChat's user base exceeding 1.4 billion monthly active users, Tencent seeks to leverage this integration to expand its AI services and explore new revenue opportunities, particularly as it faces stiff competition from rivals like Alibaba and DeepSeek.

Apple’s productivity apps have a small but useful AI enhancement in macOS 27

Apple's upcoming macOS 27 introduces a useful AI enhancement in its productivity apps, including Pages, Numbers, and TextEdit. The AI model analyzes the content of documents and automatically suggests relevant file names after a few minutes of editing. For instance, a Numbers document could be named 'User Engagement Metrics iOS 27', while a Pages document might receive the title 'iOS 27 Review'. Users can choose from multiple suggestions or create their own names when saving a new document.

Sakana AI's Fugu orchestrates multiple LLMs to match Anthropic's Fable and Mythos benchmarks

Sakana AI has introduced Fugu, a multi-LLM orchestrator that dynamically coordinates various language models while presenting a unified interface through a single API. The system reportedly outperforms Anthropic's top models, Fable 5 and Mythos, in various benchmarks, despite not including them in its model pool. Fugu is available in two versions: a base model for everyday tasks and a more advanced Fugu Ultra variant, which excels in complex problem-solving scenarios. Early beta testers have noted significant improvements in tasks like automated data research and code reviews, highlighting Fugu's potential in enhancing AI workflows.

AWS Graviton5 Reaches General Availability with 192 Cores and Formally Verified VM Isolation

AWS has announced the general availability of Graviton5, featuring 192 cores per chip and formally verified VM isolation, marking a significant advancement in cloud processing capabilities. Built on TSMC's 3nm technology, Graviton5 includes 192 MB of L3 cache and supports DDR5-8800 memory. AWS aims to target agentic AI workloads with this release, although some users argue its general-purpose capabilities are equally impressive. Meta has committed to deploying tens of millions of Graviton5 cores, joining companies like Uber and Snowflake in leveraging this new architecture.

After closing 1,000 restaurants, seafood chain sees clear sailing

Long John Silver's has closed approximately 110 to 120 locations over the past three years, reducing its footprint from over 1,400 restaurants to fewer than 500. Executives, including Senior Vice President Tony Ellis, assert that these closures are part of a strategy to enhance profitability and improve the customer experience. The chain has celebrated 16 consecutive quarters of comparable sales growth, with revenue rising from about $400 million in 2022 to nearly $430 million by the end of 2025. The company is also focusing on remodeling existing locations and expanding internationally, particularly in Southeast Asia.

Increased Demand Lifted Universal Technical Institute (UTI)

Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (NYSE: UTI) has experienced a notable increase in demand for its vocational training programs, closing at $40.35 per share on June 18, 2026. The company's stock has surged by 21.10% over the past year, driven by a growing need for skilled tradespeople in sectors less susceptible to AI disruption. In its Q1 2026 investor letter, Wasatch Micro Cap Fund identified UTI as a key beneficiary of this trend, alongside Lincoln Educational Services Corp. (LINC), highlighting the expanding employment opportunities in skilled trades and technical fields.

Read this before you vibe-code another app

Vibe-coded applications, which allow users to create software using AI without extensive coding knowledge, are increasingly revealing serious security vulnerabilities. Bob Starr's experience with his website, which had a hidden SQL injection risk, underscores the potential dangers. Security experts warn that while vibe coding democratizes app development, it also introduces risks, especially when personal apps inadvertently handle sensitive data. A recent analysis found that 5,000 apps created with vibe-coding tools are publicly accessible without proper authentication, with 2,000 leaking sensitive information, highlighting the urgent need for better security practices.

Samsung rolls out ChatGPT Enterprise and Codex to employees in South Korea

Samsung Electronics is deploying ChatGPT Enterprise and Codex to all employees in South Korea and to its Device eXperience (DX) division worldwide, marking one of the largest enterprise deals in OpenAI's history. The company plans to leverage these AI tools across various functions, including research, manufacturing, marketing, and administration. Codex, which began as a developer tool for coding, has recently gained popularity among non-developers for building internal tools and automating workflows, evidenced by a significant 800% increase in active users in South Korea since February.

Apple Watch Series 11, Ultra 3, and more hit new Prime Day lows (from $199)

Amazon has launched early Prime Day deals, resulting in record-low prices for various Apple Watch models. The Apple Watch Series 11 is now available for $279 for the 42mm version and $309 for the 46mm version, both marking significant discounts of up to $120 off their list prices. The Apple Watch Ultra 3 has also seen substantial price cuts, with select models now priced at $649, down from $799. Additionally, the Apple Watch SE 3 is offered at a starting price of $199, the lowest since Black Friday, making it an attractive entry-level option for consumers.

Podcast: How eBPF Empowers Developers to Observe Inside the Linux Kernel in a Safe and Unintrusive Way

Dan Fineran highlights the evolution of eBPF from its origins in packet filtering to a powerful tool for extending the Linux kernel safely. The eBPF verifier acts as a security guardrail, enabling deep observability and proactive security measures without the risks associated with traditional kernel modules. Tools like Tetragon utilize eBPF to enforce security by intercepting threats such as buffer overflows before they can execute, providing visibility into file systems and drivers without intrusive instrumentation. This advancement allows developers to implement changes rapidly without going through the lengthy Linux upstreaming process.

Three reasons to suspect the Apple price increases could be imminent

Apple has warned that it will need to raise product prices due to an ongoing memory shortage, with CEO Tim Cook stating, 'Unfortunately, price increases are unavoidable.' This unusual advance notice has sparked speculation about the scale and timing of these increases, particularly as the iPhone 18 Pro is set to launch in September. Industry analyst Mark Gurman suggests that the price hikes could be imminent, potentially aligning with Apple's back-to-school sales, which would allow the company to cushion the impact of the increases on consumers.

Ethan Thornton is trying to do everything all at once

Ethan Thornton's Mach Industries has raised $300 million in a Series C funding round, bringing its valuation to $1.8 billion. The startup, which has raised a total of approximately $485 million, is currently managing six weapons programs aimed at redefining U.S. defense capabilities. Thornton, who dropped out of MIT at 19, believes that the U.S. must out-create rather than out-manufacture China in defense technology. Mach's ambitious plans include pushing three of its programs into full-rate manufacturing by the end of 2026, with several systems expected to be operational soon.