Monday, June 29, 2026

Alphabet stock pops 4% on Dow debut, but the tech giant faces major AI questions

Alphabet's stock surged 4% on its debut in the Dow Jones Industrial Average, replacing Verizon and gaining a blue-chip designation. However, the company is grappling with significant investor concerns regarding its AI strategy, as it faces compute shortages and competition from lower-cost Chinese models. Despite the recent uptick, Alphabet is on track for its worst month since February 2022, having experienced six weeks of declines out of the last seven. The company's cash reserves are dwindling, and it has raised over $140 billion in debt and equity to finance its AI capital expenditures.

WhatsApp is launching usernames: here’s how to reserve yours

WhatsApp is set to launch usernames later this year, allowing users to communicate without sharing their phone numbers, thereby enhancing privacy. Users can reserve their preferred usernames starting this week, which is crucial given the platform's three billion users and potential for name overlap. The feature will roll out gradually, with notifications sent to users when it becomes available in their countries. WhatsApp will also allow individuals and organizations to claim existing handles from Instagram or Facebook, and usernames for public figures have already been secured to prevent impersonation. Importantly, users will need to know the exact username of a contact to initiate communication, as browsing for usernames is not supported.

Ask an AI expert: What exactly is the full stack?

Google's full-stack AI approach, articulated by expert Richard Seroter, integrates all technology layers—from hardware and AI models to user interfaces—into a single cohesive system. This strategy enhances reliability, reduces costs, and simplifies development by eliminating the need for disparate components from multiple vendors. Google has invested in custom Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) for over a decade, ensuring high performance across its AI offerings. Users can leverage platforms like Google AI Studio for rapid prototyping, the Gemini Enterprise Platform for low-code automation, or Antigravity for complex builds, making advanced AI accessible to a broader audience.

Lawmakers want to ban AI companies from selling your health data

Senator Elizabeth Warren and Representative Mary Gay Scanlon are preparing to introduce an updated version of the Health and Location Data Protection Act, which aims to prohibit the sale of Americans' health and location data to data brokers, including information shared with AI chatbots like ChatGPT and Claude. The revised bill, set to be unveiled in the coming weeks, expands on a previous version from June 2022 by specifically addressing data entered into AI systems. With the rise of AI-driven health products, the legislation seeks to ensure that sensitive health information is not exploited, requiring the Federal Trade Commission to implement regulations within 180 days and providing $1 billion for enforcement over the next decade.

Oil rises on US-Iran strikes; cautious hopes for shipping cap gains

Oil prices rose over 1% on Monday, with Brent crude futures climbing by 90 cents to $72.89 a barrel and U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude gaining $1.20 to $70.43. This increase follows recent strikes between the U.S. and Iran, which threaten the fragile interim peace deal. Despite these tensions, there are cautious hopes for a recovery in energy shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, where crude exports are rebounding to at least 75% of pre-war levels, according to analysts from Gelber & Associates.

Meta restricts use of Claude Code and Codex to keep rival AI out of its training data

Meta is implementing restrictions on the use of Anthropic's Claude Code and OpenAI's Codex among its engineers to prevent outputs from these AI tools from contaminating its training data. Internal documents reveal that the company has temporarily halted certain projects involving these models due to concerns about distillation, which could lead to unauthorized capability transfers from rival AI systems. Meta aims to build its own coding assistant, MetaCode, and is expected to spend billions on internal AI initiatives this year, reflecting a strategic shift to reduce reliance on external AI tools.

Deloitte tells its own consultants: AI is coming for the billable hour

Deloitte's management has alerted its consultants that the traditional hourly billing model is under severe threat from AI advancements. During a recent internal town hall, Jason Manstof, a leader in Deloitte's public sector consulting, presented a projection indicating that by 2035, AI agents will comprise the majority of the consulting market, drastically reducing the reliance on billable hours. This shift has sparked concerns among staff about job security, with one consultant expressing fears of being replaced by robots. Deloitte is investing heavily to navigate this transition towards a human-led, AI-powered consulting model.

Robot hand company settles Tesla trade secret suit and announces $11M raise

Proception, a startup founded by ex-Tesla engineer Jay Li, has settled a trade secret lawsuit with Tesla and announced an $11 million seed funding round led by First Round Capital. Li, previously a technical lead on Tesla's Optimus robot program, believes the legal battle has strengthened his company. Proception is now focused on developing robotic hands that can mimic human dexterity, shipping its first batch of high-dexterity hands to researchers and robotics companies. The hands feature 22 degrees of freedom, allowing for a wide range of motions, and Proception's unique data collection method aims to accelerate advancements in dextrous manipulation.

Pocket raises $11M in bet on rising demand for AI note-taking devices

Pocket, a Y Combinator-backed startup, has raised $11 million from investors including Accel and ElevenLabs CEO Mati Staniszewski. The company sells a credit card-sized puck for $129 that attaches to smartphones, enabling unlimited recordings and transcriptions without a subscription. Since its launch last year, Pocket has sold over 130,000 units, targeting professionals such as lawyers and salespeople who require efficient note-taking during meetings. The device's accompanying app offers features like meeting summaries and AI-assisted queries, with a premium plan available for advanced functionalities.

Omen AI’s plan to optimize data centers is all wet

Omen AI has secured $31 million in Series A funding to develop a spectrometer that monitors the health of cooling fluids in data centers, addressing issues caused by bacterial growth. This technology allows data center operators to detect contamination early, potentially saving millions in downtime associated with system flushes. Founded by Zach Laberge in 2024, Omen AI has raised a total of $40 million and is currently collaborating with a dozen data center clients, including TensorWave, to optimize their fluid management systems.

The US military used AI to pick thousands of targets but missed a note saying one was a school

A US missile strike on an Iranian school in late February resulted in the deaths of approximately 120 children, exposing significant flaws in the military's targeting infrastructure. Investigators revealed that a crucial note from an intelligence analyst identifying the building as a school was not integrated into the official target database, which remains outdated and reliant on manual input. Despite the use of AI for target selection, including the suggestion of around 1,000 targets on the first day of operations, the failure to connect various intelligence systems led to this tragic oversight.

Firmus, Nvidia partner to build 170,000-GPU AI facility in Indonesia

Firmus Technologies has partnered with Nvidia to construct a significant AI campus in Batam, Indonesia, featuring up to 170,000 Nvidia AI accelerators. This 360-megawatt Nvidia DSX AI Factory will provide extensive AI computing resources for global enterprise and AI-native clients. The facility is set to deploy advanced accelerators through 2027 and 2028, with the collaboration expected to continue until 2034. Firmus anticipates generating between $25 billion and $30 billion in offtake agreements during the first six years, enhancing access to Nvidia's AI infrastructure for clients worldwide.

The war against ‘woke’ could end US science as we know it

A proposed rule change from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) threatens to fundamentally alter scientific research funding in the United States. Issued on May 29, the 412-page proposal could enable political appointees to oversee and potentially veto over $1 trillion in federal grants across 42 different agencies. This change would impose strict requirements for grants to align with the President's policy priorities, effectively sidelining scientific merit and jeopardizing research on critical issues like health equity and diversity initiatives. The rule remains open for public comment until July 13, 2026, providing a narrow window for opposition.

In a bold move, Rocket Lab acquires Iridium Communications

Rocket Lab has announced its acquisition of Iridium Communications for approximately $8 billion, combining Rocket Lab's launch capabilities with Iridium's established satellite communications network of 80 satellites. This strategic move allows Rocket Lab to enter the lucrative space applications market, providing services like voice and internet to 2.55 million customers globally. Rocket Lab CEO Peter Beck emphasized the transformative potential of this deal, stating it creates a 'self-launching space superpower' by integrating their spacecraft manufacturing with Iridium's operational infrastructure. The acquisition is part of Rocket Lab's broader strategy to scale operations and compete with industry giants like SpaceX.

Apple just acquired the app that won last year’s ‘Innovation’ Apple Design Award

Apple has acquired the app Play, which won the 2025 Apple Design Award in the ‘Innovation’ category. Play specializes in creating interactive prototypes using SwiftUI, featuring a user-friendly interface that facilitates real-time collaboration across Mac and iPhone. The acquisition also includes certain assets and employees from Rabbit 3 Times, Inc., the developer behind Play. Following the acquisition, Play has been removed from the App Store, leading to speculation that its features might be integrated into Apple's Xcode or reintroduced as a standalone application.

AMD (AMD) Commits £2 Billion to the UK and Helps Build Two AI Supercomputers at Cambridge

AMD's Chair and CEO, Dr. Lisa Su, announced a commitment to invest up to £2 billion in the UK over the next five years during London Tech Week. This investment will focus on infrastructure, research collaborations, and ecosystem partnerships, leveraging AMD's Instinct GPUs, EPYC CPUs, and ROCm open software. AMD is collaborating with Dell Technologies and the University of Cambridge to build two AI supercomputers: the Zenith AI supercomputer, funded by the UK government, and the Sunrise fusion AI system, dedicated to fusion energy research.

Putin’s fuel shortage admission signals growing strain on Russia’s energy infrastructure

Russian President Vladimir Putin has publicly acknowledged that the country is experiencing fuel shortages, attributing this to a series of long-range Ukrainian drone strikes on critical energy infrastructure. This marks the first instance where Putin has detailed the impact of Ukraine's offensive on Russia's fuel production capabilities. He stated that Russia plans to import more fuel and accelerate repairs of damaged facilities to address what he termed a 'temporary deficit.' Despite the challenges, he asserted that all damaged facilities are being restored quickly and pledged to enhance air defense systems to counter Ukraine's drone capabilities.

Redmagic confirms its compact Android gaming tablet will launch globally as ‘Astra 2’

Redmagic has announced that its next compact Android gaming tablet, the Astra 2, will launch globally, following the trend set by Lenovo's Legion Tab series. This new device is designed to maintain high performance with a compact form factor, featuring a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor and advanced cooling technology. While the Astra 2 builds on the strengths of its predecessor, the Gaming Tablet 5 Pro, which is set to launch on June 30, 2026, it will be available to a wider audience beyond China, marking a significant expansion for Redmagic in the gaming tablet market.

Qi2 upgrade may bring 50W wireless charging to future Google Pixel, iPhone models

The Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) is advancing towards 50W wireless charging speeds based on Qi and Qi2 technology, potentially benefiting future Google Pixel and iPhone models. This development was discussed during a recent WPC meeting held at Xiaomi's headquarters in Beijing, where Xiaomi has been a key player in promoting faster charging solutions. Although the updated standard is not yet finalized, it is reported to be nearly complete, with updates expected as soon as 2028. The Qi2 standard, introduced in 2023, initially supported 25W charging speeds, which became available in 2025 alongside the Google Pixel 10's launch.

Leaker outlines iPhone lineup for next year, with six new models coming

Apple is preparing to launch its largest iPhone lineup in history with six new models expected in 2027, as confirmed by leaker Digital Chat Station. The initial release will include the iPhone Air 2 and iPhone 18, both featuring 120Hz LTPO OLED displays, alongside the iPhone 18e with a 60Hz LTPS OLED display. The latter three models, including the iPhone 19 Pro series and iPhone Ultra 2, are set to debut in September 2027, celebrating the 20th anniversary of the iPhone.

When will Apple prices drop again? Maybe years, maybe never …

Apple's recent price hikes have surpassed 50%, particularly affecting memory and storage upgrades, which have doubled in cost. The company is reportedly working on solutions, but analysts indicate that RAM prices will continue to rise through 2025. A recent report suggests a 40-45% year-on-year price increase, with any potential relief not expected until 2028, when new supply capacity may only partially meet the growing demand driven by AI data centers. A poll revealed that 75% of 9to5Mac readers believe these price increases will likely be permanent.

Mapping Europe’s AI Workforce Opportunity

OpenAI's new report, The AI Jobs Transition Framework for the EU, outlines how AI will reshape the labor market across Europe. It identifies that 12% of employment is in occupations likely to grow with AI, while 14% are in roles with higher automation potential. The framework categorizes 27% of jobs as likely to reorganize, indicating significant changes in workflows and skill requirements. Country-specific data shows that Luxembourg, Sweden, and the Netherlands have a higher concentration of growth-oriented occupations, whereas Germany, Greece, and Italy face greater risks of automation. This report serves as a planning tool for stakeholders to anticipate and manage the transition effectively.

Article: Virtual panel: Security in the Machine Age: Expert Insights on AI Threat Evolution

The rise of AI has introduced a new wave of sophisticated security threats, compelling security engineers to evolve their roles significantly. Traditional methods often fail against adversarial machine learning techniques and personalized social engineering attacks. Experts emphasize the necessity for engineers to gain skills in AI threat modeling, data governance, and understanding the unpredictable nature of AI systems. The panel highlighted that security strategies must adapt to these challenges, focusing on continuous monitoring and flexible response methods to effectively counteract AI-driven incidents.

The AI boom is colliding with a new threat: severe weather

AI data centers are under significant pressure from extreme heat and severe weather, which can overload power grids and disrupt operations. Zurich's U.S. data center builders' risk portfolio now cites severe weather as the leading cause of losses, accounting for one-third of claims. As a response, data center operators are relocating to suburban and rural areas, which were previously considered low-risk but are now facing increased exposure to climate-related events. A recent study revealed that 79% of global data center capacity is at heightened risk from hazards like flooding and wildfires, prompting urgent calls for improved risk management strategies.