Thursday, July 16, 2026

Oracle Risks Falling Behind in AI Race as Spending Binge Bites

Oracle Corp. is grappling with financial challenges as its ambitious $250 billion data-center expansion to bolster its artificial intelligence capabilities leads to a rapid cash burn. The company's cash flow is insufficient to support its spending spree, prompting S&P Global Ratings to downgrade Oracle's credit rating to BBB-, just above junk status. Additionally, Moody's Ratings has issued a negative outlook, suggesting that further downgrades may be imminent if the financial strain continues.

Why teens deserve access to safe AI

OpenAI is advocating for safe access to AI for teens, highlighting that nearly 90% of them use ChatGPT weekly for learning and productivity. The company argues that denying access until adulthood would hinder their preparedness for a technology-driven future. To ensure safety, OpenAI has implemented stronger default protections, including automated guardrails and parental controls, while introducing features like Study Mode to promote active engagement and critical thinking in learning.

Billionaire Leon Cooperman’s Top 3 Stocks: Buy, Sell or Hold

Billionaire investor Leon Cooperman's Omega Advisors is focusing on three stocks for 2026: Vertiv Holdings (VRT), Rocket Companies (RKT), and Energy Transfer (ET). Vertiv, which provides power and cooling systems for AI data centers, has seen its shares rise 88.08% year-to-date, with a record backlog of $15 billion. Rocket Companies reported a staggering 167.1% increase in Q1 revenue to $2.94 billion, yet its shares have declined 24.59% this year. In contrast, Energy Transfer appears most attractive at $19.91, boasting a 6.65% yield and an increased adjusted EBITDA guidance of $18.20 billion to $18.60 billion.

AI-powered travel agency Fora hits unicorn status, raises $60M

Fora, an AI-powered travel agency, has secured $60 million in a Series D funding round led by Forerunner and Tactile Ventures, reaching a valuation of $1 billion. Founded in 2021, Fora operates a dual-platform model that enables individuals to become travel agents while connecting users with advisors for trip planning. The latest funding will enhance Fora’s AI assistant, Via, which aids agents with administrative tasks, allowing them to focus on client relationships. Since its inception, agents on the platform have booked over $3 billion in travel, with many being new to the industry.

Mortgage rates rose again amid renewed tensions with Iran

Mortgage rates have risen above 6.5% this week, with the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage now at 6.55%, up from 6.49% the previous week. This increase comes as U.S.-Iran tensions escalate, leading to a spike in oil prices, which are now over $80 a barrel. The average 15-year mortgage rate also saw a rise, reaching 5.93%, compared to 5.82% last week. Despite cooler inflation data providing some temporary relief, concerns about rising oil prices and their impact on inflation and borrowing costs have led to a drop in mortgage applications and housing contract activity.

Google’s AI Mode now lets you link and interact with select apps

Google announced that its AI Mode now enables users to link and interact with select apps, including Instacart, Canva, and YouTube. This update allows users to perform tasks directly within AI Mode, such as adding grocery items to an Instacart cart while planning a barbecue. The move aims to enhance user engagement with AI Mode for activities like shopping and project planning, positioning Google to better compete with rivals like OpenAI's ChatGPT and Anthropic's Claude. The rollout is currently available in the U.S., with plans to support more apps in the future.

Time’s running out to save $10 on Splatoon Raiders physical preorders

The preorder window for Splatoon Raiders is closing, with the game set to launch on July 23, 2026. Walmart offers the physical version at a discounted price of $49.99, while Amazon has reverted to the full price of $59.99. Nintendo recently announced that some digital Switch 2 titles will be priced $10 lower than their physical counterparts, but titles like Yoshi and the Mysterious Book have seen both formats priced equally during their preorder phases. For fans of physical media, this limited-time offer is worth considering.

Period tracker Stardust shares users’ health data with analytics firm, says Mozilla research

Mozilla's recent findings indicate that period tracker Stardust, which claims 'Your data is private. Period,' has been sharing sensitive health information with third-party analytics firm RudderStack. This data includes users' birthdates, birth control types, and reproductive goals, linked to unique identifiers rather than names, which the FTC warns does not ensure anonymity. Mozilla's analysis of six period-tracking apps found Stardust to be the only one sharing such data, raising significant privacy concerns for users relying on these applications for health tracking.

Short sellers load up against SpaceX as stock drops below IPO price

Short sellers are significantly increasing their bets against SpaceX, with nearly one-third of the company's public float now sold short, totaling about 185 million shares valued at approximately $25 billion. This surge in bearish positioning comes as SpaceX's stock struggles, having fallen about 20% in July and briefly dipping below its $135 IPO price. The increase in short interest coincides with an upcoming lockup expiration that could release more shares into the market, with KeyBanc estimating that about 11% of outstanding shares may become eligible for sale around the company's second-quarter earnings report.

The agent evaluation gap: Enterprise AI organizations have a reality-alignment problem, not a coverage problem — and most are shipping to production anyway

A recent survey of 157 enterprises reveals a significant evaluation gap in AI agent deployment, where 50% of organizations have launched agents that passed internal evaluations but later failed in customer interactions. Trust in these evaluations is alarmingly low, with only 5% of respondents expressing full confidence in automated assessments. Despite this lack of trust, 66% of organizations are either currently permitting or planning to allow fully automated deployments without human oversight for low-risk agents, indicating a troubling trend of increasing autonomy without adequate evaluation assurance.

Germany puts Google's AI Overviews and Perplexity under media law in first-of-its-kind ruling

Germany's Commission for Licensing and Supervision (ZAK) has made a landmark ruling, classifying AI search engines and chatbots, including Google's services and Perplexity, as content providers under the State Media Treaty. This decision arises from concerns that Google's AI-generated summaries are pushing traditional journalistic links down in search results, violating transparency and discrimination rules. The ZAK argues that the liability shield provided by the Digital Services Act does not extend to AI-generated content, which is deemed independently created rather than merely redistributing third-party material. Both companies now face legal action and have one month to appeal the rulings.

3 of our stocks rode the AI rally, while 3 others fell out of favor since last month

The stock market has shown mixed results since the last CNBC Investing Club Monthly Meeting, with the Dow climbing 2.3% and reaching a record high on July 6. Cybersecurity firms Palo Alto Networks and CrowdStrike led gains, rising 25.5% and 21.7% respectively, as investors shifted focus to companies with clear AI monetization strategies. In contrast, Intel's stock dropped 15%, reflecting a broader rotation out of semiconductor stocks despite its year-to-date increase of 170%. Meta also rebounded, gaining 20% after revealing plans for a cloud service and custom AI chip, boosting investor confidence.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSM) Continued Its Rally as a Key Foundry for AI Semiconductors

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSM) has seen its stock price rise significantly, closing at $419.48 per share on July 15, 2026. The company is recognized as a leading contract chip manufacturer, crucial for AI semiconductor production, and has experienced a remarkable 70.80% increase in share price over the past year. In its latest investor letter, Janus Henderson Global Sustainable Equity Fund highlighted TSMC's strong performance, driven by multi-year demand visibility and its leadership in advanced semiconductor technologies, which positions it as a key player in the AI chip market.

‘No company is going to go to jail for you’: Proton’s CTO on balancing privacy, policy, and trust

In a recent interview, Bart Butler, CTO of Proton, highlighted the company's dual mission of competing with Big Tech while maintaining user trust through privacy-centric products. Proton, known for its encrypted email service, has expanded to include a suite of productivity tools like a VPN and calendar, all designed to prioritize user privacy. Butler noted that Proton's nonprofit structure and Swiss location are integral to its commitment to privacy, but the company faces challenges from government surveillance requests, including a recent incident where Proton complied with a Swiss request that led to the identification of a protester. He warned that if European surveillance laws become more oppressive, Proton might consider relocating its operations.

US Stocks Tumble as TSMC Results Revive AI Spending Concerns

US stock futures declined on Thursday as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) reported results that failed to boost artificial intelligence stocks. Contracts for the Nasdaq 100 Index fell by 1%, indicating a continuation of losses from Wednesday. Meanwhile, S&P 500 Index futures decreased by 0.4%, as traders also grappled with worsening geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. TSMC's optimistic sales and spending projections for the year highlighted its confidence in chip demand and data centers, yet this did not translate into positive momentum for AI stocks.

Truth Social launches service to give Wall Street traders an edge with real-time service

Truth Social, operated by Trump Media & Technology Group, has announced the launch of an API that offers licensed, real-time access to posts from President Donald Trump and other prominent accounts. This service is designed for Wall Street traders seeking an edge in market-moving information, as Trump's posts often precede official announcements. His account, with 12.9 million followers, has become essential for firms tracking presidential communications. Trump Media, publicly traded since March 26, 2024, has seen its shares plummet 84% since its debut, with Trump's family being the largest shareholders.

Ninja’s microwave air fryer could be the fix for soggy reheated pizza

Ninja has unveiled its first microwave, the Crispi Microwave, which also serves as an air fryer, priced at $449. This innovative appliance allows users to heat food with microwaves before switching to air frying, ensuring a crispy finish. It boasts a flatbed design that provides 40% more cooking surface than traditional microwaves, accommodating multiple bowls or bags of popcorn. The air fryer mode operates at temperatures up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit and includes various presets for optimal cooking results.

OpenAI wants developers to stop typing commands and start using a joystick to control their AI agents

OpenAI, in collaboration with keyboard manufacturer Work Louder, has introduced the Codex Micro, a compact joystick controller designed to streamline interactions with AI agents. This device allows developers to manage their AI workflows without the need for constant typing, featuring joysticks and a rotary dial for intuitive control. The controller's six illuminated keys provide real-time RGB feedback on agent status, indicating whether the AI is thinking, working, waiting for input, or has completed a task. Priced at $230, the Codex Micro connects via Bluetooth or USB-C and is compatible with both Mac and Windows systems.

Sakana AI's orchestrator adds Nvidia Nemotron to prove "collective intelligence" can rival single frontier models

Sakana AI is expanding its Fugu orchestrator by integrating Nvidia's open-source Nemotron models, aiming to demonstrate that coordinated open models can rival leading frontier systems. Fugu, which dynamically selects and combines models from an agent pool, allows for modular integration of new models, thereby reducing reliance on any single provider. The Nemotron models will act as specialists in areas such as programming and tool usage, complementing existing systems rather than replacing them. Sakana AI's approach emphasizes collective intelligence as a means to enhance AI capabilities while mitigating vendor lock-in risks.

Why AMI Labs’ Alexandre LeBrun won’t call his AI ‘AGI’ or ‘superintelligence’

Alexandre LeBrun, CEO of AMI Labs, rejects the labels of 'AGI' and 'superintelligence,' stating these terms lack clear definitions and utility. During an interview at The International Conference on Machine Learning in Seoul, he emphasized the importance of world models for AI, particularly in robotics, where current systems are limited to fixed routines. LeBrun noted that real-world training is essential for developing effective AI, and he sees South Korea's robust industrial base and commitment to AI investment as key to AMI's future strategy.

AI Needs Radiologists as Much as Radiologists Need AI

Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the field of radiology, with advanced algorithms improving diagnostic accuracy. However, radiologists are not being replaced; rather, they are becoming essential collaborators in the AI-driven diagnostic process. AI tools assist in analyzing imaging data, yet the nuanced judgment and expertise of radiologists remain critical, particularly in complex cases. This partnership is expected to enhance patient outcomes by combining the strengths of both AI technology and human expertise.

Newer Models, Same Advantage

DharmaOCR has demonstrated superior performance in optical character recognition for Brazilian Portuguese, achieving a score of 0.925 on a specialized benchmark, significantly higher than Mistral OCR4's 0.798 and Unlimited-OCR's 0.7587. The model's success stems from a two-stage training process that includes fine-tuning on diverse Portuguese-language documents and Direct Preference Optimization, which enhances output stability and reduces errors. This specialization allows DharmaOCR to excel in recognizing complex documents, particularly those that include culturally specific references, where its competitors struggle.

OnePlus ends phone releases in US and Europe, further reducing smartphone choice

OnePlus has officially announced it will cease phone releases in North America and Europe, marking a significant shift for the brand that has been speculated for months. The decision follows a strategic pivot towards the Indian market, where OnePlus has found greater success. The OnePlus 15, which launched in late 2025, will be the last model available in these regions. As part of this transition, OnePlus devices will adopt Oppo's ColorOS instead of the previously used OxygenOS, with the Android 17 update. Although current-gen phones will remain available and receive software support, this move further narrows smartphone choices in the US, where major Chinese brands have largely avoided entering the market.

Google AI Mode adds more Connected Apps, including YouTube Music

Google has enhanced its AI Mode by adding support for more first and third-party applications, including YouTube Music, which allows users to generate playlists seamlessly. Previously, AI Mode integrated with Gmail and Google Photos, and more recently, it incorporated Google Drive and Calendar, enabling personalized responses based on user schedules. The latest update also introduces integrations with Canva and Instacart, allowing users to access design templates and add grocery items directly to their shopping carts. This rollout is beginning this week in the United States, with Google hinting at further app partnerships to come.