Tech news digest for Thursday, August 13, 2026

Microsoft Unifies Copilot Apps and Discontinues Features

Microsoft is merging its consumer and business Copilot apps into a single interface, aiming to streamline its AI offerings. As part of this consolidation, the company will retire several underperforming features, including Podcasts and Deep Research, effective August 18, 2026. The move reflects a strategic shift to enhance user experience and competitiveness against rivals like ChatGPT.

• Jacob Andreou, Microsoft EVP, stated that the app must earn 'the right to exist' in customers' lives.
• The Deep Research feature will be replaced with Researcher for professional users.

Nvidia Secures $500 Billion for AI Data Centers

Nvidia has announced a groundbreaking $500 billion financing commitment aimed at building AI data centers, partnering with major firms like Apollo and Goldman Sachs. This initiative includes a unique strategy where GPUs are used as collateral, ensuring they retain value to cover potential losses. Additionally, Nvidia is pursuing an extra $750 billion in financing deals to further bolster its AI infrastructure efforts.

• Broadcom's AI XPV Platform aims for 20 gigawatts of compute capacity by 2028.
• Nvidia guarantees that GPUs used as collateral will cover up to 25% of any loss in value.

Twitch Users Outraged Over AI Data Use

Twitch users are expressing outrage after discovering that Amazon is using their streamed content to train generative AI models without explicit consent. The platform's chief product officer revealed that the data collection is set to opt-out by default, raising concerns about the implications for game developers and the use of their content in AI training.

• Amazon acquired Twitch for nearly $1 billion in 2014.
• The AI training project aims to enhance comprehension of real-time interactions and user-generated content.

App Store Ratings Fraud Goes Unchecked, Claims Developer

Developer Jeff Johnson has raised concerns about rampant ratings fraud on the App Store, asserting that Apple is failing to detect obvious scams. He cites the TabControl Extension, which falsely claims a 4.9 out of 5 rating while using a fake screenshot, as a prime example of the issue. Despite Apple's claims of preventing over $9 billion in fraudulent transactions since 2008, developers report ongoing multi-million dollar scams, including a notorious fake wallet app that stole Bitcoin.

• Apple has faced lawsuits from customers over scams, including a fake wallet app that stole Bitcoin.
• Johnson highlights that companies in China are renting iPhone farms to generate fake reviews.

Meta adds AI screening to detect WhatsApp scams

Meta has introduced a new Scam Alert feature on WhatsApp that utilizes on-device machine learning to identify potentially fraudulent messages. This feature, currently in limited beta, alerts users with a warning if a chat appears to be a scam, without notifying the other participant. Users have the option to block, report, or continue the conversation, and can mark trusted chats to prevent future alerts. This initiative comes amid significant scam activity on WhatsApp, where the FTC reported losses of $425 million in 2025 due to scams on the platform.

• Users can opt to share the last 5 messages received to improve detection accuracy.

Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings (KNX) Gains from Pricing Power

Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc. (NYSE:KNX) has seen a significant boost as the freight cycle improves, with shares closing at $71.31 on August 12, 2026. The company, which operates in truckload and less-than-truckload segments, is benefiting from tighter truckload spot rates and contract pricing after a prolonged downturn. Factors such as reduced carrier capacity and strong consumer demand are contributing to this recovery, alongside falling oil prices and geopolitical stability. Over the past year, Knight-Swift's shares have surged by 69.83%, reflecting a market capitalization of $11.61 billion.

• The freight industry is recovering from a multi-year downturn, with truckload spot rates tightening.
• Sycamore Capital Management's strategy returned 9.6% in Q2 2026, underperforming the Russell Midcap Value Index.

Claude AI Just Sold ServiceNow and Inter & Co — Should You Too?

Claude AI recently divested its entire stake in ServiceNow (NYSE:NOW) and Inter & Co (NASDAQ:INTR), citing valuation concerns. The sale of ServiceNow, which yielded a 40% profit, was driven by its stock becoming too expensive relative to expected returns. Despite a 25% year-over-year growth in subscription revenue and the success of its AI product Now Assist, which reached $1 billion in annual contract value, Claude AI determined that the stock's potential earnings were less attractive than cash. In contrast, Inter & Co's stock has fallen 40% this year, despite reporting record net income, as rising loan default risks and Brazil's economic instability weighed heavily on its outlook.

Does Google even want to win at AI?

Google's AI division, Google DeepMind, is undergoing a significant reorganization as chief scientist Jeff Dean departs to establish a new lab on Google Cloud, while cofounder Demis Hassabis steps down to focus on long-term research. This shakeup raises questions about Google's competitiveness in the AI landscape, especially as it struggles to keep pace with rivals like Anthropic. Despite its resources and distribution power, many industry observers are now questioning whether Google can reclaim its position at the forefront of AI innovation.

• Google's AI division is perceived as losing ground to competitors like Anthropic in enterprise AI.

Google’s Tensor G6 in Pixel 11 isn’t the first 2nm smartphone chip after all

Google's Tensor G6, set to debut in the Pixel 11, will not be the first smartphone chip using TSMC's 2nm process as previously rumored. Instead, the chip is manufactured using TSMC's 3nm process, as confirmed by Google’s VP of Hardware, Peng Yu-chun. Despite this, the Tensor G6 brings significant enhancements, including a CPU that offers 25% faster web browsing and 15% quicker app launches, alongside 50% more TPU compute power. It also supports a new Gemini Nano AI model and features an upgraded Image Signal Processor for improved photography capabilities.

• It includes 50% more TPU compute compared to its predecessor.
• The Tensor G6 integrates an upgraded Titan M3 security chip.

Nvidia, IBD Stock Of The Day, Nears Buy Point Ahead Of Fiscal Q2 Earnings Report

Nvidia's stock is currently trading at $225.13, reflecting a 0.46% increase as it approaches a critical buy point of $236.53. The stock also has an early entry point set at $224.76. Despite a relative strength line that has dipped from recent highs, Nvidia's stock remains the highest it has been in several months. With an IBD Composite Rating of 97/99, Nvidia ranks 22 out of 197 in its industry group, indicating strong performance amid a consolidation pattern that does not conform to traditional base definitions.

• Nvidia holds an IBD Composite Rating of 97/99, ranking it highly among stocks.

iOS 27 gives Apple Photos two features we’ve waited a long time for

iOS 27 has introduced major enhancements to the Apple Photos app, fulfilling long-standing user requests for a comprehensive slideshow feature and improved iCloud Shared Albums. The new slideshow tools enable users to create customized presentations with options for transition styles, duration, and music, along with the ability to save these slideshows as video files. Additionally, Shared Albums have received significant upgrades, including the ability to share full-resolution photos and videos, allow contributions from Android and Windows users, and interact through emoji reactions, making it a more versatile platform for sharing memories.

Will the iPhone Ultra avoid the issue that can still kill Samsung foldables?

Apple's upcoming iPhone Ultra aims to avoid the dust ingress issues that plagued Samsung's Galaxy Fold series. The original Galaxy Fold, launched in 2019, had to cancel pre-orders due to screen damage from dirt entering the device. Despite eight generations of improvements, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 still carries an IP48 rating, allowing particles under 1mm to enter the hinge, leading to mechanical failure. Apple reportedly delayed its folding phone to ensure a robust design, focusing on eliminating visible creases and enhancing hinge durability. The iPhone Ultra's specifications will reveal its ingress protection rating, with expectations for at least IP68, indicating complete dustproofing.

• The iPhone Ultra's launch is set for next month, with specs revealing its dust resistance.

Samsung’s $1,900 Z Fold 8 is still vulnerable to pocket lint

iFixit has given Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 a repairability score of 4 out of 10, primarily due to its hinge design. The device's IP48 ingress rating means it is not protected against particles smaller than 1 millimeter, allowing dust and sand to potentially enter the hinge mechanism, which is difficult to repair. After testing, iFixit noted that the hinge began making crunching noises, indicating possible failure. This issue has plagued Samsung's foldables for years, while competitors like Google's Pixel 10 Pro Fold have achieved higher dust resistance with an IP6X rating.

Why this analyst sees another 30% rip in Microsoft stock

JPMorgan analyst Samik Chatterjee has raised Microsoft's price target from $550 to $625, suggesting a potential 30% upside based on the company's latest earnings report. Chatterjee highlighted an expected acceleration in growth for Azure and M365 Commercial Cloud, driven by the company's AI infrastructure. Microsoft's fiscal fourth quarter saw revenues hit $90 billion, an 18% increase year-over-year, with Azure growth at 43%, marking its first year of over $100 billion in annual revenue. The company also returned $10.2 billion to shareholders while maintaining disciplined capital expenditures.

Anthropic could be worth $2 trillion when it goes public

Anthropic is projected to be valued at $2 trillion or more during its upcoming IPO, potentially the largest in history, eclipsing SpaceX. Investors attribute this lofty expectation to the company's rapidly increasing revenue, which is expected to exceed $100 billion by 2026. Despite facing challenges such as competition from Chinese rivals and regulatory scrutiny, Anthropic has shown remarkable growth, with its annualized revenue reportedly surpassing $47 billion. The company is currently in a quiet period following its SEC filing in June, limiting public commentary on its financial performance.

• The company’s valuation in May 2026 reached $965 billion, surpassing OpenAI for the first time.
• Anthropic's leading models, Fable 5 and Mythos 5, were briefly pulled due to export controls imposed by the Commerce Department.

OpenAI appoints Dali Rajic as Chief Revenue Officer

OpenAI has appointed Dali Rajic as Chief Revenue Officer, tasked with leading the company's global revenue organization. This move comes as OpenAI's products now reach over one billion weekly active users and serve more than two million businesses, doubling the latter figure from a year ago. Rajic brings extensive experience from his previous roles at Wiz, Zscaler, and AppDynamics, where he focused on building disciplined revenue operations. Denise Dresser, the outgoing CRO, will assist in the transition before exploring new opportunities, having established a strong commercial foundation for OpenAI during her tenure.

• OpenAI has formed a strategic partnership with Chad Peets and RPT Partners to enhance its go-to-market efforts.

Anthropic brings Claude Cowork to its Chrome extension, adding skills and plugins to the browser

Anthropic has updated its Chrome extension by integrating Claude Cowork, enabling full sessions to run directly in the side panel. Previously, the extension could read pages and fill out forms, but now it allows users to utilize skills, plugins, and connectors without additional setup. This means users can generate Excel files, PowerPoint slides, or reports seamlessly, with specific use cases including pulling metrics from analytics dashboards and organizing Google Drive. However, Anthropic cautions users about potential security risks, advising against using the extension with sensitive data like banking or health information.