Big Tech
Tracking the heavyweights of innovation. Insightful reporting on how legacy tech giants wield global influence, scale infrastructure, and compete for market dominance.
62 articles
WhatsApp Usernames Arrive This Year With Early Reservation Option
WhatsApp will let users chat without sharing phone numbers. Usernames launch later this year with early reservation starting now.
Magnificent Seven Stocks Show Signs of Weakness After Long Rally
The Magnificent Seven tech stocks are underperforming as market momentum shifts. Investors face new risks from slowing earnings growth and regulatory pressures.
Space-Based Solar Power Moves Closer to Reality With Two Transmission Methods
Scientists are testing two systems to beam solar energy from orbit to Earth, moving space-based solar power from sci-fi to practical engineering.
AI Infrastructure Boom Drives Up Prices for Consoles, Cars and Electricity
Big Tech's $8 trillion AI data center investment is straining semiconductor and energy supplies, raising costs for gaming consoles, vehicles and power bills.
Netflix Requires Unique Email for Every Profile as Password Sharing Crackdown Tightens
Netflix now mandates each user profile have its own email address, affecting add-on members and tightening account sharing restrictions.
AI Data Centers Test Grid Flexibility to Bypass Power Bottlenecks
Emerald AI's Conductor software enables data centers to reduce power draw during grid stress, helping avoid blackouts and new power plant construction. A London trial showed how flexible facilities could ease the AI energy crunch.
Google Photos Settings You Should Adjust Before Backing Up Your Camera Roll
Before letting Google Photos manage your photos, adjust key backup, privacy and AI settings to control storage and data use.
The AI Token Reckoning: Companies Scramble to Contain Runaway Costs
Leaked Accenture audio reveals enterprises face spiraling AI token spend as agentic workflows and enterprise AI tools drive costs beyond control. Companies like Amazon and Uber are now capping usage and switching to cheaper models.
Google Expands AI Training to Search Media Uploads: What Users Need to Know
Google now uses images uploaded during Search interactions for AI training. Users can opt out via a simple setting change.
Meta Reportedly Developing Prediction Market Platform Under Zuckerberg Directive
Meta is building its own prediction market at the direction of Mark Zuckerberg. The move enters a controversial sector blending betting and forecasting. Regulatory and ethical questions loom.
Meta Halts Employee AI Training Program After Internal Data Leak
Meta paused its mandatory AI training program after an internal leak exposed sensitive employee data, including keystrokes and conversations, sparking privacy backlash.
ASML's $400 Million Lithography Machine Deepens Chip Industry's Dependence on One Company
ASML's new $400 million high-NA EUV machine sustains Moore's Law and AI chip production but intensifies geopolitical risks tied to its near-total market control.
SpaceX Starfall Test Aims to Reshape Global Cargo Delivery From Orbit
SpaceX is set to launch its secretive Starfall reentry vehicle, a saucer-shaped pod designed to deliver cargo anywhere on Earth from low-Earth orbit. The first test flight will demonstrate parachute-assisted splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.
Nvidia's Liquid-Cooled Data Center Design Claims Major Water Savings
Nvidia's Rubin generation reference design shifts to fully liquid cooling, claiming to nearly eliminate water and power usage. The move addresses environmental scrutiny but leaves questions about cost and broader energy demands.
GM Installs 50 Robots at EV Plant While 1,300 Workers Remain Idle
General Motors added about 50 robot arms at its Detroit EV factory, sparking union anger as over 1,000 laid-off workers await recall.
SpaceX Applies Software Update Model to Rocket Launches
SpaceX treats rocket launches like software updates, enabling rapid iteration and frequent flights. This philosophy drives its unprecedented launch cadence and cost reduction.
Google Traffic Crosses 50% IPv6 Milestone
Over half of Google's user traffic now uses IPv6, a long-awaited milestone in the internet's transition from the aging IPv4 protocol.
Tech Giants Face Scrutiny Over Negative News Overload
Researchers warn that constant exposure to bad news via tech platforms harms mental health. Algorithms optimized for engagement amplify negative content beyond human capacity to cope.
Automakers Plan to Drop Android Auto From New Vehicles by 2026
Major car manufacturers are phasing out Android Auto from new models by 2026, opting for proprietary infotainment systems. This shift could impact millions of drivers who rely on the platform for navigation and connectivity.