Big Tech
Tracking the heavyweights of innovation. Insightful reporting on how legacy tech giants wield global influence, scale infrastructure, and compete for market dominance.
189 articles
How OpenAI Is Building a Direct Challenge to App Store Dominance
OpenAI is turning ChatGPT into a software distribution and execution layer, aiming to bypass traditional app stores. The move could reshape developer economics and user behavior.
Inside Anthropic's Unusual Governance: Who Really Controls Claude?
Anthropic's dual structure of a public benefit corporation and a trust with special voting rights raises questions about who actually steers the AI company behind Claude.
Microsoft Quietly Drops Copilot+ PC Branding From New Surface Computers
Microsoft's new Surface PCs no longer carry the Copilot+ PC branding despite meeting AI requirements, signaling a marketing shift.
Scotland's Roads Thrown Into Chaos by Google Maps Software Bug
A software bug in Google Maps caused major traffic disruptions across Scotland, misdirecting drivers and causing delays. The incident highlights the risks of heavy reliance on digital navigation services.
Banks and Credit Unions Form Coalition to Challenge Apple Pay Fees
A coalition of banks and credit unions is preparing to reduce reliance on Apple Pay and cut transaction fees, challenging Apple's payment dominance.
An Artist Exploited Google Maps Editing to Name a Street After Himself
A Beijing artist renamed a road after himself on Google Maps by installing fake signs. The incident highlights verification flaws in crowdsourced mapping data.
Meta's Petal Subsea Cable Targets Petabit Capacity Across Atlantic by 2029
Meta announces Petal, a subsea cable capable of 1 petabit per second between the US and France, set for 2029. It uses multi-core fiber technology to achieve massive data transfer speeds.
Microsoft Locks In $10 Billion Gulf Expansion as Middle East AI Race Heats Up
Microsoft has pledged over $10 billion to expand cloud and AI infrastructure across the Gulf States by 2030, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait.
Oracle Guarantees Data Centre Investor Payments Even Without Power
Oracle guarantees investor payments for data centres even if sites lack electricity, shifting risk from capital partners to the company amid grid constraints.
Oracle Seeks Financial Protection as AI Data Center Costs Soar
Oracle is pursuing financial safeguards for a massive data center buildout, reflecting growing AI bubble concerns. The company's hedging strategy could signal a shift in tech infrastructure investment.
YouTube Lets Users Build Their Own Feeds, Bypassing Algorithm
YouTube introduces custom feeds that let viewers curate content from selected channels, reducing algorithm control.
Stripe Builds Proprietary AI Platform for Internal Operations
Stripe developed an internal AI platform for fraud detection and operational tasks. The move reflects a trend toward proprietary artificial intelligence in financial technology.
YouTube Brings AI Search Upgrades to Video Discovery
YouTube expands AI search with conversational queries and in-video moment detection. The update challenges Google's search dominance and shifts how creators optimize content.
Microsoft Patent Targets In-Game Ads During Key Moments Like Boss Fights
Microsoft filed a patent for in-game ads triggered by boss fights, loading screens and cutscenes. The system could bring ad-supported revenue to console and PC gaming.
Microsoft Exec Calls AI Data Scraping 'Largest Theft of Labor in Human History'
A Microsoft executive reportedly labeled AI data scraping as the largest labor theft in history, igniting debate over ethics and regulation of training data collection.
DoorDash Expands Costco Partnership With Same-Day Delivery Service
DoorDash now offers same-day delivery of groceries and household goods from Costco through its marketplace. The move intensifies competition in on-demand grocery delivery.
Waymo Expands Operations to Singapore, Marking First International Market
Waymo announces plan to test self-driving cars in Singapore. The move signals global ambitions beyond US and positions the company for Asian expansion.
Amazon and Tesla Defied IPO Profit Warnings to Dominate Markets
Amazon and Tesla warned investors they might never achieve profitability in their IPO filings, yet both became market leaders. Their stories offer lessons for today's unprofitable tech startups.
Massive AI Infrastructure Spending Requires Unprecedented Productivity Jump
Hyperscalers bet $1.1 trillion on AI data centers by 2027, but need 2.7x earnings growth to break even. Without it, the buildout could become history's largest capital misallocation.