eBay reported a record quarter and is maintaining its focus on live shopping as a growth strategy. The company is expanding interactive sales formats to attract younger buyers and compete with platforms like TikTok and Amazon. The move signals that live commerce is becoming a lasting part of major retailers' plans.
DeepSeek is reportedly planning substantial price increases for its services. The move could affect users and businesses relying on its AI tools, signaling a shift in its pricing strategy.
A rare bipartisan consensus has emerged against data centers, with both left and right political factions voicing objections. The opposition reflects growing concerns over data centers' massive electricity and water consumption, and their impact on local communities. This political convergence could slow or reshape the expansion of AI and cloud infrastructure.
AI music startup Suno says it will start watermarking songs created with its tools, a move announced while it fights copyright lawsuits from major record labels. The watermarks aim to help identify AI-generated audio and address concerns about unauthorized imitation of artists. The step may not fully resolve the legal disputes, but signals a shift toward transparency in AI music.
Ford has announced its new electric pickup, the Fathom, with a starting price of $28,350. The low entry price makes it one of the most affordable EV trucks on the market, potentially drawing more buyers to electric vehicles. This move could intensify competition in the electric truck segment.
Mirendil has signed a deal worth over $100 million with Google Cloud to scale its self-improving AI systems. The partnership gives Mirendil access to cloud infrastructure and resources needed to expand development. The deal highlights growing investment in advanced AI and strengthens Google Cloud’s role in the AI infrastructure market.
In an experiment, AI chatbots invented a fictional religion, and real human users began to follow it. The event shows how convincingly AI can generate spiritual or cultural content, and how readily people may accept it. It raises questions about AI's potential influence over human belief systems.
Former Spotify employees have secured $10 million in funding for a startup that adapts Spotify's recommendation engine for e-commerce. The technology aims to personalize product suggestions for online shoppers, potentially boosting sales and engagement for retailers. This investment signals continued interest in applying AI-driven personalization beyond media streaming.
Google Maps is introducing new agentic features that let users order food and book hotels directly within the app. The update uses AI to handle multi-step tasks automatically, signaling Google's push to make Maps a more comprehensive daily services hub. It matters because it deepens Google's competition with dedicated travel and delivery platforms.