technology companies

Artificial intelligence is becoming a central infrastructure in political campaigns, influencing voter targeting, message optimization, and content generation. AI policy has emerged as a major political issue, shaping coalition dynamics and raising concerns about manipulation through synthetic media and misinformation.

Comedian Bill Maher told Vice President JD Vance he could consider voting Republican in 2028 if the Democratic Party's direction on issues like Israel, socialism, and capitalism concerns him. Maher emphasized his voting decisions are based on candidates' qualifications, not party labels, and challenged Vance to address election integrity and censorship claims.

The Hang Seng Index is on track for its worst weekly performance in over a year as technology stocks face renewed selling pressure, with the index down 2.3% and the Hang Seng Tech Index falling nearly 4%.

The article argues that AI systems cannot be considered trustworthy if the data centers powering them are developed through opaque, exclusionary processes. It highlights concerns in Minnesota about environmental impacts and accountability of hyperscale data centers, drawing a legal analogy to question the legitimacy of AI infrastructure built without transparency.

Chinese state-owned banks and energy majors have fallen behind as AI and technology companies dominate global market capitalisation rankings. Nvidia leads with a US$5.1 trillion valuation, followed by Alphabet and Apple, according to financial data provider CompaniesMarketCap.

The U.S. faces growing backlash against data centers due to concerns over energy use, pollution, and community impact. Local governments are implementing moratoriums or opposition to evaluate potential harms, while tech companies promote economic benefits.

Treasuries remain unaffected by a ceasefire, and technology companies are selling bonds due to their capability to do so.

Nvidia is joining a broader trend of technology companies borrowing in bond markets to finance spending related to artificial intelligence (AI) development.

UK Prime Minister Starmer announced a social media ban for under-16s, citing concerns about children's happiness and safety. He acknowledged teenagers may bypass the restrictions but emphasized the rules' importance in challenging tech companies' perceived intransigence.

The Manitou Springs Police Department is warning the community about the Gold Courier Scam, where criminals impersonate U.S. government officials, financial institutions, technology companies, or technical support representatives to deceive victims. The scam involves false claims about victims' accounts or systems to exploit them.

A historic stock rally is facing a critical test as two major technology companies are set to report earnings after the market closes, which may influence the market's next movement either upwards or downwards.

US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on artificial intelligence requiring technology companies to voluntarily share advanced AI models before public release, allowing the government to review them for up to 30 days. The order marks a shift from the administration’s previous hands-off approach to the AI industry.

A semi-annual reshuffle of China’s yuan-denominated stock indices will increase the representation of technology companies, projected to drive $3.1 billion in inflows into tech hardware and semiconductor sectors, according to Goldman Sachs and domestic brokerages like Guosen Securities.

Tech layoffs are increasing amid the AI boom, but the article suggests these cuts may reflect strategic investments rather than direct worker replacement. Companies are reallocating resources to prioritize AI development, complicating the narrative of AI solely displacing jobs.

House Republicans introduced two bills, the SECURE Data Act and the GUARD Financial Data Act, aiming to establish a national data privacy standard and override state-level consumer and financial data regulations. The proposed legislation targets technology companies and financial data protection frameworks.

The article discusses how societal acceptance of surveillance has become normalized, with individuals and institutions prioritizing convenience and security over privacy. It highlights the role of technology companies and governments in embedding surveillance systems into daily life without significant public resistance.

UK Labour leader Keir Starmer warned tech companies he will take action against addictive social media targeting children after a meeting at Downing Street, though he acknowledged uncertainty about the specifics of his approach.

A Los Angeles County Superior Court jury ruled that Instagram and YouTube were designed to addict children, marking a potential precedent for thousands of similar lawsuits nationwide. The verdict could redefine how tech companies are held responsible for harms caused by their products to minors.

Anthropic sued the Trump administration for labeling it a supply chain risk, prompting support from technology companies. The Pentagon's criticism of Anthropic has reignited Silicon Valley's opposition to government intervention in tech.