Core Insights - Apple has announced the new M5 chip, which powers the new iPad Pro, MacBook Pro, and Vision Pro, with availability for preorder and shipping starting October 22 [1][2] Group 1: M5 Chip Performance - The M5 chip offers over four times the peak GPU compute performance compared to the M4, marking a significant advancement in AI performance for Apple silicon [2] - The new iPad Pro features up to 3.5 times the AI performance of last year's model and up to 5.6 times faster than the iPad Pro with M1 [2] Group 2: Device Upgrades - The new devices include the C1X cellular modem, which provides up to 50% faster cellular data performance, and the N1 chip for enhanced connectivity [3] - Storage read and write speeds have been improved, along with faster charging capabilities, achieving up to 50% charge in around 30 minutes [3] Group 3: Pricing and Availability - The iPad Pro pricing starts at $999 for the 11-inch model and $1,299 for the 13-inch model, available in black and silver [5] - The new 14-inch MacBook Pro starts at $1,599, featuring upgraded graphics performance, higher memory bandwidth of 153Gbps, and a battery life of up to 24 hours [8] Group 4: Vision Pro Enhancements - Vision Pro will also utilize the M5 chip, improving display rendering by 10%, supporting refresh rates up to 120Hz, and enhancing AI features by 50% [10] - The upgraded Vision Pro maintains a price of $3,499 and includes a Dual Knit Band for improved comfort [11]

Waymo said on Wednesday it will offer a commercial robotaxi service in London in 2026, marking the Alphabet-owned company’s second international expansion following Tokyo.The announcement to bring the company’s robotaxis to the UK follows weeks of speculation fueled by a couple of London-based job postings. Waymo already has ties to the UK. In 2019, the company acquired Latent Logic, a UK startup spun out of Oxford University’s computer science department that uses a form of machine learning called imitatio ...

Core Viewpoint - Stellantis plans to invest $13 billion in U.S. manufacturing over the next four years as part of a revival strategy led by its new CEO [1] Investment Details - The investment will facilitate the development and production of five new vehicles by 2029, with manufacturing taking place in Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana [2] - A new four-cylinder engine will be produced, and the Belvidere Assembly Plant in Illinois will be reopened to expand production of the Jeep Cherokee and Jeep Compass, creating over 5,000 jobs [2] Vehicle Production Plans - One of the new vehicles will be a range-extended electric vehicle (EV) produced at the Warren Truck Assembly Plant in Michigan starting in 2028, alongside a large gas-powered SUV [3] - Additional products include a next-generation Dodge Durango at the Detroit Assembly Complex in 2029, a new midsize truck at the Toledo Assembly Complex in Ohio, and the GMET4 EVO four-cylinder engine at the Kokomo, Indiana factory beginning in 2026 [4] Strategic Focus - The investment marks a shift from previous multi-billion-dollar pledges that emphasized electrification, as Stellantis has scaled back its electrification plans in the U.S. market [8] - The company recently canceled plans for an electrified Gladiator and a battery-electric full-size pickup but still intends to produce an extended-range Ram 1500 REV [8] Leadership Statement - Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa emphasized that the investment will drive growth, strengthen manufacturing, and create more American jobs, highlighting the importance of success in the U.S. for the company's overall strength [6]

Spotify is bringing its video podcasts to Netflix starting next year, the company announced on Tuesday. Amid the company’s push to further expand its video content selection and boost its ads business, Spotify has announced a partnership with Netflix that will showcase select video podcasts on the popular streaming service.At launch, the Netflix-Spotify partnership will bring a curated selection of sports, culture, lifestyle, and true crime podcasts from Spotify Studios and The Ringer to Netflix. Over time, ...

In Brief Three years after removing its job listings feature, Facebook is bringing it back to users in the U.S., focusing on helping people find local jobs in entry-level, trade, and service sectors.Job listings, available to all users 18 years and older, can be found in a tab within the Marketplace section as well as in Groups and Pages.  Users can filter and sort jobs by category, distance, and job type. Facebook also says it will provide tailored recommendations for relevant opportunities based on users ...

Walmart announced on Tuesday a new partnership with OpenAI that will allow consumers to shop Walmart’s products via the AI chatbot, including things like groceries (not fresh food), household essentials, and more, and then instantly check out.The agentic shopping feature will also allow Sam’s Club members to plan meals and restock essentials while also discovering new items when chatting with the AI, the company says. To use the feature, customers will press a “buy” button in ChatGPT’s app when they shop, ...

In Brief OpenAI has landed a new hardware partner. The AI research lab announced Monday it formed a partnership with semiconductor company Broadcom for 10 gigawatts worth of custom AI accelerator hardware. These AI accelerator racks will be deployed to OpenAI data centers and partner data centers starting in 2026 and running through 2029. “By designing its own chips and systems, OpenAI can embed what it’s learned from developing frontier models and products directly into the hardware, unlocking new levels ...

Spotify announced on Tuesday that it’s making Managed Accounts, a shared account feature that allows parents to control what their children listen to, available to users in more countries. Managed Accounts are now rolling out in the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, Germany, France, and the Netherlands following a pilot launch last year.Managed Accounts are available to Spotify Premium Family plan members and allow account holders to manage a separate music-only listening experience for their kids under the ag ...

Core Insights - Google is investing $15 billion to establish a 1-gigawatt data center and AI hub in India, marking its largest investment in the country to date [1][2] - The investment will be executed over the next five years, extending through 2030, following a previous $10 billion commitment made in 2020 [2] Investment Details - The data center will be located in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, and is part of a broader strategy to enhance Google's infrastructure in India [2][4] - Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian stated that the AI hub will be the largest investment outside the U.S. and will be scaled to "multiple gigawatts" over time [4] Strategic Partnerships - Google has partnered with Bharti Airtel to build the data center and subsea cable infrastructure in Visakhapatnam, and with AdaniConneX for the data center's infrastructure [5][10] - The AI hub will serve as a global connectivity hub, enhancing digital infrastructure across India [5][10] Technological Offerings - The AI hub will provide a full stack of solutions, including custom Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) for local AI processing, and access to Google's AI models and platforms [10][11] - Services supported by the hub will include Google Search, YouTube, Gmail, and Google Ads, aiming to serve not only India but also Asia and other regions [11] Political Context - The investment comes amid Indian government efforts to promote local tech alternatives to U.S. companies, which could pose future challenges for Google and Microsoft in the region [3] - Indian IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw expressed support for the AI hub, suggesting further expansion into the Andaman Islands for global internet data transfer [13]

Core Insights - Goldman Sachs has agreed to acquire Industry Ventures, highlighting the increasing significance of secondary markets and buyouts as traditional venture exits remain slow [1][3] Acquisition Details - The acquisition involves a payment of $665 million in cash and equity, with an additional potential $300 million based on performance through 2030 [2] - The deal is expected to close in the first quarter of next year, with all 45 employees of Industry Ventures joining Goldman Sachs [2] Market Context - The acquisition occurs amid a prolonged IPO drought, prompting venture funds to seek non-traditional exits [3] - Industry Ventures' CEO noted that tech buyout funds now represent 25% of all liquidity in the venture ecosystem, indicating a shift in investment strategies [3] Strategic Rationale - Goldman Sachs aims to enhance its $540 billion alternatives investment platform, which is identified as a key growth area for the bank [5] - The combination of Goldman Sachs' global resources with Industry Ventures' venture capital expertise is expected to better serve the complex needs of entrepreneurs and venture fund managers [7] Performance Metrics - Industry Ventures has made over 1,000 investments, holds stakes in more than 700 venture firms, and boasts an internal rate of return of 18% [8]