Meanwhile, the front page of the Wall Street Journal has some new reporting on the wave of white collar layoffs with major companies like Amazon, UPS, Target announcing cuts slashing thousands of corporate roles. In their statements, companies cited in part growing pressure to operate more efficiently and to embrace the use of artificial intelligence. So, Jim Vande, that brings us around to your piece with Mike Allen looking at how an AI job apocalypse unfolds in front of us and it does seem to be accelerat ...

Core Insights - Amaze Holdings, Inc. has launched the Amaze Moments adaptive AI infrastructure, which will be utilized by digital influencer Perez Hilton to create real-time product collections based on cultural trends and fan data [1][4][5] Company Overview - Amaze Holdings, Inc. is a creator-powered commerce platform that provides tools for product creation, e-commerce solutions, and managed services, enabling creators to sell products and connect with their audiences [6] Partnership Details - Perez Hilton, a prominent digital influencer with millions of followers, will leverage the Amaze Moments AI engine to generate exclusive merchandise collections inspired by his viral catchphrases [2][5] - The partnership positions Amaze as a leading platform in the creator economy, enhancing its capabilities to foster authentic connections between creators and their audiences [4] Technology and Innovation - The Amaze Moments framework utilizes real-time data to automatically generate design concepts, allowing creators to respond quickly to audience engagement [3][4] - Hilton emphasized the importance of timing in capturing viral trends, stating that the platform facilitates turning attention into opportunities [5]

Core Insights - Booking Holdings Inc. (BKNG) is set to report its third-quarter 2025 results on October 28, with revenue expectations of $8.71 billion, reflecting a year-over-year growth of 9.01% and earnings per share estimated at $95.97, indicating a growth of 14.4% from the previous year [1][10] Financial Performance Expectations - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is $8.71 billion, suggesting a 9.01% increase from the same quarter last year [1] - Earnings per share are projected at $95.97, which is a 14.4% increase year-over-year [1][10] - The company has consistently beaten earnings estimates in the past four quarters, with an average beat of 19.22% [2] Growth Projections - Room night growth is expected to decelerate to 3.5% to 5.5% in Q3 2025, down from 8% in Q2 due to tougher year-over-year comparisons [3][10] - Gross bookings are anticipated to grow by 8% to 10%, with flight ticket demand contributing approximately two percentage points to this growth [4][10] - Revenue growth guidance for Q3 is set at 7% to 9%, lower than gross bookings growth due to a higher proportion of flight bookings and increased merchandising contra-revenues [5] Profitability and Cost Management - Adjusted EBITDA for Q3 is projected to be between $3.9 billion and $4 billion, indicating a growth of 9% at the high end, with margins expected to remain stable compared to the previous year [6] - Marketing leverage is expected to be offset by increased sales and other expenses, including payment costs [6] Regional Performance - Asia is noted as the fastest-growing market for the company, while the United States is the slowest-growing region, with consumers showing shorter booking windows and lengths of stay [7] - Geopolitical events in the Middle East had an estimated 1% impact on global growth in June [7] Strategic Initiatives - The company is focusing on expanding alternative accommodations, growing the Genius loyalty program, and advancing its Connected Trip vision, with transactions growing over 30% year-over-year in Q2 [8] - The Transformation Program is expected to yield approximately $45 million in quarterly savings [8] Foreign Exchange Impact - Foreign exchange headwinds have moderated, with management estimating a positive impact of approximately four percentage points on reported growth rates for Q3 [9]

Investment Rating & Price Target - The analyst has a hold rating on Apple stock due to geopolitical risks related to China and lagging performance in artificial intelligence [1] - The price target is $50 below the street average, reflecting less upside potential based on both earnings and multiple considerations [2] - The price target is based on a 28 times multiple, resulting in a $21 valuation, significantly below the current trading price [4] - The analyst awaits the September quarter report to reassess the price target based on material upside [10] Earnings & Revenue - Apple guided to September quarterly revenue growth of mid to high single digits, anticipating strong performance from the iPhone 17 lineup [3] - The key question is whether the iPhone 17 lineup has exceeded expectations enough to drive earnings estimates higher [3] Artificial Intelligence (AI) - The market is concerned about Apple's ability to capitalize on artificial intelligence, which is considered a crucial factor in stock market performance [1] - An AI surprise, such as an acquisition or development in Apple Intelligence, is not currently priced into the stock and could provide a significant boost [4] - Apple historically avoids large acquisitions, preferring to acquire talent rather than spending billions on companies to advance its AI efforts [5] Geopolitical & Market Competition - Geopolitical tensions between the US and China, including tariffs and access to rare earth minerals, pose risks to Apple [9] - Apple faces increasing competition from Chinese smartphone manufacturers within China, where it generates approximately 10% of its revenue [9] Potential Growth Catalysts - A foldable iPad or iPhone could create another growth leg for the company [6][7] - A thinner device, potentially leading to a foldable iPhone, could be a catalyst for iPhone sales if foldable smartphones become more important than AI-enabled ones [7]

AI Ethics and Regulation - A group including Prince Harry, Meghan, Steve Bannon, and Geoffrey Hinton calls for a ban on AI superintelligence [1] - The call for a ban is until AI superintelligence can be safely deployed [1]

Core Insights - REalloys has appointed Stephen S. duMont as non-executive Chairman of the Board, enhancing its leadership to support Western supply chain independence amid competition with China [1][2][3] - The company recently secured a 10-year, 6.75 million ton offtake agreement with Critical Metals Corp, reinforcing its commitment to establishing a secure mine-to-magnet supply chain [2][3] - REalloys aims to build a North American supply chain free from Chinese influence, focusing on critical minerals essential for defense and technological leadership [3][7] Leadership and Strategic Appointments - Stephen S. duMont brings over 30 years of experience in defense and aerospace, having held senior roles at Raytheon Technologies, BAE Systems, and Boeing [2][4][5] - His leadership at GM Defense includes the development of advanced mobility and battery-electric solutions for defense customers [4] - The board includes notable figures such as Ambassador David MacNaughton and former Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall, enhancing REalloys' strategic positioning in defense and industrial policy [3][5] Supply Chain and Production Capacity - REalloys is developing a vertically integrated mine-to-magnet supply chain, with upstream resources at Hoidas Lake and downstream production in Euclid, Ohio [7] - The Hoidas Lake project has a Mineral Resource Estimate of 2,153,000 tons of Total Rare Earth Oxides, including both Heavy and Light Rare Earth Elements [7] - The company is expanding its Ohio facility's production capacity to meet the growing demand for high-performance magnet materials in U.S. Protected Markets [7] Recent Changes in Leadership - David Argyle has resigned as CEO, with Leonard (Lipi) Sternheim appointed as the new CEO to lead the company's growth and strategic initiatives [6] - Sternheim's leadership is expected to strengthen REalloys' mission to enhance allied industrial capacity and secure critical materials for defense [6]

According to Bloomberg, Bitcoin mining firms are once again outperforming the cryptocurrency itself, as more shift to hybrid models combining artificial intelligence and high-performance computing. Once likened to gold miners, these companies have long been tied to Bitcoin’s price swings. They benefited from the early AI boom two years ago but later saw shares fall as mining profits declined and competition intensified.https://t.co/dghlUuKdCE ...

Core Insights - Elon Musk emphasized that Bitcoin is fundamentally based on energy, contrasting it with fiat currencies that can be artificially printed by governments [1][2][3] - Musk's agreement with the notion that energy cannot be printed highlights the intrinsic value of Bitcoin as a secure and energy-dependent asset [2][3] - The narrative of Bitcoin as "digital energy" has been echoed by industry leaders, reinforcing its role in value transfer across time and space [4] Company Insights - Tesla currently holds 11,509 BTC, valued at approximately $1.3 billion, showcasing the company's significant investment in cryptocurrency [5] - Tesla previously accepted Bitcoin as a payment method for vehicles but ceased this practice due to concerns regarding the energy consumption associated with Bitcoin mining [5] Industry Insights - The discussion around Bitcoin's energy basis aligns with broader trends in the cryptocurrency market, where energy consumption and sustainability are increasingly scrutinized [3][4] - The cryptocurrency market is experiencing upward pressure from various factors, including government monetary policies and the ongoing "artificial intelligence arms race" [2][3]

AI Integration - Walmart is partnering with OpenAI to integrate its products into ChatGPT [1] - The goal is to allow shoppers to browse and purchase Walmart products directly through ChatGPT [1] Retail Strategy - This move represents Walmart's latest effort to incorporate artificial intelligence into its retail operations [1]

Core Viewpoint - Amazon terminated a Palestinian engineer, Ahmed Shahrour, following his protests against the company's contract with the Israeli government, which he claims supports actions in Gaza [2][3][4]. Group 1: Termination Details - Ahmed Shahrour was informed of his termination via email after being suspended for five weeks due to his critical messages about Amazon's ties to Israel [2][3]. - Amazon stated that Shahrour violated company standards and policies by posting non-work-related messages regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict [3]. Group 2: Contract Controversy - Shahrour's protests were specifically against Amazon's $1.2 billion contract with the Israeli government and military, known as Project Nimbus, which involves providing AI tools and infrastructure [3]. - An employee group associated with Shahrour claimed that his firing was a response to his activism against the contract, which he views as complicity in violence [3]. Group 3: Statements and Reactions - Shahrour described his termination as retaliation aimed at silencing dissenting Palestinian voices within Amazon [4]. - Amazon's human resources communicated appreciation for Shahrour's contributions while detailing the termination process [3].