China is beating the US in biotech, and we’re not even trying
A new analysis shows China has achieved parity with the US in drug development. The shift is the result of a decades-long strategy, while the US appears indifferent to the competition.
Category: Business
Texas Bans Plato, and a New Front in the Campus Wars Opens
A professor at a Texas university was told to remove Plato’s “Symposium” from his course syllabus or be reassigned. Administrators argued the ancient text on love violated state laws against teaching “gender and race ideology.” This is censorship with a very modern twist.
Wall Street’s AI Patience Wears Thin as Spending Soars
The latest earnings season reveals a new reality for Big Tech. Investors are no longer blindly funding the AI arms race. They’re demanding clear growth, and punishing companies where the payoff seems uncertain.
Customer satisfaction is in freefall. Can predictable AI fix it?
Customer satisfaction scores have hit a new low for the fourth year in a row, according to Forrester. The Fast Company Impact Council argues the problem is a fundamental misalignment in how companies measure customer experience success.
Microsoft’s AI Bet Pays Off Big, But Costs Are Skyrocketing
Microsoft just posted a massive quarter, with revenue up 17% to $81.3 billion. The star was Intelligent Cloud, fueled by Azure’s 39% growth. However, the company’s capital expenditures for AI hit a staggering $37.5 billion.
Amazon, Chanel Join Saks’ Bankruptcy Committee. It’s a Power Move.
In a major power shift, Amazon and top luxury brands have been appointed to the official committee representing Saks’ creditors in its bankruptcy. This gives them a direct, influential voice in the retailer’s $3.4 billion restructuring, where they are owed hundreds of millions.
The UK’s AI data centre job promises don’t add up
The UK government is promoting new “AI Growth Zones” with promises of thousands of local jobs. A closer look reveals these figures are based on flawed estimates from industry lobbyists and don’t reflect the reality of automated hyperscale data centres.
A Real Estate Giant Bets $14 Billion on India’s Data Center Boom
Real estate firm Lodha Developers has committed an additional INR 1 trillion ($10.9 billion) to build a 2.5GW data center park in Maharashtra. The move follows a previous $3 billion agreement, but turning a non-binding MoU into reality is a massive challenge.
Apple’s Siri Payouts Are Finally Hitting Bank Accounts
Apple users are starting to receive payments from a $95 million class-action settlement over Siri privacy allegations. The payouts, stemming from a 2019 scandal, are around $8 per device. Apple denied wrongdoing but settled to avoid litigation.
Xbox’s PS5 Strategy: Day-One Releases Are Now The Rule
Xbox is trying to standardize day-one releases on PlayStation 5, but admits it’s been inconsistent. An executive says the delayed PS5 version of Forza Horizon 6 is due to development constraints, not a strategic holdback. The era of Xbox console exclusivity for its own sake is over.