Sep 18, 2026
Major technology companies have collectively gained $160 billion in profits from their equity stakes in other artificial intelligence companies, reflecting the significant financial returns from strategic AI investments across the industry.
Meta abandoned an aggressive AI-driven reorganization plan, code-named Project OT, that would have cut headcount by 25% or more and replaced up to 60% of some teams with AI agents. The plan collapsed due to internal employee resistance and AI agents making disruptive errors.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg released a lengthy manifesto detailing the company's approach to AI development, including giving Meta's board more authority over AI safety criteria. The essay lays out Meta's vision for competing in the AI race.
IBM has signed a definitive agreement to acquire HRL Laboratories, a private research lab jointly owned by Boeing and General Motors, adding silicon-spin qubit expertise as a second hardware track alongside its existing superconducting quantum computing technology.
Starbucks Corp. is developing in-house tools with artificial intelligence that could replace some software applications it currently purchases from companies such as Microsoft Corp. and International Business Machines Corp.