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Friday, Jan 30, 2026
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Tech Market Shifts and AI Investment Surge Drive Global Innovation and Layoffs
From Microsoft and Apple to Uber’s robotaxi push, key developments reflect AI’s transformative impact on industry and jobs
Technology companies are at a pivotal moment as AI investment reshapes markets, strategy, and workforce decisions around the world.
Microsoft saw its market value drop by roughly $360 billion after reporting a 66% increase in data centre costs tied to AI spending, a development that weighed on its share price even as revenue grew.
Apple moved to expand its artificial intelligence capabilities by acquiring an Israeli start‑up focused on facial expression analysis in a deal approaching $2 billion, while OpenAI is in discussions to raise up to $40 billion in fresh capital from major technology partners including Nvidia, Amazon, and Microsoft.
Meta Platforms reported record sales that lifted its share price by around 10% even as it outlined large capital expenditures for future growth, while Tesla announced the discontinuation of certain vehicle models as part of its pivot toward AI and robotics initiatives after posting its first annual revenue decline.
Uber committed $500 million to Canada’s Waabi to accelerate deployment of autonomous vehicles, signalling intensifying investment in self‑driving technology.
Workforce dynamics remain in flux as Amazon moved to cut another 16,000 corporate jobs, bringing total layoffs to 30,000 in recent months amid higher AI spending.
On the semiconductor front, ASML forecast strong sales driven by robust demand for AI‑related chips, underscoring continued capital expenditure in critical supply chains.
Regulatory landscapes are also evolving, with the UK competition authority targeting Google’s AI search overviews to loosen search dominance and encourage a fairer deal for publishers.
SoftBank is reportedly close to agreeing an additional $30 billion investment in OpenAI as AI capital commitments escalate steeply.
Microsoft saw its market value drop by roughly $360 billion after reporting a 66% increase in data centre costs tied to AI spending, a development that weighed on its share price even as revenue grew.
Apple moved to expand its artificial intelligence capabilities by acquiring an Israeli start‑up focused on facial expression analysis in a deal approaching $2 billion, while OpenAI is in discussions to raise up to $40 billion in fresh capital from major technology partners including Nvidia, Amazon, and Microsoft.
Meta Platforms reported record sales that lifted its share price by around 10% even as it outlined large capital expenditures for future growth, while Tesla announced the discontinuation of certain vehicle models as part of its pivot toward AI and robotics initiatives after posting its first annual revenue decline.
Uber committed $500 million to Canada’s Waabi to accelerate deployment of autonomous vehicles, signalling intensifying investment in self‑driving technology.
Workforce dynamics remain in flux as Amazon moved to cut another 16,000 corporate jobs, bringing total layoffs to 30,000 in recent months amid higher AI spending.
On the semiconductor front, ASML forecast strong sales driven by robust demand for AI‑related chips, underscoring continued capital expenditure in critical supply chains.
Regulatory landscapes are also evolving, with the UK competition authority targeting Google’s AI search overviews to loosen search dominance and encourage a fairer deal for publishers.
SoftBank is reportedly close to agreeing an additional $30 billion investment in OpenAI as AI capital commitments escalate steeply.
