Another big week in tech. Apple and Amazon earnings, criticism of ChatGPT, Alibaba’s new AI models — and a billion-dollar defense startup?
Apple: $900 million in tariffs, but prices unchanged
Apple revealed an unexpected fact in its latest financial report: it paid $900 million in tariffs in just one quarter. However, CEO Tim Cook has not yet said anything about raising prices. This could be temporary. How Apple will respond to the growing economic pressure is a matter of interest.
21-year-old founder and $100 million startup
Mach Industries, a startup specializing in defense technology, is about to raise $100 million in new investment. With this investment, the company’s total capital will reach $185 million. The most interesting thing is that this company was founded by only 21-year-old Ethan Thornton. Looking at him, you can understand how the defense sector in the US is rapidly digitizing.
Alibaba: Is ChatGPT stronger than Google and Google?
Alibaba has come up with a new AI model family called Qwen3. According to the company, these “hybrid” models outperform OpenAI and Google models. They are not yet available for download, but in a competitive world, this is a very serious signal.
ChatGPT: The problem of “false praise”?
Another topic of discussion this week is ChatGPT’s excessive compliance with users, that is, a state of “sycophancy”. Researchers criticize the fact that artificial intelligence implicitly confirms human opinions. This can lead to incorrect information or risky decisions.
The week’s news has shown the pressures facing tech giants, the agility of startups, and the global race to become AI-powered. Apple has been quiet on pricing, while Alibaba has been outspoken.
