Meta Chooses GPUs Over Humans, Cuts 8,000 Jobs
Meta just traded 8,000 humans for GPU racks. And Zuckerberg said it out loud. Not restructuring. Not "rightsizing." Compute costs more than people now, so people go. ↳ Q1 revenue: $56B — up 33% ↳ Net income: $26.8B ↳ 2026 capex: up to $145B ↳ Severance date: May 20 This isn't a tough quarter. This is a choice. Proof of this pattern? Zuckerberg explicitly said the company has two cost centers — infrastructure and humans — and infrastructure won. Then declined to rule out more cuts. 80,000 tech workers have lost jobs in 2026 so far. AI didn't take them. Capex budgets did. Welcome to the future of Big Tech, record profits, fewer humans, and absolutely no remorse. #fintech #tech #finserv #AI @BetaMoroney @efipm @BrettKing @spirosmargaris @jasuja @enricomolinari @mikeflache https://t.co/4Ene5TNvTw
China's AI Firms Unleash High‑efficiency Models, Outpacing US Controls
1/3 🧵 China's AI doesn't sleep. This week alone: Ant Group, Meituan, and Tencent all dropped new models. Not iterating. Not catching up. Building with models that are on-par with those in the West. US export controls were supposed to slow this...
U.S. Interest Costs Overtake Defense Spending for First Time
The Death Spiral: America Now Spends More on Interest Than Defense Key Takeaways -U.S. interest payments surpassed defense spending in 2024 for the first time in nearly a century. -The gap is projected to widen significantly, with interest costs reaching $2.1 trillion...
Tokenized Collateral Could Unlock $500B Annual Interest Savings
Tokenized collateral is coming, and no less than the NASDAQ is trumpeting the half trillion dollars in annual interest saving from mobilizing idle collateral. In NASDAQ’s survey of 203 global market participants, 52% of global financial institutions expect to actively manage...
Meta's $2B Deal Flops Due to Arrogant Due Diligence
But what makes Meta and Manus' thwarted deal truly amazing is the lack of due diligence: "Meta conducted only a few weeks of due diligence to complete the acquisition in December, while neither Meta nor Manus sought Chinese regulatory approval for...
China’s Cheap Open‑weight AI Threatens Silicon Valley’s Model
Why China’s Affordable AI Is a Worry for Silicon Valley Chinese AI models are cheaper and more adaptable than the preeminent US platforms, and studies suggest they’re now almost as proficient. How did that happen? How will Silicon Valley pay for...
America’s R&D Decline Cedes Science Lead to China
1/2 China didn't take America's crown in science and soft power. America handed it over. China just crossed $1 trillion in R&D — now outspending the US. Meanwhile Gen Z Americans are "Chinamaxxing" on TikTok, romanticizing hot water and high-speed...
Banks Lag Tokenization; Neobanks Poised to Dominate
The tokenized economy is already here, and tokenization is poised to join AI on bankers’ long list of transformative opportunities they’d like to do—but don’t. Legacy systems, regulatory excuses, and endless pilot purgatory continue to hold incumbents back, letting neobanks and...
ChatGPT Wiped Out $14B of Chegg Value
Chegg Lost $14 Billion to ChatGPT in Three Years ChatGPT launched Nov 30, 2022. Chegg issued its first AI warning May 2, 2023 — just 5 months later. Stock down 48% in a single day. ↳ Today Chegg trades at $1.02....
DeepSeek V4 Boosts Open‑Source AI, Cuts Nvidia Dependence
Three reasons why DeepSeek’s new model matters The long-awaited V4 is more efficient and a win for Chinese chipmakers. 1. It breaks new ground for an open-source model. 2. It delivers on a new approach to memory efficiency. 3. It marks...
Neobanks Capture 40% of New Banking Relationships
Neobanks are the new kings of banking. With almost 40% of the new banking relationships worldwide, 52% satisfied with their bank, and 72% of consumers now have two or more banks. A few years ago, there was a serious debate about...
China Can Overcome Chip Process Gap by Stacking More
Jensen Huang: The claim that China lacks AI chips is utterly baseless; they can scale up computing power infinitely if they choose to. China can fully compensate for the process gap in individual chips by stacking more chips. 'They have...
China Q1 GDP Hits 5% Amid Tech Surge
China collapse fans will not be pleased.... China's Q1 2026 GDP just came in at 5.0% YoY — beating expectations, matching full-year 2025, fastest pace since Q2 2025. Services surging, semiconductors up 20.6%, industrial robots up 24.4%. Yes, property still a drag. Yes,...
AI Sovereignty Emerging as $600B Strategic Offensive
In a world ravaged by war, talk of the end of NATO, and an increased emphasis on financial sovereignty, AI sovereignty is growing in importance by the minute. McKinsey’s latest report on sovereign AI makes a compelling case for nations...
Speedy Tokenization & Broken AI Governance Threaten Banking Loyalty
Tokenized Securities Settlement: Speed Kills Corporate AI governance is a sham, and 89% of your bank customers are one tap away from leaving In all my years of writing, I’ve never had two two-part articles in a single newsletter, so enjoy...
US Forces Allies to Adopt Stricter China Chip Bans
So, after a war in Iran, threats to leave NATO, and zero focus on Asia, what position is Washington in to demand this of Japan or the Netherlands? Washington pushes allies to match tougher China chip curbs under new bill New US...
AI Is Becoming a Commodity, True Edge Requires Uniqueness
AI Is Now a Commodity: Same Tools, Same Vendors, Same Results – How Agents Build a Real Edge This is the most impactful AI read I’ve seen in months — it confronts the harsh reality that AI is rapidly commoditizing,...
Asia Leads Digital Wallets; Stablecoins Diversify Beyond USD
What Asia Knew First: Digital Wallets Now Lead Global Payments 👉Topics: ➢ What Asia Knew First: Digital Wallets Now Lead Global Payments Digital wallets are taking over payments, and the days when cards were king are behind us. Asia remains a decade...
SEA QR Payments Surge, Powering Cross‑Border Trade
The IMF has a MUST-READ report covering Southeast Asia’s (SEA’s) QR-based digital payment revolution that is transforming cross-border payments, promoting local currency usage, and boosting trade and inclusion. Humble QR payments, born in China back in 2014, are now changing all...
CBDC Leaders Still Back Cash, Not Eliminating It
Is this what passes as scholarship at the @OMFIF these days? "Don’t kill cash - OMFIF" No CBDC-building nation has proposed the elimination of cash. Look at China and India as examples of the two largest. Both...
Tokenized Deposits Outperform Stablecoins by 1250% Efficiency
Why Tokenized Deposits Are More Efficient Than Stablecoins: The 1250% Efficiency Gap Banks Can’t Ignore This Week's Topics: ↳ Why Tokenized Deposits Are More Efficient Than Stablecoins: The 1250% Efficiency Gap Banks Can’t Ignore ↳ I Found a Prompt Injection Attack Buried...
Africa and Asia Drive Stablecoin Adoption in Emerging Economies
Africa and Asia are leading in stablecoin use despite the “disconnect” with the hype, which focuses on a massive, but mostly illusory market cap, and actual everyday adoption. BVNK worked with YouGov, who surveyed 4,658 adults online aged 18+ years across...
Only Half of APAC Banks Harness AI’s 70% Value Potential
A survey of APAC’s banks in 2025 found that four functions—customer relationships, customer service, innovation, and IT—were so important that they were expected to contribute more than 70% of AI value. The problem, however, is that while half of APACs are...
AI Banking Success Requires Region‑Specific, Production‑Scale Deployments
AI is not “one-size-fits-all,” and we need to recognize that use cases that work in SEA won’t work in LatAm. While the AI spend in banking is projected to surge over 10x from $35 billion in 2023 to $368 billion by...
Boards Ignoring AI Governance Despite Clear Responsibility
EY’s new report delivers a long-overdue wake-up call: boards are responsible for AI quality, liability, and governance, yet still most remain willfully detached. That boards are being advised that they have a key role to play in AI governance is long...
China's OpenClaw AI Fuels Lobster Agent Cybersecurity Panic
"Raising a lobster" is the new Labubu OpenClaw AI goes viral in China, raising cybersecurity fears Email deletion scare underscores risks as ‘lobster’ agents surge across real-world AI systems handling sensitive personal data #China #techwar #chips #tech @baoshaoshan @thecyrusjanssen @DOualaalou @lajohnstondr @PSTAsiatech https://t.co/LceRUFV7T6
Chinese Workers Face AI‑driven Survival Race
“It feels like Squid Game”: China’s workers scramble to keep up in the AI race Employees are rushing to learn new tools as layoffs and automation fuel widespread AI anxiety. On RedNote: “Trying to keep up with AI is more exhausting than...
Stablecoin Volume Is 7% of Advertised $62 T Hype
Stablecoins are a great way to pay, and don't need fake numbers to generate FOMO The real, hype-free, stablecoin volume in 2025 is just $4.2 trillion — only 7% of the $62 trillion headline number once you strip out trading noise,...
EU Accelerates Digital Euro as Euro‑Stablecoins Surge to Trillions
The EU is desperate to preserve monetary sovereignty, which is under attack by US stablecoins. That’s why S&P’s analysis is good news for the EU and ECB, which is in damage control mode, speeding digital euro launch. S&P Global...
EU’s EUDI Wallet Offers Decentralized ID to Beat Tinder Fakes
Your ID on the Blockchain Can Fight Tinder Fakes The biggest question remains: who should issue the ID? The technology used can be debated after determining who controls the ID. Should it be a form of state-issued Digital...
Tokenization Poised for $500M Savings, Banks Lag
Tokenization at a Turning Point in 2026: NASDAQ Eyes $500M Collateral Savings, IBM Urges Banks to Act – But Interoperability Stalls Topics: ↳ IBM: Tokenization at a Turning Point Banks Can’t Afford to Miss in 2026 (But Most Likely Won’t Act) ↳...
Stablecoin Stability Depends on Hidden Infrastructure, Not Just Assets
Stablecoin's Biggest Risks Hide in the Plumbing – The Infrastructure No One Talks About MIT looks at the risks hiding in stablecoins’ plumbing to show how holding a dollar peg depends not only on the quality of assets, the focus of...
China Prioritizes Efficient, Open-Source AI Over Scale
China is running multiple AI races Great read showing how the US and China are on different paths with AI and not really in the same race. China's focus on AI efficiency is infinitely more practical. ↳...
Broaden AI ROI Metrics to Capture Hidden Benefits
How you define AI's ROI should determine what you measure. IBM suggests that these users widen their search and acknowledge that agentic AI’s ROI should have many components beyond the one or two usually used. It's likely that many of the...
Spain Targets 2028 Digital Euro to Cut US Dependence
USD stablecoins guarantee a digital euro; now we have even more proof of this from Spain: “Europe needs a sovereign payment architecture,” and “the noticeable increase in US stablecoin-based financial intermediation increases the urgency.” Spain Pushes for 2028 Launch of...
China Leads Global Nuclear Build, 37 Reactors Underway
Ranked: Countries Building the Most Nuclear Reactors China is also leading in fusion research and has the world's first production thorium reactor Key Takeaways -China accounts for 37 of the world’s reactors under construction—more than all other listed countries combined. -India and Russia rank...
Chinese EVs Dominate Mexico, Indonesia; Lag in US
Where Chinese EVs Are Selling the Most Worldwide -Chinese-made BEVs account for nearly 90% of Mexico’s EV sales and over 60% in Indonesia. -They represent 26% of UK sales but remain below 1% in the U.S. #China #techwar #chips #tech @baoshaoshan @thecyrusjanssen @DOualaalou @lajohnstondr @PSTAsiatech https://t.co/jrAAoNFbNo
Quantum Threat: Q-Day Could Cripple Global Financial Security
Quantum computers are coming — and in the next decade, could break widely used public-key encryption (RSA, ECC) that secures everything from bank transactions to crypto. Citigroup’s latest report on quantum calls it a trillion-dollar security threat, and they are not...
AI's Honeymoon Ends: 2026 Demands Real Value
Deutsche Bank boldly says what many are thinking: The honeymoon is over for AI. 2026 is likely to be a tough year, and AI will have to prove its value in 2026 to keep the money flowing. The prognosis is not good,...
Wall Street's Bitcoin Bet Fails as Hedge Thesis Crumbles
Bitcoin Won Over Wall Street and Now It’s Paying the Price Wall Street may invest in BTC but that doesn't mean they are "hodlers" with the same religious zeal shown by many who profess to "never sell." -Bitcoin's price has...
AI Agents Turn Fintech Into Retention Powerhouse, Banks Lag
AI agents become fintech’s retention weapon…as banks are left in the dust • Agents own the relationship end-to-end • No more “customer churn” surprises • Revenue sticks instead of leaks • Banks stuck in pilot purgatory #fintech #tech #finserv #AI @BetaMoroney @efipm @BrettKing @spirosmargaris @jasuja @enricomolinari @mikeflache https://t.co/6I8skF6dkR
96% AI Adoption, 89% See Revenue Gains—Too Late for Many
AI in Banking Special: From Pilots to Profits – 96% Adoption, 89% See Revenue/Cost Wins Topics: ↳ AI in FinServ Transitions from Pilots to Proven ROI as 89% See Higher Revenue and Lower Costs ↳ GenAI in APAC Banks: 70% of Value...
AI Is Already Simplifying Online Scams, Experts Warn
AI is already making online swindles easier. It could get much worse. Some cybersecurity researchers say it’s too early to worry about AI-orchestrated cyberattacks. Others say it could already be happening. #fintech #tech #finserv #AI @BetaMoroney @efipm @BrettKing @spirosmargaris @jasuja @enricomolinari @mikeflache https://t.co/xbcVW86X8z
EU Parliament Backs Digital Euro to Curb US Payment Dominance
Post-Trump assault on Greenland, the EU parliament delivers a big win for the digital euro as it wins 420-158 backing in EU Parliament straw poll The digital euro couldn't have better timing as the EU looks to the digital euro...
Ant Group’s AI Health Chatbot Leads China’s AI Race
Who exactly is winning the AI race? AI health care is taking off in China, led by Jack Ma’s Ant Group Ant’s health chatbot has become a top downloaded app in China as users seek personalized care they can’t get from...
Agentic AI ROI Goes Beyond Revenue—Spot Real Wins
Why Agentic AI ROI Isn’t Just Revenue – Look Wider or Miss Real Wins Topics: ↳ Why Agentic AI ROI Isn’t Just Revenue – IBM’s Call to Look Wider or Miss Real Wins ↳ AI Tokens: Enterprise Spend Surges 20% – On-Prem Open...
AI Agents Trade Capability for Controllability and Reliability
AI Agents aren't as smart as you think.... Among production agents in the survey, 68% execute at most 10 steps before requiring human intervention, with 47% executing fewer than five steps. But there’s more. After constraining agents, 74% of models rely primarily...
Enterprise AI Stalls Due to Lack of Domain Experts
So is AI failing, or is it the management? Only 17% of Fortune 500 senior leaders have meaningful technical skills — just 5% ever held a technical role. That’s why the single biggest bottleneck holding back enterprise AI isn’t the tech. It’s...
Stablecoins Overstate Benefits, Face Liquidity Spread Challenges
In what it calls “inconvenient truths” Pitchbook lays out five very real problems with stablecoins. The first of the two most critical is that stablecoins consistently overstate their advantages, particularly in nations with fast and free payments, including the US (FedNow),...
UNDP: Chinese Open‑Source AI Crucial to Prevent APAC Divide
A sobering UNDP report warns that unmanaged AI risks widening inequality between nations — and that China's open-source models are the only way for many nations not to be left behind The UNDP’s “The Next Great Divergence: Why AI May...