Berkshire Hathaway boosted stake in Alphabet, homebuilders in the second quarter
Berkshire Hathaway is increasing its stake in Google’s parent company, Alphabet. It is also boosting its holdings in homebuilders. The company also continued to pare its stake in financial companies and a number of other stocks in the April-June quarter. That's according to a regulatory filing filed late Friday. The company agreed in June to invest $10 billion in Alphabet. It expanded its stake to roughly 106 million shares worth about $37.76 billion as of June 30. Berkshire also increased its investments in builder Lennar, Delta Air Lines and Macy’s, while reducing stakes in several financial companies, among others.
An 'influencer' degree? Colleges bet on content creator major as critics question its value
Arizona State University has launched a new bachelor's degree in content creation. The new major has sparked considerable interest and scrutiny. The program includes courses in traditional communication and media studies, along with skills-based classes in podcasting, studio production and on-camera presence. Critics question the legitimacy and value of such a degree. However, similar programs exist at other universities, reflecting a growing recognition of content creation as a viable career path. Experts note that while the creator economy is booming, most individual influencers don’t see a huge payoff. Proponents of these programs argue they teach transferable skills and can give students a leg up in an increasingly digital world.
Flock announces changes amid backlash over its license plate reader network
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A company that operates a vast nationwide network of automated cameras that record the license plate numbers and other characteristics of all passing vehicles every day is making changes to its platform. The changes announced Thursday by Flock Safety are intended to quell privacy concerns and address documented abuses of its system by some members of law enforcement. They will make what were once optional guardrails mandatory by Jan. 1. Among them: All law enforcement customers will have to implement an audit tool that’s intended to flag abnormal search behavior. The company is increasingly under scrutiny from lawmakers from both parties, civil liberties advocates and citizens across the U.S.
Taiwan briefly slows its mobile internet to text-only speed as part of defense drill
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — For 30 minutes, the internet in parts of Taiwan crawled. The slowdown Thursday for people in Taipei and other cities was part of annual military exercises that aim to model a response to a possible Chinese military invasion. Mobile web traffic was slowed to a speed adequate for texting mostly. 5G access is more typical in Taiwan's cities. Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te apologized for the inconvenience, but emphasized the drill's necessity. This year, the exercises included more civilians and coordination with local governments. The drills come amid rising tensions with China, which frequently sends military planes and ships towards Taiwan.
Google unveils latest Pixel phones with slimmer cameras and more AI features
Google on Wednesday unveiled its latest lineup of Pixel phones, with slimmer cameras that include more a powerful zoom and artificial intelligence features designed to help users accomplish things with fewer taps and swipes. With the improvements, the search giant hopes to give users a reason to buy new models and expand the number of people using its AI tools. Beginning Wednesday, U.S. customers can order the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro and Pixel 11 Pro XL, starting at $900, $1,100 and $1,300, respectively. The Pixel Pro Fold, meanwhile, starts at $1,900. That’s a $100 increase for each phone from last year’s prices.
As Trump Media scraps some businesses, it's doubling down on Truth Social and the president
NEW YORK (AP) — The president's social media company is going back to its roots. The parent of Truth Social said Monday it is abandoning several new businesses — crypto, online betting, financial services — to refocus on building up its social media platform. Part of that effort is a new paid service for Wall Street traders who want sneak peeks at the president's market-moving posts. The service has drawn criticism from government watchdogs for basically setting itself up as a paid alternative to the White House press office. The parent company, Trump Media & Technology, detailed its new plans Monday after posting losses in the latest quarter jumped tenfold.
Jury selection begins in Meta youth harms trial in California federal court
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Jury selection began Wednesday in Meta’s federal trial over claims its platforms have harmed youth mental health and track children in violation of federal law. The trial is scheduled to begin next week and is expected to last six to eight weeks. Meta faces 29 states in the federal multidistrict lawsuit filed in 2023, but the Oakland trial will only include the first four — California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey.
Vietnam’s VinSpace signs deal with Elon Musk’s SpaceX to launch its first satellites in 2027
HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — The Vietnamese aerospace company VinSpace has signed a contract with SpaceX to launch its first satellites in 2027, marking a big step in Vietnam’s efforts to develop its space industry. The satellites will fly on a SpaceX Transporter rideshare mission, which carries multiple customers’ satellites on one rocket. VinSpace, part of the Vietnamese conglomerate Vingroup, will develop, manufacture and operate the satellites to test its technologies in orbit and support future commercial applications. Established in November 2025, VinSpace aims to become a full-service aerospace company. Its parent, Vingroup, is expanding into high-tech industries including electric vehicles, space, artificial intelligence and robotics.
Zuckerberg manifesto sketches out Meta's ambitions for world-changing AI technology
Meta Platforms has released a new AI model for developers, emphasizing open-source access. CEO Mark Zuckerberg warned Monday in an online essay against concentrating advanced AI under a few companies or governments. The new model, Muse Glimmer, includes a permissive open-source license, allowing broader use. Zuckerberg argues that open-source AI promotes fair development and helps keep the U.S. competitive. He cautions that AI controlled by select entities could lead to unfavorable outcomes. Zuckerberg also addressed concerns about "distillation," a method some accuse Chinese companies of using to extract technical features from U.S. AI models. He said he believes learning from observations is crucial for progress.
As AI grips world, the thrill of collecting vintage computers is growing
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. (AP) — As Silicon Valley invents the artificial-intelligence future, a growing community of hobbyists is preserving the classic computers that helped launch the digital revolution. These hardware enthusiasts collect and restore decades-old Atari, Commodore and IBM machines that are ancestors to today’s laptops, wearable devices and smartphones. Collectors spend countless hours repairing clunky, obsolete machines that most users ditched in the '80s. The community's passion was evident at the Vintage Computer Festival held in Silicon Valley in early August.
