The $80 Billion Gaming Giant That Refuses to Log Off

One of the year’s hottest tech stocks has surged nearly 100% YTD, powered by a booming creator economy and AI-driven engagement.

While safety controversies and lawsuits loom, the monetization playbook is expanding fast, and Wall Street is betting growth will outweigh the risks.

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Autonomous Vehicle

Waymo Expands Robotaxi Testing to New York City, Its Most Complex Driving Environment Yet

Waymo, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOGL), has secured the first-ever permit to test self-driving vehicles in New York City, marking a significant step forward for autonomous driving in one of the world's most challenging traffic environments.

Under the new authorization, Waymo can deploy up to eight Jaguar I-Pace electric SUVs across Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn until late September.

For now, the vehicles will operate with trained safety drivers behind the wheel, one hand on the wheel at all times, and without carrying passengers.

The company is required to share test data with the city's Department of Transportation (DOT) and hold regular meetings with officials as part of New York's new autonomous vehicle safety regime.

The permit builds on Waymo's experience in San Francisco, Austin, Phoenix, and Los Angeles; however, New York poses unique hurdles due to its dense traffic, pedestrians, and unpredictable weather.

Waymo first began mapping the city in 2021 with its Chrysler Pacifica minivans, laying the groundwork for this phase of testing.

As part of the approval, Waymo had to coordinate with first responders and document its operator training standards.

The trial runs through September, after which the company must seek an extension if it wants to continue operating in the city.

Data Centers

Meta’s $10B Louisiana Data Center Clears Power Hurdle with Gas Plants

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META) has received a critical green light for its $10 billion data center in Louisiana, as state regulators approved a controversial deal with Entergy to build three natural gas power plants dedicated to fueling the facility.

The plants, scheduled to come online in 2028 and 2029, are expected to generate up to 2.25 gigawatts of electricity.

At full scale, Meta’s data campus is expected to eventually require 5 gigawatts, underscoring the immense energy demands of artificial intelligence workloads and hyperscale data infrastructure.

This approval marks a significant milestone in Meta’s efforts to expand its AI data center capacity nationwide.

Alongside the gas plants, the agreement also includes plans to add 1.5 gigawatts of solar energy in Louisiana, part of Meta’s broader renewable portfolio.

Critics, however, argue the deal could leave local ratepayers on the hook for costs long after the 15-year contract ends, as gas plants typically operate for 30 years or more.

Environmental groups also point out that reliance on natural gas may complicate Meta’s pledge to reach net-zero emissions by 2030.

Still, the decision highlights the balancing act between meeting surging AI compute needs and navigating the long-term sustainability challenges of powering next-generation data centers.

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Space Tech

IBM Pushes AI Deeper into Space Science with Hugging Face Release

IBM (NYSE: IBM) and NASA have jointly introduced Surya, a groundbreaking open-source AI foundation model designed to predict solar activity and protect critical technology from space weather disruptions.

Released on Hugging Face, Surya is trained on nine years of high-resolution data from NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory, making it the first heliophysics AI model of its kind.

Solar storms, driven by flares and coronal mass ejections, can damage satellites, disrupt GPS navigation, knock out power grids, and even pose radiation risks to astronauts.

Surya addresses these risks by interpreting massive solar datasets with unprecedented resolution, enabling early forecasts of flare locations up to two hours in advance.

Researchers have already reported a 16% boost in flare classification accuracy compared to earlier approaches.

The model’s capabilities extend beyond basic detection, offering visual predictions of solar events that could impact communications, aviation, and agriculture.

By making Surya openly available, IBM and NASA aim to accelerate global research and democratize access to AI-driven space weather forecasting.

This release also complements IBM’s broader Prithvi model family, which applies AI to geospatial and weather data for climate and environmental research.

Surya represents both a scientific milestone and a practical tool for safeguarding modern technology from the unpredictable forces of the Sun.

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Recent Tech Movers

Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOGL)
Alphabet jumped after landing a $10 billion, six-year cloud deal with Meta.

The partnership highlights growing demand for AI infrastructure, where hyperscalers are racing to capture workloads from rival tech giants.

Google Cloud’s Q2 revenue already surged 32% year over year, and this contract strengthens its positioning against AWS and Microsoft.

With Meta leaning heavily into AI development and data center expansion, the win could set a precedent for more megadeals to follow.

Workday Inc. (NASDAQ: WDAY)
Workday topped earnings expectations with adjusted EPS of $2.21 versus $2.11 forecast, and revenue of $2.35 billion, up 13% year over year.

Still, shares slid after management flagged weakness in education and government contracts tied to funding uncertainty.

To offset slower segments, Workday is leaning into AI, including its acquisition of recruiting software firm Paradox.

While growth remains steady, investor sentiment is cautious given political and budget headwinds.

Palo Alto Networks Inc. (NASDAQ: PANW)
Cybersecurity giant Palo Alto rose after reporting strong earnings that helped ease concerns about its $25 billion CyberArk acquisition.

CEO Nikesh Arora warned that AI currently favors hackers more than defenders, with attacks accelerating to near real-time.

Palo Alto’s answer is platformization, consolidating fragmented cybersecurity tools under one roof. The firm now counts 1,400 customers using its integrated approach, aiming for up to 3,500 by 2030.

The stock trades rich, but execution remains strong as demand for unified security intensifies.

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Don’t Overlook This Tech Stock

Roblox (NYSE: RBLX) has surged 95% YTD, becoming one of 2025’s standout performers. Beneath the volatility, the company is reshaping its business model around creator monetization, advertising, and branded content.

At the center is its Developer Exchange program, which paid out $316 million last quarter, up 52% year over year.

Top creators are scaling quickly, with the top 1,000 averaging close to $1 million in annual earnings. New frameworks like the Creator Rewards Program are shifting incentives toward acquiring new users and organic traffic, deepening platform stickiness.

Roblox is also diversifying beyond in-game purchases.

Tests of Rewarded Video ads with Google open new advertising channels, while its IP licensing marketplace connects creators with brands like Netflix, Sega, and Lionsgate.

These deals expand monetization potential and help Roblox secure premium content partnerships that boost user engagement.

But controversy is never far. A viral hoax about a September shutdown went viral, forcing Roblox to publicly deny the rumors.

More seriously, lawsuits and bans in multiple countries highlight platform safety challenges.

Regulators are scrutinizing Roblox over inappropriate content and child safety, with a high-profile lawsuit underway in Louisiana.

Despite these risks, Wall Street remains bullish. Oppenheimer maintained an Outperform rating with a $158 target, while S&P Global upgraded the company’s debt to investment grade.

Engagement metrics back the optimism: monthly unique payers jumped 42% year over year to 23.4 million, and bookings per payer rose 6%.

The stock is expensive at 11x forward sales, well above gaming peers.

Yet the bullish case rests on Roblox evolving into a full-fledged creator economy platform, blending gaming, advertising, and branded IP.

If creator payouts and user growth continue to scale in tandem, the company could be building the foundation for its next phase of growth.

Everything Else

  • 📺 Apple raised its TV+ subscription price to $12.99 a month, up from $9.99.

  • 🚗 A Tesla crash has triggered a new safety probe as regulators weigh possible design flaws.

  • 🔒 The FTC warned tech firms not to weaken privacy to comply with EU and UK laws.

  • 📈 Zoom lifted its annual forecasts on robust demand for its AI-powered collaboration tools.

  • 🎮 Microsoft will let Xbox apps run on Windows PCs through third-party stores.

That's our coverage for today; thanks for reading! Reply to this email with feedback or any tech stocks you want me to check out.

Best Regards,
—Noah Zelvis
Tech Stock Insider