AI breaks the cycle

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Tech Across the Globe

Rakuten wants cheap AI: We interviewed Rakuten’s AI chief, who heads up a team of 1,000 developing technology to help augment the company’s many businesses. The top priority: “to deliver the maximum margin.”

EU AI investment: The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and Australia’s Goodman Group agreed to set up a multibillion-dollar European data center business. They’re initially investing $2.6 billion to develop projects in Frankfurt, Amsterdam and Paris.

Larry’s money: Larry Ellison has agreed to personally guarantee $40.4 billion in equity financing for Paramount’s Warner Bros bid. The 81-year-old Oracle chairman is boosting the offer from the organization run by his son, David Ellison, as the battle over the Hollywood company continues.

Revalued

FlexShopper, a provider of lease-to-own financing for appliances, electronics and other consumer products, filed for bankruptcy months after firing its CEO following an internal investigation into fraudulent loan documents. The Florida-based firm said it has an offer to sell its business to an affiliate of fellow lease-to-own provider Snap Finance.

Must Read

The global memory chip industry has had an excellent 2025, with AI boosting sales and profit at big names like SK Hynix to record levels. The belief among executives is that this AI-driven demand won’t repeat the boom-bust cycles of the past, however, cautions Ian King, fortunes in this volatile sector of chipmaking can change very quickly. 

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