Alphabet Class C

• Elon Musk's xAI faces tougher road building out data centers after EPA rule update - An updated rule from the EPA closed a loophole that allowed xAI to build its Memphis data center quickly using air-polluting turbines as a power source.
• Google launches Personal Intelligence feature in Gemini app, challenging Apple Intelligence - Google has been bolstering its AI offerings as it takes on OpenAI, and is now going directly at Apple.
• Walmart teams up with Google's Gemini to make it easier for shoppers to find and buy products - The retail giant also has a similar deal with OpenAI's ChatGPT and has its own AI-powered chatbot, Sparky.
• Google's boomerang year: 20% of AI software engineers hired in 2025 were ex-employees - As competition heats up for AI talent, Google turned to hiring more so-called boomerang employees in 2025.
• The Oscars are heading to YouTube in 2029 - The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences signed a multi-year deal with Google-owned YouTube to stream the Oscars globally starting in 2029.
• A 'seismic' Nvidia shift, AI chip shortages and how it's threatening to hike gadget prices - The AI infrastructure buildout is creating shortages of components including various types of chips that are also used in consumer electronics.