(Bloomberg) -- ****** eX approached artificial intelligence coding startup Cognition AI Inc. about a potential acquisition, according to people familiar with the matter, in what would have been its second large takeover in recent months to gain ground in the AI race.
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#deploys

(Bloomberg) -- Fractile, a startup developing chips tailored for artificial intelligence use that has a deal to supply Anthropic PBC, is in advanced talks to notch a valuation more than six times higher than the price it landed in May.
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#anthropic #deploys

(Bloomberg) -- A record surge in Moderna Inc.'s shares delivered a $5 billion blow to short sellers who had bet that the vaccine maker's years-long slump would continue.
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#senator

(Bloomberg) -- FTX co-founder Gary ***** and former Alameda Research Chief Executive Officer Caroline Ellison avoided financial penalties under a settlement with the US derivatives regulator over their roles at the collapsed cryptocurrency exchange.
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#gary #Research #executive #ellison

(Bloomberg) -- FTX co-founder Gary ***** and former Alameda Research Chief Executive Officer Caroline Ellison avoided financial penalties under a settlement with the US derivatives regulator over their roles at the collapsed cryptocurrency exchange.
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#bloomberg #gary #alameda #executive

Sands Capital, an investment management company, released its "Sands Capital Technology Innovators Fund" Q2 2026 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. In the quarter, global equities rebounded sharply, with the MSCI ACWI posting its strongest quarterly gain since 2020, supported by broad market strength, easing geopolitical tensions, and continued enthusiasm for AI infrastructure. Information technology led the advance, with semiconductor and hardware companies accounting for most of the index's rise. The fund returned 26.9% (net) in the second quarter of 2026. The portfolio benefited from strong gains across memory, software infrastructure, cybersecurity, and other AI-related holdings, although its concentrated exposure to mega-cap chip designers and manufacturers weighed on relative performance as leadership broadened into CPUs, networking, and memory. Vertical software, internet, and financial holdings were modest detractors amid macro concerns and uncertainty over AI disruption. The fund remains focused on critical AI bottlenecks, including compute, memory, manufacturing, networking, and power, while retaining selected businesses that may use AI to strengthen their competitive positions. You can check the fund's top five holdings to learn more about its leading investment ideas for the year.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Sands Capital Technology Innovators Fund highlighted Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:PLTR). Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:PLTR), which builds and deploys software platforms for the intelligence community to ***** ist in counterterrorism investigations and operations, detracted from the performance this quarter. On August 7, 2026, Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:PLTR) closed at $172.01 per share. One-month return of Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:PLTR) was 32.27% and its shares lost 5.84% over the past 52 weeks. Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:PLTR) has a market capitalization of $413.36 billion.
Sands Capital Technology Innovators Fund stated the following regarding Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:PLTR) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:PLTR) is a data intelligence and operational AI platform that helps governments and enterprises solve complex challenges by integrating and ***** yzing data across functions. Our holding was a detractor during the quarter, as shares declined despite reporting very strong first-quarter results. Revenue growth accelerated meaningfully, the company delivered a record guidance raise, and profitability continued to improve, with strong incremental margins and continued GAAP earnings growth. In our view, the stock reaction reflected elevated expectations and ongoing investor debate around valuation and competition from AI labs, rather than deterioration in the underlying business. We believe Palantir is increasingly proving itself as a clear winner in artificial intelligence, with its platform tied to dur

Alphabet reported earnings on July 22 and the stock dropped more than 7% in a single session. The numbers weren't bad. Cloud grew 82% year over year. Advertising held up. EPS beat. What rattled investors was the spending. Capital expenditure guidance for 2026 came in at $195 billion to $205 billion. Free cash flow went negative for the first time in the company's history. The market looked at that bill and sold first, asked questions later.
Five days later, Phillip Securities ****** yst Serena Lim Yi Qi published a note saying the market got it wrong. On July 27, she upgraded Alphabet to Buy from Accumulate, lowered her price target to $425 from $450, and explained why the combination of those two moves makes sense.
The upgrade from Accumulate to Buy is the meaningful part of the call. Phillip Securities is saying Alphabet's AI momentum has reached the point where sitting on the sidelines no longer makes sense, according to Investing.com.
Lim Yi Qi pointed to Alphabet's vertically integrated AI ecosystem as the core of the bull case. The company controls its own custom silicon through its Tensor Processing Units, runs optimized data centers, and deploys its Gemini models across Search, Cloud, and its broader product suite. That integration, in her view, gives Alphabet a structural advantage that is starting to show up in the numbers in a meaningful way.
The free cash flow picture is more complicated. Alphabet turned negative on free cash flow for the first time this quarter because of the scale of its AI investment. Lim Yi Qi views that as a temporary condition supporting stronger long-term growth rather than a structural problem. The company has also raised its 2026 capex guidance to a range of $195 billion to $205 billion, signaling the buildout is far from over.

#free #flow #first #cloud

Lewis Hamilton has spent the better part of 2026 fighting a battle most viewers cannot see. While the cameras track his car around every corner, the variables costing him lap time aren't always coming from the **** pit.
Speaking with astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson at the Miami Grand Prix as part of a science and sport feature on StarTalk, the seven-time world champion laid out exactly how difficult the 2026 regulations have made the job of a racing driver – and who takes the blame when things go wrong.
"The software has to work right," Hamilton told Tyson. "And that's the biggest problem. Like yesterday, I was losing three-tenths of a second just because the software wasn't doing its job. I didn't know till I came back out to my engineers, I'm like, 'I'm sorry. I'm slow.' And they're like, 'You're not slow. The software wasn't working.'"
Tyson's reply cut to the heart of it: no one watching at home connects a slow lap to an energy deployment algorithm. The audience sees the driver. Hamilton's response was simply: "Exactly."
The 2026 regulations have redrawn the relationship between driver input and car output more dramatically than any ruleset in recent memory. The power unit now targets a near 50/50 split between the combustion engine and electrical energy – up from an 80/20 ratio that governed the sport from 2014 through 2025. The MGU-K now deploys up to 350kW of electrical power, nearly three times the previous 120kW ceiling. The catch is that the battery storing all that energy is capped at just 4 megajoules at any given moment, meaning it can be drained far more rapidly than before.

Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:PLTR) is one of the 15 Best NASDAQ 100 Stocks to Buy Other Than ****** eX.
On July 7, 2026, Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:PLTR) announced an enterprise expansion agreement with GNP Seguros. The alliance marks Palantir's first publicly announced commercial customer in Latin America. GNP Seguros has used Palantir's Foundry and Artificial Intelligence Platform in targeted deployments to detect claims fraud, monitor risk, and improve underwriting.
As GNP Seguros scales these capabilities across its health, life, auto, and damage insurance portfolios, Foundry and AIP will unify claims, underwriting, operations, and risk data into a single operational foundation. The platform is intended to help teams identify anomalous claims patterns, flag potential fraud before payments are made, surface risk insights faster, and test underwriting changes in near real time while maintaining human oversight, traceability, and governance.
On July 8, SNP SE and Palantir announced a strategic partnership at SNP's Transformation World event in Heidelberg, Germany. The collaboration positions SNP to develop AI-powered solutions to accelerate SAP transformations for joint customers. The first joint solution, Test Data Proposal, automates the identification of relevant test data for customer test cases and will expand SNP's Kyano platform.
Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:PLTR) builds and deploys software platforms for the intelligence community to ****** ist in counterterrorism investigations and operations in the United States, the United Kingdom, and internationally.

Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:PLTR) is one of our Best Software Stocks to Buy in 2026. Recently, on July 2, DA Davidson upgraded Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:PLTR) from Neutral to Buy and also raised the price target from $165 to $175.
The firm noted that the company has grown into its valuation, due to profits rising sharply and the stock multiple compressing. This has created what ***** ysts call a timely buying opportunity. DA Davidson highlighted that the company holds several competitive advantages over its peers and noted that AI is only making these advantages more prominent.
A key point that the firm highlighted in its research note is Palantir's ability to swap out the AI models underneath its platform. DA Davidson sees this as removing the biggest perceived threat to the business, which is the fear that customers would bypass Palantir and go directly to AI labs like Anthropic or OpenAI. The firm believes that the flexibility positions the company as a layer that customers use to orchestrate AI models generally.
Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:PLTR) is a software company that develops and deploys data integration and ***** ytics platforms for government agencies, defense organizations, and enterprise clients. Its notable products include Palantir Gotham, Foundry, and Apollo.
While we acknowledge the potential of PLTR as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

WeRide Inc. (NASDAQ:WRD) is one of the best new tech stocks to buy according to ****** ysts. On June 17, WeRide and Uber announced plans to launch commercial robotaxi services in the Greater Zurich Region later this year. Subject to regulatory approval, the service will be accessible through the Uber app, marking the companies' second joint deployment in Europe following their recent move into Madrid.
The partnership uses WeRide Inc.'s (NASDAQ:WRD) ****** et-light strategy, with local operator Rydera managing the fleet. This expansion builds on successful autonomous operations already established in the Middle East, leveraging Switzerland's advanced regulatory environment and demand for high-quality ride-hailing to drive the project's economics.
This launch represents a significant step in the companies' goal to deploy tens of thousands of robotaxis globally. By applying operational experience from existing markets and working closely with the Federal Roads Office, they aim to transition toward fully driverless commercial services in core urban areas.
WeRide Inc. (NASDAQ:WRD) is a global leader in autonomous driving technology that develops and deploys L2-L4 self-driving solutions, focusing on robotaxis, intelligent driving, and smart mobility. It provides driverless services for mobility, logistics, and sanitation industries, including Robotaxis, Robobuses, Robovans, and Robosweepers.
While we acknowledge the potential of WRD as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

PHOENIX (AP) — For decades, all that separated the U.S. from Mexico was barbed wire.
Now, after a massive infusion of cash from Congress, President Donald Trump's administration is swiftly building what it has dubbed a "smart wall," a combination of 30-foot-tall (9-meter-tall) steel fencing and an array of sophisticated technology like sensors, cameras and towers allowing Border Patrol to surveil the territory.
The wall is under heavy scrutiny for the billions of dollars being dedicated to it when border crossings are at their lowest in decades. Critics say the U.S. is militarizing the border as it increasingly deploys sophisticated surveillance technology to the area, impacting local communities.
"We are seeing a massive expansion of surveillance and surveillance technology across the borderlands," said Ricky Garza, border policy counsel at the Southern Border Communities Coalition, an advocacy group. "The wall in all its forms is harmful to communities."
Officials say the technology is complementary to the physical wall and frees up agents for other tasks.

If retail has a big three comprised of Walmart, Amazon, and Target, Target serves as the clear bronze medalist on that list. The retailer lacks the billions Walmart has been able to spend to breach the digital advantage Amazon had.
The retailer, for example, could not build out its own same-day delivery system to match its key rivals. Instead, Target built out similar delivery capabilities without spending billions.
In 2017, the retailer paid $550 million to acquire Shipt, a company that deploys contractors to personally shop and deliver food from Target stores on the same day. Shipt also delivers from CVS, OfficeMax, Sephora, and more.
Target built on that purchase and partnered with Uber Eats, DoorDash, and others, giving it a frugal way to match what Walmart and Amazon offered.
On the digital side of the business, Target certainly can't match Walmart and Amazon when it comes to spending, but it has taken two key steps to differentiate its offerings. First, the retailer built out its network of owned-and-operated brands, and now, the chain has added a number of well-known brands to its invitation-only Target Plus online platform.

Grow Funds, an investment Advisor, released its Q1 2026 investor letter for "GROW Small Cap Equity Long/Short Fund". A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. In Q1 2026, GROW Small Cap Equity Long/Short L.P (Fund) returned 4.18%, outperforming the Russell 2000 Growth Index's –2.80%, HFRI Equity Hedge Index's -0.24%, and the HFRI Fundamental Growth Index's 0.47% returns. Long positions and hedges, and short positions, safeguarded the portfolio amid the volatility driven by the Iran War. In addition, please check the Strategy's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its first-quarter 2026 investor letter, Grow Funds highlighted Duos Technologies Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:DUOT). Duos Technologies Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:DUOT) is a technology company engages in the design and development of intelligent technology solutions. On June 18, 2026, Duos Technologies Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:DUOT) closed at $13.15 per share. One-month return of Duos Technologies Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:DUOT) was 3.50%, and its shares gained 76.56% over the past 52 weeks. Duos Technologies Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:DUOT) has a market capitalization of $413.084 million.
Grow Funds stated the following regarding Duos Technologies Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:DUOT) in its Q1 2026 investor letter:
"Duos Technologies Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:DUOT) historically operated as a railcar inspection business. In July of 2024, Duos announced they would begin providing Edge AI Data Center solutions. Duos designs and deploys modular edge data centers to bring processing power closer to where data is generated. Transformational growth began in Q1 this year when the company posted 363% revenue growth year-over-year. The addition of the data center business drove growth as demand for the data centers and power is extremely high. The company deployed 15 data centers in 2025 and expects to deploy many more in 2026. This rapid deployment will deliver scalable compute power and high-speed connectivity to customers in as little as 90 days. Duos provides these modular data centers on a rental basis, so the revenue is recurring in nature. We believe many investors are unaware of the transformation made within the business and there is more upside as discovery happens."
Duos Technologies Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:DUOT) is not on our list of 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds Heading Into 2026. According to our database, 20 hedge fund portfolios held Duos Technologies Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:DUOT) at the end of the first quarter, compared to 13 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of Duos Technologies Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:DUOT) as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

Featured image by Jenna O'Malley/PitchBook News
Private equity firms have raced to embed AI into portfolio companies, betting it will reshape businesses and boost valuations, yet few have results to show for it.
A round of conversations with advisers provided a reality check on the hype, laying bare the distance between what the PE industry is hankering for from AI and what its experiments have delivered so far. While most firms have been tinkering enthusiastically, many haven't done it in a way that has translated into financial gains.
The mainstream effort is aimed at automating unglamorous back-office work—coding invoices, generating reports, managing contracts and procurement—at this point, rarely is AI used to fuel growth.
"AI is an efficiency play, for sure," said Anil **** ar, a managing director at Alvarez & Marsal who develops and deploys the firm's generative AI tool suite for PE firms. The bigger value lies in using AI to improve revenue, generate more revenue streams and stay competitive, he said.

President Donald Trump uses a lot of fictional statistics. He usually deploys them with a breezy confidence.
At an event in Wisconsin on Friday, though, he made a statistical claim that sounded so clearly dubious that he wondered aloud where it had come from.
"And we've also had huge drops in — and I'll tell you, this is something that's amazing: African American unemployment is now doing better than it's ever done. And I don't know where that stat came from, but I'll take it," he said. "I don't know where the ******* that stat come — but we'll take it."
The mystery "stat" isn't true.
The most recent unemployment rate for Black or African Americans was 6.6% in May, federal statistics show (all unemployment figures in this article are seasonally adjusted). That's an improvement from the previous rate, 7.3% in April, and from its highest rate during Trump's second term, 8.2% last November — but it's not close to a record low.

IndyCar’s first race with its new full-course caution procedure caused immediate controversy.
After an incident that left Alexander Rossi’s car stranded powerless on the IMS front straightaway in the Sonsio Grand Prix, IndyCar Officiating announced an “operating and process update,” stating that pit windows and the running order of cars won’t affect whether race control — led by race director Kyle Novak — deploys a local caution or full-course caution in given situations.
The change affected the Detroit Grand Prix, the first street or road course IndyCar went to since the procedure change was announced May 12. Race control was quick to deploy full-course cautions, which hurt 2025 Detroit Grand Prix winner Kyle Kirkwood, who typically extends his stints before pitting.
In the second half of the race, Kirkwood had taken the lead from Alex Palou, who led 71 of the race’s 100 laps. Kirkwood and Palou both pitted on Lap 34, but when Palou made his second and final pit stop on Lap 64, Kirkwood remained on track to take the lead. But two laps later, contact between Santino Ferrucci and Rinus VeeKay led to a full-course caution, which closed the pits and left Kirkwood on track.
Palou recaptured the lead after Kirkwood pitted under caution on Lap 69, and Palou won the race with Kirkwood finishing second.

IndyCar’s first race with its new full-course caution procedure caused immediate controversy.
After an incident that left Alexander Rossi’s car stranded powerless on the IMS front straightaway in the Sonsio Grand Prix, IndyCar Officiating announced an “operating and process update,” stating that pit windows and the running order of cars won’t affect whether race control — led by race director Kyle Novak — deploys a local caution or full-course caution in given situations.
The change affected the Detroit Grand Prix, the first street or road course IndyCar went to since the procedure change was announced May 12. Race control was quick to deploy full-course cautions, which hurt 2025 Detroit Grand Prix winner Kyle Kirkwood, who typically extends his stints before pitting.
In the second half of the race, Kirkwood had taken the lead from Alex Palou, who led 71 of the race’s 100 laps. Kirkwood and Palou both pitted on Lap 34, but when Palou made his second and final pit stop on Lap 64, Kirkwood remained on track to take the lead. But two laps later, contact between Santino Ferrucci and Rinus VeeKay led to a full-course caution, which closed the pits and left Kirkwood on track.
Palou recaptured the lead after Kirkwood pitted under caution on Lap 69, and Palou won the race with Kirkwood finishing second.