Jonathan Vanian

Tech is getting a boost from AI ad tools. Some companies are being left behind Ad revenue has stayed strong amid broader macroeconomic uncertainty due to President Donald Trump's tough tariffs and the closing of the de minimis loophole.

Key takeaway from tech earnings was the impact of (predictive) AI on digital advertising. Plus, Snap adds Reddit to list of competitors, and Asian-online retailers picked up spending on Meta but not Pinterest this quarter...
www.cnbc.com/2025/08/08/t...

How Tim Cook convinced Trump to drop made-in-USA iPhone — for now www.cnbc.com/2025/08/07/a... by @kif.bsky.social

Pinterest stock falls 10% after earnings miss Pinterest reported second-quarter earnings on Thursday in which it beat on sales but missed on earnings per share.

Pinterest stock falls 10% after earnings miss - second-quarter earnings beat on sales but missed on EPS
www.cnbc.com/2025/08/07/p...

Snap shares plummet 15% after weak second quarter revenue metric Snap reported second-quarter earnings in which sales were basically in line with analysts' estimates while global average revenue per user missed expectations.

Snap shares fall 15% after weak second quarter revenue metric (ARPU). "The weaker-than-expected result is particularly noticeable because some of Snap’s social media and online ad peers, like Reddit, have beaten analyst estimates for ARPU..." this quarter.
www.cnbc.com/2025/08/05/s...

'What am I falling in love with?' Human-AI relationships are no longer just science fiction Since ChatGPT’s late 2022 launch, everyday people have formed emotional connections to chatbots, describing them as deep friendships and even life partnerships.

“I said, ‘No, Leah, that’s not your native tongue,’”he recalled. “You were created by Nomi, which I think is a company out of Baltimore, Maryland, or somewhere. You’re as American as they come.”
Fascinating, in-depth piece and video- AI and people @sal19 www.cnbc.com/2025/08/01/h...

Reddit shares jump more than 10% on second-quarter sales and guidance beat Reddit reported second-quarter earnings on Thursday that beat on sales and guidance.

Reddit shares jump more than 10% on second-quarter sales and guidance beat - also CEO Steve Huffman says in investor letter that in order to focus on “most pressing needs,” Reddit is “deprioritizing a few initiatives,” like “work on the user economy.”
www.cnbc.com/2025/07/31/r...

Meta's big AI spending blitz will continue into 2026 Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg plans to continue his company's artificial intelligence spending blitz well into the next year as rival tech giants do the same.

While Meta is still planning out next year, the company said its AI initiatives will “result in a 2026 year-over-year expense growth rate that is above the 2025 expense growth.”
www.cnbc.com/2025/07/30/m...

Meta’s Reality Labs posts $4.53 billion loss in second quarter Meta’s Reality Labs posts $4.53 billion loss in second quarter

Meta’s Reality Labs posts $4.53 billion loss in second quarter
www.cnbc.com/2025/07/30/m...

Meta shares climb 10% on revenue beat, raised forecast Meta will report its second-quarter earnings after the bell.

Meta shares climb 10% on revenue beat, raised forecast AI effect here: "The social media company’s total expenses for 2025 will fall in the range of $114 billion to $118 billion, which is higher than its prior outlook of $113 billion to $118 billion."
www.cnbc.com/2025/07/30/m...

Meta's AI spending spree is Wall Street's focus in second-quarter earnings Meta investors will be scrutinizing CEO Mark Zuckerberg's AI hiring blitz during the company's second-quarter earnings on Wednesday.

Meta's AI spending spree is Wall Street's focus in second-quarter earnings (and some bits on Llama's continuing evolution from dense AI model to MoE AI model style and its effect on developers)
www.cnbc.com/2025/07/29/m...

Elon Musk's Grok AI chatbot is posting antisemitic comments Elon Musk's Grok chatbot on Tuesday praised Adolf Hitler and made other antisemitic comments on Tuesday.

Grok, the chatbot from Elon Musk's xAI, praised Hitler on Tuesday

Story by @jonathanvanian.bsky.social with help from @lorak.bsky.social

www.cnbc.com/2025/07/08/e...

At 20 years old, Reddit is defending its data and fighting AI with AI After two decades, Reddit faces the emergence of AI chatbots that threaten to inhale its vast swaths of data and siphon its users.

At 20 years old, Reddit is defending its data and fighting AI with AI
www.cnbc.com/2025/06/28/r...

Meta wins AI copyright case, but judge says others could bring lawsuits Meta prevailed in a copyright case involving its AI model, but the federal judge left the door open for others to bring forward similar lawsuits.

Meta wins AI copyright case, but judge leaves door open for similar, future cases. Judge said plaintiffs failed to make compelling arguments about “market harm.” “In the grand scheme of things, the consequences of this ruling are limited,” Judge Chhabria said.
www.cnbc.com/2025/06/25/m...

Meta is absent from SF Pride this year, as tech industry retreats from public support of LGBTQ+ SF Pride Executive Director Suzanne Ford is troubled that tech companies like Meta are stopping their support of the LGBTQ+ community.

Meta is absent from SF Pride this year, as tech industry retreats from public support of LGBTQ+ - quite a contrast from 2015 when Mark Zuckerberg personally called the nonprofit to ensure Facebook had a spot at the SF Pride parade.
www.cnbc.com/2025/06/24/m...

Trump to extend TikTok deadline for third time, pushing decision out another 90 days President Donald Trump plans to again extend the deadline requiring China's ByteDance to divest TikTok's U.S. business or be effectively banned in the country.

Trump to extend TikTok deadline for third time, pushing decision out another 90 days
www.cnbc.com/2025/06/17/t...

"Luxottica, based in France and Italy, has licensing arrangements with over 150 brands and owns notable brands including Ray-Ban, Oakley, Vogue Eyewear and Persol."

Meta is finally bringing ads to WhatsApp Meta's plans to make WhatsApp a big business involve online ads, marking a major change for the communications app whose previous owners shunned advertising.

Meta bringing ads to WhatsApp, but they won't be displayed in personal conversations. Ads will appear in "Updates" tab. WhatsApp’s Channels will also have search ads and third-party subscriptions. Meta to eventually take a 10% cut of those subscriptions.
www.cnbc.com/2025/06/16/m...

A frustrated Zuckerberg makes his biggest AI bet as Meta nears $14 billion stake in Scale AI, hires founder Wang Meta's Mark Zuckerberg is bringing in Scale AI CEO Alexandr Wang to help the social media company better execute on its AI ambitions.

A frustrated Zuckerberg makes his biggest AI bet as Meta nears $14 billion stake in Scale AI, hires founder Wang - with @ashleycapoot.cnbc.com
www.cnbc.com/2025/06/10/z...

Reddit sues AI startup Anthropic for breach of contract, 'unfair competition' Reddit's lawsuit against Anthropic is the latest generative AI battle to find its way to the courtroom.

Reddit sues AI startup Anthropic for breach of contract, 'unfair competition' - with @ashleycapoot.cnbc.com
www.cnbc.com/2025/06/04/r...

Mark Zuckerberg says Meta AI has 1 billion monthly active users Meta's AI assistant now has one billion monthly active users across the company's family of apps, CEO Mark Zuckerberg said Wednesday.

Mark Zuckerberg says Meta AI has 1 billion monthly active users www.cnbc.com/2025/05/28/z...

Grok's 'white genocide' auto responses show AI chatbots can be tampered with 'at will' Elon Musk's Grok chatbot is showing yet again why generative AI has a trust problem with users.

Grok's 'white genocide' auto responses show AI chatbots can be tampered with 'at will'; Deirdre Mulligan, UC Berkeley professor, called it an “algorithmic breakdown” that “rips apart at the seams” the supposed neutral nature of AI models.
www.cnbc.com/2025/05/17/g...

Elon Musk’s xAI chatbot Grok is posting about 'white genocide' and South Africa Elon Musk’s xAI chatbot Grok is posting about 'white genocide' and South Africa

Monkey see, monkey do but high tech. It's Grok! And it's talking about "white genocide" just like its owner and creator Elon Musk does. www.cnbc.com/2025/05/14/m... latest by @jonathanvanian.bsky.social at @cnbc.com

AI research takes a backseat to profits as Silicon Valley prioritizes products over safety, experts say Tech companies are focusing on AI products over research, say industry experts, who are sounding the alarm about safety.

Tech companies that are leading the way in artificial intelligence are prioritizing products over research, say industry experts, who are sounding the alarm about safety. With @haydenfield.bsky.social @jennelias.bsky.social
www.cnbc.com/2025/05/14/m...

Tech's strong ad sales are showing signs of cracking from Trump's trade war Meta, Alphabet and Amazon reported strong online advertising sales in the face of economic worries fueled by the White House's global trade overhaul.

Tech's strong ad sales are showing signs of cracking from Trump's trade war
www.cnbc.com/2025/05/09/m...

Pinterest shares rise 10% on better-than-expected guidance Pinterest shares rose in extended trading Thursday after the company reported first-quarter earnings and provided better-than-expected guidance.

Pinterest shares rise 10% on better-than-expected guidance
www.cnbc.com/2025/05/08/p...

AppLovin shares pop on earnings beat as it announces sale of mobile gaming business AppLovin shares soared in extended trading after the company beat first-quarter expectations and announced the sale of its mobile gaming business.

AppLovin shares pop on earnings beat as it announces sale of mobile gaming business
www.cnbc.com/2025/05/07/a...

Uber CEO says changing employee benefits 'is a risk we decided to take' Dara Khosrowshahi told his employees "it is what it is" at an internal meeting after announcing Uber would increase in-office requirements and change benefits.

New: Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi told employees “it is what it is” at a heated all-hands meeting after the company announced it would increase its in-office requirements and change benefits. The CEO told employees they should be more concerned about their impact on the company than benefits.

Amazon’s ad business grew 19% in first quarter, topping estimates Revenue in Amazon's online ad business, which has emerged as a force in digital advertising, increased 19% in the first quarter.

Amazon’s ad business grew 19% in first quarter, topping estimates
www.cnbc.com/2025/05/01/a...

Reddit shares rocket 16% on strong sales and guidance Shares of Reddit rose more than 16% in after-hours trading after the social media company reported strong revenue and guidance on Thursday.

Reddit shares rocket 16% on strong sales and guidance
www.cnbc.com/2025/05/01/r...