Your brief - 24h (12 articles)

Turner & Townsend's 2025-2026 Datacenter Construction Cost Index highlights critical barriers to scaling AI datacenter capacity, citing supply chain issues and grid connection delays as major obstacles. Nearly half of surveyed professionals identified power access as the primary constraint, with some projects facing up to seven-year delays in grid connection in the US. The report also underscores the enormous energy demands of AI infrastructure, with OpenAI alone requiring 55.2 gigawatts for its disclosed projects. Recommendations include adopting on-site energy solutions like renewables and gas-powered turbines, though these raise questions about sustainability. The growing gap between traditional and AI-specific datacenters, especially with costlier liquid-cooled designs, further complicates the picture. While governments prioritize AI infrastructure, the competition for energy resources among sectors poses a significant challenge to these advancements. Source 2

Salesforce's latest survey reveals that 84% of business leaders believe their data strategies require a complete overhaul to unlock AI's full potential. Key challenges include siloed and outdated data, which hinder decision-making, and poor confidence in AI outputs, with 42% of respondents skeptical about their accuracy. Salesforce advocates for zero-copy architecture, allowing AI to access data directly without duplication, a move that early adopters claim has improved customer service quality. These findings highlight the persistent data infrastructure gaps companies must address to integrate AI effectively. Source 3

TechSpot reports that Google and Epic Games have reached a settlement after years of litigation over alleged anticompetitive practices in the Google Play Store. Epic had accused Google of abusing its dominance in Android app distribution and inflating developer costs through mandatory in-app billing systems. The settlement brings closure to a high-profile case that had raised broader questions about fair competition in app ecosystems. This resolution may have implications for other app distribution platforms facing scrutiny. Source 6

IBM is reportedly planning to cut thousands of jobs globally, focusing on low-performing divisions, while prioritizing growth in software and services. This move follows a broader trend of tech layoffs, with companies like Meta and Amazon also reducing their workforce. Although IBM insists its overall employment figures will remain stable year-over-year, the cuts highlight structural adjustments in the tech industry as firms recalibrate post-pandemic overexpansion. Source 17

Motorola's Edge 70 has entered the competitive ultra-thin smartphone market, offering a 4,800mAh silicon-carbon battery that outlasts competitors like the iPhone Air. Featuring a midrange Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 chipset, the Edge 70 balances affordability with performance. However, its software experience, criticized for bloatware and ads, may detract from its appeal. Despite this, the model's build durability and competitive pricing position it as an attractive option in the thin-phone category. Source 22 Source 23 Source 25

Amazon has filed a lawsuit against Perplexity, accusing its AI browser agent, Comet, of violating terms of service by making unauthorized purchases. Perplexity argues that its AI agents act solely on behalf of users, framing the dispute as a clash between innovation and corporate control. This legal battle underscores the growing tension between AI-driven automation and traditional e-commerce models, with potential implications for the future of agentic AI in retail. Source 18

The UK High Court dismissed significant portions of Getty's lawsuit against Stability AI, ruling that its Stable Diffusion model did not store or reproduce copyrighted works. While the court recognized some trademark violations, it found no evidence of secondary infringement. This case highlights ongoing legal ambiguities around AI training datasets and copyright protection, raising concerns about the adequacy of existing laws to safeguard creators' rights in the age of generative AI. Source 19

Blue Origin is set for the second flight of its New Glenn rocket, which will launch NASA's ESCAPADE mission to Mars. The company will also attempt another booster recovery, following the failure of its first attempt earlier this year. With NASA partnerships and advancements in reusable rocket technology at stake, Blue Origin's performance could influence its competitiveness against rivals like SpaceX. Source 11

TechRadar reports on the transformative role of AI in quality assurance (QA), emphasizing its applications in risk management, compliance, and ESG commitments. AI-powered QA tools help predict system failures, flag compliance issues, and validate sustainability data. These capabilities position QA as a strategic function that enhances trust and operational reliability, particularly in regulated industries like finance and healthcare. Source 12

The FDA has approved Elecsys pTau181, a blood test by Roche for detecting early signs of Alzheimer’s. This minimally invasive test offers a more practical alternative to PET scans and lumbar punctures, though its positive predictive value remains limited. As monoclonal antibody treatments for Alzheimer’s advance, such diagnostics could play a critical role in early intervention, despite ongoing concerns about their cost and efficacy. Source 14