Tech
- Google scores a win in Chrome–Android antitrust case
A U.S. federal judge ruled in September 2025 that Alphabet, Google’s parent company, will not be forced to divest its Chrome browser or Android OS, rejecting the Department of Justice’s push for a breakup. While the court did bar certain exclusive contracts with device makers, Google is still allowed to pay partners such as Apple for search placement. The decision notably injected more than $160 billion into Alphabet’s market value, as shares spiked over 6%, reflecting investor relief at the outcome. The ruling’s emphasis on limited remedies—like partial data-sharing—signals a move toward nuanced regulation that considers the growing role of competitors like AI-driven search tools, while preserving Google’s core ecosystem and strategic partnerships.
Marketing
- Top B2B marketing trends for 2024–2027 revealed
Marketing is shifting fast in the B2B world: podcasts are exploding as a go-to channel (with searches up 7,400% over 5 years), LinkedIn is firmly back in the spotlight (a 143% jump in “followers” searches), and video—especially webinars, LinkedIn clips, and explainers—is more important than ever. Competition for attention is fierce, so brands are simplifying marketing automation, repurposing content strategically, and layering in targeted storytelling and buyer personas to stand out in increasingly crowded feeds. It’s all about investing in immersive, efficient, and narrative-rich experiences to engage decision makers who care less about product features and more about value and identity.
Finance
Salesforce issues weak revenue forecast—AI monetization still lagging
Salesforce delivered a strong Q2 with $10.24 billion in revenue, slightly above expectations, but caution set in when guidance for Q3 came in lower-than-forecasted at $10.24–$10.29 billion—denting investor confidence during a sensitive earnings period. The hiccup appears tied to slower adoption of its AI offerings like “Agentforce,” combined with a wave of approximately 4,000 job cuts in support operations as the company leans more on automation. To smooth nerves, Salesforce significantly boosted its share repurchase plan by $20 billion, but the response was lukewarm, with shares falling over 4–5% in after-hours trading—highlighting lingering skepticism about AI effectively driving near-term growth.
Global watchdog spotlights shell companies
The head of a leading international financial crime watchdog, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), headquartered in Paris, recently raised the alarm over shell companies, calling them “getaway cars” for illicit actors. In a strong call to action, the watchdog urged countries worldwide to boost transparency through tighter reporting standards, better beneficial ownership registries, and coordinated regulatory enforcement. This spotlight underscores growing global sentiment that combating anonymous corporate entities is essential—not only to trace financial wrongdoing—but also to preserve the integrity of international business systems increasingly threatened by illicit finance.
Oracle, ConocoPhillips announce significant layoffs
Oracle is trimming its workforce as it doubles down on AI, with WARN filings showing over 300 layoffs in California and Washington and insiders suggesting thousands more globally across cloud, enterprise, and AI/ML roles. The company’s pivot reflects the steep cost of building next-generation AI infrastructure while balancing near-term profitability, with its stock slipping 4% after the cuts were announced. Meanwhile, ConocoPhillips is preparing one of the largest reductions in the energy sector this year, cutting 20–25% of its global workforce—as many as 4,000 employees. The layoffs, spread across exploration, operations, and corporate units, are part of a restructuring aimed at staying competitive amid volatile oil prices and OPEC+ supply shifts. Together, the two announcements underscore how both tech and energy giants are recalibrating their labor forces to meet the twin pressures of rapid innovation and uncertain markets.
