Global Scans · GAFA et al · Weekly Summary

• [New] Amazon plans to invest $12 billion in data center campuses in Northwest Louisiana that will be served by Southwestern Electric Power Co., an AEP subsidiary. Observer
• [New] Google Maps' in-vehicle map data services will underpin NGP and Xpilot Assist, Xpeng's entry-level driver assistance system, as both are prepared for international markets. Automotive World
• [New] Rival AI assistants will gain access to Android features that enable functions such as voice activation and task completion, while AI search competitors will receive access to anonymized Google Search data under defined pricing and security rules. MarketingProfs
• [New] The European Commission issued detailed Digital Markets Act requirements that will require Google to open key Android and search capabilities to competing AI providers and search engines. MarketingProfs
• [New] Google expressed concern over handing search data to AI chatbots, saying that companies like OpenAI could slurp up search data en masse to train their models - an argument we note is somewhat rebuffed by the Commission's point that search data will not be freely available under its proposed schema. theregister
• [New] Google will be required to give third-party AI providers extensive access to Android-powered devices, including allowing them to be voice-activated in place of Gemini, and to take actions in apps on user's behalf. theregister
• [New] The next set of earnings from Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, and Alphabet will be important. Small Island Research Notes
• [New] Just four large tech companies - Google parent Alphabet, Amazon, Meta Platforms, and Microsoft - are expected to invest $720 billion in 2026, mostly on data centers. ABC News
• [New] Companies like Amazon and Google are exploring partnerships to embed ATSC 3.0 tuners into their smart displays and streaming devices, recognizing the potential for enhanced user engagement through localized content and emergency alerts. Verified Market Reports
• [New] Google Security Operations Uses AI to detect threats, analyze security logs, and improve cloud security. sked group
• [New] Intel Foundry offers advanced packaging alternatives with EMIB and Foveros technologies, and has secured an order from Google for 3 million TPU units by 2028. Bittime
• [New] By providing entry points for different user comfort levels - from invisible AI assistance to full mixed reality-Google creates multiple opportunities to capture users as they become ready for more advanced spatial computing experiences. Next Reality
• [New] The so-called hyperscalers - Amazon, Alphabet, Microsoft, and Meta - have announced 2027 capex spending plans totaling $815 billion, up from $636 billion in 2026, with Goldman Sachs estimating that the actual number might get closer to $1.1 to $1.4 trillion. Fiduciary Trust
• [New] Amazon, an early adopter of robotic automation, is expected to flatten its hiring curve over the next decade, which could have a profound impact on blue-collar jobs and influence the likes of Walmart and UPS to follow a similar model. CMC Markets
• [New] NVIDIA's current valuations appear reasonable given the big cloud providers like Microsoft, Alphabet, Meta, and Amazon are gearing up more investments in their AI infra, with hyperscaler AI capex projected to rise from $650 billion in 2026 to $1 trillion in 2027. tradingkey.com
• [New] WhatsApp now warns users about suspicious device-linking requests, the tactic behind account-takeover scams, after Meta took down 10.9 million scam-center accounts across Facebook and Instagram last year. SQ Magazine
• [New] As predicted by Google, 2026 will see a surge in multimodal AI, which processes text, images, audio, and video. UniAthena
• [New] Amazon plans to use New Glenn for 12 Project Kuiper satellite launches, with options for 15 more. Yahoo! Finance
• [New] Google is setting its own post-quantum migration timeline to 2029, explicitly citing progress in quantum hardware, error correction and factoring resource estimates. Decent Cybersecurity
• [New] Companies including G42, Core42, Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI, Oracle and xAI will gain easier access, reflecting the UAE's growing role as a regional AI hub and strategic US technology partner. More News From NowHere

Last updated: 26 July 2026