Figure AI

Capital spending by major technology companies now accounts for roughly half of Wall Street's overall profit growth, according to a widely shared market analysis. The figures highlight how enormous investments in data centers and AI infrastructure by firms like Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet and Meta have become a central driver of earnings across the broader market, raising questions about sustainability.

Bill Gates told the Ezra Klein Show that artificial intelligence is such a transformative technology it 'makes nuclear weapons look like nothing'. The remark is drawing wide attention online, fueling debate over whether AI's risks and rewards truly dwarf those of nuclear arms, and what such a warning from one of tech's most prominent figures means for regulation and safety.

A new analysis estimates the artificial intelligence industry would need roughly $6 trillion in annual revenue by 2031 to justify the enormous investment flowing into data centres worldwide. The figure highlights the gap between current AI earnings and the capital being committed to computing infrastructure, fuelling debate about whether the spending spree resembles a bubble or a bet on transformative future demand.

Robotics company Figure AI is reportedly training decommissioned robots to dive into vats of molten steel, an unusual task said to be part of its robot training programme. The story, picked up by Gizmodo, is drawing attention online, with commenters struck by the dramatic image of retired machines being sent into extreme industrial conditions rather than simply scrapped.

Media industry veteran Michael Kassan has invested in OptimizeGEO, a startup reportedly valued at $80 million. The investment comes as generative engine optimization, a field focused on getting brands visible in AI-driven search results, draws growing attention. Industry watchers are closely tracking Kassan's move, seeing it as a signal of where advertising dollars and media strategy may be heading next.

Figure AI is reported to have retired a fleet of its humanoid robots by having them jump into a vat of molten steel. The dramatic end-of-life method for the robots is drawing attention online, with commenters weighing in on the symbolism and practicality of destroying decommissioned machines rather than recycling or repurposing them. No further details about the number of robots or the reason for the retirement have been confirmed.

Fast Company has published a feature titled Growth Agents 2026, focusing on the figures and strategies driving business growth and innovation into 2026. The piece, tagged under Business, Innovation and Future, examines how emerging growth specialists and AI-era practices could shape companies in the year ahead.