Esteban Tesson

Fed considers further rate hikes amid persistent inflationary risks

US Federal Reserve officials suggested at their latest meeting that they may have to increase interest rates if the conflict with Iran continues to fuel inflation, according to minutes released on Wednesday. Although the Fed ultimately held its benchmark rate within a 3.5% to 3.75% range, the discussions revealed growing divisions within the monetary committee. The meeting was marked by four dissenting votes, a level of disagreement that has not been seen since 1992.

May 20, 2026 at 11:14 pm

Fed Considers Further Rate Hikes Amid Inflationary Risks

U.S. Federal Reserve officials suggested during their latest meeting that interest rate increases could become necessary if the conflict with Iran continues to fuel inflation, according to minutes released Wednesday. Although the Fed ultimately maintained its benchmark federal funds rate within a range of 3.5% to 3.75%, the discussions revealed growing divisions within the monetary committee. The meeting was marked by four dissenting votes, a situation not seen since 1992.

May 20, 2026 at 10:18 pm

OpenAI prepares for record-breaking IPO

OpenAI is preparing to confidentially file a draft registration statement for an initial public offering, according to reports confirmed by CNBC. The artificial intelligence specialist, valued at over $850bn on private markets, is reportedly working with several major investment banks, including Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley, to prepare the transaction. The group is considering a market debut as early as Q4 2026, in what could become one of the largest listings in financial market history.

May 20, 2026 at 10:12 pm

OpenAI Prepares for an IPO That Could Shatter Records

OpenAI is preparing to confidentially file a draft prospectus for an initial public offering, according to reports confirmed by CNBC. The artificial intelligence specialist, valued at over $850bn on private markets, is reportedly working with several major investment banks, including Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley, to prepare the transaction. The group is considering a market debut as early as the fourth quarter of 2026, in what could become one of the largest listings in the history of financial markets.

May 20, 2026 at 09:34 pm

French consortium seeks funding for massive AI data center

The French consortium AION plans to apply for European funding for an artificial intelligence data center project in France, with costs potentially reaching EUR10bn. The initiative falls under the EUR20bn European fund launched last December to support strategic AI infrastructure as Europe seeks to close the gap with the United States and China. According to its backers, the French project alone could account for nearly half of the European fund.

May 20, 2026 at 08:46 pm

Lam Research opens Austrian center to develop next-generation chip packaging

Lam Research has inaugurated a research facility in Salzburg, Austria, dedicated to the development of new semiconductor assembly technologies. The US-based chipmaking equipment specialist will focus its efforts on "panel-level packaging," a technology designed to increase chip density while reducing production costs. This initiative comes amid surging demand driven by artificial intelligence and the growing need for advanced processors.

May 20, 2026 at 08:43 pm

French consortium seeks funding for massive AI data center hub

The French consortium AION plans to apply for European funding for an artificial intelligence data center project in France, with costs potentially reaching 10 billion euros. The initiative falls under the 20 billion euro European fund launched last December to support strategic AI infrastructure as Europe seeks to close the gap with the United States and China. According to its backers, the French project alone could account for nearly half of this European fund.

May 20, 2026 at 07:08 pm

Lam Research Opens Austrian Center to Develop Next-Generation Chip Packaging

Lam Research has inaugurated a research center in Salzburg, Austria, dedicated to the development of new semiconductor assembly technologies. The American group, a specialist in chip manufacturing equipment, will focus its efforts on panel-level packaging, a technology designed to increase chip density while reducing production costs. This initiative comes amid surging demand driven by artificial intelligence and the growing need for advanced processors.

May 20, 2026 at 06:34 pm

Philip Morris appoints Massimo Andolina as Chief Financial Officer

Philip Morris International has announced the appointment of Massimo Andolina as Chief Financial Officer, effective on August 1, succeeding Emmanuel Babeau. Mr. Babeau, who has held the position since May 2020, will remain with the group until March 31, 2027, serving as a strategic advisor to CEO Jacek Olczak. This transition comes as the group continues its pivot toward smoke-free products amid intensifying competition.

May 20, 2026 at 06:29 pm

Philip Morris Appoints Massimo Andolina as Chief Financial Officer

Philip Morris International has announced the appointment of Massimo Andolina as Chief Financial Officer, effective August 1, succeeding Emmanuel Babeau. Mr. Babeau, who has held the position since May 2020, will remain with the group until March 31, 2027, serving as a strategic advisor to CEO Jacek Olczak. This leadership transition comes as the group continues its transformation toward smoke-free products amid an increasingly competitive landscape.

May 20, 2026 at 06:24 pm

AI-driven cyberattacks now exceed ID theft, Verizon says

Security breaches exploited via artificial intelligence became the leading cause of data violations last year, overtaking ID theft, according to Verizon's annual cybersecurity report. The US carrier stated it analyzed over 31,000 incidents and estimates that 31% of breaches originated from the exploitation of vulnerabilities in an environment increasingly shaped by the rise of AI. Verizon specifically warned of cybercriminals' ability to leverage AI to significantly accelerate the exploitation of known flaws.

May 19, 2026 at 10:59 pm

Andrej Karpathy joins Anthropic in the artificial intelligence race

Andrej Karpathy, former head of AI at Tesla and co-founder of OpenAI, has announced he is joining Anthropic, bolstering the creator of Claude in the global competition for advanced AI models. A renowned figure in the industry, Karpathy explained his desire to completely return to research and development at what he considers a decisive moment for the development of large language models. His recruitment represents a significant boost for Anthropic as it faces off against rivals like OpenAI.

May 19, 2026 at 10:18 pm

AI-Driven Cyberattacks Now Surpass Credential Theft, Verizon Reports

Security breaches exploited via artificial intelligence became the leading cause of data violations last year, overtaking credential theft, according to Verizon's annual cybersecurity report. The American carrier indicates it analyzed more than 31,000 incidents and estimates that 31% of breaches began with the exploitation of vulnerabilities in an environment increasingly defined by the rise of AI. Verizon specifically warns of the ability of cybercriminals to use artificial intelligence to significantly accelerate the exploitation of known flaws.

May 19, 2026 at 10:16 pm

Andrej Karpathy Joins Anthropic in the Artificial Intelligence Arms Race

Andrej Karpathy, the former head of artificial intelligence at Tesla and a co-founder of OpenAI, has announced he is joining Anthropic, bolstering the creator of Claude in the global competition for advanced AI models. A renowned figure in the sector, Karpathy explained his desire to return fully to research and development at what he considers a decisive moment for the evolution of large language models. His recruitment represents a significant reinforcement for Anthropic as it faces off against rivals like OpenAI.

May 19, 2026 at 08:51 pm

Workday scales up presence in India to accelerate AI push

Workday plans to rapidly expand its Indian workforce to support growing investments in artificial intelligence and the opening of new offices across the country. The US-based HR and enterprise management software provider, which already operates in Mumbai and two other Indian cities, is now set to establish a presence in Delhi and Bangalore. The group's headcount in India has more than doubled in just over a year, reaching around 1,300 employees.

May 19, 2026 at 06:43 pm

Microsoft bolsters India footprint with massive AI data center project

Microsoft plans to commission its largest data center in India by mid-2026 to meet surging demand for its artificial intelligence services. Puneet Chandok, President of Microsoft India & South Asia, cited "massive demand" for the Azure cloud platform and Copilot 365, the group's commercial AI assistant. Alongside Alphabet and Amazon, Microsoft views India as a strategic market, driven by its vast connected population and significant pool of tech talent.

May 19, 2026 at 06:23 pm

Workday Expands India Footprint to Accelerate Artificial Intelligence Initiatives

Workday plans to rapidly expand its workforce in India to support increasing investments in artificial intelligence and the opening of new offices across the country. The American provider of HR and enterprise management software already maintains offices in Mumbai and two other Indian cities, and now intends to establish a presence in Delhi and Bangalore. The group's headcount in India has more than doubled in just over a year, reaching approximately 1,300 employees.

May 19, 2026 at 05:59 pm

Microsoft bolsters its presence in India with a massive AI data center project

Microsoft plans to launch its largest data center in India by mid-2026 to meet the surging demand for its artificial intelligence services. Puneet Chandok, President of Microsoft India and South Asia, cited "massive demand" for the Azure cloud platform and Copilot 365, the group's commercial AI assistant. Alongside Alphabet and Amazon, Microsoft views India as a strategic market, driven by its vast connected population and significant pool of tech talent.

May 19, 2026 at 05:30 pm

Memory stocks hit by production capacity concerns

Memory chipmakers shares tumbled following cautious remarks from Seagate's CEO regarding industry production capacity amid the AI-driven demand surge. Seagate shares plunged over 10%, dragging down Micron (-8%), SanDisk (-9%), and Western Digital (-8%). Investors are increasingly concerned about the industry's ability to keep pace with the growing requirements of AI-dedicated data centers.

May 19, 2026 at 08:49 am

US Court Rejects Elon Musk's Claims Against OpenAI

A US federal jury has ruled in favor of OpenAI in the lawsuit brought by Elon Musk, finding that the company was not liable for allegations that it abandoned its original mission to serve humanity. The decision, handed down in Oakland, California, concluded that Musk had filed his legal action too late. Jurors deliberated for less than two hours before returning a unanimous verdict. Musk's attorney said that an appeal is under consideration.

May 19, 2026 at 08:45 am

U.S. Court Rejects Elon Musk's Allegations Against OpenAI

A U.S. federal jury has ruled in favor of OpenAI in the lawsuit filed by Elon Musk, finding that the company was not liable for allegations that it abandoned its original mission to serve humanity. The decision, delivered in Oakland, California, concluded that Musk had filed his legal action too late. Jurors deliberated for less than two hours before returning a unanimous verdict. The billionaire's attorney indicated that an appeal remains under consideration.

May 18, 2026 at 10:53 pm