MENS

This week’s technology news mixed optimistic product demand with tougher questions about artificial intelligence spending, infrastructure and regulation.

Apple Inc. saw an encouraging early signal for its premium iPhone Duo, while Meta Platforms, Inc. delivered a strong quarterly performance.

At the same time, analysts questioned whether planned AI data centers will be built quickly enough to support chip demand, while Amazon’s CEO focused on inference costs.

Elsewhere, a possible combination involving Tesla Inc. and Space Exploration Technologies Corp. could draw scrutiny from antitrust regulators over access to Starlink technology.

Apple’s iPhone Duo Draws an Upbeat Forecast

Apple’s premium iPhone Duo may contribute more to growth than Wall Street currently anticipates, according to Gene Munster, managing partner at Deepwater Asset Management. Munster said on X Friday that the device was "off to a solid start." He projects 20 million units sold in fiscal 2027, potentially adding $8 billion to iPhone revenue. That forecast could raise Wall Street’s fiscal 2027 iPhone growth expectations from 10% to 13%, based on Munster’s estimate. The launch appears to be giving investors another growth factor to track.

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Amazon’s AI Cost Challenge

Amazon.com Inc. CEO Andy Jassy said AI inference remains approximately 10 times too expensive for business software to use broadly. In an interview with a16z published Friday, Jassy said, "It’s still an order of magnitude too expensive in my opinion for it to be used as pervasively as possible." Jassy also pointed to Amazon’s internally developed chips as a possible way to reduce inference expenses. The comments highlight the cost hurdle facing wider enterprise adoption of AI applications.

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Nvidia’s Data Center Warning

Nearly half of the AI data center capacity announced for 2027 may not be completed, potentially weakening future demand for Nvidia Corp. chips. Seaport Research Partners analyst Jay Goldberg estimates that only 30 gigawatts of the 55 gigawatts announced for next year will materialize, according to Barron’s report Friday. If that estimate holds, the industry would face a possible 45% shortfall in planned capacity. The concern adds another variable to the outlook for AI infrastructure and chip demand.

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Tesla-SpaceX Merger Faces Regulatory Questions

A potential merger between Tesla and SpaceX could prompt extensive regulatory reviews, particularly over whether Tesla would receive exclusive access to SpaceX technology. A former Justice Department official told Semafor that regulators might view the transaction as a potentially problematic vertical merger. Such deals can improve supply-chain efficiency, but they may also raise competition concerns. The official said regulators could challenge the deal over possible "vertical foreclosure" involving Starlink, which could place competing electric vehicle and self-driving companies at a disadvantage.

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Meta Reports a Quarterly Double Beat

Meta Platforms Inc. reported third-quarter results Wednesday after the closing bell, exceeding analyst expectations for both revenue and adjusted earnings. The company posted quarterly revenue of $64.6 billion, above the $63.37 billion analyst estimate. Adjusted earnings reached $7.40 per share, compared with expectations of $5.74 per share, according to Benzinga Pro. Meta described the quarter with the phrase, "We’re seeing velocity across the board," as investors reviewed the company’s latest financial performance.

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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Photo courtesy: Apple