Global Scans · GAFA et al · Weekly Summary

• [New] With Apple now producing some iPhone models and Mercedes-Benz announcing plans to manufacture in India, employees with greater disposable income are expected to aid in visitation to attractions (last quarter, GDP growth reached 7.8% in India). IAAPA.org
• [New] Both IBM and Google are on record with plans to build million-qubit quantum computers by or around 2030. Baytech Consulting
• [New] The world is nearing other irreversible tipping points that could trigger devastating consequences for people and ecosystems, including the melting of polar ice sheets, disruption of major ocean currents, and the collapse of the Amazon rainforest - where COP 30 will take place. ScienceDaily
• [New] As global temperatures move beyond 1.5 °C, the world risks cascading crises such as ice sheet melt, Amazon rainforest dieback, and ocean current collapse. ScienceDaily
• [New] By 2025, Amazon Business is projected to surpass a gross merchandise volume of $83.1 billion. Shopify
• [New] Multinational corporations like Apple Inc. with extensive manufacturing in China could face increased costs and operational hurdles due to decoupling efforts. The Chronicle-Journal
• [New] Companies heavily reliant on Chinese manufacturing and sales, such as Apple, face production disruptions and hits to their bottom lines. The Chronicle-Journal
• [New] Enterprises will increasingly rely on orchestration platforms that unify automation across AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, and on-prem environments. Zymr
• [New] Google has implemented AI mode, AI Overviews and new kinds of search so well, it's hard to think search in ChatGPT is going to be a major player here. AI Supremacy
• [New] Apple said it will focus on categories like Notes, Media, Messaging, Payments, Restaurant Reservations, VoIP Calling, and Workouts, to start. TechCrunch
• [New] Anthropic, backed by Amazon, Google, and other tech powerhouses, is set to open its first Indian office in Bengaluru in early 2026. Startupro News
• [New] By integrating Perplexity AI's conversational AI technology, Apple aims to introduce real-time, AI-powered search functionalities that could redefine user interaction with its devices. OpenTools
• [New] Apple plans to focus first on categories like Notes, Media, Messaging, Payments, Restaurant Reservations, VoIP Calling, and Workouts. Bitget
• [New] Google, Qualcomm and Samsung have teamed up on a mixed-reality headset - and one big thing could provide a next-gen experience. CNet
• [New] Meta has announced a significant update to its privacy policy, confirming that interactions with its AI tools, including voice chats and text conversations, will be collected and utilized to serve targeted advertisements across its platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Threads. Medium
• [New] Google DeepMind has unveiled a pair of artificial intelligence models that will enable robots to perform complex general tasks and reason in a way that was previously impossible. Live Science
• [New] Amazon is investing heavily in AI infrastructure, developing its own custom AI chips like Trainium and Inferentia, with its new AI supercomputer Project Rainier expected in 2025. FinancialContent
• [New] Apple will overtake Samsung as the world's #1 smartphone maker in 2025 (thanks to aggressive pricing in China, a new ~ $300 iPhone SE, and AI-driven upgrades). Bez Kabli
• Google launched CodeMender, an AI-powered agent that detects, patches, and rewrites software to eliminate security vulnerabilities before they cause harm. Vavoza
• Google's AI Challenge for Chrome and the Inherent Security Risks Google is encouraging developers to build new Chrome extensions using its multimodal AI APIs through its Built-in AI Challenge. Medium
• Apple is expected to launch new 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Pro models with the M5 chip, bringing around 36% better graphics performance than the M4 version. TechCabal

Last updated: 19 October 2025