Microsoft and Meta Surpass Earnings Expectations as AI Growth Counters Trade Concerns

Microsoft and Meta demonstrated resilience in their March quarter earnings, surpassing market expectations and driving share prices higher in extended trading. Their performance underscores how strategic investments in artificial intelligence are counterbalancing macroeconomic pressures tied to trade tensions and tariffs. Both companies are leveraging AI to enhance product offerings, optimize operations, and create new revenue streams, positioning themselves as leaders in the rapidly evolving tech landscape. <br /> <br /> The earnings uptick reflects growing enterprise and consumer reliance on AI-driven solutions, from cloud computing infrastructure to advanced advertising algorithms. While tariff-related uncertainties have dampened growth projections across sectors, Microsoft’s Azure cloud services and Meta’s AI-powered ad tools are mitigating these headwinds by delivering measurable efficiency gains. Analysts note that this trend validates the tech industry's pivot toward AI as a stabilizing force amid geopolitical and economic volatility, even as competitors face tighter margins. <br /> <br /> The results also highlight a widening gap between AI-frontrunners and firms slower to adapt. Microsoft’s integration of generative AI across productivity suites and Meta’s deployment of large language models for content moderation and recommendation systems exemplify how mature AI implementations are translating into financial performance. However, broader challenges persist, including regulatory scrutiny and the need to prove sustainable monetization strategies as investment flows increasingly concentrate on AI infrastructure. These factors will likely shape the sector’s trajectory through 2025.

7 Essential DeepSeek Prompts I Use Daily – My Can't Miss Workflow Boosters

Ever since DeepSeek quietly disrupted the AI world at the beginning of this year, I have been testing it to determine the best use cases and prompts for productivity. What began as an experiment with yet another AI tool quickly turned into a newfound dependency on the useful chatbot. DeepSeek offers a wide range of capabilities that make it a valuable asset for productivity. It excels in content creation and summarization, allowing users to generate structured and coherent text, which is particularly useful for students and professionals. Additionally, its coding and debugging features are highly beneficial for developers, as it helps write, debug, and optimize code across multiple programming languages. The AI model's ability to provide quick answers, detailed explanations, and well-organized reports makes it a reliable tool for research and academic work. The platform's cost-effectiveness is also noteworthy. Unlike other AI models that require significant financial investment, DeepSeek was developed at a relatively low cost, making it an attractive option for businesses and developers. Its adaptive conversation capabilities and advanced reasoning enhance user interaction, personalizing responses based on user inputs. Overall, DeepSeek's impressive performance and broad accessibility have positioned it as a strong competitor in the AI chatbot market, attracting widespread adoption. <br /> <br /> As I delve deeper into using DeepSeek, I continue to discover new applications that enhance my productivity. Its ability to manage complex tasks efficiently and accurately supports a variety of needs, from generating engaging content to assisting with coding projects. While it has some limitations in handling sensitive topics due to built-in censorship, its overall utility and versatility have made it an indispensable tool for daily tasks. The future of DeepSeek looks promising, with potential for continued growth and development in the AI landscape. Its efficient development process and high-performance capabilities are setting a new standard for AI development, emphasizing the importance of cost-effectiveness alongside technological power. As more users explore its capabilities, DeepSeek is likely to play a significant role in shaping the future of AI applications across different sectors.

Sam Altman Brings Iris Scanning Crypto Project to the U.S., Offering Free Tokens for Digital IDs

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's crypto-tied digital identity project, Worldassistant OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's crypto-tied digital identity project, World, is expanding into the United States. Initially launched in 2023, World uses a unique identification method by scanning users' irises via a spherical device known as an Orb. This Orb verifies users as human, providing them with a digital identity called World ID. In return for verifying their identity, users receive an airdrop of World's cryptocurrency token, WLD. The World ID can be used for authentication across various platforms, including web and decentralized apps, ensuring users are not AI or bots. <br /> <br /> The project is launching in six key U.S. cities: Atlanta, Austin, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, and San Francisco. World plans to deploy 7,500 Orbs across the U.S. by the end of the year, aiming to give more than 180 million Americans access to its network. Additionally, World has partnered with Visa to introduce a "World Visa card" later this year, allowing users who have undergone iris scanning to use their WLD tokens for payments. Another significant partnership is with Match Group for a Tinder verification pilot, further expanding World's reach into digital identity verification. Despite its growth, World has faced regulatory scrutiny and privacy concerns in various countries.

Texans Weigh In: Insights on Trump, AI, and Partisan Politics from the Latest Poll

The 2025 Texas Lyceum Poll reveals a nuanced perspective on political divisions and civility among Texans. While 42% of adults attribute national polarization to elected officials, a substantial majority (69%) believe respectful political disagreements remain possible. This optimism extends to governance preferences, with 68% favoring leaders who compromise over those who rigidly defend positions—a sentiment cutting across party lines. The findings highlight a disconnect between public desire for collaborative politics and the confrontational rhetoric dominating current discourse. <br /> <br /> The poll coincides with the Lyceum’s national Campaign for Civility, urging elected officials to prioritize respectful dialogue. Notably, distrust in institutions like Congress (39%) and the presidency (39%) contrasts with higher approval for state leadership: 55% support Governor Greg Abbott’s performance, and 54% approve of former President Trump’s job rating. Trust remains highest in the military, with 62% expressing significant confidence. These results suggest Texans distinguish between systemic dissatisfaction and individual leadership evaluations. <br /> <br /> Educational and income disparities shape views on emerging issues like AI, where 39% hold positive perceptions versus 30% negative. However, the civility data underscores a broader consensus: voters seek a middle ground absent from today’s “high-octane” partisanship. The Lyceum’s findings challenge the narrative that polarization is inevitable, instead framing civility as both a public priority and a viable political strategy.

Cricketer Ruturaj Gaikwad Joins Volkai to Advance India’s First Agentic AI for Smarter Interviews and HR Innovation

This strategic collaboration between Volkai and cricketer Ruturaj Gaikwad represents a significant advancement in AI-driven career development. By leveraging Gaikwad’s prominence, Volkai aims to popularize its agentic AI technology tailored for interview preparation and HR transformation. The partnership focuses on empowering Indian youth and businesses through accessible, innovative AI tools designed to bridge skill gaps and enhance employability. <br /> <br /> Volkai’s technology promises to revolutionize HR processes by offering personalized, scalable solutions that adapt to individual learning styles and professional needs. The AI platform integrates advanced features such as real-time feedback and scenario-based simulations, equipping users with practical skills to navigate competitive job markets. Gaikwad’s involvement is expected to amplify outreach, particularly among aspiring professionals seeking mentorship and tech-enabled career guidance. <br /> <br /> The collaboration aligns with broader industry trends where AI is increasingly deployed to address workforce challenges. By combining Gaikwad’s influence as a role model with Volkai’s cutting-edge AI, the initiative seeks to democratize access to career-building resources. This dual emphasis on technology and human-centric design positions Volkai as a leader in India’s evolving AI landscape, setting a precedent for future innovations at the intersection of sports, education, and artificial intelligence. <br /> <br /> The move underscores a commitment to fostering youth empowerment while redefining how businesses approach talent acquisition and development. As AI becomes integral to professional growth, such partnerships highlight the transformative potential of blending domain expertise with technological innovation to create inclusive, future-ready solutions.

Malaysia Secures RM16.2 Billion in Digital Investments, Fueled by Data Centres and AI Growth

Malaysia has secured significant digital investments, amounting to RM16.2 billion, from January to mid-April 2025. Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo announced that these investments are expected to create approximately 6,500 jobs over the next five years. The country hosts a total of 3,891 active Malaysia Digital (MD) companies, with 254 located in the northern region. Data centers and cloud investments have led the way, contributing RM9.9 billion or more than 60% of the total investments. Artificial intelligence (AI) companies also form a significant portion of new MD-status companies at 27%, followed by data centers at 23assistant Data centers and cloud investments have led the way, contributing RM9.9 billion or more than 60% of the total investments. Artificial intelligence (AI) companies also form a significant portion of new MD-status companies at 27%, followed by data centers at 23%, and global business services at 11.5%. <br /> <br /> The top five sources of foreign direct investments in Malaysia's digital sector come from the Netherlands, Singapore, Hong Kong, India, and the United Kingdom. Penang alone has attracted RM1.23 billion in MD-approved investments, with about 266 jobs expected to be created. Most of these investments are driven by data centers and cloud services, while job opportunities are mainly in high-value sectors like IC design and embedded software. <br /> <br /> Malaysia's progress in becoming a smart nation involves states implementing their own smart city initiatives. Penang, for instance, has integrated AI into its infrastructure, such as advanced traffic management solutions, to enhance public services. Other states like Wilayah Persekutuan, Johor, and Sarawak are also undertaking similar initiatives. The digital ministry aims to ensure sufficient digital infrastructure to support these developments, preparing the country to fully embrace digitalization and leverage AI for economic growth.