November 18, 2025, 9:10 PM EST. New EU stats show that in 2024, 97% of people aged 16-29 in the EU used the internet daily, versus 88% of the total population-a gap that has shrunk from 24 percentage points in 2014. Among youths, social network activity is especially common: 88% create profiles and post messages, compared with 65% of the overall population. The Czech Republic leads with 99% of 16-29-year-olds on social networks, followed by Cyprus and Greece at 98%. France (70%), Italy (80%), and Germany, Slovakia and Bulgaria (84%) are among the lower ends for youth social activity. This data comes as World Youth Skills Day on 15 July highlights youth empowerment through AI and digital skills.
November 18, 2025, 9:06 PM EST. Over the past six weeks, the crypto market has shed more than $1 trillion, with Bitcoin down 27% to around $91,000. The decline comes as fears of a broader tech/AI bubble prompt warnings from industry leaders, including Sundar Pichai of Alphabet. Global stock indices slipped, from the FTSE 100 to the Nikkei 225, amid fading expectations for a US rate cut. Klarna's Sebastian Siemiatkowski warned that surging investment in AI datacentres could be overheating valuations of AI firms, including Nvidia. Investors also watch gold, which has fallen as rate-cut hopes fade. The piece highlights concerns about asset allocation and the risk that an AI surge could spill into traditional markets if the bubble bursts.
November 18, 2025, 9:02 PM EST. Klarna's CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski warns that AI-driven layoffs across corporate America could threaten prime borrowers as the company gears up for its Sept. 10, 2025 IPO. He says the near-term consumer picture looks healthy, but the labor-market shift may hit office workers with solid credit who aren't typical subprime borrowers. While those with higher incomes are affected, the impact could ripple through lending risk as AI reshapes employment. Klarna reports a 26% revenue rise to $903 million and expanding US share, with rising active users yet a dip in average revenue per user. Siemiatkowski notes the need to monitor loan losses while highlighting growth of Fair Financing. The episode underscores the intersection of AI, credit risk, and fintech ahead of the IPO.
November 18, 2025, 9:00 PM EST. Apple details a manufacturing breakthrough: Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Series 11 cases are 3D-printed from 100% recycled aerospace-grade titanium powder, a feat once considered impossible at scale. The shift to additive manufacturing halves raw material use and saves more than 400 metric tons of titanium in 2025, driving toward Apple's 2030 carbon-neutral pledge. The approach preserves durability, elegance, and improved waterproofing for cellular antennas. Apple claims all Watch production already runs on renewable electricity. Beyond wearables, the company cites a 3D-printing-enabled USB-C port design for the iPhone Air, wrapped in a titanium enclosure that showcases the same recycled material. The release frames this as a broader step toward more sustainable manufacturing without compromising performance or aesthetics.
November 18, 2025, 8:54 PM EST. Microsoft announced strategic partnerships with Nvidia and Anthropic, as it accelerates its AI-stack independence from OpenAI. Under the deal, Microsoft will invest $5 billion in Anthropic, while Nvidia commits $10 billion. Anthropic has agreed to purchase $30 billion of Azure compute capacity and has secured optional capacity up to one gigawatt. The collaboration aims to optimize Anthropic's Claude models for performance and efficiency on Nvidia architectures. This follows Microsoft's existing funding of OpenAI and underscores a broader push into enterprise AI infrastructure. The agreement marks a significant expansion of enterprise AI partnerships and positions Anthropic as a major Azure customer and developer in the ecosystem.