TL;DR
OpenAI launches GPT-5 for all; Apple to integrate GPT-5; Meta secures $29B for AI infrastructure.
Highlights
- OpenAI launched GPT-5 for all ChatGPT users, with improvements in coding, reasoning, and safety; four model variants available via API 1.
- Apple will integrate GPT-5 into Apple Intelligence in September OS updates, replacing GPT-4o for opt-in users and expanding developer access 2.
- Meta secured $29B in financing for new AI data centers 4 and acquired WaveForms AI to add emotion-detecting audio to its Superintelligence Labs 5.
- Tesla shut down its Dojo supercomputer project, shifting to Nvidia and AMD chips; key engineers departed to form DensityAI 3.
- Nvidia’s market value surge pushed S&P 500 concentration to a multi-decade high 8; TSMC reported 25.8% YoY July revenue growth, driven by AI demand 9.
- OpenAI approved million-dollar retention bonuses for technical staff amid intensifying competition for AI talent 6.
- xAI plans to launch Grok 5 by year-end, claiming Grok 4 outperforms GPT-5; Musk positions xAI as a top competitor 7.
- Texas granted Tesla a rideshare permit, enabling commercial robotaxi operations across the state as Austin’s service zone expands 10.
- SoundHound AI shares rose on a 217% revenue jump and the launch of “Vision AI” for multimodal enterprise use cases 13.
- Tempus AI’s Q2 revenue rose 90% on genomics and analytics growth, raising its full-year outlook 15.
- SMIC reports Chinese chipmakers are replacing foreign rivals despite US tariffs; Nvidia , AMD , and Intel benefit from US tariff carveouts 12.
- Apple faces analyst pressure to acquire Perplexity AI and accelerate its AI strategy 14.
- CoreWeave’s $9B acquisition of Core Scientific faces major shareholder opposition after a 30% stock drop 11.
Commentary
OpenAI’s GPT-5 release, now available to all ChatGPT users and developers, marks a notable step in model capability and accessibility, with a focus on improved coding, reasoning, and safety 1. Apple ’s rapid adoption of GPT-5 for Apple Intelligence, alongside expanded developer access to its on-device foundation model, signals a shift toward tighter integration of leading LLMs into mainstream consumer platforms 2. Analyst calls for Apple to acquire Perplexity AI highlight the competitive urgency for differentiated AI features in consumer devices 14.
Meta ’s $29 billion capital raise for AI data centers 4 and its acquisition of WaveForms AI (emotion-detecting audio) 5 underscore the escalating infrastructure and R&D investments required to compete in generative AI. Tesla ’s discontinuation of its Dojo supercomputer and pivot to Nvidia/AMD chips illustrates the challenge of sustaining in-house AI hardware efforts amid rising costs and rapid ecosystem advances; the departure of key engineers to DensityAI may add new competition in data-center hardware 3.
The AI hardware supply chain remains robust: Nvidia’s dominance is reflected in both its market cap surge 8 and TSMC’s record revenue growth, with AI demand as a primary driver 9. Meanwhile, SMIC’s update suggests China’s chip sector is adapting to tariffs, while US carveouts for Nvidia , AMD , and Intel maintain US leadership in AI chip supply 12. The ongoing talent war is evident in OpenAI’s retention bonuses 6 and in xAI’s aggressive claims about Grok’s performance 7.
On the application front, SoundHound AI delivered strong revenue growth, reflecting continued enterprise adoption of AI solutions 13. Tempus AI’s strong Q2 results highlight ongoing healthcare adoption of AI 15. Tesla ’s expansion of its robotaxi service in Texas and new regulatory approvals signal incremental progress in autonomous mobility 10. The uncertain outcome of CoreWeave’s bid for Core Scientific highlights ongoing volatility in AI infrastructure M&A 11.