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Tech 5: US Lifts EDA Restrictions for China, Apple Explores Third-party AI for Siri
However, tech stocks boosted the performance of both Canadian and US markets on Wednesday (July 2) and Thursday (July 3) after export restrictions to China were lifted and the US labor market reported better-than-expected unemployment data.
US markets were closed on Friday (July 4) for a holiday, while Canadian markets ended the day slightly positive.
1. Meta announces AI restructure, continues talent acquisition
Last weekend, reports surfaced that Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) has hired four additional researchers from OpenAI, bringing the total number of high-profile AI talent poached from other tech labs to 13, according to an X post from former Scale AI CEO Alexandr Wang, who was recently recruited as Meta’s Chief AI Officer.
Then, in an internal memo to employees on Monday, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg unveiled the company was restructuring its AI division under the name Meta Superintelligence Labs. According to the memo, which was reviewed by Bloomberg, the new division will be led by Wang and one of its commitments is "developing AI 'superintelligence' or systems that can complete tasks as well as or even better than humans."
Meta has reportedly offered researchers contracts and signing bonuses worth up to US$100 million; however, Chief Technology Officer Andrew Bosworth has pushed back on those reports, claiming the figures are inflated.
Helen Toner, a former OpenAI board member and director of strategy at Georgetown’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology, told Bloomberg TV on Thursday that Meta’s bid to become an AI leader would be “difficult” considering its track record of internal dysfunction and questions around the return on its massive talent spending.
“Meta has started to get a reputation of having a little bit of a dysfunctional AI team, not really having its organizational structure set up in a way that really lets them succeed and innovate. And what I think we're seeing here is CEO Mark Zuckerberg really stepping in and saying, well, we have to do something differently. We need a big new push, we need a big new effort," she said.
"I think (Meta is) really trying to start something new, to pour enormous amounts of financial resources into that. So the question (to watch) is six months from now, 12 months from now, is that paying off for them?"
2. Apple considers third-party AI for Siri overhaul
Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) is reportedly in active discussions with Anthropic and OpenAI to integrate their foundation models into an overhauled version of its voice assistant Siri, a significant pivot from the company’s in-house approach to AI.
According to people familiar with the discussions who spoke to Bloomberg, Apple has asked both companies to train versions of their models that could be tested on Apple’s infrastructure, the publication reported Monday.
Apple announced plans to release a new version of its voice assistant at its Worldwide Developers Conference in 2024. The release was slated for 2026, but the company has run into multiple engineering snags and delays, and ultimately replaced John Giannandrea with Mike Rockwell as the new Siri chief executive.
Rockwell and software engineering head Craig Federighi launched an evaluation, instructing staff to assess Siri’s performance using third-party tech, including Anthropic's Claude, OpenAI's ChatGPT and Alphabet's (NASDAQ:GOOGL) Gemini. According to Bloomberg's sources, the team found Anthropic’s technology most promising for Siri, leading Apple’s vice president of corporate development to open discussions with Anthropic.
Bloomberg’s sources maintain that the development of an in-house model is still active, and Apple hasn't made a final decision on using third-party models.
Apple performance, June 30 to July 3, 2025.
Chart via the Investing News Network.
Apple shares closed up 6.24 percent for the week.
3. Oracle and OpenAI ink massive computing deal
OpenAI will rent roughly 4.5 gigawatts of computing power from Oracle (NYSE:ORCL) as part of the Stargate Project, according to sources for Bloomberg. The news follows a US$30 billion single cloud deal announced on Monday with an unnamed customer. The Stargate energy deal is reportedly a component of that larger contract.
Sources added that Oracle will develop multiple data centers in the US, considering sites in Texas, Michigan, Wisconsin and Wyoming, and that the company will expand its recently built center in Abilene, Texas, to accommodate about two gigawatts of power capacity.
Oracle performance, July 1 to July 3, 2025.
Chart via the Investing News Network.
This collaboration underscores the escalating demand for high-performance computing necessary to train and operate advanced AI models. OpenAI, a leader in AI research and development, requires immense computational resources to fuel its projects, including large language models and other sophisticated AI applications.
The Stargate initiative positions Oracle as a crucial enabler of this next generation of AI innovation, solidifying its role in the evolving cloud and AI ecosystem. The long-term implications of this partnership could see a significant shift in how AI companies acquire and manage their computational infrastructure, potentially paving the way for more dedicated and extensive cloud partnerships in the future.
4. CoreWeave deploys first Nvidia GB300-powered AI server
CoreWeave (NASDAQ:CRWV) said it has received the first AI server system built around NVIDIA's (NASDAQ:NVDA) ultra-powerful GB300 Grace Blackwell AI chip.
The server is deployed within Dell Technologies' (NYSE:DELL) integrated rack-scale system — a turnkey AI infrastructure platform combining compute, networking and cooling — and features 72 of Nvidia’s GB200 chips.
CoreWeave said it will install the cutting-edge hardware in the US and roll out more servers over time. The company will offer the server as part of its AI cloud platform, allowing clients like OpenAI to train and deploy massive, next-generation AI models with faster speeds and greater efficiency.
In the announcement, CoreWeave claimed the NVIDIA GB300 NVL72 significantly boosts AI reasoning performance, offering a 10 times improvement in user responsiveness and five times better throughput per watt than the Hopper server. This translates to an increase of fifty times in reasoning model inference output, enabling faster, more complex AI models.
5. US lifts EDA software export restrictions to China
License requirements for design software sales in China were lifted this week as part of a trade deal between the US and China. On Wednesday, the US Department of Commerce told Synopsys (NASDAQ:SNPS), Cadence Design Systems (NASDAQ:CDNS) and Siemens (XETR:SIE), three of the world’s leading design software providers, that they will no longer need to seek government licenses to conduct business in China.
Official announcements from the companies confirmed they would be resuming business with Chinese counterparts, sending each of their stock prices up between 3 and 6 percent.
The US government restricted sales of electronic design automation (EDA) tools to China in late May as a response to China’s decision to limit shipments of essential rare earth minerals.
Last week, the two countries reached a trade agreement that would re-allow shipments of EDA software after Beijing speeds up approvals of critical mineral exports to the US.
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Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Syntheia
Investor Insight
Syntheia’s innovative conversational AI solution is transforming the face of customer engagement for the B2B market. Backed by a stable financial foundation, Syntheia is well-placed to execute its growth strategy, offering investors a compelling opportunity.
Overview
Syntheia (CSE:SYAI) has rapidly emerged as an innovative player in the expanding conversational AI platform-as-a-service market.
In an industry on the cusp of redefining customer engagement, Syntheia delivers advanced AI solutions tailored to the evolving demands of modern communication. Its platform, built to replicate human-like conversations across phone and digital channels, serves both large enterprises and small-to-medium businesses, many of which face persistent challenges in customer support and high turnover in frontline roles. By combining expertise in natural language processing, tonality, sentiment analysis, and conversational behavior, Syntheia sets itself apart, offering a more authentic and human-like experience than conventional chatbot technologies.
At the heart of Syntheia’s strategy is a forward-looking approach to AI-powered customer service—an industry undergoing rapid and transformative growth. The global conversational AI market, valued at US$12.24 billion in 2024, is projected to soar to US$61.69 billion by 2032, driven by a robust compound annual growth rate of 22.6 percent. This surge underscores the rising demand for intelligent, scalable solutions capable of handling customer interactions with speed, accuracy, and a human-like touch.
Market growth is being driven by several key factors, including increasing demand for customer-centric interactions, the pursuit of greater operational efficiency, and the cost savings enabled by automating and enhancing customer support functions. Syntheia is well-positioned to capitalize on these trends, equipping businesses with AI-driven tools that reduce onboarding costs, overcome language barriers, and address other operational challenges, while simultaneously improving customer engagement.
Syntheia is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the ticker symbol SYAI. Its stock is tightly held, with a limited float that supports disciplined share expansion. Financially, the company is on solid footing, with $2 million in cash, no debt, and a well-structured capitalization profile that includes options and warrants. This strong financial position provides the flexibility and resources necessary for Syntheia to execute its growth strategy and adapt to evolving market conditions.
Syntheia has signed a non-binding letter of intent to acquire Beyond The Call (BTC), an Ontario-based call center operator. The acquisition targets BTC and certain of its assets. By integrating Syntheia’s AI platform with BTC’s operations, both companies see an opportunity to modernize the business, enhance efficiency, and improve customer satisfaction.
With Syntheia’s Assistant NLP platform surpassing 20,000 subscribers in April 2025, the company is well on track to achieve its goal of reaching 100,000 subscriptions by year-end.
Company Highlights
- Syntheia is a conversational AI solution delivering AI-driven, human-like customer service for enterprises and SMBs.
- The AssistantNLP Platform offers 24/7/365 multilingual support, accessible globally.
- Syntheia operates on a freemium revenue model, with scalable plans catering to varied business sizes and needs.
- The conversational AI market is expected to reach $32.62 billion by 2030, with Syntheia well-positioned to capitalize on this growth.
- Syntheia’s algorithms have achieved an 84 percent success rate in data collection and 98 percent in outreach programs, highlighting exceptional efficiency.
- Financially stable, Syntheia has $2 million in cash, no debt and trades on the Canadian Securities Exchange.
Key Technology
Syntheia is a front-runner in conversational AI, employing natural language processing (NLP) algorithms that are continually refined for accuracy and contextual understanding. The platform’s advanced NLP technology, bolstered by proprietary algorithms, enables it to understand and respond to various conversational cues, including tone, sentiment, semantics, and even idiomatic expressions. These sophisticated capabilities make interactions feel more fluid, accurate and responsive, which is particularly advantageous in sectors like healthcare, finance and customer service, where nuanced communication is essential. In fact, Syntheia’s algorithms exhibit impressive efficacy rates, achieving an 84 percent success rate in data collection and a 98 percent success rate in outreach initiatives, demonstrating the system’s effectiveness in real-world applications.
One of the most compelling aspects of Syntheia’s solution is its proprietary AssistantNLP platform, which offers 24/7/365 conversational AI service. The AssistantNLP platform is designed to handle high volumes of customer queries in multiple languages and across industries, ensuring a scalable, reliable and flexible solution for diverse customer needs.
Syntheia’s platform is also highly accessible, structured around a freemium revenue model that allows businesses to try the service at no cost and then upgrade based on usage and additional features. The freemium model’s flexibility is essential in broadening Syntheia’s customer base by reducing the initial financial commitment for prospective clients and encouraging growth from smaller firms to larger enterprise accounts.
Management Team
Tony Di Benedetto – Chairman, Chief Executive Officer
Tony Di Benedetto has nearly 20 years of IT entrepreneurship, mergers and acquisitions, and capital markets experience. As a seasoned technology business leader, he has successfully built and brought multiple tech businesses to market.
Richard Buzbuzian – President
Richard Buzbuzian is a capital markets executive with over 25 years of investment experience in Canada and Europe, and operates a family office with an investment portfolio of public and pre-IPO companies. Buzbuzian holds a degree from the University of Toronto.
Paul Di Benedetto – Chief Technology Officer
Paul Di Benedetto is a technology visionary with expertise in diverse innovative technologies, including blockchain and AI. He is responsible for overseeing the ongoing development of patent-approved technology at work from Syntheia.
Veronique Laberge – Chief Financial Officer
Veronique Laberge is a chartered professional accountant and holds the title of auditor. With more than 17 years of experience in professional practice, she specializes in certification mandates and general accounting, and acts as a consultant for public and private companies.
Emilio Iantorno – VP of Product & Experience Strategy
Emilio Iantorno, a 20-year design veteran, specializes in crafting engaging product experiences for diverse audiences and industries. Emilio leads the Syntheia design process, effectively harnessing the best technology to tackle business challenges.
Tech 5: Meta Plans Multibillion AI Bet, Apple Reveals iOS 26 at WWDC 2025
1. Meta's AI strategy takes shape with US$14.8 billion deal
Meta has a massive deal in the works with Scale AI, as per information provided by sources to multiple outlets.
On June 7, Bloomberg broke the news that Meta was in discussions for a potential investment of over US$10 billion in the AI firm. Then, on Tuesday (June 10), The Information reported Meta would acquire a 49 percent stake in Scale AI for US$14.8 billion, valuing the startup at US$28 billion, a two-fold increase from its valuation in 2024.
The news was followed by Tuesday reports from the New York Times and Bloomberg saying that Meta would be unveiling a new AI research lab focused on achieving superintelligence.
It will include Alexandr Wang, who is Scale AI's founder and CEO, among other Scale AI employees.
CEO Zuckerberg reportedly acquired additional talent for the lab by offering lucrative compensation packages to engineers from multiple other tech firms, including Google (NASDAQ:GOOGL) and OpenAI.
2. Apple's WWDC disappoints investors
Shares of Apple fell by over 2 percent on Monday (June 9) and closed 1.43 percent lower after new developments and features revealed at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) failed to impress investors.
Apple’s forthcoming software updates featured subtle improvements, such as a revamped operating system (OS) and AI capabilities that were noticeably toned down compared to the previous year's unveiling.
Among the new additions to Apple devices are in-app live translation, call screening, AI-driven information analysis and more sophisticated image generation capabilities thanks to its partner OpenAI.
The company also said it would provide developers with offline functionality for its on-device AI models.
The biggest development was the introduction of Liquid Glass, a new design language and graphical user interface developed to unify the visual experience across Apple’s operating systems.
Also part of the push for unification, Apple shared it is switching to an iOS naming system using a number based on calendar year after its release, meaning the next release will be iOS 26.
Apple briefly mentioned the long-awaited AI-powered upgrade to its Siri assistant that was announced at WWDC 2024. During the previous conference, executives hinted that the new Siri would be released with iOS 18, which came out last September without the upgrade.
While no release date was provided at the event, Senior Vice President of Software Engineering Craig Federighi said that the company looks forward to sharing more details “in the coming year.” The company reaffirmed that timeline in a Bloomberg report after anonymous sources told the publication Apple is aiming for a spring 2026 release.
Shares of Apple closed down 3.88 percent for the week.
3. Amazon to build nuclear-powered data centers in Pennsylvania
Amazon announced plans on Monday to invest at least US$20 billion in expanding its data center infrastructure in Pennsylvania, including the construction of two new data center campuses. One campus will be in Luzerne County, south of Scranton, alongside Talen Energy's (NASDAQ:TLN) Susquehanna nuclear power plant. The second campus will be built north of Philadelphia in Bucks County, at the site of what was once a steel mill.
“Pennsylvania is competing again — and I'm proud to announce that with Amazon's commitment of at least $20 billion to build new state-of-the-art data center campuses across our Commonwealth, we have secured the largest private sector investment in the history of Pennsylvania,” Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro (D) said in a press release.
Later, on Wednesday (June 11), Talen announced the expansion of its nuclear energy partnership with Amazon. The collaboration was originally formed in 2022, and will now supply AWS data centers with up to 1,920 megawatts of electricity from its plant, double its previous commitment of 960 megawatts.
The two companies also shared plans to explore the development of small modular reactors in the state.
4. Oracle reaches new heights on earnings report
Oracle (NYSE:ORCL) reported its fiscal Q4 and full-year 2025 earnings on Wednesday, revealing total Q4 revenue of US$15.9 billion, above analyst estimates and a year-over-year increase of 11 percent.
Earnings per share were US$1.70, which also exceeded expectations of US$1.64.
The software maker’s cloud infrastructure business grew by 50 percent year-over-year in fiscal year 2025, and Oracle projected a further increase of 70 percent in cloud infrastructure sales over the next year.
Oracle performance, June 9 to 13, 2025.
Chart via the Investing News Network.
CEO Safra Catz's news during the earnings call that the Stargate joint venture is “not yet formed” had little bearing on the company’s share price. The positive report sent shares to a new high of US$202.44, and they continued climbing to close Friday up 23 percent since the start of the week.
5. NVIDIA CEO highlights AI job creation, European AI deals at VivaTech
In a week of announcements that coincided with the VivaTech 2025 conference in Paris, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang showcased his company’s role as a full-stack AI infrastructure provider.
His message during his keynote presentation on Wednesday was a stark contrast to Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei’s warning earlier this week that AI could lead to widespread job displacement.
On the contrary, Huang said that AI will create new industries and demand for jobs. He also noted that quantum computing technology is at an inflection point, with the potential to solve problems that currently demand years of processing by classical computers. His comments came just one day after IBM (NYSE:IBM) unveiled its newest roadmap, which includes plans for a new quantum data center and the IBM Quantum Starling, which the company says will be the world's first large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computer.
Cementing NVIDIA's role as a global infrastructure leader, Huang shared plans to develop European sovereign AI models through a newly announced partnership with US-based, AI-powered search engine Perplexity and French sovereign AI start-up H Company. Developers will be able to access and fine-tune Perplexity’s models through Hugging Face, a platform for model sharing and collaboration.
DGX Cloud Lepton, NVIDIA's sovereign-ready AI cloud platform, will host the models on European infrastructure to comply with local data privacy and localization requirements. Huang said that, with over 20 active AI factory initiatives in the region, he anticipates a tenfold increase in Europe's AI computing capacity within two years.
Also on Wednesday, insiders for Bloomberg reported that NVIDIA and Samsung Electronics (KRX:005930) will make minority investments in robotics software developer Skild AI as part of the company’s Series B funding round.
The round is led by a US$100 million investment from SoftBank (TSE:9434) and will result in a US$4.5 billion valuation, according to the report. Sources with insider knowledge said that NVIDIA will invest US$10 million and Samsung will put in US$25 million in a strategic move aimed at boosting the companies' influence in the consumer robotics sector.
Don't forget to follow us @INN_Technology for real-time news updates!
Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.