amd launches meta while nvidia expands its platform

Key Takeaways

• Oracle plans to lay off 20,000-30,000 employees and save $8-$10 billion to fund AI data centers for customers like AMD, xAI, Meta, and Nvidia.
• Oracle intends to raise $45-$50 billion in debt and equity by 2026 for its cloud computing business, following a $300 billion partnership with OpenAI.
• Oracle's stock has been volatile, and bondholders sued the company over undisclosed debt related to its AI infrastructure plans.
• OpenAI, a significant Oracle cloud customer, might reduce its use of Nvidia chips, potentially impacting Oracle's cloud services.
• The AI infrastructure market is projected to grow from $59 billion in 2025 to $356 billion by 2032.
• Applied Digital and CoreWeave are experiencing massive sales growth in AI infrastructure, with CoreWeave backed by a $6.3 billion Nvidia partnership and a $2 billion Nvidia investment.
• Leadpoet, an AI startup for B2B sales leads, secured $750,000 in pre-seed funding and utilizes the Bittensor decentralized AI network.
• CloudForge launched with $3.95 million in funding for its AI-powered platform, aiming to modernize the metals supply chain.
• Analysts predict significant revenue growth for SoundHound AI through 2026, despite a recent 15 percent stock drop.
• Private credit stocks are falling due to fears of AI disrupting the software industry, with UBS analysts estimating 25-35% of the market faces risks.

Oracle faces financial woes and plans major job cuts

Oracle faces a financial crisis and plans to lay off 20,000 to 30,000 employees. This comes after its $300 billion partnership with OpenAI and US banks pulling back on lending for data center projects. The company aims to save $8 to $10 billion to fund AI data centers for customers like AMD, xAI, Meta, Nvidia, and TikTok. Oracle also plans to raise $45 to $50 billion in debt and equity in 2026 for its cloud computing business. This announcement caused Oracle's shares to drop 4 percent, and bondholders previously sued the company over undisclosed debt for the OpenAI deal.

Oracle stock volatile after $50 billion AI funding plan

Oracle's stock has been unstable after the company announced plans to raise up to $50 billion for its AI infrastructure. Shares dropped more than 50 percent from last year's high, then saw small gains and dips. This new capital will help meet demand from major customers like AMD, Meta Platforms, Nvidia, OpenAI, TikTok, and xAI. Oracle will finance these plans using both debt and equity. Earlier this month, bondholders sued Oracle, claiming the company did not reveal the significant debt needed for its AI infrastructure plans.

Expert answers questions on AI stocks and personal finance

This episode answers listener questions about investing and personal finance. Rachel asked if she should change her index fund strategy due to AI stock concentration, but experts say broad index funds already offer diversification. Sarah, a 65-year-old who lost her job, sought advice on Social Security, credit card debt, Roth conversions, and a home remodel. Another listener asked about the future of employer-sponsored health insurance and how to test small business ideas. The experts advised considering break-even age for Social Security, using low-income years for Roth conversions, and validating business concepts with frameworks like The Lean Startup.

Oracle faces risks from OpenAI and Nvidia partnership issues

Oracle's cloud business benefits greatly from the AI boom, with Nvidia and OpenAI as its biggest cloud customers. OpenAI uses Nvidia's chips for AI training and Oracle's cloud for infrastructure. However, OpenAI might reduce its use of Nvidia chips, possibly by making its own or working with other chip makers. This change could significantly hurt Oracle if OpenAI also reduces its use of Oracle's cloud services. Oracle's accounting method of recording revenue from Nvidia's chip sales to OpenAI might also face scrutiny. The uncertainty around Oracle's AI strategy has made its stock unstable recently.

Applied Digital and CoreWeave compete in AI infrastructure

Applied Digital and CoreWeave are both seeing huge sales growth because of the high demand for computing power in artificial intelligence. The AI infrastructure market is expected to grow from $59 billion in 2025 to $356 billion by 2032. Applied Digital's revenue jumped 250 percent to $126.6 million in its fiscal second quarter of 2026, signing $16 billion in new leases, but it carries $2.6 billion in debt and is not yet profitable. CoreWeave, a major customer of Applied Digital, reported $1.4 billion in revenue in Q3 and has strong backing from Nvidia, including a $6.3 billion partnership and a $2 billion investment. CoreWeave also has over $14 billion in debt.

Leadpoet raises funds for AI sales lead technology

Leadpoet, a New York AI startup, secured $750,000 in pre-seed funding and reached a $1 million annualized run rate. Founders Pranav Ramesh and Gavin Zaentz created the company to help B2B sales teams find customers actively looking to buy. Leadpoet analyzes public web signals like social media and hiring activity to identify buying intent, providing specific evidence for each lead. Unlike competitors such as ZoomInfo and Apollo, Leadpoet uses Bittensor, a decentralized AI network, to improve its system. The company has 26 B2B customers and is part of the NVIDIA Inception accelerator, planning a larger seed funding round soon.

CloudForge secures $3.95 million for AI metals platform

CloudForge, an AI-powered platform for sales and procurement in the metals supply chain, has launched with $3.95 million in funding. Investors include Zero Infinity Partners, Resolute Ventures, and Bienville Capital. The company aims to update the metals industry, which still relies on old methods like spreadsheets. CloudForge's platform offers sales, customer management, and procurement tools, along with a database of over 165,000 metal companies in North America. It helps businesses like Tri-State Steel find new customers and suppliers more efficiently. The new funds will support product development, expand AI features, and grow the engineering and customer support teams.

Analysts predict big growth for SoundHound AI stock

Analysts are predicting significant growth for SoundHound AI stock, despite its 15 percent drop this year. H.C. Wainwright analyst Mike Buck expects strong revenue growth through 2026, seeing the company as a long-term leader in voice AI. SoundHound's management plans to reach adjusted EBITDA break-even by late 2026 while focusing on continued growth. Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Brett Blakey also remains positive, noting that current low expectations for 2026 could lead to an upside if the company keeps executing its growth strategy well.

Private credit stocks fall due to AI software disruption fears

Private credit stocks are falling sharply because investors worry about their exposure to the software industry, which artificial intelligence is disrupting. Companies like Blue Owl Capital, Ares Management, and KKR saw their shares drop. Publicly traded software stocks have already been hit hard as AI tools threaten their future growth and profits. UBS analysts estimate that 25 to 35 percent of the private credit market faces risks from AI disruption. They also suggest that default rates for private credit firms in the US could rise to 13 percent if AI causes major changes.

Sources

• Oracle Stares At Financial Crisis, Plans To Cut Nearly 30K Jobs?
• Oracle stock in flux following $50 billion AI fundraising announcement
• #686: Q&A: Are AI Stocks About to Crater?
• What Oracle Has to Lose From OpenAI and Nvidia’s Rocky Relationship
• Better Artificial Intelligence Stock: Applied Digital vs. CoreWeave
• AI-Driven Intent Data Gains Traction As Sales Teams Look Beyond Lead Lists
• CloudForge: $3.95 Million Secured To Bring AI Sales And Procurement To The Metals Supply Chain
• Why Analysts See Big Upside in SoundHound AI Stock (SOUN)
• Private credit stocks plummet on concern about exposure to software industry disrupted by AI