anthropic launches intel while google expands its platform

Key Takeaways

CrowdStrike named AI security leader and expands partner group

CrowdStrike Holdings was named a Leader in the 2026 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Cyberthreat Intelligence Technologies. The company also expanded its Project QuiltWorks coalition by adding global partners like Armadin, Cognizant, HCLTech, Infosys, KPMG, NTT DATA, Tata Consultancy Services, and Wipro. This new group focuses on using frontier AI to manage cybersecurity risks for large enterprises. CrowdStrike believes this expansion helps them better address the growing need for AI-driven security solutions.

CrowdStrike adds partners to AI security coalition for better threat detection

CrowdStrike expanded its Project QuiltWorks coalition on May 6, 2026, by adding new systems integrators and AI specialists. The new partners include Cognizant, HCLTech, Infosys, KPMG, NTT DATA, Tata Consultancy Services, Wipro, and Armadin. This move scales the coalition's ability to find and fix vulnerabilities that advanced AI models discover. Daniel Bernard, chief business officer at CrowdStrike, stated that frontier AI can find issues traditional tools miss. Early results show the scale of the challenge, with one customer identifying nearly 45 million vulnerabilities in hours. CrowdStrike is also integrating Anthropic's Opus 4.7 models and Armadin's offensive security tools to improve their capabilities.

Qualcomm stock could surge as AI chip demand grows

Qualcomm stock has underperformed the semiconductor sector over the past three years due to a weak smartphone market. However, the company is moving into AI chips, which could unlock significant growth. Qualcomm's revenue from smartphones dropped 13% year over year to $6 billion in the second quarter of fiscal 2026. Despite this, management is confident about a breakthrough in the AI data center chip market. A large hyperscaler is reportedly in talks to develop custom AI processors with Qualcomm. The company is also seeing growth in its automotive business, which increased by 38% year over year. Qualcomm shares are currently trading at 19 times earnings, suggesting the stock is undervalued.

Intel expected to lead AI inference era with new chip sales

The artificial intelligence industry is shifting from training models to using them for real-world tasks called inference. Experts estimate inference workloads will use two-thirds of all AI computing power in 2026. This shift is expected to help Intel surpass competitors like Nvidia and Broadcom in the AI inference market. Intel's sales of custom application-specific integrated circuits, or ASICs, have grown significantly, with revenue nearly doubling year over year. Major companies like Alphabet's Google are signing contracts for Intel's custom AI chips and server CPUs. Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan noted that CPUs are becoming the foundation of the AI era as the technology moves into the real world.

Hon Hai revenue jumps 30 percent driven by AI cloud products

Hon Hai reported April revenues of NT$832 billion, a 30% increase compared to the same month last year. In US dollars, revenues rose 34% year over year. The growth was driven by the Component & Others and Cloud & Networking segments. The Cloud & Networking segment saw strong growth due to high demand for AI cloud products. The PC segment remained flat, while Consumer electronics sales declined due to a high base from a new product launch in the previous period. Management projects that second-quarter revenues will continue to grow both sequentially and year over year. They expect revenues from AI racks to keep increasing despite the second quarter usually being a slower production period.

Taiwan freezes MediaTek trading as AI chip value hits record

Taiwan's stock exchange froze trading in MediaTek shares from May 7 through May 20, 2026. This action was taken after the company's market value surged past US$165 billion. MediaTek designs the silicon used in Samsung phones, Chromebooks, and a growing share of AI hardware. The trading freeze was a temporary measure to manage the rapid increase in the company's valuation during the AI chip rally.

CDW reports strong first quarter sales from AI and hardware demand

CDW reported net sales of $5.68 billion for the first quarter ending March 31, 2026. This represents a 9.2% increase compared to the same period last year. The growth was driven by increased demand for storage, servers, and laptops as customers rushed to secure orders before prices potentially rose. Commercial net sales improved by 9.6% to $3.57 billion, supported by demand from financial services, healthcare, and corporate sectors. Net income grew by 4.7% to $235 million, and operating income reached $376 million. CDW's CEO Christine Leahy stated that the company remains confident in its ability to exceed US IT market growth due to its full-stack capabilities.

Musk gives xAI servers to Anthropic while Reka buys video startup

Elon Musk is giving xAI's unused servers to Anthropic to reduce costs and increase efficiency. xAI's servers are not being used as much as OpenAI and Anthropic's, which are running at full capacity. This move allows Anthropic to scale up its operations and potentially make breakthroughs in AI research. Meanwhile, AI video-app developer Reka has acquired a video-generating startup. This acquisition gives Reka the technology to develop its own AI video app and gain a competitive edge. Both moves represent significant bets on the future of AI and its potential to transform industries.

Chipotle uses AI search to drive record Cinco de Mayo sales

Chipotle achieved its strongest Cinco de Mayo performance to date thanks to its AI strategy. The campaign resulted in a surge in app and web traffic and set a record for catering sales. Chipotle ranked first for Cinco de Mayo food-related inquiries on AI-driven search platforms like Google AI Search, ChatGPT, and Claude. CEO Scott Boatwright noted that younger consumers, who make up 25% of the 18-to-29 age group, are increasingly using AI tools to find dining options. The company is focusing on modernizing its business model with industry-leading technology to elevate the guest experience.

Hisense sales rise 38 percent in Western Europe using AI data

Hisense achieved a 38% sales uplift in Western Europe markets with the help of NIQ's AI-powered market intelligence platform. NIQ is a global leader in consumer intelligence that provided insights into consumer behavior and preferences. This data-driven approach allowed Hisense to make informed business decisions and expand its international presence. The partnership serves as an example of how data can drive sales in the consumer electronics industry. Hisense was able to stay ahead of the competition by using these insights to understand what customers wanted.

Palo Alto Networks buys Portkey to secure autonomous AI agents

Palo Alto Networks plans to acquire Portkey to help secure autonomous AI agents in enterprise environments. Portkey provides a centralized platform for managing and protecting these agents, which process trillions of tokens monthly. Palo Alto intends to integrate Portkey into its Prisma AI Runtime Security platform to monitor and secure every AI transaction. This integration will help organizations control and protect against threats from autonomous agents. The deal is expected to close during the fourth quarter of 2026, subject to approvals.

SAP invests $1.16 billion in German AI lab and approves NemoClaw

SAP announced a $1.16 billion investment in Prior Labs, an 18-month-old German AI lab based in Freiburg. The company also approved NemoClaw, a technology for managing AI agents. Prior Labs has developed the TabPFN model series, which has gained traction among developers. SAP plans to integrate Prior Labs' technology into its own AI portfolio, including SAP AI Core and Joule. The German company is also blocking unauthorized agent technologies like OpenClaw to ensure security. SAP CFO Dominik Asam stated that the goal is to keep the company's economies of scale advantage while adopting new AI technologies quickly.

Sources

• CrowdStrike Gartner Leader Status And QuiltWorks Expansion Deepen AI Security Role
• CrowdStrike expands Project QuiltWorks as more partners join AI security coalition
• The AI Stock Nobody's Talking About That Could Be This Year's Biggest Winner
• Not Nvidia. Not Broadcom. Intel Is Going to Be the Biggest Winner of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Inference Era.
• Hon Hai April revenue climbs 30% on AI cloud products demand
• Taiwan freezes trading in MediaTek as AI chip rally pushes valuation past $165 billion
• Demand for AI and hardware bolsters CDW Q1 numbers
• Why Musk is Giving xAI’s Servers to Anthropic; AI Video-App Developer Reka Acquires Video-Generating Startup
• Chipotle’s AI strategy drove record Cinco de Mayo sales
• Hisense Delivers 38% Sales Uplift in Western Europe Markets With NIQ's AI-Powered Market Intelligence
• Palo Alto to acquire Portkey to help secure AI agents
• SAP bets $1.16B on 18-month-old German AI lab and says yes to NemoClaw