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Today’s Storystream

Alibaba Cloud is ramping up its AI offerings with advanced tools, expanded infrastructure, and support programs for developers worldwide. Its Model Studio now features upgraded large language models like Qwen2.5 and AI coding assistant Tongyi Lingma. New cloud solutions, including high-efficiency ECS instances and the ACS container platform, aim to boost AI workloads. The GenAI Empowerment Program further accelerates innovation with cloud credits and industry collaborations.

ICANN will officially retire WHOIS on January 28, 2025, replacing it with the more secure and structured Registration Data Access Protocol (RDAP). The upgrade enhances data privacy, supports multiple languages, and offers controlled access for cybersecurity and law enforcement. While most users won’t notice immediate changes, registrars must adapt. The transition marks a step toward a more modern, efficient domain registration system.

Microsoft has unveiled the Advanced Planning Unit (APU) within its AI division to assess AI’s societal, health, and workforce implications. Operating under Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman, APU will guide product strategies, conduct research, and shape AI-driven outcomes. As Microsoft’s AI investments soar, the APU aims to anticipate AI’s transformative effects, hiring experts from economics to quantum sciences to inform future developments.

Despite DeepSeek’s low-cost AI model shaking up the industry, Blackstone remains committed to its $80 billion data center investments. The firm emphasizes that AI’s rapid growth still demands high-performance computing infrastructure. While cheaper AI models may alter dynamics, Blackstone predicts broader AI adoption will only boost the need for scalable, resilient data centers, reinforcing their pivotal role in the evolving tech landscape.

Microsoft has integrated OpenAI’s GPT-o1 reasoning model into Copilot, offering it “free” for all users—just weeks after raising Microsoft 365 Copilot prices by $3/month. The move follows growing competition from China’s DeepSeek R1. Despite investor concerns over AI costs and Azure growth, Microsoft’s AI revenue hit $13 billion annually. Critics argue the “free” label masks hidden costs amid ongoing subscription price hikes.

Microsoft’s Q2 2025 earnings surpassed expectations, with revenue rising 12% to $69.6 billion. Azure and cloud services saw a 21% YoY increase, while AI-driven investments fueled a $13 billion annual revenue run rate. However, high capital expenditures and slower-than-expected Azure growth left investors unimpressed, triggering a 4.5% stock dip. CEO Satya Nadella reaffirmed Microsoft’s commitment to AI and cloud expansion despite market skepticism.

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