Magnificent 7 Weekly Briefing

January 23, 2026

Apple tapped Google Gemini for AI features, Tesla pushed its robotaxi plans amid a DOJ probe and sharp drop in Cybertruck sales, and Microsoft battled widespread outages, and more.

• Apple tapped Google's Gemini to power its new "Apple Intelligence" features and is reportedly planning to transform Siri into an advanced AI bot, even as Apple faced continued legal scrutiny over its App Store fees and global financial practices. ^12345678910
• Tesla CEO Elon Musk predicted robotaxis will be widespread in the US before 2027 and confirmed testing without safety monitors in Austin, though the company faced a Justice Department probe over its range claims and saw Cybertruck sales plunge 50% in 2025. ^{11121314151617181920}
• Google was ordered to face a consumer antitrust lawsuit over its search dominance and is under EU scrutiny regarding its ad tech concessions, while the company acquired Intersect for renewable energy expansion and opened a new Google Cloud region in Bangkok. ^212223242526
• Microsoft suffered widespread outages affecting Microsoft 365 and Outlook access for thousands of users and was forced to release emergency fixes for authentication and security flaws impacting Windows and Azure services. ^{2728293031323334}
• Microsoft advanced its AI portfolio by partnering with Bristol Myers Squibb for lung cancer detection and announcing the Rho-alpha robotics model, while NVIDIA reported that financial services are doubling their AI investment due to strong revenue gains. ^3536373839
• Apple overtook Samsung in global smartphone sales after 14 years, Amazon's One Medical launched a Health AI assistant, and Meta introduced nearly $2 million in grants to support societal uses of its AI Glasses technology. ^{4041424344454647}

Sources

1. Apple taps Google Gemini to power Apple Intelligence AOL
2. Apple is reportedly planning to turn Siri into an advanced AI bot similar to ChatGPT Financial Express
3. Google introduces Personal Intelligence in AI Mode Google
4. Google’s AI Mode Gets Personal Intelligence Droid Life
5. With Google Deal, Apple’s Craig Federighi Plots a Cautious Course in AI The Information
6. Apple & Google s AI deal clears biggest hurdle blocking smart home accessory release AppleInsider
7. Campaigner launches £1.5bn legal action in UK against Apple over wallet's 'hidden fees' The Guardian
8. Apple Says EC Is Using ‘Political Delay Tactics’ on App Changes to Impose Fines Bloomberg
9. Apple asks Indian court to stop antitrust body from seeking its financials Reuters
10. Global turnover penalty illegal, not delaying CCI case: Apple tells HC Business Standard
11. Elon Musk: Tesla robotaxi will be 'widespread' in US before 2027 Yahoo Finance
12. Tesla starts robotaxi rides without safety monitors in Austin Reuters
13. Tesla faces Justice Department probe of range claim Yahoo Finance
14. Waymo founder calls out Tesla for concerning feature in Full Self-Driving system: '[It] wouldn't even pass a DMV vision test' The Cool Down
15. Real Tesla Cybercab spotted in the wild with tweaks as Tesla forges ahead with driverless taxi plans in 2026 CarsGuide
16. The Car You Never Own: Tesla's New FSD Move Turns Your Garage Into a Monthly Bill International Business Times
17. Musk expects Europe, China to approve Tesla's FSD system next month Reuters
18. Tesla Cybertruck sales plunge nearly 50 percent in 2025 USA TODAY
19. Tesla Cybertruck Sales Dropped 50% in 2025: TDS The Drive
20. Tesla lithium refinery, 'largest in America,' now operating in Texas KXAN
21. Google must face consumer antitrust lawsuit over search dominance, US judge rules Reuters
22. As U.S. courts near a remedy, Europe puts Google’s ad tech concessions under the microscope Digiday
23. Can Texas AG defend publishers from Google’s digital gun? The Dallas Morning News
24. Google Acquires Intersect for Renewable Energy Expansion GuruFocus
25. Google Cloud adds Bangkok as latest region Mobile World Live
26. Google behind $1bn data center in Little Rock, Arkansas - report DCD
27. Microsoft says access to productivity suite restored after outage Reuters
28. Microsoft Outlook Outage Leaves Users Without Email; Tech Company Working On Resolving Issue Deadline
29. Is Microsoft down? Outage reported by thousands of users USA TODAY
30. 'Nightmare'—Microsoft Update Breaks Windows For Millions Forbes
31. Microsoft rolls out emergency fix for Windows 11 Computerworld
32. Microsoft Releases Emergency Fix for Azure Virtual Desktop, Windows 365 Authentication Failures Redmondmag
33. Researchers Reveal Reprompt Attack Allowing Single-Click Data Exfiltration From Microsoft Copilot The Hacker News
34. Microsoft & Anthropic MCP Servers At Risk of RCE, Cloud Takeovers Dark Reading
35. Bristol Myers partners with Microsoft for AI-driven lung cancer detection Yahoo Finance
36. Microsoft announces Rho-alpha robotics model Microsoft
37. NVIDIA survey reveals financial services doubling AI investment Nvidia
38. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang discusses AI infrastructure at Davos Nvidia
39. NVIDIA DRIVE AV powers Mercedes-Benz CLA's Euro NCAP top award Nvidia
40. Apple overtakes Samsung in phones sales worldwide DW
41. iPhone 17 surge helps Apple lead China smartphone shipments in late 2025 Moneycontrol
42. Amazon One Medical launches Health AI assistant Amazon
43. Meta launches AI Glasses Impact Grants Meta
44. Amazon ranks third on Fortune's admired companies list Amazon
45. AWS launches multicloud tools and open AI standards Amazon
46. Microsoft releases powerful new developer tools for Quantum platform Microsoft
47. Microsoft Awarded $170M Air Force Task Order to Support Cloud One GovCon Wire