Ray Blanco:

Why Oracle Keeps Sparking AI-Bubble Fears

Oracle keeps making investors nervous. Not just about the company itself, but about Big Tech's enormous bet on AI that has been the engine of our economic growth and the bull market.

Oracle's stock, already in a deep slump, tumbled Wednesday morning after the Financial Times reported that Blue Owl Capital, one of the biggest backers of the AI boom, walked away from talks with Oracle over investing in a planned data center in Michigan.

Oracle told Bloomberg that its investment discussions over the data center were "on schedule," but that they did not involve Blue Owl. Blue Owl was reportedly concerned over possible delays, and also didn't like the existing lease terms and debt terms.

These are "the clanging bells," says Paul Kedrosky, a venture capitalist and writer who has warned about an AI bubble. Blue Owl's apparent reassessment represents "a broader repricing of risk" that Kedrosky says will ripple through to other players.

Oracle shares ended 5.4% lower on Wednesday; CoreWeave fell 7.1%. Tech was broadly lower, dragging down the Nasdaq 1.8%. The bottom line? Any hint that returns on all this AI investment could be delayed is scaring investors.

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Greg Guenthner:

U.S. CPI Inflation Falls To 2.7% YoY, Bitcoin Price Climbs

Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data released this morning show that the CPI fell to 2.7% year-over-year (YoY) in November, well below estimates of 3% and the 3.1% recorded in September. Core CPI came in at 2.6%, also way below estimates of 3% and the 3.0% recorded in October. This marks the lowest level for the core CPI since March 2021.

The Bitcoin price sharply rose on the back of the U.S. inflation data release, climbing above $88,000 from an intraday low of around $86,000. The flagship crypto is now up almost 3% on the day and looking to hit the $89,000 psychological level.

The macro data marks a positive for BTC and the broader crypto market, as it indicates that inflation in the U.S. is cooling despite concerns among Fed officials who are advocating against further rate cuts.

The U.S. CPI inflation data release follows the release of the U.S. jobs data, which dropped earlier this week. The unemployment rate came in at 4.6%, the highest since 2021, indicating that the labor market continues to weaken. These macro data make a case for a January rate cut.

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Enrique Abeyta:

Allag-E: Interceptor Aircraft Can Hunt and Kill Drones Flying at 124 Mph Like an Eagle

EDGE, a defense technology company based in the United Arab Emirates, has a new addition in its counter-drone arsenal with the Allag-E electric interceptor.

Allag‑E is a ground-to-air counter-drone interceptor. Essentially, the system is a drone with a 700mm wingspan and a 900 mm length. Its dual electric ducted fans cutting-disk warhead allows it to soar through the air and hunt down other drones, like an eagle catching lesser predators.

The Allag-E has a maximum takeoff weight of roughly 8.5 kg (18.7 lbs). This means it is compact and maneuverable enough for low-altitude operations. The aircraft can fly at speeds exceeding 250 km/h (155 mph).

It can engage targets up to 15 km (9 miles) away, flying at speeds of up to 200 km/h (124 miles) and at altitudes reaching 3,000 meters (9,900 feet). It also delivers a lethal blast radius of more than 5 meters (16 feet) with 10-meter (33-feet) accuracy.

The Allag-E interceptor was designed to counter a wide range of drone threats, including reconnaissance drones and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Is it the new apex predator of the aerial drone ecosystem?

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