Apple’s Billion‑Dollar AI Deal with Google, Tesla’s Trillion‑Dollar Pay Package, and Key Tech Industry Updates

Apple Turns to Google for a Custom AI Model

Apple is reportedly close to finalising a deal that would see the company pay roughly $1 billion per year to use Google’s AI technology for its Siri voice assistant. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the agreement includes commissioning a custom version of Google’s Gemini model to overhaul Siri’s summariser and planner features.

• The partnership is described as a temporary measure; Apple is simultaneously developing its own flagship AI model, expected to be ready for consumer use as early as next year.
• Google already pays Apple about $20 billion annually for being the default search engine on Safari. Under the new arrangement, Apple would return a portion of that revenue to Google to enhance Siri.
• Industry analysts remain skeptical about Siri’s long‑term evolution, noting that the assistant has seen only one significant improvement in recent years.

Tesla Shareholders Approve Elon Musk’s $1 Trillion Compensation Plan

In a move that underscores Musk’s influence, Tesla shareholders have approved a compensation package that could be worth up to $1 trillion over the next decade. The payout is contingent on a series of ambitious milestones, including:

• Delivery of 20 million Tesla vehicles.
• Sale of 10 million active Full Self‑Driving (FSD) subscriptions.
• Production of 1 million Optimus robots.
• Deployment of 1 million robo‑taxis in commercial operation.

Musk has already hinted at progress on the robo‑taxi front, stating that the Cyber‑Cab—a vehicle announced a year ago—will begin production in April. While the timeline aligns with Tesla’s history of optimistic announcements, the company’s recent delay of the Roadster 2 reveal until April 1, 2026, raises questions about execution speed.

Twitter Experiments with Pre‑loaded Links, Raising Privacy Concerns

Twitter (now X) has introduced a feature that preloads linked content in the background when users scroll past a tweet. This results in what some observers call “ghost traffic”—referrals to external sites even when users do not click the links.

• The behavior is intentional: tapping a link collapses the original tweet, allowing users to interact with the page while still engaging with the timeline (liking, replying, retweeting, bookmarking).
• Critics argue the feature inflates engagement metrics and complicates analytics for external publishers.
• Advertisers have reported unexplained traffic spikes, prompting debate over the ethics of forced preloading.

Meta Under Investigation for Profiting from Scam Advertisements

A Reuters investigation reveals that Meta continues to earn billions from advertisements that facilitate scams. Internal documents show the company is weighing two options:

• Remove the problematic ads and forfeit the associated revenue.
• Retain the ads, pay fines, and keep the lucrative income stream.

The investigation uncovered that some high‑value accounts amassed hundreds of policy violations before being shut down, suggesting a systematic approach to managing the most profitable scam content.

Hyundai/Kia Data Breach Affects Millions of Drivers

Hyundai’s IT services subsidiary disclosed a cyber‑attack that occurred between 22 February and 2 March. Hackers accessed personal data—including names, Social Security numbers, and driver’s licenses—of up to 2.7 million Hyundai and Kia vehicle owners.

• The company engaged forensic experts, notified law enforcement, and is offering two years of free credit monitoring to affected individuals.
• The breach highlights the growing risk of personal data exposure in the automotive sector.

Tinder Tests AI‑Powered “Chemistry” Matching Feature

Tinder is piloting an AI‑driven feature called Chemistry in Australia and New Zealand. With user permission, the app scans the camera roll and asks a series of questions to infer interests and personality traits, aiming to improve match quality.

• The feature is slated for a broader rollout in 2026.
• It exemplifies the trend of integrating AI into social and dating platforms to enhance user experience.

Grand Theft Auto VI Delayed Again

Rockstar Games announced another delay for Grand Theft Auto VI, moving the launch from May to November 2026. The postponement follows rumors that former employees leaked internal information on Discord, though a direct connection has not been confirmed.

• Fans expressed disappointment, but the extended timeline may allow Rockstar to refine the highly anticipated title.

Conclusion

The tech landscape this week showcased a mixture of strategic collaborations, ambitious compensation plans, and growing scrutiny over privacy and ethical practices. Apple’s reliance on Google’s AI underscores the competitive pressure to deliver smarter assistants, while Tesla’s trillion‑dollar pay package reflects the high stakes of electric‑vehicle and autonomous‑driving ambitions. Simultaneously, platforms like Twitter and Meta face backlash over user data handling and monetisation of dubious content. As companies navigate these challenges, the industry’s trajectory will hinge on balancing innovation with responsibility.