🪓 Microsoft Cuts Deep on Gaming Jobs | 📺 Amazon Merges Freevee Into Prime Video | 🚗 Tesla's Q2 Deliveries Hit a Speed Bump

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Microsoft Swings the Layoff Axe Again

What Happened: Microsoft announced its second major workforce reduction of 2025, cutting 9,000 employees (less than 4% of total workforce) across teams, geographies, and tenure levels. The cuts hit hardest in the Xbox gaming division, with King (Candy Crush makers) losing 10% of staff and projects being canceled after years of development.

Why It Matters: This follows 6,000 layoffs in May, signaling Microsoft's aggressive cost-cutting as it pumps $80 billion into AI infrastructure. The company is streamlining management layers while betting big on artificial intelligence—a familiar pattern across Big Tech as they balance AI investments with operational efficiency.

Tesla's Delivery Decline Continues

What Happened: Tesla delivered 384,122 vehicles in Q2 2025, down 13% from 444,000 in Q2 2024—marking the biggest quarterly decline in company history. Despite ramping up production to 410,000 units, Tesla is building inventory faster than it can sell, with 25,000 more cars produced than delivered.

Why It Matters: This isn't just about one bad quarter—it's Tesla facing the reality of increased EV competition and potential brand fatigue. The company blamed Model Y changeover in Q1, but that excuse doesn't work when production is up but sales are still lagging. The EV market is maturing, and Tesla's dominance is clearly under pressure.

Amazon Pulls the Plug on Freevee

What Happened: Amazon is shutting down its free ad-supported streaming service Freevee in August 2025, eight months after announcing the closure. All content is migrating to Prime Video under a new "Watch for Free" category, maintaining free access with ads but without requiring a Prime subscription. 

Why It Matters: This move simplifies Amazon's streaming strategy while potentially funneling more users toward Prime memberships. It's part of a broader industry consolidation where companies are combining their scattered streaming properties—and honestly, who can keep track of seventeen different apps anyway? The FAST (Free Ad-Supported TV) market remains hot, but players are consolidating for efficiency.

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The tech sector is walking a tightrope between AI euphoria and operational reality. Big Tech Barometer shows mixed signals: Microsoft's aggressive layoffs contrast with its $80 billion AI spending spree, while Tesla's delivery struggles highlight how even market leaders aren't immune to competition. Startup Thermometer is blazing hot with Genesis AI's massive $105 million seed round proving robotics is the new AI goldmine. Infrastructure Watch reveals continued investment in AI chips—Taiwan Semiconductor's analyst upgrades and Nvidia's steady climb near all-time highs demonstrate that the hardware powering AI remains king. Wild Card goes to the crypto market's surprising rebound, with Bitcoin touching $109K and Ethereum gaining over 6%, suggesting risk appetite is returning faster than expected.

S&P 500: $SPY ( ▼ 0.43% ) 
DowJones: $DJI ( ▼ 0.98% ) 
Nasdaq: $QQQ ( ▲ 0.09% ) 
German DAX: $DAX ( ▼ 1.31% ) 
Indian NIFTY: $NIFTY50.NSE ( ▲ 0.06% ) 
Bitcoin: $BTC.X ( ▲ 1.86% ) 
Ethereum: $ETH.X ( ▲ 5.54% ) 

Bitcoin Breaks $109K as Crypto Market Shows Life

What Happened: Bitcoin surged 2.5% to briefly cross $109,600 before settling above $108,800, while Ethereum posted stronger gains of over 6% to trade above $2,560. The total crypto market cap rose 0.2%, showing positive momentum after recent volatility.

Why It Matters: This rebound comes after months of regulatory uncertainty and tariff-induced market stress. The simultaneous strength in both Bitcoin and Ethereum suggests genuine buying interest rather than just speculative momentum. With institutional adoption continuing and regulatory frameworks becoming clearer, crypto is showing resilience that could sustain through the summer.