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- 🔥 Oracle & Silver Lake Take TikTok US | 🔒 Microsoft Crushes Phishing Ring | 🤖 Fiverr's AI-First Layoffs
🔥 Oracle & Silver Lake Take TikTok US | 🔒 Microsoft Crushes Phishing Ring | 🤖 Fiverr's AI-First Layoffs
Big moves in tech and AI shake up the scene with new ownership, cyber defenses, and a leaner future-proof Fiverr.
Comfort Okpere & Sascha Thiele
September 17, 2025
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🖋 Today’s Angle
Get cozy, because today's tech briefing brings you a TikTok reshuffle in the US, Microsoft's cyber swoop on phishing ops, and Fiverr’s AI makeover. Meanwhile, Google teams up with Coinbase to let AI apps pay with stablecoins, even as crypto ETFs stir mixed feelings. Stick around for practical skills to sharpen your edge and a dad joke that’s so bad, it’s almost good.
––Sascha Thiele
🚀 Tech & Business
What Happened: Oracle and Silver Lake are teaming up with Andreessen Horowitz to grab an 80% stake in TikTok's US business. The plan? Separate the American TikTok algorithm and data infrastructure from the Chinese parent company, with data hosted securely in Texas. This consortium has a board mostly comprised of Americans, plus a government appointee, indicating tighter control over data privacy and security.
Why It Matters: It’s more than a business deal—it’s a geopolitical chess move wrapped up in social media. This could reshape how data sovereignty and user privacy battles unfold in the tech world, especially in apps we love or love to scroll through endlessly.
What Happened: Microsoft’s Digital Crimes Unit shut down 338 phishing websites linked to a Nigerian-based phishing subscription service called RaccoonO365. This scheme targeted over 5,000 Microsoft accounts by tricking victims via fake brand pages through a Telegram subscription model.
Why It Matters: This is a big win in the ever-escalating cat-and-mouse game between cybercriminals and tech giants. As the digital underworld evolves, so must the defenses that keep your email and data safe—even if it means more of those captchas.
What Happened: Fiverr is slashing about 30% of its workforce—roughly 250 employees—as it reinvents itself as an AI-first company. The move aligns with their goal to embed AI deeply into operations for automation and better productivity.
Why It Matters: The company’s shift underscores a broader industry trend: AI is not just a tool but a business imperative that affects jobs, workflows, and creativity itself. On the bright side, fewer clients might have to sit through awkward Zoom calls.
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💰 The Finance Overview
Giphy
Wall Street is buzzing around Big Tech’s earnings reports, with the FAANG group showing guarded optimism amid macroeconomic jitters. Startups are tightening wallet strings — venture capital flows dipped slightly this quarter, signaling caution. The semiconductor sector, fueled by AI hardware demand, is holding steady, though supply chain chatter keeps investors alert.
Cloud revenues keep climbing, an evergreen bright spot. Watch out for emerging fintech players challenging incumbents, hinting at another shakeup soon. For those betting on AI's promise, the early innings feel both exciting and volatile.
Ticker |
|---|
S&P 500: $SPY ( ▲ 0.55% ) |
DowJones: $DJI ( ▲ 0.48% ) |
Nasdaq: $QQQ ( ▼ 0.15% ) |
German DAX: $DAX ( ▲ 0.92% ) |
Indian NIFTY: $NIFTY50.NSE ( ▼ 0.95% ) |
Bitcoin: $BTC.X ( ▼ 4.03% ) |
Ethereum: $ETH.X ( ▼ 5.71% ) |
🎰 Crypto Carousel
Gif by darkbean on Giphy
What Happened: Google partnered with Coinbase to create an open-source payment system, letting AI apps make and receive payments via stablecoins. This integrates digital currency alongside familiar payment methods, opening AI-driven commerce to crypto’s stability.
Why It Matters: This could accelerate AI monetization models by easing payment frictions in decentralized finance and app ecosystems, making AI assistants not just smart but financially autonomous. It’s the kind of future where your AI might pay for your coffee before you even wake up.
What Happened: With the SEC tweaking listing standards, new crypto ETFs are popping up—but inflows to altcoins remain suspiciously low. Most liquidity still favors Bitcoin ETFs, leaving altcoins hanging on market sentiment and speculative interest.
Why It Matters: This cautious mood signals that the crypto space, while evolving, is still governed by traditional investor psychology. The so-called altcoin season seems more like a tease until broader capital flows in. It’s a good reminder that not every shiny token is gold.
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🏁 Tomorrow’s Forecast
Get ready for more AI-powered automation announcements and maybe fewer Zoom invites. 🤖
(And now for the dad joke—Why did the computer show up at work late? Because it had a hard drive.)
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