📉 Tech Tanks, Kuiper Lifts Off, Microsoft Slows

Newslit Daily

0:00

-1:35

📉 Tech Tanks, Kuiper Lifts Off, Microsoft Slows

Plus: Rocket Startups Rise; NotebookLM Adds Web Discovery.

Jose Montes de Oca

Apr 03, 2025

Transcript

Good morning. It’s Thursday, April 3. Today we are covering:

Tech stocks sink after Trump tariff rollout - Apple heads for worst drop in 5 years
Amazon targets April 9 launch of first Kuiper internet satellites
Microsoft Pulls Back on Data Centers From Chicago to Jakarta
Rivals are rising to challenge the dominance of SpaceX
NotebookLM can now search the web and 'Discover sources' for you

Let’s dive in

Tech stocks sink after Trump tariff rollout - Apple heads for worst drop in 5 years

By Samantha Subin via CNBC

Tech stocks plunged after President Donald Trump announced sweeping global tariffs, including a blanket 10% duty on all imports and higher rates for China (up to 34%), Vietnam, and the EU.
Apple shares dropped nearly 9%, leading the “Magnificent Seven” in losses and heading for their worst single-day drop since 2020; Meta, Amazon, Nvidia, and Tesla also posted sharp declines.
The sell-off deepened a tough quarter for the Nasdaq Composite, which fell 5% on Thursday, now down 13% year-to-date, amid fears of a trade war and a weakening U.S. economy.

𝕏: Just figured out where these fake tariff rates come from. They didn't actually calculate tariff rates + non-tariff barriers, as they say they did. Instead, for every country, they just took our trade deficit with that country and divided it by the country's exports to us… - James Surowiecki (@JamesSurowiecki)

Amazon targets April 9 launch of first Kuiper internet satellites

By Joey Roulette via Reuters

Amazon will launch its first 27 Project Kuiper satellites on April 9, marking the beginning of a large-scale effort to build a 3,000+ satellite internet constellation to compete with SpaceX's Starlink.
The Kuiper Atlas 1 mission will lift off from Cape Canaveral using an Atlas 5 rocket provided by United Launch Alliance, part of Amazon's multi-launch deal signed in 2022.
Amazon has invested $10 billion in Kuiper since 2019 and believes its cloud and consumer tech experience gives it an advantage in deploying the network and reaching customers.

𝕏: Amazon's is scheduled to launch 27 satellites for its Kuiper Internet system on a ULA Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Wednesday, April 9. The long awaited launch would be a key step toward providing competition to SpaceX's Starlink system. - Christian Davenport (@wapodavenport)

The best way to reach new readers is through word of mouth. If you click THIS LINK in your inbox, it’ll create an easy-to-send pre-written email you can just fire off to some friends.

Microsoft Pulls Back on Data Centers From Chicago to Jakarta

By Brody Ford via Bloomberg

Microsoft is pulling back from global data center expansions, halting or delaying projects in locations including Indonesia, the UK, Australia, Illinois, North Dakota, and Wisconsin.
The move signals a more cautious approach to scaling infrastructure for AI and cloud services, as the company reassesses its long-term plans.
These changes suggest a shift in strategy amid growing costs and complexity in building and managing hyperscale server farms.

𝕏: Microsoft is pulling back on data center projects from London to Jakarta, suggesting the company is taking a harder look at its plans to build the server farms powering AI & the cloud - Mackenzie Hawkins (@mackhawk)

Rivals are rising to challenge the dominance of SpaceX

By Ramin Skibba via MIT Technology Review

A new wave of challengers—including Rocket Lab, Firefly, Relativity Space, and Blue Origin—is targeting SpaceX’s dominance in the launch market, though most still face technical, financial, and regulatory hurdles.
Despite setbacks like recent Falcon 9 malfunctions and Starship test failures, SpaceX remains ahead thanks to deep vertical integration, aggressive risk-taking, and longstanding government contracts that continue to support its operations.
Emerging geopolitical dynamics, including Elon Musk’s ties to the Trump administration and possible political favoritism, may tilt the playing field as companies like ULA, Stoke Space, and Chinese startups push to expand global access to orbit.

NotebookLM can now search the web and 'Discover sources' for you

By Abner Li via 9to5Google

Google’s NotebookLM now includes a “Discover sources” feature that uses the web to surface up to 10 curated links with annotated summaries relevant to your query.
Users can describe what they want to learn, and NotebookLM will fetch content for use in features like Audio Overviews, FAQs, and Q&A.
A new “I’m feeling curious” button generates sources on random topics, showcasing NotebookLM’s new Gemini-powered discovery capabilities, rolling out to all users this week.

We're thrilled to bring you ad-free news. To keep it that way, we need your support. Your pledge helps us stay independent and deliver high-quality insights while exploring new ideas. What would you love to see next? Share your thoughts and help shape the future of Newslit Daily. Thank you for being part of this journey!

Pledge your support