The <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/telecommunications">telecom industry</a> is back in the limelight for all good reasons. While the S&amp;P Telecom Select Industry Index has recorded a 40%+ rise over the last one year, the industry has outperformed the overall S&amp;P 500, which increased by about 20% over the same time frame. Powering this growth? Solid profits from legacy behemoths such as AT&amp;T Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/T#NYSE">T</a>) and Verizon Communications Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>), an AI-driven growth story, and rumors of interest rate reductions that might reduce capital expenses companywide.



AT&amp;T is giving the telecom industry a second wind. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/t">Check its prices live.</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">ETFs That Are Dialed In</h2>



A <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs">number of ETFs</a> are well-positioned to capture the persisting strength in the telecom sector, particularly those with high weights in AT&amp;T and Verizon.



iShares U.S. Telecommunications ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IYZ#BATS">IYZ</a>)



IYZ has the most concentrated play with a 14% holding in AT&amp;T and 13% in Verizon. The fund has gained almost 3% over the last month (as of Friday) and is becoming a favorite among investors who seek a clean telecom signal.



SPDR S&amp;P Telecom ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XTL#NYSE">XTL</a>)



XTL, though more evenly weighted, still owns 3.6% of AT&amp;T and 3.56% of Verizon, and is the strongest recent performer, up 5.6% over the last month.



Fidelity MSCI Communication Services Index ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FCOM#NYSE">FCOM</a>)



FCOM owns about 4% each of AT&amp;T and Verizon. It&#8217;s up 2.8% over the last month, following wider sector enthusiasm.



Vanguard Communication Services ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VOX#NYSE">VOX</a>)



VOX shares comparable exposure—4.3% in AT&amp;T and 4% in Verizon—and gained 2.9% in the past month.



These ETFs not only reflect the comeback of telecom, but offer diversification into proximate plays such as streaming, gaming, and digital advertising—sectors increasingly intertwined via infrastructure and bandwidth.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Q2 Earnings: The Big Callers Deliver</h2>



Verizon rang up a<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/reiteration/25/07/46554275/verizon-beats-expectations-boosts-outlook-heres-why-analysts-still-see-more-room-to-grow"> respectable second-quarter report </a>at the end of last month, as both revenue and profits exceeded analyst estimates. 



The firm referenced wireless service revenues, customer gains, and fixed wireless access as primary drivers of the business. Verizon is calling for wireless service revenue growth of 2%-2.8% in 2025.



AT&amp;T also <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/earnings/25/07/46594742/t-mobile-posts-greatest-q2-for-growth-ever-with-record-customer-gains-eyes-1-5-billion-tax-benefit-from-trumps-one-big-beautiful-bill">ushered in a favorable quarter</a>, posting adjusted earnings of 54 cents per share, compared to 51 cents last year. Revenue increased by 3.5% to $30.85 billion.



Also Read:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/07/46208215/att-claps-back-at-trump-not-our-networks-fault-its-your-platform"> AT&amp;T Claps Back At Trump: &#8216;Not Our Network&#8217;s Fault — It&#8217;s Your Platform&#8217;</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Rate Cuts + AI = Telecom&#8217;s New Signal Boost</h2>



Apart from robust fundamentals, the macro climate is becoming more favorable. President Trump&#8217;s repeated calls for interest rate reductions have the potential to lighten the load of costly capital spending, blessings for telcos pouring huge sums into next-generation infrastructure. In addition, optimism over AI has bestow a new light on the industry, with machine learning set to contribute more to network optimization, customer support, and even hardware deployment.



Collectively, these tailwinds are making telecom ETFs stand out.



Telecom is no longer a value trap. With AI winds at its back, positive earnings, and a potential rate cut on top, AT&amp;T and Verizon are redefining what a &#8220;defensive&#8221; industry can do. For those investors who want to buy the upside without responding to every earnings call, telecom ETFs are a signal worth tuning to.



Read Next: 



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/sector-etfs/25/08/47004610/gold-bars-tariff-shocks-etf-jitters-are-your-bullion-bets-at-risk">Gold Bars, Tariff Shocks &amp; ETF Jitters: Are Your Bullion Bets At Risk?</a></li>
</ul>

Sector ETFs

ETFs

FCOM

AT&T, Verizon Dial Up Strong Q2 Results— ETFs Picking Up The Signal

It's been a raucous rally ever since the Trump tariffs were canceled a week after the inaptly-named Liberation Day press conference. But now, with Q2 earnings rolling out, we're seeing some stocks get left behind after poor numbers or guidance projections.



Even decent numbers are getting punished. Take Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>) as an example, whose stock sank over 6% the day after it beat top and bottom line projections. If you're a company with high expectations, you can't just narrowly surpass expectations &#8211; you need to crush them.



But things look very different for stocks with low expectations. Not every company has participated in the Q2 rally, and some stocks are reaching key technical levels that indicate a potential rebound.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Sunday: Chris Capre's Plan To Trade August's CPI And PPI Shockwaves</h2>



CPI and PPI reports drop next week—and they could send shockwaves through tech, rates, and volatility names. This Sunday at 1 PM ET, former hedge fund trader Chris Capre goes live to show how he's trading short-term setups designed to move fast. These are the same 1–5 day strategies he's taught to over 34,000 traders. If you want to get ahead of next week's inflation spike, start here. CTA: Reserve Your Free Spot <a href="https://events2.benzinga.com/chris-capre-webinar-sun-aug10-2025-registration/?utm_campaign=webinar081025&amp;utm_adType=sponsorad&amp;utm_ad=RD080925">HERE</a>



One of the most trusted technical indicators is the Relative Strength Index (RSI), a momentum oscillator that helps find reversals and continuation patterns. The standard timeframe is 14 days, and the RSI uses closing prices over that period to measure the strength of the current trend. If the RSI breaks above 70, it triggers an Overbought signal, which indicates a potential reversal in upward momentum. On the downside, a reading under 30 triggers an Oversold signal, hinting at a reversal to the upside. Today, we'll look at five stocks hitting this Oversold threshold that could be on the verge of reversing a downtrend.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Lyft Inc.</h2>



Lyft (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LYFT#NASDAQ">LYFT</a>) triggered an Oversold reading before posting earnings on August 6, and appears likely to trigger it again despite a mostly upbeat report. The company reported EPS of $0.10, beating the consensus expectation of $0.04. Over 234.8 million rides were booked in Q2, which is the highest figure on record for Lyft. But, it also represented 14% year-over-year (YOY) growth, marking the slowest quarter of gross bookings growth in the last two years.



However, revenue is still hitting records, and slowing growth can be expected when you're eclipsing 234 million rides in a quarter. Lyft is also reaping benefits from strategic partnerships with DoorDash, Chase, United Airlines, Mastercard, and Hilton &#8211; over 25% of gross bookings now come from partners.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXf0l8uidn_AhXWLQM7Tkfnd-A2zk81SvmTHz3e-ilOp2Jgi540sl3iS-IoVyVtOWyYFX6lFJBaYxfalxaAK1m8qMTKbZmVqnaMekSogas709OIut_Rlit2rSsJ5XA1z6Ovwd66fOQ?key=VV_jQb9vOGQQsdnrstZ4Pg" alt=""/></figure>



The RSI triggered an Oversold reading in the first week of August, but it also hit this level back in the summer of 2025. In that instance, shares nearly doubled in just a few months until the RSI found itself at the other end of the spectrum, over 70. If Lyft can continue expanding bookings and revenue, the stock could repeat its 2025 performance.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">International Business Machines Corp.</h2>



IBM (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IBM#NYSE">IBM</a>) hasn't exactly been left behind during the latest rally, but its stock has pulled back a bit in the last few weeks following a record rally. The stock reached a new all-time high of $294.78 on June 30 but has since dropped 15% despite a glowing Q2 earnings report on July 23. IBM beat top and bottom line estimates with YOY revenue growth of 8%, and boosted full-year guidance to $66.83 billion.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXcORrrqMm9FUQ3XRaTNZiu4RY6JnYDvQl_jHBDsiIXBkQ0BQjFF49tEJLhBNi7nAzMvikC-GsrPeh67sCOWXvCKWHrWIz95rxSEtRDV3Qf-W2FtTYXIxkWqYkijmLqcxMgg4vXD?key=VV_jQb9vOGQQsdnrstZ4Pg" alt=""/></figure>



Like Lyft, IBM sold off following the report, but this is likely profit-taking after the stock had gained over 40% in the last 12 months. The RSI is flashing an Oversold signal with the stock sitting firm at the 200-day moving average, which has previously been a level of strong support. Once the profit taking subsides, IBM's long-term trend remains firmly intact, and buyers will likely have a good entry point for new positions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Dana Inc.&nbsp;</h2>



Dana Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DAN#NYSE">DAN</a>) is an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) for vehicles and machines, providing propulsion equipment and energy solutions for trucks, SUVs, vans, and passenger cars. Like many equipment manufacturers, Dana was hit hard by the Trump tariff announcements in April, but has since recovered most of those losses. The company just released earnings earlier this week, and expectations were largely met.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXdHVy6XjS9RCt4IwlEdv7CbKz6MiA3ZlPEwgYLM4sj9MQe8QkycoJXhaJMJx5JmW8cxx9trkD6wwMw62-E5oYKUF3bKL08BkVAgLVRdQizpX6AE5ZkDaNaXtssRW13nsa16arxjUQ?key=VV_jQb9vOGQQsdnrstZ4Pg" alt=""/></figure>



The RSI has been a catalyst for this in previous rallies, as the stock posted significant gains following Oversold signals in November and April. The stock is once again in Oversold territory, so look out for another rally if Q2 earnings deliver.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">OppFi Inc.</h2>



OppFi (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OPFI#NYSE">OPFI</a>) is a small fintech company with a market capitalization under $1 billion and annual sales of only $525 million. But, we aren't looking for massive companies producing record revenue; we're looking for oversold stocks ready to reverse, and OPFI shares are offering plenty of evidence that the next move is to the upside.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXd71e-suZ433l2Nttc9jELRKfXdbS_jkvZ2_HjMDqCBLSOs264NSFjXSpYtssyTTrCmVgFof1dJU8VqBBU_WnSEWwEujCR0fqZyJ5lrNEV3ttubQf14sla82uaja5VZbBB8LJ-W?key=VV_jQb9vOGQQsdnrstZ4Pg" alt=""/></figure>



The company gained 13% following its August 6 earnings release, as revenue reached a new record of over $142 million and EPS figures beat projections by 50% ($0.45 EPS vs. $0.30 expected). The RSI tripped the Oversold alarm right before the report, which happened to coincide with a bounce of support at the 200-day moving average. OPFI has impressive growth metrics and a chart to back it up, so a momentum reversal to the upside here is a strong possibility.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Kaiser Aluminum Corp.&nbsp;</h2>



Kaiser Aluminum (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KALU#NASDAQ">KALU</a>) manufactures and sells prefabricated aluminum and steel products to a global base of customers, which could help explain part of its slump as President Trump continues to make steel and aluminum tariffs increasingly prohibitive. Despite beating EPS and revenue estimates, the stock dropped more than 20% in the days following its Q2 earnings release on July 23. A reduction in free cash flow guidance was the major red flag in the report, but the EBITDA outlook was improved, and the company maintained margins of 19% in the first half of 2025. 



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXfUYcumQAbCorioqMN8vq0FSAiXcAWDD5dFuA1hBNgf6CBssNLQ16f1fa9KpqVELn-c_JNW4YAF8sbhgndayHpjxZZPeFAdsPflZ3yI1Jl-fM8iGTlydqZ-ogi_l7aNvwL0VoMy?key=VV_jQb9vOGQQsdnrstZ4Pg" alt=""/></figure>



A Golden Cross formation in late June had investors thinking about outsized gains, but the Q2 earnings release tempered those expectations. However, the stock has receded to the 200-day moving average, sparking an Oversold sign from the RSI, which could trigger a technical reversal. The earnings release also hinted at long-term gains following short-term pain, allowing investors to quickly turn bullish if trade war fears subside and sales continue to grow.



Editorial content from our expert contributors is intended to be information for the general public and not individualized investment advice. Editors/contributors are presenting their individual opinions and strategies, which are neither expressly nor impliedly approved or endorsed by Benzinga.



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Trading Ideas

KALU

LYFT

OPFI

5 Stocks That Are Ready To Rebound

Benzinga examined the prospects for <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">many investors' favorite stocks</a> over the last week — here's a look at some of our top stories.



Wall Street treaded water this week as the Federal Reserve maintained rates at 4.25-4.50% despite mounting pressure. Disappointing July jobs data — just 73,000 new positions, coupled with downward revisions totaling 258,000 for May and June — further unsettled markets. Inflation persists above the Fed's 2% target, tempering expectations for immediate easing.



President Donald Trump intensified his criticisms of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and moved to consolidate control over economic institutions, nominating new leadership for the Fed and Bureau of Labor Statistics. This coincided with a surge in speculative optimism, with JPMorgan now forecasting four rate cuts starting in September.



Investor sentiment remained volatile. Stocks dipped as trust in economic data wavered following the BLS firing, while Treasury yields fell and gold gained ground. Markets now eye September cautiously, awaiting more clarity on labor and inflation trends amid growing questions over Fed independence.



Benzinga provides daily reports on the stocks most popular with investors. Here are a few of this past week's most bullish and bearish posts that are worth another look.







The Bulls



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst-color/25/08/46911493/amd-stock-has-a-lot-to-be-encouraged-and-excited-about-analysts-are-cautious-but-bullish">"AMD stock has a lot ‘to be encouraged and excited about': analysts are cautious but bullish"</a>, by Chris Katje, highlights that while analysts — including Goldman Sachs, Wedbush, and Benchmark — welcome AMD's strong Q2 performance and optimistic guidance, they remain cautious due to lofty valuation and China-related risks, keeping targets modest despite enthusiasm for AI-GPU momentum.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/large-cap/25/08/46971119/apple-us-investment-tariff-exemption-stock-rally">"Apple's smart move may save iPhone sales — and the stock could soar"</a>, by Piero Cingari, reports that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) added a $100 billion U.S. manufacturing commitment—bringing its total to $600 billion over four years—which earned the company a key exemption from President Trump's threatened 100% semiconductor tariffs and sparked an 8% rally in its stock.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/earnings/25/08/46931112/sunrun-stock-soars-after-q2-earnings-report-heres-why">"Sunrun stock soars after Q2 earnings report — here's why"</a>, by Erica Kollmann, reports that Sunrun Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RUN#NASDAQ">RUN</a>) earned a surprise profit in Q2 with $1.07 EPS (beating an expected -$0.18 loss) and revenue of $569.33 million, topping forecasts; strong subscriber growth, record solar and battery installations, and a 70% storage attachment rate drove a rally of over 30%, buoyed further by a 316% year-over-year surge in contracted net value creation and a fifth straight quarter of positive cash generation.



For additional bullish calls of the past week, check out the following:



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/earnings/25/08/46927269/draftkings-q2-earnings-soar-record-revenue-net-income-plus-a-prediction-market-tease">DraftKings Q2 Earnings Soar — Record Revenue &amp; Net Income, Plus A Prediction Market Tease?</a>



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst-color/25/08/46963503/eli-lillys-rare-weight-loss-data-miss-could-benefit-competitors">Eli Lilly's Rare Weight Loss Data Miss Could Benefit Competitors</a>



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/earnings/25/08/46928903/virgin-galactic-stock-takes-off-after-q2-earnings-company-continues-to-target-commercial-service-in-2026">Virgin Galactic Stock Takes Off After Q2 Earnings, Company Continues To Target Commercial Service In 2026</a>







The Bears



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/economic-data/25/08/46974170/eli-lilly-weight-loss-pill-market-crash-wall-street-thursday-stocks-today">"Eli Lilly crashes on worst day in 25 years: What's moving markets Thursday?"</a>, by Piero Cingari, reports that Eli Lilly &amp; Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LLY#NYSE">LLY</a>) plunged 14%, erasing over $100 billion in market value, after its experimental oral weight-loss pill, orforglipron, delivered a 12.4% average body-weight reduction — missing the expected 13-15% and trailing rivals like Wegovy.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/earnings/25/08/46872363/super-micro-computer-q4-earnings-highlights-shares-fall-on-double-miss-lower-guidance">"Super Micro Computer Q4 earnings highlights: shares fall on double miss, lower guidance"</a>, by Chris Katje, reports that Super Micro Computer Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMCI#NASDAQ">SMCI</a>) missed Street expectations with Q4 net sales of $5.76 billion (versus $5.88 billion expected) and EPS of $0.41 (versus $0.44 expected), while trimming its fiscal 2026 sales target to at least $33 billion — down from a prior $40 billion outlook — which triggered a sharp decline in the stock.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/earnings/25/08/46928415/joby-stock-falls-after-q2-earnings-report-heres-why">"Joby stock falls after Q2 earnings report — here's why"</a>, by Erica Kollmann, reports that Joby Aviation Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JOBY#NYSE">JOBY</a>) missed expectations in Q2 — posting a $0.41 per share loss (versus a $0.19 forecast) and just $15,000 in revenue (well below the $43,000 estimate) — triggering investor concern despite ending the quarter with $991 million in cash and short-term investments.



For more bearish takes, be sure to see these posts:



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/08/46899210/amd-stock-is-sliding-wednesday-whats-going-on">AMD Stock Is Sliding Wednesday: What's Going On?</a>



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/earnings/25/08/46842176/navitas-semiconductor-stock-sinks-after-q3-guidance-disappoints">Navitas Semiconductor Stock Sinks After Q3 Guidance Disappoints</a>



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/earnings/25/08/46984990/nuscale-power-stock-slides-after-q2-earnings-report-heres-why">NuScale Power Stock Slides After Q2 Earnings Report: Here's Why</a>







Keep up with all the latest breaking news and trading ideas by following <a href="https://twitter.com/Benzinga" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga</a><a href="http://twitter.com/Benzinga" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> on X</a>.



Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

Markets

AAPL

DKNG

JOBY

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SMCI

SPCE

Benzinga Bulls And Bears: AMD, Apple, Eli Lilly — And Wall Street Treads Water

After last week's declines, triggered by a weaker-than-expected jobs report and a June inflation uptick, Wall Street rebounded with strong gains as earnings <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/earnings">momentum remained robust.</a>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>QQQ ETF is breaking past resistance. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/QQQ">Check live chart here. </a></li>
</ul>



Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>) delivered better-than-expected Q2 results, sparking a 20% weekly rally – the best performance in the S&amp;P 500 – that pushed its market<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/08/46909708/palantir-stock-just-hit-all-time-highs-whats-behind-the-momentum"> capitalization above $500 billion.</a>



Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) announced an additional $100 billion in U.S. manufacturing investments, on top of the $500 billion pledged earlier this year. The move secured <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/large-cap/25/08/46971119/apple-us-investment-tariff-exemption-stock-rally">an exemption from Trump's tariffs </a>and is expected to boost iPhone sales. Apple shares surged over 12% for the week, marking their strongest performance since 2020.



While tech stocks soared, pharmaceuticals struggled. Despite strong quarterly earnings, Eli Lilly &amp; Co. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LLY#NASDAQ">LLY</a>) plunged 14% on Thursday — its worst single-day drop since August 2000 — after trial data for its weight-loss pill orforglipron <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/earnings/25/08/46960692/eli-lillys-closely-watched-obesity-pill-orforglipron-shows-around-12-weight-loss-but-trails-novo-nordisk">fell short of expectations.</a>



On the tariff front, President Donald Trump doubled duties on Indian imports to 50%, targeting New Delhi's purchase and resale of Russian crude.



He also confirmed a 39% tariff on Swiss imports and imposed new duties on one-kilogram gold bars, a move that could pressure Swiss gold refineries and disrupt the gold futures market.



Trump nominated Stephen Miran, current chair of the Council of Economic Advisers, to fill the Federal Reserve Board seat vacated by Adriana Kugler. Miran, whose term runs until January 2026, has argued that tariffs won't fuel inflation, a stance aligned with Trump's push <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/08/46980852/trump-nominates-stephen-miran-fed-board-2026">for lower interest rates. </a>



Markets see him as a likely ally to the president in future monetary policy decisions.



Trump's economic team is also reportedly considering current Fed Governor Christopher Waller as Jerome Powell's successor when Powell's<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/08/46966504/christopher-waller-trump-jerome-powell-fed-chair"> term ends next year. </a>



Waller notably dissented in July's Fed meeting, voting for a rate cut while Powell and most policymakers favored holding rates steady.



Read Next:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/macro-notification/25/08/46996425/the-dollar-faces-a-wile-e-coyote-moment-as-stagflation-looms-over-us-economy-warns-economist">The Dollar Faces A &#8216;Wile E. Coyote Moment&#8217; As Stagflation Looms Over US Economy, Warns Economist </a></li>
</ul>



Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

PLTR

Apple Notches Best Week In Years, Trump Shakes Fed Leadership: This Week In Markets

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced the return of GPT-4o in the wake of a strong backlash from Reddit users over the newly introduced GPT-5.



What Happened: OpenAI decided to resurrect GPT-4o less than a day after its replacement with GPT-5. This move was a direct response to a Reddit forum where users voiced their dissatisfaction with the new bot&#8217;s tone, with some even shedding&nbsp;tears over the disappearance of&nbsp;GPT-4o.



The forced upgrade and the lack of an option to select legacy models were met with criticism, leading to many long-term users cancelling their subscriptions. 



Altman responded to the backlash, promising&nbsp;to bring back GPT-4o for&nbsp;Plus subscribers, a paid subscription plan costing $20 a month.



Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/07/46508730/heres-how-sam-altman-quietly-replaced-elon-musk-as-donald-trumps-go-to-ai-advisor">Here&#8217;s How Sam Altman Quietly Replaced Elon Musk as Donald Trump&#8217;s Go-To AI Advisor</a>



GPT-5&nbsp;was launched on August 7, offering improved writing, coding, math, and science abilities. 



However, users found its &#8220;flat&#8221; tone and perceived lack of creativity off-putting. Altman admitted to underestimating the importance of some GPT-4o traits to users and pledged transparency in future decisions.



Why It Matters: The return of GPT-4o underscores the importance of user feedback in shaping the direction of tech products. 



OpenAI&#8217;s quick response to user dissatisfaction demonstrates a commitment to customer satisfaction and a willingness to adapt. 



The incident also highlights the challenges faced by tech companies in balancing innovation with user expectations and preferences.



Read Next



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/08/46817762/apples-new-answers-team-developing-chatgpt-rival-iphone-17-pro-spotted-in-san-francisco">Apple&#8217;s New &#8216;Answers&#8217; Team Developing ChatGPT Rival</a>



Image: Shutterstock/Meir Chaimowitz

News

As GPT-5 Launches, OpenAI Loyalists Pushed Altman for GPT-4o's Return, Citing Performance and Reliability

Barbara Corcoran, a real estate mogul and star of the TV show &#8220;Shark Tank,&#8221; shared how President&nbsp;Donald Trump, then a real estate baron,&nbsp;used his salesmanship to sell his New York Plaza Hotel.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Trump Pitched Land, Not Hotel, And Sealed The Deal</h2>



Corcoran, speaking at the Business Insider&#8217;s IGNITION Conference in New York City in 2018, recounted her experiences with Trump as a real estate tycoon.



She recalled a time when Trump, on the brink of bankruptcy, managed to sell a large plot of land along with&nbsp;the Plaza Hotel in New&nbsp;York City, which was not initially part of the deal. This sale, she said, helped Trump recover from his financial troubles.



She spoke about how Trump walked into a high-stakes deal to sell the Plaza Hotel to one of Hong Kong's wealthiest families. Corcoran, who was a broker on the deal, said that they were desperate to close the deal. All the buyers wanted was the hotel. But Trump barely mentioned it.



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<iframe loading="lazy" title="Shark Tank Investor Barbara Corcoran On Donald Trump As A Businessman &#x7C; IGNITION 2018" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/d-pk-aVvVNs?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



Instead, he sold them on the Hudson River land. Corcoran thought Trump wouldn&#8217;t be able to close the deal, but he did. Trump not only successfully sold the Plaza hotel, but the elite Asian buyers bought the adjoining land parcels too later making the Trump Towers on it.



&#8220;I&#8217;ve&nbsp;done a lot of work&nbsp;with Donald and I can&nbsp;tell you he is the&nbsp;best salesman I&#8217;ve ever met in my life,&#8221; said Corcoran.



SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/news/macro-notification/25/08/46951374/fed-official-lisa-cook-flags-concerning-jobs-report-calls-it-typical-of-turning-points-in" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Fed Official Lisa Cook Flags &#8216;Concerning&#8217; Jobs Report, Calls It &#8216;Typical Of Turning Points&#8217; In US Economy</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Trump Family Wealth Began With FHA Loan In 1949</h2>



The Trump family&#8217;s wealth originated with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/real-estate/24/06/39552589/donald-trump-made-billions-off-real-estate-but-his-father-got-him-started-by-building-a-billion-doll">Fred Trump</a>, Donald Trump&#8217;s father, who built a billion-dollar empire from nothing. Fred Trump capitalized on opportunities during President Franklin D. Roosevelt&#8217;s New Deal era, securing a $26 million loan from the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) in 1949 to build residential complexes in Brooklyn, New York.



Despite criticisms of the Trump family allegedly profiteering from the presidency,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/46135691/eric-trump-says-family-never-gained-from-presidency-took-losses-instead-defends-crypto-real-estate-ventures-had-my-father-not-run-in-the-first-place">Eric Trump</a>, the second son of Donald Trump, defended the family&#8217;s business practices. He highlighted the family&#8217;s growing focus on cryptocurrency, describing it as a &#8220;perfect hedge&#8221; for their real estate portfolio.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Trump Read The Room—And The Voters</h2>



Corcoran believes that it was Trump&#8217;s keen awareness as a salesman that allowed him to win over the American people and ultimately secure the presidency. She described Trump as a &#8220;genius at picking out the&nbsp;vulnerability of someone&#8217;s personality&#8221; and using it to his advantage.



&#8220;He&nbsp;put his finger on what&nbsp;the weakness was, the vulnerability&nbsp;of people and he knows&nbsp;how to touch it just&nbsp;so. And people go along&nbsp;for the ride,&#8221; Corcoran said.



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<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/markets/macro-economic-events/25/08/46959936/trumps-tariff-wins-may-be-superficial-but-analysts-expect-his-trade-policies-to-out" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trump&#8217;s Tariff Wins May Be Superficial, But Analysts Expect His Trade Policies To Outlive His Term: &#8216;Even If The Next US President&#8230;&#8217;</a></li>
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Image via Shutterstock



Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Shark Tank Star Recalls How A Nearly Bankrupt Trump Sold NYC's Plaza Hotel Without Even Pitching It — 'Best Salesman I've Ever Met'

For years, trade jobs came with a stigma. They were seen as backup plans—a route for people who didn't go to college or couldn't land a white-collar job. But that perception is shifting fast. Gen Z is now eyeing tool belts and hard hats as a smart, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/education/25/07/46536110/degrees-no-longer-get%E2%80%91a%E2%80%91job%E2%80%91free-cards-shows-survey-gen-z-has-college-regrets-heres-why">stable alternative to corporate life</a>. Still, some who've actually done the work say it's not all it's hyped up to be.



"I've worked in the trades: it's overrated," one 28-year-old wrote in a <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/lostgeneration/comments/1m568p5/ive_worked_in_the_trades_its_overrated/?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=mweb3x&amp;utm_name=mweb3xcss&amp;utm_term=1&amp;utm_content=share_button">Reddit post that struck a nerve</a>. He spent seven years in HVAC, and said the physical toll showed up early. "Last year my knees and back started bothering me," he explained. "I used to play full court basketball on the weekends with my friends, but I had to stop that because I would be exhausted after working all week."



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The pay was good. He said he was debt-free with a credit score in the 800s. But eventually, he switched to an office job—and hasn't looked back. "My quality of life is better," he wrote. "I don't hear pro-MAGA rants anymore. I come home after work and my clothes smell the same as I did before I left. I did take a pay cut."



While he didn't <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/topics/25/07/46298465/joe-rogan-says-most-americans-dont-want-manufacturing-jobs-but-the-problem-is-that-for-some-doing-them-now-its-their-entire-identity">claim trades are overhyped</a>, others in the thread filled in the blank. "People romanticize trades but it's hard fucking work and takes it out of your body," one commenter wrote. Another shared that her uncle broke his back on the job and "it ruined his life." She warned that if her own son were injured in a trade, he'd be left without options. "There's a reason desk jobs provide better long term stability," she added.



That tension—between how trades are portrayed and how they're experienced—is showing up in more conversations. Despite the pushback, a <a href="https://www.resumebuilder.com/4-in-10-gen-z-college-grads-are-turning-to-blue-collar-work-for-job-security/">May Resume Builder survey</a> found that 42% of Gen Z adults are either working in or pursuing blue-collar careers. Surprisingly, 37% of them already have college degrees.



Trending: ‘Scrolling To UBI' — Deloitte's #1 fastest-growing software company allows users to earn money on their phones. You can <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/mode-mobile-2">invest today for just $0.30/share.</a>



One major reason for the shift: job security. A <a href="https://zety.com/blog/genz-reroute-report">Zety poll found 72% of Gen Z workers</a> believe artificial intelligence will wipe out many corporate roles. And 65% say they don't think a college degree is enough to protect them from automation. For some, physically demanding jobs still feel more future-proof than office ones that can be replaced by software.



But for others, the cost is personal. In the Reddit thread, one user said their physical job left them with chronic wrist pain. "No shame in my time there," they wrote, "but glad I'm where I am now." Another said they met more addicts in the trades than anywhere else. And several commenters warned that injuries or aging out of the work can leave people stranded without backup plans.



The trades can offer stability, income, and pride—but not everyone walks away with just those. For some, it's a bad back, lost weekends, or a career they had to leave behind just to stay healthy.



The jobs are real. The paycheck is real. So is the wear-and-tear. And the people doing the work are asking: at what cost?



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<li>$100k+ in investable assets? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/wiseradvisor-retirement-planning">Match with a fiduciary advisor for free to learn how you can maximize your retirement and save on taxes</a> – no cost, no obligation.</li>
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Image: Shutterstock

Personal Finance

28-Year-Old Says 'I've Worked in the Trades. It's Overrated'—People Romanticize It, But It Wrecked His Knees, Took His Weekends & Stunk Up His Clothes

It wasn't about the money. It wasn't about the thrill. It was about getting arrested—on purpose.



James Verone, a 59-year-old retired Coca-Cola delivery driver from Gastonia, North Carolina, walked into a bank in 2011, handed the teller a note asking for $1, and calmly took a seat in the lobby to wait for the police. Why? Because he couldn't afford to see a doctor.



Before the "heist," Verone <a href="https://www.thetimes.com/best-law-firms/profile-legal/article/us-man-robs-a-bank-for-dollar1-to-get-free-health-care-in-jail-bsm5m2v9x23">reportedly mailed a letter</a> to the local paper, the Gaston Gazette, explaining his plan. He had no job, no insurance, and no relief from worsening health issues—slipped discs, arthritis, and a mysterious growth on his chest.&nbsp;



"I am of sound mind but not so much sound body," he wrote. The goal wasn't freedom—it was access.&nbsp;



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Verone hoped to be sentenced to three years, just enough to age into Social Security and hopefully walk out with his health intact. But prosecutors didn't quite buy into his plan. Instead of bank robbery, he was charged with misdemeanor larceny, served 12 months, and got the medical attention he needed—from behind bars.



In a follow-up <a href="https://www.wbtv.com/story/18967542/man-who-robbed-bank-for-free-helalthcare-released/">interview with WBTV-TV</a> a year after the incident, Verone explained that he feared he might have pancreatic cancer. He had tried to get help the usual way. "The six places that I went to get taken care of, I could not get anyone to take care of me," he said. So, with nowhere else to turn, he made what he saw as a last resort. "Yes, it was worth it. I had no other direction to go."



At the time of his act, the uninsured rate for Americans under 65 hovered around 17.5%, according to the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/hus/topics/health-insurance-coverage.htm">National Center for Health Statistics</a>. Today, despite expanded coverage under the Affordable Care Act and a record-high <a href="https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2024/demo/p60-284.html">insured rate of 92%</a> in 2023, affordability remains a different beast entirely.



Trending: ‘Scrolling To UBI' — Deloitte's #1 fastest-growing software company allows users to earn money on their phones. You can <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/mode-mobile-2">invest today for just $0.30/share.</a>



According to <a href="https://www.kff.org/health-costs/issue-brief/americans-challenges-with-health-care-costs/">Kaiser Family Foundation's May 2025 Health Tracking Poll</a>, 44% of adults say it's difficult to afford healthcare—even with insurance. Nearly one in four report skipping or postponing care due to cost. Among uninsured adults under 65, that number jumps to a staggering 75%. And it's not just doctor visits—33% of Americans admit to cutting pills in half, skipping doses, or choosing over-the-counter substitutes to avoid prescription costs.



Health insurance doesn't always save you either. <a href="https://www.kff.org/health-policy-101-health-care-costs-and-affordability/">Nearly 40% of insured adults</a> under 65 worry about affording their monthly premium, and large shares of those with employer-sponsored plans rate their coverage as "fair" or "poor" when it comes to cost.



Healthcare debt is another persistent crisis. In a <a href="https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/diagnosis-debt-investigation-100-million-americans-hidden-medical-debt/">2022 report from KFF</a>, 41% of U.S. adults said they currently hold some form of medical or dental debt. About half of all adults say they wouldn't be able to afford a $500 unexpected medical bill without going into debt—or wouldn't be able to pay it at all.



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So here's the irony: Verone went to jail 14 years ago to get care most <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/health-care/25/08/46823546/trumps-big-beautiful-bill-is-investing-200-billion-in-medicaid-not-cutting-it-cms-chief-says-but-we-want-an-appropriate">Americans still struggle to access today</a>— .



And while the U.S. leads the world in healthcare spending, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/02/43420762/us-health-care-ranks-last-among-wealthy-nations-study-reveals-despite-highest-spending-people-have-lower-than-average-life-expectancies">it ranks last</a> among high-income countries in terms of quality, access, and health outcomes, according to a <a href="https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/fund-reports/2024/sep/mirror-mirror-2024">Commonwealth Fund&nbsp; report</a> last year. That's not a fluke. It's a system problem. We still live in a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/health-care/25/06/46019567/mark-cuban-says-were-he-to-become-president-for-a-day-he-would-make-these-two-simple-moves-to-overhaul-us-healthcare">country where getting sick can bankrupt you</a>—and where one man figured his best option was a $1 crime with a prescription pad on the other side of a prison wall.



Verone's story may be old. But the desperation behind it? Still painfully current.



Read Next: $100k+ in investable assets? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/wiseradvisor-retirement-planning">Match with a fiduciary advisor for free to learn how you can maximize your retirement and save on taxes</a> – no cost, no obligation.



Image: Imagn Images

59-Year-Old Retired Delivery Driver Robbed A Bank For $1 So He Could Get Medical Care In Jail — 'It Was Worth It. I Had No Other Direction to Go'

Shares of Bitmine Immersion Technologies Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BMNR#NYSE">BMNR</a>) are trading sharply higher this week, propelled by the firm&#8217;s ongoing strategic pivot to build an Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>) treasury. Here&#8217;s what investors <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/BMNR/news">need to know</a>.



What To Know: BitMine earlier this week <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/08/46837768/bitmine-stock-is-trading-higher-monday-whats-going-on">announced</a> it has accumulated 833,137 ETH, valued at nearly $3 billion, a move that establishes it as the world&#8217;s largest corporate holder of Ethereum and the third-largest public crypto holder overall, trailing only MicroStrategy and MARA Holding, Inc.



The strategy has captured the market&#8217;s attention as the stock trends across social media platforms. Fundstrat co-founder Tom Lee <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/25/08/46847840/tom-lee-calls-ethereum-the-biggest-macro-trends-for-the-next-10-15-years-as-bitmine-becomes-largest-eth-holder-with-3-billion-treasury">heralded the move</a> as one of the most significant macro trends for the next 10 to 15 years. 



He compared owning foundational digital assets to owning the land under a McDonald's, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/25/08/46861936/fundstrats-tom-lee-owning-bitcoin-is-like-owning-land-under-a-mcdonalds">emphasizing</a> the long-term capital appreciation potential over generating immediate cash flow. Lee sees BitMine as leading a structural rethinking of how companies should manage their balance sheets, viewing digital assets as infrastructure.



Adding to the bullish sentiment is <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/25/08/46861936/fundstrats-tom-lee-owning-bitcoin-is-like-owning-land-under-a-mcdonalds">institutional backing</a> from legendary investor Bill Miller, who recently took a stake. This vote of confidence from Miller and other major investors underscores the growing institutional acceptance of the company&#8217;s treasury strategy. 



BMNR&#8217;s 41% weekly rally could also be buoyed by Lee&#8217;s broader market optimism, citing weak labor data as a potential catalyst for a dovish Fed pivot that would benefit both equities and digital assets.



Price Action: According to data from <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a>, BMNR shares are trading higher by 11.8% to $46.14 Friday morning. The stock has a 52-week high of $161.00 and a 52-week low of $1.93.



Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/08/46910308/bitcoin-at-crossroads-tom-lee-sees-1-million-polymarket-bets-on-dip">Bitcoin At Crossroads: Tom Lee Sees $1 Million, Polymarket Bets On Dip</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">How To Buy BMNR Stock</h2>



By now you're likely curious about how to participate in the market for BitMine Immersion &#8211; be it to purchase shares, or even attempt to bet against the company.



Buying shares is typically done through a brokerage account. You can find a list of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-stock-trading-platforms">possible trading platforms here.</a> Many will allow you to buy &#8220;fractional shares,&#8221; which allows you to own portions of stock without buying an entire share.



In the case of BitMine Immersion, which is trading at $46.23 as of publishing time, $100 would buy you 2.16 shares of stock.



If you're looking to bet against a company, the process is more complex. You'll need access to an options trading platform, or a broker who will allow you to &#8220;go short&#8221; a share of stock by lending you the shares to sell. The process of shorting a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock">stock can be found at this resource.</a> Otherwise, if your broker allows you to trade options, you can either buy a put option, or sell a call option at a strike price above where shares are currently trading &#8211; either way it allows you to profit off of the share price decline.



Image: Shutterstock

$ETH

BMNR

BitMine (BMNR) Stock Surges As Company Becomes World's Largest Ethereum Holder

OpenAI has reportedly offered $1.5 million bonuses for every employee over two years, including new hires, as the artificial intelligence giant battles Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) and other tech titans in a talent war.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Tech Executive Reveals Bonus Strategy</h2>



Yuchen Jin, Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of Hyperbolic and former OctoAI executive, disclosed the compensation move on X Thursday. &#8220;My OpenAI friends are so hyped rn &#8211; not because it&#8217;s the night before GPT-5, but because Sam just announced $1.5M bonus for every employee over 2 years,&#8221; Jin wrote.



Jin, whose previous company OctoAI was acquired by Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), added that &#8220;78% of Nvidia employees are millionaires. At OpenAI, it&#8217;s 100%.&#8221;



OpenAI did not immediately respond to&nbsp;<a href="http://pro.benzinga.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga</a>'s request for comment.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">My OpenAI friends are so hyped rn &#8211; not because it's the night before GPT-5, but because Sam just announced $1.5M bonus for every employee over 2 years. 78% of Nvidia employees are millionaires. At OpenAI, it's 100%. I think we can call it the "Zuck poaching effect."&mdash; Yuchen Jin (@Yuchenj_UW) <a href="https://twitter.com/Yuchenj_UW/status/1953299499159277662?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 7, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Meta&#8217;s Aggressive Recruitment Drives Market Response</h2>



The bonus announcement comes as Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg&#8216;s &#8220;mafioso&#8221; style <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46623904/mark-zuckerbergs-mafioso-poaching-style-at-meta-sparks-ai-talent-war-sam-altman-says-bring-it-on">poaching tactics have intensified Silicon Valley&#8217;s AI talent competition</a>. Meta has reportedly offered compensation packages reaching $20 million annually to lure researchers from OpenAI, Anthropic and Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>).



OpenAI CEO Sam Altman previously welcomed Meta&#8217;s challenge with a &#8220;bring it on&#8221; response during a podcast interview. Meta&#8217;s newly formed Superintelligence Labs has successfully recruited seven OpenAI researchers and Apple Inc.&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) former Foundation Models head, Ruoming Pang.



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/08/46947393/apple-nvidia-supplier-tsmc-surges-nearly-5-in-overnight-trade-as-taipei-says-chip-giant-exempt-from-trumps-100-chip-tariffs">Apple, Nvidia Supplier TSMC Surges Nearly 5% In Overnight Trade As Taipei Says Chip Giant &#8216;Exempt&#8217; From Trump&#8217;s 100% Chip Tariffs</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">OpenAI&#8217;s Valuation Surge Supports Retention Strategy</h2>



The retention bonuses coincide with OpenAI&#8217;s pursuit of a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/08/46879994/openai-eyes-record-500-billion-valuation-in-employee-share-sale-amid-ai-arms-race-report">secondary stock sale</a> that could value the company at $500 billion, representing a 67% jump from its current $300 billion valuation. The company recently raised $8.3 billion as part of a $40 billion funding round led by SoftBank Group Corp. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBY#OTC">SFTBY</a>).



OpenAI&#8217;s revenue has surged to $13 billion annually from $10 billion in June, with projections exceeding $20 billion by year-end. The company now serves 700 million weekly ChatGPT users and has grown paid business subscribers to five million.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Broader AI Infrastructure Investment Wave</h2>



The talent war occurs amid a $250 billion AI infrastructure spending surge through 2025-26. Meta plans to spend nearly $100 billion by 2026, while Alphabet raised its 2025 capital expenditure target to $85 billion. Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) is on track to exceed $100 billion <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/08/46879994/openai-eyes-record-500-billion-valuation-in-employee-share-sale-amid-ai-arms-race-report">in annual AI spending</a>.



With only approximately 2,000 researchers globally capable of building foundational AI models, compensation battles are reshaping Silicon Valley&#8217;s competitive landscape as companies race <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/07/46240607/microsoft-slashes-9000-jobs-while-mark-zuckerbergs-meta-poaches-20-million-worth-of-ai-talent-from-openai-investor-warns-of-jealousy-envy-and-helplessness-among-tech-workers-in-silic">toward artificial general intelligence</a>.



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/08/46885394/amazon-opens-used-vehicle-listings-to-dealers-across-us-starting-in-la-with-over-130-cities-in-pipeline" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Amazon Opens Used Vehicle Listings To Dealers Across US, Starting In LA With Over 130 Cities In Pipeline</a></li>
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Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.



Photo courtesy: Svet foto / Shutterstock.com

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