Amazon's advertising revenue is booming, with a 22% growth in Q4, driven by strong performance in both retail media and Prime Video ads. However, the company's massive investment in AI raises questions about the long-term returns on these expenditures and the sustainability of its growth amidst market skepticism.

The article explores the significant gap between the massive capital expenditures (capex) in the AI sector and the much lower revenue generated by AI applications. It highlights concerns that the current investment in AI may not yield sufficient returns, potentially leading to an economic bubble similar to the Telecom crash. The author examines trends in AI spending, revenue growth, and the risks facing cloud vendors.

This article explores two key types of ROI discussions between product leaders and CEOs. It emphasizes the necessity for products to earn significantly more than their costs to support overall company operations and highlights the challenges of calculating precise ROI for individual features or decisions.

Replit has achieved a significant milestone with a valuation of $3 billion, driven by its impressive $150 million annualized revenue. The company continues to innovate in the software development space, attracting attention and investment as it expands its platform offerings.

OpenAI has achieved an annualized revenue of $12 billion in the first seven months of the year, signaling a rapid growth driven by its ChatGPT products, which have around 700 million weekly active users. The company also increased its projected cash burn to $8 billion for 2025 while seeking additional investments, including $7.5 billion in commitments from various shareholders.

BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) is now generating more revenue than its flagship S&P 500 ETF (IVV), bringing in an estimated $187.2 million annually despite having only $52 billion in assets under management compared to IVV's $624 billion. The higher fee structure of IBIT, at 0.25%, contrasts with IVV's 0.03%, reflecting the growing demand for regulated bitcoin investment products.

Fenix International Ltd, the owner of OnlyFans, is negotiating a sale to an investor group led by the Forest Road Company, valuing the company at approximately $8 billion. The platform has seen significant growth, with revenue soaring from $375 million in 2020 to $6.6 billion in 2023, attracting multiple suitors including potential IPO considerations.

Meta Platforms' shares jumped 11% after the company forecasted third-quarter revenue exceeding analysts' expectations, driven by advancements in artificial intelligence for its advertising business. Despite rising capital expenditures and scrutiny over its aggressive AI spending, investor confidence remains bolstered by the company's commitment to AI development.