According to Tech Digest, Michael Burry—the investor famously depicted in The Big Short—has placed a massive $1.1 billion bet against AI stocks, specifically targeting chip-maker Nvidia and software company Palantir. Amazon has begun a global rollout to block unauthorized apps on Fire TV Sticks, targeting modified “fully loaded” devices used for illegal streaming. Shein has permanently banned all sex dolls globally after French authorities raised concerns about childlike appearances. The UK government is criminalizing porn featuring strangulation or suffocation, with tech platforms required to prevent UK users from accessing such content. Eufy has launched its new EufyCam S4, the industry’s first DIY solar-powered hybrid camera with 360° coverage. Meanwhile, UK government departments have spent over £3.35 billion on AI contracts since 2018, including a massive £1 billion Met Office contract with Microsoft.
Burry’s Billion-Dollar AI Skepticism
Michael Burry betting against AI feels like history repeating itself. The guy made his name predicting the 2008 housing collapse, and now he’s putting serious money behind the idea that the AI boom is overhyped. A $1.1 billion short position against Nvidia and Palantir isn’t just a casual trade—it’s a statement. And honestly? It’s hard to ignore. Nvidia’s stock has been on an absolute tear, basically becoming the poster child for the AI revolution. But here’s the thing: when the guy who saw the last big collapse coming starts betting against the current darling of Wall Street, you’ve got to wonder if we’re in bubble territory. The timing is particularly interesting given that UK government spending on AI has exploded to over £3.35 billion since 2018. When everyone’s piling in, the contrarians start getting nervous.
Amazon’s Fire TV Purge
Amazon’s crackdown on “fully loaded” Fire Sticks has been a long time coming. These modified devices have been an open secret for years, offering access to pretty much every streaming service without paying a dime. The practice of sideloading apps outside Amazon’s official Appstore created a whole gray market. But now Amazon is systematically blocking that workaround globally. It’s a classic cat-and-mouse game—pirates find a way in, companies patch the hole. What’s interesting is how Amazon is framing this as protecting users from “dodgy” devices, when let’s be real, it’s also about protecting their content partnerships and revenue streams. The timing suggests they’re getting serious about cleaning house before the holiday shopping season.
UK’s Expanding Digital Regulation
The UK government is really flexing its regulatory muscles lately. First, they’re making porn featuring strangulation a criminal offense, which represents a significant expansion of online content regulation. Platforms will now be legally required to prevent UK users from accessing this content—that’s a heavy lift for tech companies. Meanwhile, victims of intimate image abuse now have three years instead of six months to come forward. These changes show the government is getting more specific about what constitutes harmful content online. But the enforcement question remains huge. How exactly do platforms identify and block this content at scale? And where does this line of regulation stop?
Quick Hits: Shein’s Ban & Eufy’s Innovation
Shein’s global ban on sex dolls came after French authorities called out products with “childlike appearance.” The company moved surprisingly fast to permanently ban seller accounts linked to these products. It’s a necessary move, but also highlights how reactive these platforms can be—waiting for regulatory pressure before cleaning house. On the innovation side, Eufy’s new EufyCam S4 is actually pretty clever. A solar-powered hybrid camera with 360° coverage and facial recognition addresses some real pain points in home security. No wiring, no monthly fees—that’s the kind of practical smart home innovation that actually makes sense for consumers.
