Fortune Tech: No Major Surprises | Fortune
Imagine the U.S. government grinding to a halt for over a month—it's not just a minor inconvenience, it's a crisis that ripples through every corner of our daily lives, threatening essential services and economic stability. But here's where it gets controversial...
Greetings! Whispers from Capitol Hill suggest the U.S. government is on the verge of resuming operations soon.
This has been an agonizing wait. Clocking in at 42 days and still ticking, this marks the longest government shutdown in America's history, far surpassing previous records and leaving millions in limbo.
Before the Senate approved the legislation setting the stage for resolution—requiring House passage and President Trump's signature—I polled today's leading AI chatbots for their predictions on when the government might reopen.
One bot declined to respond. Another predicted it would happen within a few days. The most insightful reply was: "between November 11 and 13, 2025," assuming "no major surprises occur." (Ah, 2025, that mythical year where politics supposedly plays nice.)
Let's not forget what's at stake: the federal cybersecurity agency, tech procurement deals, H1-B visa approvals (which allow highly skilled foreign workers to fill crucial roles in U.S. tech companies), regulatory oversight, and even nationwide flights. No big deal, right? It's a stark reminder of how interconnected our world is—disrupting these could delay innovations, halt job opportunities, and even ground travelers across the country.
Dive into today's tech headlines below. —Andrew Nusca
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Apple Takes a Deep Breath on the Upcoming iPhone Air
Image courtesy of Apple
Apple appears to be hitting pause on the next iPhone Air model.
This $999 slim-and-light device was intended to bridge the gap in their lineup, much like the MacBook Air did in its heyday. (Think of it as the middle ground: not as budget-friendly as the basic models, but not as premium-priced as the "Pro" versions.)
However, consumer enthusiasm has been lukewarm, with buyers favoring phones that offer longer battery life and superior audio-visual features despite the cost.
According to a fresh report from The Information (https://www.theinformation.com/articles/apple-delays-release-next-iphone-air-amid-weak-sales), Apple is postponing the next iPhone Air's launch—originally slated for a year from now—to refine its design.
This likely involves rethinking compromises. While battery longevity in such a compact form might challenge physics itself (imagine trying to squeeze more power into a tiny space without overheating or sacrificing performance), Apple could optimize costs in subtle areas to enhance perceived value. For instance, they might streamline internal components or negotiate better supplier deals to lower production expenses slightly.
On the flip side, the company could simply slim down its standard iPhone—already notably lighter than the Pro model—and rebrand it as "Air."
That's a smart strategy: the current sleek MacBook Air, once the pinnacle of its category, now anchors the bottom of Apple's Mac offerings but accounts for 2 out of every 5 Macs sold, proving that value can triumph over status.
EU Pushes Member Nations to Remove Huawei and ZTE Equipment
The European Union's leadership is reportedly pressuring countries to eliminate Chinese telecom hardware from their communication infrastructures.
Devices from Huawei and ZTE, flagged as high-risk suppliers, are under scrutiny, per a recent Bloomberg article (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-11-10/eu-eyes-banning-huawei-from-mobile-networks-of-member-countries).
While individual nations hold the ultimate authority on infrastructure choices, the European Commission aims to elevate a 2020 guideline into a mandatory rule, backed by financial sanctions for those who ignore it.
"The EU is ramping up its attention to dangers from Chinese telecom firms as commercial and diplomatic relations with its second-largest trade ally deteriorate," the piece explains. "The worry is that granting Beijing-linked entities control over vital national systems could endanger security."
China's Foreign Ministry has countered that the evidence supporting the "high risk" label for Huawei and ZTE is scant. Regardless, European firms such as Sweden's Ericsson and Finland's Nokia could see gains. But here's where it gets controversial— is this move a necessary safeguard against espionage, or an overreach that stifles global competition and innovation in telecom? And this is the part most people miss: balancing national security with the benefits of affordable, advanced tech from abroad.
Farewell to Meta's 'Like' and 'Share' Buttons (Well, Mostly)
Meta announced on Monday that it's phasing out the "like" and "share" buttons on third-party sites, though they'll stick around on Meta's own platforms.
To avoid disrupting websites globally, the company plans to render these embedded controls as invisible zero-by-zero-pixel elements.
Set for February 10, 2026, this shift aligns with dwindling usage of these features. "The online world has transformed," Meta states (https://developers.facebook.com/blog/post/2025/11/10/platform-evolution-facebook-social-plugins-to-be-discontinued-february-2026/) in a developer update.
These buttons debuted in 2010, when social networks actively promoted external content and boosted their engagement.
(What was the digital scene like back then? Justin Bieber's first album dropped, the original Apple iPad hit the market, and the TV show Glee dominated screens. Nostalgic vibes!)
Meta today prefers directing users to its AI assistant. On the bright side, the internet endures... at least for the moment. In 2025, Facebook retains its spot in the Top 10 websites, just as in 2010, boasting nearly 10 billion monthly visitors.
Additional Tech Updates
—Rumble is set to purchase Northern Data (https://corp.rumble.com/blog/rumble-to-acquire-ai-infrastructure-company-northern-data/). The Canadian video service will acquire the German AI firm in a transaction potentially worth up to $970 million.
—CoreWeave exceeds expectations in Q3 earnings (https://investors.coreweave.com/news/news-details/2025/CoreWeave-Reports-Strong-Third-Quarter-2025-Results/default.aspx). They reported $1.36 billion in revenue surpassing forecasts and a net loss of $110 million, a reduction from $360 million the previous year.
—C3.ai might explore a sale (https://www.reuters.com/world/c3-ai-weighs-sale-after-founder-ceo-siebel-steps-aside-sources-say-2025-11-10/) or raise capital following CEO Thomas Siebel's departure.
—AI mistakes are increasingly appearing in legal documents (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/business/lawyers-ai-vigilantes.html). A "growing wave of AI nonsense" includes citations to nonexistent cases, raising questions about reliability in high-stakes fields.
—TSMC's sales hit a 20-month low (https://www.wsj.com/business/softer-tsmc-sales-shouldnt-set-off-ai-alarm-bells-3cfda074). Is the AI surge cooling off, or merely pausing?
—Klook pursues an IPO (http://businesswire.com/news/home/20251109494914/en/). The Asia-Pacific travel booking platform reported a $141 million loss on $407 million in revenue this year.
—Apple removes China's top gay dating apps from its store (https://www.wired.com/story/apple-removes-gay-dating-apps-china-app-store/). Blued and Finka disappear from App Store listings following a directive from Beijing, sparking debates on censorship and corporate responsibility.
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What do you think? Do you believe Apple's iPhone Air adjustments will win over skeptical consumers, or is it time to pivot entirely? And regarding the EU's stance on Huawei and ZTE, is this a prudent security measure or protectionism in disguise? Share your takes in the comments—do you agree, disagree, or have a fresh perspective? Let's discuss!
