AWS revealed it operates over 900 data centers across 50+ countries. Microsoft made GPT-5 generally available through Copilot Studio. Meta is negotiating to buy Google’s TPU chips. A Canon subsidiary got hit by ransomware exploiting Oracle’s zero-day vulnerability. Alibaba’s AI app hit 10 million downloads in a week. And the White House launched an AI-quantum computing initiative. Here’s what happened during Thanksgiving week.
Top Stories This Week
Internal Documents Reveal True Scale of Amazon’s Cloud Empire -
On November 24, internal documents seen by Bloomberg and SourceMaterial revealed that Amazon Web Services operates over 900 data center facilities across more than 50 countries.
The breakdown:
- 900+ facilities worldwide
- Mix of large dedicated campuses and colocation sites
- Distributed across 50+ countries
- Enables rapid scaling without building new facilities
Why colocation matters:
Most people think AWS only runs massive data center campuses. But the documents show they’re renting space in hundreds of colocation sites. This lets them expand capacity quickly and get services closer to customers without the years it takes to build new facilities.
What this means for developers:
AWS handles a huge chunk of the internet. Knowing they have 900+ facilities explains how they can promise low latency anywhere and handle massive scale. But it also raises questions about environmental impact and transparency around energy use.
The sheer scale is staggering. When you deploy to AWS, your app could be running in any of 900+ facilities worldwide.
Canon Hit by Ransomware Exploiting Oracle Zero-Day -
On November 25, Canon confirmed that one of its subsidiaries was hit by ransomware exploiting a zero-day vulnerability in Oracle E-Business Suite.
The details:
- Vulnerability: CVE-2025-61882 in Oracle E-Business Suite
- Attack group: Cl0p ransomware gang
- Impact: Over 100 organizations using Oracle’s ERP software
- Status: Canon is investigating the data breach
Why this matters:
Oracle E-Business Suite is enterprise software used by thousands of companies. A zero-day means there was no patch available when the attacks started. Organizations running this software had no way to defend against it.
The Cl0p group is sophisticated. They find zero-days, exploit them at scale, and steal data before companies even know they’re vulnerable.
What you should do:
- Patch Oracle E-Business Suite immediately - Oracle has released a fix
- Review access logs - Check if you were compromised
- Audit your enterprise software - Know what you’re running and who has access
- Monitor for data leaks - Stolen data often appears on leak sites
Enterprise software vulnerabilities are high-value targets. Keep everything patched and monitor security advisories closely.
Microsoft Ships GPT-5 Chat in Copilot Studio -
Microsoft made GPT-5 Chat generally available as an orchestration model in Copilot Studio for US and European customers.
What this means:
- Build AI agents with the latest OpenAI model
- Create workflows that connect AI to your internal systems
- Enterprise automation with GPT-5 capabilities
- Available in Copilot Studio now
Why it matters:
GPT-5 is a significant jump from GPT-4. Better reasoning, longer context windows, more reliable outputs. Microsoft giving enterprise customers direct access through Copilot Studio means companies can build production AI systems without managing OpenAI API keys and infrastructure.
The focus is on building agents - not just chatbots, but AI that can take actions, call APIs, query databases, and complete multi-step workflows.
The competition:
Google has Gemini in Workspace. Anthropic has Claude for enterprise. Microsoft is integrating GPT-5 across Azure, Office 365, and developer tools. The AI platform wars are heating up.
If you’re building enterprise software, AI agents are becoming table stakes. Your competitors are shipping this stuff now.
Meta in Talks to Buy Google’s TPU Chips -
On November 25, reports emerged that Meta is negotiating with Google to purchase Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) for its AI infrastructure.
The details:
- Meta wants to diversify beyond Nvidia GPUs
- Google would supply TPUs to a competitor
- Reduces Meta’s dependence on a single vendor
- Opens up Google’s AI hardware business to external customers
Why this is interesting:
Meta currently runs mostly on Nvidia H100 and H200 GPUs. Every major AI company does. Nvidia has 80%+ market share and can charge whatever they want.
Google has been building TPUs for years for internal use. Selling them to Meta would create a new revenue stream and position Google as a serious alternative to Nvidia.
What it means for developers:
More competition in AI hardware means better prices and more options. If Google TPUs become available on major cloud providers, you’ll have alternatives to Nvidia for training and inference.
Competition is good. Nvidia’s monopoly has been expensive.
White House Launches “Genesis Mission” for AI and Quantum Computing -
On November 25, President Trump signed an executive order launching the “Genesis Mission” - a government initiative to integrate AI, supercomputers, and quantum systems for scientific research.
What it is:
- Led by the Department of Energy
- Combines AI, national lab supercomputers, and quantum computing
- Focused on protein folding, fusion energy, and advanced materials
- Aims to accelerate scientific discovery
Why it matters:
This is the government putting serious resources behind AI for scientific research. The national labs have some of the world’s most powerful supercomputers. Combining them with quantum computing and advanced AI could accelerate research that usually takes decades.
AI Developments This Week
Alibaba’s Qwen AI App Hits 10 Million Downloads -
Alibaba’s Qwen AI app reached 10 million downloads within a week of its relaunch around November 30.
What Qwen is:
- Alibaba’s ChatGPT competitor
- Powered by Qwen AI models
- Available in multiple languages
- Strong showing in the Chinese market
Why this matters:
OpenAI has been dominating consumer AI in the West. ChatGPT is the default for most people. Alibaba hitting 10 million downloads in a week shows there’s serious competition, especially in Asian markets.
This isn’t just about one app. It shows that AI assistants are becoming global and regional players can compete with OpenAI.
Alibaba Launches Quark S1 Smart Glasses -
Alibaba also launched the Quark S1 smart glasses powered by its Qwen AI models.
Features:
- Translucent displays overlaying information on your view
- Built-in cameras
- Bone conduction microphones
- 24-hour battery life with swappable batteries
- Runs Qwen AI models
What you can do:
Ask questions, get real-time information overlaid on what you’re looking at, and interact with AI without pulling out your phone. Think Google Glass, but with modern AI capabilities.
Alibaba is going all-in on AI - both software and hardware. They’re not just competing with OpenAI on chat, they’re building an entire AI ecosystem that includes consumer hardware.
This could be the start of AI-powered wearables becoming mainstream.
What This Week Teaches Us
Infrastructure scale matters: AWS operating 900+ data centers shows the massive scale needed to run modern cloud services. This distributed approach enables low latency and high availability but raises questions about environmental impact and transparency.
Hardware diversity is coming: Meta negotiating with Google for TPUs signals a shift away from Nvidia’s dominance. Companies want alternatives to avoid vendor lock-in and reduce costs. Expect more competition in AI hardware.
Enterprise software vulnerabilities are high-value targets: The Canon ransomware attack shows that enterprise ERP systems are major targets. Zero-day vulnerabilities in widely-used software like Oracle E-Business Suite can impact hundreds of organizations simultaneously.
AI competition is global: Alibaba’s 10 million downloads in a week shows that AI assistants are becoming a global battlefield. OpenAI doesn’t have a monopoly. Regional players with local market knowledge can compete effectively.
Government is betting on AI for science: The Genesis Mission shows governments are investing in AI for research, not just commercial applications. This could accelerate scientific breakthroughs in areas like fusion energy and advanced materials.
Other News This Week
Pony.ai Plans to Triple Robotaxi Fleet
Autonomous vehicle company Pony.ai announced plans to triple its global robotaxi fleet to over 3,000 vehicles by the end of 2026.
Why it matters:
This shows continued investment in autonomous driving despite the challenges the industry has faced. While other companies have scaled back or shut down their autonomous vehicle programs, Pony.ai is doubling down.
The autonomous vehicle market is still growing, just more slowly and carefully than the hype suggested a few years ago.
Amazon Satellite Internet Coming Soon
Amazon is entering the satellite internet market, aiming to offer gigabit speeds and compete with existing providers like Starlink. This could provide more options for internet access in remote areas and increase competition in the satellite internet space.
The Numbers That Matter
- 900+ - AWS data center facilities operating globally
- 50+ - Countries where AWS operates data centers
- 100+ - Organizations affected by Oracle E-Business Suite ransomware
- 10 million - Alibaba Qwen AI app downloads in one week
- 24 hours - Battery life of Alibaba Quark S1 smart glasses
- 3,000 - Robotaxis Pony.ai plans to operate by end of 2026
- 80%+ - Nvidia’s current market share in AI hardware
- CVE-2025-61882 - Oracle E-Business Suite zero-day vulnerability
Thanksgiving week was lighter on news, but showed the scale of infrastructure powering our apps, the rise of AI hardware competition, and that security threats don’t take holidays. Stay patched, stay vigilant.
Got news we should cover? Let us know. We’re tracking what matters to developers.
