Index News Today — July 18, 2026
Neil Rimer thinks the AI money is coming back out and more — today's index signal.
The AI and tech landscape is buzzing with significant developments that highlight both the promise and pitfalls of innovation. On the investment front, there's renewed confidence in AI with Neil Rimer noting that the money is flowing back in, a sentiment echoed by Databricks' soaring $188 billion valuation. This uptick in AI-related investments and valuations underscores a sustained belief in the sector's potential for growth and transformation.
However, alongside these optimistic trends, there are also cautionary tales. The darker side of technology is being addressed through regulatory actions, such as Apple and Google being ordered to remove 'nudify' apps from their platforms, and the FBI taking steps against individuals exploiting gaming platforms for financial gain, like the arrest of a man accused of draining victims' crypto wallets through Steam games. Meanwhile, companies like Pebble are focusing on building trust with consumers through transparent policies like a 30-day warranty, and even Apple Music is adjusting its pricing, reflecting the evolving economic and regulatory environment that tech companies operate within.
Today's signal:
• Neil Rimer thinks the AI money is coming back out (techcrunch.com)
• Databricks hits $188B valuation, extending its run as AI’s favorite second act (techcrunch.com)
• Apple and Google ordered to purge ‘nudify’ apps from App Stores (techcrunch.com)
• Pebble founder Eric Migicovsky says his 30-day warranty is all about trust (theverge.com)
• Apple Music is getting a price hike (theverge.com)
• FBI arrests man accused of using Steam games to drain victims’ crypto wallets (techcrunch.com)