Bill Ackman's Pershing Square Capital Management has built significant positions in the biggest AI players. NVIDIA and Alphabet together make up 22.4% of the fund, while Microsoft accounts for 11.89% and Amazon for 10.49%. Pershing Square increased its Microsoft stake by roughly 10% in the second quarter but trimmed Amazon by 25%. Microsoft's cloud revenue reached $59.3 billion, up 27% year over year, and Amazon's net sales grew 20% to $200.6 billion with AWS expanding 37%.
Other major AI investment moves are happening across the sector. Blackstone and Alphabet secured $22 billion in financing for Crux AI, their cloud joint venture, with a consortium of 10 banks including Goldman Sachs and Barclays providing the funding. Blackstone also plans to add $5 billion in equity to bring 500 megawatts of data center capacity online by 2027. Meanwhile, Exein, a Rome-based cybersecurity startup, raised $270 million at a $1.7 billion valuation to expand its physical AI security platform.
On the consumer and enterprise side, a Parks Associates survey found that 54% of AI users in US internet households say saving time is AI's biggest benefit. Generative AI now reaches 63% of US internet households, and 22% pay for AI services. Zscaler launched its AI-first Agentic SOC platform globally while guiding for mid-teens revenue growth in fiscal 2027, even as it reported a net loss of $63.18 million. NativeAds.ai hired Annika Geiger, a former Amazon Ads executive, to lead European sales expansion for its generative AI advertising platform.
Regulatory and public concern is also growing. NYC Council Speaker Menin convened a rare hearing on the potential risks of advancing AI technology. In Philadelphia, the No Data Centers coalition rallied outside City Hall calling for a three-year moratorium on data center construction, though Mayor Parker clarified that his executive order is not a moratorium. Investors have been warned that conflating AI innovation with guaranteed returns carries risks, especially as Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon, and Meta are expected to spend roughly $760 billion on capital expenditures in 2026.
Key Takeaways
- Pershing Square holds 22.4% combined in NVIDIA and Alphabet, 11.89% in Microsoft, and 10.49% in Amazon
- Microsoft cloud revenue hit $59.3 billion, up 27% year over year, while Amazon AWS grew 37%
- Blackstone and Alphabet secured $22 billion in financing for Crux AI cloud joint venture
- Exein raised $270 million at a $1.7 billion valuation for cybersecurity protecting over 2 billion devices
- 54% of US AI users cite time savings as the top benefit of AI technology
- Zscaler launched its AI-first Agentic SOC platform while guiding for mid-teens revenue growth in fiscal 2027
- Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon, and Meta are expected to spend roughly $760 billion on capex in 2026
- NYC Council held a rare hearing on AI apocalypse concerns
- Philadelphia groups called for a three-year moratorium on data center construction
- NativeAds.ai hired former Amazon Ads executive Annika Geiger to lead European sales expansion
Bill Ackman's Fund Invests Heavily in NVIDIA and Alphabet AI Stocks
Pershing Square Capital Management, led by billionaire Bill Ackman, has a 22.4% investment in two AI stocks. These stocks are NVIDIA Corporation and Alphabet Inc. NVIDIA is a leader in AI computing while Alphabet is the parent company of Google. The fund sees these as strong core holdings for a diversified portfolio.
Bill Ackman's Fund Boosts Microsoft and Amazon AI Stock Positions
Pershing Square Capital Management, run by Bill Ackman, holds major positions in Microsoft and Amazon. Microsoft holds 11.89% of the portfolio and Amazon holds 10.49%. Microsoft's cloud revenue reached $59.3 billion, up 27% year over year. The company is also developing a custom AI chip called Maia. Amazon's net sales grew 20% to $200.6 billion and AWS grew 37%. Pershing Square increased its Microsoft stake by 10% and reduced Amazon by 25%.
Bill Ackman's Pershing Square Invests in Microsoft and Amazon AI Stocks
Bill Ackman's Pershing Square Capital Management has invested heavily in Microsoft and Amazon. Microsoft accounts for 11.89% of the portfolio and Amazon for 10.49%. Microsoft's cloud revenue hit $59.3 billion, growing 27% year over year. Amazon's net sales grew 20% to $200.6 billion and AWS grew 37% year over year. Amazon plans $220 billion in capex for fiscal year 2026. Pershing Square increased its Microsoft stake by almost 10% in the second quarter.
NativeAds.ai Hires Annika Geiger to Lead European Sales Expansion
NativeAds.ai appointed Annika Geiger as EVP of Sales for Europe. She will lead the company's AI-powered creative and retail media growth. Geiger previously worked at Amazon Ads, Magnite and Oracle Advertising. She will be based in London. The company aims to help brands generate personalized creative at scale while maintaining brand identity across channels.
NativeAds.ai Names Annika Geiger as EVP Sales for Europe
NativeAds.ai hired Annika Geiger as executive vice president of sales for Europe. She is a former Amazon Ads, Magnite and Oracle Advertising executive. Based in London, she will lead commercial strategy across programmatic advertising, connected TV and retail media. NativeAds.ai uses generative AI to help brands and agencies produce personalized advertising at scale. The company also targets retail media networks to help smaller advertisers create the assets needed for retailer advertising programs.
Exein reaches US$1.7bn valuation with new funding
Rome-based cybersecurity startup Exein raised US$270 million at a US$1.7bn valuation. The company protects over two billion connected devices worldwide. Its funding round was led by VC firm Headline. Exein plans to expand its physical AI security platform across the US and APAC regions.
Zscaler launches AI platform amid slower growth outlook
Zscaler reported full-year 2026 sales of US$3,352.52 million and a net loss of US$63.18 million. The company launched its AI-first Agentic SOC platform available globally. Zscaler guided for mid-teens revenue growth in fiscal 2027. The company must balance AI product execution with rising costs while competing with larger cloud providers.
Blackstone and Alphabet secure $22bn for Crux AI
A consortium of 10 banks will provide $22 billion in financing to Crux AI, a cloud joint venture by Blackstone and Alphabet. Lenders include Goldman Sachs, Barclays, and BNP Paribas. The funds will primarily purchase Google's Tensor Processing Units. Blackstone also plans to add $5 billion in equity to bring 500 megawatts of data center capacity online by 2027.
NYC Council holds hearing on AI apocalypse concerns
NYC Council Speaker Menin convened a rare hearing on the AI apocalypse. All council members were invited to attend the session. The hearing addresses concerns about the potential risks and consequences of advancing artificial intelligence technology.
Investors warned against confusing AI innovation with guaranteed returns
Experts warn that investors risk assuming all AI-connected investments are automatically valuable. Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon, and Meta are expected to spend roughly $760 billion on capital expenditures in 2026. The article compares current AI enthusiasm to the dot-com era when the Nasdaq fell roughly 80 percent. Investors are advised to understand their exposure, stress-test potential losses, and diversify their portfolios.
Philly groups push for three year pause on data center construction
The No Data Centers in Philly coalition rallied outside City Hall on Sept. 14, 2026, calling for a three-year moratorium on data center construction. The group responded to growing debate over AI-driven data center expansion and its local effects. City officials identified two possible large-scale sites, including a city-owned plot near Northeast Philadelphia Airport and the former PES refinery site. Mayor Parker signed an executive order but clarified it is not a moratorium, and City Council President Kenyatta Johnson has not committed to one either.
New AI Leadership Battery measures leadership in AI-enabled workplaces
Researchers developed the AI Leadership Battery to study how leaders manage judgment, learning, and accountability in AI-enabled work. The tool organizes 36 specific behaviors into 11 content families and was tested through multiple validation studies. It showed strong reliability and validity, outperforming related measures in areas like decision speed, team performance, and AI adoption. The battery gives researchers a practical framework for studying leadership in AI-based organizations.
Survey finds saving time is top benefit of AI for US consumers
Parks Associates reported that 54% of AI users in US internet households rank saving time as AI's most valuable benefit. The study found 63% of AI users research topics weekly using AI, 50% use it to summarize information, and 46% use it to write or edit text. Generative AI now reaches 63% of US internet households, and 22% pay for AI services. Researcher Kent highlighted practical benefits like faster learning and improved productivity.
Sources
- 22.4% of Billionaire Bill Ackman’s Pershing Square Capital Management Is Invested in These 2 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks
- 22.4% of Billionaire Bill Ackman’s Pershing Square Capital Management Is Invested in These 2 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks
- 22.4% of Billionaire Bill Ackman’s Pershing Square Capital Management Is Invested in These 2 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks
- NativeAds.ai Names Annika Geiger EVP of Sales, Europe to Accelerate Growth Across AI-Powered Creative and
- NativeAds.ai Names Annika Geiger EVP of Sales for Europe
- How Physical AI Security Firm Exein Hit a US$1.7bn Valuation
- How Investors May Respond To Zscaler (ZS) AI Push Meets Slower Growth
- Blackstone and Alphabet secure $22bn to finance Crux AI
- Artificial intelligence apocalypse alarms NYC Council
- Top AI Investment Mistake? Confusing Innovation With Certainty
- What’s going on with AI data centers in Philly?
- Measuring AI Leadership: Development and Validation of a Multidimensional Measure for AI-Native Organizations
- Parks Associates: 54% of AI Users Rank Saving Time Among AI's Most Valuable Benefits
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