Perplexity Expands Partnerships Amid Cambricon Stock Crash And xAI's CFO Exit

The world of technology never stands still, and right now, the artificial intelligence (AI) landscape is moving faster than ever. New innovations are reshaping how we search, pay, work, and interact with information, as AI companies keep revising their strategies to keep up with evolving needs. Amid this whirlwind of breakthroughs and shake-ups, the question remains: who will keep pace in the ever-evolving AI race, and what surprises lie around the corner?

Well, let’s take a look at the most recent moves happening in the world of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Read on!

The race to dominate the artificial intelligence market is heating up, and Elon Musk’s startup xAI has been caught in the middle of fresh leadership churn. According to the Wall Street Journal, the company’s finance chief, Mike Liberatore, has stepped down after only a few months in the role.

Mike Liberatore, who previously worked at Airbnb, came on board with xAI in April but left by the end of July. In that short span, he was a key player in helping the company secure a massive $5 billion debt raise, along with another $5 billion in strategic equity funding.

Morgan Stanley said the funding was meant to boost xAI’s AI model development, expand its data centers, and grow its Grok platform. The reason behind Liberatore’s sudden exit remains unclear, and the company hasn’t offered any comment.

His exit adds to a growing list of senior exits at Musk-led ventures. In August, xAI co-founder Igor Babuschkin moved on to start an investment firm focused on AI safety, and the company’s legal head, Robert Keele, also left during the same month. Adding to the shake-up, Linda Yaccarino, CEO of Musk-owned social platform X, stepped down in July, shortly after the platform was integrated into xAI.

Despite billions in funding, multiple senior leaders have exited xAI in quick succession, asking questions about whether it can steady its leadership ranks while keeping pace with competitors.

While leadership changes are making headlines, other AI businesses are feeling the impact of AI in a very different way.
 
Chinese AI chipmaker Cambricon Technologies saw its shares drop about 12% in Thursday morning trade, marking its biggest intraday decline since January 2025. The stock had more than doubled in August, boosting its weight on the tech-focused STAR50 Index to 15%, well above the 10% limit for a single stock. This has raised concerns that funds tracking the index may need to sell shares when it rebalances on September 12.

Profit-taking also weighed on other onshore semiconductor stocks, which dropped nearly 6%, dragging the STAR50 Index down more than 5% overall. Just last week, Cambricon issued a risk warning to investors, pointing to the rapid rise in its share price since late July and aiming to curb speculative buying.

Tech and AI stocks have been fueling China’s market gains this year, with the STAR50 Index up 26% and AI shares climbing 47% year-to-date. Still, investors are on edge after reports that China may take steps to cool the market following the sharp rally since early August, when the benchmark CSI300 Index jumped 10%.

The sudden sell-off at Cambricon highlights the delicate balance investors must strike between pursuing quick gains in AI stocks and mitigating the risk of sharp pullbacks, particularly as regulators and index-tracking funds grow in influence over the market.

While companies navigate the highs and lows of AI stock movements and leadership woes, innovative moves by others continue to reach users in practical ways, reshaping interactions with everyday digital tools.

After a recent payment platform partnership, PayPal and Venmo are giving users a first look at Perplexity’s AI-powered Comet browser through a 12-month trial of the startup’s Pro subscription. The move opens the door for U.S. and select global customers to explore Perplexity’s AI tools, which provide information summaries and help with tasks like scheduling meetings or summarizing webpages.


The Pro subscription, which typically costs $200 a year or $20 a month, is now one of the first offers in PayPal’s new subscriptions hub, designed to help users manage recurring payments. The deal also gives Perplexity access to PayPal’s over 430 million users, making it easy for customers to sign up for the trial.

U.S. users can enroll directly through the PayPal app, while global users in select markets can choose PayPal at checkout when signing up online. Perplexity launched Comet in early July and expanded access last month.

The browser integrates its AI tools directly into web browsing, allowing users to ask questions about personal data, such as emails, calendars, or browsing history, and carry out everyday tasks without switching apps.

The company is also developing a mobile version and has been in talks with smartphone makers to bring Comet to more devices.

Can early limited access, like Comet AI, help businesses compete in the saturated market? Has volatility in leadership and stock prices become the norm for AI-heavy companies?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!