AMAZON EXPANDS THE PERIMETER, AS REGULATORS SET CLOSE IN
Short issue this week due to travel. Back in full next week.
Amazon’s week spanned regulatory pressure, AI deployments, strategic infrastructure moves and a rare return to capital markets. In San Francisco, Zoox began live robotaxi rides, signalling Amazon’s ambition to own not just logistics but urban mobility. At the same time, Prime Video introduced AI-generated video recaps, embedding automation into content navigation and extending the platform’s personalisation layer.
European regulators stepped up pressure on multiple fronts. The EU launched a formal probe into AWS and Microsoft Azure, citing concerns over data portability and service lock-in, while an EU court dismissed Amazon’s attempt to remove its designation as a “very large online platform”. Australia added Twitch to its teen safety watchlist, underscoring rising global scrutiny on Amazon’s platform accountability.
Meanwhile, Amazon is laying groundwork for tighter consumer integration. A new partnership with Ford will let users buy certified used vehicles directly through Amazon’s marketplace. In smart home tech, Amazon and Google announced plans for greater interoperability, aiming to reduce friction across ecosystems. Financially, Amazon returned to credit markets with its first US high-grade bond sale in three years, raising capital amid broader AI infrastructure competition following Nvidia’s $26 billion cloud spending commitment.
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