OpenAI Gets $50B From Amazon in Record Funding Round; Valuation Sits at $730B

OpenAI raised a record $110 billion in its latest funding round, more than doubling last year’s and valuing the company at $730 billion pre-money. Amazon led with $50 billion, while Nvidia and SoftBank each invested $30 billion. The deal also expands OpenAI’s AWS partnership, with plans to spend up to $100 billion over eight years, highlighting that compute is now central to the AI arms race.

Netflix is officially out of the running for Warner Bros. Discovery after Paramount paid the $2.8 billion termination fee tied to the canceled deal, according to an SEC filing. With the fee paid, Netflix’s bid for WBD is dead as Paramount moves closer to completing its transaction. The development follows rapid back-and-forth negotiations after WBD deemed Paramount’s offer superior and gave Netflix a brief window to respond, which it declined to match.

Woody Harrelson will present the SAG-AFTRA Life Achievement Award to Harrison Ford at Sunday’s Actor Awards (formerly the SAG Awards), hosted by Kristen Bell and streaming live on Netflix at 8 p.m. ET. The ceremony will also feature Benicio Del Toro, Chase Infiniti, Damson Idris, Michael B. Jordan, Teyana Taylor, Timothée Chalamet, and many more as presenters. The awards take place at the Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall in Los Angeles.

The NFL is increasing the salary cap to $301.2 million per team in 2026, marking the first time the cap has topped $300 million. The new figure represents a $22 million jump from last year and continues the league’s steady revenue-driven growth, up from $255.4 million in 2024 and more than $200 million just four years ago. With free agency opening March 11, teams now have expanded spending power heading into the offseason.

Analysts are warning of a historic slowdown in the global device market, projecting double-digit declines in 2026 as tight memory supplies push up prices. IDC forecasts smartphone shipments to drop 13% and PC shipments to fall 11%, while Counterpoint predicts a 12% decline in global smartphone shipments, the sharpest on record and the lowest volumes since 2013. The squeeze stems from AI-driven demand for memory chips, straining supply for device makers.

NBC Sports is bringing back its iconic 1990s NBA broadcast team for a special throwback Coast 2 Coast Tuesday on March 3. Bob Costas, Doug Collins, Mike Fratello, Jim Gray, Hannah Storm, Isiah Thomas, and P.J. Carlesimo will reunite to call Spurs–76ers on NBC and Peacock, with a studio show preceding the game. The broadcast will feature classic mid-’90s-era graphics and tape elements, blending nostalgia — including “Roundball Rock” — with modern game coverage

Scream 7 opened strong with a franchise-best $7.8 millin in previews, a promising start for the Paramount film as it currently tracks toward a projected $40–$45 million opening weekend, which would mark the franchise’s best launch to date. Despite a weak 35% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, the audience score sits at 77%, suggesting strong genre momentum.

New York Yankees president Randy Levine and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis have reportedly been tapped by President Trump as vice chairs for a new commission tasked with exploring college sports reform. The group, which includes figures such as Adam Silver, Nick Saban, Jonathan Kraft, Condoleezza Rice, and others, will examine potential NCAA antitrust exemptions, NIL rules, athletes’ employment status, collective bargaining, and possible revisions to the Sports Broadcasting Act. Dubbed the Saving College Sports Roundtable, the panel could hold its first meeting as soon as next week.

Ahead of the World Baseball Classic, Seiko has unveiled two limited-edition Prospex watches honoring Shohei Ohtani’s MVP awards and back-to-back World Series titles. Based on the brand’s 1965 Diver’s Heritage model, the timepieces feature black-and-gold detailing, Ohtani’s No. 17 engraved on the crown, and his signature on the clasp. Limited to 1,700 pieces each, the watches launch on April 24 in Japan exclusively through Seiko and select dealers.

Google has introduced Nano Banana 2, a new image model combining the advanced intelligence of its Pro version with Gemini Flash-level speed. Building on its predecessors, Google claims the model delivers improved world knowledge, real-time web grounding, precise text rendering, and enhanced translation capabilities, making advanced creative tools and studio-quality image generation more widely accessible.

The Miami Dolphins reportedly ranked first in the NFLPA’s annual team report cards for the third straight year, followed by the Minnesota Vikings and Washington Commanders. The Pittsburgh Steelers finished last for the first time, while the Cardinals and Browns ranked 31st and 30th, respectively. However, the NFLPA is not publishing the results this year after an arbitrator ruled the survey violated the CBA amid a league grievance.

State Farm is issuing a record $5 billion dividend to auto insurance customers — the largest payout in its 103-year history — driven by stronger-than-expected underwriting performance. Policyholders will receive an average refund of about $100, with additional savings from roughly 10% premium reductions across 40 states totaling $4.6 billion. The move comes as auto insurance costs remain elevated despite easing repair costs and fewer accidents.

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