The Rundown Meta to Bring Ads to WhatsApp, OpenAI Wins $200M U.S. Defense Contract
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Jun 17, 2025 Geopolitical tensions are shaking up market confidence, especially with the ongoing Israel-Iran situation. Meta’s bold move to introduce ads on WhatsApp raises eyebrows over revenue and privacy issues after a decade of ad-free messaging. Meanwhile, OpenAI lands a $200M contract with the U.S. Defense Department amidst shifts in AI partnerships and corporate dynamics. Plus, insights into stock market trends reveal a home builder's surprising gains and a political figure's new venture into the smartphone arena.
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Market Near Highs Despite Uncertainty
- Despite geopolitical and trade uncertainties, markets remain near all-time highs with potential to rise by early July if peace improves.
- Investor caution persists due to missile strikes and expiring trade tariff pauses, causing morning futures to dip.
Meta Introduces Ads on WhatsApp
- Meta is now placing ads on WhatsApp's updates tab but keeping personal chats ad-free to respect privacy.
- Despite ads, WhatsApp's huge global user base and encrypted messages make the app resilient to user loss from ad introduction.
OpenAI's Defense Contract and Tensions
- OpenAI won a $200 million U.S. Defense contract to develop AI for national security, including battlefield tech.
- Their relationship with Microsoft is tense, as OpenAI seeks more independence and may challenge Microsoft legally.