Breaking Tech: Jul 17 (5 stories)

Here is your Daily summary for Technology across the world for Fri 17th July 2026

Oracle is facing challenges in its quest to lead the AI sector, as its aggressive spending strategy risks harming its credit rating. This could hinder its ability to compete effectively in a rapidly evolving market. Meanwhile, travel agency Fora has achieved unicorn status with a $1 billion valuation after securing $60 million in funding. The company aims to integrate AI tools to enhance its services for travel advisers, marking a significant shift in the travel industry.

In a quirky move, OpenAI has ventured into hardware with the launch of a ChatGPT-branded basketball, showcasing its brand's expansion beyond software. Additionally, former DeepMind researcher Andrew Dai has raised $300 million in pre-seed funding, focusing on visual AI as a promising frontier, highlighting the ongoing innovation and investment in the AI landscape.