From social media to online shopping, modern life runs on connectivity. Behind that seamless experience sits a massive, often invisible network of infrastructure, fiber optic cables, data centers, cellular towers, built and maintained by the world’s telecommunications providers. To keep pace with growing demand and quick shifts in technology, telecom companies pour billions into upgrading their networks each year. These investments form the backbone of the digital economy, enabling everything from mobile banking to video calls. A recent dataset from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) breaks down which countries are spending the most on telecommunications. The numbers reflect capital expenditures by providers of mobile and broadband services, including everything from infrastructure builds to network maintenance. U.S. and China Dominate the Field The United States tops the global rankings with over $107 billion in telecom investment, based on the latest figures from 2022. That level of spending reflects the scale of the American telecom market, home to giants like Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T, all of which operate across vast geographies and serve millions of customers. China follows with an estimated $59.1 billion in spending in 2023. Its telecom sector remains largely state-controlled, with China Mobile, serving more than a billion subscribers, leading the charge. Massive government-backed infrastructure projects and aggressive 5G rollout plans have kept investment high. Asia’s Other Big Spenders Japan and India round out the top four. Japan reported $23.3 billion in telecom investment, while India, despite offering some of the world’s cheapest mobile data rates, saw expenditures of $16.1 billion. Both countries have seen surging demand for mobile connectivity and digital services in recent years. Europe’s Share of the Pie Seven of the top 20 investing countries are in Europe, where widespread adoption of 5G and dense urban infrastructure continue to drive capital spending. Germany leads the continent with $16.2 billion invested, followed closely by France at $14.9 billion and the UK at $12.3 billion. Major European players like Deutsche Telekom and Orange have expanded aggressively within and beyond the continent. Other notable entries in the top 20 include Canada ($9.88B), Iran ($9.16B), and Australia ($6.47B), highlighting a wide global distribution of telecom spending. Why It Matters Telecom investment goes far beyond faster downloads and smoother video calls, serving as the foundation for critical services in healthcare, education, logistics, and finance. Countries that invest heavily in this sector position themselves to compete globally in areas such as cloud computing, AI integration, and digital commerce. While spending amounts vary widely, ranging from over $100 billion in the U.S. to just a few thousand dollars in smaller or low-income nations, the global telecom landscape continues to evolve. As more of the world moves online, the countries leading these investments will likely set the pace for future innovations in connectivity and digital infrastructure. Economy Value Year United States $107B 2022 China $59.1B 2023 Japan $23.3B 2022 Germany $16.2B 2023 India $16.1B 2022 France $14.9B 2023 United Kingdom $12.3B 2023 Canada $9.88B 2023 Iran (Islamic Republic of) $9.16B 2023 Italy $7.05B 2023 Australia $6.47B 2023 Korea (Rep. of) $5.87B 2023 Spain $5.22B 2023 Brazil $5.11B 2023 Indonesia $5.04B 2018 Russian Federation $4.44B 2023 Netherlands $4.33B 2023 Saudi Arabia $4.09B 2023 Mexico $3.07B 2023 Switzerland $3.04B 2023 Belgium $2.72B 2023 Poland $2.64B 2023 Türkiye $2.21B 2023 Thailand $2.06B 2014 Argentina $1.89B 2018 Taiwan, Province of China $1.88B 2023 Nigeria $1.84B 2022 South Africa $1.84B 2023 Colombia $1.74B 2009 Norway $1.69B 2022 Philippines $1.68B 2014 Egypt $1.55B 2023 Denmark $1.53B 2023 United Arab Emirates $1.43B 2023 Chile $1.38B 2023 Sweden $1.27B 2023 Malaysia $1.14B 2023 Israel $1.11B 2022 Greece $1.09B 2023 Ireland $1.09B 2023 Peru $1.04B 2023 New Zealand $991M 2023 Portugal $916M 2023 Czech Republic $878M 2023 Viet Nam $871M 2023 Austria $854M 2023 Serbia $844M 2023 Hong Kong, China $835M 2022 Morocco $825M 2023 Finland $770M 2023 Algeria $755M 2023 Pakistan $724M 2023 Singapore $660M 2022 Oman $624M 2023 Uzbekistan $567M 2023 Romania $562M 2023 Kenya $551M 2023 Hungary $523M 2022 Croatia $521M 2023 Ukraine $517M 2023 Ethiopia $497M 2022 Sudan $480M 2014 Dem. Rep. of the Congo $458M 2023 Jordan $431M 2023 Angola $414M 2023 Côte d'Ivoire $403M 2023 Lebanon $390M 2015 Slovakia $378M 2023 Bulgaria $372M 2023 Qatar $337M 2023 Slovenia $334M 2023 Ecuador $312M 2013 Panama $312M 2023 Bangladesh $295M 2021 Dominican Rep. $295M 2023 Myanmar $290M 2021 Iraq $278M 2017 Bolivia (Plurinational State of) $271M 2021 Ghana $270M 2021 Cuba $266M 2018 Sri Lanka $254M 2023 Costa Rica $249M 2023 Yemen $243M 2009 Belarus $243M 2023 Honduras $241M 2023 Senegal $235M 2023 Benin $231M 2023 Azerbaijan $230M 2023 Cambodia $225M 2023 Cameroon $224M 2023 El Salvador $216M 2016 Uruguay $216M 2016 Bahrain $213M 2023 Uganda $205M 2011 Tunisia $198M 2023 Kuwait $195M 2023 Zambia $185M 2023 Cyprus $182M 2022 Mauritius $179M 2012 Mali $170M 2021 Kazakhstan $165M 2022 Zimbabwe $160M 2018 Tanzania $160M 2021 Paraguay $148M 2023 Madagascar $145M 2023 Bosnia and Herzegovina $131M 2023 Estonia $128M 2023 Luxembourg $126M 2022 French Polynesia $122M 2018 Lithuania $121M 2023 Jamaica $118M 2013 Latvia $109M 2023 Congo (Rep. of the) $108M 2011 Mauritania $107M 2023 Mongolia $97.5M 2023 Togo $96.1M 2023 Georgia $94.4M 2023 Mozambique $94.2M 2022 Armenia $93.9M 2023 Burkina Faso $91.1M 2020 Iceland $89.7M 2023 Montenegro $82.5M 2023 Moldova $80.6M 2023 Kyrgyzstan $78.4M 2023 Trinidad and Tobago $76.4M 2023 Chad $75.7M 2022 Niger $74.4M 2022 Bahamas $74.2M 2023 Botswana $71M 2022 Brunei Darussalam $69.1M 2023 Papua New Guinea $65.4M 2000 North Macedonia $63.5M 2023 Malta $57.6M 2012 Rwanda $56.4M 2023 Syrian Arab Republic $55.2M 2013 Namibia $54.3M 2023 Guinea $53.7M 2018 Albania $45.6M 2023 Eritrea $43.1M 2013 Afghanistan $40.3M 2022 Macao, China $39.7M 2023 New Caledonia $37.6M 2000 Bhutan $37.3M 2023 Fiji $35.6M 2020 Malawi $33.9M 2022 South Sudan $31.1M 2019 Barbados $30.9M 2018 Seychelles $29.3M 2023 Djibouti $28.8M 2023 Nepal (Republic of) $25.2M 2003 Aruba $24.6M 2008 Liechtenstein $21.4M 2023 Cayman Islands $21.2M 2017 Jersey $18.5M 2000 Gabon $18.2M 2005 Saint Lucia $18.2M 2018 State of Palestine $17.8M 2018 Cabo Verde $16.6M 2023 Maldives $14.8M 2004 Guyana $14.6M 2017 Belize $14M 2012 Timor-Leste $13.9M 2009 Eswatini $13.8M 2022 Monaco $13.1M 2019 British Virgin Islands $12.1M 2018 Central African Rep. $11M 2019 Bermuda $10.7M 2004 Lesotho $7.59M 2023 Guernsey $7.37M 2000 Grenada $7.28M 2014 Turkmenistan $7.27M 2002 Tajikistan $6.53M 2003 Dominica $5.83M 2017 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines $5.52M 2020 Saint Kitts and Nevis $5.24M 2017 Samoa $4.96M 2017 Tonga $4.47M 2018 Suriname $4.09M 2023 Nicaragua $3.45M 2023 Sao Tome and Principe $3.05M 2023 San Marino $2.74M 2007 Gambia $2.64M 2018 Burundi $2.53M 2023 Comoros $1.85M 2023 Micronesia $1.74M 2006 Kiribati $1.21M 2023 Palau $1.12M 2015 Falkland (Malvinas) Is. $909K 2002 Liberia $384K 2013 St. Helena $162K 2014 Venezuela $62.5K 2018 Guinea-Bissau $29.6K 2023 Lao P.D.R. $15.7K 2017 Solomon Islands $9.50 2016 Vanuatu $0.00 2018 Note: This post was edited/created using GenAI tools. 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Starlink, Elon Musk’s satellite internet venture, remains in regulatory limbo in Pakistan as authorities finalize a new set of rules for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite communications. The much-anticipated Pakistan Satellite Communication Rules and Regulations are expected to be issued by the end of July 2025, which will determine whether Starlink can secure the necessary approvals to operate in the country. Starlink first registered its company with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) on February 24, 2022. Since then, the matter of its No Objection Certificate (NOC) has remained pending with the Pakistan Space Regulatory Activities Board (PSARB) -- the authority overseeing satellite licensing in the country. New regulations in the works In a bid to formalize satellite internet operations, the PSARB hired an international consultant who recommended the creation of Pakistan-specific satellite rules for LEO services. These rules, currently under development by the Ministry of IT and Telecom and PSARB in consultation with stakeholders, are expected to lay the groundwork for granting licenses to operators like Starlink. According to PSARB officials contacted by Nukta , the Satellite Communication Rules and Regulations are being shaped based on the consultant’s recommendations and existing satellite infrastructure. The officials said that once finalized, operators such as Starlink would be able to apply for registration and licensing under the new framework. Sources told Nukta that work on these rules is in full swing. A seminar was held recently on the subject, attended by IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja, who assured stakeholders of a transparent and consultative process. Officials expressed hope that the new regulations will be in place by the end of July 2025. Technical requirements and licensing path A senior official involved in satellite communication said Starlink would require multiple licenses and must submit a comprehensive technical plan. With nearly 40 LEO systems already operating in Pakistan’s satellite space, authorities want to ensure that any new entrant does not interfere with existing infrastructure. “These regulations will ensure that Starlink’s system does not pose any risk to Pakistan’s existing satellite network,” the official told Nukta . He added that the upcoming framework was critical to protecting national satellite assets. Starlink was earlier granted temporary registration on March 21, 2025, but it expired in June 2025. The company is now waiting on the formal regulations to determine whether it can meet all technical and legal requirements. Once the rules are finalized, the matter will go through a final review round at PSARB. If approved, the file will be sent to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), which will issue Starlink’s operating license within 3 to 4 days, officials confirmed. Despite several attempts, Starlink’s representative in Pakistan did not respond to Nukta ’s queries on the matter. Regional comparison and rising competition While Pakistan’s approval remains pending, Starlink has already launched services in several South Asian countries. India has issued a license and initiated network rollout, Bangladesh granted approval last month, and Sri Lanka began service earlier this month. Meanwhile, competition is also heating up within Pakistan. Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology (SSST) -- a Chinese satellite company -- has initiated the registration process in the country. However, PSARB has yet to receive its case for review.
Bilal Fibres Limited, a Lahore-based textile manufacturer, has shared an important update regarding its future direction. While its operations have remained suspended through the quarter ending […] The post Pakistan’s Textile Firm Shift to Tech and EV Sectors appeared first on Digital Pakistan .
India is rolling out a $234 million drone incentive program to ramp up local production of civil and military drones, curb reliance on imports, and counter Pakistan’s expanding drone efforts supported by China and Turkiye, according to a Reuters report citing three sources. The new India drone incentive program, set to run for three years, […] The post India Drone Incentive Program Plans to Rival Pakistan’s Drone Drive appeared first on TechJuice .
The Instagram account of Crumble Pakistan, a major local cookie brand known for its vibrant online personality, is currently down after a series of unexpected copyright complaints. The Crumble Pakistan Instagram takedown has disrupted the brand’s key digital channel, causing confusion among customers and highlighting how fragile social media presence can be when automated systems […] The post Instagram Account of Major Pakistani Cookie Brand Down appeared first on TechJuice .
Islamabad and Washington have finalized a mutual understanding that forms the core of a Pakistan US tariff agreement, avoiding the return of a steep 29 percent duty on Pakistani exports, mainly textiles and agricultural products. The development secures key market access for Pakistan just ahead of a critical deadline. According to reports, the Pakistan US […] The post Pakistan US Tariff Agreement Sees Massive Breakthrough on Exports appeared first on TechJuice .
A recent account by Ali Khan Swati, a participant on Shark Tank Pakistan, has shed light on the stark gap between on-air applause and real-world results. Highlighting the struggles within the Shark Tank Pakistan startup funding ecosystem, Swati shared that of the 36 startups offered deals on stage, only 4 ultimately secured investment after due […] The post Shark Tank Pakistan Funding Faces Reality Check as Only 4 of 36 Deals Materialize appeared first on TechJuice .
ISLAMABAD: The Competition Appellate Tribunal (CAT) has affirmed the Competition Commission of Pakistan’s (CCP) findings in the PREMA misleading marketing case, ruling that M/s At-Tahur (Pvt.) Limited engaged in deceptive practices. However, the tribunal reduced the original penalty imposed by the CCP. The PREMA misleading marketing case began after the Pakistan Dairy Association (PDA) lodged […] The post CAT Cuts Fine to Rs5 Million in PREMA Misleading Marketing Case appeared first on TechJuice .
The headlines were hysterical. “Microsoft pulls out of Pakistan after 25 years,” screamed one site. Others piled on, each trying to outdo the other with breathless prose, framing it as yet another corporate giant abandoning Pakistan. The subtext was obvious: this was a catastrophe. But here’s the kicker: Microsoft never really arrived in Pakistan in the first place. You’d think a company like Microsoft, with a market cap flirting with $3 trillion and revenues bigger than Pakistan’s GDP, would have some sort of physical footprint. But there was nothing. Microsoft’s presence in Pakistan was more phantom than physical — a liaison office, a few sales reps and trainers orbiting a market whose licensing and support were managed from abroad. Little was invested locally. “It’s a misrepresentation to say Microsoft is leaving Pakistan,” said Muhammad Zohaib Khan, former chairman of the Pakistan Software Houses Association. “The truth is, they were never registered here as a tax-paying entity.” According to Khan, the company’s Pakistani employees were not even on a local payroll. Most were hired as remote workers, and any taxes they paid were handled individually. As for investments, he said they amounted to little more than sales pushes and training sessions meant to drive adoption of Microsoft products — not to build any lasting infrastructure. Khan noted that while Microsoft has pulled in millions of dollars from Pakistan over the past two decades, there is little sign of that money flowing back into the local economy. “They had no delivery center, no engineering hub, not even a proper support team in the country. Enterprise customers requesting help were simply referred to third-party local partners,” he said. Anyone curious about the scale of remittances, he added, could check State Bank of Pakistan's (SBP) records to see how much Microsoft product was imported annually — and how much revenue left the country. And Khan is not alone. Over the years , Microsoft has been accused of draining public coffers in multiple countries through aggressive tax avoidance. A 2022 report by the Center for Corporate Tax Accountability and Research found the company doing the same in Britain, Australia and New Zealand — all places where it enjoys lucrative government contracts. The tactic was simple: shift profits to subsidiaries in Bermuda and other tax havens. In 2022, the Center for International Corporate Tax Accountability and Research (CICTAR) reported that Microsoft Global Finance, an Irish subsidiary with Bermuda tax residency, held more than $100 billion in investments and earned $2.4 billion in profit in 2020. Tax paid: zero. That same year in Singapore, Microsoft Holdings collected $22.4 billion in dividends. Its tax bill? A grand total of $15. You read that right. Fifteen dollars. When the report’s authors reached out to Microsoft, this was the company’s defense: “We respect local laws and regulations everywhere we operate.” Translation: If you didn’t close the tax loophole, that’s your problem. Even ActionAid International, a Johannesburg-based NGO, identified a $2.8 billion tax gap from three Big Tech companies, including Microsoft . The study singled out India, Indonesia, Brazil, Nigeria and Bangladesh as markets with the largest shortfalls. The total tax gap across 20 countries? $2.8 billion — enough to pay 729,010 nurses, 770,649 midwives, or 879,899 primary school teachers. Back home, in 2023, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) hit Microsoft with a notice : it owes $28.9 billion in additional taxes, plus penalties and interest, for the years 2004 to 2013. And the IRS isn’t the only U.S. tax authority Microsoft is sparring with. In 2025, the company sued the city of San Francisco for a $14 million refund, arguing the city improperly taxed foreign income and caused double taxation. San Francisco’s response: a hard no. For Microsoft, these disputes are just part of a bigger story. The company has been quietly reshaping its global footprint, cutting costs, and repositioning for its next act. According to Habibullah Khan, CEO of design studio Penumbra, Microsoft’s so-called exit from Pakistan fits neatly into this global pattern. It has been slashing tens of thousands of jobs worldwide as it pivots to AI-driven products. So what does this recalibration mean for Microsoft’s profits in Pakistan? Not much. As Pakistan’s economy stabilizes, local government agencies and private firms will keep buying Microsoft products, Habibullah noted. Only now, the sales will flow through cloud services delivered by partners instead of a directly staffed office. For Microsoft, the revenue from Pakistan doesn’t stop. It just flows in remotely, adding nothing in return to the country’s economy.
QUETTA: Balochistan’s Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti said on Friday that his government plans to use artificial intelligence to tackle the “major challenge” of maintaining roads, especially in remote areas, as connectivity is crucial for development and resolving local issues of the people. Chairing a meeting of the Communications and Works Department, the chief minister stressed an urgent need to move beyond traditional methods and adopt smart, digital solutions to improve connectivity for the public. “By leveraging modern technology, we can ensure transparent and efficient monitoring of development projects,” CM Bugti said. “The poor condition of roads causes severe hardships for the public, and it is therefore a top priority of the government to ensure the proper use of development funds and the sustainability of road infrastructure.” During the meeting, officials briefed Bugti on the structure and functionality proposed AI-based system. They explained the system would use AI to assess road conditions and implement digital monitoring across remote regions, helping to facilitate timely repairs and ensure quality standards are met. CM Bugti said that the effective use of technology can help prevent the waste of financial resources. “Our goal is to ensure that every project aligns with public needs, meets quality standards, and is sustainable,” he asserted. “There will be no compromise on the durability, quality, or structure of road works.” The CM directed the relevant departments to speed up consultations and submit recommendations to make the proposed AI system practical. Published in Dawn, July 5th, 2025
Planning minister calls for cross-sector collaboration and strategic integration of AI in education, health, agriculture, governance, and more The post Ahsan Iqbal launches national AI fund, unveils 10-year roadmap for tech-driven development appeared first on Profit by Pakistan Today .
Mobile signals in Islamabad may be suspended on the 9th and 10th of Muharram due to heightened security concerns. However, signal shutdowns have been confirmed in major procession areas, including G-6 near Markazi Imambargah, G-9’s Jamia Al-Murtaza, and Bari Imam. Large Ashura processions are expected to be held in these locations, and signal jammers will […] The post Will Mobile Signals Be Suspended in Islamabad on 9th and 10th Muharram? appeared first on TechJuice .
ISLAMABAD – Cursor Pakistan Community held its inaugural meetup at the National Incubation Center (NIC) Islamabad today, 4th July. The event brought together academia, software developers, and students enthusiastic about AI-driven coding opportunities. It was organized by Cursor’s local ambassador, Yahya Qureshi, who opened with remarks on building a vibrant developer community in Pakistan. The […] The post Cursor Ai holds First Community Meetup in Pakistan, Looks to Expand Community Footprint appeared first on TechJuice .
From writing emails to answering questions and organizing data, generative AI has quickly become part of daily digital routines. But while these tools make work faster and more convenient, they also come with an unseen cost. Every time someone types a prompt into ChatGPT, energy is used to process the request, and with it comes a carbon footprint that’s easy to overlook. Recent Surfshark research suggests that each ChatGPT query uses about 2 watt-hours of energy. That’s roughly the same power it takes to run a 10-watt LED bulb for 12 minutes or charge a smartphone with a 5-watt adapter for 24 minutes. Put another way, sending one query consumes as much energy as running a 1000-watt microwave for about seven seconds. Heating up a typical lunch takes three minutes, so you’d spend the same energy by making 26 chatbot queries. The impact grows quickly when scaled. If every person in the United States sent just one query, the combined energy use would reach nearly 685 megawatt-hours. That’s enough to power 63 average homes for a full year, based on national residential electricity use. Environmental concerns don’t stop there. Each prompt is estimated to produce 4.32 grams of carbon dioxide. That figure may seem small, but when multiplied by millions of users, the emissions become significant. A single day where every American interacts once with ChatGPT would generate roughly 1,479 metric tons of CO₂, about the same as what 322 gasoline cars emit in a year, or as much carbon as 1,500 people flying roundtrip between London and New York. Also read: Which Tech Companies Make the Most Money per Employee? As global usage continues to grow, the pressure to optimize these models increases. By 2025, the number of generative AI users worldwide is projected to reach nearly 378 million, with 65 million new users added in just one year. That jump marks the fastest growth to date. There’s still no single answer on exactly how much energy a chatbot query requires. Some studies suggest it could be as low as 0.3 watt-hours, particularly for newer, more efficient models. Others report figures closer to 3 watt-hours, especially with older or more complex systems. These differences reflect both advances in AI infrastructure and the challenges in measuring energy use directly, as most estimates rely on modeling, not public data from tech companies. For context, Google Search uses about 0.3 watt-hours per query, making ChatGPT nearly seven times more power-hungry by comparison. The carbon footprint depends on where the electricity comes from. Data centers still draw heavily from fossil fuels in many regions, which explains why a single chatbot query can carry a CO₂ price tag. Depending on local grid intensity, emissions per prompt can vary widely, from under a gram to over nine. Researchers used standardized appliance ratings to create relatable comparisons. For example, they measured a 10-watt light, a 5-watt phone charger, a 100-watt TV, and a 1000-watt microwave, then calculated how long each could run using the same energy as one AI query. They also matched the U.S. population against national energy consumption figures to estimate how many homes could be powered if that same energy were used elsewhere. None of this means people should stop using AI altogether. But as adoption accelerates, so does the need to make these systems cleaner and more efficient. Behind every AI-generated answer, there’s an environmental tab still being calculated. Notes: This post was edited/created using GenAI tools. Image: DIW-Aigen. Read next: Where the Biggest Telecom Investments Are Happening Around the World
A new Google Pixel Watch 4 leak has surfaced, revealing detailed information on the sizes, colors, and band options expected for the upcoming smartwatch. Google is rumored to introduce the Pixel Watch 4 alongside the Pixel 10 series on August 20, and this latest leak offers a clearer picture of what fans can anticipate. According […] The post Google Pixel Watch 4 Leak Reveals Sizes, Colors appeared first on TechJuice .
A major Meta update has introduced a built-in copyright check feature within the Facebook Reels composer, aiming to help creators avoid violations before publishing. This Meta update is also part of a broader strategy that includes the launch of a new AI division, Meta Superintelligence Labs, to drive cutting-edge advancements. The new Meta update directly […] The post Meta Update Adds Copyright Check to Reels appeared first on TechJuice .
Independent publishers across Europe are pushing back. As per Reuters , on June 30, they filed a complaint with the European Commission, accusing Google of cutting off vital web traffic to news sites through its AI-generated summaries. The group argues the practice isn’t just unfair, it’s eroding competition and making it harder for journalism to survive online. What’s driving the dispute is Google’s "AI Overviews", those AI responses that now show up before anything else in search. They're short (and sometimes longer) summaries written by artificial intelligence, designed to answer user queries directly. But publishers say these responses often strip away the need to visit actual websites. And that, they argue, is where the damage begins. The Independent Publishers Alliance, which coordinated the complaint, says the system gives Google an unfair advantage by drawing from publisher content while leaving them little control. Publishers can’t opt out of having their work used in AI training or included in summaries, at least not without vanishing from Google Search altogether. That catch-22, they argue, forces them to choose between visibility and exploitation. Studies tracking search behavior back up some of the claims. One analysis found that when AI Overviews appear, clicks to top-ranked websites drop by more than a third. Another showed that in May 2025, nearly 70 percent of news-related searches ended without any user clicking through to a publisher’s site. A year ago, that figure was 56 percent. Some publishers, especially those in education or local media, report losses as high as 40 percent. The problem isn’t limited to Europe either. Media groups in Brazil have raised similar concerns and asked their regulators to investigate. Google rolled out AI Overviews across more than 100 countries. By mid-2025, it began placing ads within them. Publishers argue this turns their content into free fuel for Google’s ad revenue, while original reporting is buried further down the page. User testing paints a picture of how people actually interact with the summaries. Most don’t scroll past them. Some click to expand the answer, but rarely move beyond it. When users do exit the page, they often land on Reddit or YouTube, not traditional news sites. Regulators in the UK have taken notice. The Competition and Markets Authority confirmed it received a related complaint. The agency is weighing whether Google should be labeled a "strategic market operator", a classification that would give regulators more power to step in. Across the Atlantic, lawsuits are piling up. In the U.S., one edtech firm filed suit, blaming AI Overviews for lost subscriptions and lower traffic. Judges there have already ruled in separate cases that Google held monopolies in both search and advertising. One ruling suggested breaking up parts of the business could be on the table. Google has defended the AI Overviews feature, saying it helps people discover more information and drives billions of clicks to websites every day. A company spokesperson also questioned the accuracy of the traffic studies, calling the data incomplete and the conclusions misleading. The company points out that search traffic naturally fluctuates with seasons, trends, and regular algorithm changes. Still, timing matters. The European Commission is already reviewing Google’s broader compliance with the Digital Markets Act. Part of that investigation is looking at whether AI Overviews violate rules tied to Google's powerful position in the search market. If the Commission finds merit in the complaint, it could impose temporary restrictions while the case is reviewed. The publishers involved say this isn’t just about traffic stats, it’s about survival. As more search results get resolved by AI and fewer people click through to the sources, the financial model behind independent journalism becomes harder to sustain. Google, meanwhile, is moving full speed ahead. CEO Sundar Pichai recently announced the company will spend $75 billion this year on AI infrastructure, up from $20 billion just a few years ago. That includes more AI tools across search, advertising, and other parts of the platform. With so much riding on search visibility, publishers are being pushed to rethink their strategy. Traditional SEO is losing ground. Some outlets are trying to optimize content for both AI and humans, but it’s a moving target. The rules keep shifting. The complaint in Europe echoes a larger shift. The internet that once rewarded links and referrals is starting to favor answers without destinations. For many publishers, that change isn't just inconvenient, it’s existential. Notes: This post was edited/created using GenAI tools. Image: DIW-Aigen. Read next: Which Tech Companies Make the Most Money per Employee?
Not every company needs thousands of employees to pull in billions. Some of the most profitable names in tech keep their teams small, and still manage to earn more per person than almost anyone else. Take Tether, for example. It doesn’t make headlines like Apple or Google, but it’s handling an enormous volume of stablecoin activity behind the scenes. The company generates more than $83 million per employee, which sounds almost unreal until you realize how much of its business runs on software and constant transactions. The size of the staff? Pretty small. The reach? Global. Valve comes next. That’s the company behind Steam, which sells video games online. It doesn’t ship boxes or stock shelves. People buy games, download them, and that’s it. Valve earns about $19 million per person working there, and it doesn’t even have 400 employees. It’s been operating like that for years, quietly. YouTube is bigger in size, but the structure isn’t so different. Most of the videos are made by users. The platform just needs to manage what’s uploaded, sort it, and serve ads. Even with a staff in the thousands, it brings in more than $7 million for each one. NVIDIA is further down the list, but still impressive. It’s selling hardware, specifically chips used in AI and gaming. Even with that manufacturing complexity, the company earns over $3 million per employee. Demand is high enough to make up for the extra weight. Then there are the platforms we all use every day. Instagram makes around $2.5 million per employee. Apple and Meta land close to that too. It’s not just about hardware or social media, it’s the ability to stretch digital infrastructure without needing to double headcount. Alphabet, which owns Google, sits under $2 million per person. Airbnb, Broadcom, and Uber are in the same ballpark. These companies are still efficient, but they rely more on people to handle operations, whether that’s rides, listings, or devices. Further down the list, Microsoft, Etsy, Upwork, and Booking Holdings earn somewhere between $1 million and $1.3 million per worker. Even TikTok, which dominates in usage, brings in less, about $600,000 per person. And Amazon? Around $400,000. That’s the lowest in the group, but also the most labor-intensive business by far. Warehouses, drivers, customer service, it all adds up. The common thread? Companies that run on software, platforms, or automation need fewer people to keep growing. User-generated content, digital marketplaces, cloud tools, those scale without adding bodies. The result is more revenue per employee, sometimes by a huge margin. The fewer people it takes to run the system, the bigger the payoff seems to be. Platform Revenue per Employee ($) Tether $83,000,000 Valve $19,000,000 YouTube $7,600,000 NVIDIA $3,600,000 Instagram $2,500,000 Lyft $2,000,000 Twitch $2,000,000 Apple $2,400,000 Meta $2,200,000 Alphabet $1,900,000 Airbnb $1,500,000 Broadcom $1,400,000 Uber $1,400,000 Upwork $1,300,000 Etsy $1,200,000 Mercari $1,100,000 Microsoft $1,100,000 Instacart $1,000,000 Booking Holdings $1,000,000 eBay $900,000 TikTok $600,000 Amazon $400,000 Note: This list includes only widely recognized platforms deemed safe for general audiences. Platforms with adult-only content or safety concerns were excluded to maintain relevance and appropriateness. Read next: Smartwatch Shipments Slip Again in 2025, but China Keeps Gaining Ground