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Amazon’s AI Bets and Cost-Cutting Measures Pay Off, Boosting Stock by 5%

Shares of Amazon surged over 5% in after-hours trading on Thursday after the company reported stronger-than-expected third-quarter earnings. Amazon announced earnings per share of $1.43, alongside revenue reaching $158.9 billion, surpassing analyst projections of $1.14 per share and $157.2 billion in revenue, according to FactSet.

Key Financial Highlights

  • North American Sales: Amazon’s North American segment recorded a 9% year-over-year sales increase, totalling $95.5 billion.
  • AWS Growth: Amazon Web Services (AWS), the company’s cloud unit, posted $27.5 billion in revenue, marking a 19% rise compared to the same period last year.
  • Stock Movement: Although Amazon’s stock initially fell over 3% on Thursday before earnings were released, it rebounded significantly in after-hours trading. So far, Amazon shares are up almost 24% year-to-date.

Background on Amazon’s Strategy

Amazon’s recent efforts include major cost-cutting moves, guided by CEO Andy Jassy, to streamline operations since 2022. This restructuring has led to over 27,000 layoffs and the closure of initiatives such as Amazon’s telehealth and same-day delivery services. Despite these reductions, Amazon is doubling down on other key areas, like a $52 billion investment in nuclear energy to support data centers in Virginia, Mississippi, and Ohio. The company is also moving forward with **Project Kuiper**, aiming to build a satellite network of 3,236 units to broaden internet access worldwide—a venture projected to involve over $10 billion in launch costs across five years, according to analysts from Wedbush Securities.

Amazon’s Market Reach

July’s Prime Day achieved “record-breaking sales,” while the introduction of Amazon’s AI-powered shopping assistant, **Rufus** was rolled out to U.S. customers last month. Notably, Amazon had slightly missed expectations in the previous quarter and cautioned that intense news cycles could distract customers—a factor cited by CFO Brian Olsavsky during the second-quarter earnings call. Despite these challenges, the company’s annual revenue is expected to remain strong.

Noteworthy Figures

Amazon’s market capitalization has reached $1.96 trillion, making it the fifth-largest company globally, trailing behind Apple, Nvidia, Microsoft, and Google. Meanwhile, Jeff Bezos, who served as Amazon’s CEO until 2021, holds a net worth of $204.1 billion, much of which is tied to Amazon’s stock. Market fluctuations ahead of Amazon’s earnings report momentarily decreased Bezos’ wealth by around $6 billion. Bezos ranks as the second-richest American, after Elon Musk, on the Forbes 400 list.

An Entrepreneurial Revolution: Harnessing AI To Democratize Million-Dollar Ventures

Henrik Werdelin, the startup strategist behind major brands like Barkbox through his former venture Prehype, is now spearheading a groundbreaking approach to entrepreneurship with his New York-based firm Audos. His vision leverages artificial intelligence to scale the startup process from tens of ventures to hundreds of thousands, empowering everyday entrepreneurs to develop million-dollar AI companies without requiring technical expertise.

Democratizing Business Expertise

Audos represents a significant shift in the entrepreneurial landscape. Rather than focusing solely on tech founders aiming for multi-million-dollar funding and billion-dollar exits, Audos is designed to transfer decades of startup know-how to a broader audience. “We are taking all that knowledge and methodology and democratizing it,” Werdelin explained, highlighting a commitment to empowering individuals who might otherwise feel excluded from the high-stakes tech ecosystem.

Leveraging AI For Rapid Validation And Customer Acquisition

Utilizing advanced AI capabilities, Audos guides entrepreneurs through a streamlined process: identifying business challenges, testing market viability, and connecting with niche customers via sophisticated social media algorithms. This approach not only minimizes risk but also accelerates the time it takes for new ventures to secure sustainable customer acquisition, a critical factor in ensuring long-term success.

A Revenue-Share Model With A Distinct Value Proposition

In contrast to traditional accelerators and venture capital, Audos adopts a revenue-sharing model. The firm takes a 15% cut of revenue from the companies it helps launch—rather than equity—while providing founders with up to $25,000 in initial funding, cutting-edge AI business tools, and substantial support in distribution. Werdelin emphasizes, “We’re not taking any equity in these ventures because we believe in the long-term strength of grassroots entrepreneurship, not in high-stakes exits.”

Strong Investment Backing And Bold Future Prospects

Backed by prominent investors such as True Ventures, Offline Venture, and Bungalow Capital, Audos has already seen the launch of several hundred businesses since its beta introduction. Investors express confidence in the model’s potential to scale dramatically, drawing parallels to the early days of Instagram’s meteoric rise with minimal staff yet exponential growth prospects.

Redefining The Landscape Of Entrepreneurship

Werdelin’s ambition extends far beyond individual success stories. With a vision of catalyzing a trillion-dollar economic shift, Audos is set to transform how traditional entrepreneurs employ AI to build and sustain business ventures. In an era marked by economic distractions and career uncertainty, this model of democratized entrepreneurship is not only innovative—it is rapidly becoming essential.

Ultimately, Audos offers a compelling blueprint for the future of business creation—one where accessible AI tools and strategic revenue-sharing can turn everyday ideas into impactful, life-changing enterprises.

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