📁 Market

WhatsApp is allowing AI providers to continue offering their chatbots to users in Brazil, days after the country's competition agency ordered the company to suspend its new policy that bars third-party, general-purpose chatbots from the app.

Cloudflare is threatening to leave Italy after being fined $16 million by AGCOM for allegedly failing to comply with anti-piracy regulations. The company is considering ceasing operations in Italy following the sanction, deeming the requirements excessive and disproportionate.

A new report maps South Korea's artificial intelligence sector, identifying key players, top investors, and funding trends. The report provides a comprehensive overview of the rapidly expanding Korean AI ecosystem, useful for understanding market dynamics and investment opportunities.

Hong Kong and Shenzhen are establishing a white list for data transfers as part of an overarching effort to forge closer cross-border ties. Policymakers and business leaders see this initiative as essential to unlocking opportunities in artificial intelligence and fintech in the region, facilitating the exchange of sensitive data.

The Philippines will allow Chinese nationals to enter the country without a visa for up to two weeks. The visa-waiver program, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila, aims to boost tourism and business. The program applies only to those entering via Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Metro Manila and Mactan-Cebu International Airport in Cebu.

London-based Cyb3r Operations has raised £4 million in a round led by Octopus Ventures. The goal is to provide organizations with continuous visibility into third-party cyber risks, addressing vulnerabilities in supply chains and digital ecosystems. The funding will support platform expansion and further development of threat intelligence capabilities.

Munich-based startup Lytra has completed its pre-seed financing round, led by High-Tech Gründerfonds, to expand its AI-driven platform for manufacturing service automation. Lytra's solution aims to optimize processes such as spare parts ordering, technician scheduling, and technical support, with the goal of transforming after-sales service into a scalable revenue driver for manufacturing companies.

The Novo Nordisk Foundation has allocated up to €736 million to the BioInnovation Institute (BII) in Copenhagen. The aim is to expand BII's activities into new strategic areas and support more startups, strengthening innovation in Denmark and Europe in the life science and deep tech sectors. The funding will support projects with up to €3 million and startups with up to €1.8 million.

Ukrainian-born edtech startup Headway Inc has raised Series A extension funding from Endeavor Catalyst. The investment exceeds Endeavor Catalyst's typical allocation, marking a significant moment for the Ukrainian ecosystem and expanding the global network of investors supporting Ukrainian scale-ups. Headway Inc has over 160 million users globally and focuses on personalized learning for adults.

Belgian cybersecurity startup Aikido Security has reached a valuation of $1 billion, becoming a European "unicorn". The company closed a $60 million Series B funding round, led by DST Global, with participation from PSG Equity, Notion Capital, and Singular. Founded in 2022, Aikido Security has reached this milestone in just three years, a record in the cybersecurity sector in Europe. The new capital will be used to accelerate the growth and innovation of the platform.

Forrester principal analyst JP Gownder remains unconvinced that AI will revolutionize productivity. Gownder says jobs eaten by bots don't come back, raising questions about the real impact of AI on the economy.

Dell has filed a claim against VMware in the software licensing dispute brought by supermarket giant Tesco. Dell expects VMware to fork over at least £10 million under certain circumstances related to the case outcome.

Microsoft's From Software Assurance (SA) program is the subject of a legal dispute with ValueLicensing over the resale of software licenses. The case raises copyright issues and continues to generate debate in the industry. Microsoft has appealed against a previous judgment.

The AI boom is driving an unprecedented wave of data center construction. In the United States, the construction of these infrastructures is clashing with a critical shortage of skilled tradespeople such as plumbers and electricians, who are essential to build the new installations.

Mira Murati's startup, Thinking Machines Lab, is losing two key figures. According to an OpenAI executive, the shift had been in the works for several weeks. This personnel change may signal a shift in strategy or priorities for both companies in the competitive landscape of artificial intelligence.

Emversity has raised $30 million in a new funding round. The Indian company aims to scale its job-ready training programs in India, focusing on skills that artificial intelligence cannot yet replace. This investment doubles its valuation.

OpenAI has partnered with Cerebras in a deal securing $10 billion in compute resources. The goal is to accelerate the response times of OpenAI's AI models, especially for complex tasks requiring longer processing. The collaboration aims to improve the efficiency and speed of deliveries.

Skild AI, a company specializing in general-purpose robotics software, has reached a valuation of $14 billion. The $1.4 billion funding round was led by SoftBank, highlighting the growing interest in advanced solutions in the field of robotics and automation.

Depthfirst, an AI-powered cybersecurity firm, has announced a $40 million Series A funding round. The company will use the funds to further develop its AI-native platform, designed to help companies fight cyber threats more effectively.

VoiceRun, a startup that creates voice agents, raised $5.5 million in a round led by FlyBridge. This investment marks a significant step forward for the company in the growing market of conversational artificial intelligence.