📁 Market

Upscale AI has raised $200 million in Series A funding to challenge Nvidia's dominance in the market for switches for rack-scale AI systems. The company plans to use the funds to develop its own SkyHammer silicio-based UALink switches, entering into competition with Cisco and AMD.

AI leaders gathered in Davos for the World Economic Forum, sharing their predictions on AI's impact on jobs. While some fear job losses, others emphasize the growing need for specialized technical skills to support the expanding AI infrastructure, such as building and maintaining data centers.

The open-source project SGLang, originating from Ion Stoica’s UC Berkeley lab, is spinning out as RadixArk. The move, backed by funding from Accel, values the new entity at $400 million, amid rapid growth in the inference market.

A Deloitte study reveals that, for most companies, adopting AI tools hasn't helped the bottom line at all. Despite this, researchers continue to praise the technology's potential, suggesting that the benefits may manifest in the future with a broader transformation of business models.

Donald Trump promised to expedite permits for nuclear-powered data centers. Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, presented his vision of AI at Davos.

A new study by Vanguard forecasts that artificial intelligence (AI) will significantly impact productivity, comparable to the personal computer. AI will augment human capabilities rather than completely replace them, leading to a transformation of work and economic growth. Service sectors, such as healthcare and education, will see the greatest benefits from AI-driven automation.

OpenAI aims to reassure investors ahead of its potential initial public offering (IPO), demonstrating a clear correlation between computing power and revenue growth. The company continues to invest heavily in infrastructure, with expenditure currently outweighing income, particularly for the construction of a 10GW infrastructure.

Zanskar has raised $115 million to find about a dozen geothermal resources throughout the U.S. West. The goal is to power the grid with clean energy, exploiting previously unexplored potential. The initiative is expected to significantly contribute to the energy transition.

Preply, a Ukrainian-founded language learning marketplace, has raised $150 million in Series D funding led by WestCap, valuing the company at $1.2 billion. Preply connects over 100,000 tutors with learners in 180 countries, offering one-on-one lessons in more than 90 languages. The new capital will be used to advance AI capabilities and expand the engineering team.

In 2025, consumer spending on mobile applications surpassed that of mobile games. The adoption of AI-powered apps was the primary driver of this growth, marking a significant shift in digital spending habits.

Language learning marketplace Preply is now valued at $1.2 billion after raising $150 million. This milestone marks a new chapter for the 14-year-old company and embodies the resilience of the Ukrainian tech sector, where Preply has its roots.

Silicio Valley’s battle against AI regulation is already shaping the next US election cycle. Pro-AI Super PACs are preparing to invest heavily in the midterm elections.

OpenAI has set 2026 as the key year for the widespread adoption of truly usable artificial intelligence solutions. The company is also looking at entering the hardware market and diversifying its revenue streams, in a context of increasing competition and demand for increasingly advanced computational resources to support the development of its models.

Citi has undertaken an internal initiative to integrate artificial intelligence into the daily work of its employees. Approximately 4,000 people, from various business sectors, have been trained to use approved AI tools. The goal is to improve efficiency and distribute AI knowledge throughout the organization, reducing reliance on specialist teams and promoting responsible use of technology.

Berlin-based climate fintech Cloover has secured over $1.2 billion in funding to accelerate the rollout of its software and financing platform across Europe. The financing package includes Series A equity and a substantial debt facility. The company aims to become the “Shopify of Energy”.

Venture capital firm Sequoia Capital is reportedly considering an investment in Anthropic, an artificial intelligence company. This move could signal a shift in the fund's investment strategy, with a greater focus on emerging technologies in the AI field. Anthropic is known for developing advanced language models and innovative solutions in the sector.

Unimicron and Nan Ya anticipate increased profits for December 2025, driven by strong demand for PCBs (Printed Circuit Boards) fueled by the artificial intelligence sector. This increase underscores the crucial role of PCB manufacturers in the rapidly expanding AI ecosystem.

Fortune Electric is experiencing tailwinds from lower US tariffs and rising demand for AI data centers. These combined factors create a favorable environment for the company, improving growth and profitability prospects in the rapidly expanding AI sector.

Aerospace company SWISSto12 has secured €73 million in financial support from ESA to accelerate the development of the HummingSat platform. The funding will be used to industrialize HummingSat, increase manufacturing capacity, and promote new product innovations. This initiative addresses the increasing global demand for cost-effective, agile, and sovereign communications in both government and commercial sectors. The first launch is scheduled for 2027.

Berlin-based Cloover has secured $1.2 billion in debt and equity funding to develop an AI-powered operating system aimed at accelerating the energy transition. The funds will support expansion into new European markets and further development of its platform with AI-driven automation and financing capabilities, with the ambition of connecting manufacturers, installers, and investors, promoting distributed energy projects.