Tokyo-based Sakana AI closed a ¥20 billion ($135M) Series B round, valuing the startup at $2.65 billion. The company builds generative AI models optimized for Japanese language, culture, and enterprise needs.
Oracle’s bonds are under pressure after reports indicated the company may take on an additional $38 billion in debt to expand its AI and cloud infrastructure, raising concerns among investors.
OpenAI says ChatGPT can now avoid using em dashes when instructed, addressing a long-standing issue that made the punctuation a common marker of AI-generated text.
Spain’s ACS and BlackRock’s Global Infrastructure Partners have created a €2 billion joint venture to develop a 1.7GW data center portfolio as demand for AI and cloud infrastructure accelerates.
Disney plans to introduce AI-driven short-form user-generated content and game-like features on Disney+, aiming to enhance engagement and allow fans to create content using Disney IP.
OpenAI introduces group chat for ChatGPT, letting users collaborate in shared conversations with GPT‑5.1 Auto handling responses, image generation, and more.
Alibaba.com unveiled AI Mode at CoCreate Europe, integrating agentic AI into its platform to help businesses discover suppliers, optimize sourcing, and automate trade processes.
Anthropic is refining its Claude AI chatbot to treat political viewpoints evenly, using system prompts, reinforcement learning, and open-source evaluation tools to reduce bias.
Mozilla is developing AI Window, an opt-in AI browsing feature for Firefox that combines an assistant and chatbot, designed to enhance web navigation while giving users control over AI usage.
Google is integrating its Gemini-powered Deep Research AI into NotebookLM, allowing users to conduct fast or deep research and generate reports with citations, all within their workflow.
Reports that Elon Musk’s AI company xAI raised $15 billion have been disputed by Musk. The funding news highlights the challenges and scrutiny facing his AI ventures, including data center emissions and controversial AI products.
Google is introducing new AI-powered shopping experiences, including conversational search, agentic checkout, and Duplex-based store calls, designed to make online shopping faster, easier, and more natural ahead of the holiday season.
AI startup Bindwell, founded by two teenage entrepreneurs, secured $6 million in seed funding to design new pesticide molecules in-house using proprietary AI models, shifting away from selling tools to major agrochemical firms.
LinkedIn is expanding its AI capabilities with a new natural language–based people search feature, allowing users to find professionals by describing who they’re looking for instead of relying on filters or job titles.
Startup Clad Labs introduces “Chad: The Brainrot IDE,” letting developers mix coding with brainrot activities. The closed-beta product aims to make AI-assisted development more engaging by integrating leisure directly into the IDE.