AI
AI
AI
China’s AI boom accelerates, the rise of physical AI, and Meta’s enterprise play
It was another light week for new as 2026 kicks off — let’s wish for a Happy New Year! — but once again there was plenty of artificial intelligence news, especially on the dealmaking front.
China’s AI boom only seems to be accelerating, not least of which a string of initial public offerings of stock this week, or coming soon, from Moonshot AI, Z.ai, MiniMax, Biren and Baidu’s AI chip subsidiary Kunlunxin.
After a lot of missteps, Meta Platforms is looking to re-establish its beachhead in AI with the acquisition of AI agent startup Manus — perhaps its play to participate in enterprise AI, which after all is likely where the real money is.
Check out Kyt Dotson’s feature on physical AI, which looks to power not only robots but a large array of smart machines in coming years. It’s the next step beyond large language modles.
And a year-end farewell to former IBM CEO Lou Gerstner, one reason the company is still around.
Here’s the rest of the enterprise and emerging tech news this week from SiliconANGLE and beyond:
AI and data: China’s AI IPO boom
Analysis and food for thought
Beyond automation: Physical AI ushers in a new era of smart machines
They said it in 2025: From one reporter’s notebook, memorable quotes from SiliconANGLE’s coverage
Case study: LexisNexis champions AI’s move into the courtroom
Google’s Gemini 3.0 Pro helps solve longstanding mystery in the Nuremberg Chronicle
Money matters
Meta Platforms buys Manus to bolster its agentic AI skillset
SoftBank reportedly finalizes OpenAI investment with $22.5B cash infusion
Report: Nvidia could acquire LLM startup AI21 Labs for $3B
Chinese startup Z.ai seeks $560M raise in Hong Kong IPO listing
MiniMax moves toward Hong Kong IPO as Chinese AI firms rush to go public
Report: Brookfield Asset Management to launch cloud business focused on lower-cost AI infrastructure
Octopus Energy spins out AI-native utility software subsidiary Kraken
New models and services
Report: OpenAI plans to launch new audio model in the first quarter
DeepSeek develops mHC AI architecture to boost model performance
Policy
OpenAI hiring senior preparedness lead as AI safety scrutiny grows
China outlines rules to regulate humanlike AI companion apps
Around the enterprise: End-of-year dealmaking
Money matters
SMIC buys out subsidiary for $5.8B as China’s chipmaking progress accelerates
SoftBank to acquire AI infrastructure investor DigitalBridge for $4B
Nvidia finalizes $5B purchase of Intel shares
Chinese graphics card maker Biren raises $717M in IPO
Verisk scraps $2.35B acquisition of roofing software maker AccuLynx
Banking software startup Knight Fintech raises $23.6M round led by Accel
New products and services
Elon Musk reveals plan to expand xAI’s ‘Colossus’ data center to 2 gigawatts
Report: Nvidia asks TSMC to expand H200 production amid strong demand in China
Google planning update that will allow users to change their embarrassing old email addresses
Policy
Report: Samsung, SK Hynix receive US approval to ship American chipmaking gear to China
China targets semiconductor self-sufficiency with ‘50% rule’ imposed on local chipmakers
Cyber beat
Attack & response
Millions of Wired user records leaked in claimed Condé Nast breach
European Space Agency investigates breach after hacker claims 200GB data theft
US and Australian agencies warn MongoBleed vulnerability in MongoDB is under active exploitation
New Shai Hulud 3.0 malware variant raises fresh supply chain security concerns
Former US cybersecurity professionals plead guilty to BlackCat/ALPHV attacks
Elsewhere in tech
Uber reportedly seeking to acquire parking startup SpotHero
Mirae Asset announces plans to acquire Korean crypto exchange Korbit
China pushes robot access mainstream with Qingtianzhu’s 1 RMB ‘flash rental’ service
Reuters’ investigation claims Meta tried to deceive regulators over fake ads
Comings and goings
Former IBM CEO and savior Louis Gerstner dies at age 83
What’s next
Jan. 6-9: CES consumer electronics show, Las Vegas: SiliconANGLE’s Mark Albertson will be onsite reporting the highlights.
Image: SiliconANGLE/Reve
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