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Alibaba releases new open-source AI model to power intelligent voice applications
Alibaba Cloud announced today the launch of the release of a new artificial intelligence model in its Qwen family uniquely capable of comprehending text, audio and video while also responding in real-time voice conversations. The company said the model, which is named Qwen2.5-Omni-7B, is small enough that it will fit on devices such as mobile ...
Secure enterprise browser Island raises $250M at nearly $5B valuation
Island Technology Inc., the developer of a secure Chromium-based browser for the enterprise, today announced that it has raised $250 million in a late-stage financing led by Coatue Management, bringing its valuation to $4.8 billion. The startup raised $175 million in its previous funding round in April 2024 at a $3 billion valuation. Including this ...
Google introduces Gemini 2.5 Pro with chain-of-thought reasoning built-in
Google LLC said today it’s updating its flagship Gemini artificial intelligence model family by introducing an experimental Gemini 2.5 Pro version. The company added it is the “most intelligent” yet and will include “thinking” capabilities built-in. All upcoming Gemini 2.5 models will be thinking models, capable of breaking down tasks into multiple steps and reasoning ...
Nexthop AI launches with $110M to build next-gen cloud AI infrastructure
Nexthop AI launched today with $110 million in funding led by Lightspeed Ventures to help the world’s largest cloud companies build the next generation of artificial intelligence infrastructure. The funding combines a seed and Series A round for the startup. Kleiner Perkins, WestBridge Capital, Battery Ventures and Emergent Ventures were also participating investors. Nexthop builds ...
AWS enhances QuickSight’s business intelligence with AI agents
Amazon Web Services Inc. said today it’s expanding the generative artificial intelligence capabilities of its cloud-based business intelligence service QuickSight with agentic AI. Amazon QuickSight is a platform for business users that provides users with machine learning capabilities that can reach into company data and provide spreadsheets, charts and visualizations. It includes a generative AI ...
Instabug launches AI tools to enhance mobile app experience and retention
Instabug Inc., an artificial intelligence-powered mobile app observability and performance platform, today launched new features enabling developers to analyze user experience, targeting user frustration in a bid to increase retention. Launched in 2014, Instabug known for a feature that allows users to shake their phone, or mobile device, to report a bug. It’s a full-featured ...
D-Wave introduces quantum blockchain research that could greatly reduce energy use
D-Wave Quantum Inc. has released a new research paper outlining a novel blockchain architecture that integrates quantum capabilities with traditional blockchain technology to enhance security and increase efficiency. In the paper, “Blockchain with Proof of Quantum Work,” introduced Thursday, D-Wave built and tested a “proof of quantum work” algorithm that uses quantum computation to generate ...
Silicon Data raises $4.7M for AI-driven GPU market insights
Silicon Data, a company providing market intelligence and performance benchmarking for graphics processing units used in artificial intelligence compute, announced Thursday it raised $4.7 million in seed funding co-led by DRW and Jump Trading Group. Woodside AI, Wintermute Ventures, Sancus Ventures and SoGal Ventures also participated in the round. As AI adoption has grown, companies ...
AI-driven commercial contractor platform BuildOps raises $127M at $1B valuation
BuildOps Inc., an artificial intelligence-powered platform that simplifies project management and service for commercial contractors, today announced it has raised $127 million in new funding, raising its valuation to $1 billion. The Series C round was led by Meritech Capital Partners. New investors BOND Capital and Schneider Electric’s SE Ventures also participated, joined by existing ...
Halliday raises $20M to build AI-driven blockchain agents to do away with smart contracts
Artificial intelligence-focused blockchain protocol startup Halliday International Inc. has raised $20 million in early funding to help fund the development of an agentic AI capability that will help developers eliminate the need for writing smart contracts. The company’s Series A funding round, announced Tuesday, was led by Andreessen Horowitz’s a16z crypto venture capital arm, with participation from the ...
