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07 Jan 2026

Venture funding surges 30% in 2025 as AI investments dominate startup deals and valuations

Global venture funding reached $425 billion in 2025, up 30% from 2024, marking the third-highest year on record. The surge was driven by massive AI investments, with artificial intelligence capturing 50% of all funding. OpenAI's $40 billion round and SpaceX's $800 billion valuation set new records, while capital concentration intensified around the largest companies.

2 Sources

US export rules greenlight H200 sales to China, but strict limits put American buyers first

The US Department of Commerce approved limited exports of Nvidia's H200 and AMD's MI325X AI chips to China under strict conditions. Chinese buyers can only receive up to 50% of units sold to US customers, and domestic demand must be fully met first. However, China's customs authorities have reportedly told agents the H200 is not permitted entry, creating uncertainty despite the formal approval.

35 Sources

Entertainment industry leaders debate AI's role in creativity and content creation at CES 2026

CES 2026 hosted over 25 panels exploring how AI is reshaping the entertainment industry, from Hollywood studios to digital creators. Despite ongoing concerns about copyright and job displacement, industry leaders presented AI as a tool to democratize storytelling rather than replace human creativity. The event also highlighted the growing legitimacy of content creators in traditional media.

3 Sources

AMD hints at open-sourcing FSR 4 after accidental release forces the company's hand

AMD's Chief Software Officer suggests the company will open-source its FSR 4 upscaling and frame generation library while keeping core technology proprietary. The statement follows an accidental August release on GitHub that enabled modders to run FSR 4 on older hardware, potentially forcing AMD to reconsider its exclusivity strategy for RDNA 4 graphics cards.

2 Sources

Two Chrome Extensions Caught Stealing AI Chats from 900,000 ChatGPT and DeepSeek Users

Cybersecurity researchers uncovered two malicious Chrome extensions that exfiltrated ChatGPT and DeepSeek conversations from over 900,000 users. The extensions disguised themselves as legitimate AI tools while secretly harvesting AI chatbot conversations and browsing data every 30 minutes. This attack method, dubbed Prompt Poaching, raises concerns about user privacy and corporate espionage as even featured extensions on official stores prove vulnerable.

3 Sources

Keysight Technologies launches AI validation software for safety-critical systems

Keysight Technologies introduced AI Software Integrity Builder, a unified software solution designed to validate and maintain AI-enabled systems in safety-critical environments like automotive. The tool addresses regulatory scrutiny from standards like ISO/PAS 8800 and the EU AI Act by providing dataset analysis, model validation, real-world inference testing, and continuous monitoring capabilities throughout the AI lifecycle.

2 Sources

Hyundai's Boston Dynamics Atlas humanoid robot drives 14% stock surge with factory plans

Hyundai Motor shares jumped 14% after unveiling plans to deploy Boston Dynamics' electric Atlas humanoid robot in factories by 2028. The automaker aims to produce 30,000 units annually, positioning itself as a leader in physical AI and robotics. Analysts upgraded targets citing the shift from traditional automaker to technology-driven mobility player.

3 Sources

Automotive AI turns cars into companions at CES, raising data privacy questions

At CES in Las Vegas, Nvidia and Bosch showcased AI-powered in-cabin systems that transform vehicles into proactive companions, recognizing passengers and adapting in real time. Nvidia's Alpamayo initiative aims to help autonomous cars navigate complex decisions, while Bosch debuted technology to personalize the driving experience. But Consumer Reports warns that expanding data collection raises serious privacy concerns as the industry establishes rules for handling driver data.

4 Sources

McKinsey and General Catalyst leaders declare the era of 'learn once, work forever' is over

Top executives from McKinsey and General Catalyst say AI is fundamentally reshaping how people work and learn. Speaking at CES 2026, they argued that the traditional model of 22 years of education followed by 40 years of work is broken. Workers must now embrace lifelong skilling and re-skilling to remain relevant as AI agents transform organizations at unprecedented speed.

3 Sources

AI hoax on Reddit fools millions with fake food delivery app whistleblower claims

A Reddit user posing as a whistleblower from a food delivery app went viral with claims of driver exploitation, garnering 87,000 upvotes and 36.8 million impressions on X. Journalist Casey Newton exposed the elaborate AI hoax after the poster provided fake documents and an AI-generated Uber Eats badge. The incident prompted responses from DoorDash and Uber Eats executives and highlights the growing challenge of detecting AI-generated content online.

5 Sources

Ugreen launches AI NAS with up to 64GB RAM and on-device intelligence for private cloud storage

Ugreen unveiled its NASync iDX Series at CES 2026, introducing AI-powered network-attached storage that processes data locally without cloud dependency. The iDX6011 and iDX6011 Pro feature Intel Core Ultra processors with up to 64GB of RAM, enabling natural language search, automatic photo organization, and voice transcription entirely on-device. With prices starting at $999 during early-bird preorders, these systems target creators and production teams seeking intelligent data management with enhanced privacy.

3 Sources

xFusion hires Citic Securities for IPO as China's AI server market heats up

xFusion, China's leading AI server provider, has hired Citic Securities to prepare for an initial public offering. The former Huawei subsidiary recorded sales exceeding $5.72 billion in 2024 and joins a wave of Chinese AI chipmakers tapping into investor enthusiasm for AI companies amid U.S. technology restrictions.

2 Sources

AI startups bet on earbuds for mind reading and thought-based communication at CES

AI startups are transforming earbuds from simple audio devices into sophisticated AI interfaces. At CES in Las Vegas, companies like Neurable, Naqi Logix, and Timekettle unveiled AI-powered earbuds that record meetings, translate languages in real-time, and even measure brain activity for thought-based communication. While analysts see potential, current AI functionalities remain dependent on connected smartphones.

2 Sources

China launches probe into Meta's $2 billion Manus acquisition over technology export concerns

China's Ministry of Commerce announced it will investigate Meta's $2 billion acquisition of AI startup Manus for potential violations of technology export controls. The Singapore-based company with Chinese roots developed agentic AI technology while in China, raising questions about whether proper export licenses were obtained when relocating operations.

23 Sources

Motorola debuts Razr Fold and Qira AI platform at CES 2026, enters wearable AI race

Motorola made a bold entrance at CES 2026, unveiling its first book-style foldable phone, the Razr Fold, alongside Qira, a unified AI platform that works across Lenovo and Motorola devices. The company also showcased Project Maxwell, a wearable AI concept that combines camera, microphone, and sensor inputs to provide real-time insights without requiring a phone.

4 Sources

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