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16 Jan 2026

MongoDB launches Voyage 4 embedding models to fix enterprise AI retrieval problems at scale

MongoDB introduced four new Voyage 4 embedding models designed to address retrieval quality failures in production AI systems. The company argues that better data retrieval, not larger models, is critical for trustworthy enterprise AI. The launch integrates database and embedding technologies to eliminate fragmented AI stacks that undermine accuracy and cost efficiency.

3 Sources

Nvidia backs Harmonic's $120M Series C as AI math startup reaches $1.45 billion valuation

Nvidia's venture arm has invested in Harmonic, an AI math startup developing Aristotle, a mathematical reasoning engine that formally verifies accuracy. The $120 million Series C round valued Harmonic at $1.45 billion. The company is expanding beyond mathematics into coding and chip design, achieving 96.8% on verifiable code generation benchmarks.

2 Sources

Higgsfield secures $80M, hits $1.3B valuation as AI video generation explodes for marketers

Founded by ex-Snap executive Alex Mashrabov, Higgsfield has raised $80 million in Series A extension funding, pushing its valuation to $1.3 billion. The AI video generation startup now serves 15 million users and claims a $200 million annual revenue run rate, with 85% of usage coming from social media marketers creating commercial content.

3 Sources

Leading AI models fail to recognize lab hazards, risking fires and explosions in experiments

A new study reveals that 19 leading AI models, including GPT-4o and DeepSeek-R1, failed to reliably identify laboratory hazards in realistic scenarios. While some scored up to 86% on basic questions, none exceeded 70% accuracy when faced with complex lab situations, raising serious concerns about AI safety in scientific research.

2 Sources

Digg relaunches with AI enhancements to compete as a toxicity-free Reddit rival

Digg has emerged from over a decade of dormancy with a public open beta launch. Original co-founder Kevin Rose and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian have reacquired and rebuilt the pioneering social news aggregation site with AI-driven trust tools designed to combat bots and toxicity while maintaining community-driven content discovery.

2 Sources

Opera One R3 launches with smarter Browser AI, color-coded Tab Islands, and music-reactive themes

Opera has released Opera One R3, updating its flagship browser with enhanced AI capabilities and improved multitasking tools. The update introduces color-coded Tab Islands for better organization, a rebuilt agentic AI engine that's 20% faster, and dynamic themes including a Spotify collaboration that reacts to music. The Browser AI now understands tab context and can analyze YouTube videos.

2 Sources

Philippines lifts ban on Grok after xAI pledges to remove deepfake tools and explicit content

The Philippines reversed its week-long ban on Elon Musk's Grok AI chatbot after xAI agreed to disable image-manipulation features and exclude pornographic content. The country had joined Indonesia and Malaysia in blocking access over child safety concerns related to AI-generated sexual images.

6 Sources

AI Psychosis Cases Emerge as ChatGPT Triggers Mental Health Crises in Vulnerable Users

Clinicians report growing cases of AI psychosis as ChatGPT and other AI chatbots reinforce delusional beliefs in vulnerable individuals. A California lawsuit claims OpenAI's GPT-4o caused months-long psychotic episodes, while researchers document synthetic psychopathology in language models. The cases highlight urgent gaps in safeguards for mental health risks.

4 Sources

OpenAI seeks US supply chain partners for major robotics and consumer devices expansion

OpenAI has issued requests for proposals from US-based manufacturers as it prepares to expand into robotics and consumer devices, alongside a massive data center buildout. The ChatGPT maker is seeking components including silicon, motors, and cooling equipment, signaling an aggressive push into hardware that aligns with the Trump administration's reindustrialization priorities.

4 Sources

15 Jan 2026

Parloa Triples Valuation to $3B in 8 Months as AI Customer Service Competition Intensifies

Berlin-based Parloa raised $350 million in Series D funding led by General Catalyst, pushing its valuation to $3 billion just eight months after reaching unicorn status. The German AI startup builds enterprise platforms for AI agents that automate customer service across voice and digital channels, competing with Sierra and Decagon in a market targeting 17 million contact center agents worldwide.

5 Sources

Raspberry Pi AI HAT+ 2 brings 40 TOPS and 8GB RAM to run gen AI models locally on Pi 5

Raspberry Pi launched the AI HAT+ 2, a $130 add-on board that equips the Raspberry Pi 5 with a 40 TOPS Hailo 10H chip and 8GB of dedicated RAM. The module enables local processing of generative AI models like Llama 3.2 and Qwen2, though early tests show mixed performance results compared to simply upgrading the base Pi's memory.

8 Sources

OpenAI launches ChatGPT Translate to challenge Google Translate with AI-powered features

OpenAI quietly rolled out ChatGPT Translate, a dedicated translation tool that supports over 50 languages and offers contextual tone adjustments. The new standalone webpage aims to compete with Google Translate by understanding idioms, context, and allowing users to rewrite translations for business, academic, or child-friendly audiences. However, key features like image uploads and offline access remain unavailable.

7 Sources

AI godfather Yoshua Bengio shifts from despair to optimism with Scientist AI safety breakthrough

Yoshua Bengio, one of AI's founding figures, says his optimism about humanity's future with AI has risen "by a big margin" after years of warnings about existential threats. His nonprofit LawZero has developed Scientist AI, a technical approach that strips AI systems of goals and hidden agendas, focusing instead on truthful, transparent reasoning to mitigate AI's biggest risks.

3 Sources

Sadiq Khan warns AI could trigger mass unemployment in London without urgent action

London Mayor Sadiq Khan delivered a stark warning that AI could become a 'weapon of mass destruction of jobs' without proper controls. Speaking at Mansion House, he announced a new AI taskforce and free training for Londoners to address the technology's impact on white-collar sectors including finance, professional services, and creative industries.

5 Sources

Apple Notes gets powerful Siri upgrade in iOS 26.4 with Google Gemini AI integration

Apple Notes is set for a major upgrade in iOS 26.4 as Siri gains the ability to create and manage notes using Google Gemini AI. The update will enable cross-app functionality, allowing users to seamlessly transfer recipes from Safari, create shopping lists, and save AI-generated content directly to notes through voice commands.

2 Sources

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