Nvidia approaches a $2-3 billion acquisition of struggling Israeli AI startup AI21 Labs, paying an extraordinary $10-15 million per employee to secure 200 specialized AI workers in what amounts to the tech industry's most expensive talent grab amid fierce competition for artificial intelligence expertise.
Moonshot AI, creator of Kimi AI models, raises $500 million in Series C funding led by IDG Capital with backing from tech giants Alibaba and Tencent, pushing the Beijing-based company's valuation to $4.3 billion and cash reserves beyond $1.4 billion.
Bank of America forecasts AI agent spending will explode to $155 billion by 2030, tripling industry estimates, as intelligent automation captures 10% of global knowledge work worth $18.6 trillion and unlocks $1.9 trillion in productivity gains across major industries.
AI models including GPT-4o-mini, Gemini, and Claude develop gambling addiction-like behaviors in lab experiments, chasing losses and going bankrupt at 50% rates when given betting freedom, raising concerns about autonomous AI financial decision-making.
Zhipu AI launches groundbreaking $560 million Hong Kong IPO at HK$116.20 per share, set to become the first publicly traded large language model developer when it debuts January 8 with a massive HK$51.16 billion valuation amid soaring tech stock momentum.
SoftBank completes its massive $40 billion investment in OpenAI, securing an 11% stake in the AI powerhouse now valued at $260 billion, after selling its entire Nvidia position and acquiring data center company DigitalBridge to fuel its artificial intelligence infrastructure ambitions.
Venture capitalists predict enterprises will dramatically increase AI spending in 2026 while consolidating around fewer proven vendors, ending the current experimentation phase and threatening startups with easily replicated products as companies prioritize measurable results and safety oversight systems.
Wealth managers charge ultra-rich clients approximately $10,500 annually for managing $1 million portfolios, providing exclusive access to hedge funds, private equity, and specialized services like estate planning and trust management that regular financial advisors cannot offer.
New AI platform Surf launches with integrated cryptocurrency research and trading capabilities, offering real-time social sentiment analysis and blockchain data while simplifying complex crypto concepts through plain-English explanations to help traders make more informed decisions.
Nvidia secures a massive $20 billion licensing deal with AI chipmaker Groq in an unusual structure that sees 90% of Groq's workforce joining the tech giant while shareholders receive substantial payouts, cleverly sidestepping antitrust concerns through the non-exclusive arrangement.