AI & Technology news from the last 24 hours, AI-curated by PiQ Markets

The global artificial intelligence boom is driving massive investment and demand across the semiconductor and infrastructure sectors. Asian chipmakers like TSMC and SK Hynix are seeing valuations surge due to unprecedented demand for AI chips, with Nvidia relying on the region for 90% of its production. Samsung's foundry business is rebounding, securing deals with Nvidia and Tesla, while Intel's new 18A manufacturing process enters initial production. Startups like SiliconFlow are raising significant funds for AI inference infrastructure, and companies like NTT and HPE are investing heavily in AI-specific networking and data center solutions. However, rapid AI infrastructure build-out, particularly power plants, is occurring with limited public scrutiny, and some memory chipmakers like Kioxia remain cautious about capital expenditures.

Several tech companies are investing heavily in the future of computing beyond smartphones, focusing on augmented reality (AR) and AI-powered wearables. Snap Inc. has launched new AR glasses, Spectacles, priced at $2,195, positioning them as the next major platform. Qualcomm is developing AI platforms for next-generation wearables, with CEO Cristiano Amon noting over 40 AI wearable designs in progress. LG Electronics is shifting focus to services, B2B, and AI robotics, while Plaud aims for $500 million in annual sales with a new AI agent wearable. Microsoft has also updated its Surface devices with new Qualcomm chips, and Apple is reportedly planning AI-equipped AirPods for late 2027.

Microsoft is launching a pay-as-you-go AI agent, Copilot Cowork, signaling a departure from its usual subscription models due to high computing costs. Meanwhile, Anthropic has paused planned price increases for its Claude Agent SDK following developer feedback. In a related development, Coinbase and AWS are partnering to allow publishers to charge AI agents for content access using USDC on Base. Microsoft is also reportedly in talks to acquire Chinese AI startup DeepSeek to bolster its enterprise AI offerings. Amidst these advancements, Microsoft President Brad Smith advised against panic over AI's job impact, stressing adaptation and new opportunities.

G7 leaders are exploring a plan to provide trusted partners with access to advanced U.S. AI models, following U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick's warning to Anthropic about national security risks associated with foreign access. This move highlights the growing global focus on AI governance and the need for sovereign AI capabilities, as noted by Upstage CEO Sung Kim. Meanwhile, a former AI safety advocate now supports the release of advanced models, and Donald Trump's legal dispute with Anthropic over cybersecurity concerns is widening.

SpaceX is acquiring AI coding startup Cursor in an all-stock deal valued at $60 billion. This move aims to enhance SpaceX's artificial intelligence capabilities and bolster its enterprise AI presence, positioning it to compete with major AI firms. The acquisition follows SpaceX's recent initial public offering, which has driven its valuation to surpass Amazon's. SpaceX's market capitalization reached $2.93 trillion, briefly making it the fifth-largest company globally by market value.

France is bolstering its AI capabilities and digital sovereignty by investing €655 million and switching from U.S. provider Palantir to French firm ChapsVision for its domestic intelligence agency. This move aligns with broader European efforts to reduce reliance on U.S. technology, highlighted by discussions at the G7 summit regarding 'trusted partner' access to advanced U.S. AI models like those from Anthropic. The French investment will also fund a common chatbot for state services and a public health chatbot for the Ameli agency, underscoring a strategic push for European AI autonomy.

Adobe and LinkedIn are collaborating on an AI training program for marketers, responding to increased demand for AI literacy in the industry. This initiative will focus on skills like audience segmentation and campaign development. Meanwhile, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University's Business School has introduced a Doctor of Business Artificial Intelligence (DBAI) program to train senior professionals in developing AI-native business strategies. A PwC study highlights AI's divergent impact on the job market, noting positive outcomes for companies integrating AI to augment human capabilities, while others experience different results.

The 2026 VivaTech conference in Paris, celebrating its 10th anniversary as VivaTech Generation, will host key figures including Jeff Bezos and AI expert Yann LeCun. The event will address artificial intelligence, tech sovereignty, and ethics. However, VivaTech founder Maurice Lévy expressed concerns that US export controls on AI models, specifically Anthropic's, have been poorly received in Europe, suggesting potential international policy disagreements.

AI coding startups are attracting significant investment, with valuations reaching multi-billion dollar figures. Companies like Lovable and Replit are seeing major tech firms invest heavily and acquire them, a trend dubbed 'vibe coding.' Meanwhile, Indian AI startup Sarvam AI has raised $234 million at a $1.5 billion valuation, aiming to bolster India's sovereign AI capabilities amidst global restrictions on advanced AI model access. This surge in funding highlights a major disruption in the tech industry, impacting legacy software markets.

OpenAI is experiencing significant financial challenges, with leaked documents showing a revenue of $13.07 billion in 2025 but an operating loss of $20.92 billion due to high R&D and sales expenses. The company targets profitability by 2030. Meanwhile, Databricks is launching new features designed to help customers control and lower their increasing costs related to AI development and deployment.

Latin America and Europe are being sidelined in the global race for artificial intelligence dominance, which has become a contest primarily between the United States and China, according to a top adviser to Brazil's President Lula. The adviser, Celso Amorim, suggested Brazil should seek capital and technology from both major powers. Meanwhile, a new poll indicates that China's AI models are seen as leading global innovation in most surveyed countries, but are also perceived as less trustworthy than those from the US and Japan.

Hong Kong Science Park and AI firm SenseTime are collaborating to build a local AI data centre by 2030, with the first phase due by year-end and a target of 40,000 petaflops. Meanwhile, HSBC is partnering with Google Cloud to expand its AI capabilities globally, aiming to enable 200 new AI-driven tasks within two years. Each AI project is expected to generate over $100 million in revenue or efficiency gains for the bank.

Maya Research is developing AI voice interfaces designed to sound like native speakers across languages and dialects, aiming to reach the next four to five billion users who interact via voice. The startup secured $1.9 million in funding led by South Park Commons. Meanwhile, Probably has raised $9 million in seed funding from Andreessen Horowitz to build more reliable AI models. Probably focuses on reducing factual errors and hallucinations before they are presented to users, aiming for high accuracy rates.

Artificial intelligence is increasingly impacting various sectors, from elections to entertainment. In American elections, AI-generated deepfakes are distorting voter perception and campaign norms due to a regulatory vacuum, blurring the lines between truth and fiction. Meanwhile, Disney is exploring AI integration within its theme parks to improve guest engagement and operational efficiency, signaling a broader trend of technological adoption across industries.

Project NexusRE, a collaboration between NorthstarMLS and REcore Solutions, is developing an infrastructure layer to enhance control over AI access to Multiple Listing Service (MLS) data, focusing on data sovereignty and consistent policy enforcement. Meanwhile, Roomvu has launched Engage Pages, an AI-powered tool that enables real estate and mortgage professionals to rapidly generate customized marketing landing pages integrated with lead follow-up systems to convert inquiries into appointments.

In 1953, James Watson and Francis Crick proposed a groundbreaking double helix model for DNA, fundamentally changing the field of biology. This discovery provided a molecular explanation for heredity. Their work was significantly influenced by X-ray diffraction data generated by Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins, which allowed DNA to be understood as a tangible, visualizable structure rather than an abstract concept.

Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan is spearheading a significant restructuring effort to revitalize the chipmaker. The strategy centers on divesting non-core assets, such as its network and edge divisions, to sharpen focus on its primary CPU and manufacturing operations. This initiative aims to streamline the company's structure and cultivate a more innovative environment to improve Intel's market position.

Zhipu AI's stock experienced a significant surge of up to 48% on the Hong Kong stock exchange following the release of its new GLM-5.2 large language model. This development comes as the company faces competition from U.S. export controls impacting rival AI models. The GLM-5.2 model is described as powerful, and its release positions Zhipu AI as a notable alternative in the international artificial intelligence market.

Hanoi is adjusting its plan to ban gasoline-powered motorcycles by implementing a phased rollout to lessen disruption. The initial phase, beginning in July 2026, will restrict these vehicles during specific hours in designated downtown areas. Subsequent phases will introduce broader restrictions.

Former Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero has appeared in court as a suspect in a corruption case, marking a historic moment as the first former prime minister in Spain's democratic era to face such charges. The investigation centers on allegations of corruption linked to an airline bailout and the acquisition of unexplained luxury jewelry. Zapatero's appearance before the National Court signifies a significant development in Spanish judicial history.