News/Partnerships
DOE fusion roadmap targets 2030s commercial deployment as AI drives $9B investment
The Department of Energy has released a new roadmap targeting commercial-scale fusion power deployment by the mid-2030s, though the plan lacks specific funding commitments and relies on scientific breakthroughs that have eluded researchers for decades. The strategy emphasizes public-private partnerships and positions AI as both a research tool and motivation for developing fusion energy to meet data centers' growing electricity demands. The big picture: The DOE's roadmap aims to "deliver the public infrastructure that supports the fusion private sector scale up in the 2030s," but acknowledges it cannot commit to specific funding levels and remains subject to Congressional appropriations. Why...
read Oct 17, 2025Nvidia’s $4B venture strategy creates broad AI ecosystem lock-in
Nvidia is leveraging a multi-billion-dollar venture capital strategy through its NVentures arm to cement its dominance in the AI ecosystem, participating in 21 deals in 2025 alone compared to just one in 2022. This aggressive investment approach creates a symbiotic network where Nvidia's financial backing directly fuels demand for its GPUs and CUDA software platform, ensuring the company remains central to AI development as the industry expands. The big picture: Nvidia's venture capital strategy operates as "ecosystem engineering," strategically targeting three core areas to maintain its technological moat. Cloud-Scale AI Infrastructure investments back startups that rent, optimize, or virtualize Nvidia...
read Oct 17, 2025Google DeepMind partners with fusion startup to power AI data centers
Google DeepMind has partnered with fusion startup Commonwealth Fusion Systems to apply artificial intelligence expertise toward developing practical fusion power, the companies announced Thursday. This collaboration represents the latest effort by major tech companies to secure clean energy sources for their power-hungry data centers, as the AI boom drives unprecedented electricity demand. The big picture: Tech giants are placing significant bets on fusion energy as a solution to their growing power needs, with Google, Nvidia, and Microsoft all investing in Commonwealth Fusion Systems. Google has made two capital investments in CFS and secured access to 200MW of power from the...
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Microsoft invests $12.5M to train 400K AFT and NEA teachers in AI tools
The country's two largest teachers unions have partnered with major tech companies including Microsoft, OpenAI, and Anthropic to provide AI training for educators, with companies investing millions of dollars in exchange for influence in classroom technology adoption. These partnerships aim to build AI literacy among teachers while raising questions about corporate involvement in public education and whether educators might eventually be replaced by artificial intelligence. The big picture: Tech companies are investing heavily in teacher AI training as a strategic move to establish their products in schools early, with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) receiving funding from multiple companies...
read Oct 16, 2025eInfochips partners with InOrbit.AI to simplify robot fleet management
eInfochips, an Arrow Electronics subsidiary specializing in product engineering, has formed a strategic partnership with InOrbit.AI to deliver comprehensive edge-to-cloud robotics solutions for large-scale autonomous mobile robot (AMR) deployments. This collaboration addresses the growing demand for scalable robot operations across warehouses, industrial facilities, and manufacturing environments by combining hardware expertise with AI-powered orchestration capabilities. What you should know: The partnership merges eInfochips' robotics development capabilities with InOrbit's Space Intelligence platform to create end-to-end solutions for enterprise robot deployments. eInfochips brings expertise in hardware design, power and motor control, sensor fusion, edge AI, functional safety, and digital twin technology through their...
read Oct 16, 2025How they do it, not what they do it with: PepsiCo cracks enterprise AI with novelty
PepsiCo has cracked the code on enterprise AI adoption, but not in the way most companies expect. While businesses worldwide scramble to deploy the latest AI tools, the beverage and snack giant is taking a fundamentally different approach: buying best-in-class technology while fiercely protecting ownership of core business processes. This strategic balance—embracing external innovation while maintaining internal control—represents a significant departure from the outsourcing-heavy model that dominated enterprise technology for decades. Dr. Athina Kanioura, PepsiCo's Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer, shared this philosophy at Salesforce Dreamforce 2025, outlining an approach that other enterprises can adapt for their own AI transformations....
read Oct 14, 2025No, the NFL’s AI-powered “Digital Athlete” is not a companion
The NFL has partnered with Amazon Web Services to develop Digital Athlete, an AI-powered injury prediction tool that analyzes data from all 32 teams to help keep players healthier. The system processes massive amounts of player data from sensors, cameras, and tracking technology to identify injury risks and optimize training schedules, representing a significant shift toward data-driven player safety in professional sports. How it works: Digital Athlete uses sensors in shoulder pads, cameras, and optical tracking to gather comprehensive data from practice and games across all NFL teams. The system generates about 500 million data points weekly—the same amount NextGen...
read Oct 14, 2025Firefox adds Perplexity AI as default search engine option
Mozilla has officially added Perplexity AI as a default search engine option in Firefox for desktop users, expanding beyond an earlier limited test. The integration brings conversational AI-powered search with citations directly to Firefox's address bar, positioning Mozilla to compete with other browsers offering AI-enhanced search capabilities. What you should know: Perplexity provides conversational answers with citations, allowing users to validate information without navigating through multiple search result pages. Users can access Perplexity through the unified search button in Firefox's address bar alongside traditional search engines. Mozilla plans to bring Perplexity to mobile Firefox browsers "in the coming months," though...
read Oct 14, 2025Serve Robotics tops Fast Company’s tech list with Gen3 delivery robots
Serve Robotics has secured the top spot in Fast Company's "Next Big Things in Tech" list for the Robotics and Automation category, highlighting its third-generation autonomous sidewalk delivery robot. The recognition validates Serve's position in the expanding last-mile logistics market as the company scales toward its goal of deploying 2,000 robots across major U.S. cities by the end of 2025. What you should know: Serve's third-generation robot represents a significant leap in autonomous delivery capabilities compared to previous models. The Gen3 robot operates nearly twice as fast, travels double the distance, runs six additional hours per day, and carries larger...
read Oct 14, 2025Google and World Bank partner on AI services for emerging markets
Google and the World Bank have partnered to develop AI-powered public digital infrastructure in emerging markets, focusing on interoperable networks that will help citizens access government services through simple devices in over 40 languages. The collaboration combines Google Cloud's AI technology with the World Bank's development expertise to create Open Network Stacks for critical sectors including agriculture, healthcare, and education. What you should know: The partnership builds on a successful pilot program that has already demonstrated real-world impact for underserved populations. A pro bono pilot in Uttar Pradesh, India, helped thousands of smallholder farmers increase their profitability through AI-powered agricultural...
read Oct 14, 2025Shop, talk: Walmart partners with OpenAI to enable ChatGPT conversational purchases
Walmart has partnered with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT into its shopping experience, allowing customers to purchase items through AI-powered conversations. The collaboration represents a significant shift from traditional search-and-browse e-commerce toward conversational shopping, as America's largest retailer seeks to leverage artificial intelligence to streamline customer interactions and reduce purchase friction. What you should know: Walmart is deploying ChatGPT technology to create a more seamless shopping experience that moves beyond conventional search bars and product lists. The partnership will enable customers to buy items through OpenAI's chatbot services, though Walmart has not specified an exact launch date beyond "soon." CEO Doug...
read Oct 14, 2025Coco Robotics hires UCLA professor Bolei Zhou to lead new physical AI lab
Coco Robotics has established a new physical AI research lab led by UCLA professor Bolei Zhou, who also joins the startup as chief AI scientist. The move represents the company's strategic pivot from human-operated delivery robots to fully autonomous systems, leveraging five years of real-world data collected from its last-mile delivery fleet. What you should know: Coco Robotics has accumulated millions of miles of operational data from urban delivery routes, positioning the company to accelerate AI automation research. The startup launched in 2020 using teleoperators—remote human controllers—to help robots navigate obstacles during deliveries, but CEO Zach Rash says the company...
read Oct 14, 202510 NPR-like foundations launch $500M coalition to counter corporate AI dominance
Ten philanthropic foundations have launched Humanity AI, a coalition committing $500 million over five years to ensure artificial intelligence development prioritizes human needs over corporate interests. The initiative aims to counter the influence of tech companies that currently dominate AI's evolution, advocating for technology that serves people rather than simply advancing corporate agendas. What you should know: The coalition represents a diverse array of major foundations concerned about AI's current trajectory and its impact on society. Members include the MacArthur Foundation, Ford Foundation, Mozilla Foundation, Mellon Foundation, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, Omidyar Network, Siegal Family Foundation, and David and Lucile...
read Oct 14, 2025Salesforce partners with OpenAI and Stripe for conversational commerce
Salesforce announced two major AI collaborations on Tuesday, partnering with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT directly into its customer relationship management (CRM) platform and working with both OpenAI and Stripe to enable conversational commerce through its Agentforce platform. These partnerships position Salesforce to deliver enterprise-grade AI capabilities that mirror consumer experiences while accelerating the shift toward autonomous digital commerce. What you should know: The OpenAI partnership brings ChatGPT functionality directly into Salesforce's customer relationship management system, allowing businesses to query sales records and build visualizations without leaving their workflow. Companies can access their sales data, review customer conversations, and create Tableau...
read Oct 14, 2025Microsoft gives all schools in its home state of Washington free AI tools to promote tech prowess
Microsoft has launched Elevate Washington, providing all 295 public school districts and 34 community colleges in the state with free access to AI tools and training resources. The initiative addresses a stark digital divide where AI usage ranges from over 30% in urban Puget Sound counties to just 2.5% in rural Ferry County, positioning Washington as a national model for equitable AI adoption in education. What you should know: The program provides comprehensive AI access and support starting January 2026, with tools designed to reduce administrative burdens for educators while giving students early exposure to emerging technologies. School districts and...
read Oct 14, 2025Etsy sellers can now do business through ChatGPT as concern over being seen by customers grows
Etsy has launched a new ChatGPT integration allowing U.S. buyers to purchase products directly through OpenAI's platform without visiting Etsy's website. The partnership represents a significant shift in AI-powered commerce, but seller reactions remain divided as many worry about losing customer relationships and personalized connections that define their handmade businesses. What you should know: The integration is currently limited to sellers participating in Etsy's Offsite Ads program, which automatically enrolls most merchants but allows some to opt out. Only products from Offsite Ads participants can be purchased directly through ChatGPT, while others display a "visit" button redirecting to Etsy's main...
read Oct 13, 2025Brookfield invests $5B in Bloom Energy fuel cells for AI data centers
Brookfield Asset Management has agreed to invest up to $5 billion with Bloom Energy to deploy fuel cells for powering AI data centers, marking the first phase of their plan to build "AI factories" globally. This partnership addresses the critical energy infrastructure gap as demand for AI computing power rapidly outpaces what existing power grids can support, positioning both companies at the forefront of the AI infrastructure boom. The big picture: Current projections show electricity demand for AI facilities will exceed what public power grids can handle in their current form, creating an urgent need for alternative energy solutions. Fuel...
read Oct 13, 2025Microsoft launches MAI-Image-1, its first in-house text-to-image AI generator
Microsoft AI has announced MAI-Image-1, its first in-house developed text-to-image generator, marking a significant step in the company's effort to reduce reliance on external AI partnerships. The model has already secured a top-10 position on LMArena, the competitive AI benchmark platform where human evaluators compare outputs from different systems. What you should know: Microsoft designed MAI-Image-1 specifically to address common limitations in AI-generated imagery by consulting with creative professionals during development. The model "excels" at photorealistic imagery including lightning and landscapes, according to Microsoft. It processes requests and produces images faster than "larger, slower models," the company claims. Microsoft sought...
read Oct 13, 2025Salesforce commits $15B to San Francisco AI innovation hub
Salesforce announced a $15 billion investment in San Francisco over the next five years, focusing on artificial intelligence innovation and workforce development in the city. The commitment represents one of the largest corporate investments in San Francisco's tech ecosystem and positions the company to strengthen its AI capabilities while supporting its hometown's economic growth. What you should know: The investment will fund a new AI incubator hub on Salesforce's San Francisco campus and help companies adopt AI agents that can perform tasks on behalf of users.• AI agents are software programs that can automatically handle routine business tasks like scheduling...
read Oct 13, 2025OpenAI partners with Broadcom to design custom AI chips
OpenAI has partnered with Broadcom, a major semiconductor company, to design custom artificial intelligence chips, marking the latest major infrastructure deal for the ChatGPT maker. The collaboration will see the companies deploy new racks of customized "AI accelerators" starting late next year, as OpenAI continues building the computing power needed to support its growing user base of over 800 million weekly ChatGPT users. What you should know: This partnership is part of OpenAI's broader strategy to secure the specialized hardware and data center capacity required for AI operations. OpenAI has recently announced similar partnerships with chipmakers Nvidia and AMD to...
read Oct 13, 2025Microsoft Copilot now connects to Gmail, OneDrive and Google Drive
Microsoft has begun rolling out an update to Copilot on Windows that enables the AI assistant to connect directly with OneDrive, Outlook, Google Drive, Gmail, and other personal productivity apps. The upgrade allows users to prompt Copilot in natural language to retrieve and analyze information from their connected accounts, while also introducing the ability to create and export documents through simple voice commands. What you should know: The new connector features are opt-in only and currently available exclusively to Microsoft's Copilot "Insider" program members. Users can grant Copilot access by opening settings, clicking "Connectors," and selecting which services they want...
read Oct 13, 2025Salesforce positions Slack as primary interface for Agentforce 360 platform
Salesforce has unveiled Agentforce 360, an expanded platform for building and deploying AI agents across enterprises, positioning Slack as the primary interface for accessing Salesforce functionality. The announcement comes as the company attempts to move customers beyond "pilot purgatory" and deliver production-scale AI implementations, though many features remain in development phases. What you should know: Agentforce 360 introduces several new capabilities designed to streamline enterprise AI agent deployment and management. The platform features Agent Script, a human-readable JSON language for authoring complex agent behavior, entering beta testing in November 2025. Atlas Reasoning Engine now supports Google's Gemini large language model...
read Oct 10, 2025Microsoft commits $33B to secure 100K Nvidia chips from neocloud providers
Microsoft has committed $33 billion to partnerships with "neocloud" providers like Nebius, CoreWeave, and Lambda, securing access to over 100,000 of Nvidia's newest GB300 chips without building additional infrastructure. This strategy allows Microsoft to rapidly scale its AI capabilities while reserving its own data centers for paying customers, revealing how tech giants are navigating the intense competition for scarce GPU resources. What you should know: Microsoft's $19.4 billion deal with Nebius, a specialized cloud computing provider, alone provides access to more than 100,000 Nvidia GB300 chips through temporary leasing arrangements. Each Nvidia GB300 NVL72 server rack contains 72 high-end B300...
read Oct 10, 2025Ray-Ban, Meta launch $799 smart glasses that require mandatory in-store demos to buy
Ray-Ban and Meta have launched the Display & Neural Band, a $799 smart glasses system that projects text and images directly onto the lens while being controlled through subtle finger gestures via a companion wristband. The device represents a significant leap in wearable AI technology, featuring real-time translation capabilities and requiring mandatory in-store demos at Best Buy before purchase—a strategic shift toward tactile retail experiences for high-tech eyewear. What you should know: The Display & Neural Band combines advanced visual projection technology with gesture-based controls to create a hands-free computing experience. The glasses use micro-projector and waveguide technology to display...
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