News/Partnerships
India launches world’s first chatbot payment system through United Payments Interface
India is launching a pilot program allowing consumers to make payments directly through AI chatbots using its government-backed Unified Payments Interface (UPI), the country's dominant instant payment platform. This initiative marks the world's first government-supported chatbot transaction system, positioning India as a global testing ground for AI-powered commerce that could set precedents for other major markets. What you should know: The payment system will initially roll out through ChatGPT before expanding to other major AI platforms. Google's Gemini and Anthropic's Claude will follow as the next platforms to integrate the payment capability. Bengaluru-based fintech company Razorpay developed the technical integration...
read Oct 9, 20255G-A networks reach 50 deployments as Huawei integrates AI for operators
Huawei says 5G-A networks and AI integration will reshape operator value creation and network innovation, with commercial deployments reaching 50 networks across 300 cities this year. The Chinese tech giant believes this convergence will drive new business models beyond traditional connectivity services, positioning operators to monetize AI capabilities and network performance guarantees. The big picture: The mobile communications industry is experiencing a fundamental shift as 5G-Advanced (5G-A) technology matures alongside AI integration, creating new revenue opportunities for operators worldwide. Commercial 5G-A networks are set to reach 50 globally this year, spanning over 300 cities with support from more than 100...
read Oct 9, 2025North Carolina’s All Things Open 2025 dedicates 25% of programming to AI
All Things Open returns to Raleigh next week for its 13th annual conference, expecting over 6,000 attendees and featuring more than 200 sessions across 18 tracks at the Raleigh Convention Center. The east coast's largest open source conference is placing unprecedented emphasis on artificial intelligence, with AI-focused sessions comprising nearly 25% of all scheduled talks across three dedicated tracks. What you should know: The conference has evolved into a comprehensive showcase of open source innovation with a heavy AI focus. More than 6,000 attendees are registered, representing 500 companies with 100+ exhibitors participating. AI will dominate programming with over 50...
read Oct 9, 2025Sony and AMD develop AI hardware architecture for PlayStation 6
Sony's PlayStation 6 will feature a revolutionary graphics architecture that combines traditional processing with dedicated AI hardware to deliver unprecedented gaming visuals. The announcement comes from PlayStation architect Mark Cerny and AMD, who revealed their collaborative "Amethyst" project that promises to overcome current limitations in AI-enhanced gaming through specialized neural processing units and advanced ray tracing technology. What you should know: Sony and AMD are developing three key technologies that will fundamentally change how the PlayStation 6 processes graphics and game data. Neural Arrays will connect compute units within GPU shader engines to function "like a single, focused AI engine,"...
read Oct 9, 2025Serve Robotics stock surges on DoorDash partnership for last-mile meal delivery
Serve Robotics stock surged in early trading after the sidewalk delivery robot company announced a multi-year strategic partnership with DoorDash to deploy autonomous delivery vehicles across the United States, beginning with Los Angeles. This expansion marks a significant step in the growing competition among food delivery platforms to integrate robotics technology for last-mile delivery automation. What you should know: The partnership will leverage Serve Robotics' existing autonomous delivery infrastructure to expand DoorDash's robotic delivery capabilities nationwide. Serve Robotics already operates restaurant delivery services in Los Angeles, Miami, Dallas, Chicago, and Atlanta through its partnership with Uber Eats. DoorDash currently uses...
read Oct 9, 2025Google unfurls Gemini Enterprise to compete in business AI market
Google has launched Gemini Enterprise, a new AI platform designed specifically for business customers, as the tech giant intensifies its push to capture more corporate clients in the competitive enterprise AI market. The platform enables employees to interact conversationally with their company's data, documents, and applications using Google's most advanced AI models, positioning the company to compete directly with Microsoft, OpenAI, and Anthropic in the lucrative business AI sector. What you should know: Gemini Enterprise offers both pre-built AI agents and tools for companies to create custom solutions tailored to their specific needs. The platform provides pre-built Google AI agents...
read Oct 9, 2025SoftBank acquires ABB robotics for $5.38B to accelerate physical AI ambitions
SoftBank has agreed to acquire ABB's robotics business for $5.38 billion, marking the Japanese conglomerate's largest strategic move into the AI robotics sector. The deal positions SoftBank to accelerate its "Physical AI" ambitions by combining ABB's established robotics platform with its existing portfolio of AI and automation companies, targeting what CEO Masayoshi Son calls the next frontier toward artificial super intelligence. What you should know: This acquisition represents SoftBank's most significant investment in its AI robotics strategy, building on its mission to realize artificial super intelligence (ASI). SoftBank will acquire all shares of a newly carved-out ABB robotics holding company...
read Oct 7, 2025AI firms’ $500B interlocking, circular investments raise bubble concerns
A growing network of circular investments among AI's biggest companies is raising concerns about an artificial bubble, with Nvidia investing in OpenAI while OpenAI buys services from Oracle and CoreWeave—both of which purchase Nvidia chips. This interconnected web of deals, worth hundreds of billions collectively, mirrors patterns that preceded the 2000 dot-com crash and could threaten the entire industry if AI productivity gains fail to materialize. The circular deal structure: Recent partnerships reveal how tightly interwoven the AI ecosystem has become, with companies essentially funding each other's growth. Nvidia plans to invest up to $100 billion in OpenAI, which announced...
read Oct 6, 2025Netherlands delivers 150+ THeMIS combat robots to Ukraine
Milrem Robotics will deliver over 150 THeMIS unmanned ground vehicles to Ukraine as part of a Dutch-funded defense initiative, with assembly operations being established at VDL Defentec's facility in the Netherlands. This marks one of the largest deployments of unmanned ground vehicles to support Ukraine's defense capabilities, building on the proven battlefield effectiveness of 15 THeMIS units already operating in the country since 2022. Key details: The donation was formally announced on October 6, with Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans joining Milrem Robotics and VDL for a signing ceremony at VDL's Born facility. VDL Defentec, a Dutch defense contractor, is...
read Oct 6, 2025ChatGPT now connects to Spotify, Zillow, and 5 other apps directly
OpenAI has launched app integrations for ChatGPT that allow users to access third-party services like Spotify and Zillow directly within the chatbot interface. The feature represents what OpenAI calls an "evolution of ChatGPT" toward becoming more like an operating system, enabling users to interact with apps through conversation while displaying interactive interfaces within the chat. What you should know: The app integrations go beyond traditional plugins by allowing direct access within ChatGPT prompts and displaying interactive elements like maps, playlists, and presentations. Users can query ChatGPT to access Spotify for listing and playing tracks, or search Zillow for property listings...
read Oct 6, 2025Evernote V11 adds OpenAI search features at $130 annual price
Evernote has released Version 11, its first major update since being acquired by Italian company Bending Spoons in 2023, introducing AI-powered search and transcription features developed with OpenAI. The update focuses on helping users better organize and find information within their existing notes rather than generating new content, positioning the service as a "second brain" for personal knowledge management. What you should know: Evernote's AI assistant emphasizes search and organization over content generation, taking a different approach than many AI-powered writing tools. The AI assistant uses conversational chat to help users find relevant notes through natural language queries, combining Evernote's...
read Oct 6, 2025Botting the midnight oil: Aramark deploys 24/7 auto-kitchens to feed hospital staff overnight
Aramark has strategically invested in RoboEatz's Autonomous Robotic Kitchen (ARK) technology, partnering with ABB Robotics and WellSpan Health to deploy 24/7 automated meal service in hospitals. This initiative addresses a critical gap in overnight dining options for healthcare workers, nurses, doctors, and hospital visitors who often struggle to find quality food during late-night shifts. What you should know: The ARK system operates within a compact 400-square-foot footprint and can prepare up to four personalized bowl-based meals simultaneously from a selection of up to 80 fresh ingredients.• The robotic kitchen integrates seamlessly with Aramark's existing Point of Sale system, menu management,...
read Oct 6, 2025OpenAI partners with AMD for AI chips, gets option to buy 10% stake
OpenAI has signed a partnership with semiconductor manufacturer AMD to supply high-performance chips for its AI infrastructure, with OpenAI also receiving the option to purchase up to 10% of AMD's shares. The deal positions AMD as a key alternative to Nvidia's dominance in AI computing while highlighting the massive infrastructure demands needed to support advanced AI development. Key details: The agreement centers on AMD's next-generation Instinct MI450 graphics chips, expected to debut in 2026.• OpenAI will purchase chips capable of delivering 6 gigawatts of computing power for its "next generation" AI infrastructure.• The first 1-gigawatt batch is scheduled for deployment...
read Oct 6, 2025Serve Robotics deploys 1,000th delivery robot with 2,000 more planned by 2025
Serve Robotics has deployed its 1,000th autonomous delivery robot, marking a major operational milestone for the San Francisco-based company as it scales across the United States. The achievement demonstrates the growing viability of sidewalk delivery robots in last-mile logistics, with Serve maintaining its trajectory toward 2,000 deployed units by the end of 2025. What you should know: Serve deployed more than 380 third-generation robots in September alone, bringing its total fleet to 1,000 active units operating across multiple US markets. The company spun out of Uber in 2021 and has completed hundreds of thousands of deliveries for enterprise partners including...
read Oct 3, 2025Anthropic brings Claude AI directly into Slack for paid teams
Anthropic has launched Claude integration directly within Slack, allowing teams with paid Slack plans to access the AI assistant through direct messaging or group threads. The integration enables Claude to reference past Slack conversations and handle routine workplace tasks, reflecting a broader industry trend toward embedding AI agents into daily business workflows. What you should know: Claude can now function as an AI collaborator within Slack workspaces, accessible through simple tagging or a dedicated icon. Users can start private conversations with Claude or add it to group threads by tagging @Claude or clicking an icon in the top-right corner of...
read Oct 3, 2025Nvidia and Fujitsu partner to build Japan’s AI infrastructure by 2030
Nvidia and Fujitsu announced a strategic partnership to develop AI infrastructure and smart robotics technology in Japan, with CEO Jensen Huang declaring that "the AI industrial revolution has already begun." The collaboration aims to establish comprehensive AI infrastructure across Japan by 2030, initially targeting the Japanese market before potential global expansion. What you should know: The partnership will focus on building foundational AI systems across multiple industries using Nvidia's graphics processing unit (GPU) technology. The companies plan to develop AI applications for healthcare, manufacturing, environmental solutions, next-generation computing, and customer services. Fujitsu will leverage its decades of experience in the...
read Oct 3, 2025Promise Robotics, Mattamy Homes partner to scale AI-powered homebuilding in Canadian heartland
Promise Robotics, a Canadian AI and robotics technology company, has partnered with Mattamy Homes' Alberta Division in a multi-year agreement to automate homebuilding using AI-powered industrial robots. The collaboration aims to address Canada's housing crisis by scaling construction capacity through Promise's Factory-as-a-Service™ platform, which the company describes as "push-button" home manufacturing. What you should know: Promise Robotics uses off-the-shelf industrial robots to manage the entire production lifecycle for residential construction. The technology will support Mattamy Homes in delivering single-family, semi-detached and multi-family residences across two master-planned communities in Alberta. Promise's Calgary facility is staffed by local workers and supported by...
read Oct 3, 2025Stripe and OpenAI launch AI payments protocol for autonomous transactions
Stripe has launched a new payments protocol in collaboration with OpenAI, marking a significant step toward an AI-driven internet economy where automated systems handle transactions independently. The development signals a potential shift away from advertising-based revenue models toward automation-powered commerce, with Stripe's head of AI suggesting this could substantially boost global economic activity. What you should know: Emily Sands, Stripe's head of AI and a PhD economist, believes this technology could fundamentally reshape global consumption patterns. The new payments protocol enables AI systems to conduct transactions without human intervention, removing traditional friction from online purchasing. Sands predicts this automation will...
read Oct 3, 2025Uber acquires Belgian Segments.ai to expand AI data labeling services
Uber has acquired Belgian data labeling startup Segments.ai for an undisclosed amount, expanding its push into AI training services beyond its traditional ride-sharing and delivery operations. The move transforms Uber's internal data labeling capabilities—originally developed for its own autonomous driving efforts—into a revenue-generating service for other companies developing self-driving technologies worldwide. What you should know: Segments.ai specializes in annotating objects in videos and LiDAR sensor data, creating the training datasets essential for autonomous vehicle development.• The Y Combinator-backed startup helps engineers label complex visual data that AI systems need to recognize and respond to real-world driving scenarios.• Uber has been...
read Oct 2, 2025NEURA Robotics acquires ek robotics to expand global mobile automation
NEURA Robotics has acquired ek robotics, a German company specializing in autonomous guided vehicles (AGVs) and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), adding over 300 employees and six decades of driverless transport expertise to its operations. The acquisition positions NEURA to accelerate growth in mobile robotics while expanding ek robotics' reach from its European stronghold into global markets through NEURA's established presence in China and the United States. What you should know: The deal combines NEURA's cognitive robotics technology with ek robotics' proven intralogistics solutions and customer base. NEURA will integrate its mobile robotics technologies and strong order book into ek robotics'...
read Oct 2, 2025Talent Pull: AiSprouts VC launches referral-only bootcamp for early-stage AI startups
AiSprouts VC has launched its Founder Bootcamp program, a selective, referral-based initiative designed to support early-stage AI entrepreneurs building capital-efficient startups. The program emerges as the Silicon Valley firm deploys its Fund II, targeting pre-seed and seed-stage applied AI companies with a focus on founders who believe efficiency will determine the race toward artificial general intelligence. What you should know: The bootcamp represents a departure from traditional accelerator models, emphasizing personalized support over cohort-based programming. Unlike demo-day-driven accelerators, the program focuses on closed-door sessions, tactical frameworks, and trusted peer networks rather than public pitch events. Access is strictly referral-based, requiring...
read Oct 2, 2025No pain, no TX-GAIN: MIT unveils the most powerful AI supercomputer at any US university
MIT Lincoln Laboratory has unveiled TX-GAIN (TX-Generative AI Next), the most powerful AI supercomputer at any U.S. university, with a peak performance of two AI exaflops. The system is optimized specifically for generative AI applications and is already accelerating research across biodefense, materials discovery, cybersecurity, and other critical domains for both Lincoln Laboratory and MIT campus collaborations. What you should know: TX-GAIN represents a significant leap in university-based AI computing capabilities, powered by over 600 NVIDIA graphics processing unit accelerators designed specifically for AI operations. The system achieved recognition from TOP500, which biannually ranks the world's top supercomputers across various...
read Oct 2, 2025Linux Foundation launches Newton open-source physics engine for robotics AI
The Linux Foundation has launched Newton, an open-source, GPU-accelerated physics engine co-developed by Disney Research, Google DeepMind, and Nvidia to advance robotics AI development. The platform aims to lower barriers to robotics research by enabling faster, more scalable simulations that help robots learn complex skills and transfer them to real-world applications. What you should know: Newton addresses modern challenges in building generalist robots through advanced simulation capabilities. Built on Nvidia Warp (a programming framework for high-performance computing) and OpenUSD (a universal file format for 3D graphics), the engine delivers GPU-accelerated simulation with a flexible, extensible architecture supporting multiple physics solvers....
read Oct 2, 2025Meanwhile, a half world away, Telegram founder unveils decentralized AI lab serving 1B+ users
Telegram founder Pavel Durov announced the opening of a new AI lab in Astana at Kazakhstan's Digital Bridge forum, marking a significant expansion of the messaging platform's AI capabilities. The lab will focus on developing decentralized AI technology that combines artificial intelligence with blockchain, potentially serving Telegram's billion-plus users while positioning Kazakhstan as a central hub for East-West technological collaboration. The big picture: The Digital Bridge forum showcased Kazakhstan's emergence as a major AI development center, with world leaders and tech executives emphasizing the country's strategic position to bridge Eastern and Western innovation.• Hungary's President Tamás Sulyok highlighted how Kazakhstan...
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