AI news and funding updates from the last 24 hours(1st April 2025):
✅ Amazon
- Nova Act SDK: Amazon released its Nova Act SDK powered by Nova foundation models, enabling developers to build AI agents that automate web browser tasks (e.g., searching, checkout). This positions Amazon to compete with offerings from OpenAI and Anthropic.
- Alexa+: The upgraded Alexa+ assistant has launched but is missing several key features (such as agentic tasks and visual person recognition), with some functionalities limited to a select group.
✅ HCLTech
- Semiconductor Partnership: HCLTech became a Design Solution Partner in Samsung’s Advanced Foundry Ecosystem (SAFE™), combining its engineering expertise with Samsung’s process technologies for ASIC design.
- Public Sector Solutions: HCLTech also introduced a new subsidiary—HCLTech Public Sector Solutions—to deliver AI-driven digital transformation for U.S. government agencies and related organizations.
✅ Infosys
- Responsible AI Initiative: Infosys partnered with Linux Foundation Networking (LFN) to promote Responsible AI adoption by contributing its Responsible AI Toolkit (built on the AI3S framework) to projects like Salus and Essedum.
✅ OpenAI
- Massive Funding & Expansion: OpenAI secured $40 billion in funding, reaching a post-money valuation of $300 billion, to enhance its infrastructure for ChatGPT’s 500 million weekly users.
- Open-Weight Model & Image Generation: The company is preparing its first open-weight language model since GPT-2 and recently released a new image generator powered by GPT-4o for all ChatGPT users—even as it faces capacity challenges (including temporary video generation disablement in the Sora AI tool and service slowdowns due to high demand).
- Content Misuse Concerns: ChatGPT’s new image generator, capable of generating realistic text within images, has raised concerns over the creation of convincing fake receipts, prompting discussions about creative freedom versus potential misuse.
✅ Agility Robotics
- Funding for Humanoid Robots: Agility Robotics is raising $400 million—valuing the company at $1.75 billion—to further develop its humanoid robot Digit for warehouse and industrial tasks, with deployments already seen at companies like Amazon and SPANX.
✅ Akamai
- Cloud Video Processing: Akamai launched Cloud Accelerated Compute Instances integrating NETINT Video Processing Units (VPUs) to deliver scalable, efficient, and cost-effective video streaming solutions in the cloud.
✅ Microsoft
- AI Startups & Innovation: Microsoft CTO Kevin Scott highlighted the creative potential of AI startups, noting that smaller companies (e.g., Cursor) can explore unique opportunities that large corporations might overlook.
✅ TCS
- Marathon Partnership: TCS became the official AI and technology partner for the Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris. Using innovations from its Paris-based PacePort hub, TCS will enhance race-day experiences with performance tracking and AI-powered coaching.
✅ Chef Robotics
- Robotic Meal Assembly: Chef Robotics secured $43.1 million in Series A funding to expand its AI-powered robotic meal assembly systems. Their technology—powered by ChefOS—has already produced over 44 million meals, supporting food automation at companies like Amy’s Kitchen and Sunbasket.
✅ Runway
- Gen-4 Video Generator: Runway debuted Gen-4, an advanced AI video generation model that offers superior fidelity, dynamic motion, and consistency in maintaining characters and scenes. Despite its innovative features, Runway faces a copyright lawsuit regarding its training data practices.
✅ Andhra Pradesh / Quantum Valley
- Quantum Computing Hub: The Andhra Pradesh government launched Quantum Valley in Amaravati, a project in collaboration with IIT Madras, IBM, and TCS, to create a world-class quantum computing hub and drive deep tech innovation aligned with India’s National Quantum Mission.
