AI news and funding updates from the last 24 hours(17th April 2025):
Microsoft Research
Model innovation: Developed BitNet b1.58 2B4T, a 2 billion‑parameter LM operating at 1.58 bits per weight.
Performance: Matches full‑precision models on coding, math, and language tasks; runs efficiently even on CPUs like Apple’s M2.
Accessibility: Weights and code open‑sourced, though optimal use currently tied to Microsoft’s custom framework.
OpenAI
Windsurf acquisition: AI coding assistant maker Windsurf (formerly Codeium) in talks to sell to OpenAI for $3 billion, potentially conflicting with OpenAI’s stake in rival Cursor.
Model releases: Rolled out o3 (their most powerful model) and o4‑mini (efficient in STEM/data science), both with full tool access in ChatGPT and enhanced reasoning.
Developer tools: Launched Codex CLI, an open‑source multimodal coding agent for terminal use; $1 million in API grants offered to spur adoption.
Safety measures: Deployed a “safety‑focused reasoning monitor” to block biological/chemical threat prompts for o3 and o4‑mini.
Stargate expansion: OpenAI’s $500 billion AI infrastructure project with Oracle and SoftBank exploring UK, Germany, France, beyond its U.S. focus.
Privacy risks: Trend of using ChatGPT’s o3 for image‑based location ID raises doxxing concerns—no safeguards currently in place.
Tech Data & NVIDIA
Partnership: Tech Data to distribute NVIDIA’s enterprise AI and data‑centre solutions across India.
Offerings: Full‑stack access to NVIDIA GPUs and software (CUDA‑X, NIM microservices), leveraging Tech Data’s partner network and “Destination AI” program.
ABB
Spin‑off: Planning to list ABB Robotics separately by Q2 2026 (pending shareholder approval).
Strategic aim: To sharpen focus—ABB Robotics on intelligent automation/AI, and integrate Machine Automation into Process Automation—while the remaining ABB Group zeroes in on electrification and automation.
IBM
Model lineup: Released Granite 3.3, highlighted by Granite Speech 3.3 8B for speech‑to‑text and translation.
Features: High accuracy, cost‑efficiency, English→multiple‑language translation; open‑sourced under Apache 2.0.
Roadmap: Granite 4.0 in development, promising greater speed and capacity.
xAI
Chatbot memory: Added a memory feature to Grok, enabling recall of past conversations for personalised interactions.
User controls: Transparency and deletion options; currently beta (excl. EU/UK).
JetBrains
Subscription unification: Consolidated AI Assistant and new coding agent Junie (powered by Claude) under one subscription across all IDEs, plus introduced a free tier.
Enhancements: AI Assistant now supports multi‑file edits and context‑aware suggestions; Junie assists from planning through code‑quality improvements.
Partnerships: Collaborations with Anthropic, OpenAI, and Google Cloud underpin its AI strategy.
Iksha Labs
Product launch: Unveiled RUMI, an AI‐driven recruitment agent for automated candidate screening and assessment.
Impact: Achieved a 50 % reduction in average hiring time.
Future plans: To refine RUMI further and integrate it with CRM/ATS platforms to drive hiring effectiveness and cut operational inefficiencies (building on past AI solutions that reduced costs by up to 40 %).
Operant AI
Platform release: Launched AI Gatekeeper, a real‑time security platform for live AI applications across diverse infrastructures.
Key features: Trust scoring, advanced access controls, protection against rogue agents and data breaches.
Expansion & funding: Entered the Indian market backed by $13.5 million in funding; aligns with India’s “Make in India” push to secure enterprise AI deployments.
Sify Technologies
New facility: Opened Chennai 02 data centre campus—South India’s largest AI‑ready centre (> 130 MW capacity; up to 200 kW per rack).
