Friday, January 2, 2026

SoftBank’s $40B Investment in OpenAI, Meta’s Acquisition of Manus, Expert 2026 Predictions, and Latest Funding Updates

This week in artificial intelligence saw significant developments shaping the market as it approaches 2026. SoftBank finalized a landmark $40 billion investment in OpenAI, acquiring a 10% stake and signaling a major strategic shift towards AI infrastructure. Meta announced its $2 billion acquisition of autonomous agent startup Manus to enhance its AI initiatives. Meanwhile, Octopus Energy plans to spin out its AI platform, Kraken Technologies, following a $1 billion funding round, while SoftBank aims to acquire DigitalBridge for $4 billion to bolster its AI infrastructure capabilities.

In funding news, startups like Moonshot AI raised $500 million, Hypereal AI secured seed funding for image generation, Block Security Arena received $30 million for its Web3 security solutions, and Aidoptation brought in €20 million to advance autonomous systems. Industry insights highlighted predictions for AI’s trajectory in 2026, aligning with the upcoming CES 2026, a key gathering for tech stakeholders. Stay updated with AI Insider for the latest AI and robotics news.

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