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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