Latest Software & Apps News
Google and Walmart launch Gemini-powered conversational shopping experience
Walmart and Google announced a new **Gemini-integrated shopping experience** that lets users plan purchases conversationally inside Google’s AI assistant. The service uses Walmart’s Universal Commerce Protocol to connect Gemini directly to Walmart and Sam’s Club inventory, aiming to make item discovery, list building, and reordering more intuitive and automated.
Torq raises $140M Series D to drive ‘agentic AI’ for security operations
Security automation platform **Torq** closed a $140 million Series D round at a $1.2 billion valuation to expand its AI-driven SOC automation tools. The company positions its platform around *agentic AI* that can orchestrate complex security workflows, reflecting a broader shift toward AI agents in enterprise software and cybersecurity.
Tempus AI surpasses $1.1B in total contract value for AI-driven precision medicine software
Healthcare software company **Tempus AI** reported record Total Contract Value exceeding $1.1 billion as of year-end 2025 for its AI platforms. Tempus provides clinical decision support and data analytics software to hospitals and life sciences customers, highlighting growing demand for AI SaaS in healthcare.
Debiopharm expands use of Genialis Expressions software for AI biomarker discovery
Biopharma company **Debiopharm** is expanding deployment of **Genialis Expressions**, a software platform for AI-based biomarker discovery and multiomics analytics. The collaboration aims to standardize data analysis pipelines and accelerate development of precision oncology therapies, underscoring the role of specialized AI software in drug R&D.
Microsoft open-sources XAML Studio to boost Windows UI development
Microsoft has **open-sourced XAML Studio**, a tool for prototyping Universal Windows Platform (UWP) XAML interfaces, giving developers full access to its codebase. The move, reported in early January, is intended to lower barriers for UI prototyping with features like live editing, binding debugging, and data context visualization, aligning with Microsoft’s broader open-source strategy.
Microsoft acquires Osmos to strengthen data engineering and integration stack
Microsoft announced the acquisition of **Osmos**, a data integration and onboarding platform, to enhance its data engineering and analytics ecosystem. The deal is expected to streamline how enterprises move and clean data across systems within Microsoft’s cloud and data platforms, improving end-to-end data workflows for analytics and AI applications.
AI agents dominate CES 2026 software announcements, from phones to PCs
At CES 2026, vendors spotlighted **AI agents** embedded in devices and operating systems, evolving beyond simple assistants. Samsung unveiled Galaxy AI 2.0 agents across phones and smart homes, while Microsoft integrated **Copilot 3.0** into Windows 13 with a focus on on-device, encrypted processing for security-conscious enterprises.
EU passes AI Act 2.0 with new transparency rules for agentic systems
The European Union approved **AI Act 2.0**, updating its regulatory framework to specifically address autonomous and agentic AI systems. The legislation emphasizes transparency and accountability requirements for AI agents that make or influence decisions, impacting how software and apps with embedded agents are designed and deployed in the EU.
Discord reportedly files confidential IPO paperwork, signaling app-market shake-up
Social and gaming-focused chat app **Discord**, with over 200 million monthly users, has reportedly filed paperwork for an initial public offering. An IPO would mark one of the largest listings in the consumer apps space in recent years and could influence valuations and strategy for community and communication platforms.
Gmail enters ‘Gemini era’ with AI assistance for inbox management
Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai described Gmail’s transition into a new **“Gemini era”**, using Google’s AI models to help users manage overloaded inboxes. The updated Gmail experience focuses on intelligent organization, summarization, and prioritization features, reflecting the broader trend of embedding generative AI directly into mainstream productivity apps.
Amazon extends Alexa+ to the web to compete with leading AI chatbots
Amazon is expanding **Alexa+** from devices to the web, positioning it more directly against general-purpose AI chatbots. The move aims to make Alexa’s capabilities accessible in browser-based contexts and deepen integration with Amazon’s retail and services ecosystem, reinforcing the convergence of voice assistants and chat-style AI interfaces.