Latest Software & Apps News
Deepgram Raises $130M at $1.3B Valuation for Voice AI Expansion
Voice AI startup Deepgram secured $130 million in funding at a $1.3 billion valuation to fuel international growth, new model development, and potential acquisitions. The investment underscores voice interfaces becoming central to AI products for enterprise workflows, transcription, and real-time analytics.
This reflects rising demand for practical AI revenue streams beyond hype.
Haiqu Secures $11M for Hardware-Aware Quantum Software Stack
Quantum software startup Haiqu raised $11 million to develop a hardware-aware software stack optimizing near-term quantum applications. It addresses compute-intensive workflows and hardware constraints in pre-fault-tolerant quantum systems.
The funding highlights quantum software's potential as accessible middleware for developers.
Global App Downloads Decline 2.7% in 2025 to 106.9 Billion
Mobile app downloads fell for the fifth year, reaching 106.9 billion in 2025, down 2.7% from 2024, per Appfigures report. Despite this, consumer spending surged 21.6% to $155.8 billion, driven by subscriptions and in-app purchases.
Developers succeed in monetizing fewer but higher-value users.
Software Stocks Like Salesforce and Adobe Face Sharp Selloff
Salesforce and Adobe stocks sold off sharply due to emerging AI competitors challenging their markets. Salesforce is down 10% in 2026, amid concerns over displacement by new products.
Industry sees rising M&A activity from firms like Palo Alto Networks and IBM.
Speech Central Launches Cached Cloud Audio for Offline AI TTS
Speech Central introduced cached cloud audio feature for cost-free offline playback of AI text-to-speech content. This reduces cloud expenses and enables instant access to prior audio generations.
It enhances accessibility and user convenience in AI-driven audio apps.
AI Guide Dog App Transforms iPhone into Obstacle Detector
New AI Guide Dog app uses iPhone's LiDAR and haptic feedback to detect obstacles for blind users. Featured in discussions on accessible tech innovations alongside dating and coffee hacks for the blind community.
It showcases mobile apps advancing real-world accessibility.
Adobe Reader Update Fixes PDF Form Issues for Screen Readers
Adobe Acrobat Reader's latest update resolves bugs preventing screen reader users like JAWS from filling PDF forms. Users can check for updates to ensure proper focus and functionality.
This improves software accessibility for visually impaired individuals.
IBM Outlines 2026 Goals for Agentic AI Operationalization
IBM recommends four goals for leaders to deploy agentic AI responsibly, including defined KPIs and feedback loops. With 40% of gen AI interactions expected via agents by 2028 per Gartner, 2026 marks an agentic pivot.
Focus on measurable impact beyond pilots using platforms like watsonx.
Gen Z Report: AI Coding Tools Disrupt Software Development
AI coding assistants and code generation apps revolutionized development in 2025, boosting productivity but sparking job market concerns for juniors. They enable non-technical app creation amid a tough junior dev hiring landscape.
Investments and acquisitions in AI startups surged significantly.
Google's Willow Quantum Chip Advances Error Correction
Google released its experimental Willow quantum chip in 2025, reducing errors as qubits increase, tackling key quantum challenges. This milestone supports broader quantum software ecosystem growth.
It positions quantum tech for practical software applications.
App Monetization Startups Raise Big Amid Revenue Boom
Subscription tools like RevenueCat ($50M Series C) and Appcharge ($58M Series B) capitalize on 21.6% app spending growth. Liftoff Mobile filed for IPO to aid app marketing and monetization.
Shift to sustainable models drives ecosystem businesses despite download declines.