Latest Technology News
AI Chip Startup Etched Raises $500M to Challenge Nvidia
Etched raised about $500 million to develop specialized AI chips for inference, targeting massive scale deployment in consumer apps and enterprise AI agents. This funding highlights investor shift toward Nvidia alternatives amid booming inference demand. Apple's multi-model AI strategy may further drive such innovations.
Deepgram Raises $130M at $1.3B Valuation for Voice AI Expansion
Voice AI startup Deepgram secured $130 million to grow internationally, build new models, and pursue acquisitions. Voice interfaces are expanding into enterprise workflows, transcription, and real-time analytics. This reinforces voice as a key AI interaction layer.
Haiqu Secures $11M for Hardware-Aware Quantum OS
Quantum software firm Haiqu raised $11 million to develop a hardware-aware stack for efficient near-term quantum applications. It tackles compute-intensive workflows and hardware optimization bottlenecks in pre-fault-tolerant systems. This advances practical quantum computing.
Intel Stock Surges 9% on Apple Design Win and 18A Success
Intel shares rose over 9% to $47.27 after a major Apple deal and KeyBanc's 'Overweight' upgrade with $60 target. The 18A node success and sold-out 2026 server CPU capacity signal Intel's IDM 2.0 turnaround. It positions Intel as a key US foundry for AI.
Fujitsu Predicts AI World Models Breakthrough in 2026
Fujitsu forecasts AI systems building digital world models for physics understanding, enabling adaptation without task-specific training. This will impact manufacturing and robotics with intuitive grasp of weight, balance, and space. Robots will gain memory, reasoning, and planning.
Agentic AI Shifts from Chatbots to Autonomous Systems
By 2026, agentic AI evolves into multi-agent systems for complex tasks, boosting productivity via orchestration across functions. IDC predicts 45% of organizations will scale AI agents by 2030.
NLP becomes primary for building simple agents.
Physical AI Moves to Production in Manufacturing and Logistics
Physical AI combining perception, reasoning, and action deploys in factories for quality assurance and predictive maintenance. Early ROI seen in warehousing, energy, and healthcare operations.
This marks shift from labs to scalable real-world use.
Cisco Prioritizes AI-Ready Infrastructure and Connectivity for 2026
Cisco's agenda focuses on AI networking for enterprises, branches, campuses, and hyperscalers, including optical support. Partners like Nvidia aid infrastructure modernization amid legacy system challenges.
Enterprises target AI workload readiness.
Vertical AI Advances in Healthcare with Patient-Facing Apps
AI in healthcare scales to symptom triage, treatment planning, and remote monitoring, benefiting 49% via patient engagement. Generative AI moves from research to widespread clinical tools.
Domain-specific models overtake general-purpose AI.
Datavault AI Launches Patented AI Rating Technology Globally
Datavault AI developed patented AI rating tech, launching with Fintech.TV in pilot season on January 14, 2026. This enhances AI evaluation in fintech applications.
It addresses growing needs for AI governance and trust.
Small Language Models Gain Traction for Enterprise Efficiency
SLMs offer faster inference, lower costs, and better control for specific tasks, domains, and industries in 2026. They complement larger models amid semiconductor and power constraints.
Governments invest billions in chip production.
AI and Quantum Computing Convergence Emerges as New Layer
Early signals show AI optimizing with quantum computing for simulation and reasoning, expanding beyond classical limits. This pairs with trends like multiagent orchestration and governance.
Power innovations like nuclear-backed facilities support growth.