Reports
Meta Accused of Hiding Scam Ads From Regulators: Report
Reuters said Meta focused on managing regulatory scrutiny rather than eliminating scam ads.
The Left Shift Bureau
Acquisition
NVIDIA in Talks to Acquire AI21 Labs in Deal Valued up to $3 Bn: Report
Recently, NVIDIA also acquired AI inference chip startup Groq.
AI Models
OpenAI is Developing a New AI Model for Real-Time, Natural-Sounding Audio Generation
The model is expected to launch by the end of March and is designed to produce more natural-sounding speech while supporting smoother, real-time conversational interactions.
Acquisition
SoftBank to Buy DigitalBridge for $4 Bn in Push to Build AI Data Centre Infrastructure
The transaction was unanimously approved by DigitalBridge’s board and a special committee of independent directors.
AI Startups
OpenAI Weighs Ads Inside ChatGPT as It Searches for a Sustainable Revenue Model
The company is in the early stages of evaluating potential ad formats and partnerships.
Acquisition
Coforge to Acquire Encora in $2.35 Bn All-Stock Deal, Bets Big on AI-Led Engineering
Founded in Silicon Valley, Encora provides AI-native software engineering services to digital-native companies and Fortune 1000 enterprises.
Acquisition
Meta Acquires Singapore-Based AI Agent Startup Manus in Multi-Billion Dollar Deal
Meta plans to integrate Manus’ technology into its Meta AI assistant and other consumer and enterprise products across platforms,Earl including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger.
Acquisition
Cautio Acquires Two-Wheeler Safety Startup BYTES to Expand AI Road Safety Platform
The acquisition will see BYTES’ team and core technology absorbed into Cautio’s operations
Drones
Sarla Aviation Begins Ground Tests of Air Taxis in Bengaluru
SYL-X1 features a 7.5-metre wingspan and serves as a sub-scale platform for the company’s planned full-scale aircraft with a 15-metre wingspan.
Funding
Bengaluru-Based Prosperr.io Raises $4 Mn to Build AI-Powered Tax Infrastructure for India
The startup offers an always-on tax platform for salaried individuals that adapts to financial goals, unlocks eligible deductions, and enables proactive advisor communication.
AI Startups
Yann LeCun’s Next Act: €500 Million AI Venture Focused on World Models
The venture, expected to be called Advanced Machine Intelligence (AMI) Labs, is likely to be announced in January.
AI Models
Bengaluru-Based Gnani.ai Launches Indic Speech-to-Text Model Under IndiaAI Mission
Vachana STT supports multiple Indian languages and is built for deployment across sectors such as banking, telecom, and customer support.