Invests

• Microsoft is investing billions of dollars to expand the AI infrastructure of Mistral AI, a French artificial intelligence company, across Europe. • The partnership aims to scale Mistral's capabilities and increase the availability of high-performance AI models within the European market. • This strategic move allows Microsoft to strengthen its presence in Europe while providing Mistral with the massive computing power needed for advanced model development.

The £200,000 move comes after harvests in Britain hit by wet winter, spring frost and hail, then heatwavesThe owner of Ribena is to invest £200,000 in helping blackcurrant bushes withstand stress after extreme weather put a squeeze on this year’s UK harvest.That harvest is now under way in the berry’s main growing regions including East Anglia, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Kent and Scotland. It is expected to be about 10% below the average of 10,000 tonnes, as the climate crisis drives extreme weather across Britain and elsewhere. Continue reading...

Retailer admits it struggled in June heatwave and also had to order more ice-cream to keep pace with demandMarks & Spencer is investing in refrigeration equipment that can cope with weather as hot as 45C as the climate crisis is expected to drive regularly higher temperatures in the UK.“There is no doubt we were struggling in the nine days of [recent] extreme heat,” Stuart Machin, the chief executive of the food, fashion, beauty and homewares retailer, told shareholders at the group’s annual meeting in London on Tuesday. Continue reading...

• Microsoft is investing $2.5 billion to establish a forward deployed engineering team designed to help companies integrate artificial intelligence into their business operations. • The initiative aims to bridge the gap between AI potential and practical application, ensuring firms can fully realize the value of AI tools in the workplace. • This strategic move highlights the growing corporate demand for specialized technical guidance to implement complex AI systems at scale.

• Serial entrepreneur Bhavin Turakhia has invested $30 million of his personal capital into Neo, an AI-first productivity suite. • Neo is designed to compete directly with established industry giants such as Microsoft Office and Google. • Turakhia brings a strong track record of scaling technology, including the fintech unicorn Zeta and the productivity tool Titan, both of which reached $300 million valuations.

• South Korea has unveiled a massive investment plan totaling 800 trillion won (approximately $518 billion) to bolster its semiconductor industry. • The initiative focuses on advancing microchip production and developing critical infrastructure for artificial intelligence to maintain a global competitive edge. • This strategic move is designed to secure South Korea's position as a world leader in technology while directly competing with China's growing influence in the sector.

• Portugal is investing up to 200 million euros to establish an AI Gigafactory, a project aimed at expanding the nation's computing capacity. • The investment is expected to be matched by the EuroHPC, potentially bringing the total joint funding for the first phase to 400 million euros. • This initiative is part of a broader European strategy to develop AI Gigafactories, strengthening the region's technological infrastructure and AI capabilities.

• Amazon has invested €17 billion in low-carbon technologies across the EU and UK since 2021, focusing on carbon-free energy, transport electrification, and sustainable packaging. • An independent analysis by Frontier Economics reveals these investments have supported up to 144,000 jobs and generated approximately €11 billion in gross value added (GVA). • The initiative aims to accelerate Europe's transition to a low-carbon economy while enhancing the region's overall industrial competitiveness.

• FE Fundinfo's 2026 Asset Managers Report identifies fragmented fund data as a critical barrier to operational efficiency and distribution effectiveness for asset managers. • To address these gaps, firms are currently investing in new technology, specialized talent, and the consolidation of vendors to strengthen their operational foundations. • This issue matters because data silos hinder the ability of asset managers to scale their distribution and maintain streamlined internal processes.

• Spain has announced a €719 million ($834 million) investment to establish an AI gigafactory aimed at boosting local technological capabilities. • The initiative seeks to reduce the nation's reliance on foreign technology and ensure that AI development aligns with strict European Union regulations. • To further enhance its advanced computing power, the Spanish government will become a shareholder in a company bidding for additional EU funding.

• The French government, led by Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, announced a €655 million ($758.29 million) investment in artificial intelligence. • A primary goal of this funding is the implementation of a single, unified chatbot system to be used across all public services. • This initiative aims to modernize state administration and improve the efficiency of citizen interactions with government agencies.

• SoftBank is investing billions of dollars to construct multiple AI data centers in France, targeting a total capacity of up to five gigawatts. • The initiative leverages France's existing technology ecosystem, accelerated government approval processes, and strategic access to the European electricity grid. • This move is significant as it aligns SoftBank with Mistral, a leading European AI company developing its own powerful foundation models.

• Booz Allen Hamilton invested in NODA AI's Series A, selecting it as sole orchestrator for a Department of War autonomy initiative. • The investment aligns with DoW's $55 billion funding plan for autonomous systems including orchestration tech. • NODA joins Booz Allen's $300 million portfolio of startups advancing mission-ready autonomy for defense.

Company promises to meet new delivery targets by next May after being fined last year for poor recordBusiness live – latest updatesSecond-class post will be delivered every other weekday and scrapped on Saturdays from next month as part of a £500m plan to tackle late deliveries at struggling Royal Mail.The delivery company has been testing a new letter delivery pattern in a pilot since July, and it will be rolled out nationwide in May. Continue reading...

• Amazon led a $4 billion investment in Agility Robotics on April 19, 2026, to deploy 10,000 Digit humanoid robots in US warehouses by 2027. • Digit robots handle picking and packing tasks, reducing labor costs by 30% per Amazon executives. • Deal bolsters Amazon's automation push amid labor shortages and union pressures in fulfillment centers.

• Whalen Wealth Management acquired a new stake of 5,261 shares in Chevron (NYSE:CVX), valued at approximately $802,000, during Q4. • Institutional investors now hold 72.42% of Chevron; Bank of America raised its price target to $206 with a 'buy' rating, while Citigroup lifted to $235. • Chevron reported Q4 EPS of $1.52, beating estimates by $0.08; the stock's 50-day moving average stands at $189.15 and 200-day at $166.77.

• FANUC America announced a $90 million investment on March 24, 2026, to build production-ready capacity for robot manufacturing in Rochester Hills, Michigan. • The project, targeting completion in late 2027, will create 225 new jobs and boost engineering for automation solutions including physical AI and digital twins. • This brings FANUC's US investments since 2019 to nearly $300 million, expanding facilities to 3 million sq. ft. and creating over 700 jobs.