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• La valoración de Anthropic se disparó de $61B a $900B en aproximadamente 14 meses, lo que refleja un interés sin precedentes de los inversores en las capacidades y la trayectoria de crecimiento de la empresa de AI. • El aumento de la valoración está impulsado por un sólido rendimiento de los ingresos y la confianza de los inversores en los modelos e investigación de AI de Anthropic, posicionándola como un competidor formidable para OpenAI en el mercado de generative AI. • El rápido ascenso demuestra la intensificación de la competencia de capital en el desarrollo de frontier AI, con grandes inversores respaldando múltiples startups de AI para cubrir sus apuestas sobre el potencial transformador de la tecnología.

• En el primer trimestre de 2026, las empresas de tecnología de seguros impulsadas por IA atrajeron un capital significativo, incluyendo la ronda semilla más Serie A de 47 millones de dólares de Harper Group y la Serie B de 50 millones de dólares de Indigo Technologies, ambas centradas en flujos de trabajo de suscripción y reclamaciones automatizados por IA. • Plataformas como Mea Platforms, Pasito, General Magic y Qumis recaudaron entre 4,3 y 50 millones de dólares para automatizar procesos con gran carga de documentos, reducir los índices de siniestralidad y acortar los tiempos de cotización y emisión para pequeñas y medianas empresas. • Los inversores están respaldando a proveedores con sede en EE. UU. que utilizan la IA para escalar la distribución sin un crecimiento proporcional de la plantilla, reducir la fricción en la selección de beneficios y mejorar la selección de riesgos en ramos comerciales.

Algunos viajeros pasaron horas en las filas de los aeropuertos, con quioscos que no funcionaban, pocos asientos y poco personal disponible para ayudar. Algunos viajeros que pasan por el nuevo sistema de entrada y salida de la UE (EES) se han enfrentado a enormes retrasos en los controles fronterizos, con esperas de hasta tres horas, según informan los aeropuertos. Las nuevas normas se han ido introduciendo gradualmente en Europa desde octubre de 2025 y entraron en vigor el viernes en los países Schengen: 25 de los 27 estados de la UE más Islandia, Noruega, Liechtenstein y Suiza. Continuar leyendo...

• Cognizant anunció el lanzamiento de su Innovation Network el 28 de abril de 2026, un brazo de inversión corporativa dirigido a startups de software empresarial en etapas iniciales a intermedias en los US. • El AI Lab valida innovaciones prometedoras, mientras que la red apoya a las startups para convertirlas en productos para clientes Global 2000 como aquellos en logística y reclutamiento. • Esta iniciativa acelera la integración de tecnologías innovadoras en las soluciones de Cognizant, mejorando el valor empresarial ante la creciente adopción de la IA.

Meta, propietaria de Facebook, adquirió Manus en diciembre de 2025 por más de 2.000 millones de dólares en un intento de impulsar sus capacidades en agentes de IA.

Meta afirmó el lunes que la transacción "cumplió plenamente con la ley aplicable" y que anticipa "una resolución apropiada a la investigación".(Crédito de la imagen: Jeff Chiu/AP)

• Anthropic anunció la adquisición de Coefficient Bio, una startup de IA con sede en EE. UU. especializada en modelado biológico, el 27 de abril de 2026. • El acuerdo tiene como objetivo integrar las herramientas de IA de diseño de proteínas de Coefficient con los modelos Claude de Anthropic para aplicaciones avanzadas en el descubrimiento de fármacos. • Este movimiento posiciona a Anthropic en el competitivo espacio de la biotecnología de IA en medio de inversiones crecientes, acelerando potencialmente los avances en medicina personalizada.

• Google anunció el 27 de abril de 2026 un fondo de 750 millones de dólares destinado a startups que desarrollan agentes de IA. • El fondo tiene como objetivo acelerar la innovación en las tecnologías de agentes de IA en medio de una competencia cada vez más intensa. • Esta iniciativa subraya el compromiso de Google de fomentar el ecosistema de la IA, desafiando potencialmente a rivales como OpenAI y Anthropic.

• La Comisión Nacional de Desarrollo y Reforma de China prohibió la adquisición de Manus, una startup de IA con sede en Singapur, por parte de Meta el 27 de abril de 2026, exigiendo la retirada de todas las partes. • Manus, que tiene raíces chinas, fue objeto de una revisión de seguridad de inversión extranjera a pesar de las afirmaciones de cumplimiento de Meta desde su sede en California. • La decisión intensifica las tensiones tecnológicas entre EE. UU. y China, afectando la expansión de la IA de Meta y las fusiones y adquisiciones transfronterizas en semiconductores y herramientas de inteligencia.

• A leading AI startup focused on enterprise AI solutions secured $150 million in Series B funding on April 25, 2026. • The round was led by Lightspeed Ventures and SoftBank, signaling strong investor confidence in scalable AI technologies for businesses. • This funding underscores accelerating growth in the US enterprise AI sector amid rising demand for efficient AI deployment tools.

• Toronto-based Cohere Inc. and Germany's Aleph Alpha GmbH announced plans to merge, supported by a $600 million structured financing commitment from Schwarz Group. • Cohere, which has raised $1.6 billion since 2019 from Nvidia and others, offers multiple AI models; the Series E deal expects additional investors and closure later in 2026. • The merger combines expertise in enterprise AI, potentially accelerating development amid US-China tech tensions and boosting competitive edge for Western AI firms.

• Los Angeles-based SimpleClosure unveiled Asset Hub, a marketplace enabling founders to sell intellectual property, source code, data, and equipment during startup wind-down operations as closures rise across the sector. • The platform addresses investor demand for structured, transparent exit processes that preserve value and minimize operational friction during company shutdowns. • Asset Hub reflects broader industry recognition that failed startups retain valuable IP assets and that organized liquidation marketplaces can recover capital otherwise lost in traditional bankruptcy proceedings.

• SpaceX secured an option to purchase AI coding startup Cursor for $60 billion USD, signaling aggressive expansion into artificial intelligence development tools. • The acquisition option reflects Cursor's prominence in AI-assisted software development, a rapidly consolidating market attracting major technology conglomerates. • The deal underscores SpaceX's strategic pivot toward internal AI capabilities to accelerate software development for space exploration and satellite internet infrastructure.

• Port, an AI startup in cybersecurity, raised $100 million in its third funding round led by General Atlantic, achieving an $800 million valuation. • The funding supports expansion in cloud infrastructure protection technologies. • This round reflects investor confidence in AI-driven defenses against evolving cyber threats in the US market.

Cursor is aSilicon Valley startup using AI to automate coding as Elon Musk’s firm seeks foothold in the AI marketSpaceX said it has secured an option to either acquire code-generation startup Cursor for $60bn later this year, or pay $10bn for their new partnership, as it pushes deeper into the lucrative market for AI developer tools.Along with OpenAI and Anthropic, Cursor is one of several Silicon Valley startups that has drawn waves of developers by using artificial intelligence to automate coding, a business where AI companies have found early commercial traction. 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.

• Microsoft announced the acquisition of Cerberus AI, a Boston-based cybersecurity startup, for $2.1 billion on April 19 to enhance real-time threat detection across Azure cloud infrastructure. • Cerberus AI's proprietary machine learning platform identified over 50,000 zero-day vulnerabilities in the past year and will integrate with Microsoft Defender to provide unified threat management across enterprise environments. • The acquisition marks Microsoft's continued investment in AI-driven security as cloud-based attacks have increased 35% year-over-year, according to recent industry reports.

• Stripe completed the acquisition of Wise Exchange, a fintech startup specializing in cross-border payment optimization, for $1.2 billion in stock on April 18, expanding its international payment capabilities. • The acquisition adds Wise Exchange's proprietary currency conversion algorithms and partnerships with 40+ financial institutions across Europe, Asia, and Americas to Stripe's existing platform. • Industry analysts view this acquisition as Stripe's strategic response to intensifying competition from Block, PayPal, and traditional payment networks in the global payments sector.

• Sequoia Capital announced a $7 billion expansion fund under new leadership specifically targeting late-stage AI startups across the U.S. and Europe. • The fund aims to accelerate growth for mature AI companies navigating scaling challenges in competitive markets. • This massive capital injection underscores surging investor confidence in AI's long-term potential amid rapid technological advancements.

• American Express acquired Hyper, an AI startup specializing in automating expense categorization, compliance, and reporting. • Hyper's agent-based technology supports multistep workflows with minimal human input, targeting corporate finance teams. • The deal bolsters AmEx's commercial services amid surging demand for AI in financial operations.

• China's government investigation into Meta Platforms' acquisition of Manus has created uncertainty among Chinese AI startup founders seeking exit opportunities. • The probe has disrupted what was previously considered a popular exit pathway for Chinese AI startups, casting a shadow over international investment and acquisition strategies. • The regulatory scrutiny reflects China's heightened focus on controlling technology transfers and foreign acquisitions of strategic Chinese tech assets.

• Andreessen Horowitz has successfully closed a $15 billion fund dedicated to artificial intelligence startups, representing one of the largest venture capital commitments to the AI sector. • The fund targets investment opportunities across healthcare, enterprise software, and robotics sectors, focusing on companies leveraging generative AI technologies. • The massive capital commitment reflects continued investor confidence in AI-driven innovation despite broader market dynamics and demonstrates venture capital's long-term commitment to the generative AI space.

Iran says Americans will be hit with higher fuel prices due to the blockade. Plus, summers are growing longer globallyGood morning.The US has begun blocking ships from using Iranian ports in the Gulf, transforming the US-Israeli war against Iran into a test of economic endurance.How could Centcom enforce the blockade? It is unclear, but as a missile strike on a tanker attempting to break the blockade could cause an environmental disaster, it is possible that US forces could try to board and seize any vessel not obeying their instructions.Follow the latest updates on our live blog.Did Swalwell also face expulsion? Yes, there were bipartisan calls for it. Swalwell acknowledged the threat of removal from office, saying: “Expelling anyone in Congress without due process, within days of an allegation being made, is wrong. But it’s also wrong for my constituents to have me distracted from my duties. Therefore, I plan to resign my seat in Congress.” Continue reading...

Iran warns Americans they face higher pump prices due to prohibition scheduled to start on Monday eveningMiddle East crisis – live updatesThe US blockade of ships using Iranian ports in the Gulf was due to take effect on Monday evening, turning the six-week-old conflict between the US-Israeli coalition and Iran into a test of economic endurance.US Central Command (Centcom) made no formal announcement of the start of the blockade but had said it would take effect at 5.30pm Iranian time (3pm UK time) on Monday, and would apply to any ships entering or departing Iranian ports or coastal areas, while ships using non-Iranian ports would not be impeded. Continue reading...

• JPMorgan Chase announced Thursday the acquisition of a fintech startup specializing in regional bank digitalization for $5.2 billion in cash, marking one of 2026's largest financial services M&A deals. • The acquisition will expand JPMorgan's capabilities in serving mid-sized regional banks, addressing a strategic gap as community lenders face increased competition from digital-native competitors. • JPMorgan executives stated the deal is expected to generate $200 million in annual cost synergies by 2028 and will close in the fourth quarter of 2026, subject to regulatory approval.

Concerns raised over use of travel data in determining whether people are ‘continuously’ in UK, after HMRC fiasco Ministers are to start removing post-Brexit residency rights from EU citizens who are no longer “continuously” living in the UK.The initiative is legal under the 2020 Brexit withdrawal agreement but the decision to use travel data to partially determine absences has raised concerns following the HMRC fiasco that saw almost 20,000 parents stripped of child benefits because of inaccurate Home Office border data. Continue reading...