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• Anthropic का मूल्यांकन लगभग 14 महीनों में $61B से बढ़कर $900B हो गया, जो AI कंपनी की क्षमताओं और विकास पथ में निवेशकों की अभूतपूर्व रुचि को दर्शाता है। • मूल्यांकन में यह उछाल दमदार राजस्व प्रदर्शन और Anthropic के AI मॉडल और अनुसंधान में निवेशकों के भरोसे से प्रेरित है, जो इसे जेनरेटिव AI बाजार में OpenAI के एक मजबूत प्रतिद्वंद्वी के रूप में स्थापित करता है। • यह तेजी से हुआ उत्थान फ्रंटियर AI विकास में बढ़ती पूंजीगत प्रतिस्पर्धा को प्रदर्शित करता है, जिसमें प्रमुख निवेशक इस तकनीक की परिवर्तनकारी क्षमता पर दांव लगाने के लिए कई AI स्टार्टअप का समर्थन कर रहे हैं।

• 2026 की पहली तिमाही में, AI-संचालित बीमा प्रौद्योगिकी कंपनियों ने महत्वपूर्ण पूंजी आकर्षित की, जिसमें Harper Group का $47 मिलियन का seed plus Series A और Indigo Technologies का $50 मिलियन का Series B शामिल है, जो दोनों AI-स्वचालित underwriting और claims workflows पर केंद्रित हैं। • Mea Platforms, Pasito, General Magic और Qumis जैसे प्लेटफ़ॉर्म्स ने दस्तावेज़-प्रधान प्रक्रियाओं को स्वचालित करने, loss ratios को कम करने और छोटे और मध्यम आकार के व्यवसायों के लिए quote and bind के समय को कम करने के लिए $4.3 मिलियन से $50 मिलियन के बीच जुटाए। • निवेशक उन अमेरिका-आधारित वेंडर्स का समर्थन कर रहे हैं जो कर्मचारियों की संख्या (headcount) में आनुपातिक वृद्धि के बिना वितरण (distribution) को बढ़ाने, लाभ चयन में बाधाओं को कम करने और कमर्शियल लाइन्स में जोखिम चयन (risk selection) में सुधार करने के लिए AI का उपयोग करते हैं।

• कुछ यात्रियों ने हवाई अड्डों पर घंटों कतारों में बिताए, जहाँ kiosks काम नहीं कर रहे थे, बैठने की जगह बहुत कम थी और मदद के लिए बहुत कम कर्मचारी मौजूद थे • नए EU entry-exit system (EES) से गुजरने वाले कुछ यात्रियों को बॉर्डर चेक पर भारी देरी का सामना करना पड़ा है, हवाई अड्डों का कहना है कि कुछ यात्रियों को तीन घंटे तक इंतज़ार करना पड़ा • Europe में October 2025 से नए नियम धीरे-धीरे पेश किए गए हैं, और शुक्रवार को Schengen countries में प्रभावी हो गए – इसमें EU के 27 राज्यों में से 25 के अलावा Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein और Switzerland शामिल हैं

• Cognizant ने 28 अप्रैल, 2026 को अपने Innovation Network के शुभारंभ की घोषणा की, जो US में शुरुआती से मध्य-चरण के enterprise software startups को लक्षित करने वाली एक कॉर्पोरेट निवेश शाखा है। • AI Lab आशाजनक नवाचारों को प्रमाणित करती है, जबकि यह नेटवर्क स्टार्टअप्स को logistics और recruitment जैसे क्षेत्रों के Global 2000 क्लाइंट्स के लिए उन्हें उत्पादों में बदलने में सहायता करता है। • यह पहल Cognizant के समाधानों में breakthrough technologies के एकीकरण को गति देती है, जिससे बढ़ते AI adoption के बीच enterprise value में वृद्धि होती है।

Facebook की मालिक कंपनी Meta ने AI एजेंट्स में अपनी क्षमताओं को बढ़ाने के प्रयास में दिसंबर 2025 में 2 बिलियन अमेरिकी डॉलर से अधिक में Manus का अधिग्रहण किया था।

Meta ने सोमवार को कहा कि लेनदेन "लागू कानून का पूरी तरह से अनुपालन करता था" और उसे उम्मीद है कि "जांच का उचित समाधान होगा।"(Image credit: Jeff Chiu/AP)

• Anthropic ने 27 अप्रैल, 2026 को जैविक मॉडलिंग (biological modeling) में विशेषज्ञता रखने वाले अमेरिका स्थित AI स्टार्टअप Coefficient Bio के अधिग्रहण की घोषणा की। • इस सौदे का उद्देश्य उन्नत दवा खोज (drug discovery) अनुप्रयोगों के लिए Coefficient के प्रोटीन डिज़ाइन AI टूल्स को Anthropic के Claude मॉडल्स के साथ एकीकृत करना है। • यह कदम बढ़ते निवेशों के बीच Anthropic को प्रतिस्पर्धी AI-बायोटेक क्षेत्र में स्थापित करता है, जो संभावित रूप से व्यक्तिगत चिकित्सा (personalized medicine) की खोजों को तेज कर सकता है।

• Google ने 27 अप्रैल, 2026 को AI एजेंट विकसित करने वाले स्टार्टअप्स के लिए 750 मिलियन डॉलर के फंड की घोषणा की। • इस फंड का उद्देश्य बढ़ती प्रतिस्पर्धा के बीच AI एजेंट तकनीकों में नवाचार को गति देना है। • यह पहल AI इकोसिस्टम को बढ़ावा देने के प्रति Google की प्रतिबद्धता को रेखांकित करती है, जो संभावित रूप से OpenAI और Anthropic जैसे प्रतिद्वंद्वियों को चुनौती दे सकती है।

• चीन के National Development and Reform Commission ने 27 अप्रैल, 2026 को Meta द्वारा सिंगापुर स्थित AI स्टार्टअप Manus के अधिग्रहण पर रोक लगा दी और सभी पक्षों को इसे वापस लेने का निर्देश दिया। • चीनी जड़ों वाले Manus को विदेशी निवेश की सुरक्षा समीक्षा के दायरे में रखा गया, जबकि Meta ने अपने कैलिफोर्निया मुख्यालय से अनुपालन के दावे किए थे। • यह निर्णय अमेरिका-चीन तकनीकी तनाव को बढ़ाता है, जिससे Meta के AI विस्तार और सेमीकंडक्टर एवं इंटेलिजेंस टूल्स में सीमा पार M&A (विलय और अधिग्रहण) पर प्रभाव पड़ेगा।

• 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...