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• Anthropicの評価額は約14ヶ月で$61Bから$900Bへと急騰。これは、同AI企業の能力と成長軌道に対する前例のない投資家の関心を反映している。 • この評価額の急騰は、好調な収益実績とAnthropicのAIモデルおよび研究に対する投資家の信頼に裏打ちされたものであり、生成AI市場において同社をOpenAIの強力な競合相手として位置づけている。 • この急速な台頭は、フロンティアAI開発における資本競争の激化を物語っており、主要な投資家がテクノロジーの変革をもたらす可能性に賭け、リスクヘッジのために複数のAIスタートアップを支援している現状を示している。

• 2026年第1四半期、AI駆動型の保険テクノロジー企業が多額の資金を引き付けた。これには、AIによる自動アンダーライティングと保険金請求ワークフローに注力する Harper Group による4,700万ドルのシード＋シリーズAや、Indigo Technologies による5,000万ドルのシリーズBが含まれる。 • Mea Platforms、Pasito、General Magic、Qumis などのプラットフォームは、書類の多いプロセスの自動化、損害率の低減、中小企業向けの見積もりから成約（quote and bind）までの時間短縮を目的に、430万ドルから5,000万ドルの資金を調達した。 • 投資家は、人員を比例して増やすことなく流通を拡大し、福利厚生選択の摩擦を軽減し、コマーシャルラインにおけるリスク選別を改善するためにAIを活用する米国拠点のベンダーを支援している。

• 空港で何時間も列に並び、キオスク端末の故障や座席の不足、対応スタッフの少なさに直面した旅行者もいた。 • 新しいEU出入国システム（EES）を利用する一部の旅行者が国境検問で大幅な遅延に直面しており、空港関係者によると最大3時間の待ち時間が発生しているという。 • この新規則は2025年10月から欧州で段階的に導入され、金曜日にはシェンゲン協定加盟国（EU加盟27カ国のうち25カ国、およびアイスランド、ノルウェー、リヒテンシュタイン、スイス）で正式に施行された。続きを読む...

• Cognizantは2026年4月28日、米国の中早期段階のエンタープライズソフトウェアスタートアップを対象とした企業投資部門「Innovation Network」の設立を発表した。 • AI Labが有望なイノベーションを検証し、ネットワークを通じてスタートアップを支援することで、物流や採用分野などのGlobal 2000クライアント向け製品へと具体化させる。 • この取り組みにより、画期的な技術をCognizantのソリューションへ統合することを加速させ、AI導入が進む中で企業の価値を高める。

Meta, which owns Facebook, acquired Manus in December 2025 for more than US$2 billion in a bid to boost its capabilities in AI agents.

Meta said Monday that the transaction "complied fully with applicable law" and that it anticipates "an appropriate resolution to the inquiry."(Image credit: Jeff Chiu/AP)

• Anthropic announced the acquisition of Coefficient Bio, a U.S.-based AI startup specializing in biological modeling, on April 27, 2026. • The deal aims to integrate Coefficient's protein design AI tools with Anthropic's Claude models for advanced drug discovery applications. • This move positions Anthropic in the competitive AI-biotech space amid rising investments, potentially accelerating personalized medicine breakthroughs.

• Google announced a $750 million fund on April 27, 2026, targeting startups developing AI agents. • The fund aims to accelerate innovation in AI agent technologies amid intensifying competition. • This initiative underscores Google's commitment to fostering the AI ecosystem, potentially challenging rivals like OpenAI and Anthropic.

• China's National Development and Reform Commission prohibited Meta's acquisition of Singapore-based AI startup Manus on April 27, 2026, requiring all parties to withdraw. • Manus, with Chinese roots, was targeted in a security review of foreign investment despite Meta's compliance claims from its California headquarters. • The decision heightens US-China tech tensions, impacting Meta's AI expansion and cross-border M&A in semiconductors and intelligence tools.

• 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...