Alphabet’s Isomorphic Labs has successfully raised $2.1 billion in a Series B funding round. The substantial investment will be dedicated to accelerating the deployment of its advanced AI model on a larger scale, enhancing its impact in drug discovery and related fields.
MUFG, Mizuho, and SMFG are poised to be the first Japanese banks to integrate Claude Mythos, an AI vulnerability-detection system developed by Anthropic, according to an insider familiar with the project. The rollout under Anthropic’s controlled Project Glasswing is expected to begin within two weeks, marking a significant step in AI adoption among Japan’s top financial institutions.
The retail trading community on Reddit's WallStreetBets has voiced strong opposition to the SEC's recent proposal to reduce mandatory company earnings reports from quarterly to biannual, signaling major pushback against the regulator's move.
Fervo Energy, a pioneer in enhanced geothermal technology, saw its IPO demand surge, prompting multiple increases in fundraising. Investors were eager, questioning why the company hadn't raised a larger sum initially, reflecting strong confidence in the sector fueled by AI data center expansion.
Cerebras Systems, the maker of the largest commercial AI chip, made a stunning Nasdaq debut with shares nearly doubling from $185 to $350, pushing its market cap beyond $100 billion. Known for its revolutionary wafer-scale engine — a chip the size of a dinner plate with 4 trillion transistors — Cerebras has positioned itself as a leader in AI inference technology. Beyond hardware, the company is shifting to cloud-based inference services, fueled by landmark deals with OpenAI and Amazon Web Services. The OpenAI partnership alone, valued at over $20 billion, accelerates Cerebras's cloud expansion and co-design of next-gen AI models. While the company still relies heavily on customers linked to the UAE, it aims to broaden its client base and build out a global data center network to meet soaring demand. Cerebras faces stiff competition from Nvidia and others but believes its unique chip design and cloud strategy give it a formidable edge in the fast-growing AI inference market, projected to near $300 billion by 2029. Despite financial challenges and risks, Cerebras's IPO symbolizes a breakthrough moment for AI infrastructure, signaling the dawn of a new era in chip technology and AI deployment.
On Wednesday, Cisco Systems revealed its latest quarterly earnings, reporting a strong revenue increase while simultaneously announcing nearly 4,000 layoffs. This move reflects a strategic shift as the company prioritizes investment in areas with the highest demand and potential, notably AI-related technologies. CEO Chuck Robbins highlighted the importance of agility and focus in capturing long-term value and outlined plans to enhance AI integration across the workforce. Despite workforce reductions—which represent under 5% of staff—Cisco’s stock surged over 16%, buoyed by record-high trading and robust financial results. The company posted $15.8 billion in revenue for the quarter, a 12% increase from the previous year, surpassing Wall Street expectations. Cisco is optimistic about continued growth, forecasting up to $16.9 billion in revenue for the next quarter and aiming to exceed $62 billion for fiscal 2026, driven by strong demand for AI infrastructure and networking solutions.
Over the past eight months, Carta has strategically acquired assets to build a groundbreaking platform that integrates dealmaking, fund management, investor communications, and now legal and compliance services. The recent purchase of Avantia, a UK-based AI-driven law firm specializing in asset management, marks a significant step in unifying the private capital industry under a single technology ecosystem.
Thrive Capital, led by Joshua Kushner, has made a strategic investment of around $100 million in Shopify, according to sources cited by Bloomberg. While the amount is relatively small for the fund, which recently raised over $10 billion, the move is significant as it reflects confidence in Shopify's potential in the evolving AI landscape. This investment highlights a trend where strong AI prospects can be found in undervalued stocks, signaling a unique approach in venture capital.
Over the past ten months, Figma’s journey on Wall Street illustrates the volatility tech stocks can face. After its IPO on July 31, 2025, priced at $33 per share, Figma’s stock surged past $140 on its first day of trading. However, throughout 2026, the stock has steadily declined, impacted in part by competition from Google's free Stitch design tool and Anthropic’s Claude AI, casting uncertainty on the market’s confidence despite Figma’s strong performance in AI.
HR leaders must adopt a financial mindset, leveraging data to drive strategic decisions just like CFOs do.
