Coursera has initiated a $500 million share repurchase program, marking its first buyback since its 2021 public listing. This announcement comes just one week after the company finalized its $2.5 billion merger with Udemy. The board approved the buyback on May 18, 2026, utilizing existing cash reserves and operational cash flow to fund the program.
Sigma Computing has secured $80 million in its Series E funding round, boosting its valuation to $3 billion, a figure twice as much as last year. This San Francisco-based data analytics firm has become one of the rapidly escalating companies within the business intelligence sector. Leading the investment round was Princeville Capital, joined by new contributors such as Databricks Ventures and ServiceNow, signaling growing confidence in Sigma's role in the evolving agentic analytics landscape.
Standard Chartered, headquartered in London, will cut more than 7,000 positions over the next four years as it leverages artificial intelligence to streamline its operations. The bank is reducing back-office roles and plans to transition some affected employees into new positions, aiming to boost profitability and stay competitive in the evolving financial landscape.
The European Union has appointed the Swedish investment firm EQT to manage a substantial €5 billion fund. This initiative aims to support and retain Europe's leading deep tech companies, fostering innovation and growth within the continent.
Former OpenAI staff who have launched a new AI watchdog group are urging transparency regarding xAI's safety record. They argue that potential investors in SpaceX’s impending public offering should have access to detailed information about xAI's safety measures.
In response to recent concerns raised by Anthropic’s Mythos AI model, leading US banking regulators, including the Federal Reserve and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, have temporarily paused certain cybersecurity examinations of major banks. This pause is intended to grant these financial institutions ample time to strengthen their cybersecurity measures against newly identified risks associated with AI technologies.
The concentration of venture capital in the U.S. private markets is accelerating sharply, with a growing share of funds flowing into a small number of top-tier companies. In 2025, 70% of U.S. venture capital—more than $200 billion—was funneled into just 389 companies that raised at least $100 million, including $90 billion allocated to six giants raising over $5 billion each. Meanwhile, around 6,000 companies shared the remaining 30%, raising smaller rounds between $1 million and $100 million. This marks 2025 as the peak year of capital concentration, surpassing even 2021's record, when 60% of funding went to $100 million+ rounds predominantly between $100 million and $500 million. In contrast, 2025 saw more capital directed into rounds exceeding $500 million for only 50 companies. Early data from 2026 suggests this trend is intensifying, with 80% of funding through April going to even fewer companies in massive rounds. Despite this concentration, investment in smaller startups hasn’t diminished substantially and has even increased modestly in some segments. Industry experts emphasize that the growth of these mega-funded companies, especially in AI, could expand the market, leaving ample opportunity for innovative startups with focused strategies to carve out sustainable niches.
Collaborating with Anomaly LA, Ally launched the "Life Today" campaign that playfully critiques traditional banks tied to physical branches, highlighting its digital-first approach.
Intuit announced significant workforce reductions, planning to lay off about 3,000 employees—17% of its global staff—as part of a strategic shift to accelerate AI integration and streamline operations. This restructuring also involves closing key regional offices in Reno, Nevada, and Woodland Hills, California. Impacted employees will receive severance packages, including 16 weeks pay plus additional weeks per year of service. The announcement comes just before Intuit's third-quarter earnings report and amid a broader tech industry wave of layoffs, including at Meta and others transitioning to AI-focused models. Despite these job cuts, Intuit reported strong second-quarter results, with revenue and earnings per share surpassing expectations.
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