Google is piloting a new hiring method that empowers job candidates with a technological edge during interviews, potentially reshaping the recruitment landscape.
Quantexa has announced the opening of a new office and research and development centre in Dublin, consolidating a growing team of researchers and data scientists. This initiative aims to drive innovation and strengthen Quantexa's capabilities in data analysis and artificial intelligence.
The EU-supported Kembara fund, managed by Mundi Ventures, has announced its first significant investment by co-leading a $160 million funding round alongside DCVC for Quantum Motion, a UK-based quantum computing company.
Ramp is reportedly negotiating a fresh funding round aiming to raise $750 million, which would value the company at over $40 billion pre-money. This move comes only six months after its last funding round in November, which pegged the company's worth at $32 billion.
Many AI startups like Basata are automating tasks traditionally done by humans. While this raises questions about the balance between assisting employees and replacing them, Basata’s founders report that administrative staff are more concerned with overwhelming workloads than job security.
Airbnb has revealed that artificial intelligence is responsible for generating 60% of its new software code. Additionally, the company's AI-driven customer support chatbot now resolves 40% of customer issues independently, without needing to escalate them to human representatives.
In hospital exam rooms and factory floors, AI agents streamline operations by managing electronic health records and conducting rapid quality control inspections. Despite their productivity capabilities, these AI agents create a challenge for traditional identity management systems, which were designed primarily for human users and cannot keep pace with the speed and scale of agent activities. Cisco executives highlight a trust gap in enterprise adoption: while many companies are piloting AI agents, very few have moved to production due to concerns about identity governance, accountability, and security risks. Experts emphasize that trust must be integrated from the start, with secure delegation, comprehensive network visibility, and policy enforcement mechanisms to manage AI agents effectively. They advocate for cross-functional alignment, enhanced identity and access management, platform-based networking, hybrid AI architectures, and robust trust measures for early agent deployments. These steps are critical to unlocking the full benefits of AI while minimizing vulnerabilities and ensuring that AI integration is both safe and scalable.
Modern CEO, led by Stephanie Mehta, dives into adaptive, inclusive leadership lessons from city mayors worldwide, highlighting their unique challenges and accomplishments. Former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg emphasizes the rising role of mayors as national governments step back, urging leaders to balance big-picture visions with local details, grounded in data and empathy. Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott showcases inclusive community partnerships to reduce vacant properties, while former Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo leveraged the 2024 Olympics to drive environmental improvements like cleaning the Seine River. London Mayor Sadiq Khan cautiously integrates AI to address urban challenges, ensuring no one is left behind as technology advances. These examples reveal city leadership's complexity and the importance of coalition-building, using public attention as a tool, and embracing innovation responsibly to enhance urban life.
In the first quarter of 2026, European startups achieved a milestone by raising $17 billion, marking the highest funding in two years. The surge was driven primarily by advances in AI, enterprise solutions, and deep technology sectors, while fintech experienced a decline in investment.
A recent report by McKinsey highlights that quantum technology firms are on the rise, collectively generating over $1 billion in revenue by 2025. Reflecting this momentum, Quantinuum has filed for an initial public offering, signaling growing investor enthusiasm for quantum-related stocks.
