The European Parliament has taken a notable step by turning off integrated artificial intelligence functionalities on devices used by its lawmakers and staff. This move addresses ongoing issues related to data protection, privacy, and the unclear processes involved in AI computations performed on cloud services. Members of the European Parliament were informed of this change through an internal communication.
When discussing Europe's strides in AI, the conversation often divides into two key areas: the design of intelligent models capable of tasks like text or image generation, and the robust infrastructure required to deploy these models efficiently and reliably at scale. In a strategic move reflecting this dual focus, Mistral AI has acquired Koyeb, a cloud startup known for its scalable infrastructure technology. This acquisition highlights the importance of supporting advanced AI models with powerful backend systems to meet production demands.
If you tuned into a tech newsletter or scanned online news early in 2026, you might feel like you’re caught in a bleak sci-fi tale. Headlines scream layoffs as firms cite "AI transformation" as the cause, while in the background, the wealthiest celebrate shiny new artificial intelligence breakthroughs. The reality for many tech workers is grim, overshadowed by hype and disruption.
In technology mergers and acquisitions, whether buying or selling a software or tech company, the valuation process extends beyond just financial metrics. Metrics like revenue, ARR, retention rates, profit margins, and capital use are fundamental, serving as key indicators of risk and value. Yet, there's an additional, often overlooked aspect: intangible assets. These assets don't always appear in financial statements clearly and can remain undervalued if not properly identified and explained, yet they play a crucial role in shaping the overall valuation landscape.
We find ourselves at a pivotal moment in history where artificial intelligence is transforming the landscape of work, business, and human capability at an unprecedented pace. What sets us apart—our creativity, imagination, and the ability to envision what does not yet exist—has become our greatest strength. This isn’t about humans competing with machines; it’s about unlocking human potential. Technology takes on the mundane, allowing us to focus on innovation and bold thinking, embracing those who dare to think differently.
Earned media has traditionally been the cornerstone of effective PR, celebrated for its authentic ability to foster trust. Recent studies reveal that 40% to 60% of people across different regions still place the highest trust in organic content. Despite this, there are growing risks associated with depending solely on earned media, especially as AI technologies become more prevalent. AI systems do not differentiate between earned and paid content when sourcing information, prompting a critical need to rethink our PR approaches. The reliance on earned-only PR strategies poses potential vulnerabilities that businesses must address.
London-based energy software firm Tem has successfully raised $75 million in a Series B funding round spearheaded by Lightspeed Venture Partners, with participation from AlbionVC, Atomico, Hitachi Ventures, Schroders Capital, Voyager Ventures, Allianz, among others. Valued at over $300 million, this investment will support Tem’s growth initiatives, particularly its expansion in the U.S. and Australian markets. Tem’s platform leverages artificial intelligence to streamline energy market operations, automating pricing, matching, and execution of electricity trades that traditionally depend on outdated manual systems. The company’s advanced machine learning algorithms predict supply and demand, facilitating seamless buyer-supplier connections.
Budapest-based startup Allonic has raised $7.2 million in a pre-seed funding round, a milestone dubbed the largest of its kind in Hungarian startup history. The round, led by Visionaries Club with contributions from Day One Capital, Prototype, SDAC Ventures, TinyVC, and several angels from leading tech organizations like OpenAI and Hugging Face, invests early in tackling the core physical challenges of robotics rather than just AI integrations. This funding challenges the European norm of deferring hard hardware investments to later stages or different markets, signaling new confidence in the continent's robotics sector.
Databricks is experiencing exceptional growth, announcing a $5.4 billion annual revenue run rate with a 65% increase year over year. This impressive pace sets it apart in the enterprise software arena, especially as many in the sector face slower growth. The company's strong performance has attracted significant investor interest, resulting in over $7 billion raised in capital. Recent funding rounds have valued Databricks at $134 billion, highlighting its dominant position in the data and AI platform market.
Paris-based Naboo has successfully raised $70 million in a Series B funding round, spearheaded by Lightspeed Venture Partners. This investment comes just a year after their €20 million Series A, fueling Naboo's mission to transform the corporate event planning landscape. Naboo leverages artificial intelligence to streamline the entire process of organizing corporate events—from venue selection and travel arrangements to supplier management and budget oversight. Founded in 2022, the company aims to become the go-to operating system that large enterprises use to efficiently plan, book, and manage their events.
