Tech

South Korean AI chip startup Rebellions has secured $400 million in funding, valuing the company at $2.34 billion. The company aims to challenge Nvidia in the AI inference chip market with its Rebel-Quad technology, focusing on energy efficiency and performance. The funding will support expansion into the U.S. market, targeting research labs like Meta and xAI, and prepare for a potential IPO. Strategic investors, including Samsung and SK Hynix, are helping Rebellions navigate memory chip supply challenges.

Several quantum computing firms are leveraging recent scientific advancements and SPACs to transition from research to commercialization. Companies like Xanadu Quantum and Horizon Quantum have recently gone public, aiming to accelerate the development of this nascent technology despite market volatility. This trend signifies a shift from a “science project” to a “commercial trajectory,” with significant long-term market potential driving investment.

Mistral AI has secured $830 million in debt financing to expand its European data center infrastructure. This funding will support the development of a new data center equipped with Nvidia GPUs, crucial for its AI development. The investment aims to bolster European AI autonomy and meet growing demand for customized AI environments, challenging reliance on third-party cloud providers.

Eli Lilly has acquired rights to Insilico Medicine’s AI-discovered drug pipeline in a $2.75 billion deal. This significant partnership highlights AI’s growing role in drug discovery. The agreement includes an upfront payment and future royalties, reflecting the innovative nature of the collaboration. Insilico, a leader in AI-driven drug discovery, has numerous candidates in clinical trials. This deal leverages Lilly’s expertise with Insilico’s AI platform, aiming to accelerate the development of new therapies and reinforce Lilly’s expansion into the Chinese market.

Meta faced major legal setbacks this week as juries ruled against the company in two trials. Allegations centered on Meta’s failure to adequately police its platforms, endangering young users, with evidence drawn from its own internal research contradicting public statements. This ruling highlights concerns about tech companies’ transparency regarding potential harms, especially as the industry pivots to AI. Meta and Google plan to appeal.

The Iran conflict highlights modern warfare’s cost-inefficiency, accelerating demand for affordable tech. The US is spending billions on expensive missiles against low-cost drones. This scenario is a catalyst for defense tech startups and established firms to innovate, particularly in drone technology and counter-drone systems. Increased venture capital interest and Pentagon demand signal a push for military reindustrialization, though procurement challenges remain.

The Nasdaq saw its steepest weekly decline since April 2025, with tech giants like Meta and Micron experiencing significant drops. This downturn was fueled by escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and rising energy prices, leading investors to rotate away from growth stocks. Meta’s losses were attributed to legal setbacks, while Micron’s sell-off followed strong earnings, highlighting market sensitivity to broader economic concerns. Attention now turns to potential IPOs from Elon Musk’s ventures and Tesla’s delivery figures.

Meta’s $2 billion acquisition of AI startup Manus, with Chinese roots, has triggered a regulatory review by Beijing. This move signals China’s intent to curb talent and business exodus, scrutinizing the “Singapore washing” model previously used to navigate U.S.-China tech tensions. The review, including founder travel restrictions, casts doubt on offshore structuring viability, forcing founders to re-evaluate strategies amidst escalating tech rivalry.

A Jeffrey Epstein survivor has filed a class-action lawsuit against the Trump administration and Google, alleging wrongful disclosure of victim information by the Justice Department and its subsequent republication by Google’s AI. The suit challenges Section 230 protections, arguing AI’s role in disseminating sensitive data causes renewed trauma and harassment. This action coincides with other AI-related scrutiny of Google and raises questions about platform accountability and potential legislative changes to Section 230.

The White House launched a new app showcasing President Trump’s second-term achievements and favorable news, featuring updates “straight from the source.” It highlights policy priorities, economic affordability data, and healthcare cost reductions, though data presentation is selective. The app also includes a feature for submitting tips to ICE and omits rising prices of certain goods and oil. Claims of live streaming capabilities are also questionable.