India Embraces DeepSeek AI and Expands Domestic Tech Capabilities
India is opening its doors to DeepSeek’s AI technology by allowing the Chinese company’s language models to be stored and processed on Indian servers. This move is part of a broader effort to strengthen data privacy and comply with strict regulations around data localization. The hosting of DeepSeek’s models will take place on India’s new AI computing facility, which is designed to provide advanced computing power with 18,693 GPUs at discounted rates. While DeepSeek’s models have faced privacy concerns in Europe, the initiative reflects India’s growing ambition to lead in AI technology. As part of its long-term vision, India is not only attracting major investments in data centers but is also focused on developing its own GPUs and AI infrastructure. This is complemented by new funding for AI-driven projects addressing challenges in agriculture, climate change, and learning disabilities. With the establishment of a regulatory body, India aims to ensure safe and collaborative growth in the AI sector, positioning itself as a global hub for technology and innovation.
Swan Secures €42 Million to Expand Its Embedded Finance Solutions
Swan, a French startup specializing in embedded finance, has raised €42 million in fresh funding to continue its growth and expand into new markets. This funding round, seen as the second phase of its Series B, highlights the increasing demand for Swan’s services, which enable businesses to offer digital and physical payment cards as well as local bank accounts. With over 150 companies, including notable clients like Pennylane and Indy, relying on Swan’s seamless payment solutions, the company processes an impressive €1.5 billion in transactions every month. By building its own core banking system, Swan can offer tailored, country-specific products while managing compliance and customer checks for its partners. As the startup prepares to expand further, Italy is expected to be its next key market.
SoftBank’s Potential $25 Billion Investment in OpenAI and its Implications
SoftBank is exploring a significant investment in OpenAI, potentially reaching up to $25 billion. This move is seen as part of a larger strategy to boost AI-related initiatives, with the total investment expected to exceed $40 billion. The key reason for this deal is SoftBank’s desire to become OpenAI’s largest backer, surpassing Microsoft’s earlier stake, and to diversify its AI-related portfolio. The funding would also contribute to Stargate, a massive U.S. data center project that aims to support OpenAI’s growing infrastructure needs. The collaboration could reduce OpenAI’s dependency on Microsoft, which has recently agreed to end its exclusive role as OpenAI’s cloud provider. This deal comes at a time when the market is reacting to concerns over the affordability of AI hardware, highlighted by DeepSeek’s release of the R1 model. As such, SoftBank’s investment may also help OpenAI strengthen its position in an increasingly competitive AI landscape. The financial structure involves equity financing for a portion of the Stargate project, with debt used for the remainder. Meanwhile, OpenAI is considering transitioning to a for-profit model to facilitate future fundraising efforts.
Meta’s Shift on Fact-Checking: What It Means for Advertisers and Content Policy
Meta has recently made the decision to end its fact-checking program, replacing it with a new system that, according to CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is more effective. The change has raised questions about its impact on advertisers, but CFO Susan Li emphasized that there has been no noticeable effect on ad spending, reassuring stakeholders of continued demand. The move comes as Meta shifts its focus on combating misinformation, all while promising that brand safety will remain a priority. Interestingly, Zuckerberg acknowledged the inspiration behind the new system came from X, suggesting that borrowing ideas from competitors is part of the company’s strategy. This decision, though controversial, aligns with Meta’s push to address concerns around censorship, particularly within political content, while adopting a different approach to content moderation.
Meta’s Bold AI Strategy Amid Market Panic
Speculation over DeepSeek’s AI technology has caused a major stir in the market, with Nvidia’s stock seeing a significant drop. Despite the uncertainty, Meta remains committed to its AI vision. The company is preparing to invest heavily in AI infrastructure, with a focus on data centers and a long-term strategy that involves spending billions in the coming years. This strong investment is seen as essential for Meta to stay competitive, particularly as AI chip demand continues to rise. In the midst of competition, Meta is also working on advancing its own AI models, such as Llama 4, aiming to create the most powerful open-source AI. The company’s plan is to not only compete with paid models but to take the lead in the rapidly growing AI space.
LinkedIn’s Growth and Challenges Under Microsoft
LinkedIn has experienced steady growth in its revenue, particularly through its Premium subscriptions, which recently reached a significant milestone of $2 billion in the past 12 months. This surge reflects a growing number of users, now exceeding 1 billion, with many opting for Premium services. The platform’s Premium subscriptions contribute roughly 12.5% of its overall revenue, estimated at $16.2 billion in 2024. Despite this positive trend, challenges loom, particularly in the Talent Solutions division, where growth is expected to slow down. This is happening while Microsoft’s AI business is rapidly expanding, reaching $13 billion in revenue with a 175% year-over-year increase. What’s driving LinkedIn’s Premium growth, though, is its integration of AI-powered tools, which have proven popular, with about 40% of Premium users actively using them to enhance their professional journeys. However, how LinkedIn adapts to these changes and manages the slowdowns in other areas will determine its long-term growth trajectory.
Tesla’s Upcoming Robotaxi Service in Austin
Tesla is set to roll out a paid robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, by June, offering a fleet of self-driving cars with no drivers on board. This move is part of the company’s effort to expand its Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology, which will soon be available to U.S. car owners. The robotaxis will rely on an unsupervised version of Tesla’s FSD software, aiming to provide a safer, more efficient transportation option than traditional human-driven cars. Musk has revealed that the service will start cautiously to ensure safety, with further tests at the company’s Texas factory. Eventually, the fleet will expand, with plans to offer services in California and other parts of the U.S. by 2025, making it one of Tesla’s most ambitious steps towards the future of autonomous transport.
