💰 DeepSeek tells prospective investors of funding pause ↗
DeepSeek reportedly paused its second fundraising round after informing some prospective backers that investment agreements would not be signed as expected. The process could resume later - so this remains a pause, not necessarily a dramatic collapse.
The Chinese AI company had been seeking a valuation of roughly $74 billion after previously raising about $7.4 billion. It is also said to be weighing a possible listing on Shanghai’s STAR Market... ambitious, slightly unruly, very AI-startup. (Reuters)
🧠 Samsung wins $200 billion Broadcom AI chip partnership ↗
Samsung and Broadcom agreed to broaden their work across memory, contract manufacturing and advanced chip packaging. The planned collaboration is expected to exceed $200 billion, which is, by any measure, a fairly enormous handshake.
Samsung will manufacture next-generation Broadcom communications chips using sub-2-nanometre technology, while the two companies develop new high-bandwidth memory products. The agreement could help Samsung challenge TSMC more aggressively in custom AI chips. (Reuters)
🌙 When AI models collide ↗
Moonshot AI’s Kimi K3 is intensifying pressure on OpenAI and Anthropic by pairing competitive performance with downloadable open weights. Organisations can customise and operate it locally, a particular advantage when sensitive data cannot leave their own infrastructure.
The larger shift may be economic rather than technical. Instead of fixating on which model tops the next benchmark, buyers are increasingly comparing operating costs, control and reliability - prosaic matters, perhaps, but they pay the server bills. (Reuters)
✂️ Monday.com becomes the latest company to connect layoffs with AI ↗
Monday.com plans to eliminate slightly more than 600 positions, representing around 20% of its workforce, while reorganising around an AI-driven growth strategy. Management maintains that AI is not directly replacing employees... though the distinction feels rather slender.
Nearly 140,000 US technology jobs have reportedly disappeared across the sector, with Amazon, Oracle, Meta and Microsoft accounting for almost 50,000. Notably, companies citing AI as a reason for reductions have subsequently underperformed the Nasdaq - investors are not swallowing every efficiency story whole. (TechCrunch)
📚 Librarians host viral “Avoiding AI” workshops ↗
Libraries are running workshops that show people how to disable features such as Apple Intelligence, Gemini and AI-generated search results. The sessions present opting out as a form of digital literacy rather than a wholesale rejection of technology.
Demand has been notably strong. One Maine programme attracted roughly 70 attendees, including online viewers, while a Philadelphia library’s announcement received thousands of interactions - apparently, turning AI off now requires its own classroom. (TechCrunch)
⚡ One fallen power line exposed an AI data-centre problem ↗
A power-line failure caused more than 3 gigawatts of data-centre demand to vanish from the PJM electricity network almost simultaneously. The grid avoided a blackout, but voltage spiked and lights flickered across a vast region as the system struggled to regain balance.
One proposed remedy places entire data-centre campuses behind large battery systems, keeping their demand on the grid stable while servers and AI workloads fluctuate internally. ON.Energy says it is installing 3 gigawatts of this equipment across four campuses - essentially shock absorbers for a power grid wearing roller skates. (TechCrunch)
FAQ
Why did DeepSeek pause its latest fundraising round?
DeepSeek reportedly informed some prospective investors that agreements would not be signed as expected, bringing its second fundraising round to a pause. The process may resume at a later stage, so the decision does not necessarily mean the funding effort has failed. The company had reportedly been seeking a valuation of about $74 billion and may also be considering a listing on Shanghai’s STAR Market.
How could the Samsung and Broadcom AI chip partnership affect the semiconductor market?
Samsung and Broadcom plan to deepen their cooperation across memory, contract manufacturing and advanced chip packaging, with the partnership expected to exceed $200 billion. Samsung will manufacture Broadcom’s next-generation communications chips using sub-2-nanometre technology. The agreement could bolster Samsung’s position in custom AI chips while placing greater competitive pressure on TSMC.
Why are open-weight AI models such as Kimi K3 attracting businesses?
Open-weight models allow organisations to download, customise and operate AI systems within their own infrastructure. This can be especially valuable when sensitive information cannot be sent to an external provider. As these models become more competitive, businesses are increasingly weighing practical considerations such as operating cost, control, reliability and deployment flexibility, rather than focusing solely on benchmark rankings.
Are companies using AI to justify technology layoffs?
Some technology companies are linking workforce reductions to broader AI-focused restructuring plans. Monday.com, for example, plans to remove slightly more than 600 roles while reorganising around an AI-driven growth strategy, although management says AI is not directly replacing employees. Investors may also scrutinise these efficiency claims, particularly when companies citing AI later underperform wider technology markets.
Why are libraries offering workshops on how to avoid AI features?
Libraries are helping people disable tools such as Apple Intelligence, Gemini and AI-generated search results. These sessions present opting out as a form of digital literacy rather than a rejection of technology altogether. Strong attendance and online engagement suggest that many users want clearer control over when AI appears across their devices, browsers and everyday digital services.
How can AI data centres create problems for electricity grids?
Large data centres can place sudden, concentrated demands on electricity networks. When more than 3 gigawatts of data-centre demand disappeared from the PJM network almost simultaneously, the grid experienced voltage spikes and widespread flickering. One proposed solution is to place campuses behind large battery systems, allowing demand on the grid to remain stable while servers and AI workloads fluctuate internally.