Artificial intelligence

AI firm Prezent aims for global expansion after securing fresh investment

AI startup Prezent has raised $20 million in fresh funding to refine its AI-powered slide deck creation platform and expand into new markets.

The Los Altos-based company, which also operates in Bengaluru, aims to help businesses create high-quality presentations tailored to industry-specific language and terminology.

Founded in 2021 by Rajat Mishra, Prezent combines generative AI with proprietary data from millions of slide decks to offer customised business communication solutions.

The company’s AI assistant, Astrid, enables users to upload documents such as Excel files and PDFs while providing relevant company-specific context. Prezent’s technology suggests layouts and formats for presentations, helping users streamline their workflow.

For those on tight deadlines, an expedited service combines AI with human reviewers to deliver polished, professional-grade decks overnight. The platform currently serves around 150 Fortune 2000 companies, particularly in biopharma and tech, and is now targeting financial services and manufacturing.

With plans to expand into Europe, Japan, and Singapore, Prezent is also developing APIs to allow developers to generate presentations directly from chatbots, apps, and search engines.

Last year, the company reported over $10 million in annual recurring revenue and now has nearly 200 employees, most of whom work remotely from India.

The latest investment, led by Greycroft with participation from Zoom Ventures and others, values Prezent at well over $100 million.

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OpenAI and Google face lawsuits while advocating for AI copyright exceptions

OpenAI and Google have urged the US government to allow AI models to be trained on copyrighted material under fair use.

The companies submitted feedback to the White House’s ‘AI Action Plan,’ arguing that restrictions could slow AI progress and give countries like China a competitive edge. Google stressed the importance of copyright and privacy exceptions, stating that text and data mining provisions are critical for innovation.

Anthropic also responded to the White House’s request but focused more on AI risks to national security and infrastructure rather than copyright concerns.

Meanwhile, OpenAI and Google are facing multiple lawsuits from news organisations and content creators, including Sarah Silverman and George R.R. Martin, who allege their works were used without permission for AI training.

Other companies, including Apple and Nvidia, have also been accused of improperly using copyrighted material, such as YouTube subtitles, to train AI models.

As legal challenges continue, major tech firms remain committed to pushing for regulations that support AI development while navigating the complexities of intellectual property rights.

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New AI model by Stability AI creates 3D videos from images

Stability AI has unveiled its latest AI model, Stable Virtual Camera, designed to convert 2D images into dynamic 3D video scenes. Announced in a company blog post, the model enables users to create immersive videos with realistic depth and perspective using up to 32 input images. It generates ‘novel views’ of a scene, offering various preset camera movements, including Spiral, Dolly Zoom, Move, and Pan.

The tool is currently available as a research preview and allows users to generate videos in square (1:1), portrait (9:16), and landscape (16:9) formats, with a maximum length of 1,000 frames. However, Stability AI warns that certain images, such as those with people, animals, or complex textures like water, may produce lower-quality results. Highly ambiguous or irregularly shaped objects may also lead to visual artifacts.

Stable Virtual Camera is available for research use under a non-commercial license and can be downloaded from AI development platform Hugging Face. The launch follows a turbulent period for Stability AI, which has recently undergone leadership changes, secured new investments, and expanded into new AI applications, including generative audio. With this latest innovation, the company aims to solidify its position in the competitive AI market.

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Italian newspaper ‘Il Foglio’ has published the world’s first AI-generated edition

The Italian newspaper ‘Il Foglio’ has released an edition entirely generated by AI, marking (as far as we know) an unprecedented step in journalism. This four-page supplement, ‘Il Foglio AI,’ accompanies the regular print edition and is accessible online. ​

The initiative is part of a month-long experiment led by editor Claudio Cerasa, aiming to explore AI’s impact on journalistic practices and daily life. Cerasa emphasised that AI was utilised for all aspects of the edition, including writing, headlines, quotes, and summaries, with journalists’ roles limited to inputting questions and reviewing AI-generated responses. ​

The AI-generated content covers a range of topics. The front page analyses US President Donald Trump’s Italian supporters, highlighting contradictions in their stance on ‘cancel culture.’ Another prominent article examines Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ’10 betrayals,’ detailing two decades of unfulfilled promises and broken agreements. Additionally, an economic piece discusses Italy’s recent income tax reforms, noting salary increases for approximately 750,000 workers. ​

The edition addresses contemporary social issues, such as young Europeans’ shift away from traditional relationships, coining the term ‘situationships.’ The final page includes AI-generated letters to the editor, one of which humorously questions whether AI will render humans ‘useless’ in the future.

The AI responds wittily, acknowledging its limitations by stating it ‘doesn’t yet know how to order a coffee without getting the sugar wrong.’ ​

While the articles are clear and free of grammatical errors, they notably lack direct human quotations, showing current limitations in AI-generated journalism.

Cerasa describes ‘Il Foglio AI’ as a genuine newspaper, embodying news, debate, and provocation. He views it as a practical test to understand how AI can be integrated into daily journalistic routines, encouraging contemplation of the broader questions this technology raises.

Cerasa concludes by suggesting that this edition represents ‘just another Il Foglio made with intelligence,’ challenging readers to reconsider the definition of AI.

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Mark Zuckerberg confirms Llama’s soaring popularity

Meta’s open AI model family, Llama, has reached a significant milestone, surpassing 1 billion downloads, according to CEO Mark Zuckerberg. The announcement, made on Threads, highlights a rapid rise in adoption, with downloads increasing by 53% since December 2024. Llama powers Meta’s AI assistant across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, forming a crucial part of the company’s expanding AI ecosystem.

Despite its success, Llama has not been without controversy. Meta faces a lawsuit alleging the model was trained on copyrighted material without permission, while regulatory concerns have stalled its rollout in some European markets. Additionally, emerging competitors, such as China’s DeepSeek R1, have challenged Llama’s technological edge, prompting Meta to intensify its AI research efforts.

Looking ahead, Meta plans to launch several new Llama models, including those with advanced reasoning and multimodal capabilities. Zuckerberg has hinted at ‘agentic’ features, suggesting the AI could soon perform tasks autonomously. More details are expected at LlamaCon, Meta’s first AI developer conference, set for 29 April.

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Nvidia introduces high-performance AI machines for the future

At GTC 2025, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang unveiled a new generation of AI-focused personal supercomputers designed to redefine computing in the era of AI. The two new machines, DGX Spark and DGX Station, are powered by Nvidia’s Grace Blackwell chip platform and promise to deliver unprecedented AI computing power at the edge.

DGX Spark, available immediately, features the GB10 Grace Blackwell Superchip, capable of up to 1,000 trillion operations per second. Meanwhile, the DGX Station, set for release later this year, is built with the GB300 Grace Blackwell Ultra Desktop Superchip and 784GB of memory. According to Nvidia, these supercomputers will allow users to prototype, fine-tune, and deploy AI models with greater efficiency.

Huang described the devices as the future of computing, highlighting their role in supporting AI applications across enterprises. Nvidia has partnered with major manufacturers, including Asus, Dell, HP, and Lenovo, to bring these machines to market. As AI adoption continues to surge, these systems could become essential tools for developers and businesses looking to stay ahead in an increasingly AI-driven world.

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Nvidia holds back on optical technology for GPUs

Nvidia’s CEO, Jensen Huang, has stated that a promising new chip technology, co-packaged optics, is not yet reliable enough for use in the company’s flagship GPUs.

The technology, which uses laser beams to transfer data via fiber optic cables instead of traditional copper, is more energy-efficient and faster.

However, Huang emphasized that copper connections remain ‘orders of magnitude’ more reliable than today’s optical alternatives, making them the preferred choice for now.

Speaking at Nvidia’s annual developer conference in San Jose, Huang announced that the company will use co-packaged optics in two upcoming networking chips designed for server switches, increasing their energy efficiency by three and a half times.

These switch chips will be released later this year and into 2026, marking a gradual technological step forward. However, Huang clarified that Nvidia currently has no plans to implement optical connections between GPUs, as reliability remains a key priority for its AI-focused customers like OpenAI and Oracle.

Silicon Valley startups such as Ayar Labs, Lightmatter, and Celestial AI have invested heavily in co-packaged optics, seeing it as essential for building more powerful AI systems. Nvidia itself has backed some of these ventures, despite Huang’s cautious approach.

While optical connections could eventually help AI models process complex tasks more efficiently, Nvidia is prioritizing proven technology for its near-term roadmap, ensuring stability in an industry preparing to invest hundreds of billions in AI infrastructure.

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Tencent sees surge in profits and revenue

Tencent, a leading Chinese tech giant, has reported impressive financial results for the fourth quarter and full year, boosted by its strategic investment in AI.

For the three months ending December 31, Tencent’s net profits soared by 90% year-on-year to 51.3 billion yuan ($7.1 billion), while its revenue increased by 11% to 172.4 billion yuan, surpassing analyst expectations.

The company’s strong performance was attributed to AI-driven enhancements in its advertising platform, growing video account engagement, and solid results from its gaming division.

For the full year, Tencent’s revenue reached 660.3 billion yuan, up 8% from the previous year, with net profits jumping 68% to 194.1 billion yuan.

CEO Pony Ma highlighted the role of AI in driving innovation, noting that Tencent had reorganized its AI teams to focus on fast product development and advanced model research.

The company’s stock price has surged to its highest in nearly four years, reflecting strong investor confidence.

The increased AI interest follows the unexpected global success of DeepSeek, a Chinese startup whose chatbot development caught the attention of investors, positioning China as a competitor to Western tech leaders like OpenAI.

Ma expressed Tencent’s admiration for DeepSeek and confirmed its active integration of their technology. Tencent has also started testing its own AI model, ‘Hunyuan Thinker’, which aims to offer more professional and human-like responses.

Despite its financial successes, Tencent faces ongoing challenges, including a sluggish domestic economy and political tensions, particularly with the US.

In January, the US added Tencent to a list of firms linked to China’s military, a move the company and the Chinese government have criticized as unjustified.

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India’s banks encouraged to adopt AI for consumer protection

Indian banks should harness AI to improve internal controls and address customer complaints more effectively, according to central bank governor Sanjay Malhotra.

Malhotra highlighted concerns over rising complaints about mis-selling and aggressive banking practices, warning that the issue could escalate if left unchecked. In the 2023-2024 financial year, 95 commercial banks in India received over 10 million complaints from customers.

AI-powered solutions can help financial institutions analyse large data sets to detect issues such as ATM failures and erroneous charges before they become widespread.

Malhotra also pointed to the potential of AI-driven chatbots and voice recognition tools to assist customers in multiple languages, making banking services more accessible in India’s linguistically diverse market.

Alongside AI adoption, Malhotra urged banks to invest in human capital to enhance customer service and grievance redressal processes.

Strengthening both technology and human resources will be crucial in ensuring financial institutions can meet the needs of a rapidly growing customer base while maintaining trust and transparency.

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DeepMind’s Hassabis calls for UK leadership in AI development

Britain should use its strengths in AI to shape how the technology is deployed worldwide, according to DeepMind founder Demis Hassabis.

Hassabis highlighted the country’s leading universities and skilled workforce as key factors in maintaining a competitive edge. Speaking at a Google AI event, he stressed the economic and geopolitical importance of ensuring AI development aligns with ethical and practical standards.

The UK government is working to boost AI innovation, with advanced technology at the centre of discussions between Prime Minister Keir Starmer and US officials.

Google has announced upgrades to its AI offerings in Britain, including expanded UK data residency for its work productivity tool, Google Agentspace. Meanwhile, tech rival Oracle has pledged a $5 billion investment in Britain over the next five years to support growing demand for cloud services.

Hassabis also called for global standards on the use of copyrighted material in AI development, noting the challenges of regulating models used across different countries.

Google’s AI expansion includes the addition of its Chirp 3 audio generation model to Vertex AI, enhancing cloud services with human-like voice capabilities. The UK remains a key player in the AI sector, with industry leaders pushing for policies that ensure responsible and effective deployment of the technology.

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