US telecom giant AT&T and Finnish network equipment maker Nokia have signed a multi-year agreement to upgrade AT&T’s voice services and 5G network automation. This deal comes after Nokia lost a significant contract to Swedish rival Ericsson in 2023, which led to Ericsson securing a $14 billion deal to build a network for AT&T covering 70% of its US wireless traffic by 2026. Nokia, however, remains involved with AT&T through a smaller agreement for fibre network development and a new contract focused on cloud-based voice applications and network automation.
The deal will enhance AT&T’s core network, enabling new voice services, including the integration of AI and machine learning. Although the financial details of the agreement were not disclosed, Nokia’s involvement is seen as crucial in bolstering its long-standing relationship with AT&T. Nokia’s president of Cloud and Network Services, Raghav Sahgal, emphasised that this agreement will allow for the deployment of new 5G functionalities.
Nokia recently reported stronger-than-expected earnings, driven by higher demand for telecoms equipment, particularly in North America and India. The company remains optimistic about its prospects in 2025, especially with plans to capitalise on the AI boom. Last year, Nokia also agreed to acquire Infinera for $2.3 billion to strengthen its position in the growing data centre and AI markets.
Waabi, a self-driving technology company, announced a partnership with Volvo’s driverless systems unit on Tuesday to develop autonomous big rigs. The collaboration aims to integrate Waabi’s virtual driver system, sensors, and computing into Volvo’s VNL Autonomous truck, which will be produced at Volvo’s New River Valley factory in Virginia.
The partnership comes as truck manufacturers and fleets look for ways to address driver shortages and reduce operational costs. Waabi, backed by Nvidia and Uber, uses its digital simulator, Waabi World, for testing and validation, with plans to launch commercial pilots in Texas within four years.
Unlike Tesla, which relies on a vision-only approach for its self-driving technology, Waabi uses a unique system to simulate real-world driving situations. The company also indicated that the deal with Volvo is not exclusive and they aim to integrate their technology with other truck manufacturers.
Volvo’s venture capital arm invested in Waabi in 2023, joining other backers such as Khosla Ventures and Porsche Automobil Holding. Waabi’s CEO Raquel Urtasun said trucking was a natural starting point for their technology, with plans to expand into areas like robotaxis and humanoid robots in the future.
Young people in Guernsey are being offered a free six-week course on AI to help them understand both the opportunities and challenges of the technology. Run by Digital Greenhouse in St Peter Port, the programme is open to students and graduates over the age of 16, regardless of their academic background. Experts from University College London (UCL) deliver the lessons remotely each week.
Jenny de la Mare from Digital Greenhouse said the course was designed to “inform and inspire” participants while helping them stand out in job and university applications. She emphasised that the programme was not limited to STEM students and could serve as a strong introduction to AI for anyone interested in the field.
Recognising that young people in Guernsey may have fewer opportunities to attend major tech events in the UK, organisers hope the course will give them a competitive edge. The programme has already started but is still open for registrations, with interested individuals encouraged to contact Digital Greenhouse.
Norwegian-founded startup Tana has raised $25 million to fuel its AI-powered productivity platform, which has already drawn significant attention with a waitlist of over 160,000 users. The company’s software uses AI to streamline task management, automatically capturing, organising, and acting on information from meetings, notes, and conversations. With an approach reminiscent of object-oriented programming, its ‘Supertag’ feature transforms unstructured data into actionable insights.
Led by Tola Capital, the latest funding round brings Tana’s valuation to $100 million, with backing from investors such as Lightspeed Venture Partners and Northzone. Angel investors include notable tech figures like Google Maps co-founder Lars Rasmussen and Dropbox co-founder Arash Ferdowsi, highlighting the growing interest in AI-driven workplace tools. The startup, headquartered in Palo Alto with operations in Norway, is spearheaded by ex-Googlers Tarjei Vassbotn and Grim Iversen, the latter having worked on the now-defunct Google Wave.
Tana integrates with multiple workplace tools like Zoom and is designed to evolve as it processes more data, aiming to address long-standing challenges in productivity software. While currently best suited for tech-savvy professionals, the founders believe their AI knowledge graph will reshape how businesses handle information in the future. Investors are betting on Tana’s long-term vision, with some already using the platform to manage their own operations.
SoftBank Group CEO Masayoshi Son announced on Monday that he has agreed with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman to establish a joint venture in Japan, called SB OpenAI Japan, to offer AI services to corporate clients. This venture will be jointly owned by OpenAI and a company set up by SoftBank and its telecoms arm. In addition, SoftBank will pay $3 billion annually to integrate OpenAI’s technology across its group companies.
Son’s involvement with OpenAI is deepening, with reports indicating that SoftBank plans to invest between $15 billion and $25 billion in the company. SoftBank is also committing $15 billion to Stargate, a joint venture with OpenAI and Oracle to build AI capacity in the US. Son’s support for OpenAI follows a period of retrenchment for the investment giant, but he is reasserting his influence in the tech sector after setbacks in SoftBank’s tech portfolio.
In the context of rising competition, China’s DeepSeek has prompted some investors to question the immense funds being poured into US-based AI companies. However, Altman believes global demand for AI computing power will continue to surge. Son and Altman also met with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Monday to discuss further developments.
Voice cloning startup ElevenLabs has raised $180 million in a Series C funding round, tripling its valuation to $3.3 billion. Co-led by Andreessen Horowitz and Iconiq Growth, the funding round also saw participation from new investors like NEA and World Innovation Lab, alongside increased support from existing backers such as Sequoia Capital and Salesforce Ventures. The company aims to leverage the new funding to enhance its research into expressive voice AI, develop new products, and expand its tools for developers and businesses.
Founded in 2022 and headquartered in London, ElevenLabs specialises in AI-generated voices that replicate various languages, accents, and emotions. The startup’s technology has already found applications in publishing and gaming, with partnerships including The New Yorker and Cloud Imperium Games. In 2024, ElevenLabs broadened its product offerings to include speech generation, voice design, sound effects, and AI-driven dubbing across 32 languages.
CEO Mati Staniszewski, who co-founded the company with Piotr Dabkowski, described the funding as a significant step towards making voice interactions more natural and effortless. With a total of $281 million raised so far, ElevenLabs is poised to play a leading role in the rapidly growing generative AI sector.
SoftBank Group is in talks to lead a funding round of up to $40 billion for OpenAI, aiming to value the AI developer at $300 billion, including the new investment. This potential round, which would set a record for a private company, comes amid the growing competition in the AI sector, notably from Chinese startup DeepSeek. Despite this, SoftBank has valued OpenAI at $260 billion, up from $150 billion just a few months ago. The funding is expected to come via convertible notes and is contingent on OpenAI restructuring its business to limit the control of its non-profit arm.
The move would be a bold bet for SoftBank and its CEO Masayoshi Son, who has about $30 billion in cash available for investment. SoftBank’s commitment to OpenAI could be as much as $25 billion, with some funds potentially directed towards OpenAI’s joint venture Stargate, which aims to secure the US position in the global AI race against China. This would add to SoftBank’s previous $15 billion commitment to Stargate.
The funding talks come as OpenAI’s valuation has surged due to its influential AI model, ChatGPT, while competing companies, such as Microsoft and Meta Platforms, continue to ramp up their own AI investments, with Microsoft alone earmarking $80 billion for AI development. Meanwhile, DeepSeek has made waves by claiming that its latest AI model was developed with significantly lower costs than its competitors, further intensifying the race in AI innovation.
SoftBank is reportedly in talks to invest up to $25 billion in OpenAI, the owner of ChatGPT, as part of its broader push into the AI sector. The investment, which could range from $15 billion to $25 billion, would go towards supporting OpenAI’s commitment to Stargate, a joint venture between SoftBank, Oracle, and OpenAI aimed at securing the US’s lead in the global AI race. This deal would be in addition to the $15 billion SoftBank has already committed to the Stargate initiative, although the talks are still in the early stages.
Stargate, which plans to invest up to $500 billion, has garnered attention as a major player in the competition between the US and China over AI dominance. However, the recent rise of DeepSeek, a Chinese startup that has shaken up the market with its low-cost AI model, has put pressure on SoftBank’s plans. Despite a surge in SoftBank’s share price following the Stargate announcement, the company has seen its stock drop more than 12% due to the market response to DeepSeek’s success.
SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son’s strategy to secure a significant stake in OpenAI and fulfil Stargate’s goals has reportedly been reviewed and approved by OpenAI’s board. SoftBank had previously acquired a $1.5 billion stake in OpenAI, which was valued at $157 billion in its latest funding round. Despite the ongoing discussions, both SoftBank and OpenAI have declined to comment on the latest investment talks.
TikTok has announced a $3.8 billion investment in a data hosting centre in Thailand, marking a significant expansion of its digital infrastructure in the region. The project, managed through the company’s Singapore-based unit, is expected to support affiliated businesses and begin operations in 2026, according to Thailand’s Board of Investment.
The move comes amid a wave of tech investment in Thailand, with companies such as Google, Amazon Web Services, and Microsoft all committing billions to establish data centres in the country. The Thai government hopes these developments will strengthen its digital economy and push the nation closer to becoming a regional technology hub.
TikTok’s decision to invest follows increased scrutiny over data privacy and security worldwide. As governments tighten regulations on tech firms, establishing regional data centres has become a strategic move for companies looking to maintain compliance and expand their presence in key markets.
San Francisco-based startup Waterlily has raised $7 million in seed funding to expand its AI-driven platform for long-term care planning. Founded by Lily Vittayarukskul, the company helps families and financial advisors predict care costs and create tailored financial strategies. Using machine learning and data from government and insurance sources, Waterlily provides personalised recommendations on funding options, such as life insurance and long-term care policies.
Waterlily’s technology was inspired by Vittayarukskul’s personal experience of caring for her aunt, which exposed the financial and emotional strain of long-term care. The platform’s predictive AI can be used for individuals over 40, offering insights into when and how they may need care. The startup already serves major insurance carriers, including Prudential, and hundreds of independent advisors.
With its latest funding round, Waterlily plans to enhance its AI models, expand its team, and strengthen its partnerships. The company is also exploring international expansion to markets such as the UK and Canada, aiming to bridge the gap in long-term care planning and ensure more families are prepared for the future.
