Securing AI, Betting on Infrastructure & Navigating Regulation (with a New Prompting Tutorial!)
Artificial Intelligence news nº 75/2025
Happy Thursday everyone!
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News 🗞️📰
OpenAI to release AI-powered web browser, challenging Google Chrome: OpenAI is set to launch a Chromium-based web browser in the coming weeks that embeds a native ChatGPT interface and its “Operator” AI agent, letting users complete tasks—like booking reservations and filling forms—without leaving the browser, and marking a direct challenge to Google Chrome’s dominance.
Meta, Google unveil massive AI data center investment plans. The collaboration between Meta and Google on data center investments indicates a robust commitment to AI infrastructure. This movement is pivotal for startups looking to leverage AI and scale operations cost-effectively, opening new funding avenues for VCs.
Musk claims new Grok-4 beats o3 and Gemini 2.5 Pro—how to try it: Elon Musk announced that his Grok-4 model, available in ChatGPT’s “Grok” sandbox, outperforms OpenAI’s o3 and Google’s Gemini 2.5 Pro on reasoning and creativity benchmarks; any ChatGPT Enterprise user can sign up for the beta to test it.
Mistral releases VoxTral, its first open-source AI audio model: Mistral AI launched VoxTral, an open-source audio-generation model capable of synthesizing realistic voices with fine-grained control over intonation and style across multiple languages, targeting integrations in accessibility apps, gaming, and content creation.
Anthropic’s AI agent can now automate Canva, Asana, Figma and more—here’s how it works: Anthropic enabled an agentic API in Claude 4 Opus that, using secure user credentials, can execute complex workflows in SaaS tools like Canva, Asana, and Figma—automating design creation, ticket updates, and prototyping—all within the chat interface.
Google's AI agent 'Big Sleep' foils cyberattack in groundbreaking first, says Sundar Pichai. Google has introduced its AI agent, Big Sleep, which successfully detected and prevented a cyberattack. This advancement emphasizes the importance of incorporating AI into security frameworks, an area that both startups and established firms must prioritize to safeguard their operations.
Trump announces creation of 'AI economy' during innovation summit At a recent innovation summit, President Trump unveiled plans for a $100 billion investment to bolster the AI economy, mainly benefiting Pennsylvania. This initiative is likely to spur growth in regional tech startups and attract VC investments focused on AI-driven solutions.
OpenAI Rival Anthropic Courts Finance Industry With New AI Tools. Anthropic is launching new AI tools designed to attract business from the finance industry. This move demonstrates the competitive landscape in AI development targeted at financial services.
ORCA Opti launches AI system to cut SME cyber & compliance costs. ORCA Opti's introduction of an AI system designed to lower cyber compliance expenses demonstrates a direct response to SMEs' challenges in the digital landscape. This innovation points to a growing market for tech startups developing affordable AI solutions for small businesses.
Clarifai Accelerates Agentic AI Development: MCP Server Hosting and OpenAI Compatibility. Clarifai announced advancements in their AI platform, enhancing development capabilities. This is significant for corporates investing in adaptable AI solutions for business intelligence.
Trump to unveil $70B investment plan to win AI war with China. The proposed $70 billion investment aimed at enhancing U.S. AI capabilities reflects strategic efforts to maintain competitive edge against China. Such government backing could catalyze a surge in AI startups and technology ventures, particularly those with innovative approaches to scalability.
CoreWeave Stock Rises on $6B Commitment to Pennsylvania AI Data Center. CoreWeave shares have gained following the announcement of a $6 billion investment in a new AI data center in Pennsylvania. This commitment underscores the increasing value placed by investors on AI infrastructure.
How Cognition AI's Windsurf Acquisition Signals a New Era of Tech Consolidation. The acquisition of Windsurf by Cognition AI is part of a broader trend of consolidation within the AI sector. Investors should take note of the evolving landscape as firms merge to enhance technological capabilities.
Funding 💼💸
Spanish AI Debt Collection Startup Murphy Raises $15 Million. AI debt collection startup Murphy raised $15 million in pre-Seed and Seed funding to scale its autonomous, multilingual AI agents. This funding highlights the growing interest and investment in AI-driven financial solutions.
Lucidya Raises $30M in Largest AI Funding Round in MENA. Lucidya has raised $30 million in Series B funding, marking it as the largest AI investment in the MENA region. This significant round indicates the potential for growth in AI technologies within that market.
Former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati Raises $2 Billion for New AI Startup Thinking Machines Lab. Mira Murati's new AI startup Thinking Machines Lab has successfully raised $2 billion in capital. This funding represents a strong vote of confidence in innovative AI solutions and the potential to lead in the competitive AI landscape.
$10 Million Round For Agentic AI Engineer, Led By Former Google CEO's Venture Firm- An agentic AI engineer has secured a $10 million funding round led by a venture firm associated with a former Google CEO. This funding reflects the growing focus on next-generation AI technologies for various applications.
36ZERO Vision secures €3.6 M to expand its AI visual inspection platform
Munich’s 36ZERO Vision—co-founded by Zeeshan Karamat and Heiko Huber—raised €3.6 million in a pre-Series A round led by JOIN Capital (with Bayern Kapital, Vanagon Ventures, UnternehmerTUM Funding for Innovators and Alchemist) to scale its data-efficient, hardware-agnostic AI platform for manufacturing defect detection.OpenEvidence raises $210 M Series B at a $3.5 B valuation to power clinical AI
Cambridge, MA–based OpenEvidence—founded by Daniel Nadler and Zachary Ziegler—closed a $210 million Series B co-led by GV (Google Ventures) and Kleiner Perkins (with Sequoia Capital, Coatue, Conviction and Thrive) to expand its AI-driven medical search and decision-support platform, now used by over 40% of U.S. physicians, and to integrate full-text partnerships with JAMA and NEJM.Heron raises $16 M Series A to automate document-heavy workflows
Founded by Dom Kwok, Jamie Parker and Johannes Jaeckle, New York–based Heron closed a $16 million Series A led by Insight Partners (with Y Combinator, BoxGroup and Flex Capital) to scale its AI-driven platform that ingests, extracts and validates unstructured documents for business lending, equipment finance and insurance.SuperAnnotate raises $36 M Series B to power GenAI dataset orchestration
Founded in 2019 by brothers Vahan Petrosyan and Tigran Petrosyan, San Francisco–based SuperAnnotate closed a $36 million Series B led by Socium Ventures (with NVIDIA, Databricks Ventures, Lionel Messi’s Play Time Ventures and Glynn Capital) to accelerate its enterprise platform for creating, managing and orchestrating large-scale multimodal AI datasets.Franzy closes $2.2 M seed round to launch dedicated franchise resale marketplace. Charlotte’s Franzy—founded by Alex Smereczniak and Chris Wright—raised $2.2 million in a seed round led by York IE (with Front Porch Capital, Overline, Avalanche VC and Daren Cotter Investments) to build the first dedicated AI-powered franchise resale marketplace, delivering personalized franchise matching, verified financials and secure, data-driven transactions.
Vultron raises $22 M Series A to power the agentic OS for federal growth
San Francisco’s Vultron—led by CEO and co-founder Mac Liu—secured $22 million in a Series A led by Raycroft (with Craft Ventures, Long Journey, South Park Commons and strategic angels) to advance its Agentic Operating System, empowering federal contractors with AI-native infrastructure for capture, proposal and mission alignment.Unify raises $40 M Series B to transform go-to-market with AI
Co-founded by CEO Austin Hughes in 2023, San Francisco-based Unify closed a $40 million Series B led by Battery Ventures (with OpenAI Startup Fund, Thrive Capital, Emergence Capital, Abstract Ventures, The Cannon Project and Capital49) to scale its AI-native GTM platform that identifies high-intent leads, orchestrates outreach and automates sales workflows at scale.Zip Security raises $13.5 M Series A to automate cybersecurity and compliance
New York–based Zip Security—co-founded by Josh Zweig (CEO)—secured $13.5 million in a Series A led by Ballistic Ventures (with Silver Buckshot, Mantis VC, General Catalyst, Human Capital and Box Group) to expand its all-in-one AI platform for security, compliance and IT automation targeted at SMEs and enterprises.Inntelo AI raises £506K pre-seed to boost hospitality tech growth. London’s Inntelo AI—co-founded by Asif Alidina and Shahzain Badruddin—closed a £506,000 Pre-Seed round led by Haatch and British Business Bank (with Look AI Ventures and strategic angels) to accelerate its AI Concierge platform, automating guest communications via WhatsApp and phone to streamline hotel operations. Tech.eu
RealSense completes spinout from Intel with $50 M Series A to accelerate AI-powered vision. Pioneering computer-vision company RealSense—spun out of Intel and led by CEO Nadav Orbach—closed a $50 million Series A led by a leading semiconductor private-equity firm (with Intel Capital and MediaTek Innovation Fund) to fuel its AI-powered depth cameras and perception systems for robotics, biometrics and edge-AI applications.
M&A 💰
AI startup Windsurf sold to AI engineer Devin's maker Cognition just days after OpenAI. Windsurf has been sold to Cognition AI following a failed acquisition deal with OpenAI. This acquisition is significant as it highlights the shifting landscape of AI startups and competitive talent retention.
IonQ Acquires Capella for Space-Based Quantum Communications. IonQ's acquisition of Capella aims to enhance their capabilities in quantum communications technology. This move is relevant as it signals deepening intersections between AI and quantum computing.
Praxis Labs, An AI-Powered Immersive Learning Company, Has Been Acquired. Praxis Labs has been acquired by Torch, emphasizing the growth and investment in AI-driven immersive learning. This acquisition highlights the increasing importance of AI in educational technology.
AV startup Pronto.ai acquires off-road autonomous vehicle rival SafeAI. Pronto.ai has acquired SafeAI to strengthen its position in the autonomous vehicle market. This acquisition underscores the competitive nature of innovations in AI for transportation industries.
Nortal Acquires Nearsure to Expand AI Enterprise Solutions Across the Americas. Nortal's acquisition of Nearsure aims to broaden AI-driven enterprise solutions across the region. The move reflects increasing demand for integrated AI applications within enterprise services.
Interesting Reads 💡🤔
Where Technology Executives Will Be Investing In 2026 - Forrester. This blog highlights anticipated investment trends among technology executives, driven by AI and cloud technologies. Staying informed on these trends is crucial for startups and investors looking to capitalize on future opportunities.
9 standout books on AI and tech | McKinsey & Company. This article features key books that explore AI and its impact across various sectors. Understanding these insights can help VCs and corporates stay ahead in technology adoption and investment strategies.
Customer Service Must Evolve To Unlock AI's Full Potential - Forrester. The report discusses how AI is transforming customer service, necessitating a shift from traditional models. Companies that adapt can significantly enhance their operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.
Law enforcement is learning how to use AI more ethically thanks to a Northeastern expert. A Northeastern expert is guiding law enforcement in the ethical use of AI tools. This development is crucial for VCs and startups focusing on ethical AI solutions in public sectors.
How to close the AI value gap. KPMG outlines essential strategies for organizations to transition from AI vision to tangible value. Investors and corporate leaders should pay close attention to these insights to effectively harness AI's potential and maximize returns on technology investments.
Google announces latest AI American Infrastructure Academy cohort: Google on July 10 unveiled the second cohort of its AI Academy: American Infrastructure program, a four-month, equity-free accelerator for seed- to Series A-stage startups using AI to tackle critical infrastructure challenges—cybersecurity, education, transportation, and more.
Startups / Tools 🧰🛠️
OCR for Invoice. OCR for Invoice unveiled an AI-driven automation tool for invoice data extraction. Such solutions are essential for corporates looking to enhance efficiency in accounts payable.
Retool: A low-code platform for building custom internal tools and dashboards—connect to any database or API, drag-and-drop UI components, and deploy business-critical apps in hours, not weeks.
AppSheet: Google’s no-code app builder that turns spreadsheets and databases into mobile and web applications—complete with workflow automation, offline access, and AI-powered data suggestions.
Power Apps: Microsoft’s low-code platform for modernizing legacy processes—create AI-enabled forms and apps that integrate natively with Office 365, Dynamics 365, and Azure services.
Frase: An AI SEO writing assistant that generates optimized article briefs, outlines, and full drafts—complete with keyword analysis, SERP data, and content scoring to boost search rankings.
Guidde: Transforms text-based tutorials and documentation into interactive, step-by-step video guides with automatic screen capture, voice-over, and on-screen annotations in minutes.
dofollow.com: A link-building service for SaaS brands—runs targeted outreach campaigns with real human publishers, guarantees two-year placements, and provides full transparency on links secured.
Amplemarket: An all-in-one sales engagement platform that sources verified leads, crafts AI-personalized email sequences, and automates follow-ups—all from a single browser tab.
Stack AI: Launch no-code chatbots, knowledge bases, and workflow automations in hours—connect to your data sources, design conversation flows in a visual editor, and deploy to web or messaging platforms.
Silatus: A human-centric AI research engine that accelerates academic and market analysis—ingest documents, run precise semantic searches, and get validated summaries and citations in seconds.
Lazy: A universal capture tool that lets you save notes, links, screenshots, and code snippets anywhere with a single keyboard shortcut—keeping your ideas organized and searchable across apps.
Zeda.io: A Voice-of-Customer platform that collects and analyzes qualitative feedback—automatically surfaces pain points, ranks priorities, and generates product requirements and release notes.
Qodo.ai: An in-IDE AI assistant for real-time code suggestions, automated refactoring, and test generation inside VS Code—boost developer productivity without leaving your editor.
Factory: Deploy “Droids”—autonomous AI agents that write production-ready code, resolve incidents, and clear engineering backlogs by integrating with your existing tools and workflows.
Nuelink: An AI social scheduler that plans, recycles, and optimizes your posts—automatically determines best times, repurposes evergreen content, and keeps your feeds active without manual effort.
Tavus: Record a single video and automatically generate personalized versions for each prospect—swap names, company details, and custom offers to scale one-to-one outreach at lightning speed.
Any.do: A clean, cross-platform task manager for personal, family, and team to-dos—features natural-language entry, smart reminders, calendar integration, and seamless syncing across devices.
LTX Studio: An end-to-end video production platform that uses AI to generate storyboards, scripts, and rendered scenes—ideal for marketers and filmmakers seeking rapid iteration and creative control.
Prompt Tutorial 📖📚
Act as a Marketing Strategist at Tech Innovations Inc. A company in the Technology sector, Digital Marketing department. Your objective is to increase brand awareness and engagement through targeted digital campaigns.The deliverable must include:Define 5 key elements based on target audience demographics.
Propose 5 initiatives detailing resources needed, teams involved, and timelines.
Design 5 pilot tests specifying metrics to measure, duration, and success thresholds.
List 5 tools required with responsibilities and deadlines.
Establish 5 KPIs with initial value, target value, and time horizon.
Deliverable format: table, dashboard, or chart with all elements and targets
NTV Highlights 🪩🎉
We are actively looking for AI startups
At Next Tier Ventures, we are actively looking for the next generation of AI startup founders ready to scale and create meaningful impact. Our investments range between $500K and $2M, accompanied by strategic support to help founders achieve their vision.
If you’re building cutting-edge B2B AI solutions let’s connect 👉
http://apply.nexttier.vc
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