February 22, 2025

US AI Safety Institute could face big cuts

The National Institute of Standards and Technology could fire as many as 500 staffers, according to multiple reports — cuts that further threaten a fledgling AI safety organization. Axios reported this week that the US AI Safety Institute (AISI) and Chips for America, both part of NIST, would be “gutted” by layoffs targeting probationary employees […]

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Tether backs stablecoin liquidity provider Mansa in $10M seed round

February 20, 2025

As payment companies increasingly explore stablecoins for cross-border payments and real-time settlement, some startups are tapping into the zeitgeist by providing liquidity via a revolving line of credit in stablecoins. One of them is Dubai-based but Africa-focused Mansa, whose offering allows payments companies to settle transactions and fund customer accounts instantly. The startup has raised […]

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Spore.Bio raises $23M to apply machine learning to microbiology testing

February 20, 2025

Recalls in the food and beverage industry due to contamination incidents can have catastrophic effects. Not only do companies have to pay fines and damages, but the impacts on the brand’s reputation can be long-lasting. That’s why Spore.Bio, a Paris-based deeptech startup, is trying to reinvent microbiology testing to avoid the next PR crisis in […]

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AI-coding startup Codeium in talks to raise at an almost $3B valuation, sources say

February 20, 2025

Codeium, an AI-powered coding startup, is raising a new round of funding at a $2.85 billion valuation, including fresh capital, according to two sources with knowledge of the deal.  The round is being led by a returning investor Kleiner Perkins, the people said. The new round comes just six months after Silicon Valley-based Codeium announced […]

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‘For You’ feeds are not for creators, Patreon says

February 20, 2025

Patreon has continued on its crusade against algorithmic feeds with its latest State of Create report, a look at trends in the creator economy based on internal data, and it’s an effort creators can get behind. In its survey of 1000 creators and 2000 fans, the membership platform reported that 53% of creators think it […]

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Saronic raises $600M to mass produce autonomous warships

February 19, 2025

Austin-based defense startup Saronic has raised a $600 million Series C to build an autonomous ship factory called “Port Alpha,” it announced.

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Study of TikTok, X ‘For You’ feeds in Germany finds Far Right political bias ahead of federal elections

February 19, 2025

Recommendation algorithms operated by social media giants TikTok and X have shown evidence of substantial Far Right political bias in Germany ahead of a federal election that takes place Sunday, according to new research carried out by Global Witness. The non-government organization (NGO) undertook an analysis of social media content displayed to new users via […]

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After raising $1 billion, fintech Varo closes another $29 million, replaces founder CEO

February 19, 2025

Fintech Varo has been hoping to raise a $55 million Series G round but has, so far, closed on $29 million to date, according to a new SEC filing. Varo declined to comment on this new round but the fintech has raised just over $1 billion in funding since its 2015 inception, according to PitchBook.  […]

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