Brief

xAI has enlisted several Wall Street firms, including Apollo Global Management and Morgan Stanley, to test its Grok chatbot. This initiative aims to boost revenue ahead of its parent company SpaceX's potential IPO. Despite the testing, financial professionals have reportedly made limited use of Grok in their daily work. AI

Cisco announced plans to lay off approximately 4,000 employees as part of a restructuring effort. The company aims to reallocate resources towards artificial intelligence and other growth areas. This move coincides with an increased revenue forecast, driven by a surge in orders from hyperscale cloud providers. AI

Anthropic is seeking a "Claude Evangelist" with a salary up to $315,000, indicating a strategic focus on promoting its AI models. This role suggests a move towards more proactive market engagement and education around Anthropic's technology. The company's efforts may lead to a polarization within the AI security business, as advanced AI capabilities become more accessible and specialized. AI

Google users are reporting unexpected charges due to unauthorized API usage, with some experiencing significant bills. This issue appears to stem from AI features within Google products, leading to user frustration and demands for refunds. Separately, Hollywood actors are supporting a new standard aimed at compensating them when AI utilizes their likeness or creative work. AI

Martha Stewart has launched a new AI-powered home management startup, reportedly securing $10 million in seed funding. The venture aims to leverage artificial intelligence to assist with household tasks and organization. This move into AI by the lifestyle icon signals a growing trend of mainstream personalities adopting emerging technologies. AI

ByteDance is developing a business strategy around its open-source AI agent framework, OpenClaw, by offering a cloud-based service called ArkClaw. This move aims to capitalize on the growing demand for AI agent tokens and establish a subscription model, drawing parallels to how MySQL became a successful service. The framework has generated significant enthusiasm among Chinese developers, evidenced by a well-attended event in Shanghai. AI

Anthropic is reportedly in early-stage talks to acquire the developer tools startup Stainless for at least $300 million, potentially including company stock in the deal. This move signals Anthropic's interest in enhancing its developer ecosystem and tooling capabilities. The acquisition is still subject to negotiation and final terms could change. AI

A major Chinese tech company has reportedly accelerated its AI development, consuming its entire annual budget in just four months, leaving its CTO bewildered. This rapid AI investment is part of a broader trend where large tech firms are pushing their engineering talent to focus on AI initiatives. The company is also planning to spin off its AI subsidiary, Kuaishou, which is seeking $2 billion in funding. AI

A new AI animation startup has been launched by former Adobe Research scientists and Tencent T15. The company aims to provide tools for professional animation studios, with initial funding in the tens of millions from investors like Qiji Chuangtan. The founding team includes a former Principal Scientist from Adobe whose deblurring technology was notably used by the FBI. AI

Intel is reportedly poised to secure a contract to manufacture Tesla's AI6 chips, a deal that may have been influenced by pressure from the Trump administration. This potential shift could see production move from Samsung Electronics and TSMC, raising questions about Intel's technical capabilities for the advanced chips. The report also touches on real estate company net assets and Kuaishou's potential AI division spin-off. AI

Microsoft is offering early retirement packages to veteran employees amidst significant AI investments. The details of these packages, obtained through internal documents, suggest a strategic workforce adjustment as the company pivots towards AI development. This move appears to be a cost-saving measure or a way to reallocate resources towards its growing AI initiatives, including Copilot. AI

MoonPay has acquired Dawn Labs, aiming to make algorithmic trading strategies more accessible. This acquisition will allow users to leverage advanced AI tools for predictive markets, such as Polymarket, without needing programming skills like Python. The move is expected to democratize access to sophisticated trading approaches. AI

Meta Platforms is facing legal action from Santa Clara County, which accuses the company of profiting from fraudulent advertisements targeting elderly individuals. The social media giant stated that it removed 159 million fraudulent ads last year. Separately, Kuaishou plans to spin off its AI subsidiary, Keling AI, and is seeking $2 billion in funding for it. AI

GitLab is undergoing layoffs as the company shifts its business strategy to focus more on AI. This pivot involves restructuring and reducing its global workforce and management layers. The company aims to align its operations with the growing demand and opportunities in the artificial intelligence sector. AI

Bumble is pivoting its dating app strategy to emphasize AI technology, with CEO Lidiane Jones announcing plans to move away from traditional swiping. The company will introduce an AI dating assistant named Bee to enhance user experience. This strategic shift aims to leverage AI for more personalized matchmaking and potentially streamline the dating process. AI

Yunnan Germanium Industry announced an abnormal stock price fluctuation, with its stock rising over 20% in three consecutive trading days. The company's primary business involves germanium products, but its compound semiconductor materials, such as indium phosphide wafers used in optical modules, generated only 138 million yuan in revenue in 2025, representing a small portion of its total income. These key products are also subject to China's export control regulations, requiring specific licenses for export, with approval not guaranteed. AI

OpenAI has launched DeployCo, an AI consulting firm backed by $4 billion in funding. Separately, Exaforce has secured $125 million in Series B funding to develop AI for specific applications. Meanwhile, Meta is testing AI integrations within Threads, similar to existing features. CEOs are reportedly finding AI productivity gains to be underwhelming. AI