Firmus, the Asia-based AI data center provider recognized as the ‘Southgate’ AI datacenter builder, has successfully raised $1.35 billion in funding over the past six months. The company’s valuation has now reached $5.5 billion, bolstered by support from Nvidia.
The funding will enable Firmus to expand its AI data center capabilities and meet the increasing demand for AI infrastructure in the region.
Firmus, an Asia-based AI data center builder backed by Nvidia, has announced a valuation of $5.5 billion. The company, known as ‘Southgate,’ has raised $1.35 billion in the last six months.
The funding supports Firmus’s expansion in the AI data center sector.
Nvidia’s support underscores the growing importance of AI infrastructure in Asia and Firmus’s role in meeting that demand.
Intel has announced its involvement in Elon Musk’s Terafab chips project, a collaboration that seeks to leverage Intel’s extensive experience in semiconductor technology.
The partnership is expected to provide crucial support to Musk’s latest high-tech endeavor, focusing on the development and production of advanced chips.
By joining forces, Intel aims to contribute its expertise to the Terafab project, enhancing its capabilities and accelerating its progress in the competitive landscape of chip manufacturing.
Google Maps has integrated AI capabilities, allowing the platform to automatically generate captions for photos and videos shared by users. This new feature leverages the Gemini AI model to create relevant and engaging descriptions.
When users upload a photo or video to Google Maps, Gemini AI analyzes the content and generates a suggested caption. This aims to streamline the sharing process, making it easier for users to add context to their contributions.
The AI-generated captions provide a quick way for users to describe their experiences, highlighting key aspects of the location or activity captured in the media. This enhancement promises to improve the overall user experience on Google Maps, fostering a more informative and interactive community.
Family offices are increasingly seeking direct exposure to AI startups, bypassing traditional venture capital routes in pursuit of higher returns. This trend reflects a growing appetite among private wealth investors to actively participate in the AI gold rush by making riskier, early-stage bets.
On a recent episode of Equity, Arena Private Wealth discussed this shift, noting that family offices are moving away from being passive investors to becoming active participants in the AI landscape. This involves directly investing in AI startups, allowing them to gain more control and potentially higher returns compared to investing through traditional VC funds.
The move signifies a notable change in investment strategy as private wealth seeks to capitalize on the rapidly expanding AI sector. While these early-stage investments carry inherent risks, the potential rewards are attracting significant interest from family offices looking to diversify their portfolios and gain a competitive edge in the market.
Rocket, an Indian startup, is developing an AI platform with the goal of disrupting the consulting industry. The company aims to offer McKinsey-style consulting services at a significantly lower cost by combining strategy, product building, and competitive intelligence.
The new platform seeks to move beyond simple code generation. Instead, it will provide comprehensive reports and insights comparable to those produced by top-tier consulting firms.
Rocket’s approach leverages AI to analyze data and generate strategic recommendations, potentially making high-level consulting accessible to a broader range of businesses.
By automating key aspects of the consulting process, Rocket hopes to streamline operations and reduce the overhead typically associated with traditional consulting engagements. This could lead to faster turnaround times and more cost-effective solutions for clients.
The company’s platform is designed to integrate various functions, offering a holistic approach to business problem-solving. Rocket envisions its AI becoming an indispensable tool for companies seeking to optimize their strategies and gain a competitive edge.
Bangalore-based startup Rocket is betting that AI can democratize high-end business consulting. Founded in 2020, Rocket is launching a new AI platform that aims to deliver McKinsey-style strategic reports at a fraction of the cost, potentially disrupting the traditional consulting landscape.
Rocket’s platform combines strategy, product building, and competitive intelligence, offering a suite of tools designed to help businesses make informed decisions. Unlike AI solutions focused solely on code generation, Rocket aims to provide holistic business insights.
The company claims its AI can analyze market trends, assess competitive landscapes, and identify growth opportunities, all synthesized into comprehensive reports. This approach could be particularly appealing to startups and small to medium-sized businesses that lack the resources to engage top-tier consulting firms.
While the promise of AI-driven consulting is significant, questions remain about the depth and nuance of the insights generated. Can AI truly replicate the experience and judgment of seasoned consultants? Rocket’s success will depend on its ability to deliver actionable, accurate, and insightful recommendations that drive tangible business outcomes.
The platform is set to launch in beta later this quarter, with plans for a wider release in early 2027. Rocket faces competition from established consulting firms and other AI-powered business intelligence tools. However, its focus on affordability and accessibility could carve out a unique niche in the market.
Oracle has appointed Hilary Maxson as its new Chief Financial Officer, reinstating a role that had been vacant since 2014. Maxson, formerly of Schneider Electric, will receive a $950,000 annual base salary, along with eligibility for a $2.5 million performance-based bonus, according to a regulatory filing.
This decision arrives amidst reports of significant layoffs at Oracle, potentially affecting thousands of employees, as the company invests heavily in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure. A recent 10-K filing indicated Oracle had approximately 162,000 full-time employees as of May 2025.
Oracle anticipates restructuring costs in fiscal year 2026 could reach $2.1 billion, primarily allocated for employee severance and related expenses. The company’s increased capital expenditure, projected at $50 billion for the current fiscal year, underscores its focus on AI data centers. This figure is more than double the previous year’s spending.
Despite these investments, Oracle’s stock has experienced volatility, reflecting market concerns about AI’s potential impact on software providers. Shares are up 14% over the last year, but have declined 50% in the last six months and 25% year-to-date.
Maxson will report to Oracle co-CEO Clay Magouyrk. In a press release, she conveyed her enthusiasm about joining Oracle during this transformative period, expressing her commitment to strategic investments and long-term value creation for both customers and shareholders.
Zero Shot, a newly formed venture capital fund created by OpenAI alumni, is seeking to raise $100 million for its inaugural fund. The firm has already begun deploying capital.
The fund has deep connections to OpenAI, the prominent artificial intelligence research and deployment company. Zero Shot intends to focus its investments on early-stage companies.
The establishment of Zero Shot marks a significant move by former OpenAI employees into the venture capital space, leveraging their expertise and network to support promising startups. The fund’s initial target of $100 million underscores the growing interest in AI-related ventures and the potential for substantial returns in this rapidly evolving sector.
OpenAI is escalating its battle with Elon Musk, calling on authorities in California and Delaware to investigate what it describes as Musk’s anti-competitive behavior. The move comes amid ongoing legal disputes and increasing tension between the artificial intelligence company and the tech mogul.
The request for investigation centers on allegations that Musk, a co-founder of OpenAI, acted in ways that stifled the company’s growth and innovation. OpenAI claims Musk sought to control the company, ultimately leading to disagreements over its direction and mission.
The dispute highlights the growing rivalry between OpenAI and Musk, who has since founded his own AI venture, xAI. As both companies compete in the rapidly evolving AI landscape, the stakes are high. An investigation could have significant implications for both OpenAI and Musk’s future endeavors in the technology sector.
Legal experts say the investigation could focus on whether Musk violated any agreements or fiduciary duties during his time with OpenAI. The outcome could set a precedent for how founders and early investors navigate their roles in innovative tech companies.
The investigation request adds another layer of complexity to the already intense competition in the AI industry, where companies are vying for dominance and influence.