Meta is making one of its biggest AI acquisitions ever, snapping up the Singapore-based startup Manus for more than $2 billion. The AI agent, which launched just last year, has already hit $100 million in annual revenue.
Applied Digital shares are up on news it will spin off its cloud business. Meanwhile, Meta Platforms made a quiet AI acquisition, and Boeing got a major defense contract. Here’s what’s moving the market before the bell.
Meta has acquired the AI agent startup Manus. The company will continue to operate the Manus service, and its team will join Meta to build agents for products like Meta AI. Founder Aaron Yang called the deal a validation of their ambitious vision for general AI agents.
In a move that brings the digital storefront full circle, GOG co-founder Michał Kiciński has purchased the platform from CD Projekt RED. The company promises no changes for users, with a renewed focus on its founding principles of DRM-free ownership and game preservation.
SK Hynix is considering building its first mass production line for advanced 2.5D chip packaging at its planned facility in West Lafayette, Indiana. This move, fueled by CHIPS Act incentives, would let the memory giant handle more complex AI chip integration in-house, challenging TSMC’s dominance.
Europe’s logistics backbone is starting to electrify, creating a massive new market. The shift hinges on depot charging and software, not just megawatt corridors. It’s a systems play that could redefine industrial energy.
The battlefield for cybersecurity has shifted decisively to artificial intelligence. According to TechCrunch’s latest Startup Battlefield, the top contenders are all using AI to fight AI, from automated penetration testing to real-time deepfake detection.
A year of conversations with over 50 tech leaders reveals a stark new reality at work. AI proficiency is now a basic job requirement, not a nice-to-have skill, and the race toward super-intelligent machines is accelerating faster than many expected.
In a major move to boost its tech independence, China has launched three new state-backed venture capital funds. Each fund is capitalized at over 50 billion yuan ($7.14 billion), targeting “hard technology” like semiconductors over internet services.
The push for universal fast charging is gaining steam, but it’s not a complete victory yet. While many phones now support super-fast speeds via the USB-PPS standard, some still hold out with their own slower, proprietary tech.
