Artificial Intelligence

Google Brings AI Plus To The U.S. As Part Of A 35 Market Expansion

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 29, 2026

Google is expanding Google AI Plus into 35 additional countries and territories, including the United States, widening access to a lower-priced subscription that bundles premium AI capabilities across multiple Google products.

OpenAI Launches Prism, A Free AI Writing Workspace For Scientists

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 29, 2026

OpenAI has launched Prism, a free, AI-native workspace designed to help scientists write and collaborate on research in one integrated environment, with GPT-5.2 embedded directly into the workflow. The product is available now to anyone with a ChatGPT personal account, with support for organizations on ChatGPT Business, Enterprise, and Education plans expected “soon.”

Phia: $35 Million Series A At $185 Million Valuation Raised To Build AI Alignment Layer For Commerce

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 28, 2026

Phia, a shopping agent co-founded by Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni, has raised a $35 million Series A financing at a $185 million valuation as it looks to expand what it describes as an “AI alignment layer” connecting consumers and brands. The round was led by Notable Capital, with participation from Khosla Ventures and returning investor Kleiner Perkins.

Agiloft: AI Adoption Crosses 50% Of ARR Base As Screens Usage Surges Across Contract Workflows

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 28, 2026

Agiloft reported accelerating adoption of its AI capabilities and rising usage of Agiloft Screens, saying the momentum reflects a shift from pilot programs to enterprise reliance as organizations use AI-driven workflows to speed contracting, reduce risk, and improve operational control across legal, procurement, sales, and finance teams.

de Risk Partners: Interview With Founder & CEO Ravi De Silva About The Global Regulatory Compliance Consultancy

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 28, 2026

de Risk Partners is a global regulatory compliance consultancy that uses a blend of human expertise and AI to help financial institutions, including banks, credit unions, and fintechs, manage their compliance and internal audit functions, transforming regulatory obligations into a strategic advantage. They provide a range of services from fractional Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) support to AI-driven financial crime prevention solutions. Pulse 2.0 interviewed de Risk Partners founder and CEO Ravi De Silva to gain a deeper understanding of the company.

Uber Launches AV Labs to Accelerate Autonomous Vehicle Data Flywheel

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 28, 2026

Uber announced it is launching AV Labs, a new team focused on speeding progress across the autonomous vehicle ecosystem by tackling what it calls one of the toughest constraints in the field: building a scalable data flywheel that captures real-world, long-tail driving scenarios.

Corning And Meta Strike Multiyear Deal Worth Up To $6 Billion To Speed US Data Center Expansion

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 28, 2026

Corning and Meta Platforms have signed a multiyear agreement valued at up to $6 billion to accelerate the construction of advanced data centers in the United States to support Meta’s apps, technology roadmap, and AI initiatives. Corning will supply Meta with its latest optical fiber, cable, and connectivity products engineered for the density and scale requirements of next-generation AI data centers.

Brickanta: $8 Million Seed Funding Raised To Bring AI To Construction

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 28, 2026

Brickanta, a Y Combinator-backed construction technology startup from the F25 batch, has raised an $8 million seed round as it builds what it describes as an AI-native operating system for the construction industry, according to a LinkedIn post from founder Linus B. Fahlander. Northzone led the financing, with additional participation from angel investors spanning both construction industry operators and AI founders.