Meta Platforms’ recent acquisition of the AI startup Manus marks a decisive move in its continuous quest to dominate the evolving artificial intelligence sector. While the deal flew under the radar compared to some of Meta’s larger acquisitions, its implications are far-reaching—particularly as Meta looks to tighten its grip on the AI developer ecosystem, increase…

Venture capital activity closed 2024 with cautious optimism, amid macroeconomic headwinds and a continuing reset in startup valuations. Yet, December produced a set of standout investments that hint at the sectors poised to transform their industries entirely. From AI-driven surgical robots to protein synthesis engines and decarbonized air transport, startup investors appear to be reasserting…

In late December 2025, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders issued a sharply worded warning about the societal risks of artificial intelligence, calling its unregulated expansion a “profound threat to the foundations of democracy, civil society, and economic equality.” Speaking in Vermont before a group of labor organizers and academics, Sanders expressed deep concern about the unchecked…

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has stepped into the arena of national AI policy—not as a proponent of rapid innovation, but as one of its most vociferous skeptics. In politically charged remarks made in late December 2025, DeSantis drew a hard line against what he sees as a growing threat: the unchecked rise of artificial intelligence,…

Virtual influencers are entering a new phase of prominence, rapidly transforming from novelty CGI characters to complex digital personas that rival their human counterparts. Artificial intelligence, generative content platforms, and synthetic media capabilities are converging to give rise to AI-driven influencers—avatars engineered for brand alignment, audience precision, and round-the-clock engagement. As this technology becomes commercially…

Artificial intelligence (AI) investment is undergoing a structural metamorphosis in 2025, buoyed by unparalleled advances across model architectures, enterprise adoption, and semiconductor engineering. As global venture capital recalibrates its strategy post-ZIRP and amid macroeconomic flux, top-tier investors are more selective—yet bullish—on generative AI, full-stack AI products, and tooling infrastructure. Investors no longer simply fund foundational…