AI Business Weekly: Monday Roundup - January 27th, 2025

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Welcome!

Thank you for being part of the AI Business Weekly community since our journey began in Summer 2024. We’re excited to announce that we’re transitioning to a daily newsletter!
Every weekday, we’ll deliver 5-10 quick updates on AI startup funding, acquisitions, and the ever-evolving AI landscape.

Our Monday edition will remain a comprehensive weekly roundup of the biggest news, while the rest of the week will focus on breaking updates in funding rounds and the AI race between the U.S. and China. Invite your friends to join us as we aim to become the premiere source for AI funding and innovation news

Monday Funding Roundup

• Mercor Secures $2 Billion Valuation
  San Francisco-based Mercor, specializing in generative AI recruiting, raised funding at a $2 billion valuation. (Source: WSJ)

• MSTRO Raises $1.5M
  MSTRO, a Maryland startup focused on human-aided AI tools, secured $1.5M in seed funding led by TEDCO. (Source: CityBiz)

• Synthesia Closes $180M Series D
  Synthesia, the leading enterprise AI-powered video platform, announced a $180M Series D round, led by NEA and supported by notable investors like GV and FirstMark. (Source: My Startup World)

• MarkeTeam.ai Raises $3M
  AI marketing technology firm MarkeTeam.ai raised $3M in seed funding to accelerate the adoption of autonomous marketing agents. (Source: PR Newswire)

• Package.AI Secures $14M
  Package.AI raised $14M to expand its conversational AI solutions for retailers like Ashley Furniture. (Source: Retail Tech Innovation Hub)

• Ati Motors Secures $20M in Series B
  Ati Motors raised $20M to expand its AI-powered robotics workforce globally, led by Walden Catalyst Ventures and NGP Capital. (Source: The Machine Maker)

• HUB Cyber Security Acquires BlackSwan Technologies
  HUB Cyber Security completed its acquisition of BlackSwan Technologies to deliver advanced AI-powered data solutions. (Source: Globe Newswire)

• Pocket Worlds Acquires Infinite Canvas
  Pocket Worlds acquired AI-driven UGC team Infinite Canvas, expanding its creator tools and enhancing the Highrise app experience. (Source: VentureBeat)

Major AI News

• DeepSeek Sparks U.S. Concerns
  Chinese AI lab DeepSeek’s open-source model threatens U.S. AI investments, sparking debate in Silicon Valley. (Source: Forbes)

• AI Detects Brain Cancer Spread
  A groundbreaking AI model achieves 85% accuracy in detecting brain cancer spread via MRI scans. (Source: Health eNews)

• Trump’s Executive Order on AI
  Trump signed an executive order removing barriers to AI innovation, signaling a hands-off regulatory stance. (Source: NS News)

• UK’s AI Regulation Plan
  The UK government unveiled its strategy to use AI for growth and global leadership. (Source: Yahoo News)

• China’s $177B AI Push
  The Bank of China committed CAD $177B to AI advancements over five years to boost domestic innovation. (Source: MSN)

• Oxford Calls for AI Youth Impact Study
  Researchers from Oxford Internet Institute urged for a framework to study AI’s effects on youth mental health. (Source: News Medical)

• AI Stocks Slide on DeepSeek Advances
  Chip stocks plummeted as DeepSeek’s AI model demonstrated reduced semiconductor reliance. (Source: Morningstar)

• AI Screens Medical School Applications
  AI is being used to screen medical school applications, aiming for efficiency and consistency in admissions. (Source: AAMC)

• LinkedIn Faces AI Lawsuit
  LinkedIn is accused of using private messages to train AI models, raising privacy concerns. (Source: BBC)

• AI Dupes of Books on Amazon
  Canadian authors warn readers about AI-generated counterfeit books appearing on Amazon. (Source: CBC)

Closing Thoughts

The AI landscape is evolving at a rapid pace, with daily breakthroughs, significant funding rounds, and groundbreaking innovations redefining industries. As we expand the scope of AI Business Weekly to include daily updates, our mission is to ensure you’re always informed about the most critical developments shaping the future of AI.

From startups securing transformative funding to geopolitical shifts in the AI race, we’re committed to delivering timely, concise, and impactful insights. Your continued support has been invaluable in growing this community, and we encourage you to share AI Business Weekly with friends and colleagues who share your passion for AI.

Thank you for being part of this journey, and we look forward to bringing you even more value with each edition. See you tomorrow!