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Welcome to today’s edition of AI Business Weekly. The AI landscape continues to accelerate, with major funding rounds in logistics and robotics, a push for regulation in California, new consumer-focused AI apps, and survey data showing skepticism toward AI in financial advice. Let’s dive in.

Anthropic Backs California AI Bill

San Francisco — Anthropic, the developer of Claude, has thrown its support behind a new California bill on artificial intelligence. The legislation, introduced by State Senator Scott Wiener, could test Governor Gavin Newsom’s position on AI regulation. If passed, the law may have broad implications beyond California, potentially shaping national AI governance.
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Cambridge Student Builds AI App to Cut Grocery Costs

Cambridge, Ontario — A University of Waterloo student from Hespeler has developed an AI-powered app designed to help families reduce grocery expenses. Unlike traditional budgeting tools, the app leverages artificial intelligence to identify savings opportunities, reflecting growing interest in AI for everyday consumer needs.
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Survey: Canadians Reject AI for Financial Advice

Mississauga, Ontario — According to Primerica Canada’s Financial Security Monitor™ survey, 82% of middle-income Canadians prefer human advisors over AI-driven financial guidance. The data underscores lingering trust gaps as financial services explore automation and AI-based advisory tools.
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Augment Raises $85M for Logistics AI Assistant

San Francisco — Augment, an AI startup building a ChatGPT-like system specialized in logistics workflows, has raised $85 million in Series A funding. The round was led by Redpoint Ventures, with backing from 8VC, Shopify Ventures, Autotech Ventures, and others. The raise brings Augment’s total funding to $110 million in just five months, as investors bet on AI to transform supply chain operations.
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Alibaba Backs $140M Round for X Square Robot

Alibaba Group has co-led a $140 million funding round in robotics startup X Square Robot. The investment underscores Alibaba’s ambition to secure leadership in robotics and AI as competition intensifies among global technology giants.
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📢 Broad AI Momentum Across Policy, Consumer Apps, and Enterpris

From California’s regulatory push to funding in logistics and robotics, AI continues to shape both global markets and everyday life. While startups build AI assistants for supply chains and grocery shopping, surveys show that adoption in areas like financial advice may still face resistance.

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