Microsoft's $30B UK AI Bet, Meta's Smart Glasses, and Anthropic's Surveillance Limits - Daily AI Brief #286
September 18, 2025 -
Daily AI Brief
Hi there,
Welcome to today's AI Brief.
Cohere has opened a new office in Paris, establishing it as a European hub for AI development. Meanwhile, Anthropic has imposed restrictions on its Claude models to prevent their use in surveillance activities. Alt Capital has successfully raised $275 million for its AI-focused fund.
Meta has unveiled new Ray-Ban smart glasses featuring a display, and Google's Nano Banana model is gaining traction in India. Groq has secured $750 million in funding, bringing its valuation to $6.9 billion, while Google Ventures has invested in Blacksmith to enhance continuous integration capabilities.
Welcome to today's AI Brief.
Cohere has opened a new office in Paris, establishing it as a European hub for AI development. Meanwhile, Anthropic has imposed restrictions on its Claude models to prevent their use in surveillance activities. Alt Capital has successfully raised $275 million for its AI-focused fund.
Meta has unveiled new Ray-Ban smart glasses featuring a display, and Google's Nano Banana model is gaining traction in India. Groq has secured $750 million in funding, bringing its valuation to $6.9 billion, while Google Ventures has invested in Blacksmith to enhance continuous integration capabilities.
Cohere Opens Paris Office for EMEA Operations
Toronto-based AI company Cohere has launched a new office in Paris to serve as its central hub for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The expansion aims to increase its workforce and leverage local AI talent. Read more
Anthropic Restricts Claude Models for Surveillance
The AI company Anthropic has limited the use of its Claude models for domestic surveillance, causing tensions with the Trump administration. This decision affects law enforcement agencies like the FBI and Secret Service. Read more
Alt Capital Raises $275 Million for AI Fund
Jack Altman, co-founder of Lattice, has successfully raised $275 million for his new venture fund, Alt Capital II, aimed at investing in AI startups focused on enterprise software. Read more
Meta Unveils Ray-Ban Smart Glasses with Display
On September 17, 2025, Meta announced the launch of the Meta Ray-Ban Display, smart glasses with a built-in display and a wristband controller. Priced at $799, they will be available from September 30, 2025. Read more
Google's Nano Banana Model Gains Popularity in India
The Google Nano Banana image-generation model, part of the Gemini app, has become widely popular in India, with users creating retro portraits and images with traditional attire. Despite privacy concerns, the app has seen a significant increase in downloads. Read more
Groq Raises $750 Million, Valued at $6.9 Billion
AI chip startup Groq has secured $750 million in funding, elevating its valuation to $6.9 billion. The investment round was led by Disruptive, with participation from major firms including BlackRock and Deutsche Telekom Capital Partners. Read more
Google Ventures Invests $10M in Blacksmith
Blacksmith, a startup from San Francisco, has secured $10 million in Series A funding from Google Ventures to enhance continuous integration services for GitHub Actions. Read more
Other news
Irregular has secured $80 million in funding to bolster AI model security, with backing from Sequoia Capital and Redpoint Ventures. Meanwhile, Anthropic reports that its Claude AI automates 77% of tasks, potentially impacting jobs in coding and data entry.
- Irregular Secures $80 Million for AI Model Security
- Anthropic Report: Claude AI Automates 77% of Tasks
- Microsoft Selects Anthropic's Claude Sonnet 4 for Copilot Tools
- Nokia Announces New Leadership and AI Organization
- Microsoft to Invest $30 Billion in UK AI Infrastructure
- China Bans Tech Firms from Buying Nvidia AI Chips
- Wearable Devices Ltd. Launches AI Gesture-Control Wearables
- Ceva Appoints New EVP of AI
- Keplar Raises $3.4 Million for Voice AI in Market Research
- DRUID AI Raises $31 Million for AI Platform Expansion
- Humain Seeks Funding from Blackstone and BlackRock for AI Expansion
- Atomicwork Secures Investment from Okta Ventures
- Upscale AI Secures $100 Million Seed Funding
- Moonberg Launches AI Platform for Blockchain Data
- WeaveGrid Secures Investment from LG Technology Ventures
- Eagl Raises €825,000 for AI Financial Platform
- VersaBank Enhances Banking Tech with AI
- Arbe Robotics Appoints Chris Van Dan Elzen to Board
- MongoDB Adds Search Features to Self-Managed Versions
- Rimes Appoints Vijay Mayadas as CEO
- Altair and Gordon Murray Group Partner on Lightweight Vehicle Platforms
We hope you enjoyed this article.
Consider subscribing to one of our newsletters like Daily AI Brief.
Also, consider following us on social media:
Subscribe to Daily AI Brief
Daily report covering major AI developments and industry news, with both top stories and complete market updates
