IBM's $11B Confluent Deal, Trump's AI Order, and GPT-5.2 Launch - Daily AI Brief #346
December 09, 2025 -
Daily AI Brief
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Welcome to today's AI Brief.
IBM is set to acquire Confluent for $11 billion, marking a significant move in the tech industry. Meanwhile, former President Trump plans to block state AI regulations through an executive order. In other news, AI data centers in the US are encountering power supply issues, affecting operations.
Additionally, Parloa is seeking $200 million in funding at a $3 billion valuation, and the EU is investigating Google over its AI summaries. Airwallex has raised $330 million to enhance AI capabilities and global growth, while Safebooks Inc. has secured $15 million for revenue data automation. SoftBank and Nvidia are planning an investment in Skild AI, and MAI.co AI agents have reportedly increased D2C brands' revenue by 63%. Lastly, OpenAI and Instacart have launched grocery shopping within ChatGPT.
Welcome to today's AI Brief.
IBM is set to acquire Confluent for $11 billion, marking a significant move in the tech industry. Meanwhile, former President Trump plans to block state AI regulations through an executive order. In other news, AI data centers in the US are encountering power supply issues, affecting operations.
Additionally, Parloa is seeking $200 million in funding at a $3 billion valuation, and the EU is investigating Google over its AI summaries. Airwallex has raised $330 million to enhance AI capabilities and global growth, while Safebooks Inc. has secured $15 million for revenue data automation. SoftBank and Nvidia are planning an investment in Skild AI, and MAI.co AI agents have reportedly increased D2C brands' revenue by 63%. Lastly, OpenAI and Instacart have launched grocery shopping within ChatGPT.
IBM to Acquire Confluent for $11 Billion
IBM plans to acquire data streaming provider Confluent for $11 billion. The acquisition aims to enhance IBM's AI capabilities by integrating Confluent's platform, which is based on Apache Kafka and has expanded into generative AI. Read more
Trump to Block State AI Regulations with Executive Order
President Donald Trump plans to sign an executive order to prevent states from enacting their own AI regulations, advocating for a unified federal approach. This decision faces bipartisan opposition and concerns from state officials regarding local governance and consumer protections. Read more
OpenAI to Launch GPT-5.2 with Emergency Protocols
OpenAI plans to release GPT-5.2 on December 9, 2025, with new emergency protocols to enhance speed, reliability, and customizability amid competition. Read more
AI Data Centers in US Face Power Supply Issues
Microsoft and OpenAI are investing in AI data centers in the US but face power supply challenges. The US power grid is under strain as demand for AI capabilities grows, potentially leading to power outages. Read more
Parloa Seeks $200 Million Funding at $3 Billion Valuation
Berlin-based AI startup Parloa is in talks to raise $200 million, targeting a valuation of up to $3 billion. The company is expanding into the U.S. market, competing with established and new players. Read more
EU Probes Google on AI Summaries and Data Use
The European Commission is investigating Google over its AI-generated summaries in search results, focusing on data usage and compensation for publishers. Read more
Airwallex Raises $330 Million in Series G Funding
Airwallex has secured $330 million in a Series G funding round, led by Addition, valuing the company at $8 billion. The funds will support the expansion of its AI-driven financial services and growth in the U.S. Read more
Safebooks Inc. Raises $15M for Revenue Data Automation
Safebooks Inc., a San Francisco-based company, has secured $15 million in seed funding to launch its Agentic Revenue Integrity solution, which automates revenue data integrity for finance teams. Read more
SoftBank and Nvidia Plan Major Investment in Skild AI
SoftBank and Nvidia are exploring a significant funding round for Skild AI, a robotics startup, potentially valuing it at $14 billion. This indicates SoftBank's strategic shift towards artificial intelligence projects. Read more
MAI.co AI Agents Boost D2C Brands' Revenue by 63%
During Black Friday/Cyber Monday, MAI.co's AI agents helped direct-to-consumer brands increase revenue by 63% through real-time optimization of Google Ads. Read more
OpenAI and Instacart Introduce Grocery Shopping in ChatGPT
OpenAI and Instacart have launched a new feature within ChatGPT that allows users to plan meals, create grocery lists, and complete purchases directly in the chat. This initiative is part of their ongoing partnership to enhance online shopping experiences. Read more
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