OpenAI's $750B Valuation, Google Unveils Gemini 3 Flash, and Coursera Acquires Udemy - Daily AI Brief #352
December 18, 2025 -
Daily AI Brief
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Welcome to today's AI Brief.
Lovable has secured $330 million in Series B funding, while OpenAI is seeking massive funding at a $750 billion valuation. Hut 8 has partnered with Anthropic and Fluidstack to develop AI data centers. Amazon has appointed a new leader for its AI organization, and Fujitsu is set to present its AI technology at CES 2026.
Everbloom is using AI to create a cashmere-like material from chicken feathers. Automation.com and Hikvision have released a white paper on AI video intelligence. Waymo is seeking $10 billion in funding at a $100 billion valuation, and Google has introduced Gemini 3 Flash as its default model. Adobe is facing a lawsuit over its AI training practices, and Xiaomi has launched its open-source AI model MiMo-V2-Flash.
Welcome to today's AI Brief.
Lovable has secured $330 million in Series B funding, while OpenAI is seeking massive funding at a $750 billion valuation. Hut 8 has partnered with Anthropic and Fluidstack to develop AI data centers. Amazon has appointed a new leader for its AI organization, and Fujitsu is set to present its AI technology at CES 2026.
Lovable Secures $330M in Series B Funding
Lovable, a Swedish startup, has raised $330 million in a Series B funding round, reaching a valuation of $6.6 billion. The round was led by CapitalG and Menlo Ventures. Read more
OpenAI Seeks Massive Funding at $750 Billion Valuation
OpenAI is in early talks with investors to raise tens of billions of dollars, aiming for a valuation of around $750 billion. Potential investors include Amazon, which may invest $10 billion. Read more
Hut 8 Partners with Anthropic and Fluidstack for AI Data Centers
Hut 8 Corp. has partnered with Anthropic and Fluidstack to develop AI data center infrastructure in Louisiana, with plans for up to 2,295 MW. The project includes a 15-year lease and financial backing from J.P. Morgan and Goldman Sachs. Read more
Amazon Appoints Peter DeSantis to Lead AI Division
Amazon has appointed Peter DeSantis to lead a new AI-focused organization, overseeing AI models, silicon development, and quantum computing. This move is part of Amazon's commitment to AI for enterprise use. Read more
Fujitsu to Present AI Tech at CES 2026
Fujitsu Limited will display its mobility and physical AI technologies at CES 2026 in Las Vegas, collaborating with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to showcase AI-driven solutions. Read more
Everbloom's AI Converts Chicken Feathers to Cashmere-like Material
Everbloom, a startup, has developed an AI called Braid.AI to create a cashmere-like material from chicken feathers, aiming to offer a sustainable and biodegradable alternative in the textile industry. Read more
Automation.com and Hikvision Release AI Video Intelligence White Paper
A joint white paper by Automation.com and Hikvision explores the impact of AI-powered video intelligence on manufacturing efficiency, focusing on the transition from traditional security systems to advanced operational data sources. Read more
Waymo Seeks $10 Billion Funding at $100 Billion Valuation
Waymo, Alphabet's autonomous driving unit, is reportedly in discussions to raise over $10 billion, potentially valuing the company at around $100 billion. The funding round is expected to finalize early next year. Read more
Google Introduces Gemini 3 Flash as Default Model
Google has launched the Gemini 3 Flash model, setting it as the default in the Gemini app and AI mode in search. This model offers enhanced performance and competes with other leading models, excelling in multimodal content understanding. Read more
Adobe Faces Lawsuit Over AI Training Practices
A proposed class-action lawsuit has been filed against Adobe for allegedly using pirated books, including works by author Elizabeth Lyon, to train its SlimLM AI model. Read more
Xiaomi Launches Open-Source AI Model MiMo-V2-Flash
Chinese technology company Xiaomi has introduced an open-source AI model named MiMo-V2-Flash, aiming to compete with models from DeepSeek, Moonshot AI, and OpenAI. The model is globally available and noted for its efficiency and cost-effective performance. Read more
NVIDIA Advances Robotaxi AI Safety
NVIDIA is enhancing robotaxi AI safety using its OpenUSD, Omniverse, and Halos framework to standardize simulation and validation processes. This initiative aims to improve autonomous vehicle deployment by generating synthetic data and conducting virtual testing that reflects real-world conditions. Read more
Allen Institute for AI Launches Molmo 2 Vision Model
The Allen Institute for AI has released Molmo 2, an open-source AI vision model that excels in video analysis, competing with systems from Google, Meta, and OpenAI. Read more
Coursera to Acquire Udemy in $2.5 Billion Deal
Coursera has announced plans to acquire Udemy in an all-stock deal valued at $2.5 billion. The merger aims to enhance offerings in AI training and is expected to close in the second half of 2026. Read more
Blue Owl Capital Withdraws from Oracle's Data Center Project
Blue Owl Capital has opted out of funding Oracle's $10 billion data center project in Saline Township, Michigan, due to concerns over debt and lease terms. Blackstone is in discussions to potentially take over the funding. Read more
Skana Robotics Develops AI Communication for Underwater Robots
Tel Aviv-based Skana Robotics has introduced a new feature in its SeaSphere software, allowing underwater robots to communicate over long distances without surfacing. This development is aimed at improving defense operations and securing underwater infrastructure. Read more
Google Integrates Opal into Gemini App
Google has integrated its vibe-coding tool, Opal, into the Gemini web app, enabling users to create AI-powered mini apps called Gems with a visual editor and advanced customization options. Read more
Mozilla to Add Optional AI Features to Firefox
Anthony Enzor-DeMeo, the new CEO of Mozilla, has announced plans to integrate AI features into the Firefox browser, ensuring they remain optional for users. Read more
OpenAI's GPT-5 Advances Wet Lab Biology with Red Queen Bio
OpenAI's GPT-5 has made significant progress in wet lab biology by suggesting new experimental mechanisms, which were confirmed through laboratory testing. In collaboration with biosecurity firm Red Queen Bio, GPT-5 improved cloning efficiency by 79 times through a novel enzymatic mechanism and optimized reaction conditions. Read more
Rebellion Aims to Compete with Nvidia in AI Chip Market
Rebellion, a South Korean AI semiconductor startup, has reached unicorn status with a valuation of approximately 2 trillion won ($1.5 billion). The company plans to challenge Nvidia by focusing on inference-optimized designs and global expansion. Read more
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