Meta Acquires Manus for $2B, SoftBank Invests $22.5B in OpenAI, and AI Job Cuts in Europe - Daily AI Brief #357
January 02, 2026 -
Daily AI Brief
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Welcome to today's AI Brief.
Zhipu AI is planning an IPO in Hong Kong, while Meta has acquired AI startup Manus for $2 billion. OpenAI is seeking a Head of Preparedness for AI Security, and the Indian Government has ordered X to address AI misuse. Additionally, OpenAI has joined Ireland's Digital Inclusion Charter.
Baidu plans to spin off its AI chip unit Kunlunxin, and SoftBank has increased its stake in OpenAI with a $22.5 billion investment. team.blue has acquired AI startup Macaly, and MiniMax has secured $600 million for a Hong Kong IPO. xAI is expanding its data center with a new facility in Mississippi, and Xi Jinping has emphasized AI in China's modernization efforts.
Welcome to today's AI Brief.
Zhipu AI is planning an IPO in Hong Kong, while Meta has acquired AI startup Manus for $2 billion. OpenAI is seeking a Head of Preparedness for AI Security, and the Indian Government has ordered X to address AI misuse. Additionally, OpenAI has joined Ireland's Digital Inclusion Charter.
Baidu plans to spin off its AI chip unit Kunlunxin, and SoftBank has increased its stake in OpenAI with a $22.5 billion investment. team.blue has acquired AI startup Macaly, and MiniMax has secured $600 million for a Hong Kong IPO. xAI is expanding its data center with a new facility in Mississippi, and Xi Jinping has emphasized AI in China's modernization efforts.
Zhipu AI Plans Hong Kong IPO
Chinese firm Zhipu AI is set to become the first large language model developer to go public in Hong Kong, aiming to raise HK$4.35 billion through its IPO. Read more
Meta Acquires AI Startup Manus for $2 Billion
Meta Platforms Inc. has acquired Manus, a Singapore-based AI startup, for over $2 billion. The acquisition aims to integrate Manus's technology into Meta's platforms while ensuring Manus operates independently. Read more
xAI Expands Data Center with New Facility in Mississippi
Elon Musk's AI startup, xAI, is expanding its data center complex by acquiring a warehouse in Southaven, Mississippi, to support its Colossus centers. Read more
Xi Jinping Emphasizes AI in China's Modernization
In a recent speech, Xi Jinping emphasized the role of AI development and regulation in China's modernization strategy, highlighting its importance for national competitiveness. Read more
Moonshot AI Raises $500 Million, Delays IPO
Chinese company Moonshot AI has raised $500 million in its Series C funding round, resulting in a delay of its IPO plans. Read more
European Banks to Cut 200,000 Jobs by 2030 Due to AI
A Morgan Stanley analysis predicts that over 200,000 jobs in the European banking sector could be eliminated by 2030 as AI adoption and branch closures increase. This reduction is expected to affect back-office operations, risk management, and compliance. Read more
OpenAI Develops Audio AI for New Device
OpenAI is working on enhancing its audio AI capabilities for a new audio-first personal device set to launch in 2026. This move aligns with a broader industry trend towards audio interfaces. Read more
Seeing Machines Launches Future Mobility Group for Autonomous Vehicles
Seeing Machines, based in Canberra, Australia, has launched a Future Mobility Group to enhance integration with autonomous vehicle programs. This initiative aims to meet the growing demand for human-centered safety systems as the industry transitions from development to commercial deployment. Read more
Alibaba Launches Open-Source Image Model Qwen-Image-2512
The Alibaba Qwen team has released Qwen-Image-2512, an open-source image generation model that aims to compete with Google's Nano Banana Pro. It is available for commercial use under the Apache 2.0 license. Read more
AI Lobbying in Washington Sees Significant Increase
A report by Bloomberg Government reveals a notable rise in AI lobbying activities in Washington, D.C., involving both major firms and startups. The report indicates that lobbying firms earned nearly $92 million in 2025 from AI-related issues, highlighting the industry's push to shape AI regulations and policies. Read more
Goldman Sachs Co-Leads AI Power Campus Financing in Texas
Goldman Sachs Group Inc. is co-leading a financing initiative for constructing AI power campuses in Texas. The project, in collaboration with Newmark Group Inc., aims to support data centers with modular natural gas-fired generation, as announced by developer GridFree AI. Read more
Nota AI to Enhance Samsung's Exynos 2600 with AI Tech
Nota AI will provide AI model optimization technology for Samsung Electronics' Exynos 2600, aiming to boost Generative AI performance on mobile devices. Read more
OpenAI Seeks Head of Preparedness for AI Security
OpenAI is hiring a Head of Preparedness to address AI misuse and cybersecurity threats, with a focus on risk identification and safeguard development. The role offers a $555,000 salary. Read more
Indian Government Demands X to Fix Grok AI Misuse
The Indian government has instructed X to make immediate changes to its AI chatbot Grok following reports of it producing obscene content. The IT ministry has set a 72-hour deadline for X to report on corrective measures, with potential legal consequences for non-compliance. Read more
OpenAI Joins Ireland's Digital Inclusion Charter
OpenAI has signed Ireland's Charter for Digital Inclusion, committing to initiatives that promote digital literacy and equitable technology access. Read more
Baidu Plans Spin-off for AI Chip Unit Kunlunxin
Baidu has announced its intention to spin off its AI chip subsidiary, Kunlunxin, and list it separately on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. This strategic move is aimed at boosting Kunlunxin's visibility in the market and attracting investment in the AI chip industry. Read more
SoftBank Increases Stake in OpenAI with $22.5 Billion Investment
SoftBank Group Corp. has increased its ownership in OpenAI to approximately 11% following a $22.5 billion investment. This move is part of a larger $40 billion commitment announced in March 2025. Read more
team.blue Acquires Czech AI Startup Macaly
team.blue has acquired Macaly, a Czech AI web application builder, to enhance its software development capabilities. The acquisition will allow team.blue to offer users the ability to create web applications using natural language prompts. Read more
MiniMax Secures $600 Million for Hong Kong IPO
Chinese AI startup MiniMax has received backing from Alibaba and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority for its Hong Kong IPO, aiming to raise over $600 million. Read more
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