Higgsfield AI's $1.3B Valuation, OpenAI's Robotics Expansion, and US Tariffs on Nvidia - Daily AI Brief #368
January 16, 2026 -
Daily AI Brief
Hi there,
Welcome to today's AI Brief.
In today's edition, Higgsfield AI has been valued at $1.3 billion, marking a significant milestone for the video startup. Meanwhile, Taiwan is set to invest $250 billion in the US semiconductor industry, highlighting a major financial commitment. Additionally, the US has imposed tariffs on Nvidia AI chips being exported to China.
Alibaba has enhanced its Qwen App with new features, and Cursor has partnered with Together AI for real-time inference capabilities. Anthropic has appointed Irina Ghose for its expansion in India, while OpenAI has invested in Merge Labs for brain-computer interface development. Lastly, US Senators are questioning tech giants about their deepfake policies.
Welcome to today's AI Brief.
In today's edition, Higgsfield AI has been valued at $1.3 billion, marking a significant milestone for the video startup. Meanwhile, Taiwan is set to invest $250 billion in the US semiconductor industry, highlighting a major financial commitment. Additionally, the US has imposed tariffs on Nvidia AI chips being exported to China.
Alibaba has enhanced its Qwen App with new features, and Cursor has partnered with Together AI for real-time inference capabilities. Anthropic has appointed Irina Ghose for its expansion in India, while OpenAI has invested in Merge Labs for brain-computer interface development. Lastly, US Senators are questioning tech giants about their deepfake policies.
Higgsfield AI Video Startup Valued at $1.3B
AI video generation startup Higgsfield, founded by former Snap executive Alex Mashrabov, has achieved a $1.3 billion valuation following a $130 million Series A funding extension. Read more
Harvey Opens Paris Office and Hires VP of EMEA Sales
Harvey has announced the opening of a new office in Paris and the hiring of Jorge Bestard as Vice President of EMEA Sales, as part of its European expansion strategy. Read more
OpenAI Seeks US Suppliers for Robotics Expansion
OpenAI is looking for US-based suppliers to support its expansion into consumer devices, robotics, and data center technology. The company has issued a request for proposals from manufacturers of components such as silicon, motors, and cooling gear, aiming to strengthen its hardware supply chain and enhance domestic manufacturing capabilities. Read more
Taiwan to Invest $250 Billion in US Semiconductor Manufacturing
Taiwan is set to invest $250 billion in the US semiconductor industry as part of a trade deal announced by the Trump administration. This move aims to boost domestic semiconductor production and includes credit guarantees. Read more
US Imposes Tariff on Nvidia AI Chips to China
The US government has announced a 25% tariff on Nvidia's H200 AI chips exported to China, aiming to support the US chip industry and address supply chain concerns. Read more
Alibaba Enhances Qwen App with New Features
On January 15, 2026, Alibaba announced upgrades to its Qwen AI app, adding food ordering and travel booking capabilities. These features are in public testing in China and integrate services like Taobao and Alipay. Read more
Cursor and Together AI Partner for Real-Time Inference
Cursor, an AI-powered coding platform, has partnered with Together AI to enhance its infrastructure for real-time, low-latency inference using NVIDIA Blackwell chips. This collaboration aims to improve the coding experience by ensuring timely suggestions and debugging while developers work. Read more
Anthropic Appoints Irina Ghose for India Expansion
U.S. AI startup Anthropic has appointed Irina Ghose to lead its expansion in India, marking a significant step as it plans to open an office in Bengaluru. Read more
OpenAI Invests in Merge Labs for Brain-Computer Interface Development
OpenAI has invested in Merge Labs, a startup focused on noninvasive brain-computer interfaces, founded by Sam Altman. This investment is part of a $250 million seed round, positioning Merge Labs as a competitor to Neuralink. Read more
US Senators Question Tech Giants on Deepfake Policies
U.S. senators have reached out to leaders of major tech companies like X, Meta, and Alphabet to inquire about their measures against sexualized deepfakes. The inquiry focuses on the companies' policies and protections concerning nonconsensual AI-generated imagery. Read more
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