Accenture Acquires Faculty for $1B, Meta's AI Expansion, and Amazon's 16,000 Layoffs

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Welcome to the latest edition of the Enterprise AI Brief, where we bring you the most recent developments in the world of artificial intelligence and enterprise technology. This week, we have a range of stories highlighting significant investments and partnerships shaping the AI landscape. Google has made a strategic investment in Sakana AI to enhance its Gemini project in Japan, while Robo.ai and The Ghazi Group have teamed up to bolster AI infrastructure.

In other news, Microsoft has secured a substantial $170.4 million cloud contract with the U.S. Air Force, and Accenture has acquired AI startup Faculty for a whopping $1 billion. Additionally, Waterland is considering selling Xebia for over €1 billion, and LiveKit has raised $100 million, reaching a valuation of $1 billion. Stay tuned as we delve into these stories and more, providing you with the insights you need to stay informed in the ever-evolving AI industry.

Google Invests in Sakana AI to Boost Gemini in Japan

Google has invested in Japanese startup Sakana AI to enhance the market presence of the chatbot Gemini in Japan. This collaboration will leverage Alphabet Inc.'s language models to develop new products and improve service reliability. Read more

Robo.ai Partners with The Ghazi Group for AI Infrastructure

On January 23, 2026, Robo.ai Inc. announced a partnership with The Ghazi Group to distribute AI infrastructure solutions in the MENA region and Southeast Asia, aiming to meet the growing demand for AI infrastructure. Read more

Microsoft Secures $170.4M Cloud Contract with U.S. Air Force

Microsoft has been awarded a $170.4 million contract to provide cloud services to the U.S. Air Force under the Cloud One program, ensuring secure digital infrastructure for military operations. Read more

Accenture Acquires AI Startup Faculty for $1 Billion

AI startup Faculty, co-founded by UCL graduates, has been acquired by Accenture for $1 billion, marking it as the first UK tech unicorn of 2026. Read more

Amazon One Medical Launches 24/7 Health AI Assistant

Amazon One Medical has introduced a Health AI assistant that offers 24/7 personalized health guidance through the One Medical app, enhancing patient care with secure, HIPAA-compliant features. Read more

Waterland Considers Selling Xebia for Over €1 Billion

Private equity firm Waterland is exploring the sale of AI consultancy Xebia, potentially valuing the company at over €1 billion amid growing demand for AI services. Read more

LiveKit Raises $100 Million, Valued at $1 Billion

LiveKit, known for its infrastructure software for AI voice and video applications, has secured $100 million in funding, achieving a $1 billion valuation. The funding round was led by Index Ventures and included participation from existing investors. LiveKit supports the voice mode of OpenAI's ChatGPT and serves clients like xAI, Salesforce, and Tesla. Read more

Microsoft and Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team Partner on AI

On January 22, 2026, Microsoft and the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team announced a partnership to enhance racing operations using AI and cloud technologies, focusing on performance and efficiency improvements. Read more

HUMAIN and Infra Sign $1.2 Billion AI Financing Deal in Saudi Arabia

At the World Economic Forum 2026, HUMAIN and Infra announced a $1.2 billion agreement to boost AI and digital infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, including a significant data center expansion. Read more

Sovereign AI Teams Up with Accenture and Palantir for EMEA AI Data Centers

UK-based AI infrastructure provider, Sovereign AI, has partnered with Accenture and Palantir to develop AI data centers across EMEA, aiming to support both commercial and government sectors with advanced AI infrastructure. Read more

Growfin and Credit Pulse Partner for AI Financial Management

On January 22, 2026, Growfin and Credit Pulse announced a strategic partnership to enhance AI-driven financial management. The collaboration focuses on integrating credit risk decision-making with accounts receivable management to improve cash flow efficiency and reduce bad debt. Read more

Corvex Partners with AI Battery Tech Provider for NVIDIA GPU Deployment

Corvex, Inc. has entered a long-term lease agreement for NVIDIA H200 GPUs with an AI-driven battery technology provider. This initiative aims to support AI development and research with a secure, managed on-premise solution. Read more

Society Pass Invests $8.8M in Sapience AI for European Expansion

The investment by Society Pass Incorporated aims to enhance its AI data center capabilities in Europe through a partnership with Sapience AI, focusing on GPU-as-a-Service and leveraging Nvidia hardware. Read more

Gulf Edge and Google Cloud Partner for AI in Thailand

Gulf Edge Company Limited has teamed up with Google Cloud to deliver AI infrastructure services in Thailand, aiming to boost digital capabilities in sectors like finance, healthcare, and telecommunications. Read more

FPT and LG CNS Partner for AI Education in Southeast Asia

FPT and LG CNS have announced a strategic partnership to expand AI-powered education solutions across Southeast Asia, combining their technologies and market presence. Read more

Lenovo Expands AI Strategy with New Partnerships

Lenovo is enhancing its artificial intelligence strategy by forming partnerships with Mistral, Alibaba, and DeepSeek to strengthen its global presence in the AI sector. Read more

Annum Capital and Turoid Partner for AI in Asian Family Offices

On January 22, 2026, Annum Capital announced a partnership with Turoid to integrate AI into multi-family offices and asset management in Asia, aiming to enhance operations in financial sectors through AI-driven solutions. Read more

Kalmar and TCS Collaborate for AI-Driven IT Transformation

Kalmar has teamed up with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) to revamp its IT systems into a unified service model, focusing on enhancing employee experience and creating an AI-powered digital core. Read more

Zinnia and Snowflake Collaborate on AI Insurance Data

Zinnia, a life insurance technology provider, has partnered with Snowflake, an AI Data Cloud company, to modernize insurance data platforms. This integration aims to improve how insurers access and analyze data, offering advanced analytics, machine learning tools, and real-time insights to enhance operational efficiency and decision-making. Read more

Pablo Air Receives Investment from Korean Air for Swarm AI Drones

Pablo Air, a Korean startup, has secured a strategic investment from Korean Air to advance its swarm AI drone technology and maintenance capabilities. The partnership aims to develop autonomous flight systems and MRO inspection drones. Read more

Fujitsu Unveils Platform for Generative AI Management

On January 26, 2026, Fujitsu introduced a new platform aimed at autonomously managing generative AI for internal use, with plans to launch in Japan and Europe following trials in February 2026. Read more

Google Cloud Partners with Formula E for AI Integration

On January 26, 2026, Google Cloud was announced as the 'Principal Artificial Intelligence Partner' for the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, aiming to enhance race management and fan engagement through AI. Read more

Ghana Partners with Google for AI in Education

The Ghanaian government has formed a strategic partnership with Google to incorporate AI tools into the education system, focusing on local languages. This initiative aims to enhance education quality and accessibility, particularly in rural areas. Read more

Wonderful Launches AI Agent Builder for Enterprises

Wonderful has introduced its Agent Builder, an autonomous AI tool for creating and managing AI agents in enterprise settings. The platform aims to streamline the development process and improve deployment efficiency. Read more

Nvidia Invests $2 Billion in CoreWeave for AI Data Centers

Nvidia has announced a $2 billion investment in CoreWeave to enhance AI data center capacity, with plans to build over 5 gigawatts by 2030. Read more

Eightco and Futurum Partner for AI Trust Platform

Eightco Holdings Inc. and Futurum Group have announced a strategic partnership to develop the Futurum ORBS Trust and Authentication Platform (FOTAP), which aims to provide a trust and transparency scoring system for AI solution providers. Read more

RIKEN, Argonne, Fujitsu, NVIDIA Partner for AI and HPC

RIKEN, Argonne National Laboratory, Fujitsu, and NVIDIA have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate on AI and high-performance computing. The partnership focuses on developing next-gen computing infrastructure and promoting AI technologies for scientific research. Read more

Anthropic Launches Claude Apps for Workplace Tools

On January 26, 2026, Anthropic announced new interactive apps within its Claude chatbot to boost workplace productivity by integrating tools like Slack, Canva, and Figma. Read more

Cisco Introduces 360 Partner Program for AI

Cisco has launched its 360 Partner Program to support partners in accelerating AI transformations by providing resources and support. Read more

Zenon Secures AI Development Contract with Korea Ocean Business Corporation

Zenon has been awarded a contract to develop a generative AI service for the Korea Ocean Business Corporation. The project will focus on creating a stable and scalable AI system integrated with existing infrastructure. Read more

VEON Ltd. Launches BuildX in Uzbekistan

On January 26, 2026, VEON Ltd. announced the launch of BuildX, a new AI software company, in Tashkent. This initiative is aimed at boosting Uzbekistan's digital economy and establishing the country as a tech hub in Central Asia. Read more

Qualcomm Invests $8 Million in SpotDraft for AI Contract Management

Qualcomm has invested $8 million in SpotDraft, a startup that focuses on on-device contract review technology. This investment raises SpotDraft's valuation to approximately $380 million and aims to enhance privacy and security in enterprise AI. Read more

Happiest Minds Strengthens AI Strategy for Enterprises

Happiest Minds Technologies has announced an enhancement of its 'AI First. Agile Always' strategy to boost AI-native software development and service delivery for enterprises, aiming for large-scale AI adoption across various industries. Read more

Global Enterprise AI Market to Reach $6.77 Billion by 2030

A report by Valuates Reports forecasts the global Enterprise AI market to grow significantly, driven by generative AI and cloud computing advancements. Read more

Anisoptera.io Unveils Dragonfly AI Platform

At CES 2026, Anisoptera.io launched Dragonfly, a no-code AI platform designed to transform live video and sensor data into business intelligence, enabling non-technical teams to deploy AI solutions efficiently. Read more

C5i Launches Agent5i for Enterprise AI Governance

AI company C5i has introduced Agent5i, a platform aimed at helping organizations integrate autonomous agents and scale workflows with a focus on governance and compliance. Read more

CompTIA Report Predicts AI Investment Surge by 2026

A report from CompTIA indicates that 77% of technology and business professionals are optimistic about growth in 2026, driven by AI investments and operational efficiencies. Read more

Autolink and Tata Elxsi Partner for SDV Solutions at CES 2026

At CES 2026, Autolink and Tata Elxsi announced a partnership to enhance Software-Defined Vehicle development for global OEMs. Read more

US Anesthesia Partners and GE HealthCare Collaborate on AI Anesthesia Solutions

U.S. Anesthesia Partners and GE HealthCare have announced a collaboration to develop AI-driven anesthesia solutions. The partnership aims to enhance patient care and clinician productivity by combining their respective expertise. Read more

SK hynix Launches AI Solutions Firm in U.S.

SK hynix has announced the creation of an AI solutions firm in the U.S., with a $10 billion investment to enhance its role in the AI data center ecosystem. Read more

Blaize and Nokia Partner for Edge AI in Asia Pacific

Blaize Holdings, Inc. and Nokia Solutions and Networks Singapore Pte. Ltd. have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to develop hybrid AI inference solutions in the Asia Pacific region, leveraging their respective strengths in AI and networking. Read more

ServiceNow Partners with Anthropic for AI Integration

ServiceNow has announced a partnership with Anthropic to integrate the Claude AI model into its platform. This collaboration aims to enhance application development and workflow automation in industries such as healthcare and life sciences. Read more

Airtable Introduces Superagent Amid Valuation Drop

Airtable has launched Superagent, its first standalone AI product, as the company's valuation decreases from $11.7 billion to around $4 billion. This move is seen as a strategic step for future growth in the AI sector. Read more

Salesforce Wins $5.6 Billion AI Contract with U.S. Army

Salesforce has secured a $5.6 billion contract with the U.S. Army to modernize its digital infrastructure over the next decade, enhancing military readiness and operational efficiency. Read more

Meta Plans Major AI Investment and Data Center Expansion

Mark Zuckerberg announced that Meta Platforms Inc. will increase its AI spending significantly in 2026, with capital expenditures projected between $115 billion and $135 billion. This follows positive earnings results and has been well-received by Wall Street. Read more

Google Integrates Gemini AI into Chrome

Google has updated Chrome with new features, including integration with its AI assistant, Gemini. The update adds a sidebar for easier access and introduces functionalities like personal intelligence and an auto-browse feature for autonomous tasks. Read more

AWS Wins $581.3M U.S. Air Force Contract

Amazon Web Services has secured a $581.3 million contract from the U.S. Air Force to provide cloud services for the Cloud One Program, which focuses on modernizing computing infrastructure. Read more

Richtech Robotics and Microsoft Collaborate on AI for ADAM Robot

Richtech Robotics has teamed up with Microsoft to enhance the AI capabilities of its ADAM robot. The partnership will integrate Azure AI technology to improve the robot's performance in sectors like retail, logistics, and hospitality. Read more

Pony.ai and ATBB Partner for Robotaxi Services

Pony.ai has partnered with ATBB to enhance the commercialization of robotaxi services and improve urban mobility. The collaboration focuses on leveraging their technologies in autonomous driving. Read more

Wipro Partners with Factory for AI-Driven Software Development

Wipro Limited and Factory have announced a strategic partnership to enhance AI-driven software development for enterprises. The collaboration will integrate Factory's AI capabilities into Wipro's WEGA platform, aiming to improve software delivery efficiency. Read more

CGI and OpenAI Form Global Alliance for AI Integration

On January 27, 2026, CGI announced a partnership with OpenAI to help clients implement advanced AI capabilities securely and responsibly, aiming to enhance business outcomes and AI integration. Read more

Sentra.app Secures $5 Million for AI System Development

Sentra.app has raised $5 million in seed funding to develop an AI organizational memory system designed to improve enterprise collaboration and decision-making. The project is in a paid proof-of-concept phase with SoftBank. Read more

Moglix Introduces AI System Cognilix for B2B Commerce

Moglix has launched Cognilix, an AI-driven operating system designed to improve B2B procurement processes. The company is investing $5 million to develop AI products within this platform. Read more

Consensus Partners with Gong for AI Sales Demos

Consensus has partnered with Gong to integrate personalized demos into sales workflows, aiming to enhance sales and presales alignment and accelerate deal cycles. Read more

AllsWell and LEAP GEO Partner for AI Brand Growth

At CES 2026, AllsWell and LEAP GEO announced a partnership to help brands shift from traditional metrics to AI-driven growth in citations and recommendations. Read more

Ricci Law Firm Partners with Eve for AI Integration

The Ricci Law Firm has partnered with the AI platform Eve to enhance its personal injury practice by integrating AI into litigation and client services. Read more

Mitsubishi Electric and Landis+Gyr Partner for AI in Grid Edge

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation and Landis+Gyr have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate on advancing grid edge intelligence and accelerating the energy transition. This partnership will leverage Landis+Gyr's Application Ecosystem to develop edge applications that improve grid operations and consumer engagement, initially focusing on North America. Read more

Radiology Partners and Stanford AIDE Lab Partner for AI Safety

Radiology Partners and Stanford Radiology's AIDE Lab have announced a strategic partnership to enhance the safety and reliability of AI tools in medical imaging. Read more

Virtue AI Launches AgentSuite for AI Security

On January 29, 2026, Virtue AI announced the launch of AgentSuite, a platform aimed at enhancing security and compliance for enterprise AI agents. Read more

Amazon Considers $50 Billion Investment in OpenAI

Amazon is reportedly in discussions to invest up to $50 billion in OpenAI, which is seeking $100 billion in new capital. This move could enhance the partnership between the two companies. Read more

Medaptus and athenahealth Collaborate on AI Charge Capture

Medaptus has partnered with athenahealth to automate charge capture and enhance revenue integrity for healthcare providers through their Charge Pro software. Read more

Burges Salmon Enhances Digital Program with AI Tools

Independent UK law firm Burges Salmon is advancing its Digital Enablement Programme by integrating Microsoft Copilot and adopting the Harvey AI platform to modernize legal services and ensure responsible AI use. Read more

Perplexity Signs $750M AI Cloud Deal with Microsoft

AI startup Perplexity has entered a $750 million agreement with Microsoft to use Azure for AI model deployment, while in a legal dispute with Amazon. Read more

Apple CEO's Vague AI Monetization Strategy Raises Questions

During an earnings call, Apple CEO Tim Cook was asked about the company's AI monetization plans. His unclear response about creating 'great value' through AI left analysts seeking more details on Apple's strategy. Read more

Microsoft CEO Highlights Copilot AI Growth Amid Investor Concerns

During an earnings call, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella reported significant growth in the usage of Copilot AI products, despite investor concerns about cloud infrastructure spending. The report showed Microsoft with $81.3 billion in revenue for the quarter. Read more

Token Security Expands Leadership Team

Token Security has appointed Walt Carrington as Vice President of Sales and Oron Kaiser as Head of Product Management to enhance its capabilities in the growing market for agentic AI security. Read more

Leidos and OpenAI Partner for Federal AI Integration

Leidos and OpenAI have announced a partnership to integrate AI into federal operations, aiming to enhance government agency efficiency and effectiveness. Read more

Accordance Expands West Coast Operations

Accordance, an AI platform for tax and audit teams, has surpassed 10 million global tax law data points and is processing thousands of queries daily. The company is expanding its presence among leading West Coast firms, addressing the talent shortage in the accounting industry. Read more

Lianhe Sowell to Invest $200M in UAE Robotics HQ

Lianhe Sowell International Group Ltd plans to invest $200 million to establish a Specialized Industry Robotics Headquarters in the UAE, focusing on robotics solutions for various sectors. Read more

Cognizant Partners with Cognition for AI Software Engineering

Cognizant has partnered with Cognition to introduce autonomous AI software engineers, aiming to enhance the software development lifecycle and improve engineering productivity. Read more

Fulcrum and KPMG Partner for AI in Utility Operations

Fulcrum and KPMG have announced a partnership to enhance AI-driven operations and resiliency for utility providers, focusing on standardizing processes and improving data reliability. Read more

Meta to Launch AI Models and Commerce Tools by 2026

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced plans to roll out new AI models and commerce tools, leveraging the company's data access to enhance user experience. This announcement was made alongside Meta's quarterly earnings report. Read more

Meta Partners with Corning for AI Data Center Fiber

Meta has entered a partnership with Corning to invest up to $6 billion in fiber-optic cables for its AI data centers, aiming to enhance its infrastructure by 2030. Read more

C3.AI and Automation Anywhere Merger Talks

C3.AI is reportedly in discussions to merge with Automation Anywhere. If successful, the merger would lead to Automation Anywhere acquiring C3.AI and going public. Read more

Amazon to Lay Off 16,000 Corporate Workers for AI Focus

On January 28, 2026, Amazon announced plans to lay off 16,000 corporate employees to streamline operations and increase investments in artificial intelligence. Read more

BoodleBox and NVIDIA Collaborate on AI in Education

BoodleBox has partnered with NVIDIA to integrate the NVIDIA Nemotron 3 Nano as an AI Assistant in its platform, aiming to enhance AI experiences for students and faculty. Read more

PVH Corp. Collaborates with OpenAI for Brand Strategy

PVH Corp. has partnered with OpenAI to enhance its brand-building strategy, focusing on integrating AI into operations for brands like Calvin Klein and TOMMY HILFIGER. Read more

Contiem and IBM Partner for UK Defence Logistics Upgrade

Contiem and IBM have joined forces to modernize the UK Ministry of Defence's logistics through the DEEAMS programme, aiming to replace outdated systems with an AI-driven platform. Read more

Teradata Launches Enterprise AgentStack for AI

On January 27, 2026, Teradata introduced Enterprise AgentStack, a toolkit aimed at aiding enterprises in moving from AI pilot projects to full-scale autonomous systems. Read more

Mistral AI Partners with Wikimedia Enterprise

Mistral AI has announced a partnership with Wikimedia Enterprise to enhance its AI solutions by utilizing Wikimedia's resources, including APIs, for reliable information. Read more

SentinelOne Launches AI Security Platform in Saudi Arabia

SentinelOne has introduced its AI-native Singularity Platform on Google Cloud in Saudi Arabia, aiming to enhance cybersecurity across sectors like public services and finance while ensuring data compliance with local regulations. Read more

Qvinci Software Partners with Pacer for Business Growth

On January 27, 2026, Qvinci Software announced a strategic partnership with Pacer to enhance growth for multi-location businesses by combining financial and project management tools. Read more

Inception and Visa Partner for Agentic Commerce

Inception has partnered with Visa to promote agentic commerce in Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, integrating Visa's Intelligent Commerce into Inception's AI solutions. Read more

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Accenture Acquires Faculty for $1B, Meta's AI Expansion, and Amazon's 16,000 Layoffs - Enterprise AI Brief #52

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