A consortium of four utilities that collectively serve 25% of New Zealand's population will participate in an Alphabet Inc.-led project aimed at strengthening the national power grid. The initiative leverages artificial intelligence to mitigate outages and improve reliability. This collaboration highlights a growing trend of using advanced technology to safeguard critical infrastructure.

Databricks is reportedly negotiating a new funding round that could elevate its valuation to over $130 billion, just months after achieving a $100 billion valuation. This move indicates strong investor confidence and the company's rapid growth in the data analytics sector. If successful, the funding could further solidify Databricks' position as a leader in cloud-based data solutions.

Peec AI has raised $21 million in funding as consumers increasingly prefer ChatGPT over Google for product discovery. This shift highlights a significant change in search behavior, prompting brands to seek visibility in this emerging channel. The company's solutions aim to help brands adapt and thrive in a landscape where AI-driven interactions are becoming the norm.

Tareq Amin is leveraging Saudi Arabia's substantial oil wealth to position the country as a key player in the AI computing market, inviting Silicon Valley companies to invest. This strategic shift reflects Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's vision for diversifying the economy beyond oil. However, securing backing from former President Donald Trump is deemed crucial for the initiative's success, highlighting the intertwining of business and political relationships.

Cloudflare Inc. experienced a significant global outage on Tuesday, affecting numerous online services, including ChatGPT and X. The disruption lasted several hours, causing widespread accessibility issues for users. The incident highlights the reliance of many platforms on Cloudflare's network infrastructure.

Intuit has signed a deal worth over $100 million with OpenAI to make its popular applications, including TurboTax, Credit Karma, QuickBooks, and Mailchimp, accessible through ChatGPT. This integration will enable users to interact with these tools via conversational queries, simplifying tasks like estimating tax refunds. The partnership highlights the growing trend of AI-enhanced financial services, potentially transforming how users manage their finances.

Microsoft and Nvidia are set to invest up to $15 billion in AI startup Anthropic, strengthening the company's position in the competitive AI landscape. This investment aligns Anthropic with two major players in the industry, contrasting its ties to rival OpenAI. The funding is expected to accelerate Anthropic's development of advanced artificial intelligence technologies.

Sakana AI has successfully raised $135 million in its Series B funding round, achieving a post-money valuation of $2.65 billion. This fundraising marks one of the largest in Japan for the year, emphasizing the growing interest and investment in AI development within the region. The company plans to utilize the funds to further enhance its AI model capabilities tailored for the Japanese market.

Oracle's stock plummeted significantly amid a broader tech sell-off, primarily due to concerns over its heavy borrowing and dependence on contracts with OpenAI. The company's aggressive push into artificial intelligence has raised red flags among investors, leading to a sharper decline compared to its competitors. This situation underscores the volatility and risk associated with major investments in emerging technologies.

Google has launched its AI-powered 'Flight Deals' tool worldwide, allowing users to specify their travel preferences and find the best flight bargains. This new feature is part of a broader enhancement in Google's Search capabilities aimed at simplifying travel planning. The integration of AI in travel searches is expected to significantly improve the user experience by providing tailored and cost-effective options.