March 3, 2025

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AI Investment Booms as Companies Pledge Billions in Artificial Intelligence

The world of artificial intelligence is rapidly evolving, with significant advancements in technology and investment. In this news brief, we'll explore the latest developments in AI, from acquisitions and funding to new products and partnerships.

Base Acquires Laudable to Drive AI-Powered Customer Growth

Base.ai, a leading AI-powered customer-led growth platform, has acquired Laudable, an AI solution that transforms customer conversations into customer insights. This acquisition marks a new era for post-sale customer engagement, enabling businesses to enrich customer data, personalize lifecycle engagement, and reimagine user-generated content with AI-powered customer marketing, advocacy, retention marketing, and revenue expansion.

China Technology Boom: Zhipu AI Secures $137M in Fresh Funding

Zhipu AI, a Chinese startup backed by Alibaba, has raised $137 million in fresh funding, underscoring the growing interest in domestic AI following DeepSeek's ascent. This investment comes as China's AI and tech scene heats up, with companies like Baidu and Tencent Holdings Ltd. speeding up efforts to advance their large-language models.

Honor Pledges $10B Investment in AI Over 5 Years

Honor, a Chinese smartphone maker, has pledged to invest $10 billion in artificial intelligence over the next five years, seeking to expand from being mainly a smartphone firm and develop a system of AI-powered PCs, tablets, and wearables. This move comes as Chinese AI investment has shot up, triggered by interest in DeepSeek's low-price large language models.

Kyndryl Holdings, Inc. Expands AI Footprint with New UK Tech Hub and Strategic Partnerships

Kyndryl Holdings, Inc. has established a tech hub in Liverpool focused on creating 1,000 AI-related and software engineering jobs. The company has also expanded its strategic partnership with The Very Group to enhance the retailer's digital capabilities, leveraging AI, software, platform engineering, and other cutting-edge technologies.

Alibaba-Backed Zhipu Raises $140 Million as DeepSeek Heats Up AI

Zhipu, a Chinese startup backed by Alibaba, has raised $140 million in a financing round led by local government-backed firms, underscoring the growing interest in domestic AI following DeepSeek's ascent. This investment comes as China's AI and tech scene heats up, with companies like Baidu and Tencent Holdings Ltd. speeding up efforts to advance their large-language models.

CE 100 Index Slips 1.3% as C3.ai and Nvidia Drag Enablers Group Lower

The CE 100 Index has slipped 1.3% in the past week, with eight of 11 pillars lower. C3.ai shares led to the downside, plunging more than 17%, while Nvidia shares declined 7.8%. Payment names were 1.7% lower, with PayPal losing roughly 6%.

3 No-Brainer Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks to Buy With $200 Right Now

Research firm IDC expects businesses to spend $307 billion on AI solutions this year, and that number is projected to more than double to $632 billion by 2028. Investors with just $200 can still find great opportunities among AI stocks, with three no-brainer buys right now: Alphabet, Nvidia, and Super Micro Computer.

Nvidia and Super Micro Computer: Barclays Gives the Lowdown on These AI Stocks

Barclays analysts have put two AI stalwarts – Nvidia and Super Micro Computer – under the microscope. Nvidia has set the bar high, but Barclays analyst Tom O'Malley remains upbeat on the stock, giving it an Overweight (i.e., Buy) rating with a $175 price target that points toward an upside potential of 40% on the one-year horizon.

AI, Trade Tensions Mark Barcelona Mobile Industry Meet

The world's largest wireless technology showcase, Mobile World Congress (MWC), kicked off in Barcelona, with excitement over AI's potential to transform gadgets clashing with concerns over trade tensions fueled by the United States. Manufacturers like Honor and Xiaomi are optimistic about maintaining momentum into this year, with sales growth defying expectations.

Key Takeaways

  • Base.ai has acquired Laudable to drive AI-powered customer growth, marking a new era for post-sale customer engagement.
  • Zhipu AI has raised $137 million in fresh funding, underscoring the growing interest in domestic AI following DeepSeek's ascent.
  • Honor has pledged to invest $10 billion in artificial intelligence over the next five years, seeking to expand from being mainly a smartphone firm.
  • Kyndryl Holdings, Inc. has established a tech hub in Liverpool focused on creating 1,000 AI-related and software engineering jobs.
  • Alibaba-Backed Zhipu has raised $140 million in a financing round led by local government-backed firms, underscoring the growing interest in domestic AI following DeepSeek's ascent.
  • The CE 100 Index has slipped 1.3% in the past week, with eight of 11 pillars lower.
  • Research firm IDC expects businesses to spend $307 billion on AI solutions this year, and that number is projected to more than double to $632 billion by 2028.
  • Investors with just $200 can still find great opportunities among AI stocks, with three no-brainer buys right now: Alphabet, Nvidia, and Super Micro Computer.
  • Barclays analysts have put two AI stalwarts – Nvidia and Super Micro Computer – under the microscope, with Nvidia receiving an Overweight (i.e., Buy) rating with a $175 price target that points toward an upside potential of 40% on the one-year horizon.
  • The world's largest wireless technology showcase, Mobile World Congress (MWC), kicked off in Barcelona, with excitement over AI's potential to transform gadgets clashing with concerns over trade tensions fueled by the United States.

Sources

Artificial Intelligence AI-Powered Customer Growth Base.ai Laudable Zhipu AI DeepSeek Alibaba Honor Kyndryl Holdings Nvidia Super Micro Computer Alphabet Mobile World Congress Trade Tensions AI Investment AI Funding AI Solutions AI Stocks AI Technology