The tech industry has seen significant developments in AI, with companies like Torq acquiring startups to enhance their AI-driven security automation. Torq's acquisition of Revrod has integrated multi-agent RAG technology into its HyperSOC 2o platform, delivering advanced AI-powered Security Operations Center automation. Meanwhile, Huawei's Ascend 910C AI chip has outperformed NVIDIA's GB200 NVL72 systems, and the company has found ways to source chips from TSMC despite US restrictions. In other news, physician-led tech firms are using AI to counter drug denials, and companies like Google's DeepMind are creating AI models to decode dolphin communication. As AI continues to transform industries, leaders are emphasizing the importance of assessing AI readiness, adapting to the changing job market, and ensuring data security and integrity. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has also announced plans to compensate artists whose styles are emulated by AI, as the company faces increasing scrutiny over its technology's impact on society.
Torq Acquires AI Startup Revrod
Torq has acquired Revrod, a stealth Israeli AI startup, and integrated its multi-agent RAG advancements into Torq HyperSOC-2o. The new platform delivers a comprehensive AI-driven SOC automation experience, with a suite of autonomous AI agents designed to streamline and scale security operations center workflows. The acquisition expands Torq's Agentic AI system, allowing for deep research, planning, and execution. Torq HyperSOC-2o can coordinate and collaborate with multiple AI agents to deliver near human-level critical analysis and precision auto-remediation.
Torq Expands AI-Driven Security Automation
Torq has acquired unlaunched Israeli startup Revrod and integrated its multi-agent retrieval-augmented generation advancements into Torq HyperSOC 2o. The updated platform introduces a suite of autonomous artificial intelligence agents designed to streamline and scale the full spectrum of security operations center workflows. The new agents include Investigation, Case Management, Runbook, and Remediation agents, which can perform deep data mining, dynamic reclassification of threats, and tailored orchestration of containment actions.
Torq Buys Revrod for $20M
Torq has acquired stealth-mode startup Revrod in a deal valued at over $20 million. The acquisition brings cutting-edge multi-agent RAG technology into Torq's product suite, enhancing its AI-driven security operations. Torq's newest product, HyperSOC 2o, integrates Revrod's technology to deliver advanced AI-powered Security Operations Center automation. The platform boasts multiple autonomous agents capable of investigation, case management, runbook execution, and remediation.
Huawei's Ascend 910C AI Chip Outperforms NVIDIA
Huawei's Ascend 910C AI chip is set to outperform NVIDIA's GB200 NVL72 systems. The Chinese firm's AI Cluster, CloudMatrix, features 384 Ascend 910C chips connected in an 'all-to-all topology' configuration, delivering 300 PetaFLOPS of BF16 computing. This surpasses NVIDIA's GB200 NVL72, with a higher HBM capacity onboard. However, the CloudMatrix is expected to consume 3.9x the power of a GB200 NVL72, with 'awful' perf/watt figures across AI workloads.
Huawei Sources Chips from TSMC Despite US Ban
Huawei is reportedly still sourcing chips from TSMC, despite US restrictions. The Chinese firm has acquired $500 million worth of TSMC's 7nm chips through a third-party company. This move raises questions about the effectiveness of US export controls. Huawei's Ascend 910C AI chip will utilize TSMC's 7nm process, and the company has managed to circumvent the US ban by stockpiling chips before the restrictions were imposed.
Physician-Led Tech Firms Use AI to Counter Drug Denials
Physician-led tech firms, such as Komodo Health and SmarterDx, are using AI to counter drug denials and augment appeals. Pharmacy claim denials have increased by 16% between 2018 and 2024, affecting access to essential medications. These firms aim to utilize data and AI to identify and address barriers brought on by increasing denial trends. Their software can pregenerate evidence-based arguments for appeal, reducing the time and effort required for physicians to contest denials.
Enhancing Data Security in an AI-Driven Era
As the global interconnectivity of technology grows, securing data and its integrity has become increasingly complex. The broadening use of generative AI and large language models has shifted the data landscape, with training data largely becoming the world's publicly available data. Organizations must take a renewed approach to their data supply chain, implementing rigorous testing, validation, and verification processes to ensure data security and integrity. This includes basic data hygiene, data classification, and role-based management.
Naver and Kakao Retreat as US Rivals Invest in AI
Naver and Kakao are retreating as US rivals invest big in AI. The widening AI gap between the US and other countries is becoming a significant concern. US companies are investing heavily in AI research and development, leaving other countries struggling to keep up. This gap is expected to have significant implications for the future of technology and innovation.
Google's DeepMind Creates DolphinGemma AI Model
Google's DeepMind has created an AI model called DolphinGemma, designed to help researchers decode dolphin communication. The model can generate and interpret dolphin-like vocalizations, and is efficient enough to run on mobile devices. The goal is to create a system capable of generating synthetic dolphin vocalizations and listening for a matching 'reply', potentially paving the way for two-way interaction with dolphins.
Assessing AI Readiness
Many leaders are curious about how to harness the power of AI within their organizations. Assessing AI readiness is crucial to ensure compliance and manage risk. This involves understanding where data is collected and stored, taking inventory of current tools, and evaluating how data is aggregated and learned from. Only after laying this foundation can organizations begin to see ways to achieve optimal performance by deploying AI capabilities strategically.
PwC Executive on AI-Fueled Labor Market
A top HR executive at PwC says that in an AI-fueled labor market, skills-based collaboration is essential. The executive emphasizes the importance of adapting to the changing job market, where AI is increasingly being used to automate tasks. This requires a shift in focus towards skills-based collaboration, where workers can develop new skills to work alongside AI systems.
Gradient AI Unveils Workers' Compensation Underwriting Solution
Gradient AI has unveiled its next-generation Workers' Compensation Underwriting Risk Score Solution, designed to deliver advances in risk scoring accuracy, regulatory compliance, and implementation speed. The solution provides an industry-leading, risk-segmenting workers' compensation AI model, trained on a national dataset consisting of tens of billions of dollars in workers' compensation premiums. Early adopters have achieved significant results, including a 5-point improvement in loss ratios and 80% faster quote turnaround times.
Sam Altman at TED 2025
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman revealed that his company has grown to 800 million weekly active users and is experiencing 'unbelievable' growth rates. Altman discussed the company's transformation from a non-profit research lab to a for-profit company with a $300 billion valuation. He also acknowledged the increasing scrutiny the company faces as its technology transforms society at a rapid pace. Altman announced plans to compensate artists whose styles are emulated by AI and discussed the company's approach to content moderation.
Key Takeaways
- Torq has acquired Revrod, integrating its multi-agent RAG technology into the HyperSOC 2o platform for advanced AI-powered Security Operations Center automation.
- Huawei's Ascend 910C AI chip has outperformed NVIDIA's GB200 NVL72 systems, with a higher HBM capacity onboard.
- Physician-led tech firms like Komodo Health and SmarterDx are using AI to counter drug denials and augment appeals.
- Google's DeepMind has created an AI model called DolphinGemma to help researchers decode dolphin communication.
- OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has announced plans to compensate artists whose styles are emulated by AI, as the company faces increasing scrutiny over its technology's impact on society.
- Assessing AI readiness is crucial for organizations to ensure compliance and manage risk, and to deploy AI capabilities strategically.
- The widening AI gap between the US and other countries is becoming a significant concern, with US companies investing heavily in AI research and development.
- Huawei has found ways to source chips from TSMC despite US restrictions, raising questions about the effectiveness of US export controls.
- Gradient AI has unveiled its next-generation Workers' Compensation Underwriting Risk Score Solution, providing advances in risk scoring accuracy and regulatory compliance.
- Companies must take a renewed approach to their data supply chain, implementing rigorous testing, validation, and verification processes to ensure data security and integrity.
Sources
- Torq Acquires Stealth AI Startup and Adds Advanced Multi-Agent RAG Capabilities to New Torq HyperSOC-2o
- Torq acquires unlaunched startup Revrod and expands AI-driven security automation in HyperSOC 2o
- Torq buys stealth Israeli AI startup Revrod for over $20M to power next-gen security
- Huawei's Ascend 910C AI Chip Cluster "CloudMatrix" To Outperform NVIDIA's "Blackwell" GB200 NVL72 Systems; China Catches Up The AI Hardware Gap With The US
- Huawei Is Still Reportedly Sourcing Chips From TSMC For Its Ascend 910C AI Chip, Questioning The Effectiveness of US Export Controls
- Physician-Led Tech Firms Use AI to Counter Drug Denials and Augment Appeals
- Enhancing data security in an AI-driven era
- Widening AI Gap: Naver and Kakao retreat as U.S. rivals invest big
- Can AI Talk To Dolphins? Google's DeepMind Creates DolphinGemma To Explore Animal Language - Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOG), Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL)
- Assessing your AI readiness
- Why a top HR executive at PwC says that in an AI-fueled labor market skills-based collaboration is essential
- Gradient AI Unveils Next-Generation Workers’ Compensation Underwriting Solution with Enhanced Risk Scoring Designed for Emerging AI Regulations
- Sam Altman at TED 2025: Inside the most uncomfortable — and important — AI interview of the year