MIND Raises $72M; Photonics Market Booms; UN, Google Launch AI Data Platform

Israeli startup MIND has raised $72 million in a Series B funding round led by Crosspoint Capital Partners, bringing its total funding to $112 million. The company builds AI-based data loss prevention software that detects and blocks data leaks across email, endpoints, generative AI, and SaaS systems in real time. MIND reported revenue growth of over 17-fold in the past year and an eightfold increase in its customer base. The company plans to double its Israeli product teams and expand sales and marketing efforts.

Major tech companies including Nvidia, Microsoft, Amazon, and Google are driving demand for photonics technology, which uses light-based data transmission instead of copper connections. Goldman Sachs projects the photonics market could reach $400 billion by 2027, while the global market is expected to hit $1.46 trillion by end of 2026. Investors can gain exposure through ETFs like the Roundhill Photonics and Optics ETF and the KraneShares Photonic and Optical ETF.

The United Nations partnered with Google to launch the UN System Data Commons, a platform that supports natural-language searches and Model Context Protocol so AI systems can pull data directly from UN sources. Google.org donated $2 million in grants to support the infrastructure. A benchmark found that six AI models achieved only 21.2 percent accuracy on UNICEF data, highlighting significant gaps in AI's ability to handle global statistics.

Key Takeaways

  • <ul><li>MIND raised $72 million in Series B funding, bringing total funding to $112 million</li><li>MIND's revenue grew over 17-fold and its customer base grew eightfold in one year</li><li>Nvidia, Microsoft, Amazon, and Google are investing heavily in photonics technology</li><li>The photonics market is projected to reach $400 billion by 2027 and $1.46 trillion by 2026</li><li>The UN and Google launched the UN System Data Commons for AI-accessible global statistics</li><li>Google.org donated $2 million in grants to support the UN data platform</li><li>AI models scored only 21.2 percent accuracy on UNICEF data in a recent benchmark</li><li>MIND uses AI agents to automate routine security tasks and enforce policies</li><li>Roundhill and KraneShares offer photonics-focused ETFs for investors</li><li>MIND plans to double its Israeli product teams and expand into key enterprise markets</li></ul>

MIND raises $72 million to expand AI data security platform

Israeli startup MIND raised $72 million in a Series B funding round led by Crosspoint Capital Partners. The company develops AI-based data loss prevention software that protects sensitive corporate data across apps, AI agents and endpoints. MIND has now raised over $112 million total and says it has dozens of customers including Fortune 500 companies. The company plans to double its Israeli product teams and expand sales and marketing.

MIND secures $72 million for AI-powered data protection

Data loss prevention startup MIND raised $72 million in a Series B round led by Crosspoint Capital Partners, with support from YL Ventures and Paladin Capital Group. The company's platform detects and blocks data leaks in real time across email, endpoints, generative AI and SaaS systems. MIND uses AI agents to investigate risks and enforce security policies automatically. The company plans to use the funding to develop its platform and expand into key enterprise markets.

MIND raises $72 million as AI makes data security urgent

MIND raised $72 million in a funding round led by Crosspoint Capital Partners, bringing its total funding to $112 million. The company's platform uses multi-layer AI to discover and classify sensitive data across SaaS apps, generative AI systems, endpoints and email. MIND reported that its revenue grew over 17-fold in the past year and its customer base grew eightfold. The company also introduced MIND AI DLP Agents to automate routine security tasks.

Photonics ETFs offer investment exposure to AI infrastructure growth

Photonics is gaining importance in AI infrastructure as light-based data transmission replaces copper. Companies like Nvidia, Corning, Lumentum, Coherent and Marvell have seen major stock gains. Goldman Sachs projected the photonics market could grow to $400 billion by 2027. Investors can consider ETFs like the Roundhill Photonics and Optics ETF and the KraneShares Photonic and Optical ETF for diversified exposure.

Photonics ETFs positioned for next phase of AI expansion

AI training clusters are growing rapidly, and photonics offers higher bandwidth and lower power use than copper connections. Microsoft, Amazon, Nvidia and other tech companies are investing heavily in optical technology. The global photonics market is expected to reach $1.46 trillion by the end of 2026. Two ETFs highlighted for investors are the Roundhill Photonics and Optics ETF and the KraneShares Photonic and Optical ETF.

New York orders utilities to reveal all AI use

The state Public Service Commission ordered utilities including National Grid to disclose all uses of AI within 60 days. Utilities now use AI for customer service, predictive maintenance, and facility safety inspections. The PSC identified risks like bias, cybersecurity attacks, and data privacy concerns. Companies must also reveal their policies and protocols for AI use. The PSC will decide if more protections are needed.

AI job interviews lead candidates to exaggerate

A University of Georgia study found that job candidates exaggerate their qualifications more when AI evaluates their interviews. Candidates feel helpless and try to guess what the AI system wants. AI grading tools could not detect when candidates stretched the truth. Human reviewers did notice and penalized dishonest behavior. Telling candidates exactly how the AI evaluates them helped restore honest behavior.

AI agents become new payment customers for businesses

Payment systems built to stop bots must now recognize AI agents that are authorized to make purchases. SolvaPay is building infrastructure to connect AI agents to existing financial systems. One task can create multiple payments across several layers, making reconciliation difficult. Agents can act as both buyers and sellers, needing usage-based payment models. These transactions still must follow anti-money laundering rules and regulatory requirements.

AI is shaping how job seekers see your company

AI tools now tell job seekers about employer reputations in seconds, and candidates are paying attention. 69 percent of job seekers say they would reject a job offer from a company with a poor reputation. Employers can shape what AI says by listening to employees, sharing real employee stories, and showcasing third-party recognition. Making reputation signals easy to find online also helps. AI pulls together signals about culture and growth into a single narrative.

UN and Google launch AI-ready global data platform

The United Nations partnered with Google to create the UN System Data Commons for easier access to global statistics. The platform supports natural-language searches and Model Context Protocol so AI systems can pull data directly from UN sources. It replaces the older UNData portal. A benchmark found six AI models had only 21.2 percent accuracy on UNICEF data. Google.org donated $2 million in grants to support the platform's infrastructure.

Nvidia growth outlook highlights 3 AI chip equipment stocks

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said the company plans to sell twice as many chips next year and targets about $673b in revenue by fiscal 2028. That growth outlook is lifting interest in companies that make AI chip manufacturing equipment. Three stocks highlighted are ASML Holding, Lam Research, and KLA Corporation. ASML makes lithography machines, Lam Research makes etch and deposition tools, and KLA focuses on process control and yield management. These companies could see strong growth from rising AI chip demand.

Readers get answers to common questions about AI risks

Artificial intelligence is changing fast, and many people are unsure what it means for the future. Nearly 1,000 readers sent questions about AI to The New York Times. The article selects and answers some of those questions, edited for length and clarity. Topics include whether AI could act on its own and whether it can hack bank accounts. The answers are written by humans, not generated by AI.

Why dual certification matters for data science careers in Kolkata

Demand for data scientists is growing as companies use AI and machine learning more. A data science course in Kolkata with placement support can help meet that demand. The article explains why dual certification matters in the AI era. It lists benefits like showing strong skills and gaining a competitive edge. It also outlines steps to get certified, including choosing a program, meeting prerequisites, completing coursework, passing an exam, and maintaining certification.

Sources

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This news brief was generated using AI technology (including, but not limited to, Google Gemini API, Llama, Grok, and Mistral) from aggregated news articles, with minimal to no human editing/review. It is provided for informational purposes only and may contain inaccuracies or biases. This is not financial, investment, or professional advice. If you have any questions or concerns, please verify all information with the linked original articles in the Sources section below.

AI-based Data Loss Prevention Funding Round Photonics Technology Market Growth UN Data Platform AI Model Accuracy AI Agents ETFs Expansion Plans

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