September 25, 2025

finance  
Nvidia, Amazon, AMD AI Software Startup Modular Raises $250M

Alibaba is significantly increasing its investment in artificial intelligence, aiming to exceed its initial $53 billion, three-year plan. CEO Eddie Wu anticipates global AI investment to reach $4 trillion in the next five years and has launched the Qwen3-Max, a large language model with over 1 trillion parameters. This boosted Alibaba's stock to a four-year high, with AI-related products showing triple-digit growth and its cloud division reporting a 26% sales increase. The company also plans new international data centers. Meanwhile, AI startup Modular has raised $250 million at a $1.6 billion valuation to challenge Nvidia's dominance in AI software. Modular's platform allows AI applications to run across different chips without code rewrites, serving clients like Oracle, Amazon, Nvidia, and AMD. Billionaire Stanley Druckenmiller has shifted investments, selling Palantir and increasing his stake in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSMC), a key chip producer for AI, including Nvidia's GPUs. Micron Technology's stock also rose on strong demand for its memory chips in AI data centers, with the company providing a positive outlook despite broader market concerns about Nvidia's investments. Signal AI secured $165 million, led by Battery Ventures, to expand its risk and reputation intelligence platform through acquisitions and AI research. In consumer AI, Flagship Pioneering launched Extuitive with $20 million to develop AI tools for small businesses to simulate consumer behavior. BigBear.ai saw its stock jump on a biometric launch and a U.S. Navy contract, benefiting from renewed interest in AI stocks.

Key Takeaways

  • Alibaba plans to increase its AI spending beyond its initial $53 billion, three-year initiative, anticipating global AI investment to reach $4 trillion in five years.
  • Alibaba launched its Qwen3-Max large language model, which has over 1 trillion parameters and reportedly outperforms rivals in benchmarks.
  • AI startup Modular raised $250 million at a $1.6 billion valuation to develop a platform that allows AI applications to run across various chips without code changes, aiming to compete with Nvidia.
  • Modular's platform supports hardware from Nvidia, AMD, and Apple, and serves cloud providers like Oracle and Amazon.
  • Billionaire Stanley Druckenmiller has sold his Palantir stake and increased his investment in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSMC), a crucial producer of AI chips used by Nvidia.
  • Micron Technology's stock advanced due to strong demand for its memory chips in AI data centers, with the company reporting better-than-expected quarterly results and a positive outlook.
  • Signal AI raised $165 million, led by Battery Ventures, to expand its risk and reputation intelligence platform, focusing on acquisitions and AI research.
  • Flagship Pioneering launched Extuitive with $20 million in seed funding to create AI tools for small businesses to simulate consumer behavior.
  • BigBear.ai's stock surged following a biometric product launch and a U.S. Navy contract, alongside broader enthusiasm for AI stocks.
  • Alibaba's AI-related products have seen triple-digit growth, and its cloud division reported a 26% sales increase.

Alibaba Boosts AI Spending, Shares Soar to Four-Year High

Alibaba's stock price jumped significantly, reaching its highest point in nearly four years. This surge followed CEO Eddie Wu's announcement that the company plans to increase its investment in artificial intelligence (AI) beyond its initial $50 billion target. Wu anticipates global AI investment to reach $4 trillion in the next five years, and Alibaba aims to keep pace. The company also unveiled its new Qwen3-Max large language model and plans to open new data centers internationally. This increased focus on AI is already showing positive results, with triple-digit growth in AI-related products and strong sales in its cloud division.

Alibaba Shares Hit Four-Year High on Expanded AI Investment Plans

Alibaba's stock reached its highest level in almost four years after the company announced plans to increase its spending on artificial intelligence (AI). CEO Eddie Wu stated that global AI investment is expected to reach $4 trillion over the next five years, and Alibaba intends to invest more than its initial 380 billion yuan ($53 billion) plan over three years. The company also launched its Qwen models and full-stack AI technology. This news boosted Alibaba's shares by 7.8% in Hong Kong, also lifting Chinese chipmakers.

Alibaba Shares Rise as CEO Pledges More AI Spending

Alibaba's shares climbed about 9% in Hong Kong after CEO Eddie Wu announced plans to increase the company's artificial intelligence (AI) budget. The company had already committed 380 billion yuan ($45 billion) to AI infrastructure over three years. Wu launched Alibaba's most powerful AI model, Qwen3-Max, which has over 1 trillion parameters and reportedly outperforms rivals in certain benchmarks. He emphasized the rapid development and demand in the AI industry, estimating global AI investment to exceed $4 trillion in the next five years.

Alibaba Shares Jump Over 6% After CEO Unveils AI Spending Boost

Alibaba's stock surged over 6% in Hong Kong, reaching its highest point since 2021, with year-to-date gains exceeding 107%. This rise followed CEO Eddie Wu's announcement of increased investment in artificial intelligence (AI) and the launch of new AI products. The company plans to spend more on AI models and infrastructure, adding to its existing three-year, 380 billion yuan ($53 billion) initiative. Alibaba also unveiled its latest large language model, Qwen3-Max, and positioned itself as a full-stack AI service provider.

Alibaba Shares Surge as CEO Plans Major AI Investment Increase

Alibaba Group's shares surged to their highest in nearly four years after the company announced plans to significantly increase its spending on artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure. CEO Eddie Wu stated that the company will add to its existing three-year plan to spend over 380 billion yuan ($53 billion) on AI development. Alibaba also unveiled its new Qwen3-Max large language model and aims to become a full-stack AI service provider. The company's AI-related products have seen triple-digit growth, and its cloud division reported a 26% sales jump.

Alibaba Stock Surges on AI Spending Boost and New Products

Alibaba Group's stock surged in premarket trading, poised to reach a new 52-week high, after CEO Eddie Wu announced plans to increase AI spending beyond the previously stated $53 billion target. The company also launched a major update to its Qwen open-source large language model. Wu emphasized the rapid pace of AI development and the growing demand for AI infrastructure, stating that Alibaba is committed to further investment. The company's stock has already rallied over 90% year-to-date.

Alibaba Shares Climb Sharply on AI Spending Boost and New Data Centers

Alibaba Group shares climbed sharply, reaching their highest level since 2021, after CEO Eddie Wu announced plans to increase investment in artificial intelligence (AI). The company is expanding its three-year, 380 billion yuan ($53 billion) AI initiative and preparing for an 'artificial superintelligence era.' Alibaba also launched its latest large language model, Qwen3-Max, and plans to open new data centers in Brazil, France, and the Netherlands. Wu stated that global AI investment could exceed $4 trillion in the next five years.

Signal AI Secures $165 Million Led by Battery Ventures for Risk Intelligence

Signal AI, a global risk and reputation intelligence platform, announced a $165 million growth-equity investment led by Battery Ventures. Founded in 2013 by CEO David Benigson, Signal AI uses AI to identify corporate risks in unstructured data for over 650 enterprises. The new funding will support strategic acquisitions, enhance data collection, deepen sector expertise, and accelerate AI research. Signal AI also plans to expand its presence in the U.S. and EMEA regions.

Signal AI Raises $165 Million to Expand Global Risk Intelligence

Signal AI, a platform for risk and reputation intelligence, has raised $165 million in a funding round led by Battery Ventures. The company plans to use this investment to fuel global growth, including making acquisitions to improve data collection, sector expertise, and AI research. Signal AI also aims to speed up its risk intelligence product development and expand its operations in the U.S. and Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. CEO David Benigson highlighted the company's goal to help leaders anticipate and manage future challenges.

Signal AI Raises $165 Million to Fuel Global Growth and Expansion

Signal AI, a risk and reputation intelligence platform, has raised $165 million to support its global expansion. The funding round, led by Battery Ventures, will enable Signal AI to pursue acquisitions that enhance its data collection, sector expertise, and AI research capabilities. The company also plans to accelerate product development and broaden its reach in the U.S. and EMEA regions. CEO David Benigson stated that the partnership with Battery Ventures will help accelerate the company's global growth.

Chinese Tech Stocks Surge as Alibaba Boosts AI Spending

Chinese technology stocks experienced a rally on Wednesday, with Alibaba leading the increase. Alibaba's shares in Hong Kong rose over 9% after the company announced its intention to increase artificial intelligence (AI) spending beyond its initial $50 billion target. This news contributed to the broader surge in Chinese tech stocks.

Alibaba Shares Surge on AI Spending Boost and New Language Model

Alibaba Group's shares surged in Hong Kong after the company announced plans to increase its artificial intelligence (AI) spending beyond its $50 billion target. The company also unveiled its largest language model to date, the Qwen3-Max. These announcements fueled gains in premarket trading, pushing Alibaba's shares to their highest level in nearly four years.

AI Startup Modular Raises $250 Million to Challenge Nvidia

AI startup Modular announced it has raised $250 million in a funding round that values the company at $1.6 billion. This funding aims to challenge Nvidia's dominance in the AI software market. Founded by former Apple and Google engineers, Modular's platform allows developers to run AI applications across various computer chips without rewriting code. The company serves cloud providers like Oracle and Amazon, and chipmakers including Nvidia and AMD. Modular plans to use the capital to expand its engineering and go-to-market teams.

Modular Raises $250 Million to Simplify AI Deployment Across Hardware

Artificial intelligence startup Modular has raised $250 million in its third financing round, valuing the company at $1.6 billion. Founded in 2022, Modular provides a platform that enables developers to run AI applications across different computer chips without needing to rewrite code. The company aims to simplify AI deployment and loosen vendor lock-in, supporting hardware from Nvidia, AMD, and Apple. The new funding will be used to expand hiring, scale its cloud platform, and broaden its focus from AI inference to AI training.

Billionaire Druckenmiller Sells Palantir, Buys Taiwan Semiconductor for AI

Billionaire Stanley Druckenmiller has sold his entire stake in Palantir Technologies and significantly increased his investment in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSMC), his fund's fifth-largest holding. Druckenmiller's Duquesne Family Office has purchased TSMC shares for four consecutive quarters. TSMC plays a crucial role in producing chips essential for AI, including those used by Nvidia. This move suggests a strategic shift towards foundational AI infrastructure companies.

Flagship Pioneering Launches Extuitive with $20M for AI Consumer Product Innovation

Flagship Pioneering, known for creating Moderna, has launched a new startup called Extuitive with $20 million in seed funding. Extuitive uses artificial intelligence to simulate consumer behavior, providing small businesses with tools previously only available to large corporations. The platform combines generative AI and evolutionary algorithms to test product concepts and marketing campaigns rapidly. This initiative represents Flagship Pioneering's expansion into AI beyond the life sciences sector.

Micron Stock Rises on Strong AI Demand and Positive Forecast

Micron Technology shares advanced after reporting quarterly results that exceeded expectations, driven by high demand for its DRAM and NAND products. CEO Sanjay Mehrotra highlighted the significant demand for Micron's memory solutions in AI data centers and high-performance computing. The company's strong performance and positive outlook for upcoming quarters reflect its strategic position in the growing AI ecosystem. Investors reacted favorably, pushing Micron's stock higher in early trading.

Micron Shares Rise on Strong Results Amid AI Boom Concerns

Micron shares increased in premarket trading following better-than-expected quarterly results, with revenues boosted by demand for its memory chips in AI data centers. The company reported $11.3 billion in Q4 revenue and provided a strong outlook for the first quarter of 2026. While Micron benefits from the AI boom, analysts are raising concerns about Nvidia's substantial AI investments potentially inflating the market. Micron produces complementary memory chips that work alongside Nvidia's GPUs.

BigBear.ai Shares Jump on Biometric Launch and Navy Contract

BigBear.ai Holdings, Inc. shares surged 12.9% to close at $7.99, driven by positive developments including the VeriScan biometric launch at Nashville Airport and a U.S. Navy contract win. Renewed enthusiasm for AI stocks also contributed to the stock's rise. The company is expected to report a quarterly loss of $0.06 per share on revenues of $35.55 million, representing a year-over-year decrease. Despite the expected revenue decline, the stock's recent performance has been strong.

Sources

Alibaba Artificial Intelligence AI Spending Stock Market Large Language Models Qwen3-Max Data Centers Cloud Computing Signal AI Risk Intelligence Funding Venture Capital Modular AI Startup Nvidia Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSMC) Stanley Druckenmiller Palantir Technologies Flagship Pioneering Extuitive Consumer Behavior Simulation Micron Technology DRAM NAND AI Data Centers BigBear.ai Biometrics Navy Contract AI Stocks