DeepSeek is nearing a $7.4 billion financing that would rank among the largest startup funding rounds in China. Tencent is expected to be among the investors, alongside other backers, according to people familiar with the round.
8:36 AMPYMNTS13 stories from 6 sources
AI scales through enterprise adoption, capital and tighter content rules
Day’s Recap
Supporting Articles
The UK competition regulator has ordered Google to give publishers a way to keep their content out of AI Search features such as AI Overviews. The rule also limits Google from using that content in those AI experiences when publishers opt out.
4:45 AMThe VergeAnthropic expanded its Claude Partner Network, reporting over 40,000 applicants since March and more than 10,000 consultants certified to build and deploy Claude-based solutions. The updates aim to formalize and scale the ecosystem of service firms implementing Claude for enterprises.
1:42 PMPYMNTSWorkers increasingly treat Anthropic’s Claude as a must-have tool for completing job tasks, while ChatGPT remains the default choice for personal use. The split in usage is feeding investor excitement about Anthropic as it approaches a potential IPO.
7:35 PMPYMNTS8:36 AMPYMNTS
DeepSeek Nears Deal to Raise $7.4 Billion for Open-Source AI
Summary
DeepSeek is nearing a $7.4 billion financing that would rank among the largest startup funding rounds in China. Tencent is expected to be among the investors, alongside other backers, according to people familiar with the round.
Why it matters
A $7.4 billion round would reset expectations for how quickly open-source AI can scale in China and how aggressively incumbents will fund it.
4:45 AMThe Verge
Google must let publishers opt out of AI Search features, rules UK
Summary
The UK competition regulator has ordered Google to give publishers a way to keep their content out of AI Search features such as AI Overviews. The rule also limits Google from using that content in those AI experiences when publishers opt out.
Why it matters
It sets a regulatory precedent that AI search products cannot freely ingest and display publisher content without an enforceable opt-out.
1:42 PMPYMNTS
Anthropic Updates Partner Program As Enterprise AI Adoption Grows
Summary
Anthropic expanded its Claude Partner Network, reporting over 40,000 applicants since March and more than 10,000 consultants certified to build and deploy Claude-based solutions. The updates aim to formalize and scale the ecosystem of service firms implementing Claude for enterprises.
Why it matters
A scaled partner channel can lock in enterprise demand and make Claude a default choice through implementation influence.
7:35 PMPYMNTS
Employees Say Claude Is the AI They Can’t Work Without
Summary
Workers increasingly treat Anthropic’s Claude as a must-have tool for completing job tasks, while ChatGPT remains the default choice for personal use. The split in usage is feeding investor excitement about Anthropic as it approaches a potential IPO.
Why it matters
Workplace indispensability, not consumer popularity, is what turns AI products into durable revenue and defensible enterprise platforms.
Other Developments
A curated list of other prominent stories from this day.
Nintendo says it will ship Switch 2 units in the EU with batteries that users can easily replace. The change is aimed at meeting a new EU rule that takes effect February 18, 2027.
8:04 PMThe VergeElevenLabs is licensing Hasbro characters and brands including Transformers, Monopoly, Clue, and Mr. Potato Head for use in AI-generated audio through its Iconic Marketplace. The deal routes recognizable IP into sanctioned voice and character content rather than unlicensed imitation.
4:50 PMVarietyHands-on testing of Google's Gemini agent Spark found it highly capable but unsettlingly informed, recalling personal details like a dog's name and a spouse's first name without those being explicitly provided. The piece argues that as agents become more effective, the gap between what users think they shared and what the system can infer or retrieve becomes the core problem.
1:45 PMThe VergeSambaNova CEO Rodrigo Liang says inference is emerging as the dominant enterprise AI cost center and pitches a new $3.5 billion AI cloud backed by Vista Equity Partners and Cambium Capital. The plan relies on a disaggregated compute architecture that mixes GPUs, CPUs, and specialized processors to cut serving costs and speed AI agent deployment.
1:07 PMBloomberg MarketsLila Sciences is in talks to raise about $2 billion at an expected pre-money valuation of roughly $8.5 billion. The discussions reflect continued investor appetite for AI research startups at large valuations.
12:10 PMBloomberg MarketsMeta has made its AI agent for WhatsApp Business available worldwide. Businesses will pay for the agent based on token usage.
9:40 AMTechCrunchCoralogix raised $200 million to expand its observability platform as companies put AI systems and agents into production. The company is betting that monitoring, debugging, and reliability tooling will become mandatory infrastructure as autonomous software proliferates.
9:02 AMTechCrunchOneRobotics, the parent company of SwitchBot, has acquired smart lighting maker Nanoleaf. Nanoleaf says it will keep operating independently under the same leadership, with no immediate operational changes.
8:00 AMThe VergeAlexandr Wang is pushing a turnaround of Meta’s AI efforts as the Muse Spark model injects new momentum into the company’s roadmap. The piece notes persistent skepticism that Meta can close the gap with leading rivals despite Wang’s profile, resources, and early technical progress.
12:00 AMFinancial Times8:04 PMThe Verge
Nintendo confirms it will sell a new Switch 2 with replaceable battery in the EU
Summary
Nintendo says it will ship Switch 2 units in the EU with batteries that users can easily replace. The change is aimed at meeting a new EU rule that takes effect February 18, 2027.
Why it matters
Replaceable batteries extend device lifespan and shift leverage from manufacturers toward consumers and independent repair.
4:50 PMVariety
ElevenLabs Partners With Hasbro’s AI Studios to License Transformers, Mr. Potato Head, Clue Characters and More for AI Use
Summary
ElevenLabs is licensing Hasbro characters and brands including Transformers, Monopoly, Clue, and Mr. Potato Head for use in AI-generated audio through its Iconic Marketplace. The deal routes recognizable IP into sanctioned voice and character content rather than unlicensed imitation.
Why it matters
Licensed character access is becoming a key differentiator in generative media, and it will reshape who gets paid and who gets blocked.
1:45 PMThe Verge
As AI gets better, it reveals an empty promise
Summary
Hands-on testing of Google's Gemini agent Spark found it highly capable but unsettlingly informed, recalling personal details like a dog's name and a spouse's first name without those being explicitly provided. The piece argues that as agents become more effective, the gap between what users think they shared and what the system can infer or retrieve becomes the core problem.
Why it matters
Agent adoption will hinge less on raw capability and more on whether people trust what the system knows and how it got it.
1:07 PMBloomberg Markets
SambaNova CEO on Making AI More Affordable
Summary
SambaNova CEO Rodrigo Liang says inference is emerging as the dominant enterprise AI cost center and pitches a new $3.5 billion AI cloud backed by Vista Equity Partners and Cambium Capital. The plan relies on a disaggregated compute architecture that mixes GPUs, CPUs, and specialized processors to cut serving costs and speed AI agent deployment.
Why it matters
Cheaper inference is the lever that turns pilot AI agents into always-on enterprise systems.
12:10 PMBloomberg Markets
Lila Sciences Said in Talks for Funds at $8.5 Billion Valuation
Summary
Lila Sciences is in talks to raise about $2 billion at an expected pre-money valuation of roughly $8.5 billion. The discussions reflect continued investor appetite for AI research startups at large valuations.
Why it matters
A successful raise would signal that investors are willing to underwrite multi-billion-dollar R&D bets, reshaping valuations across the AI startup stack.
9:40 AMTechCrunch
Meta’s AI agent for WhatsApp Business is now available globally
Summary
Meta has made its AI agent for WhatsApp Business available worldwide. Businesses will pay for the agent based on token usage.
Why it matters
Token-based billing makes AI support scalable but introduces a new variable cost that will shape how businesses design customer service.
9:02 AMTechCrunch
Coralogix raises $200M on bet that someone needs to watch the AI agents
Summary
Coralogix raised $200 million to expand its observability platform as companies put AI systems and agents into production. The company is betting that monitoring, debugging, and reliability tooling will become mandatory infrastructure as autonomous software proliferates.
Why it matters
If agents become common, the winners will be the companies that can prove control, auditability, and uptime, not just model quality.
8:00 AMThe Verge
SwitchBot’s acquisition of Nanoleaf is about more than lighting
Summary
OneRobotics, the parent company of SwitchBot, has acquired smart lighting maker Nanoleaf. Nanoleaf says it will keep operating independently under the same leadership, with no immediate operational changes.
Why it matters
The deal signals tighter bundling in consumer smart home hardware, which can reshape device compatibility, pricing power, and platform lock-in.
12:00 AMFinancial Times
Inside Alexandr Wang’s bid to revive Meta’s AI edge
Summary
Alexandr Wang is pushing a turnaround of Meta’s AI efforts as the Muse Spark model injects new momentum into the company’s roadmap. The piece notes persistent skepticism that Meta can close the gap with leading rivals despite Wang’s profile, resources, and early technical progress.
Why it matters
Meta’s ability to regain AI leadership will shape where developers build, how AI features reach billions of users, and who captures the next wave of platform economics.
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