Alphabet Q1 2025: AI Fuels Growth Across Google Ecosystem

Alphabet’s Q1 was powered by strong growth in Search, Cloud, and YouTube, with AI at the core. Gemini 2.5 launched, boosting products like Search, Pixel, and Workspace. Cloud saw major AI adoption and agent innovations. YouTube hit 20 years and 1B+ podcast users, while Waymo expanded rapidly. AI-driven momentum continues ahead of major 2025 events.

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DeepSeek in Hot Water Over Data Privacy in South Korea

South Korea’s data watchdog says Chinese AI startup DeepSeek transferred user data and AI prompts overseas without permission during its January app launch. Downloads were halted in February, and officials now demand DeepSeek delete the data and set legal safeguards. DeepSeek claims it stopped the transfers in April to improve user experience, sparking ongoing privacy concerns

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AI Startups Are on Fire: $36M Raised for Smarter Tools and Tech

April was a big month for AI startups—Qevlar, HoneyHive, Solve Intelligence, and Delos pulled in a combined $36 million in funding. From cybersecurity and patent automation to testing AI agents and boosting office productivity, these companies are building tools that could shape how we work and innovate in the AI space.

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Google rolls out real-time video AI features for Gemini

Google is rolling out powerful new AI features to Gemini Live, letting it “see” your screen or camera feed and help in real time—like suggesting paint colors or explaining what’s on your screen. These updates, based on its Project Astra tech, give Google a solid edge over Amazon’s Alexa and Apple’s delayed Siri upgrades. Gemini’s getting smarter—and fast.

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Supabase Raises $200M, Becomes Go-To Backend for AI Apps

Supabase, the open-source Firebase alternative, just raised $200M at a $2B valuation. With over 1.7M developers and explosive growth, it’s fast becoming the default backend for AI and modern apps. Built on Postgres, it simplifies setup while scaling effortlessly—earning major love from the dev community and big investors alike.

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Columbia’s suspended student startup Cluely raises $5.3M in seed funding

Suspended Columbia student Chungin “Roy” Lee raised $5.3M for Cluely — an AI tool designed to secretly assist users during interviews, exams, and sales calls via a hidden browser window. Despite ethical concerns and a viral “Black Mirror”‑style launch video, Cluely claims over $3M ARR as its founders embrace controversy over convention.

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Virtue AI Raises $30M to Strengthen AI Safety and Compliance

Virtue AI has secured $30M in Seed and Series A funding to scale its AI security platform for enterprises. Backed by Lightspeed and Walden Catalyst, Virtue helps businesses safely deploy AI with tools like automated risk testing, guardrails, and compliance agents — eliminating the trade-off between innovation and security in AI adoption.

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Yale Grads’ Startup Spur Raises $4.5 Million in Seed Funding

Spur, an AI-powered QA testing startup founded by two Yale grads, raised $4.5M from top investors including First Round and Pear VC. Spur uses AI browser agents to mimic real users, helping companies catch bugs and speed up release cycles. Already trusted by Fortune 500s and e-commerce giants, Spur is making quality assurance faster, smarter, and fully automated.

Read more on GlobeNewsWire

OpenAI in Talks to Acquire Windsurf for Over $3 Billion

OpenAI is in talks to acquire coding assistant startup Windsurf for over $3 billion, marking its biggest deal yet. The move signals a potential AI app acquisition race as big players look beyond in-house tools. The deal could raise antitrust questions, especially given OpenAI’s complex ties with Microsoft and competition with rivals like Anysphere.

Read more on Axios

xAI Introduces Memory Feature to Grok

Elon Musk’s xAI has rolled out a memory feature for its Grok chatbot, enabling it to remember past chats for more personalized responses. Currently in beta on web and mobile (except EU/UK), users can view, manage, or delete memories anytime. This update brings Grok closer to rivals like ChatGPT and Gemini in user-tailored AI interactions.

Read more on TechCrunch

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