Isomorphic Labs Secures $600M for AI Drug Innovation

Alphabet’s Isomorphic Labs raised $600 million in its first funding round, led by Thrive Capital and Google Ventures, to advance its AI-driven drug discovery mission: “solving all disease.” Founded by Demis Hassabis, the London-based lab behind the Nobel-winning AlphaFold plans to boost research and expand its team with this investment.

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China’s Manus AI: A Game-Changer or a Threat?

China’s Manus AI, the world’s first fully autonomous agent, is shaking things up. It tackles complex tasks—like financial analysis, hiring, and software development—without human help, running 24/7 in the cloud. It’s a wake-up call for Silicon Valley and a worry for jobs, despite server hiccups and controversies. Is this the future of work?

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OpenAI Introduces Responses API for Building AI Agents

OpenAI’s new Responses API offers tools for developers to create AI agents that tackle tasks like web searches and file scanning. Designed to simplify building production-ready agents, it builds on past ChatGPT agents like Operator and Deep Research. OpenAI plans more enhancements soon, while CEO Sam Altman teased a creative writing model.

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AI Startups Soar with Anysphere Targeting $10 Billion Valuation

AI startups are grabbing tons of venture capital, with Anysphere, the team behind the AI-powered code editor Cursor, aiming for a $10 billion valuation in its latest funding round. This mirrors a hot trend, as European players like Poolside AI and Lovable also rake in big investments, showing AI coding’s global boom.

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VC Notes a ‘Vibe Shift’ as Y Combinator Founders Opt for Less Funding

Silicon Valley’s AI startups are hitting big revenue with tiny teams, sparking a shift at Y Combinator. Some founders, like one aiming to “summit Everest” with less venture capital, prioritize ownership over hefty funding. While investors charm with cash, others warn that underfunding risks being outpaced by well-financed rivals.

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Darwinbox Secures $140M to Boost HR Tech Globally

Darwinbox, an Indian startup, just raised $140 million to expand its all-in-one HR SaaS platform, taking on big names like Rippling and Deel. Co-led by KKR and Partners Group, with investors like Microsoft and Sequoia, they’re targeting the U.S. market, serving over 1,000 enterprises and 3 million employees with flair!

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