Qualcomm strengthens AI portfolio with $2.4 billion Alphawave deal
(Reuters) -U.S. chipmaker Qualcomm on Monday agreed to acquire British semiconductor company Alphawave for about $2.4 billion as part of efforts to strengthen its artificial intelligence technology.
Alphawave shareholders will receive 183 pence per share, a nearly 96% premium to the price immediately before Qualcomm disclosed its interest in the company. The shares jumped 22% in early London trade to just below the offer price.
U.S.-based firms have been snapping up British assets, taking advantage of a market that is plagued by comparatively weaker valuations and stunted growth.
Alphawave, which designs and licenses semiconductor technology for data centers, networking and storage, had garnered takeover interest from Qualcomm and SoftBank-owned chip tech provider Arm in early April for its 'serdes' technology.
The technology underpins the speed at which data is processed by chips - crucial for AI development - and serves as the foundation for Broadcom's and Marvell Technology's multibillion-dollar bespoke chip businesses.
Arm walked away after initial discussions with Alphawave, Reuters exclusively reported in April citing sources.
Qualcomm also tabled two alternative all-share offers to Alphawave's shareholders, after receiving multiple extensions from the UK's takeover panel to table a firm offer.
The British company said it considers the terms of the cash offer to be fair and reasonable and intends to unanimously recommend it to its shareholders.
Alphawave also completed the disposal of its stake in WiseWave, its joint venture with Chinese investment firm Wise Road Capital, to existing state shareholders on Monday.
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Android Authority
23 minutes ago
- Android Authority
10 productivity gadgets that will help you work smart in 2025
Dedication and determination can go a long way, but it's also true that the right equipment can make you much more productive. Some products are made with productivity in mind, from the concept's inception all the way up to the production line. Here at Android Authority, we are a content and productivity machine, and we've tried it all. Take a look at our productivity gadgets to catch a boost when you most need it! SPONSORED NOTE and NotePin NOTE NOTE MSRP: $159.00 Effortlessly capture and transcribe every meeting, call, lecture, or voice memo with this credit‑card sized AI recorder. Dual‑mode precision mics ensure crisp audio on your phone or in person, and the onboard AI (powered by GPT‑4.1, o3‑mini, Claude 3.7 Sonnet, Gemini 2.5 Pro) instantly transforms recordings into searchable, summarized notes in over 112 languages—empowering you to stay present while PLAUD does the note‑taking work for you. See price at NotePin NotePin MSRP: $159.00 A pill‑sized, versatile AI voice recorder you can clip, pin, strap, or wear as a necklace—ready at a moment's notice. With a tap it captures in-person conversations, transcribes in 112+ languages, auto‑summarizes with speaker labels, and stores everything securely in the PLAUD app and cloud. Boasting 20 hours of continuous recording and effortless one‑press operation, it's ideal for journalists, students, creatives, and pros who need reliable, hands‑free minutes. See price at We're spearheading into a new era. The evolution of artificial intelligence is changing the way we do everything, and with so many great tools at our disposal, it makes no sense to use your classic voice recorder or take notes using pen and paper. Introducing a company revolutionizing note taking with AI intelligence. has currently launched two products, the PLAUD NOTE and the PLAUD NotePin. These handy accessories can record voice, of course, but that is only the tip of the iceberg. Leveraging AI, they provide precise voice-to-text transcription and content summarization. It offers extensive language support, transcribing in over 112 languages, along with intelligent speaker labeling and paragraph division. Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority Both devices offer the same core functionalities and are priced identically at $159. The key distinction lies in their design and intended use. The PLAUD NOTE, with its credit card-like shape, is incredibly slim and can magnetically attach to the back of your phone via a MagSafe-compatible case. This makes it ideal for business meetings and office environments. Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority The NotePin is even more compact. Its versatile design allows for easy portability through magnetic attachments, a clip, or a wristband, making it perfect for on-the-go recording and capturing ideas wherever you are. No matter which voice recorder you choose, it will transform how you take notes. You'll save hours sifting through recordings as the AI tools swiftly summarize and organize content, generate mind maps, and even offer suggestions to help you strategize your next steps. The days of manual note-taking will truly feel archaic. reMarkable Paper Pro tablet reMarkable Paper Pro reMarkable Paper Pro Large, notebook-sized color E-Ink display • Distraction-free writing experience • Attractive, portable build MSRP: $579.00 reMarkable, now with a splash of color. The reMarkable Paper Pro is an 11.8-inch E-Ink tablet that closely mimics paper and colorful pens. See price at Amazon Tablets are important office tools, but they are also huge distractions. You could be looking at a document one second, and the next, a social media notification will send you down an internet gossip rabbit hole that seems to never end. Shiny screens and oversaturated colors don't help stay focused, either. All things combined, a normal tablet can be a huge productivity hog. The brand reMarkable is among the most respected when it comes to e-paper tablets. These are designed from the ground up to keep distractions to a minimum. The paper-like experience is easier on the eyes, and you can even use a stylus to take notes on it. Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority Our top pick right now would be the reMarkable Paper Pro. It has a large 11.8-inch display with a 2,160 x 1,620 resolution. And it's a color display, so you can better visualize pie charts and other colored elements in all your documents. It's not backlit, because it is meant to read like actual paper, but it comes with an integrated adjustable reading light. While the battery wouldn't seem huge at 5,030mAh, keep in mind e-paper displays don't use much energy. Its battery life is actually quite outstanding. This thing can last two weeks on a full charge! Features include apps and extensions for most major operating systems, cloud storage solutions, and security implementations for professionals. You can even get a keyboard case, to ensure your productivity doesn't slow down during commutes or trips. Elgato Stream Deck Neo I get really tired of finding hidden options in settings menus, figuring out keyboard shortcut combinations, and looking through a sea of apps just to launch a program. This is why something like the Elgato Stream Deck Neo can be such a convenient productivity tool. The concept is rather simple. This little device has eight buttons, which can be customized to automate tasks, launch apps, and more. Elgato is actually a very well-established brand in the gaming industry, where people can save precious seconds automating their macros and other options. This model is especially made for work efficiency, though. The look is more streamlined, and the infobar can help you keep track of other details, such as the date, time, and more. The buttons are LCD displays, so they can adjust to your experience. You'll see notification tickers, status updates, live information, and more. It's nice that it is also cheaper than the gaming models at $99.99! Cuktech No. 10 100W GaN Charger Time is money, and you have no time to waste. When it's time to charge your devices, you want to ensure they juice up as fast as possible, because a dead device will obviously hurt your productivity. You can learn how to pick the right charger for your needs here, but if you want a quick option, here it is. The CUKTECH No.10 100W GaN Charger is portable, powerful, and can charge three devices simultaneously. As the name implies, it has a 100W max output. Both USB-C ports can reach these speeds when charging a single device. And if you want to recharge smaller accessories, the USB-A connection maxes out at 22.5W. Of course, wattage will be shared as you connect more devices, though. To put matters into perspective, 100W is enough to charge modern laptops. And you'll have power to spare if you're charging a phone. Here's an example: the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra charges at a max of 45W, and that is one of the best Android phones available right now. Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones Sony WH-1000XM6 Sony WH-1000XM6 Good sound quality • Top of the line app • Excellent ANC MSRP: $449.99 The next iteration of the best Sony headphones The Sony WH-1000XM6 is every bit a worthy successor to Sony's other ANC headphones as you'd hope. They sound very good, have excellent ANC, and are equipped to handle demanding users. However, the lack of cutting-edge connection options might be an issue as the years go by. See price at Amazon Save $1.99 Are you looking for the best headphones around? Our friends at have tested all the important ones, and they have crowned the Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones as the top option in their list of the best headphones available. The Sony WH-1000XM6 is part of a highly respected line of headphones known for quality and excellent features across the board. Of course, sound quality is fantastic, and you'll get plenty of features. You can learn all about them by reading the full SoundGuys review of the Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones. We'll focus on why they are great for productivity here. For starters, these have a great microphone, so they will work amazingly during calls, video conferences, and more. Also, they are known for their excellent ANC performance. The great noise canceling will help you stay focused in loud environments, blocking out all those noises from traffic, content, or people chit-chatting around you. Logitech MX Brio webcam Are you often making conference calls, video meetings, or recording video messages? You'll need a webcam, but you want it to be a good one. There's nothing worse than a pixelated, bad-quality video, which is sadly what most webcams produce. The Logitech MX Brio is a great option for professionals who want quality for their clients or co-workers. It may be bigger and pricier than average at $199.99, but it is worth every cubic centimeter and penny. This webcam is on another level, offering a 4K resolution to capture much more detail. It can record at 30fps. And if you reduce the resolution to 1,080p, the framerate can go up to 60fps. Logitech claims this is their most advanced webcam sensor yet, with 70% larger pixels. Hardware aside, the webcam also uses AI to improve image quality, especially with faces. You can even go into the settings and change the image profile. You can customize things like exposure, white balance, ISO, tint, shutter speed, and more. The webcam has a physical privacy shutter for those who worry about that. Additionally, the mics use AI to reduce background noise, offering a clearer audio experience. ASUS portable monitors If you're more of a digital nomad, chances are your workstation is a laptop. Living on a single screen can affect your productivity, though. Using multiple monitors can make you a multitasking beast. While there are plenty of great portable monitors out there, ASUS is known for being among the most reliable manufacturers in this market. We will give you a couple of options here. Let's start with the ASUS ZenScreen MB169CK. It has a 16-inch panel with a Full HD 1,080p resolution. The design is simple and minimalist, which is great if you want to keep a professional look. The single stand keeps the look clean, and offers flexibility in terms of screen positioning. This display can connect to your devices using two USB-C ports, or the mini-HDMI connection. Both cables come included in the box. The ASUS ZenScreen MB169CK is simple, modest, and clean. It's nothing fancy, but that is part of its allure. It works, and its simplicity makes it very affordable at $109. Having an extra display can make you much more productive, but what if you have two? Enter the ASUS ZenScreen Duo OLED MQ149CD. This thing has two portable monitors, giving you much more screen real estate to work with when you want to get serious with work, homework, or whatever you want to do. This one is outstanding in every way. Each screen has a 1,920 x 1,200 resolution. Each panel is 14 inches. Display technology gets a hefty upgrade, too. These are OLED displays that can display 100% of the DCI-P3 color gamut. They are very color accurate. There's a built-in kickstand, and you get a nice set of ports for flexibility. It has two USB-C ports, plus an extra one for power. If your laptop doesn't support that, you can also use the mini-HDMI connection. It's quite impressive, but be ready to pay for this much quality and multitasking power. This portable dual monitor is $599. Nothing quite matches it, though. Pomodoro timer Do you often find yourself getting mentally fatigued? Long hours of work can cause fatigue, which is why many like the Pomodoro technique. The premise is simple: it is a timer that divides your focus time into 30-minute intervals, of which 25 minutes are dedicated to work or study, while the other 5 minutes are for your short breaks. This will keep you fresh and focused during long sessions. You don't really need to buy anything to apply this strategy. I mean, your phone's timer will do the job just fine. You can also use websites like Pomofocus, or apps like Pomodoro Timer by If you want a physical timer, though, we like the OORAII Rotating Pomodoro Timer. You can set a timer simply by rotating the device, and leaving the time you want to set facing up. Just switch between the 25-minute and 5-minute intervals to follow the technique. It looks really nice, too, and it's really affordable. YubiKey Bio If you're trying to be productive, chances are you are working on or handling some delicate information. Security is important, and so far the best way to keep your accounts and login credentials safe is by using 2FA (2-factor authentication). Hardware options are the most safe and convenient, too. The YubiKey Bio can be used as a physical key to authenticate your identity. As an added benefit and security step, it has a fingerprint reader, making it simpler to authenticate and access any account. You can also use a PIN as a fallback. You won't need to baby this thing, as it is made to go with you everywhere. It is small and can simply hang on your keychain. It has an IP68 rating, so it can handle dust and liquids without issues. It's also crush resistant and has no moving parts. At $90, it's a good investment for peace of mind and security, especially when dealing with sensitive business or school accounts. Logitech MX Master 3S Logitech MX Master 3S Logitech MX Master 3S Precision optical navigation • Reliable wireless connectivity MSRP: $99.99 Multi-function precision wireless mouse Made for precision, the Logitech MX Master 3S has multiple scroll wheels, high-resolution navigation, an ergonomic design, and reliable wireless connectivity. See price at Amazon Trackpads are good enough in a pinch, but they are far from being the perfect productivity tool. If you want to make the most out of every work minute, you should consider a good mouse, and the Logitech MX Master series is highly respected among professionals. The Logitech MX Master 3S is the latest mouse in the popular series, and it is a working peripheral that very few even get close to competing with. It is made with productivity in mind, and everything regarding it shows this focus. For starters, it is nicely designed. Not only will it look great in any scenario, but the ergonomics are great, so you'll be able to use it for long sessions while minimizing exhaustion or discomfort. Aamir Siddiqui / Android Authority The mouse performs very well, offering quiet clicks and an 8,000DPI sensor, which can even work on glass! It should work on any surface, making it a great option for those of you who need a mouse on-the-go, anywhere. The scroll wheel can move at 1,000 lines per second, so you'll fly through documents to find the information you need. The Logi Options+ software can help you customize the buttons and experience as you wish. The MX Master 3S has seven buttons, and you'll even get a secondary scroll wheel made to be used with your thumb. This can be used for horizontal scrolling and such. One feature I happen to love is Logitech Flow. It allows you to use the mouse (and keyboard) on multiple computers. You'll be able to move your cursor across the screens, as if you were using a multi-monitor setup. It's super handy! It's wireless, so you won't need to fumble around with cables. Battery life is pretty good, at about 70 days on a full charge, so you won't waste time juicing up. While you can be productive using anything, there is no denying some things do better at keeping you focused and efficient. Especially if they were explicitly designed to get work done, making them great productivity gadgets. Give yourself the edge! I don't know about you, but I like having all odds in my favor.
Business Upturn
33 minutes ago
- Business Upturn
Horizon3.ai Raises $100M to Cement Leadership in Autonomous Security
San Francisco, United States: , the company behind the NodeZero® Autonomous Security Platform, today announced a $100 million Series D funding round led by NEA, with participation from SignalFire, Craft Ventures and 9Yards Capital. As part of the investment, Lila Tretikov, Partner and Head of AI Strategy at NEA and former Deputy CTO of Microsoft, will join the Board of Directors. 'Over the past four years, we've proven that using AI to hack companies isn't science fiction—it's real, and it's delivering measurable results at scale. There are now over 3,000 organizations using NodeZero globally to conduct penetration tests. We're sustaining 100%+ year-over-year ARR growth, and we are now Rule of 40-positive, which means we're not just growing—we're growing efficiently,' said Snehal Antani, CEO and Co-founder of 'This raise marks the next chapter in our mission to lead the Autonomous Security category.' 'Security teams are tired of chasing CVEs, false positives, and compliance checkboxes. They want to find and fix what actually matters, verify it's resolved, and go home early,' said Antani. 'The hardest part of the job as a CIO is deciding what not to fix. The second hardest part is proving to the board that your security initiatives are meaningfully reducing risk. NodeZero plays a critical role in reducing your threat exposure over time.' Targeting an $80B Total Addressable Market: Autonomous Security The cybersecurity market is undergoing a generational shift. NodeZero successfully compromised a bank in 4 minutes with no humans required, far faster than the reaction time of the bank's security team and their best-in-class tools. Similarly, adversaries are leveraging AI to exponentially increase the sophistication, complexity, speed and scale of attacks. The thesis is simple: the future of cyber will be algorithms fighting algorithms—at machine speed—with humans by exception. This requires a fundamental rebuild of every part of the cybersecurity stack. And to do so effectively, you need a deep understanding of how attackers operate—and an AI system that can use offensive insights to drive defensive improvements. is leading this shift. ' has already realized what others are just beginning to imagine. NodeZero is a fully autonomous security system operating in live production environments—executing real attacks, uncovering real risk, and delivering real results,' said Antani. Powered by reinforcement learning, graph reasoning, and AI, NodeZero doesn't simulate adversaries—it thinks and acts like one. Each cyber attack against production systems executed by NodeZero collects training data used to improve its algorithms, creating a compounding data advantage that no other platform can match. This is the foundation for the next era of cybersecurity, where AI doesn't just find risk, but continuously improves defenses. isn't chasing the future—it's building it. Use of Proceeds: Accelerating Toward the Future With this funding, Horizon3 is accelerating across three strategic fronts: Scale through partners – Doubling down on its partner ecosystem to meet growing demand across the Americas, EMEA, and APAC. – Doubling down on its partner ecosystem to meet growing demand across the Americas, EMEA, and APAC. Product innovation – Expanding into web application pentesting, vulnerability management, and precision defense, where NodeZero can remediate findings and tune defensive tools. – Expanding into web application pentesting, vulnerability management, and precision defense, where NodeZero can remediate findings and tune defensive tools. Winning the federal market – Scaling its success with the Defense Industrial Base through the NSA's Continuous Autonomous Pentesting (CAPT) program, accelerating FedRAMP High usage, and expanding into Secret and Top Secret workloads to help secure the nation's most mission-critical systems. 'What drew us to is the clarity of their mission and the speed at which they're executing it,' saidAaron Jacobson, Partner at NEA. 'They are defining a new security category—autonomous security—and are already the go-to solution for red and blue teams alike. We're thrilled to lead this round and support the company's next phase of growth.' 'Snehal and the team are tackling one of the biggest problems in cybersecurity: automating both sides to ensure maximum defensibility against automated and AI-driven attacks,' said Lila Tretikov, Partner and Head of AI Strategy at NEA. 'Their customers love NodeZero, and the team has proven to operate with excellence at scale, which is why is transforming how security is done. I'm excited to join the board and help shape this next chapter.' The impact is immediate and measurable. In one recent pentest, NodeZero gained access to sensitive US aircraft carrier design data through a third-party supplier. No humans were involved in the pentest. The platform autonomously compromised the network, gained access to sensitive data, and then guided defenders on exactly what to fix to prevent a breach. 'My old boss used to say, 'don't tell me we're secure, show me, then show me again tomorrow, and again next week, because our environment is always changing and the enemy always has a vote,'' said Antani. To learn more about NodeZero visit . For media inquiries and interviews, please see the Media Contact below. About is the leader in autonomous security. Our platform, NodeZero, continuously finds and exploits real-world attack paths so defenders can fix what matters and prove they're secure. Founded by former U.S. Special Operations cyber operators and enterprise security leaders, is trusted by over 3,000 organizations worldwide—from Fortune 500 companies to national defense partners. View source version on Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with Business Wire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same.
Forbes
37 minutes ago
- Forbes
Gen Alpha: How Digital Natives Are Redefining Finance And Retail
Rupert Lee-Browne is the chairman and chief executive of payments fintech Caxton, which he founded in 2002. The way Gen Alpha children (born from 2010-2024) interact with money is a seismic shift. We're witnessing the rise of "cashless kids," a generation managing finances digitally through apps and prepaid cards rather than piggy banks. This is a fundamental reshaping of consumer behavior with profound implications for brands, retailers and financial institutions. In our business, we've analyzed over 33.5 million transactions by children aged 5 to 18 across six years, totaling £250 million (approximately $337 million) in spending. This research uncovers keys insights into the future of commerce and the evolution of young consumers. These 33.5 million transactions represent real-world spending decisions and reveal valuable insights into the preferences and brand interactions of young digital natives. This data-driven approach allows us to identify concrete trends shaping the future of finance and retail, and provides insight into spending patterns across different age groups. The shift to cashless spending has far-reaching consequences for brands. As the saying goes: "The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now." This wisdom applies perfectly to brands seeking to connect with young consumers. Early engagement creates opportunities for building lasting relationships. Our data shows that average annual digital spending per child increased from £164 ($221) in 2017 to £367 ($495) by 2023. Younger children experienced more significant percentage increases in spending power compared to older teenagers, who likely supplement pocket money with part-time employment. As children mature, their spending diversifies remarkably. Six-year-olds spend within approximately 17 categories, but by age 15, this expands to 185 categories, including services from beauticians and barbers to record stores and country clubs. This highlights the importance of early and consistent brand engagement. The brands that will succeed understand how different age groups spend their money and tailor offerings accordingly—focusing not just on products but on the entire digital experience. Gen Alphas are not just consumers; they are active architects in the fintech revolution. Their early adoption of digital finance tools is shaping their understanding of money and financial management. Gaming and online retail dominate their spending. Gaming accounts for 32.6% of spending, while online shopping via platforms such as Amazon Marketplace accounts for 27.2%. This generation is growing up in a world where digital transactions are the norm, influencing the development of financial products and services. For businesses, understanding and engaging with Gen Alpha is imperative. Their influence extends beyond direct spending; they significantly impact household purchasing decisions. A global study indicates that Gen Alpha influences 27% of their household's nonessential monthly spending, with an emphasis on digital products and services. The data reveals several key insights valuable for businesses and policymakers: • Rising digital spending power: From 2017 to 2023, the average spending per child grew by more than 123%, outpacing inflation. • Gaming and online retail dominance: These categories account for a significant portion of children's spending, highlighting the importance of digital platforms for engaging this demographic. • Need for financial literacy: Children spend a high percentage of their pocket money (approximately 88%). Robert Kiyosaki is widely quoted as saying, "It's not about how much money you make, but how much money you keep." This highlights the need for financial education initiatives. • Increased financial sophistication: Young consumers require not only engaging products but also responsible corporate citizenship that ensures online safety and promotes financial literacy. Parents play a crucial role in this ecosystem. Digital payment platforms can be valuable tools for parents to guide their children's financial exploration in a safe, controlled environment. Policymakers must prioritize initiatives that promote financial literacy and protect young consumers from online fraud and exploitation. The rise of Gen Alpha represents a fundamental shift in how we interact with money and commerce. By understanding the insights revealed by our data, businesses, parents and policymakers can work together to empower young consumers, foster healthy financial habits and shape the future of finance. By embracing personalization, ethical practices and seamless digital experiences, companies can effectively navigate the evolving landscape shaped by Gen Alpha's economic influence and prepare the next generation for financial success in an increasingly digital world. Forbes Finance Council is an invitation-only organization for executives in successful accounting, financial planning and wealth management firms. Do I qualify?
