logo
Mistral in talks with VC firms, Abu Dhabi's MGX to raise funds at $10bln valuation, FT reports

Mistral in talks with VC firms, Abu Dhabi's MGX to raise funds at $10bln valuation, FT reports

Zawyaa day ago
French artificial intelligence startup Mistral is in talks with investors, venture capital firms and Abu Dhabi's MGX to raise $1 billion at a valuation of $10 billion, the Financial Times reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter.
The company launched in June Europe's first AI reasoning model, which uses logical thinking to create a response, as it tries to keep pace with American and Chinese rivals at the forefront of AI development.
The funding would accelerate the commercial rollout of Mistral's Le Chat chatbot and support continued development of its large language models, the report said.
MGX and Mistral did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.
The startup raised 600 million euros in a Series B funding round that valued the company at 5.8 billion euros last year.
Industry observers consider Mistral as Europe's best-positioned AI company to rival Silicon Valley leaders, though the French firm has yet to achieve comparable market traction or revenue scale.
Mistral counts Nvidia, Andreessen Horowitz and Lightspeed Venture Partners among its investors.
(Reporting by Akash Sriram in Bengaluru; Editing by Alan Barona)
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Huawei Cloud powers Saudi digital transformation with 2025 Developer Conference
Huawei Cloud powers Saudi digital transformation with 2025 Developer Conference

Gulf Business

time9 minutes ago

  • Gulf Business

Huawei Cloud powers Saudi digital transformation with 2025 Developer Conference

The conference brought together developers, entrepreneurs, and startup leaders from across the Kingdom, providing a platform to showcase Huawei Cloud's growing suite of AI-powered and cloud-native development tools. Designed to strengthen the country's digital infrastructure and build a more empowered developer ecosystem, the event demonstrated how global technology players are increasingly aligning with Saudi Arabia's fast-evolving digital economy. A central focus of the conference was on equipping local developers with specialised training, advanced tools, and globally recognised certifications. Attendees were introduced to Huawei's flagship initiatives such as the Huawei Cloud Developer Program (HCDP), the Huawei Cloud Startup Program, and the Huawei Cloud Certified Developer for AI (HCCDX). These programmes provide a comprehensive ecosystem of support—blending technical training with business mentorship and international credentials—to help Saudi developers scale innovative solutions and build competitive careers. Reaffirming its long-term commitment to the Kingdom, Huawei revealed plans to expand its cloud services from over 90 currently available offerings to more than 200, supported by three Availability Zones in the Riyadh Region. The company has also secured the prestigious 'Class C' certification from Saudi Arabia's Communications, Space & Technology Commission (CST), the highest classification for cloud platforms in the country. This certification confirms Huawei Cloud's adherence to stringent local and international standards on security, performance, and reliability. Read: The event also featured several demonstrations of Huawei's latest AI and software infrastructure. One of the standout innovations was ModelArts, the company's advanced AI development platform that dramatically reduces the time needed to deploy AI solutions—from months to just days. Built on high-performance AI cloud servers, ModelArts is already supporting a range of applications in smart cities, digital humans, and smart universities, positioning Huawei at the forefront of real-world AI deployment in the region. Additionally, Huawei presented CodeArts, its unified DevSecOps platform, which allows development teams to securely build, test, and deploy applications directly in the cloud. Supporting more than 20 programming languages and offering extensive code scanning and integration features, CodeArts is designed to streamline cloud migration and deliver a secure, modern development experience for enterprises and startups alike. Real-world case studies shared at the event further underlined the impact of Huawei Cloud's presence in Saudi Arabia. Partners including Systems Arabia, FanRuan, and NAS Solutions highlighted how Huawei's AI-powered cloud tools helped them accelerate innovation, scale operations, and bring new digital solutions to market. Huawei Cloud's continued investment in infrastructure, training, and partner enablement underscores its strategic role in supporting Saudi Arabia's ambition to become a leading digital economy. The 2025 Developer Conference represents another step forward in building a vibrant local innovation ecosystem—one where developers are not only empowered with the latest technology, but also actively shaping the Kingdom's digital future.

AI surge fuels global dealmaking to $2.6 trillion in H1 2025, highest level since pandemic peak
AI surge fuels global dealmaking to $2.6 trillion in H1 2025, highest level since pandemic peak

Economy ME

time15 minutes ago

  • Economy ME

AI surge fuels global dealmaking to $2.6 trillion in H1 2025, highest level since pandemic peak

Global dealmaking has reached $2.6 trillion, marking the highest level for the first seven months of the year since the peak during the 2021 pandemic era. This surge is driven by a quest for growth in corporate boardrooms and the notable impact of increased AI activity, which has managed to overcome the uncertainty created by U.S. tariffs. As of August 1, the number of transactions is 16 percent lower than at the same time last year, yet their value is 28 percent higher, according to Reuters, which cited data from U.K.-based financial services firm Dealogic. The report indicates that transactions will be bolstered by U.S. megadeals valued at over $10 billion. Among these are Union Pacific Corp's proposed $85 billion acquisition of smaller rival Norfolk Southern and OpenAI's $40 billion funding round led by Softbank Group. This upsurge will provide relief to bankers who began the year anticipating that the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump would initiate a wave of consolidation. However, his trade tariffs and geopolitical uncertainties caused companies to pause until renewed confidence within corporate boardrooms and the U.S. administration's anti-trust agenda shifted the overall mood. Shift from healthcare to tech sector in M&A In comparison to August 2021, when investors rebounding from pandemic lockdowns drove the value of deals to $3.57 trillion, this year's total is nearly $1 trillion, or 27 percent, lower. Nonetheless, dealmakers at JP Morgan Chase have expressed optimism, stating that more significant deals are on the horizon as executives adapt to ongoing volatility. While the healthcare sector led M&A activity in the years following the pandemic, the computer and electronics industry has generated more takeover bids in the U.S. and the United Kingdom over the past two years, according to Dealogic. Artificial intelligence is anticipated to further drive dealmaking. M&A activity has notably increased around data center usage, exemplified by Samsung's $1.7 billion acquisition of Germany's FlaktGroup, a specialist in data center cooling. The U.S. has emerged as the largest market for M&A, accounting for over half of global activity. Meanwhile, Asia Pacific's dealmaking has doubled compared to the same period last year, outpacing the EMEA region. Read more: M&A in MENA hits $115.5 billion in H1 2025, up 149 percent YoY Growth in high-value transactions Similarly, According to PwC's 2025 mid-year M&A industry trends report , global M&A volumes declined 9 percent in the first half of 2025 compared to the first half of 2024, but deal values increased by 15 percent, reflecting a clear shift towards larger deals. This report highlights that deals over $1 billion rose by 19 percent and those over $5 billion increased 16 percent year-over-year. The Americas dominated global M&A with $908 billion deal value, representing 61 percent of the global total in H1 2025. Notably, domestic investments in the Americas grew, with 91 percent of capital staying within the region. Asia Pacific buyers notably more than doubled their investments into the Americas, while EMEA buyers slightly decreased overall deal values but increased acquisitions in the Americas and Asia Pacific. Sectors leading megadeal activity include technology, banking and capital markets, and power and utilities (PwC).

Smart Travel Tech Gains Momentum at ATM 2025
Smart Travel Tech Gains Momentum at ATM 2025

TECHx

time40 minutes ago

  • TECHx

Smart Travel Tech Gains Momentum at ATM 2025

Home » Smart Sectors » Travel & Hospitality » Smart Travel Tech Gains Momentum at ATM 2025 Smart Travel technology is transforming the global tourism industry, changing how travellers plan, book, and experience their journeys. A new report by Tourism Economics on behalf of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) revealed that 60% of travellers in the UAE trust Artificial Intelligence (AI) to manage every aspect of their trips. This is higher than the 48% reported in other countries. The report predicts further growth as technology becomes deeply embedded in consumer behaviour. AI is emerging as a vital tool for those planning trips to the Middle East. Nearly six in ten travellers have used AI for travel planning, with 21% using it before their most recent trip. The research highlighted: AI's role in offering personalised recommendations and booking experiences Travel firms using AI to improve customer service and drive economic growth ATM 2025 served as a platform for discussions on digital transformation in travel and tourism. Experts from technology, hospitality, and events sectors shared insights on AI-powered tools, personalised platforms, and data-driven solutions. Amy Read, VP Innovation at Sabre Hospitality, emphasised that technology should enhance, not replace, human connection in hospitality. She noted that innovation should amplify key moments and free up staff for more meaningful guest interactions. Read added that guest expectations have evolved. Today's travellers expect instant responses, leading to tools like SynXis Concierge AI. This generative AI solution supports hoteliers by offering immediate, accurate responses and reducing reliance on individual staff knowledge. Another innovation is Miral's AI concierge, Majd Al, used at Yas Bay Waterfront and Ferrari World Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. It provides personalised suggestions based on individual visitor preferences. Other organisations, like Almosafer and Expedia TAAP, are building tools based on consumer pain points. This user-driven design ensures their technology aligns with real customer needs. AI is also reshaping the business events (MICE) sector. With the global meetings and events industry expected to reach USD 945 billion in 2025 and over USD 2.3 trillion by 2032, scalable AI tools are in high demand. AI now helps automate sourcing, translate content, and generate tailored event experiences. Despite these advances, experts warned against over-reliance on AI. They stressed that technology should support, not replace, authentic human engagement. Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, stated that the most effective technologies improve efficiency and amplify human interactions. She underlined the industry's focus on responsible innovation by keeping people at the heart of tech solutions. ATM Travel Tech saw over 26% growth in showcased products this year, highlighting the sector's expansion. ATM 2026, set for 4–7 May, will further explore technologies shaping the future of smart travel.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store