Google's AI Futures Fund Gives Startups VIP Access To DeepMind Models, Backing From Sundar Pichai, And Cloud Credits Worth Millions
Google is launching a major AI initiative that could shape the next generation of artificial intelligence startups. The AI Futures Fund promises direct investment, access to Google's Gemini AI models, and deep technical mentorship for founders pushing the edge of innovation.
In a blog post published Monday, Google outlined its intent to work closely with ambitious early-stage companies. The fund will offer hands-on support from Google's research and engineering teams, alongside go-to-market specialists and cloud credits to scale AI development.
Don't Miss:
Hasbro, MGM, and Skechers trust this AI marketing firm —
'Scrolling To UBI' — Deloitte's #1 fastest-growing software company allows users to earn money on their phones.
The AI Futures Fund will focus on helping founders build transformative products powered by Gemini, Google's flagship AI model suite. According to AI Futures Fund's application page, startups will be granted early access to the models and receive technical guidance directly from Google's in-house experts.
In addition to access and expertise, Google is sweetening the deal with cloud credits. These can be used to build, deploy, and scale high-performance AI systems on Google Cloud, according to the startup's website. With many generative AI models requiring expensive infrastructure to train and operate, these credits give early-stage companies a head start.
According to SiliconANGLE, Google aims to deepen its exposure to emerging AI startups and technologies through the AI Futures Fund, giving the company early insight into innovation while strengthening its position in a competitive field already shaped by rivals like Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN), and OpenAI.
The fund will complement Google's previous $3 billion in combined investments in generative AI company Anthropic, where it holds a significant ownership stake and cloud partnership, CNBC reports. This tie-in positions Google to shape the trajectory of multiple leading-edge players simultaneously.
Trending: Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing —
The AI Futures Fund is only the latest in a series of moves by Google to position itself as a key player in AI ecosystem growth. The company announced in March 2024 a $20 million nonprofit accelerator through Google.org focused on generative AI, followed by an introduction in September of a $120 million Global AI Opportunity fund.
The giant also launched the Google for Startups Founders Funds in 2020. According to the company's website, the program has provided over $58 million in equity-free cash awards and support to more than 600 founders from diverse backgrounds since its inception.
The program expanded its focus to include AI startups in the U.S., with plans to extend support to international founders shortly, according to a blog post. This expansion aims to empower diverse entrepreneurs leveraging AI technology to solve real-world problems and drive innovation.
This broader commitment to inclusion in AI development has been echoed at the highest levels of the company. During his keynote at the United Nations' Summit of the Future in September, Google CEO Sundar Pichai emphasized Google's mission to ensure broad, equitable access to AI. "Just as the internet and mobile devices expanded opportunities for people around the world, now AI is poised to accelerate progress at unprecedented scale," Pichai said, according to a blog post from Google.At its core, the AI Futures Fund aims to surface the most daring AI ideas and accelerate their journey from concept to product. According to the application page, Google wants to "enable groundbreaking 0-to-1 products and features" by working closely with founders across all stages of growth.
Applications for the fund are now open, and the founders selected will enter Google's ecosystem with a toolkit that includes capital, exclusive model access, technical guidance, and go-to-market alignment, as detailed on the company's website.
As investors search for the next wave of AI breakthroughs, and startups look for the resources to stay ahead, the AI Futures Fund could prove to be one of the most strategically important moves in Google's recent history.
Read Next:Inspired by Uber and Airbnb – Deloitte's fastest-growing software company is transforming 7 billion smartphones into income-generating assets –
Image: Shutterstock
UNLOCKED: 5 NEW TRADES EVERY WEEK. Click now to get top trade ideas daily, plus unlimited access to cutting-edge tools and strategies to gain an edge in the markets.
Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga?
AMAZON.COM (AMZN): Free Stock Analysis Report
MICROSOFT (MSFT): Free Stock Analysis Report
This article Google's AI Futures Fund Gives Startups VIP Access To DeepMind Models, Backing From Sundar Pichai, And Cloud Credits Worth Millions originally appeared on Benzinga.com
© 2025 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Android Authority
26 minutes ago
- Android Authority
I turned my Pixel 9 into a desktop PC and it actually works great
Android 16 is finally here, but unfortunately, some of the best features are still on the horizon. One upcoming tool that I've been keeping a particularly close eye on is Android 16's Desktop Mode, currently available in the QPR1 Beta 2. It's been a while since I gave Samsung's equivalent Dex setup a go, so I'm very keen to see what's different, what's new, and how far things have come. Eager to try it out, I grabbed my Pixel 9 Pro XL, installed the latest beta, and decided to try working on my phone for a few hours (including writing this article) to see how it goes. Will you use Android's Desktop Mode when it launches? 0 votes Yes NaN % No NaN % Not sure NaN % I'm already using the beta NaN % If you're tempted to dip your toes in, you'll need a few things first: QPR1 Beta 2 installed on a Pixel with DisplayPort capabilities, Developer Mode enabled with the 'Enable desktop experience features' toggle checked, and a USB-C cable connected to a DisplayPort-compatible display. That's it for the basics, so let's dive in. Peripherals galore Robert Triggs / Android Authority If you're planning to use a phone as a PC, peripherals better darn well work easily. Thankfully, I had no trouble pairing my wireless keyboard and mouse to the Pixel 9 Pro XL via Bluetooth. As you'd expect, a couple of quick taps was all it took — if anything, the trickiest part was remembering how to pair my keyboard with a second device. For the rest of my setup, I used the same USB-C dock/hub that's usually paired with my laptop; it connects everything over a single cable, including my HDMI monitor, USB audio interface hooked up to speakers, 1 Gbps Ethernet, various USB-A/C ports, and a microSD card reader for photo work. The good news? The Pixel connected instantly to my display, looked crisp on my 1080p panel, and didn't require any tweaking for icon sizing (though that option exists). It also automatically routed audio through the USB interface, meaning I could use my regular speakers with no extra setup. Hallelujah—this actually feels like the real deal. Just plug and play. I feared that Android's Desktop Mode would fail at this first peripheral hurdle, but it nails it. It even recognized a microSD card and an external hard drive with no issues, opening the door to massively expanded storage for both work and play. Android's file management isn't perfect, but I was able to move photos on and off my camera's card with a little effort. I expected Desktop Mode to stumble here, but it absolutely nailed it. Even better, the USB hub passes power through to keep the Pixel charged while in use. This is essential since CPU usage is way up when running multiple apps side by side. I saw all eight CPU cores being tapped at least partially, nearly the entire time. Speaking of, how does performance hold up? How's the performance? Robert Triggs / Android Authority Google's Tensor G4 inside the Pixel 9 series might not be the fastest chip around, but it's more than capable of handling just about everything I throw at it on a daily basis. It turns out that it also has enough juice to get some serious work done in a PC-like setup. Messaging, browsing multiple tabs, editing Google Docs — all no problem. I loaded some heavyweight spreadsheets to try and break it, but no dice. Lightroom also ran smoothly, handling photo edits just like it does on the phone. Gaming is no problem either; performance feels native to what you'll experience in phone mode. Performance is surprisingly robust, even with multiple apps open. Still, the most impressive part? Apps don't just run in phone-sized windows — they often open in their tablet or foldable layouts, which fit naturally into a desktop setup. Chrome, Maps, Calendar, and even some non-Google apps looked and felt right at home in a PC environment. I instantly opened up a full landscape version of Lightroom (no extra download needed), giving me ample space to review my edits. Clearly, Google's push for multi-form factor app support is starting to pay off. However, older apps that haven't been optimized can still behave poorly, so your mileage may vary. That said, these remain mobile-first apps. Chrome doesn't magically offer extension support like the desktop version, which remains a severe limitation if you want to use this setup as a major productivity tool. Thankfully, that looks to be changing soon. To push things further, I opened several Chrome tabs, streamed 4K video, launched a few light apps, and even fired up a round of PUBG Mobile. The Pixel certainly warmed up, but no stutters or system slowdowns to speak of. Phones have been solid multitaskers for a while now — this just proves they're ready to go toe-to-toe with lightweight laptops. What's especially slick is that apps keep running on your phone once you unplug from the desktop. Chrome tabs, documents, and even games remain open and ready to resume where you left off. That said, I hit a few bugs: apps didn't always return to the external display correctly if I pulled them to the phone, game resolutions gitched if I pulled them to and from the phone, and the interface bugged out a few times when trying to use multiple desktops. It's good, but there's a reason its still in beta Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority Overall, I'm really impressed with Android 16's Desktop Mode. It's remarkably polished for a beta, but it's not quite ready for primetime. Connecting to an external display sometimes failed, I ran into UI-breaking bugs when switching desktops, and some older apps hijacked the whole screen with no way to exit them. A few expected PC conveniences are still missing as well. There's no mouse sensitivity control (which made scrolling some apps a chore), no dedicated task manager to kill misbehaving apps, and resizing windows causes the contents to completely disappear temporarily. Also, some Android features aren't supported yet — you can't interact with notifications or toggle Wi-Fi/Bluetooth without reaching for your phone. Desktop Mode isn't fully baked yet — but it's very, very close. Of course, Desktop Mode isn't the only way to interact with your phone via a PC. Windows now has a dedicated Phone Link panel, and brands like HONOR will even allow you to open apps on compatible laptops. But those are pretty limited: they mostly handle messaging, photo access, and notification forwarding. This will be plenty for most people who only need to sync the essentials, but Desktop Mode goes much further, offering a true laptop-like experience you can pocket. Despite my positive experience, I have reservations about the whole concept. Not everyone will have a USB-C dock handy, so connecting up essential peripherals and the like won't always be so easy. You'll also want a mouse and keyboard setup that supports quick connection swapping, which I have, but am very aware that not everyone will have at hand. In any case, Android 16's Desktop Mode already feels very capable, even if it's not perfect. I just hope we won't be waiting for Android 17 to see it launch fully. Either way, Android is edging closer to becoming a true desktop-class OS, and that's very exciting.
Miami Herald
31 minutes ago
- Miami Herald
Verizon announces wild new offer to win back angry customers
Over the past year, Verizon (VZ) has embarked on the shaky path of gradually hiking the prices of its services, which has frustrated some of its customers. In January last year, Verizon increased the monthly prices of its myPlan and New Verizon Plan wireless accounts due to "rising operational costs." Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter During an earnings call later that month, Verizon Consumer Group CEO Sowmyanarayan Sampath said customers "feel very comfortable" about the company's prices, since it was "delivering more value." Related: Verizon makes bold move to make it harder for customers to leave By March, Verizon also made the harsh decision to increase the price of its Verizon Mobile Protect Multi-Device plan and Verizon Mobile Secure Multi-Device plan by $8, which applied to wireless customers with four to 20 lines. Image source: Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images In response to these changes, customers took to social media to express outrage, with some even threatening to switch phone providers. In April, Verizon revealed in its first-quarter earnings report of 2025 that it faced a net loss of 289,000 total postpaid phone customers during the quarter. In a note to investors, analysts at New Street Research said the steep loss in customers matches Verizon's "worst result on record." Related: Verizon raises red flag about concerning customer behavior During an earnings call that month, Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg admitted that recent price increases contributed to the steep decrease in customers during the quarter. "We did have a slow start on postpaid phone net adds, largely driven by elevated churn due to recent price ups and pressure from federal government accounts," said Vestberg. Amid this alarming change in customer behavior, Verizon has decided to make a generous offer to attract and retain customers. The company has announced a new bundle in which new and existing customers with a myPlan mobile account can obtain a smartphone, tablet, and smartwatch when they trade in an eligible phone. The bundle specifically allows Apple users to receive an iPhone 16 Pro, iPad (A16), and Apple Watch Series 10. Google users can obtain a Google Pixel 9, Galaxy Tab A9+ 5G, and Pixel Watch 3. Also, Samsung users can get a Samsung Galaxy S25, Galaxy Tab A9+ 5G, and Galaxy Watch7. More Retail: Costco quietly plans to offer a convenient service for customersT-Mobile pulls the plug on generous offer, angering customersAT&T makes generous offer to older customers Customers should keep in mind that the phones they choose to trade in for the bundle must be from Apple, Google, Samsung, or Motorola. Apple users will receive a $1,000 trade-in credit for their new phone, which will be applied over 36 months. Google and Samsung users who trade in their phones will receive a $799 trade-in credit. When customers receive an Apple Watch or iPad, they can get up to $499.99 off via monthly credits when they add a new line to an eligible plan that starts at $20 per month with autopay. The same rule applies to customers receiving watches and tablets from Samsung or Google; however, they will receive up to $349.99 in monthly credits. In addition to Verizon's new tech bundle, it is offering customers Amazon gift cards if they switch to a Verizon Home Internet plan. If customers switch to a 5G Home Plus, LTE Home Plus, Fios 2 Gig, or 1 Gig (500 Mbps at non-Gig addresses) plan, they can receive a $200 Amazon gift card. Customers who switch to a 5G Home, LTE Home, Fios 300 Mbps, or Fios 500 Mbps plan can receive a $100 Amazon gift card. Related: AT&T makes generous offer to older customers The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Citi Reaffirms Buy on Broadcom (AVGO) Amid Surging AI Revenue
Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:AVGO) is one of the 10 best tech stocks to buy according to billionaires right now. On June 9, a Citi analyst raised his price target on Broadcom from $276 to $285 while maintaining a Buy rating. This revision follows Broadcom's second-quarter results, which showed continued strength in AI-related revenue, although overall performance was mixed, as per the analyst, due to some pressure on margins. Broadcom continues to benefit from growing demand in the artificial intelligence space, which remains a key driver of topline performance. The company reported Q2 FY 2025 revenue of $15.0 billion, up 20% year-over-year supported by strong AI semiconductor sales and contributions from VMware. Adjusted EBITDA rose 35% year-over-year to $10.0 billion, implying an EBITDA margin of 67%. A worker assembling the inner circuitry of a semiconductor product. AI-related revenue reached $4.4 billion in Q2, growing 46% year-over-year, driven primarily by demand for AI networking solutions. Management expects this momentum to carry into Q3, with AI semiconductor revenue projected to reach $5.1 billion. This growth is supported by continued investment by hyperscale customers. Looking ahead, Broadcom guided for Q3 FY25 revenue of approximately $15.8 billion and an adjusted EBITDA margin of at least 66% of revenue, which is slightly below versus Q2. However, the company's margin outlook raised some concerns. According to the analyst, an increased contribution of semiconductor sales in total sales has put pressure on profitability. In response, management has adjusted its guidance, which indicates a slightly lower margin in the near term. Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:AVGO) is a global technology company that designs, develops, and supplies a wide range of semiconductor and infrastructure software solutions. The company's products play a crucial role in enterprise and data center networking, broadband access, storage systems, smartphones, and wireless communications. Broadcom's extensive portfolio includes solutions for data center networking, storage, and security, making it a key player in the data center ecosystem. While we acknowledge the potential of AVGO as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: The Best and Worst Dow Stocks for the Next 12 Months and 10 Unstoppable Stocks That Could Double Your Money. Disclosure: None. Sign in to access your portfolio
