AI news and funding updates from the last 24 hours(24th April 2025):

✅ OpenAI

- gpt-image-1 Multimodal Model: Now available via API for text-to-image generation, detailed editing, and style rendering.

- Adoption: Companies like Adobe, Figma, Airtable integrating the API into creative and marketing workflows.

- Global Availability: Safety features in place; token-based pricing applies.

- OpenAI “Open” Model: Plans to release first permissively-licensed reasoning model since GPT-2 in early summer; targets top open-model benchmarks; model card and safety testing pending.

- Windsurf: AI coding assistant slashes prices and simplifies billing; deepening collaboration with OpenAI; potential price-war with Cursor amid acquisition rumors.

✅ Microsoft

- Copilot 365 Updates:

- AI-powered unified search pulling from third-party sources (e.g., Google Drive, Slack).

- “Create” feature leveraging GPT-4o for in-app image generation.

- New Agent Store for partner integrations; built-in Researcher and Analyst agents.

- Copilot Notebooks for real-time insights across data streams; chat-first interface.

✅ Databricks

- $250 Million India Investment: Over three years, focusing on AI and data innovation.

- Local Expansion: Bengaluru R&D center to grow workforce by 50%+.

- India Data + AI Academy: Training 500,000 professionals in data and AI skills.

✅ Persistent Systems

- Q4 FY25 Results:

- Revenue: ₹3,242 crore (up 25% YoY)

- Net profit: ₹395.76 crore (up 25% YoY)

- 20th consecutive quarter of revenue growth; driven by AI-led deals.

- Path to $2 billion annual revenue by FY27.

✅ Perplexity

- New iOS Voice Assistant:

- Features web browsing and multi-app actions (e.g., reservations, emails).

- Activated via iPhone Action Button on supported models.

- Positions itself against Siri; Android version already available.

✅ Accenture

- TalentSprint Acquisition:

- Deep-tech education provider from NSE Academy joins Accenture LearnVantage.

- ~210 TalentSprint employees (including leadership) transition over.

- Bolsters AI, data science, cybersecurity training; part of $1 billion LearnVantage investment.

✅ Vodafone Idea & Cisco

- Network Partnership:

- Deploying Cisco IP/MPLS for upgraded 4G/5G transport network.

- Focus on scalability, reliability, automation.

- Aims for higher speeds, stability, secure enterprise connectivity.

✅ Adobe

- Image Model 4, Vector Model, and video model now generally available.

- New Firefly web app unifies multiple AI generators (Adobe, OpenAI, Google, Flux).

- Introduced Firefly Boards ideation tool; APIs in GA/beta.

- Adobe Content Credentials Tool: Web tool lets creators embed C2PA-standard metadata (creator identity, usage preferences) in images—even non-Adobe files.

✅ Hugging Face

- Hugging Face Energy Estimator: Julien Delavande’s Chat UI-integrated tool estimates AI model energy use per message, analogizing to household appliances.

✅ Dropbox

- Dropbox Dash: Major AI search overhaul—“understanding” across audio/video/images/people; new AI writing tools; deep integrations (Slack, Zoom, Figma); enterprise admin controls for sensitive docs.

✅ Anthropic

- Anthropic “Model Welfare”: Research program exploring potential AI consciousness and moral considerations, despite scientific disputes over machine “experience.”

✅ Engie

- CEO Catherine MacGregor urges resilient electrification and data-centre AI build-out against US tariff risks, with renewable-powered projects.

✅ Pony.ai

- China-based robotaxi firm warns US trade tariffs may slow its global expansion (South Korea, Middle East), though supply chain impact is limited; ramping up China production and Nasdaq listing.

✅ Other News

- DeepSeek Data-Transfer Ruling: South Korea’s PIPC found the Chinese AI startup transferred user prompts abroad without consent; corrective measures and consent framework now mandated.