Arm launches chip manufacturing as Meta partners OpenAI

Key Takeaways

• Arm is shifting its business model to manufacture AI chips, directly competing with Nvidia, and partnering with Meta and OpenAI.
• Alphabet (Google) was a top performer in Q4 2025, driven by its advancements in AI and cloud computing.
• Salesforce remains a critical enterprise platform, though AI-related concerns were noted by investors.
• BrainGrid raised $1 million in pre-seed funding to develop an AI product planner for non-technical founders, addressing the shift from coding to planning as the main software development bottleneck.
• BlackRock CEO Larry Fink warned that AI could exacerbate wealth inequality by concentrating wealth among asset owners.
• Periodic Labs, an AI research startup with former OpenAI and DeepMind employees, is seeking a $7 billion valuation and has customers in the semiconductor industry.
• Air Street Capital launched a new $232 million fund for AI investments, planning to invest between $500,000 and $15 million per company.
• The RealReal is using AI for authentication, pricing, and logistics to drive growth in the luxury resale market.
• IDT International plans to increase investment in AI, IoT, and cloud technologies to boost competitiveness in the Greater China market, following an expected profit drop in 2025.
• AI-powered legal support startup Soxton acquired AI security firm Cipher, integrating advanced AI security governance and saving approximately $80,000 in legal fees through its own platform.

Arm shifts strategy to manufacture AI chips

Arm, known for designing chip architecture, is now entering chip manufacturing to directly compete in the AI market. This move aims to capture more value from the AI boom, as chip manufacturers like Nvidia have seen massive growth. Arm plans to produce its own silicon, partnering with Meta and OpenAI. This significant shift from its traditional royalty model carries risks, including potential friction with existing customers who are also chipmakers. However, Arm is targeting substantial revenue and earnings growth by 2031.

Arm enters chip manufacturing to compete in AI market

Arm Holdings is changing its long-standing business model by entering chip manufacturing, a significant departure from its previous focus on design and licensing. This strategic move targets the lucrative artificial intelligence chip market, currently dominated by Nvidia. While this venture carries risks, such as potentially alienating existing customers, Arm aims to gain more control over production and capture a larger share of the value chain. The company's energy-efficient designs have been vital for mobile devices, and its architecture is increasingly used for AI accelerators.

Arm's AI chip manufacturing venture could reshape industry

Arm Holdings is making a major strategic shift by entering the chip manufacturing business, moving away from its traditional model of designing and licensing chip architecture. This bold move is aimed at directly competing in the artificial intelligence infrastructure market, a sector experiencing rapid growth. By manufacturing its own silicon, with partners like Meta and OpenAI, Arm seeks to capture a larger share of the significant spending in this area. This transition presents considerable risks, including potential conflicts with its existing chipmaker customers, but signals a more aggressive approach for the company.

Salesforce remains key enterprise platform despite AI concerns

Montaka Global Investments noted in its Q4 2025 investor letter that while global equity markets saw strong performance driven by AI and tech stocks, their fund did not fully benefit. The letter highlighted concerns regarding Salesforce (CRM) due to AI, yet acknowledged its continued importance as a mission-critical platform for businesses. The overall market in 2025 was significantly influenced by artificial intelligence advancements and a select group of high-performing technology companies.

Alphabet leads Renaissance Investment growth on AI and cloud

Alphabet (GOOGL) was the top contributor to Renaissance Investment Management's Large Cap Growth Strategy in Q4 2025, despite the strategy underperforming market indexes. The investment firm cited Alphabet's strong performance in artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing as the primary drivers for its success. The company's advancements in AI and the expansion of its Google Cloud services were key factors in its stock outperformance during the quarter.

BrainGrid secures $1M for AI product planner for non-tech founders

BrainGrid has raised $1 million in pre-seed funding led by Menlo Ventures to develop an AI product planner for non-technical founders. The platform addresses the new bottleneck in software development, which has shifted from coding to planning as AI tools simplify code generation. BrainGrid aims to provide a structured planning layer, enabling individuals without technical backgrounds to build revenue-generating products. The company has already assisted over 500 builders in launching AI-native SaaS products.

BrainGrid raises $1M for AI product planning tool

BrainGrid, an AI product planning platform for non-technical founders, has secured $1 million in pre-seed funding led by Menlo Ventures. The company focuses on the shift in software development where planning, not coding, is now the main challenge due to AI coding tools. BrainGrid provides a structured planning layer to help users create reliable software products. The platform has already supported over 500 builders in launching AI-native SaaS products with paying customers.

AI could worsen wealth inequality, BlackRock CEO warns

BlackRock CEO Larry Fink's annual letter highlights concerns that artificial intelligence (AI) could significantly worsen wealth inequality. He notes that asset owners have gained wealth much faster than income earners, and AI risks concentrating wealth further among those who own key AI assets. Fink suggests increasing investment participation as a solution, advocating for easier access to assets like stocks. However, the article questions whether AI's path to dominance will be smooth, referencing research suggesting investment booms can precede recessions.

AI startup Periodic Labs seeks $7B valuation

Periodic Labs, an artificial intelligence research startup founded by former OpenAI and DeepMind employees, is in talks to raise at least hundreds of millions of dollars at a valuation of around $7 billion. The company, which currently has about 40 employees, is among several new startups attracting significant investment for their 'neolab' approach, combining research with commercial goals. Periodic Labs has already secured customers in the semiconductor industry for its research and development services and is generating revenue.

The RealReal uses AI to boost luxury resale growth

The RealReal's Chief Financial Officer Ajay Gopal highlighted the company's strategy for growth in the luxury resale market, focusing on acquiring more supply and leveraging artificial intelligence (AI). Gopal emphasized that increasing high-quality inventory is key to boosting Gross Merchandise Value (GMV). AI is being implemented across operations like authentication, pricing, and logistics to improve efficiency and customer experience. The company is seeing accelerating GMV driven by both increased supply and strong demand for sustainable, authenticated luxury goods.

Top AI trading platforms for CS2 skins in 2026

The Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) skin economy has evolved into a major digital asset market where speed is crucial. In 2026, AI-driven trading bots are essential for navigating this market efficiently. SkinsMonkey is highlighted as the industry leader, offering average trade speeds of 8.2 seconds and a 35% deposit bonus that offsets market spreads. The platform uses advanced algorithms for pricing and security to prevent scams. Other platforms like CS.Money, Tradeit.gg, Skinport, and DMarket cater to specific needs but may have trade-offs in speed or cost.

Air Street Capital raises $232M for AI investments

Air Street Capital has launched a new $232 million fund dedicated to artificial intelligence investments, making it one of Europe's largest solo venture capital funds. The firm plans to invest between $500,000 and $15 million per company, with potential growth-stage commitments up to $25 million. Air Street Capital's previous investments include AI companies like Black Forest Labs and ElevenLabs, and it has seen successful exits from Adept and Graphcore. The new fund brings the firm's total assets under management to $400 million.

IDT International profits drop, boosts AI investment

IDT International expects its profit for the year ending December 31, 2025, to decrease significantly due to weaker product sales in mainland China. The company anticipates profits between HK$62 million and HK$76 million, down from HK$114.6 million the previous year. To regain competitiveness, IDT International plans to increase investment in AI, IoT, and cloud technologies to enhance its product ecosystem, particularly in the Greater China market.

Soxton acquires AI security firm Cipher to enhance legal platform

AI-powered legal support startup Soxton has acquired AI security firm Cipher, integrating Cipher's advanced AI security governance capabilities into its platform. This move aims to strengthen the security of Soxton's AI-driven legal infrastructure, which serves startups with workflows like incorporation and compliance. Soxton claims the acquisition, managed through its own platform, saved approximately $80,000 in legal fees. Cipher's team will join Soxton, bolstering its security offerings for innovative but vulnerable early-stage companies.

Sources

• Arm's chip gamble could redraw the AI hardware landscape
• Arm's chip gamble could redraw the AI hardware landscape
• Arm's chip gamble could redraw the AI hardware landscape
• Salesforce (CRM) Declined on AI Concerns but Remains a Mission-Critical Enterprise Platform
• Why Alphabet (GOOGL) became the largest contributor to Renaissance Investment on strong AI and cloud growth
• BrainGrid Raises $1M Pre-Seed Led by Menlo Ventures to Build the AI Product Planner for Non-Technical Founders
• BrainGrid: $1 Million Raised For AI Product Planning Platform For Non-Technical Founders
• AI Might Destroy Wealth Before It Creates More
• AI Science Startup Periodic Labs Is in Deal Talks at About $7 Billion Valuation
• The RealReal CFO Touts Supply-Led Growth, AI Efficiencies as GMV Accelerates at Conference
• Recommended CS2 Skin Trading Websites 2026: Top AI-Driven Platforms for Instant Swaps - The Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) skin economy has evolved into a multi-billion-dollar digital asset class where timing is everything. by SM
• Air Street Capital Launches $232M AI Investment Fund
• IDT International flags profit drop on weaker China sales, accelerates AI push
• AI-powered legal support start-up Soxton acquires AI security firm Cipher