Herd Security, a San Francisco-based startup founded in 2025, has raised $3 million in a funding round led by Aspiron Ventures. The company offers an agentic AI platform that replaces traditional annual compliance training with dynamic, interactive microlessons delivered through tools like Slack and Microsoft Teams. The funds will be used to expand product development and grow partnerships.
Arm Holdings, the UK chip designer backed by SoftBank, expects $2 billion in sales of its first in-house AI chip starting next year. The chip is designed for AI, machine learning, and the Internet of Things, with applications in autonomous vehicles, smart homes, and industrial automation. Arm also forecast first-quarter revenue of $1.26 billion, slightly above Wall Street estimates, driven by strong demand for AI computing in cloud data centers.
South Korea leads the world in AI capital spending, with over a quarter of all capital spending by public companies coming from AI firms in 2024, according to the Bank for International Settlements. This surpasses the US at 23 percent and far exceeds Japan, Israel, and China. The country is home to memory chip giants SK Hynix and Samsung, which are central to its AI strategy.
Global corporate investment in AI reached $218 billion in 2024, a 22 percent increase from the previous year. Major tech firms like Alphabet, Meta, Microsoft, and Amazon are spending heavily on AI infrastructure. OpenAI's valuation surged from $20 billion in 2022 to $500 billion in 2025. Energy consumption for data centers is expected to reach 945 terawatt hours by 2030, creating new challenges and opportunities.
Microsoft is making strong progress in AI despite a rough start to 2026 due to declining PC sales and increased cloud competition. The company uses AI in customer service chatbots, medical research, and its Azure cloud platform, and is also investing in quantum computing. Some analysts predict Microsoft's stock could increase by up to 20 percent in the next year.
AI evaluation startup Braintrust confirmed unauthorized access in one of its Amazon Web Services cloud accounts, exposing customer API keys used to access cloud-based AI models. The company urged all customers to rotate and replace their keys, acting out of an abundance of caution, though it found no evidence of a broader breach.
AI insurance startup Corgi raised $160 million in funding led by TCV, achieving a $1.3 billion valuation. The company uses AI to generate insurance quotes, evaluate workflows, and manage claims, and has annualized revenue of about $100 million from thousands of startup customers. Corgi also launched a new service for long-haul truckers.
China blocked Meta's $2 billion acquisition of AI startup Manus, citing concerns over foreign influence on critical AI technologies. Manus, founded in 2022, developed autonomous AI agents that perform tasks for users and had moved its headquarters to Singapore to access global markets. The block signals China's determination to keep advanced AI technologies within its borders.
Key Takeaways
- Herd Security raised $3 million led by Aspiron Ventures for its AI cybersecurity training platform that delivers microlessons via Slack and Teams.
- Arm expects $2 billion in sales of its first in-house AI chip next year, targeting AI, machine learning, and IoT applications.
- Arm forecast Q1 revenue of $1.26 billion, slightly above estimates, driven by AI data center demand.
- South Korea leads the world in AI capital spending, with over 25% of corporate capex from AI firms in 2024.
- Global AI investment reached $218 billion in 2024, a 22% increase from the previous year.
- Microsoft is investing in AI for chatbots, medical research, and Azure, with analysts predicting up to 20% stock growth.
- AI startup Braintrust confirmed a breach in its AWS account, exposing customer API keys, and urged key rotation.
- AI insurance startup Corgi raised $160 million at a $1.3 billion valuation, with $100 million in annualized revenue.
- China blocked Meta's $2 billion acquisition of AI startup Manus over concerns about foreign influence on critical AI technologies.
- Energy consumption for data centers is expected to reach 945 terawatt hours by 2030, driven by AI demand.
Herd Security raises $3 million for AI cybersecurity training
Herd Security, an AI platform for security training, raised $3 million in funding. The round was led by Aspiron Ventures with support from other investors. The company will use the money to expand product development and grow partnerships. Herd Security replaces old annual compliance training with dynamic lessons delivered through tools like Slack and Teams. The platform helps organizations keep up with fast-changing cyber threats.
Herd Security raises $3 million for AI training platform
Herd Security announced a $3 million funding round led by Aspiron Ventures. Other investors include ForwardSlash VC, Forum Ventures, Rightside Capital, Team Ignite, and YPO. The San Francisco company was founded in 2025 and offers an AI platform for security training. The platform creates interactive microlessons delivered through Slack, Teams, and learning management systems. Herd Security will use the funds to expand training categories and grow its partnership network.
Security training startup Herd Security raises $3 million
Herd Security, a security training startup founded in 2025, raised $3 million to expand its AI capabilities. The company offers an agentic AI platform for continuous security awareness training and simulation. It replaces static annual compliance programs with short training modules generated from customer policies and threat data. The training is delivered through Slack, Microsoft Teams, and learning management systems. The funding round was led by Aspiron Ventures with participation from Team Ignite, ForwardSlash VC, Forum Ventures, Rightside Capital, and YPO.
Arm projects $2 billion in AI chip sales next year
Arm, the UK technology group backed by SoftBank, expects $2 billion in sales of its new AI chip starting next year. This is a major milestone for the company's first in-house semiconductor. The chip is designed for AI, machine learning, and the Internet of Things. CEO Rene Haas said the chip's success shows the company's ability to innovate. The chip will be used in autonomous vehicles, smart homes, and industrial automation.
Arm forecasts strong revenue on AI data center demand
Arm Holdings forecast first-quarter revenue above Wall Street expectations. The company expects quarterly revenue of $1.26 billion, slightly above estimates of $1.25 billion. Arm makes money by licensing its technology to companies like Nvidia and Apple. The upbeat forecast shows strong demand for AI computing in areas like cloud computing, autonomous vehicles, and smart homes.
South Korea leads in AI capital spending globally
South Korea has the highest share of capital spending from AI companies among 32 major economies, according to a Bank for International Settlements analysis. In 2024, over a quarter of all capital spending by public companies in South Korea came from AI firms. This was ahead of the US at 23 percent and far above Japan, Israel, and China. South Korea is home to leading hardware companies like SK Hynix and Samsung, which dominate the global memory chip market. The country is investing heavily in AI as part of its economic strategy.
AI is driving a new data revolution in the economy
Economists traditionally recognize three factors of production: land, labor, and capital. Now data is becoming a fourth factor, and AI makes it more valuable by processing large amounts quickly. The share of capital spending in high-tech has grown from 20 percent to a record 55 percent since the 1960s. AI increases demand for computing power and memory storage. The article suggests this trend will continue to boost the economy and stock market.
Microsoft AI efforts could drive a stock comeback this year
Microsoft has had a rough start in 2026 due to declining PC sales and increased cloud competition. However, the company is making strong progress in artificial intelligence. Microsoft uses AI in customer service chatbots, medical research, and its Azure cloud platform. The company is also investing in quantum computing. Some analysts predict Microsoft's stock could increase by up to 20 percent in the next year.
AI startup Braintrust confirms breach and urges key rotation
AI evaluation startup Braintrust confirmed unauthorized access in one of its Amazon Web Services cloud accounts. The breach exposed API keys used by customers to access cloud-based AI models. The company sent an email asking every customer to rotate and replace their API keys. A spokesperson said the company acted out of an abundance of caution and found no evidence of a broader breach.
AI insurance startup Corgi becomes a unicorn with $160 million
Corgi, an AI insurance startup based in San Francisco, raised $160 million in funding led by TCV. The company is now valued at $1.3 billion. Corgi uses AI to generate insurance quotes, evaluate workflows, and manage claims. The company has annualized revenue of about $100 million from thousands of startup customers. Corgi also launched a new service for long-haul truckers. The company is known for its quirky culture, including an all-night cafe and a company-owned corgi named Trudy.
China blocks Meta acquisition of AI startup Manus
China's government blocked Meta's $2 billion acquisition of AI startup Manus. The deal was announced four months prior but was halted by Chinese regulators citing concerns over foreign influence on critical AI technologies. Manus, founded in 2022, developed autonomous AI agents that perform tasks for users. The startup had moved its headquarters to Singapore to access global markets. The block signals China's determination to keep advanced AI technologies within its borders.
Global AI investment reaches $218 billion in 2024
Global corporate investment in artificial intelligence reached $218 billion in 2024, a 22 percent increase from the previous year. Pharmaceutical companies are using AI to speed up drug discovery, and automotive manufacturers are shifting to software-defined vehicles. OpenAI's valuation grew from $20 billion in 2022 to $500 billion in 2025. Major tech firms like Alphabet, Meta, Microsoft, and Amazon are spending heavily on AI infrastructure. Energy consumption for data centers is expected to reach 945 terawatt hours by 2030, creating new challenges and opportunities.
Sources
- Herd Security: $3 Million Raised For AI-Powered Cybersecurity Training Platform
- Herd Security Raises $3 Million for AI-Powered Training Platform
- Security training startup Herd Security raises $3M to expand AI capabilities
- Arm projects $2bn in sales of its new AI chip from next year
- Arm forecasts upbeat revenue on surging AI data center demand
- South Korea punches above its weight in AI
- Artificial Intelligence: To Infinity & Beyond!
- 1 No-Brainer Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock That Could Make a Monster Comeback This Year
- AI evaluation startup Braintrust confirms breach, tells every customer to rotate sensitive keys
- This AI Insurance Company With An All-Night Cafe And Cheeky Corgi Is Now A Unicorn
- China Blocks Meta's Acquisition of AI Startup Manus
- AI Investment Surge Accelerates Global Competition as Corporate Spending Reaches $218 Billion, Driven by Pharmaceutical and Automotive Digital Transformation
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