SoftBank Group and Nvidia are in advanced discussions to invest over $1 billion in Skild AI, a move that could value the robot AI company at $14 billion. Skild AI, founded in 2023 by former Meta AI researchers, develops universal AI software for robots, aiming to nearly triple its previous $4.7 billion valuation. SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son is heavily focused on AI and robotics, recently acquiring ABB Group's robotics business for $5.4 billion, and expects this deal to finalize before Christmas. Intel is experiencing a significant turnaround under CEO Lip-Bu Tan, who took over in March. The company reset its strategy to prioritize AI inference and streamlined operations. Intel secured substantial investments, including $8.9 billion from the U.S. government, $2 billion from SoftBank Group, and $5 billion from Nvidia. Intel and Nvidia are also partnering to create custom AI products for data centers and PCs. This new direction led to a profitable third quarter with $4.1 billion in net income, marking a 124% increase from the previous year's loss. Meta Platforms is adjusting its strategy, cutting metaverse budgets by up to 30% to focus on AI-powered glasses and other wearable technology. This shift comes as Meta's Reality Labs division has incurred losses exceeding $16 billion in 2024 due to slow metaverse adoption. CEO Mark Zuckerberg believes AI glasses offer a quicker path to profitability and user engagement, integrating features like real-time translation. Meta's Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses show promise, and the company plans significant AI infrastructure investments for 2025. In the AI software sector, Palantir and Innodata are poised for substantial growth, with projections to more than triple their revenues within the next five years. Palantir's platforms, Gotham and Foundry, assist government agencies and businesses in data analysis, growing revenue from $1.1 billion in 2020 to $2.9 billion in 2024. Innodata, specializing in preparing data for AI applications, saw its revenue increase from $58 million to $170 million in the same period. Both companies achieved profitability in 2024. Investors are closely monitoring upcoming earnings reports from Oracle and Broadcom, key players in the AI market. Oracle's shares have risen 30% this year, driven by its AI business and relationship with OpenAI, with its report expected to detail AI infrastructure spending. Broadcom, a crucial supplier for Google's AI hardware, has seen its shares jump 68% this year, reflecting high expectations for its financial outlook in the AI sector. AI security is also seeing significant investment. Lumia successfully raised $18 million in seed funding, led by Team8, to help large organizations manage autonomous AI agents safely. Separately, 7AI secured $130 million in a Series A funding round, led by Index Ventures, making it the largest cybersecurity Series A on record. 7AI creates dynamic security agents that automatically respond to and investigate threats, having processed over 2.5 million alerts and completed more than 650,000 investigations for major clients. The AI model Grok 4.2 recently won the Alpha Arena trading tournament hosted by nof1 laboratory, achieving an impressive 12% return over two weeks. It outperformed GPT 5.1, which secured second place, and Gemini 3, which came in third. As of December 8, Grok 4.2 remains the only model from the competition still showing a profit. The global AI training chip market is also set for major growth between 2025 and 2032, with NVIDIA releasing an upgraded AI accelerator, Intel expanding its Gaudi-based cloud clusters, and Google Cloud deploying its TPU v6 architecture. Beyond core tech, Ulta Beauty reported strong third-quarter results, attributing significant growth to its digital and AI investments. The company saw rising digital engagement, mid-teen eCommerce growth, and a 4% increase in loyalty members to 46.3 million. Ulta's success stems from AI-driven personalization, social media discovery, and improved app features, with a virtual beauty adviser proof-of-concept showing strong early results.
Key Takeaways
- SoftBank Group and Nvidia are discussing an investment of over $1 billion in Skild AI, potentially valuing the robot AI company at $14 billion.
- Skild AI, founded in 2023 by former Meta AI researchers, develops universal AI software for robots.
- Intel, under CEO Lip-Bu Tan, secured $8.9 billion from the U.S. government, $2 billion from SoftBank, and $5 billion from Nvidia, achieving a $4.1 billion net income in Q3.
- Intel and Nvidia are partnering to create custom AI products for data centers and PCs.
- Meta Platforms is shifting focus from the metaverse, cutting budgets by up to 30%, to prioritize AI-powered smart glasses, after Reality Labs lost over $16 billion in 2024.
- Palantir and Innodata, AI software companies, are projected to more than triple their revenues within five years, both becoming profitable in 2024.
- Oracle's shares rose 30% this year due to its AI business and relationship with OpenAI; Broadcom's shares jumped 68% as a key part of Google's AI hardware.
- AI security companies Lumia and 7AI raised significant funding: Lumia secured $18 million in seed funding, and 7AI raised $130 million in a Series A round.
- Grok 4.2 won the Alpha Arena trading competition with a 12% return, outperforming GPT 5.1 and Gemini 3.
- The global AI training chip market is growing, with Nvidia releasing an upgraded AI accelerator, Intel expanding Gaudi-based cloud clusters, and Google Cloud deploying TPU v6 architecture.
SoftBank and Nvidia Eye $14 Billion Skild AI Investment
SoftBank Group and Nvidia are discussing a major investment in Skild AI. They plan to invest over $1 billion, which could value the robot AI company at $14 billion. Skild AI, founded in 2019, develops advanced AI models that help robots perform complex tasks in industries like manufacturing and healthcare. This potential funding would nearly triple Skild AI's previous $4.7 billion valuation from an earlier Series B round. The funding round is expected to close in the coming months.
SoftBank and Nvidia Consider $14 Billion Skild AI Deal
SoftBank Group and Nvidia are in advanced talks to invest over $1 billion in Skild AI, potentially valuing the company at $14 billion. Skild AI, founded in 2023 by former Meta AI researchers, creates universal AI software to power various robots. This new investment would significantly increase its valuation from $4.7 billion earlier this year. SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son is focusing heavily on AI and robotics, including a recent $5.4 billion acquisition of ABB Group's robotics business. The deal is expected to finalize before Christmas, showing strong investor interest in robotics intelligence.
SoftBank and Nvidia Plan $14 Billion Skild AI Investment
SoftBank Group and Nvidia are discussing a funding round of over $1 billion for Skild AI, which could value the company at $14 billion. Skild AI, founded in 2023 by former Meta AI researchers, develops universal AI software to serve as the brain for robots. This investment would nearly triple Skild AI's previous $4.7 billion valuation from its Series B round. SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son sees robotics as a key part of his company's future, recently acquiring ABB Group's robotics business for $5.4 billion. The deal is expected to close before Christmas.
Intel Rebounds with New AI Strategy and Key Partnerships
Intel is making a strong comeback under CEO Lip-Bu Tan, who took over in March. The company reset its strategy, focusing on AI inference and streamlining its operations. Intel secured significant investments, including $8.9 billion from the U.S. government, $2 billion from SoftBank Group, and $5 billion from Nvidia. Intel and Nvidia are also partnering to create custom AI products for data centers and PCs. This new direction led to a profitable third quarter with $4.1 billion in net income, and its stock price has risen significantly.
Intel's AI Strategy Drives Strong Financial Turnaround
Intel is experiencing a significant turnaround since Lip-Bu Tan became CEO in March, driven by a new focus on artificial intelligence. The company streamlined its management and prioritized AI inference solutions. Intel secured major investments, including $8.9 billion from the U.S. government, $2 billion from SoftBank Group, and $5 billion from Nvidia, with whom it also plans to develop custom AI products. These strategic changes helped Intel achieve a $4.1 billion net income in the third quarter, a 124% increase from the previous year's loss. While Intel shows promise as an AI investment, its stock valuation has become very high.
Meta Shifts Focus from Metaverse to AI Smart Glasses
Meta Platforms is changing its strategy, cutting metaverse budgets by up to 30% to focus on AI-powered glasses and other wearable tech. This shift comes as Meta's Reality Labs division has lost billions, including over $16 billion in 2024, and metaverse adoption has been slow. CEO Mark Zuckerberg believes AI glasses offer a faster path to profit and user engagement, integrating features like real-time translation. Meta's Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, developed with EssilorLuxottica, show promise, and the company plans significant AI infrastructure investments for 2025.
Palantir and Innodata AI Software Poised for Huge Growth
Palantir and Innodata, two AI software companies, are expected to more than triple their revenues within the next five years. Palantir's platforms, Gotham and Foundry, help government agencies and businesses analyze data and make smart decisions. Its revenue grew from $1.1 billion in 2020 to $2.9 billion in 2024. Innodata specializes in preparing large amounts of data for AI applications, with revenue increasing from $58 million to $170 million in the same period. Both companies became profitable in 2024, showing strong potential in the growing AI market.
Oracle and Broadcom AI Earnings Reports Anticipated
Investors are closely watching the upcoming earnings reports from Oracle and Broadcom, both major players in the AI sector. Oracle's shares have risen 30% this year due to its AI business, and its report will focus on its relationship with OpenAI and AI infrastructure spending. Broadcom, a key part of Google's AI hardware, has seen its shares jump 68% this year. Both companies are expected to show significant activity in the AI market, with high expectations for their financial outlook.
Grok 4.2 AI Model Wins Alpha Arena Trading Competition
The AI model Grok 4.2 has won the latest Alpha Arena trading tournament hosted by nof1 laboratory. Over two weeks, Grok 4.2 achieved an impressive 12% return, performing well across all four trading categories. GPT 5.1 secured second place, followed by Gemini 3 in third. As of December 8, Grok 4.2 is the only model still showing a profit from the competition. This victory highlights its strong performance compared to other leading AI models in various trading conditions.
Lumia Raises $18 Million for AI Security Platform
AI security company Lumia has successfully raised $18 million in a seed funding round led by Team8, with New Era also participating. Lumia's platform helps large organizations safely manage the rapid use of autonomous AI agents in their daily work. The company plans to use the funds to boost its engineering and research, integrate with major AI systems, and expand partnerships. Admiral Michael Rogers, former Director of the NSA, has joined Lumia's advisory board, emphasizing the urgent need for clear guidelines as AI systems become more common.
Global AI Training Chip Market Shows Strong Growth and Innovation
The global AI training chip market is set for major growth between 2025 and 2032, driven by continuous innovation and strategic investments. In November 2025, NVIDIA released an upgraded AI accelerator, Intel expanded its Gaudi-based cloud clusters, and Google Cloud deployed its TPU v6 architecture. Other key players like Sony Semiconductor, Fujitsu, and NEC are also making advancements in Japan. Recent acquisitions include Nvidia investing $2 billion in Synopsys and SoftBank acquiring Ampere for $6.5 billion, highlighting intense activity in the sector.
7AI Secures $130 Million for Enterprise AI Security Expansion
AI security specialist 7AI has raised $130 million in a Series A funding round, making it the largest cybersecurity Series A on record. Index Ventures led the round, with Blackstone Innovations Investments joining other existing backers. 7AI creates dynamic security agents that automatically respond to and investigate threats, replacing slower manual processes. The company will use this new capital to expand its AI security engineering and strengthen its market strategy. In just ten months, 7AI's agents have processed over 2.5 million alerts and completed more than 650,000 investigations for major clients like DXC Technology.
Ulta Beauty Boosts Sales with Digital and AI Innovations
Ulta Beauty reported strong third-quarter results, showing significant growth driven by its digital and AI investments. The company saw rising digital engagement, mid-teen eCommerce growth, and a 4% increase in loyalty members to 46.3 million. Ulta's success comes from AI-driven personalization, social media discovery, and improved app features like Replenish and Save. A virtual beauty adviser proof-of-concept also showed strong early results, helping customers with various inquiries. These strategic investments are supporting Ulta's long-term revenue and market share growth.
Sources
- Exclusive-SoftBank, Nvidia looking to invest in Skild AI at $14 billion valuation, sources say
- SoftBank, Nvidia Weigh Over $1B Skild AI Investment At $14B Valuation: Report
- Exclusive: SoftBank, Nvidia looking to invest in Skild AI at $14 billion valuation, sources say
- Should Investors Give Intel Stock Another Look After Its AI Strategy Reset?
- Should Investors Give Intel Stock Another Look After Its AI Strategy Reset?
- Meta Slashes Metaverse Budgets by 30% to Prioritize AI Glasses
- Generative AI Upside: 2 Software Stocks Could Triple Revenue in 5 Years
- What to watch out for from 'the AI Oracle' this week
- AI Model Grok 4.2 Triumphs in Trading Tournament
- AI security platform Lumia secures $18m seed round
- United States Artifican Intelligence (AI) Training Chip Market 2025: Accelerators, GPUs & Next-Gen Architecture Insights, Key Developments, Market Drivers, Future Growth, Investment
- 7AI raises $130m to expand enterprise AI security
- Ulta’s Digital and AI Investments Drive Growth in Beauty Sales
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