OpenAI Researchers Form Humans& While Google Integrates Gemini

AI startup Humans& recently secured a substantial $480 million in seed funding on January 20, 2026, valuing the company at $4.48 billion. This new venture, founded by former researchers from OpenAI, Alphabet, and xAI, aims to develop "human-centric" AI tools for communication and collaboration. Notable investors in this round include Nvidia, Jeff Bezos, and Alphabet's Lightspeed Venture Partners, alongside Ron Conway's SV Angel. CEO Eric Zelikman anticipates a product launch early this year, building on the expertise of a team that includes Georges Harik, Google's seventh employee.

The broader AI market continues its robust expansion, with Gartner predicting global AI spending will exceed $2 trillion in 2026, marking a 37% increase. Goldman Sachs forecasts capital spending on AI infrastructure will reach $527 billion in 2026, driven by significant buildouts from companies like Amazon and Microsoft. This growth creates substantial opportunities for chipmakers such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSMC), which saw its fourth-quarter revenue jump 25% due to advanced AI chips. Apple is also poised for growth, planning to integrate Google Gemini for new AI features across its devices and securing TSMC production capacity for upcoming iPhone chips.

Beyond foundational models, AI is seeing diverse applications and investments. DealHub.io raised $100 million to streamline sales processes with AI, while Ethernovia secured $90 million for "Physical AI" processors, expanding from automotive to robotics and industrial automation. Nio, the EV manufacturer, is significantly increasing its AI investment, forming a new AGI committee to enhance smart-driving technologies. In the SaaS sector, companies like Paycom, with its Beti product and mid-2025 AI tool "IWant," and UiPath, combining robotic process automation with AI, demonstrate strong performance despite initial market jitters caused by new AI features like Anthropic's Cowork.

Investors are keenly watching the AI sector, with the global AI market expected to surpass $3 trillion by 2033. DigitalOcean Holdings, for instance, is noted for its strong AI infrastructure growth and attractive valuation, offering easy-to-use solutions for startups. However, not all AI investments have been successful; Pagaya's AI-powered SmartResi real estate fund has incurred nearly $300 million in losses, dropping almost 40% since its inception. Meanwhile, Super Micro Computer, a server manufacturer, is considered an underrated AI investment, trading at a low 0.5 times forward sales as it works to improve gross margins.

Key Takeaways

  • Humans&, an AI startup founded by former researchers from OpenAI, Alphabet, and xAI, raised $480 million in seed funding on January 20, 2026, valuing it at $4.48 billion.
  • Nvidia, Jeff Bezos, and Alphabet's Lightspeed Venture Partners are among the investors in Humans&, which focuses on human-centric AI for collaboration.
  • Gartner predicts global AI spending will exceed $2 trillion in 2026, a 37% increase, while Goldman Sachs forecasts $527 billion in capital spending for AI infrastructure in 2026.
  • The global AI market is expected to surpass $1 trillion by 2030 and over $3 trillion by 2033, driven by investments and infrastructure buildouts by companies like Amazon and Microsoft.
  • Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSMC) saw a 25% jump in Q4 revenue due to advanced AI chips and expects over 50% annual growth in AI chip revenue until 2029.
  • Apple plans to integrate Google Gemini for new AI features across its devices and has secured significant production capacity from TSMC for upcoming iPhone chips.
  • DealHub.io secured $100 million to use AI for streamlining sales processes, and Ethernovia raised $90 million for "Physical AI" processors for automotive, robotics, and industrial automation.
  • Nio is significantly increasing its AI investment, forming a new AGI committee to expand smart-driving technologies after its ES8 electric SUV reached 50,000 deliveries.
  • SaaS companies like Paycom (with its Beti product and "IWant" AI tool) and UiPath (combining robotic process automation with AI) show strong performance despite market concerns from new AI features like Anthropic's Cowork.
  • Pagaya's AI-powered SmartResi real estate fund has caused nearly $300 million in losses, dropping almost 40% since inception, while DigitalOcean Holdings shows strong AI infrastructure growth.

Humans& AI Startup Raises $480 Million Seed Funding

Humans&, a new AI startup, secured a large $480 million seed funding round on January 20, 2026. This company focuses on "human-centric" AI, aiming to help people work together using smart software. Its team includes experts from top AI labs like Anthropic, xAI, Google, and OpenAI. Humans& plans to develop AI that can learn new ways to interact, such as chatbots remembering user information. The startup wants to improve how AI models are trained and how people use AI for better collaboration.

Humans& AI Startup Valued at $4.5 Billion After Seed Round

AI startup Humans& raised $480 million in a seed funding round, valuing the company at $4.48 billion. Former researchers from OpenAI, Alphabet, and xAI founded Humans&. Ron Conway's SV Angel and co-founder Georges Harik led the investment, with Nvidia, Jeff Bezos, and Alphabet's Lightspeed Venture Partners also joining. The company plans to use the money to develop its AI model and hire more researchers. Humans& aims to create AI that can understand and interact with the world in a more human-like way.

Humans& AI Secures $480 Million Investment for Human-Centric Tools

On January 20, AI startup Humans& announced it raised $480 million in a seed funding round, valuing the company at $4.48 billion. The company, founded by former researchers from OpenAI, Alphabet, and xAI, focuses on creating human-centric AI tools for communication and collaboration. Ron Conway's SV Angel and co-founder Georges Harik led the round, with Nvidia also investing. CEO Eric Zelikman stated they expect to launch a product early this year. The team includes experts from major AI labs, and co-founder Georges Harik was Google's seventh employee.

Investing in AI Top Stocks for 2026

The global AI market is expected to grow significantly, reaching over $3 trillion by 2033. This growth comes from increased investments, wider adoption, and rising data center demands. AI stocks have performed very well recently, especially chipmakers, hyperscaler suppliers, and EV manufacturers. Seeking Alpha's quantitative analysis identified 10 "Strong Buy" stocks with excellent growth, profitability, and momentum. Investors are looking for companies that provide AI software, hardware, and services to benefit from this major trend.

Super Micro Computer An Underrated AI Investment for 2026

Super Micro Computer, a server manufacturer, is seen as an underrated investment in the AI sector for 2026. The company's shares trade at a low 0.5 times forward sales, reflecting market doubts about its profit margins. However, Super Micro is working to improve its gross margins by expanding its customer base and product offerings. Its valuation is much lower compared to competitors like Dell, suggesting a good opportunity for investors. The analyst recommends trading Super Micro shares, expecting a positive shift in its gross margins soon.

DealHub Raises $100 Million to Boost Smart Sales

DealHub.io secured $100 million in growth funding, led by Riverwood Capital. The company uses artificial intelligence to improve and streamline the sales process for businesses. This investment aims to make sales operations smarter and more efficient. DealHub.io helps automate what is often a very manual task in enterprise sales.

AI Moves to Long-Term Growth Phase Top ETFs to Buy

Artificial intelligence has evolved from a short-term trend into a major long-term growth engine for the global economy. Corporate investments in AI are at record levels, with Goldman Sachs predicting capital spending will hit $527 billion in 2026. Key growth drivers include a massive infrastructure buildout by companies like Amazon and Microsoft, a shift to AI-enabled revenue models, and broader adoption across many industries. The global AI market is expected to exceed a trillion dollars by 2030. AI-focused ETFs are gaining popularity as a safer way for investors to participate in this growth, especially as individual stock picking becomes riskier.

AI Growth Creates $2 Trillion Opportunity for Top Stocks

Gartner predicts AI spending will reach over $2 trillion in 2026, a 37% increase. This massive growth creates a huge opportunity for companies like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing and Apple. TSMC, a top chip maker, saw its fourth-quarter revenue jump 25% due to advanced AI chips and expects AI chip revenue to grow over 50% annually until 2029. Apple is also poised for growth, planning to integrate Google Gemini for new AI features across its devices. Apple secured significant production capacity from TSMC for its upcoming iPhone chips, and analysts expect its revenue to increase by 9% in fiscal 2026.

Two SaaS Stocks to Watch Amid AI Panic

Software-as-a-service (SaaS) stocks recently dropped due to new AI features like Anthropic's Cowork. Despite fears that AI will disrupt the software industry, some companies like Paycom and UiPath appear strong. Paycom, a payroll software provider, already sells results with its Beti product and launched an AI tool called IWant in mid-2025 for data inquiries. UiPath combines robotic process automation (RPA) with AI to offer reliable and intelligent automation solutions. Both companies focus on delivering tangible results to customers, and UiPath reported a 16% revenue growth last quarter.

Ethernovia Secures $90 Million for Physical AI Processors

Ethernovia, a company that develops processors for cars, raised $90 million in Series C funding. Tiger Global led the investment, with Coatue and Samsung Catalyst also participating. Ethernovia focuses on "Physical AI," which brings AI power to physical systems using advanced networking. The company plans to use this new money to expand its technology beyond cars into areas like robotics and industrial automation. Their processors are designed to manage complex data and communication, creating a new standard for strong and energy-efficient AI hardware.

Nio ES8 Success and AI Push Boost Investor Outlook

Nio's third-generation ES8 electric SUV recently reached 50,000 deliveries, showing strong product demand. This success helps Nio grow its market share and strengthen its brand in the premium EV segment. Nio also plans to significantly increase its investment in AI, forming a new AGI committee and expanding smart-driving technologies. This AI push will help Nio stand out with advanced features and potentially lead in autonomous driving. These combined efforts aim to improve operational efficiency and enhance the user experience, creating a strong future for Nio and its investors.

Pagaya AI Real Estate Fund Loses $300 Million

Pagaya's AI-powered SmartResi real estate fund has caused nearly $300 million in losses for investors. The fund dropped 10% in the third quarter of 2025, bringing its total losses to almost 40% since it started. SmartResi, which manages $432 million, uses AI to find undervalued residential properties across the United States. However, the fund has performed poorly compared to broader real estate market benchmarks. Pagaya itself has shifted its focus to providing technology and infrastructure for financial institutions, moving away from asset management.

DigitalOcean Holdings Shows Strong AI Infrastructure Growth

DigitalOcean Holdings, or DOCN, is recommended as a "Buy" due to its fast growth in AI infrastructure and strong profit margins. Despite a recent 40% stock rally, its valuation remains attractive compared to other IT companies. DigitalOcean offers easy-to-use infrastructure, making it a good choice for startups and even larger businesses instead of bigger cloud providers. In the third quarter, the company's revenue grew 16% year over year, and its adjusted profit margins reached 43%, which is better than many competitors.

Sources

NOTE:

This news brief was generated using AI technology (including, but not limited to, Google Gemini API, Llama, Grok, and Mistral) from aggregated news articles, with minimal to no human editing/review. It is provided for informational purposes only and may contain inaccuracies or biases. This is not financial, investment, or professional advice. If you have any questions or concerns, please verify all information with the linked original articles in the Sources section below.

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