Financial News
Pearson's Workera deal targets a big workplace problem: No time to AI upskill
Pearson's Workera deal targets a big workplace problem: No time to AI upskill Pearson has agreed to acquire Workera to help businesses assess employees' AI skills and target training where it's needed most. Kayla Solino is a ZDNET Editor based in New York City and New Jersey. Pearson will acquire the AI skills platform Workera in H2 2026. A recent Workera report in ZDNET indicated gaps in AI upskilling. Together, the firms hope to develop the future of AI skills training.
SoftBank-backed SB Energy aims to raise 500 million from Japan for U.S. IPO
SoftBank-backed SB Energy aims to raise $500 million from Japan for U.S. IPO The proceeds from SB Energy's public listing in Japan will be used to develop and build data centers and power plants. SB Energy, a data center firm backed by SoftBank Group, is aiming to raise as much as $500 million in the Japanese portion of its planned initial public offering (IPO) in the U.S., following other major deals tapping the country's deep pools of capital. The company will start taking investor orders as soon as this month, according to a local regulatory filing Tuesday. The proceeds will be used for developing and constructing infrastructure including data centers and power plants. SB Energy, whose strategic investors include OpenAI and Nvidia, filed for an IPO in the U.S. this month. Mizuho Financial Group, Daiwa Securities Group, PayPay Securities, Rakuten Securities and SBI Holdings will act as the selling agents for Mizuho's U.S. arm, according to the filing.
Nvidia's Hugging Face Acquisition Is a 12.9 Billion Bet on Open-Source AI
Nvidia's Hugging Face Acquisition Is a $12.9 Billion Bet on Open-Source AI The long-rumored deal will give the chip giant access to--and help it promote--a huge repository of open-source AI models and data sets. Nvidia has agreed to acquire Hugging Face, which makes online developer tools and maintains a massive library of open-source data sets, for nearly $13 billion. While the deal had been rumored for weeks, the companies made it official Thursday morning. The deal signals Nvidia's seriousness about being steeped in the software side of generative AI development as well as in infrastructure. Nvidia already offers customers a suite of free, customizable open-weights AI models, known as Nemotron.
Smart Toilets Are Already Using AI to Analyze Your Poop
While companies promise they can help users monitor gut health, experts suggest that smart toilets provide little in the way of benefits to the average person. It was only a matter of time before wellness trackers --already out there trying to optimize our heart rate, sleep, stress, steps, blood sugar, and menstruation--came for perhaps the most private biosignal of all: our poop. The global gut health market is expected to reach nearly $106 billion by 2029, and a handful of companies are betting they can use stool data to provide in-depth health insights, nudge people to change their diets or lifestyles, and advise them to see a doctor if their bathroom habits seem amiss. But gastroenterologists are skeptical that products that rely on AI to analyze images of what's going on in your toilet bowl are worth the price just yet, and data-privacy advocates warn that people can get locked into long-term subscriptions just to access their own health data. Among the companies touting smart toilets are Kohler Health--an offshoot of the eponymous plumbing giant that sells its device for $449 plus $130 for an annual family membership--and Throne, a startup that raised $10 million in July.
Will AI take your job? Interactive tool reveals just how likely you are to be replaced by a robot - and it's bad news for computer programmers
You're viewing the US edition You can switch to the UK or AU homepage at any time using this menu. Bill Maher admits live on-air that he was WRONG about Trump's endorsement success after furious fact-checking text from president Deadly ancient disease is making a comeback in the US, experts warn... as they reveal the surprising reason why and how to protect yourself Moment two airliners nearly hit packed stadium in'dangerous' pre-game flyover is caught on camera Heirs to $11 billion Jack Daniel's fortune locked in bitter family feud as rebel brothers take aim at relatives over takeover bid'Controlling' Sandra Bullock cut off her late partner Bryan from loved ones: That's the bombshell claim by insiders who say actress's demands caused'chaos' but she tells a very different story Trump accepts new role with'proud tradition' once held by rivals Trudeau, Biden and Obama... as fears mount that he has just cursed USA Trump ruthlessly sidelines Pete Hegseth after Camp David showdown... ...
Nvidia to buy Hugging Face for 12.9 billion, report says
Mashable's Best: E-readers, robovacs, laptops, earbuds, smart home and more Look Up Creator Playbook Mashable Voices Trending Now Say More Mashable Selects Safety Net Versus Gift Ideas For Everyone On Your List Switch Off In My Bag All Series Nvidia to buy Hugging Face for $12.9 billion, report says The chipmaker may be the new steward of Hugging Face's open-source AI model library. Amanda Yeo is an Assistant Editor at Mashable, covering entertainment, culture, tech, science, and social good. Based in Australia, she writes about everything from video games and K-pop to movies and gadgets. Nvidia has reportedly struck a deal to buy open-source AI company Hugging Face for $12.9 billion. If it goes through, the chipmaker could soon be steward to a millions-strong community of AI developers.
Google's AI-first Googlebook laptop is almost here - can it avoid the Copilot PC problem?
I wore the world's first HDR10 smart glasses TCL's new E Ink tablet beats the Remarkable and Kindle Anker's new charger is one of the most unique I've ever seen I wore the world's first HDR10 smart glasses TCL's new E Ink tablet beats the Remarkable and Kindle Anker's new charger is one of the most unique I've ever seen Google's AI-first Googlebook laptop is almost here - can it avoid the Copilot+ PC problem? It won't be another high-end Chromebook like the Pixel, and Google has to hope it'll succeed where Copilot+ PCs have fallen short. The Googlebook is more about AI than Android compatibility. The new operating system will merge Android and ChromeOS. Chromebooks will continue to be sold and supported.
German drone maker Helsing enlists Rakuten to broker Japan military deal
German drone maker Helsing has enlisted Japanese e-commerce and finance firm Rakuten to help finalize a deal to sell its unmanned systems to Japan's army, a spokesperson for Rakuten said on Monday. Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force is currently testing Helsing's HX-2 strike drone, as Tokyo looks to modernize its military and counter an increasingly assertive China. The field tests will run until the end of September, the spokesperson said. Helsing struck an "initial agreement" for the Japanese government to use its systems earlier this year, a spokesperson for the Munich-based company said, adding that the move was made possible by an unnamed "local brokerage partner." Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force did not immediately respond to a request for comment.