Welcome back to, TIME's new twice-weekly newsletter about AI. If you're reading this in your browser, why not subscribe to have the next one delivered straight to your inbox? The three most valuable private companies in the U.S. have big reputations: OpenAI, SpaceX, and Anthropic. But the fourth, Databricks, flies a little more under the radar. This company, which is currently raising funds at a valuation of $134 billion according to reports this week, is a quiet workhorse of the AI revolution.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are ubiquitous in consumers' lives, from the "up next" suggestions from your streaming service to routes suggested by your GPS when you plug an address into your phone for directions. Less visible impacts of AI and ML include the use of AI to control data center efficiency and cooling or the management of restaurant wait times, as some companies use AI to make decisions about how many burgers to cook for the day's lunch rush. Whereas AI refers to the ability of a computer to emulate human decision-making, ML is the algorithm-driven foundation that enables AI. We can think of automation as the application of AI to develop a series of repeatable tasks or actions designed to accomplish a certain task or execute a process. Companies use automation for transporting products to warehouse workers for packing, processing invoices, and assisting with many other repetitive business tasks that humans have historically performed.

Does WALL-E use Machine Learning for voice recognition? Before becoming a software engineer, our university president spoke before graduating students during my college time. After many years, I still remember the main idea given by prof Tadeusiewicz: "using a rational approach, we understand particular fields in science already well, yet a lot of unexplored and possibly valuable discoveries are at the junction of different fields". It was concise and worthwhile for a young student to investigate this interpretation deeper. Computer science alone gives an immense opportunity to create and explore different areas, and after adding combinations from various fields, it became even more fascinating.

AJ Abdallat is CEO of Beyond Limits, the leader in artificial intelligence and cognitive computing. Artificial intelligence (AI) is making an impression on businesses and professionals. The impact has even been compared to the invention of the internet. We've only seen the tip of the iceberg of this technology's capabilities on macro and micro levels for individuals and venture groups to entire societies. AI interests have grown over the past decade, and we'll continue that trend as more digital transformation efforts are implemented.

After averting a 1929-style global depression in the wake of the Lehman collapse in 2008, central banks in key economies have faced the Herculean task of unwinding their crisis-era emergency measures, involving zero-bound interest rates and large-scale asset purchases. As the new decade begins it is becoming clear that two trends will reshape the future of investing. One is the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) as a new technology capable of disrupting every industry in the mature economies. The other is growing concern about climate change, which is set to transform the ecosystem of today's financial markets. This much is clear from a recent global survey of pension plans and asset managers by BNY Mellon Investment Management and CREATE-Research, titled Future2024: Future-proofing your asset allocation in the age of megatrends.

Consumers have always demanded innovation from the retail industry. Shopping habits and product demands are constantly evolving, and retailers invest a significant amount of capital to monitor trends and cater to fluctuating behaviors. Recently, advancing technology has quickened the pace of change and made it even harder to win consumer attention in an increasingly crowded marketplace. More than ever, success requires financial and managerial flexibility and adaptiveness--areas where private equity can play a vital role. Below, read my thoughts on three key areas where our industry is partnering with retailers to help them keep ahead in the fast-changing sector.

In a blockbuster $27 billion deal that's certain to threaten Bloomberg's financial-data empire, the London Stock Exchange struck an agreement this week to buy the data company Refinitiv. The tie-up highlights trading venues' desire to move beyond low-margin trading and clearing into the more lucrative business of selling data. LSE CEO David Schwimmer, who joined the stock-exchange group less than a year ago from Goldman Sachs, is driving the industry-changing transaction. Our banking reporter Dakin Campbell talked to Schwimmer's former colleagues and clients, who told him why Schwimmer is ideally placed to do the deal. If you aren't yet a subscriber to Wall Street Insider, you can sign up here.

We are operating in an era of digital disruption – where fintech is no longer a buzz word, but the norm. One specific area which has traditionally been largely unaffected by technological progression is Private Equity. However that is set to change with the industry beginning to embrace the opportunities provided by blockchain and artificial intelligence. Within this article we will explore the use cases for the technologies themselves, and consider how they may transform Private Equity as we know it. The cryptocurrencies industry has been characterised by high levels of volatility with huge potential gains, but also huge potential losses. The question is, how can this align to PE and provide opportunity?

A flurry of technology mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are set to happen before 2020, a new report predicts. However private equity firms – which have recently been elbowing trade buyers out of the way to splash the cash on tech targets, such as in the $5.3bn (£3.8bn) buyout of Nets – could soon see their bubble burst. According to a report from tech-focused deal advisers Hampleton Partners, the availability of cheap debt has allowed private equity to outbid trade buyers. But as interest rates look set to rise, this bubble could burst – possibly causing a price correction. "Despite the slowdown in the second half of last year, the overall outlook in the foreseeable future is very positive as continued technological disruption forces established vendors and new market entrants to innovate and stay competitive via tech M&A," said Hampleton founder Miro Parizek.

Baidu Inc. has established an early stage investment unit named Baidu Venture to back artificial intelligence, virtual reality and augmented reality projects. The fund will initially seek to raise US 200 million in capital for the effort. Robin Li, chairman and CEO of Baidu, will lead the venture unit as chairman and participate in project evaluation and investment decisions, Chinese media reported. The new venture unit will be independently run from Baidu's existing investment teams, allowing it to make fast decisions without having to go through complicated internal approval process. Baidu established a deep learning research institute as early as 2013, making artificial intelligence a key strategic focuse to shape the company's future.