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Elly Secures $8M to Transform Recruiting with AI Platform

Posted on by Shobhit Kalra

New York: Elly raises $8 million in funding to expand its AI-native hiring platform that automates recruitment workflows for talent teams.

The round was led by Sorenson Capital, with participation from Atomic and Next Wave Capital. Rob Rueckert, partner at Sorenson Capital’s venture and growth funds, joins Elly’s board of directors.

The company addresses challenges faced by recruiting teams caught between legacy applicant tracking software and a growing stack of AI tools that do not share information. Teams often juggle five or more disconnected platforms, forcing candidates to repeat themselves and recruiters to spend critical time coordinating logistics instead of evaluating talent.

Elly takes a different approach by building AI at its core, spanning sourcing, interviewing and applicant tracking as one unified platform. The system captures what happens as hiring unfolds and surfaces what teams need to know next, without manual data entry or constant upkeep.

The platform interprets unstructured conversations and evolving feedback as they happen, rather than relying on fields and forms. Elly treats interviews as an asset rather than a sunk cost by capturing insights that are rarely reused in traditional systems.

Early customers already use Elly to manage active pipelines across technology, construction, manufacturing, healthcare and hospitality. Teams report measurable time savings, including up to one hour and 45 minutes saved per candidate on interview write-ups and documentation.

“Recruiting teams are overwhelmed by software that was never designed to reflect how hiring actually works,” Kristen Habacht, CEO of Elly, said. “Elly flips that model by understanding the reasoning behind choices as they form.”

The funding will support continued product development, customer growth and advancement of Elly’s AI capabilities and sales and marketing efforts.

AI Coding Startup SolveAI Raises $50M in Series A Funding

Posted on by Amita Parul

London: SolveAI bags $50 million in funding to expand its enterprise AI platform that enables employees to build full-stack software applications without programming expertise.

The financing includes a $45 million Series A round led by GV and a previously undisclosed $5 million pre-seed round led by Accel. Additional investors include Northzone, Mantis VC and NeverLift.

Founded in July 2025 by former Palantir engineer Steve Basher, SolveAI addresses a gap in enterprise software development. The platform allows employees across departments to use natural language to generate proposals, designs and fully functional applications that integrate with existing IT infrastructure.

The system first produces a written proposal outlining the recommended solution and planned features, along with a technical specification covering implementation steps such as data integration.

Teams can iterate on the proposal, after which SolveAI orchestrates specialized AI agents responsible for different stages of the development lifecycle, ultimately generating a complete custom software product.

The company reports early customers across technology, construction, manufacturing, healthcare and hospitality. SolveAI integrates with major enterprise systems including SAP, Salesforce, GitHub, Snowflake and ServiceNow.

“AI’s somewhat useless without context,” Basher said. “Context is everything, so our product is what framework do you build to capture a company’s context,” he added.

The funding will support continued product development, customer growth and advancement of SolveAI’s AI capabilities and sales and marketing efforts. The company operates from London with a team of 12 employees and plans to quadruple headcount through 2026.

Humand Raises $66M Series A for Deskless Workforce AI Platform

Posted on by Shobhit Kalra

SAN FRANCISCO: Humand secures $66 million in Series A funding to expand its AI-powered operating system designed for deskless workers across global industries.

The round was co-led by Kaszek and Goodwater Capital, with participation from Y Combinator, Arash Ferdowsi, Guillermo Rauch, Martin Varsavsky and Rajat Suri. The funding brings Humand’s total capital raised to more than $70 million since its founding in 2020.

Deskless workers represent nearly 80 percent of the global workforce, approximately 2.7 billion people, yet most workplace software has been designed for corporate employees working from desktops. This leaves deskless workers digitally unreachable, relying on paper processes, bulletin boards and limited access to company systems.

Humand’s mobile-first platform centralizes communication, HR processes, training and employee services into a single environment. The system uses AI agents to automate tasks such as onboarding, requests and inquiries across distributed frontline teams. Employees can request time off, receive performance feedback, access benefits and complete training using natural language.

The platform is now used by more than 1.6 million workers across 1,500 organizations in 51 countries, including Siemens, Home Depot, Deere & Co., MINISO, Chili’s, Domino’s and OXXO.

“Our goal is very simple: We want to become the default operating system for companies with deskless workers,” Nicolas Benenzon, CEO and co-founder of Humand, said. “The majority of the global workforce has been overlooked by enterprise software for decades.”

The funding will accelerate Humand’s expansion in the United States and across the 51 countries where its customers operate. The capital will also fund continued AI development, expanding automation across core workflows and processes.

Union.ai Raises $38.1M to Scale AI Workflow Platform

Posted on by Anurag Shukla

Washington: Union.ai completes $38.1 million in Series A funding to expand infrastructure that helps engineering teams move AI projects from experimentation to production.

The round was led by existing investor NEA, with participation from Nava Ventures and new investor Mozilla Ventures. The total includes a previously announced $19.1 million portion.

Founded as the enterprise platform for Flyte, a widely adopted open-source AI orchestrator, Union.ai provides an end-to-end AI development infrastructure.

Flyte has crossed 80 million downloads, while its data validation framework Pandera has surpassed 100 million. More than 3,500 companies now run AI workloads on infrastructure powered by the platform.

The company addresses a fundamental challenge in AI development, which requires a different approach than traditional software. Legacy software infrastructure and development tools struggle to handle AI development requirements.

Union.ai’s platform covers orchestration as well as training, inference and observability. The system helps engineering teams manage complex machine learning and data workflows while maintaining reliability and reproducibility with automatic failure recovery, caching and versioning.

“This round came together as demand for AI orchestration is surging, and our open-source work is translating into clear commercial momentum,” Ketan Umare, CEO and co-founder of Union.ai, said. “Building AI requires a fundamentally different approach than traditional software, and engineering teams are now embracing that,” he added.

The funding will accelerate product development, expand engineering and field teams, and deepen investment in the company’s open-source community. The capital supports Union’s mission to build AI development infrastructure that enables faster scaling from experiment to production.

Google Rolls Out Nano Banana 2 AI Image Model with 4K Support

Posted on by Yashika Aneja

California: Google introduces Nano Banana 2, its latest AI image generation model that combines advanced capabilities with faster processing speeds.

The new model, officially called Gemini 3.1 Flash Image, merges features from Nano Banana Pro with the speed of Gemini Flash. The system becomes the default for image generation across Gemini’s Fast, Thinking and Pro modes.

Google launched the first Nano Banana in August 2025, prompting users to generate millions of images in the Gemini app. The company released Nano Banana Pro in November 2025, which allows users to create more detailed and high-quality images.

Nano Banana 2 retains high-fidelity characteristics of the Pro model but produces images faster. The system supports resolutions ranging from 512 pixels to 4K in different aspect ratios. Users can create media with more vibrant lighting, richer textures and sharper detail.

The model maintains character consistency for up to five characters and fidelity of up to 14 objects in one workflow for better storytelling. Users can issue complex requests with detailed nuances for image generation.

Nano Banana 2 pulls from Gemini’s real-world knowledge base and uses real-time information and images from web search to render specific subjects more accurately. The system helps users create infographics, turn notes into diagrams and generate data visualizations.

“The model pulls from Gemini’s real-world knowledge base, and is powered by real-time information and images from web search to more accurately render specific subjects”

Naina Raisinghani, Google DeepMind Product Manager

The model rolls out across Google products including the Gemini app, Google Search, AI Studio, Google Cloud, Flow and Google Ads. All images created through the new model include a SynthID watermark to denote AI-generated content.

AI Accounting Startup Basis Secures $100M Series B Funding

Posted on by Anurag Shukla

NEW YORK: AI accounting platform Basis raises $100 million in Series B funding at a $1.15 billion valuation, achieving unicorn status less than three years after its 2023 founding. Accel leads the round with participation from GV and former Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein.

The startup builds autonomous AI agents that complete complex accounting workflows end-to-end across tax preparation, audit procedures and client accounting services. Basis deploys what it calls long-horizon agents that work independently for hours on tasks like partnership tax returns and financial statement preparation.

The platform already serves approximately 30 percent of the top 25 accounting firms in the United States. These firms use Basis agents to handle document review, reconciliation and compliance work that previously consumed significant staff time.

“Basis is already radically changing how work gets done at the best firms, driving 20-50% efficiencies across practices,” Vinod Khosla of Khosla Ventures said in a statement announcing the round.

The funding arrives as accounting firms face mounting pressure from talent shortages and rising client demands. Organizations now contend with an average of 135 new vulnerabilities daily while staffing challenges intensify across the profession.

Basis plans to use the capital to expand its customer base and deepen capabilities in tax and audit functions. The company will grow its machine learning and engineering teams to support increasing enterprise demand for AI-powered accounting automation.

UK Startup Wayve Secures $1.2bn for Autonomous Driving Push

Posted on by Shobhit Kalra

London: UK-based autonomous driving startup Wayve has raised $1.2 billion in a new funding round, drawing interest from major automakers, venture firms, and technology giants. The round could grow to $1.5 billion if Uber adds another $300 million, which is tied to future robotaxi deployments starting in London. Following the raise, Wayve is valued at $8.6 billion.

The investment highlights growing confidence in automated driving as companies race to commercialise self-driving technology. Wayve’s backers include Microsoft, Nvidia, Uber, and automakers Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, and Stellantis.

“We took a very contrarian view on the technology side, and now when it comes to this phase of moving into commercialization, we’re also taking a contrarian business model approach”

Alex Kendall, Founder and CEO – Wayve.AI

Founded in 2017, Wayve uses an end-to-end deep learning system that learns how to drive using data, without relying on high-definition maps. Its software can power both assisted driving systems that require driver attention and fully automated systems for robotaxis or consumer vehicles in specific environments.

Wayve does not plan to operate its own robotaxi service or sell vehicles directly. Instead, it licenses its self-driving software to partners like automakers and Uber. Kendall believes this model works because Wayve’s AI can adapt across different sensors, chips, and environments.

Nissan plans to use Wayve’s software in its vehicles starting in 2027. Uber also plans commercial trials later this year. Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said, “We are very proud to continue to deepen our partnership with Wayve, with plans to deploy together in more than 10 markets around the world.”

Google Faces Backlash Over Offensive AI-Generated News Alert

Posted on by Shobhit Kalra

New York: Google has issued an apology after one of its AI-powered news alerts sent to users contained a racial slur, triggering backlash online.

The problematic alert was pushed to users through Google’s news notification system and linked to a report by ‘The Hollywood Reporter’ about an incident at the recent BAFTA Film Awards. The offensive word appeared directly in the notification preview, making it visible even before users opened the story.

The issue came to public attention after Instagram user Danny Price shared a screenshot of the alert, noting the timing during Black History Month. The post spread rapidly across social media, with many users questioning how such language passed through Google’s automated systems.

Responding to the controversy, Google said it had “removed the offensive notification” and was “working to prevent this from happening again.” The company did not explain how the AI-generated alert was created or why it was not flagged before being sent to users.

The alert referred to a moment at the BAFTAs where an audience member with Tourette syndrome shouted the slur while actors Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were presenting an award. The individual, Tourette syndrome advocate John Davidson, later said he was “deeply mortified” and stressed that the comment was an involuntary vocal tic with no intended meaning.

Anthropic Launches Claude Code Security Amid Cybersecurity Selloff

Posted on by Amita Parul

SAN FRANCISCO: Anthropic has released Claude Code Security, an artificial intelligence tool that automatically scans codebases for vulnerabilities and suggests patches, triggering sharp declines in cybersecurity stocks.

The feature integrates into Claude Code’s web-based platform and uses large language models to analyze code contextually rather than through predefined pattern matching. The system examines how components interact and how data flows through applications to identify complex vulnerabilities.

CrowdStrike shares dropped 8 percent while Cloudflare declined 8.1 percent following the announcement. Zscaler fell 5.5 percent, SailPoint shed 9.4 percent and Okta retreated 9.2 percent. The Global X Cybersecurity ETF declined 4.9 percent to its lowest level since November 2023.

“Claude Code Security is intended to put this power squarely in the hands of defenders and protect code against this new category of AI-enabled attack,” Anthropic stated. The tool addresses subtle logic flaws that manual reviewers often overlook.

The system performs multi-stage verification before presenting findings to analysts. Claude reviews its own results, attempts to confirm or refute them and filters false positives. Validated vulnerabilities receive severity and confidence scores in a dashboard for security team review.

Anthropic tested Claude Opus 4.6 internally and identified over 500 vulnerabilities in production open-source codebases during stress testing. The company developed the technology over more than one year including participation in capture-the-flag cybersecurity competitions.

“There’s been steady selling in software, and today it’s security that’s getting a mini-flash crash on a headline,” said Dennis Dick, head trader at Triple D Trading. Market participants expressed concern about AI agents potentially cannibalizing traditional threat detection markets.

The feature remains in limited research preview for enterprise and team customers. Open-source project maintainers can apply for free expedited access. Anthropic has not announced a timeline for general availability.

CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz responded that AI increases security needs rather than eliminating them. Raymond James analyst Mark Cash called the market reaction excessive, noting investors were extrapolating beyond current functionality.

The selloff mirrors broader volatility across software sectors as generative AI transitions from experimental features to core enterprise functionality. The iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF has declined approximately 23 percent year-to-date.

Taara Unveils 25Gbps Beam Device Using Light-Based Internet

Posted on by Shobhit Kalra

SUNNYVALE: Alphabet spinout Taara has launched Taara Beam, a shoebox-sized device delivering 25 gigabits per second internet connectivity through invisible light beams, the company announced today.

The device marks commercial deployment of Taara Photonics, described as the world’s first wireless communication platform based on optical phased arrays. Taara graduated from Google’s X moonshot lab and became independent in March 2025.

Taara Beam transmits data as near-infrared light beams through air over distances up to 10 kilometers. The system achieves fiber-like speeds without trenching cables or securing spectrum licenses, enabling deployment in hours on existing infrastructure.

“Every generation of connectivity has been defined by a physical constraint”

Mahesh Krishnaswamy, Taara founder and CEO

The device removes limits from copper speed, fiber deployment time and radio spectrum scarcity through light transmission.

The technology shifts from mechanical mirror-based systems to solid-state electronic control. An integrated photonic module containing over 1,000 miniature light emitters arranged in optical phased arrays tracks and steers beams with improved precision and reduced complexity.

“Silicon photonics allows us to integrate core functionalities into a single module”

Devin Brinkley, SVP of Engineering

The team compressed previous traffic-light-sized systems into a photonic module measuring the size of a finger.

Taara Beam weighs 8 kilograms and operates on 90 watts of power. The compact form factor enables mounting on street poles or rooftops across urban environments, enterprise campuses and data center clusters without physical infrastructure delays.

The device delivers bidirectional throughput with latency below 100 microseconds, performing significantly better than satellite-based services for middle-mile infrastructure. Taara targets telecommunications companies and enterprises rather than individual consumers.

Taara’s predecessor Lightbridge system operates in over 20 countries with partners including T-Mobile, SoftBank, Bharti Airtel, Digicel and Liquid Intelligent Technologies. The earlier system connects remote communities across challenging terrain at distances up to 20 kilometers.

Krishnaswamy will demonstrate Taara Beam’s photonic core at Mobile World Congress Barcelona 2026 on the Game Changers stage. Operators and infrastructure providers can request early access through the company website.