OpenAI raises an additional 40 billion

OpenAI has just announced a massive 40-billion-dollar funding round, skyrocketing its valuation to 300 billion, according to several insiders. This marks the second biggest news in the industry for 2025, second only to the pivotal partnership agreement with Microsoft. With this funding, OpenAI becomes the highest-valued private startup in the world, surpassing SpaceX.

This round aims to supercharge the company’s technical and human capabilities:

• Boosting computing infrastructure: massive GPU purchases, building proprietary data centers, and strengthening its partnership with Azure.

• Expanding R&D teams, particularly focusing on GPT models, agentization, AI safety, and alignment.

• Rolling out bespoke AI products for businesses, and scaling up tools integrated into Copilot.

The goal is clear: maintain a strategic edge as competition heats up from Google (Gemini), Anthropic (Claude), DeepSeek, and open-source players like Mistral AI.

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Mistral AI partners up with CMA CGM

In the maritime transport sector, the French giant CMA CGM is forming a strategic partnership with the startup Mistral AI, in a deal estimated at 100 million euros. The aim: to integrate Mistral models into the group's various operations, from shipping to logistics, and even its media activities (via La Provence or CMA CGM Médias).

This collaboration seeks to develop tailored AI solutions, focused on supply chain optimization, predictive logistics, and business process automation, aimed at making the supply chain smoother and more competitive.

Already allied with Stellantis, France Travail, and AFP, Mistral is expanding its partnerships with strategic French players. With CMA CGM, the startup opens a new industrial front, thereby strengthening its presence in high-intensity operational sectors.

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Elon Musk accused of censorship on Grok

Grok, an AI tool launched by Elon Musk and followed by over 200 million people, is accused of falsely flagging a French journalist for "fake news." This incident raises questions about the reliability of AI systems when it comes to distinguishing misinformation from verified facts.

Experts are also warning about the risks of algorithmic bias, opinion manipulation, and lack of transparency in how these technologies operate. In a context where digital platforms heavily influence public debate, the issue of ethical moderation and appropriate regulation is becoming ever more pressing.

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Trump raises tariffs, markets tumble

The new tariffs imposed by Donald Trump (up to +54% on China) are shaking the financial markets. Several high-tech companies are experiencing significant losses, while the uncertainty over trade relations directly affects strategic component production and international collaboration.
Besides hindering short-term competitiveness, these taxes threaten to weigh on long-term R&D capabilities. Many observers worry that trade tensions could slow the rise of AI, a field particularly dependent on access to high-tech supplies and an open research environment.

In just a few days, Nvidia's stock has already fallen nearly 8% on the stock exchange, wiping out several billion dollars in capitalization and illustrating market jitters in response to Trump's new tariffs.

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OpenAI and Ghibli: The legal uncertainties surrounding copyright

In just 24 hours, over 10,000 images imitating Studio Ghibli's style were generated via ChatGPT’s new feature, a phenomenon now known as the "Ghibli effect." On X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit, the hashtag #GhibliEffect already exceeds 50,000 mentions, while platforms like DeviantArt and ArtStation are reporting a 15% to 20% increase in "Ghibli-inspired" content during the same period.

This surge in creations highlights the legal vacuum around artistic ownership in the era of AI: while Studio Ghibli has not yet initiated legal action, some legal experts remind us that copyright protects original works, and counterfeiting can be claimed when imitation replicates enough protectable elements (characters, settings, narrative style).

However, it's challenging to pinpoint where "inspiration" crosses the line into a violation: in several recent legal cases, especially in the U.S., there are intense discussions regarding the definition of "fair use" and the legal status of creations entirely or partly generated by AI, with no clear consensus yet. Thus, in the absence of a specific legal framework, the "Ghibli effect" raises broader questions about the protection of a creator’s visual DNA on an international scale, pitting supporters of strict regulation against advocates for artistic freedom.

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💡 What about you, what do you think of these developments? Opportunities for businesses or an overwhelming future of AI in our interactions?

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