BlackRock raises $12.5B as part of its Microsoft partnership to bankroll data centers and energy infrastructure, bringing it closer to its $30B goal from 2024 (Silla Brush/Bloomberg)
Bloomberg.com
BlackRock, Microsoft AI Partnership Raises $12.5 Billion So Far
BlackRock Inc. has raised $12.5 billion as part of a partnership with Microsoft Corp. to bankroll data centers and energy infrastructure, advancing...
Techmeme
BlackRock raises $12.5B as part of its Microsoft partnership to bankroll data centers and energy infrastructure, bringing it closer to its $30B goal from 2024
By Silla Brush / Bloomberg. View the full context on Techmeme.
Bitmine, the largest corporate holder of ether, invests $200M in MrBeast's Beast Industries, set to close on January 19; Bitmine holds ~4M ETH valued at ~$13.6B (Francisco Rodrigues/CoinDesk) https://www.coindesk.com/business/2026/01/15/tom-lee-s-bitmine-invests-usd200-million-in-billionaire-youtube-star-mrbeast-s-company
Techmeme
Bitmine, the largest corporate holder of ether, invests $200M in MrBeast
By Francisco Rodrigues / CoinDesk. View the full context on Techmeme.
India's Supreme Court rules Tiger Global's $1.6B Flipkart stake sale to Walmart in 2018 is subject to taxes, a ruling that may shape future cross-border deals (Reuters) https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/india-court-rule-tiger-globals-2018-deal-with-walmart-landmark-tax-case-2026-01-15/
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India
From Reuters. View the full context on Techmeme.
Anthropic researchers say rich countries' higher AI use risks deepening economic disparities and widening living standard gaps, driven by productivity gains (Financial Times)
Rich countries’ greater use of AI risks deepening inequality, Anthropic warns
Research by AI start-up suggests productivity gains from the technology unevenly spread around world
Techmeme
Anthropic researchers say rich countries
From Financial Times. View the full context on Techmeme.
AWS signs a two-year supply deal with Rio Tinto to access its Arizona copper mine, the US' first new source in 10+ years, as AI data centers create huge demand (Ryan Dezember/Wall Street Journal) https://www.wsj.com/finance/commodities-futures/amazon-is-buying-americas-first-new-copper-output-in-more-than-a-decade-516a0a1f?st=S9nUcw&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink
Techmeme
AWS signs a two-year supply deal with Rio Tinto to access its Arizona copper mine, the US
By Ryan Dezember / Wall Street Journal. View the full context on Techmeme.
Spotify plans to raise its Premium subscription by $1 to $12.99/month for subscribers in the US, Estonia, and Latvia, in its first US hike since July 2024 (Molly Schuetz/Bloomberg)
Bloomberg.com
Spotify Raises Premium Subscription Prices in US to $13 Month
Spotify Technology SA is raising the price of its premium subscription service by 8% in an effort to achieve sustained profitability.
Techmeme
Spotify plans to raise its Premium subscription by $1 to $12.99/month in the US, its first US price hike since July 2024, and increase it in Estonia and Latvia
By Molly Schuetz / Bloomberg. View the full context on Techmeme.
Sources: the US cyberattack that plunged Caracas into darkness during the Maduro mission shows its offensive capabilities; Senators plan to question officials (New York Times)
Cyberattack in Venezuela Demonstrated Precision of U.S. Capabilities
Lt. Gen. Joshua M. Rudd appeared before the Senate Armed Services Committee, which is weighing his nomination to lead the U.S. Cyber Command, but p...
Techmeme
Sources: the US cyberattack that plunged Caracas into darkness during the Maduro mission shows its offensive capabilities; Senators plan to question officials
From New York Times. View the full context on Techmeme.
Wikimedia celebrates Wikipedia's 25th anniversary, marking its growth from 100 pages to 65M+ articles with nearly 15B monthly views, and releases a docuseries (Emma Roth/The Verge)
The Verge
Wikipedia turns 25 and shares a glimpse into the lives of its volunteer editors
Wikipedia launched on January 15th, 2001.
Techmeme
Wikimedia celebrates Wikipedia
By Emma Roth / The Verge. View the full context on Techmeme.
Berlin-based Parloa, which develops AI customer service agents for Booking.com and others, raised $350M at a $3B valuation, taking its total raised to $560M+ (Financial Times)
Client Challenge
Techmeme
Berlin-based Parloa, which develops AI customer service agents for Booking.com and others, raised $350M at a $3B valuation, taking its total funding to $560M+
From Financial Times. View the full context on Techmeme.
Polymarket and Kalshi count Donald Trump Jr. as an adviser, and Trump Media plans to launch Truth Predict, raising ethical questions during Trump's second term (Sharon LaFraniere/New York Times)
Leading Prediction Firms Share a Commonality: Donald Trump Jr.
Traders in companies with ties to the president’s eldest son can bet on the outcome of events the president affects.
Techmeme
Polymarket and Kalshi count Donald Trump Jr. as an adviser, and Trump Media plans to launch Truth Predict, raising ethical questions during Trump
By Sharon LaFraniere / New York Times. View the full context on Techmeme.