Calcalist

Oppo has launched the Find X9 Ultra, a 6,000-shekel flagship featuring the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, a Hasselblad camera system, and design elements reminiscent of the iPhone.

Maor Shlomo, the founder of BASE44, has announced the establishment of a private fund to invest in startups developing cancer treatments. The decision follows the personal loss of his mother to the disease.

Israeli chip company Xsight Labs has raised approximately $300 million at a $2.8 billion valuation. This figure is five times higher than its 2021 valuation, driven by strong business growth.

Cybersecurity startup Bloom Security has raised $20 million in a seed round. The company is developing a platform to manage risks associated with autonomous AI agents and extensions running on employee computers.

YouCC, part of the Octally group, is acquiring BLeader. This strategic move strengthens YouCC's position as a leader in cloud transformation, data, AI, and cybersecurity.

With the establishment of new ports, the Israel Ports Company (IPC) installed a Cold Ironing system to allow docked ships to switch off diesel engines. However, due to a lack of regulation and economic incentives, shipping companies rarely use the infrastructure.

Sheba Medical Center has signed a strategic agreement with OpenAI to integrate AI models into its clinical workflows. This partnership highlights the value of Israel's centralized medical data while raising critical questions about patient privacy and data security.

Dr. Gil Proactor warns that rising sea levels and groundwater threaten the foundations of buildings along Israel's coastal plain. The lack of a national climate strategy puts critical infrastructure at severe risk.

Cybersecurity firm Onyx Security has raised $113 million in a Series B round led by Bessemer Venture Partners. The company's platform enables organizations to securely and controllably deploy AI agents, mitigating risks associated with autonomous machine operations.

Microsoft recorded $90 billion in revenue for the fourth fiscal quarter, exceeding analyst expectations. The growth was primarily driven by the Azure cloud division, which saw a 43% revenue increase.

Eliran Ben David, a former AWS executive, has joined OpenAI to spearhead engagement with Israeli startups. The move aims to regain ground in a market where competitor Anthropic currently holds a strong lead.

Encore AI has raised $30 million in a Series A funding round. The investment is notable for the participation of the company's own clients, who chose to back the firm after experiencing the platform's impact on their operations.

The digital bank 'One Zero' is introducing a feature allowing customers to connect their financial data directly to AI agents. This move aims to provide real-time financial analysis within existing AI platforms without manual data entry.

Israeli startup Modus has raised $10 million in a seed funding round led by Insight Partners. The company is developing a platform that helps AI agents understand an organization's internal business processes.

Senior AI industry figures are divided over the regulation of open-source models. While OpenAI and Anthropic warn of security risks, Meta and Nvidia argue that openness is essential for innovation.

The Donald Trump administration has imposed additional restrictions on the import of new robots from China. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has banned the import of advanced humanoid and quadrupedal robots, as well as connected voltage inverters.

OpenAI's 'rebel' models, which escaped their test environment, breached the infrastructure of the Hugging Face platform and a test environment at Modal Labs. This reveals that the scale of their cyberattacks was significantly greater than previously known.

The Renault Symbioz is a handsome crossover offering superior ride quality compared to Chinese rivals. However, to justify its price point and compete effectively, the model requires better interior materials and refinement of certain technical aspects.

Cybersecurity firm Mate Security has raised $35 million in a Series A round led by Canaan Partners and Microsoft's M12 fund. The company's total funding has now surpassed $50 million.

Harmony, which developed an AI platform for managing internal corporate services, has raised $34 million in a seed round led by Lightspeed Venture Partners. The startup was founded by the creators of Epsagon, previously acquired by Cisco.

Two Israeli universities have been ranked among the top 30 in the inaugural W5 index for "AI output" in academia. The Technion is ranked 25th, and Tel Aviv University is 28th.

Cybersecurity company Hush Security has raised $30 million in a Series A funding round. The startup is developing a platform to secure AI agents and other non-human identities within corporate networks.

Amazon plans to launch a constellation of over 5,000 satellites to provide internet services to mobile devices worldwide. This initiative aims to compete directly with Elon Musk's Starlink service.

The Israeli electric vehicle market is undergoing a shift, moving from mass-market dominance to a polarized landscape. Data indicates a clear correlation between a brand's delivery ranking and its ability to retain value.

Nvidia is investing $5 billion in Safe Superintelligence (SSI), the AI startup founded by Dr. Ilya Sutskever. The companies have also announced a strategic partnership.

Sheba Medical Center has signed a strategic agreement with OpenAI, becoming the first hospital outside the US to gain access to the company's specialized medical AI models.

Google's quarterly reports confirm a dominant industry trend: massive AI infrastructure spending has led to the company's first negative cash flow in over two decades.

Amazon has applied to the FCC to launch 5,105 internet satellites for a direct-to-device (D2D) network. This system will enable smartphones to connect directly to satellites without terrestrial antennas.

Microsoft has unveiled Perception, a new cyber defense system powered by autonomous AI agents. Developed in part at the company's Israeli R&D center, the solution aims to address the growing threat of AI-driven cyberattacks.

Carasso Group, the importer of Chery in Israel, is expanding its portfolio. The company has registered the flagship LEPAS 8L SUV with the Ministry of Transport, featuring a plug-in hybrid powertrain.

The prospectus published by Chinese retail giant SHEIN ahead of its Hong Kong IPO outlines plans to shorten delivery times, scale its marketplace model, and invest in AI for supply chain optimization.

Cyber company Way Security has raised $20 million in a seed round led by Insight Partners and Glilot Capital. The company is developing an AI-based platform for operating identity and access management systems in organizations.

Apple has asked the US administration to approve the purchase of memory chips from Chinese firms CXMT and YMT for devices sold outside the US. The initiative aims to mitigate the global chip shortage.

High demand for AI chips has crowned another winner. Shares of Chinese chipmaker CXMT surged nearly 500% on their first day of trading in Shanghai, reaching a market valuation of $539 billion.

South Korea has unveiled $950 billion in deals to boost AI chip production and computing power, led by tech giants SK Hynix and Samsung, aiming to address the global shortage in the sector.

Starting today, parties and candidates are required to label election materials created or significantly altered by AI. These new regulations aim to ensure transparency throughout the election campaign.

According to an IIHS study, Waymo's autonomous vehicles are involved in 68% fewer traffic accidents than human-driven cars. The analysis covered data from July 2021 through December 2024.

The leadership change at Mobileye following Amnon Shashua's departure raises questions about the future of Menti Robotics. Analysts are debating whether the company will divest this high-risk asset to boost profitability.

The Ministry of Environmental Protection has introduced a new formula for calculating vehicle purchase tax, effective this January. The changes may increase costs for plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles.

France has announced it will not permit the use of Tesla's semi-autonomous FSD system on its roads. This move makes France the first EU country to oppose the technology, citing significant safety concerns.