SoftBank just made its biggest AI statement yet. The firm has now completed its long-promised $40 billion commitment to OpenAI, one of the largest private tech investments on record. The headline is less about a single deal and more about what it signals: investors with deep pockets still believe the next wave of AI platforms will be worth paying up for.
In a parallel sign that AI is becoming core infrastructure, not just a feature, Octopus Energy said it will spin off Kraken Technologies at an $8.65 billion valuation. The move sharpens Octopus focus on its utility business while giving Kraken room to scale as a standalone software and optimization platform, a familiar playbook for unlocking value in high-growth tech units.
Security got an uncomfortable spotlight as several former security pros pleaded guilty in ransomware cases tied to extortion demands reportedly reaching up to $10 million. Beyond the irony, it is a reminder that insider risk and privilege misuse remain board-level issues, even for organizations that think they have security talent figured out.
Meanwhile, finance continues to hunt for the next investable AI theme. Grayscale is pressing ahead with an ETF filing tied to Bittensor, a bid to wrap the AI plus crypto narrative in a regulated product. If it gains traction, it could broaden who can access these bets and how capital flows into newer digital asset ecosystems.
On the consumer-tech side of the business equation, Ford executives reiterated support for Apple CarPlay, pushing back on the industry drift toward fully proprietary in-car software stacks. It is a pragmatic signal that user expectations around phone-like experiences still carry weight, and automakers may be reluctant to pick a fight with customers over interface familiarity.