AI Journal 193rd Edition

Your weekly edge in the world of artificial intelligence.

Author

AI Journal
January 02, 2026

TODAYS HIGHLIGHTS

Why AI Should Not Be Granted Legal Rights, According to Yoshua Bengio

AI pioneer Yoshua Bengio warns that granting legal rights to AI could be dangerous, likening it to giving citizenship to hostile aliens. He argues that AI showing self-preservation tendencies must remain controllable, with strong technical and societal guardrails—including the ability to shut them down if necessary.

Perplexity CEO Says On-Device AI Could Disrupt Data Centres

Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas predicts that AI’s future lies in on-device models rather than massive data centres. He argues that local AI would reduce energy and maintenance costs, improve privacy, and better personalize user experiences as chip technology advances, potentially making centralized data centres less relevant.

Ambit Wealth: 2026 to Open New AI Opportunities for Smaller Firms

Ambit Wealth predicts 2026 will expand AI investment opportunities, with smaller and mid-sized firms finding profitable niche applications. While large companies face execution and cannibalisation challenges, agile IT firms can help monetise AI. Valuation concerns remain limited, with public markets largely insulated from AI-driven speculation.

India Accelerates AI Leadership: States Urged for CoE Proposals

MeitY urges states to propose AI Centres of Excellence under the ₹10,372 crore IndiaAI Mission, aiming to boost R&D, computing infrastructure, and startups for India's Global South leadership in inclusive AI deployment.

OpenAI Accelerates Development of Audio-First AI Models

OpenAI is reportedly ramping up work on advanced audio-based AI models by merging engineering, product, and research teams. The new model, expected in early 2026, could power an audio-first AI device with more natural speech, better interruption handling, and real-time conversational abilities.

AI FUNDING

  • SoftBank has completed funding its massive $40 billion investment in OpenAI, according to a CNBC report from December 30, 2025. This full commitment underscores the Japanese tech giant's aggressive push into AI, providing substantial capital for OpenAI's growth amid intensifying global competition in generative AI technologies

  • Digilytics, a London-based AI-powered fintech SaaS firm, raised £2.5 million from Maven Capital Partners to enhance its RevEL platform, expand loan coverage, enter new markets, and strengthen partnerships.

  • Chinese AI unicorn Moonshot AI has raised US$500 million in a Series C round led by IDG Capital, with Alibaba and Tencent participating. The funding values the Kimi AI developer at US$4.3 billion, strengthening its cash reserves and allowing it to delay IPO plans as revenues and global users grow rapidly.

INTERESTING POSTS

GrokAI draws criticism for misuse of generative AI on X, triggering privacy concerns, public outrage, and renewed demands for stricter regulation.

China's Biren Technology, an AI chipmaker, skyrockets over 100% on its Hong Kong IPO debut, sparking a wave of chipmaker listings.

ISC2’s 2025 study finds cybersecurity skills gaps widening as AI adoption rises, increasing breach risks despite stable budgets and strong job satisfaction.

TECNO launched AI-powered pop-up stores and fan zones in Morocco during AFCON 2025, blending football culture with hands-on smartphone experiences.

AI JOURNAL PODCAST

Are you ready to stay ahead in the fast-evolving world of AI? AI Journal Podcast delivers cutting-edge insights on breakthroughs, trends, and applications, hosted by Manish Balakrishnan

New episodes drop 3 days a week—every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 9 AM EST

Tired of missing key podcast insights due to time constraints?

PodcastSummarize.com sends concise, relevant weekly summaries of your top five chosen shows directly to your inbox for just $9/month. Discover new episodes, curate your feed, and click embedded links for full listens when hooked. Elevate your knowledge efficiently—try now!

That’s a wrap for this week’s AI insights! Stay curious, stay informed, and don’t forget next Friday brings more breakthrough’s your way

AI Sparks Innovation, We Deliver the Insights