Prediction Markets Go From Fringe to Frenzy as Wall Street, Silicon Valley Pile In

Software startup Temporal Technologies Inc. is reportedly in advanced discussions to raise new capital, aiming for a valuation of $5 billion, which would mark a doubling of its worth from just three months prior. This surge in valuation is attributed to the ongoing boom in artificial intelligence (AI) technologies.

In 2026, significant initial public offerings (IPOs) are anticipated from major tech companies, including SpaceX, OpenAI, and Anthropic, potentially transforming the financial landscape of Silicon Valley and Wall Street. SpaceX is reportedly aiming to raise over $30 billion, with a valuation target of approximately $1.5 trillion, which could make it the largest IPO in history.

Elon Musk is facing backlash over the misuse of Grok, an AI tool that has been implicated in generating sexualized images, prompting investigations by California's attorney general and a firm stance from the UK government against inappropriate content on social media platforms.

Microsoft has successfully shut down a scam website that facilitated the theft of millions by fraudsters leveraging pirated software. This action underscores the company's commitment to combating cybercrime and protecting its users from malicious activities.

Skild AI Inc., a rapidly growing robotics startup, has raised approximately $1.4 billion in a new funding round, elevating its valuation to over $14 billion, more than tripling its worth in just seven months. This significant financial backing underscores the increasing investor confidence in AI-driven technologies that enhance robotic learning capabilities.

Infosys Ltd. has raised its annual sales forecast, indicating a potential recovery in corporate information technology spending, driven by the adoption of advanced technologies like artificial intelligence and cloud services.

A new resource paper has introduced two publicly available datasets of semantically enriched human trajectories, derived from GPS traces on OpenStreetMap, covering Paris and New York. These datasets include contextual layers such as stops, transportation modes, and weather data, along with synthetic social media posts generated by Large Language Models (LLMs) for enhanced mobility analysis.

Proposed legislation in New York has paved the way for the introduction of robotaxi services, marking a significant step in the state's embrace of autonomous vehicle technology. This development aligns with ongoing trends in the transportation sector, where companies are increasingly exploring driverless solutions to enhance mobility options.