Silicon Republic

Check out today’s Daily Brief for the latest sci-tech news, including:

Intercom raises $250m in debt financing
Jay Graber steps aside as Bluesky CEO
Yann LeCun’s AMI Labs raises $1.03bn

...and more!
mailchi.mp/siliconrepub...

Yann LeCun’s AI start-up AMI raises $1.3bn in seed funding Yann LeCun's AMI is now valued at more than $3.5bn post a $1bn seed funding round to support the development of its world models.

Advanced Machine Intelligence (AMI), which was founded by former Meta AI chief Yann LeCun, has announced the raising of more than $1bn in seed funding.

Intercom bags $250m debt financing, plans to hire 650 globally Intercom plans to make 650 new hires across offices in Dublin, London, Berlin, Sydney, Chicago and San Francisco this year.

Irish unicorn Intercom has raised $250m in debt for its AI agents. The company also plans to make 650 new hires across offices in Dublin, London, Berlin, Sydney, Chicago and San Francisco this year.

Jay Graber steps aside as Bluesky CEO, Tony Schneider named interim CEO She has led the X-alternative since 2021. Now Jay Graber is stepping aside and former Automattic and Wordpress.com CEO is stepping in as interim CEO.

The hunt is on for a new permanent CEO at X alternative Bluesky, as Jay Graber steps aside and True Ventures’ Tony Schneider takes on interim role,

Artificial intelligence and careers: Is it time to retrain in the age of AI? In the age of AI, Kirk Chang and Dr Susan Akinwalere explore how professionals may need AI upskilling to future proof their careers.

Kirk Chang and Susan Akinwalere of the University of East London discuss the importance of career ‘future proofing’.

How fully homomorphic encryption is reshaping secure AI Zama's Jeremy Bradley discusses why the AI surge is forcing businesses to take privacy more seriously and how new technologies are responding.

Zama’s Jeremy Bradley discusses why the AI surge is forcing businesses to take privacy more seriously and how new technologies are responding.

Microsoft adding Anthropic's AI technology to its Copilot service Microsoft is set to launch Copilot Cowork, a new tool based on Anthropic's viral Claude Cowork, as it strives to excel in the agentic AI space.

Tech giant Microsoft has announced plans to launch Copilot Cowork, which is a tool based on Anthropic’s viral Claude Cowork.

Despite challenges Ireland 6th in EU for board gender diversity Data from Balance for Better Business highlights the progress that needs to be made in empowering women to achieve leadership opportunities.

Data from Balance for Better Business has highlighted the issues women face in furthering their careers.

Check out today’s Daily Brief for the latest sci-tech news, including:

Irish banks to launch Revolut rival Zippay
OpenAI robotics lead quits, citing ethics concerns
AI infrastructure company Nscale raises $2bn

...and more!
mailchi.mp/siliconrepub...

European record $2bn Series C round for Nscale UK-based AI infrastructure ‘hyperscaler’ Nscale has raised $2bn in Series C funding, a European record.

A European record $2bn Series C funding round for Nscale puts its valuation at $14.6bn.

OpenAI Robotics lead quits citing ethics concerns OpenAI lost its Robotics lead over the weekend, over rush to do a deal with the Pentagon and benefit from Anthropic's ethics stance.

OpenAI’s Robotics lead resigned on Saturday over the company’s rushed deal with the Pentagon in the US, seen as opportunistic amid the Anthropic row.

Thermo Fisher Scientific opens new distribution centre in Meath Thermo Fisher Scientific has announced the opening of a distribution centre in Meath, Ireland, with the potential to improve the supply chain.

Life sciences company Thermo Fisher Scientific has announced the opening of a new distribution centre in Bracetown, County Meath. The facility will significantly expand the organisation’s Ireland-based infrastructure.

Irish banks to launch Revolut rival Zippay this week Banking service providers AIB, Bank of Ireland and PTSB are teaming up to rival Revolut with a new mobile payment service.

‘Zippay’ will be initially made available to AIB, Bank of Ireland and PTSB customers, before being offered to all financial institutions that provide IBAN account services and a mobile app. A phased launch will begin tomorrow (10 March).

Infineon Technologies officially opens new R&D Centre in Cork German semiconductor, power and IoT platform Infineon Technologies is expanding its Ireland operations with a new R&D centre in Cork.

Global semiconductor, power systems and IoT company Infineon Technologies has officially opened a new Cork-based R&D centre.

IrishJobs report shows 17pc gap in pay expectations of men and women A report from IrishJobs and its parent company The Stepstone Group has highlighted the financial challenges women often face in the workplace.

IrishJobs' data shows that men are often more comfortable negotiating a pay rise than their female colleagues.

Inside the EIC Accelerator: Practical advice from one Irish founder Rhona Togher has successfully raised €6.5m for Lios in 2025 through the EIC funding framework of Horizon Europe. Now she wants to share her learnings with other founders.

If you’re a deep tech start-up considering applying for the EIC (European Innovation Council) Accelerator, this is for you. Lios' Rhona Togher shares the learnings she wishes she'd had.

Researchers should learn to be entrepreneurial, says ARC hub lead Ireland is doubling down on building a strong research-to-market pipeline in hopes of creating global companies with homegrown roots.

“Commercialisation is generally new to people – particularly researchers. And it’s a new language and it’s a new acumen, and you have to try and build that. And that’s what we’re really trying to do with the ARC Hub,” says Garry Duffy, the director of the new ARC Hub for Healthtech.

How do IT and tech recruiters match the right applicant to the right role? IT Search's Karla O'Rourke explores the IT and tech recruitment landscape, as she offers advice to jobseekers looking for a new role.

IT Search’s Karla O’Rourke discusses her career in recruitment and how candidates can make themselves more attractive to organisations looking to hire.

Check out today’s Daily Brief for the latest sci-tech news, including:

Oracle to cut ‘thousands’ of jobs
Irish data security start-up Evervault raises $25m
UL and IMR to design 3D-printed liquid rocket engine

...and more!
mailchi.mp/siliconrepub...

Anthropic will fight US ‘supply chain risk’ designation in court Anthropic has confirmed its official designation as a 'supply chain risk' by the US administration and said it would fight it in the courts.

Anthropic last night confirmed it has been designated a ‘supply chain risk’ by the US administration, and says it has no choice but to challenge it in the courts.

Irish data security start-up Evervault raises $25m The funding will be used to expand Evervault’s encryption infrastructure, invest in product development, and grow its engineering and product teams.

Evervault, a data encryption start-up founded by Irishman Shane Curran, has raised $25m in Series B funding.

UL and IMR to design Ireland’s first 3D printed liquid rocket engine A UL and IMR partnership will facilitate the design and development of Ireland's first additive manufactured liquid rocket engine.

ULAS HiPR, which is the University of Limerick’s student-led high-powered rocketry team, has announced a partnership with Irish Manufacturing Research.

Oracle to cut 'thousands' of jobs, reports Bloomberg Oracle will cut 'thousands' of jobs to funnel funds into its AI data centre expansion efforts. Filing shows layoffs will cost Oracle $1.6bn.

Oracle will cut “thousands” of jobs to funnel funds into its major AI data centre expansion efforts, reported Bloomberg. Last September, the company revealed plans for its largest-ever restructuring, set to cost up to $1.6bn.

For this episode of The Leaders’ Room, We ​​sat down with Cathy Kearney, Apple’s VP of European Operations, and Kristina Raspe, the company’s VP of Places, to chat about how their evolving campus reflects the iconic company’s commitment to Ireland. 📖 Check out the full feature 🔗 vist.ly/4tuh9

Are assumptions creating barriers for women seeking leadership roles? A report from Hogan Assessments breaksdown the invisible barriers that often prevent women from accessing leadership roles in their careers.

Allison Howell explores recent data from Hogan Assessments and how falsehoods about women in positions of power can result in missed opportunities.

Revolut applies for US banking license UK fintech giant Revolut has applied for a US banking license, and has tapped former Visa executive Cetin Duransoy as its US CEO.

UK fintech giant Revolut has applied for a US banking license. If successful, Revolut would be able offer services such as personal loans and credit cards to its US-based customers.

Minister announces €12m in project funding and 23 jobs at Kerry’s Net Feasa Minister Dara Calleary has announced 23 new jobs in Kerry at Net Feasa, as well as €12m in funding for rural-based projects.

Dara Calleary, TD, has approved €12m in funding for a range of rural projects and has also revealed plans for 23 new jobs at Net Feasa, in Daingean Uí Chúis, Kerry.

Check out today’s Daily Brief for the latest sci-tech news, including:

Amazon cuts jobs in its robotics division
French quantum start-up Pasqal to go public via SPAC
Women-led Irish companies growing in south and mid-west

...and more!
mailchi.mp/siliconrepub...

Major phishing operation disrupted in joint Europol action A joint operation has disrupted one of the largest phishing-as-a-service platform worldwide, called ‘Tycoon 2FA’.

A joint cybersecurity operation has disrupted one of the world’s largest phishing-as-a-service platform, called ‘Tycoon 2FA’, used to bypass multi-factor authentication and hack accounts.

French quantum start-up Pasqal raises €340m, plans dual public listings French quantum start-up Pasqal raises €340m ahead of plans for public listings via a SPAC on the Nasdaq and Euronext exchanges.

French quantum start-up Pasqal raises €340m and plans dual public listings.