AI’s Big Bang: Billion-Dollar Deals, Breakthroughs & Backlash (Aug 4–5, 2025 AI Roundup)
OpenAI raised $8.3 billion at a $300 billion valuation in a round led by Dragoneer, with SoftBank committing up to $40 billion this year. AI-driven M&A hit $2.6 trillion in the first seven months of 2025, up 28% in value despite fewer deals. Italy launched an antitrust probe into Meta over WhatsApp AI integration. California’s new AI hiring rules take effect October 1, 2025.
