Snowflake is making its largest acquisition ever, agreeing to buy observability platform Observe for around $1 billion. The deal, announced January 8th, aims to integrate monitoring tools directly into Snowflake’s data cloud as AI workloads explode.
HSBC is set to fully acquire Hang Seng Bank after minority shareholders overwhelmingly backed the $14 billion buyout offer. The deal, a 30% premium, is a big wager on Hong Kong’s economic resurgence.
A new report from PJM’s independent market monitor reveals that forecasts for data center growth were responsible for 45% of the costs in the last three capacity auctions. This unprecedented uncertainty is forcing a major rethink of how the grid operator plans for and connects massive new loads.
According to a major MIT report, 95% of businesses are getting zero return on their AI investments. The real barrier isn’t the AI models themselves, but the ungoverned, chaotic data they’re built upon. Fixing this data foundation is the only path to real value.
The adtech industry is facing a pivotal year in 2026, forced to adapt as AI chatbots drain website traffic and Google faces a potential court-ordered breakup. Executives at CES are plotting moves into streaming TV and “agentic” AI advertising to survive. The future of independent players like The Tr
Britain’s long-troubled Emergency Services Network is exploring satellite links to ensure coverage everywhere. With the project now delayed until at least December 2029, officials are looking for any help they can get.
An environmental group has filed a lawsuit to uncover the projected electricity load for Meta’s planned AI data center in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. The state commission is withholding the data, reportedly at the request of Meta or a utility, claiming it’s a trade secret.
Epic is closing out its annual holiday free game promotion with two final titles. Both Total War: Three Kingdoms and the space shooter Wildgate are free to claim right now.
According to VentureBeat, the data world is in for a major reset in 2026. RAG is getting a massive overhaul, purpose-built vector databases are facing an existential crisis, and the 40-year-old PostgreSQL is suddenly the hottest thing in AI. Billions in acquisitions are reshaping the entire market.
The biggest hurdle for businesses wanting to profit from AI might not be tech, but a lack of self-knowledge. According to a Fast Company piece, the key lies in treating data like inherited art—you need a systematic appraisal to understand its true value.
