According to Business Times, AI equity rounds, particularly involving companies like OpenAI and Anthropic, contributed to a 12.6% increase in private equity aggregate value, reaching $154.6 billion in Q1 2026. However, the overall number of global transactions decreased by 22%, totaling 614 deals during the same period.

In the first half of 2026, African tech funding totaled $1.44 billion, driven by significant mergers and acquisitions, debt financing, and advancements in artificial intelligence restructuring. This funding milestone reflects the evolving landscape of the tech ecosystem in Africa.

Anthropic, the company behind the AI model Claude, has officially filed for an initial public offering (IPO) by submitting a draft S-1 registration statement to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. This move marks a significant step in the ongoing competition among AI companies to enter the stock market, making Anthropic the first to take this formal action.

A new World Bank assessment indicates that artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to reshape the global economy and enhance growth, particularly as global markets face challenges such as geopolitical tensions, declining productivity, and a fragile recovery from the pandemic. The report highlights the transformative impact of AI amidst these ongoing economic issues.

European HR technology firm Factorial has secured $150 million in a Series D funding round led by General Catalyst, bringing the company's valuation to $2.5 billion. Existing investors Atomico and Four Rivers also participated in this funding round. Additionally, General Catalyst plans to invest $540 million in non-dilutive capital through its Customer program.

According to Moneyweb, the tech and finance sectors are losing approximately 28,000 jobs monthly, with companies increasingly attributing these cuts to the impact of artificial intelligence. Bankers have also expressed concerns that AI technology will lead to further job eliminations in the industry.