Swedish AI startup Lovable has raised $330 million in Series B funding, valuing it at $6.6 billion, with the goal of becoming the essential software layer for companies by enabling 'vibe-coding,' where AI writes code based on plain language descriptions, aiming to democratize software creation and streamline enterprise workflows.
A competitive battle is emerging between Salesforce and ServiceNow in the enterprise software market, focusing on AI and automation. Salesforce is expanding its AI capabilities with new platforms like Agentforce 360, Slack integrations, and partnerships with OpenAI, aiming to reaccelerate growth and position as an AI orchestration layer. Despite stock fluctuations, Salesforce is investing heavily in autonomous AI agents and related tools, intensifying the rivalry with ServiceNow in workflow automation and enterprise AI solutions.
IBM and Anthropic have partnered to integrate Anthropic's Claude language model into IBM's software products, starting with an AI-driven IDE that enhances productivity by 45%, while emphasizing security, governance, and cost controls for enterprise AI deployment. The collaboration aims to streamline the software development lifecycle, improve security, and establish open standards for enterprise AI agents, ultimately shaping the future of AI in business environments.
Workday has acquired Sana Labs for $1.1 billion to enhance its learning platform with AI-native capabilities and to develop a new 'front door' experience for users, transforming how employees access and interact with corporate systems and knowledge, amidst increasing competition in AI and enterprise agent platforms.
Amazon is developing a new AI-powered workspace software called Quick Suite, aimed at enhancing decision-making and automation for businesses. The platform, which integrates existing AWS products and introduces new features like Quick Flows, is currently in beta testing with early users including BMW, Intuit, and Koch Industries. This move marks Amazon's strategic push into the enterprise AI and SaaS markets, competing with other tech giants in the agent-driven automation space.
GitHub Copilot has surpassed 20 million all-time users, with rapid growth in recent months, and is widely adopted by Fortune 100 companies, positioning it as a leading enterprise AI coding tool amid increasing competition from other startups and tech giants.
French AI startup Mistral has launched Mistral Code, an AI-powered coding client for enterprise developers, supporting over 80 programming languages and integrating various models for code autocomplete, search, and chat assistance. It aims to compete with existing tools like GitHub Copilot and is currently in private beta for JetBrains and VS Code, with customers including Capgemini and SNCF. Mistral plans ongoing improvements and contributions to open source.
Shares of C3.ai experienced volatility as the company reported better-than-expected quarterly results and raised its outlook, prompting analysts to maintain a positive stance despite mixed guidance.
MicroStrategy, led by billionaire Michael Saylor, has significantly increased its Bitcoin holdings, now owning 279,420 Bitcoins valued at $24.5 billion. Despite Bitcoin's price surge, Saylor remains bullish, predicting it could reach $100,000 by 2024 and $13 million in 21 years. MicroStrategy's pivot to Bitcoin has overshadowed its struggling software business, leading to increased debt and share issuance to fund further Bitcoin purchases. This strategy is risky, hinging on Bitcoin's future performance against the U.S. dollar.
SAP has announced its acquisition of digital adoption platform WalkMe for $1.5 billion in an all-cash deal, marking a 45% premium on WalkMe's recent stock price. This move aims to enhance SAP's Business Transformation Management suite and accelerate digital adoption for customers, boosting productivity and ROI. The acquisition follows SAP's previous purchases of Signavio and LeanIX, furthering its efforts in enterprise modernization. The deal is expected to close by Q3 2024, pending customary approvals.
SAP is acquiring digital adoption platform WalkMe for $1.5 billion in cash, representing a 45% premium on WalkMe's recent share price. Founded in Israel and now based in San Francisco, WalkMe provides real-time, on-screen guidance to simplify website navigation and user onboarding. SAP plans to integrate WalkMe's AI-powered tools with its own offerings to enhance enterprise customer support and automation. The acquisition is expected to close in Q3 2024, pending regulatory and shareholder approval.
UiPath's stock plummeted 35% after the company lowered its full-year financial guidance and announced the abrupt departure of its CEO, Robert Enslin, after just four months. Despite being a leader in its industry, UiPath is facing slower growth in annual recurring revenue and increased deal scrutiny from customers. Founder Daniel Dines will return as CEO, but the sudden leadership change adds uncertainty, prompting investors to react negatively.
Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff discussed the company's first revenue miss since 2006, attributing it to a "measured" post-pandemic buying environment for enterprise software. Despite weaker-than-expected guidance and a revenue of $9.13 billion, Benioff highlighted the company's strong cash flow, margins, and advancements in AI capabilities for customers.
Canva has launched a new enterprise version of its design tool, addressing the needs of larger organizations with features like single sign-on, enhanced security, centralized brand management, and dedicated support. This move comes as Canva sees increased usage by large cohorts, necessitating a product that can handle complex workflows and multiple departments. The new enterprise product aims to empower organizations and streamline design processes across various industries.
C3.ai's stock has surged over 20% following its favorable quarterly results, driven by an 18% increase in total sales and significant customer engagement growth. The company's suite of AI software solutions is attracting interest from various industries, with strong bookings and a promising revenue outlook. While C3.ai's stock currently holds a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), its potential for further upside and profitability hinges on future earnings estimate revisions and sustained top line growth.