Tech Updates

Effective Harnesses for Long-Running Agents

https://www.anthropic.com/engineering/effective-harnesses-for-long-running-agents

Intel is making mixed moves in Israel, laying off hundreds of employees while also acquiring cloud optimization startup Granulate for $650 million. Its venture arm, Intel Capital, also led a $30 million Series A funding round for Hardware-as-a-Service platform Xyte. In other major funding news, AI21 Labs raised $232 million from Nvidia and Google, reaching a $1.4 billion valuation. Meanwhile, Microsoft is unbundling its Teams application from its Office suite globally to avoid potential EU antitrust fines. The local startup ecosystem is also expanding with the launch of two new accelerators: Omnion by tech veterans in Tel Aviv, and 'The Matter' by Pitango for advanced materials startups.

https://www.calcalist.co.il/calcalistech/article/rjhhkazbwg
https://www.calcalist.co.il/calcalistech/article/bkvzumfbwe
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Estimating AI productivity gainshttps://www.anthropic.com/research/estimating-productivity-gains?utm_source=alphasignal&utm_campaign=2025-11-26&lid=Ci5OpFSefzoYskOn

Ilya Sutskever - We're moving from the age of scaling to the age of research

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aR20FWCCjAs

The Arc browser is integrating features from OpenAI and ChatGPT, and a guide is available for using ChatGPT for shopping research. Google's SynthID tool can now watermark and identify AI-generated images from its Gemini model. In other technology news, a RAM shortage is causing market prices to increase. Drones are transforming marine mammal research. In news from Israel, Samsung is in talks to acquire autotech firm Autotalks, cybersecurity company Skybox Security is highlighted as a profitable unicorn, and the US Army is acquiring Israeli smart shooter technology. The country is also addressing its budget by targeting uncollected taxes and has launched an accelerator for African entrepreneurs.

https://www.theverge.com/news/825036/openai-chatgpt-atlas-arc-vertical-tabs-update
https://www.theverge.com/news/824786/google-gemini-synthid-ai-image-detection
https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/11/flying-with-whales-drones-are-remaking-marine-mammal-research
https://www.calcalist.co.il/calcalistech/article/rkd3ifalwe
https://www.calcalist.co.il/calcalistech/article/b16k76bbbe
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https://www.theverge.com/news/828326/chatgpt-shopping-research-chatgpt-buyers-guide
https://www.theverge.com/news/828337/ram-memory-shortage-crunch-market-prices-central-micro-center

Samsung is in talks to acquire Israeli autotech company Autotalks for $200 million and has also unveiled its Galaxy S23 series, closing the gap between its standard and Ultra models. Meanwhile, critics are scoffing at Microsoft after it warned that one of its own AI features could infect machines and steal data. In other corporate news, Intel Israel is moving its manufacturing plants to a 4-day work week, and CyberArk posted a 35% revenue growth with a $53 million profit in the first quarter of 2024. In Israel, a new accelerator will invest millions in space and climate tech, though a Surfshark report found a record number of Israeli accounts were breached in Q1 2024. A separate report alleges that Ukrainian intelligence recruited Israelis for a wartime fundraising campaign.

https://www.calcalist.co.il/calcalistech/article/r1rowfclzg
https://www.calcalist.co.il/calcalistech/article/syhmf45ebx
https://arstechnica.com/security/2025/11/critics-scoff-after-microsoft-warns-ai-feature-can-infect-machines-and-pilfer-data
https://www.calcalist.co.il/calcalistech/article/ry3vydoezl
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How AI will change software engineering - with Martin Fowler

https://youtu.be/CQmI4XKTa0U

• Intel is making significant moves with a planned $650 million acquisition of Israeli startup Granulate and a separate $15 billion investment to expand its Kiryat Gat factory.
• Mellanox is set to acquire EZchip for $811 million.
• AI chip developer Hailo has raised $120 million in funding and launched a new processor for edge devices.
• NurExone has secured $7.5 million to advance the development of its Alzheimer's drug.
• A report on Windows 11 indicates that its new background AI agents introduce new security risks.
• Commentary on tech industry figures includes a profile of OpenAI's "forgotten founder," Greg Brockman, and a report on Linus Torvalds' criticism of "vibe-based" coding.

https://www.calcalist.co.il/calcalistech/article/ryispqklwx
https://www.calcalist.co.il/calcalistech/article/sksf80ygzx
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/11/new-windows-11-ai-agents-can-work-in-the-background-but-create-new-security-risks
https://www.calcalist.co.il/calcalistech/article/s12y2xsgbg
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https://www.calcalist.co.il/calcalistech/article/bye6oviewl
https://www.theregister.com/2025/11/18/linus_torvalds_vibe_coding

In the semiconductor sector, the ongoing US-China conflict is fueling a boom in chip stocks, while Samsung reportedly plans to exclusively use Qualcomm chips in its upcoming Galaxy S25. In artificial intelligence news, Israel has launched IBEX, its first AI-focused investment bank, and Scopio Labs has received FDA clearance for its AI platform for rapid bone marrow cancer detection. Additionally, a new biotech accelerator by Teva and JVP has selected its first four startups. In security news, US authorities have seized cryptocurrency used by Hamas for fundraising.

https://www.calcalist.co.il/calcalistech/article/h1e6u7qxze
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Microsoft's CEO Satya Nadella promises a "completely new" company with a vision for an AI-powered PC featuring Windows Copilot. This includes integrating Copilot chat into its Office suite and launching Microsoft Agent to give businesses more security control. Google is laying off dozens in Israel amid global cuts and has updated its Calendar to schedule tasks as time blocks, while CEO Sundar Pichai warns of "irrationality" in the AI investment boom. In Israel, the 'Iron Beam' laser air defense system has been successfully tested. The country's tech sector also saw major acquisitions, with Sanofi buying biotech firm Biond Biologics for over $1 billion for a cancer drug, and Intel acquiring startup Granulate for $650 million.https://www.calcalist.co.il/calcalistech/article/s1xd7foxbx

https://www.calcalist.co.il/calcalistech/article/byvr8jdxwx
https://www.theverge.com/news/822492/google-calendar-tasks-busy-time-block
https://the-decoder.com/microsoft-ceo-satya-nadella-promises-a-completely-new-microsoft
https://www.calcalist.co.il/calcalistech/article/rj08g5ygwx
https://www.calcalist.co.il/calcalistech/article/s1tkuqylwx
https://www.theverge.com/report/822443/microsoft-windows-copilot-vision-ai-assistant-pc-voice-controls-impressions
https://arstechnica.com/ai/2025/11/googles-sundar-pichai-warns-of-irrationality-in-trillion-dollar-ai-investment-boom
https://www.theverge.com/news/822789/microsoft-copilot-chat-outlook-word-excel-powerpoint
https://www.theverge.com/news/822035/microsoft-agent-365-businesses-control-security