Daily Tech: AI Innovation, Volkswagen deal and Humanoid race

FutureGate | March 26 2025

AI Innovation Recognized: Five9 and Deluxe Secure Top Honors

Five9 (NASDAQ: FIVN), a leader in cloud-based contact center solutions, has earned significant recognition at the 2025 Artificial Intelligence Excellence Awards. Its "Five9 AI Agents" platform secured the top prize in the Innovative AI Products category, applauded for enhancing customer interactions with advanced automation and machine learning capabilities. The company's Five9 GenAI Studio was also named a finalist, reinforcing its reputation as a pioneer in AI-driven customer engagement technology.

Meanwhile, Deluxe Corporation (NYSE: DLX), a trusted player in payments and data solutions, has secured the prestigious CIO 100 Award for the second consecutive year. The accolade honors the company’s “Execute with AI” initiative — a transformative program leveraging artificial intelligence to streamline operations and deliver enhanced business intelligence to clients. The back-to-back recognition underscores Deluxe’s continued leadership in enterprise innovation.

Mobileye Accelerates with Volkswagen Driver-Assistance Deal

Mobileye (NASDAQ: MBLY), the Intel-backed autonomous driving technology firm, saw its shares climb following news of a strategic partnership with Volkswagen. The collaboration aims to integrate Mobileye’s advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) into the automaker’s upcoming models, enhancing safety and driving capabilities. The partnership is seen as a critical step for Volkswagen in the race to compete with Tesla’s Autopilot and other emerging self-driving technologies. For Mobileye, the deal further cements its position as a leading force in autonomous mobility solutions.

Agibot Aims to Challenge Tesla in Humanoid Robotics

Chinese robotics startup Agibot has announced plans to produce 5,000 humanoid robots this year — matching the ambitious production target set by Tesla for its Optimus robot. Agibot’s move positions it as a formidable competitor in the emerging humanoid robotics space, a sector gaining traction across manufacturing, logistics, and consumer applications. The company’s rapid scale-up signals China's growing push to lead in next-generation automation, potentially reshaping global labor markets and industrial productivity.

Investors are closely watching whether Agibot’s manufacturing capabilities and technological prowess can stand toe-to-toe with Tesla’s AI and robotics ecosystem — a competition that could define the future of human-like automation.