Daily Tech: IBM investment, TEM advancement, EV rollout and AI security

FutureGate | April 29 2025

IBM Commits $150 Billion to U.S. Manufacturing and R&D Over Five Years

In a bold show of confidence in American innovation, IBM (NYSE: IBM) announced a monumental investment plan to allocate $150 billion over the next five years toward U.S.-based manufacturing and research initiatives. The company will earmark $30 billion specifically for research and development, focusing heavily on emerging fields like quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and next-generation semiconductor technology.This strategic move not only reinforces IBM’s position as a leader in the evolving tech landscape but also aligns with broader national objectives to reshore critical technology supply chains. The investment is expected to bolster high-skilled job creation and ensure the U.S. maintains a competitive edge in advanced computing sectors.IBM’s pivot to intensify American manufacturing comes at a time when geopolitical tensions and global supply chain disruptions have prompted major corporations to rethink overseas dependencies.

Tempus Launches Tempus Loop: A Game-Changer for AI-Driven Drug Discovery

Tempus, a leader in precision medicine and AI healthcare solutions, today unveiled "Tempus Loop," a cutting-edge oncology-focused platform designed to revolutionize target discovery and validation. Leveraging real-world patient data (RWD), human-derived biological models, and CRISPR-based screens — all integrated through advanced AI — Tempus Loop accelerates the identification of novel drug targets with unprecedented speed and accuracy.This platform is poised to significantly shorten the timeline from target discovery to preclinical development, addressing a major bottleneck in oncology therapeutics. The innovation highlights Tempus’s commitment to fusing artificial intelligence with biotechnology to create faster, more scalable solutions for the pharmaceutical industry — a high-growth intersection that continues to attract investor capital.

Volkswagen Begins Autonomous EV Testing in the U.S., Partners with Uber for National Expansion

Volkswagen (XETRA: VOW) has officially commenced its first U.S. autonomous vehicle testing program with a fleet of 10 ID. Buzz electric vans. This milestone marks a significant step forward for the German automaker’s ambitions in the self-driving and electrification spaces. In partnership with Uber Technologies (NYSE: UBER), Volkswagen plans to deploy “a fleet of thousands” of fully autonomous ID. Buzz EVs across the United States over the coming years.The collaboration combines Volkswagen's engineering prowess with Uber's vast ride-hailing infrastructure, aiming to establish a robust, scalable autonomous transport network. This initiative also reflects the broader automotive sector’s pivot toward integrating autonomous technology as a core component of future growth strategies, especially in light of regulatory pushes for greener, more sustainable urban transport solutions.

Palo Alto Networks to Acquire Protect AI, Strengthening Leadership in AI Security

Cybersecurity giant Palo Alto Networks (NASDAQ: PANW) announced its intent to acquire Protect AI, a specialist in securing machine learning (ML) and AI applications. Protect AI has emerged as a critical player addressing unique threats to AI models, such as data poisoning, model manipulation, and prompt injection attacks. Through this acquisition, Palo Alto Networks will significantly enhance its existing portfolio by embedding AI-native security tools that ensure the integrity and reliability of AI/ML workflows across enterprises.The move is strategic, coming at a time when the adoption of AI technologies across industries is accelerating, but so are the associated risks. By securing its foothold in this emerging niche, Palo Alto Networks positions itself to capitalize on what is expected to be a multi-billion-dollar market opportunity for AI/ML cybersecurity solutions over the next decade.