2026年2月，人工智能智能体赛道的战火已烧至每一个角落。就在近日，曾因"斯坦福AI小镇"而轰动学 术圈的创始团队核心成员正式官宣创业，新公司Simile完成1亿美元A轮融资，试图打造能够规模化模拟 人类行为的"AI社会模拟器"。 这笔融资不仅吸引了顶级风投的领投，更获得了斯坦福大学知名人工智能学者李飞飞、OpenAI联合创 始人Andrej Karpathy等一众硅谷科技大佬的背书。 Simile的技术根基源于2023年那篇震撼业界的论文《生成式智能体》。当时，由Joon Sung Park及其导 师、现任Simile首席科学家Percy Liang等人构建的虚拟小镇"Smallville"，仅凭25个基于GPT的AI智能体 和简单的身份设定，就让这些电子小人自主地上演了社交八卦、信息传播甚至策划情人节派对的戏码。 这一研究被视为生成式智能体领域的开创性成果，首次证明了大模型能在虚拟世界中模拟出接近真人的 类人行为。 如今，Simile的野心远不止于像素游戏。团队将原本只能承载25个智能体的架构升级为可容纳千级智能 体的大规模模拟平台，旨在构建一个"基础世界模型"，用以预测任何规模、任何情况下的人类行为。 ...

Join our daily newsletter At The Bell to receive exclusive market insightsASX today − Week 8 is ending on a down note after mostly gaining days, with shares Down Under heading for a -0.33% drop as global equities soften and oil and gold tick up under growing tensions between the U.S. and Iran.Listen to the HotCopper podcast for in-depth discussions and insights on all the biggest headlines from throughout the week. On Spotify, Apple, and more.ASX futures are following Wall Street pretty closely (after divor ...

Market Overview - The ASX is expected to rise, influenced by significant gains in the U.S. markets, particularly in tech stocks, with the Nasdaq gaining +0.78% [2] - Oil prices are a topic of discussion, with traders speculating on U.S.-Iran talks and potential American intervention [3] Company Earnings Reports - Telstra (ASX:TLS) reported an +8% increase in first-half profits, totaling $1.2 billion, with dividends rising to 10.5 cents per share [4] - Medibank (ASX:MPL), Australia's leading private health insurer, experienced a slight decline in net profit, down to $298 million, attributed to "increasing diversification" across sectors [4] - Transurban (ASX:TCL) showed a strong rebound in CY25, benefiting from increased traffic on toll roads and reduced maintenance costs, although Melbourne's traffic remains below pre-COVID-19 levels [5] Other Companies to Watch - Major companies reporting include Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO), Wesfarmers (ASX:WES), Whitehaven (ASX:WTC), Iluka Resources (ASX:ILU), Goodman Group (ASX:GMG), Zip Co (ASX:ZIP), and Electro Optic Systems (ASX:EOS) [5]

Core Insights - Telstra is expected to cut more than 200 jobs as it implements AI capabilities and shifts some roles to India through a joint venture with Accenture valued at $700 million [1][2][3] - The joint venture aims to enhance efficiency, modernization, and productivity, leveraging Accenture's global capabilities and AI expertise [2][5] - Telstra's CEO, Vicki Brady, emphasized that AI will significantly enhance workforce capabilities, with autonomous AI working alongside staff [4][5] Job Cuts and Workforce Changes - A total of 209 jobs are anticipated to be eliminated, following a previous announcement in 2024 regarding the reduction of 2,800 jobs in Telstra's enterprise business [3] - Affected employees will be offered assistance in finding new positions within Telstra or Accenture, along with access to career transition programs and retrenchment benefits [2][3] Future Outlook - The implementation of AI efficiencies is expected to lead to improved cost efficiencies and a better customer experience for Telstra [3] - The joint venture is part of Telstra's strategy to modernize its data and AI platforms and embed responsible AI practices [5]

Core Insights - Enterprises in Asia Pacific are modernizing their networks with internet-first managed services to enhance performance, resilience, and governance [1][2] - The shift from legacy networks to software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN) and secure access service edge (SASE) architectures is driven by the need for reliable performance and regulatory compliance [2][3] - Managed and co-managed network services are increasingly adopted to address skills gaps and multivendor complexities [4] Group 1: Network Modernization - Networks are evolving into a strategic foundation for digital operations, essential for AI adoption, robotics, and automation [2][3] - The demand for SD-WAN and SASE architectures is rising as enterprises expand distributed operations and seek to improve application performance and cyber resilience [3][4] - Organizations are incrementally modernizing their networks while maintaining service consistency across varying infrastructure maturity levels [3] Group 2: Service Models and Trends - API-first, usage-based network-as-a-service (NaaS) models are gaining traction as companies shift spending from CapEx to OpEx [4] - Automation and AIOps are being utilized to enhance provisioning, application assurance, and change management, leading to faster deployments and lower total costs [4][6] - The report highlights the importance of addressing last-mile performance and edge connectivity complexities in managed network adoption [6] Group 3: Market Landscape - There is a growing market for local managed network service providers that comply with sovereign regulations, particularly in government and private sectors [5] - The report evaluates 63 providers across four quadrants, identifying leaders such as Accenture, GTT, NTT DATA, and others [7][8] - Tata Communications is recognized as the global ISG CX Star Performer for 2025, achieving the highest customer satisfaction scores [10]

Core Insights - The Network API Market is projected to grow from USD 2.15 billion in 2025 to USD 27.01 billion by 2033, with a CAGR of 37.32% from 2026 to 2033 [1][2] Market Drivers - The demand for seamless integration, real-time data exchange, and enhanced connectivity across cloud services, corporate applications, and IoT ecosystems is driving the growth of the Network API market [2] - The adoption of digital transformation projects, 5G networks, and AI-based services is increasing the need for reliable, scalable, and secure APIs [2] Regional Insights - North America holds a dominant share of 42.00% in the Network API Market in 2025, attributed to advanced digital infrastructure and strong enterprise integration of API-driven solutions [10] - The Asia Pacific region is expected to experience the fastest growth with a CAGR of approximately 40.25% from 2026 to 2033, driven by rapid digital transformation and increasing smartphone penetration [10] Market Segmentation By Type - Communication & Messaging APIs lead with a 29.4% market share, essential for real-time interactions and enterprise messaging workflows [5] - Device & IoT Connectivity APIs are the fastest-growing segment, with a CAGR of 28.6%, driven by the rapid expansion of IoT across various industries [5] By Network Type - 3G/4G/LTE Networks account for 41.7% of the market share, serving as the foundation for API-driven telecom services [6] - 5G Networks are the fastest-growing segment, with a CAGR of 30.3%, due to their ultra-low latency and high bandwidth capabilities [6] By Application - IT & Telecom sectors lead with a 33.8% share, relying heavily on APIs for network optimization and operational automation [8] - BFSI is the fastest-growing segment, with a CAGR of 27.4%, driven by the demand for secure financial APIs [8] By End-User - Enterprises hold a 36.2% share, integrating APIs to streamline workflows and enhance connectivity [9] - Developers represent the fastest-growing segment, with a CAGR of 26.1%, due to the increasing availability of open APIs [9] Recent Developments - In 2024, Ericsson launched its Network API Platform, providing enterprises and developers access to real-time 5G network capabilities [14] - In 2025, Nokia introduced Network as Code (NaC), a cloud-native platform offering self-service access to 5G and fixed network APIs [14] Key Players - Major companies in the Network API market include Ericsson, Nokia, Cisco, Microsoft, AT&T, and others [13]

Core Insights - The integration of AI into corporate strategy is essential, as it is no longer a separate initiative but a fundamental aspect of business operations [2] - Accenture and Telstra have established a joint venture to accelerate AI adoption, moving beyond traditional client-consultant dynamics [3] - Organizational culture and people are critical for successful AI implementation, necessitating a shift in mindset alongside technological advancements [4] Company and Industry Developments - Accenture's Chief Responsible AI Officer emphasized that data and AI strategies must be foundational to business strategies [2] - The joint venture between Accenture and Telstra aims to overcome the limitations of conventional corporate structures, allowing for faster innovation [3] - Telstra faces significant technical debt, operating with 80 different data platforms due to independent data sourcing by various departments [5]

Core Insights - LivePerson has launched the Conversation Simulator, a platform designed to test, train, and analyze AI and human agents in a risk-free environment, addressing key barriers to generative AI (GenAI) adoption such as accuracy, compliance, and risk [1][2][3] Group 1: Product Features and Benefits - The Conversation Simulator allows brands to validate AI before customer interactions, making generative AI more predictable and measurable for enterprise use [3][4] - It employs synthetic customers to mimic real behaviors, helping to identify risks, test performance, and ensure compliance with brand standards [3][4] - The platform aims to transform AI deployment from a leap of faith into a repeatable, proven process, addressing challenges that often stall AI programs at the pilot stage [4] Group 2: Market Reception and Use Cases - Early adopters like Telstra, Australia's leading telecom provider, are already utilizing the Conversation Simulator and reporting positive results [3] - The platform is vendor-agnostic, serving as a comprehensive testing and governance tool for a brand's entire conversational ecosystem [3] Group 3: Operational Efficiency - The Conversation Simulator automates training for human agents, significantly reducing onboarding time from weeks to hours by using real-world scenarios [8] - It continuously monitors AI and agent performance to ensure compliance with evolving regulations, such as the EU AI Act [8]

Core Insights - Inseego Corp. has appointed Nabil Bukhari and Stephen Bye to its Board of Directors, enhancing its leadership in 5G mobile broadband and fixed wireless access solutions [1][2] - The new board members bring extensive experience in wireless networking, SaaS, and AI, which aligns with Inseego's strategy for growth and market expansion [1][2] Group 1: Board Member Profiles - Nabil Bukhari is currently the President of AI Platforms and CTO at Extreme Networks, focusing on AI integration in networking products and has a strong background in SaaS and cloud-based solutions [2][3] - Stephen Bye is the CEO of Ookla and has a history of helping carriers evolve their strategies, with leadership roles at DISH, C Spire, Sprint, and AT&T, providing him with a unique perspective on connectivity monetization [3][4] Group 2: Strategic Focus - Inseego aims to capitalize on the expanding Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) market, with a strong emphasis on technology leadership as 5G Advanced and 6G developments approach [5] - The company has increased its board size from six to eight members to support its strategic growth priorities and leverage the expertise of the new directors [5]

Core Insights - Major crypto ETFs experienced significant outflows, with a total of $672 million withdrawn on October 30, primarily driven by risk aversion among institutional investors [1][2][3] - BlackRock's private-credit arm is embroiled in a $500 million fraud scandal, raising concerns about risk management and due diligence within the firm [1][4] Group 1: ETF Outflows - Institutional clients withdrew $490 million from Bitcoin ETFs on October 30, with BlackRock's IBIT ETF leading the outflows at $290.9 million [2] - Ethereum ETFs also faced substantial losses, totaling $184 million, with BlackRock's ETHA accounting for $118 million of this amount [2][3] - The outflows are interpreted as profit-taking and portfolio trimming rather than panic selling, indicating a broader retreat from risk amid macroeconomic uncertainty [3] Group 2: Fraud Scandal - BlackRock's private-credit division, HPS Investment Partners, is linked to a telecom-financing fraud involving over $500 million, which included fake accounts receivable [4] - Court filings allege that borrowers used forged contracts and invoices from major companies like T-Mobile and Telstra as collateral for large loans, revealing systematic forgery and misrepresentation [5]