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AI Chip Startup Groq Secures $1.5 Billion Investment From Saudi Arabia

Groq, a U.S.-based AI semiconductor startup, has secured a $1.5 billion commitment from Saudi Arabia to expand its advanced AI chip delivery in the country. The startup, founded by a former Alphabet AI chip engineer, specializes in AI inference chips that optimize speed and execute commands for pre-trained models.

Groq already has a partnership with Aramco Digital, the tech arm of oil giant Aramco, through which they developed a key AI hub in the region in December. The investment will fund the expansion of Groq’s data center in Dammam, with the startup having obtained the necessary licenses to export its chips despite U.S. export controls.

The announcement was made at Saudi Arabia’s LEAP 2025 event, where the country also secured $14.9 billion in AI investments. One of the technologies supported by the Dammam Center is Allam, an AI language model developed by the Saudi government that operates in both Arabic and English.

In August, Groq raised $640 million in a funding round led by Cisco, Samsung, and BlackRock, bringing its valuation to $2.8 billion.

$110 Billion Warner Bros. Discovery Deal Moves Closer To EU Approval

Paramount Skydance Corp has put forward remedies aimed at addressing European Union competition concerns over its planned $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery, according to a regulatory filing released Wednesday. A source familiar with the matter told Reuters last week that the proposal was likely to secure approval from the European Commission.

Paramount Seeks To Defuse Antitrust Objections

In its filing, Paramount said it was “confident that this remedy directly and comprehensively addresses any concerns expressed in the European Commission’s preliminary assessment and supports the path for timely clearance.”

The European Commission, which serves as the EU’s antitrust watchdog, has not disclosed the substance of the remedies, consistent with its standard practice.

Film Distribution Venture In Focus

According to a person with direct knowledge of the discussions, Paramount is expected to propose abandoning its film distribution joint venture with Universal Pictures in an effort to ease antitrust concerns raised by European cinema operators.

The Commission has already extended its review deadline to July 22 from July 7, giving regulators additional time to assess the proposed remedy package.

Regulatory Risk Remains On Both Sides Of The Atlantic

In the United States, the Department of Justice has cleared the transaction. Even so, the deal could still face significant opposition from state regulators, with California, New York and other states reportedly preparing a lawsuit to block the acquisition, according to Reuters sources.

Meanwhile, the United Kingdom signaled on Tuesday that it may also intervene, citing potential implications for news, children’s television and streaming services.

For Paramount, the message is clear: the merger may be winning support from federal regulators, but the path to completion remains politically and legally complex on both sides of the Atlantic.

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