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Patronus AI Raises $50 Million Series B and Unveils First Digital World Models for AI Agent Training and Simulation

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2 months ago

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New funding will accelerate development of Digital World Models and large-scale simulation environments for long-horizon AI agents

SAN FRANCISCO, June 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Patronus AI today announced a $50 million Series B led by Greenfield Partners and unveiled its Digital World Models, a new class of large-scale simulation environments designed to help AI systems train, evaluate, and improve across complex digital workflows. The round included participation from existing investors Notable Capital, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Datadog, Samsung, Factorial Capital, Gokul Rajaram, and leading AI and software executives.

Since launching less than three years ago, Patronus AI has become a leader in AI evaluation, simulation infrastructure, and reliability testing for frontier AI systems. Today, Patronus AI works with the majority of the world’s leading frontier AI labs and hyperscalers. The company’s revenue has grown more than 15x over the past year, reflecting growing demand for infrastructure that helps organizations train, evaluate, and deploy increasingly autonomous AI systems. The new funding brings Patronus AI’s total capital raised to $70 million.

Patronus AI was founded by AI researchers and engineers with backgrounds at organizations including Meta AI, Amazon AGI, and Google. The team’s experience spans LLM evaluation, AI alignment, fairness, and embodied agents, providing the technical foundation for the company’s work in simulation and evaluation infrastructure.

From Static Benchmarks to Simulated Digital Worlds

The first phase of generative AI was built on static internet text and benchmark leaderboards. But as agents move into longer, more complex workflows, the limitations of that approach are becoming increasingly clear.

An agent managing a customer escalation, navigating enterprise software, conducting research across thousands of documents, or debugging production infrastructure cannot be trained through benchmark memorization alone. These systems need dynamic environments that resemble the digital world they will actually operate inside.

Patronus AI is building what it describes as Digital World Models — language diffusion world models that are designed to scale the creation of simulation data to train and evaluate AI agent actions across complex digital workflows.

The company builds simulation infrastructure that allows AI systems to train on realistic software, research, communication, and enterprise workflows. Instead of optimizing for narrow benchmark performance, the goal is to produce agents that can operate reliably across ambiguous, long-horizon tasks.

“Benchmarks were never the destination,” said Anand Kannappan, CEO and co-founder of Patronus AI. “Static evaluations tell you whether a model can answer a narrow question in a controlled setting. They do not tell you whether an agent can navigate ambiguity, recover from failure, or operate reliably across long, unpredictable workflows. That requires environments where systems can practice, adapt, and accumulate experience over time.”

Introducing World’s First Digital World Models

Patronus AI believes simulations will become one of the defining infrastructure layers of the AI era.

The company’s research focuses on generating ecologically valid environments where agents can encounter edge cases, recover from failures, and improve through repeated interaction. This includes simulation tooling, evaluation systems, and diffusion-based Digital World Models that can generate increasingly sophisticated training environments over time.

The approach is designed to address one of the largest unsolved problems in AI: scalable oversight.

As AI systems become more capable, manual review becomes increasingly insufficient. Patronus AI’s long-term vision is to build systems capable of supervising, evaluating, and governing increasingly autonomous agents at scale.

“Manual review does not scale once AI systems begin operating across millions of workflows and decisions,” said Kannappan. “That is why simulations matter. They create environments where AI systems can be tested, improved, and supervised before failures happen in production.”

New Funding Fuels Research and Expansion

With the new funding, Patronus AI plans to expand its research organization, grow its engineering team, and invest in the compute and infrastructure required to train and run Digital World Models at scale.

“Patronus AI is tackling one of the most important infrastructure problems in artificial intelligence,” said Itay Inbar, Partner at Greenfield Partners. “The future of AI will depend on systems that can learn and operate reliably in complex environments, and simulations are becoming essential to making that possible.”

About Patronus AI

Patronus AI is a simulation and evaluation infrastructure company building Digital World Models to accelerate the next generation of AI agents. Founded by former Meta AI researchers Anand Kannappan and Rebecca Qian, the company develops large-scale simulation environments, evaluation systems, and reliability infrastructure that help AI research and engineering teams to build and deploy trustworthy AI systems.

For more information, visit https://www.patronus.ai 

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SOURCE Patronus AI

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CHiQ at IFA 2026: From Global Expansion to Deeper Local Engagement

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September 4, 2026

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BERLIN, Sept. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — At IFA Berlin on September 4, CHiQ unveiled its new AI-powered home appliance range, covering TVs, refrigerators, air conditioners, and washer-dryer combos. Rather than emphasizing technical specifications in isolation, the brand demonstrated how AI integrates into real-life household routines, marking a shift from technological innovation to everyday experiences and reflecting parent company Changhong’s continued focus on localization across global markets.

To address diverse household needs, CHiQ is embedding AI into a growing number of everyday scenarios. Its RGB MiniLED AI TV lineup integrates an integrated AI Sports Platform, transforming the TV from a traditional display into an interactive hub for home fitness and shared activities. The air conditioner features AI Human Presence Radar, which detects users’ locations and habits to adjust airflow dynamically. Meanwhile, the AI-powered refrigerator and laundry care system employ intelligent sensing and monitoring to help users take a more proactive approach to managing food freshness and garment cleanliness.

On IFA’s opening day, Grundig, CHiQ’s strategic partner and a premium European home appliance brand, presented a new product lineup across TVs, refrigerators, washer-dryers, and air conditioners. This showcase represents a further extension of Grundig’s brand development and product strategy and points to a new direction for Grundig in European and global markets.

In recent years, CHiQ’s focus has centered on simplifying everyday household chores through smart innovation. The brand has introduced a virtual giant panda as an AI interactive assistant, adding warmth and personality to its smart TVs and other AI-enabled appliances while naturally incorporating distinctive elements of Chinese culture into the user experience.

Skiing has also become another bridge connecting CHiQ with European lifestyles. Over the same period, the brand has strengthened its European presence as an official data partner of the FIS Ski Jumping World Cup. These efforts have deepened CHiQ’s connections with consumers in Europe and around the world. At the same time, the brand incorporates the speed of skiing and the pristine character of winter sports into its products, bringing technology closer to users’ lifestyles.

Behind these initiatives lies a broader shift: CHiQ is advancing its localization efforts. From product experiences and brand messaging to sports, culture and other aspects of local life, the company is establishing more diverse touchpoints as it expands its presence in Europe. Moving beyond simply entering overseas markets toward becoming part of them, CHiQ is bringing its global expansion into closer alignment with the local markets it serves.

About CHiQ

CHiQ, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of consumer electronics and household appliances, is redefining industry standards with innovative products, intelligent technologies, and a growing commitment to corporate social responsibility. Its influence continues to grow across global markets, especially in Europe.

SOURCE CHiQ

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New Poll: Parents Overwhelmingly Support the Agreement Between the States & Meta To Keep Young People Safe Online

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September 4, 2026

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More Than Four-in-Five Parents Want Other Platforms Such As TikTok, YouTube and Snapchat to Adopt Safeguards

WASHINGTON, D.C., Sept. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Coalition to Empower our Future (CEF) today released new research finding overwhelming support among parents nationwide for the recent agreement between states across the country and Meta to strengthen protections for young people online and give parents additional tools to support their children. The findings show that parents not only support the agreement, but also want other social media platforms to follow Meta’s lead and implement similar protections so young people have consistent safeguards across platforms.

“Parents want practical tools that help them keep their kids safe online, and they want those tools no matter what platform their kids are on,” said Glen Weiner, executive director of the Coalition to Empower our Future. “This agreement is an important step forward that will help protect young people using Instagram and Facebook, but kids don’t spend all their time on one platform. To continue making progress, other social media platforms need to join these efforts and adopt the same policies. There’s no single solution to the challenges young people are facing, but giving parents more tools and helping young people build healthier habits with technology are important pieces of a broader, comprehensive approach.”

According to the survey, more than four-in-five parents across the country support the agreement between the states and Meta, including 82 percent of Democratic parents and 84 percent of Republican parents. Other key findings include:

Parents believe the new safety measures will have a positive impact on youth mental health, including expanded parental controls (82 percent), daily screen-time limits (80 percent), and muting notifications during school hours (77 percent) and overnight (76 percent).Overwhelming majorities of parents on both sides of the aisle want other platforms to adopt the same policies. More than four-in-five say other platforms should implement the same online safety measures, including 85 percent of Democratic parents and 86 percent of Republican parents.

Support is similarly strong when parents are asked about individual platforms, including:TikTok (85 percent);YouTube (84 percent); andSnapchat (82 percent).Parents want policymakers to take action. Four-in-five parents (80 percent) would support their state legislature putting these online safety measures into law, and more than two-thirds of parents (67 percent) would be more likely to vote for an elected official who advances these measures.

The new findings build on previous research from CEF showing that parents and voters want a comprehensive approach to youth mental health that gives families practical tools and teaches young people how to navigate technology safely and responsibly.

The full research findings can be found HERE.

The research, conducted between August 28 and August 31, 2026, in partnership with Mercury Analytics, included an online survey of 1,000 parents nationwide.

About the Coalition to Empower our Future

Coalition to Empower our Future is an organization bringing together a range of voices to fully inform solutions that empower youth, parents, communities, and society. The Coalition to Empower our Future supports solutions that are inclusive of the full spectrum of factors impacting youth mental health. Former Montana Governor Steve Bullock, former U.S. Representative Carlos Curbelo, and Dr. Caroline Carney, a board-certified psychiatrist and internist, serve on the board of directors of the Coalition to Empower our Future.

To learn more, visit empowerourfuturecoalition.com or follow Coalition to Empower our Future on Facebook, X and YouTube.

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SOURCE Coalition to Empower our Future

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Bybit On-Chain Earn Raises BTC Staking Yield by 50% to 1.2% APR

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September 4, 2026

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DUBAI, UAE, Sept. 4, 2026 /CNW/ — Bybit, the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, is pleased to announce Bybit On-Chain Earn has partnered with Function (FBTC) to upgrade its BTC staking Vault product, raising the guaranteed annualized return from 0.8% to as much as 1.2%, a 50% increase of the evergreen offering.  With Bybit, BTC holders no longer need to sit on their idle asset as they navigate a range-bound BTC.

In early September 2026, BTC has been consolidating around the $80,000 level after rebounding from roughly $62,600 in August and briefly climbing above $81,000 in late August. The cryptocurrency continues to hold above its key moving averages, encouraging many long-term holders to maintain their position.

Bybit On-Chain Earn‘s new BTC staking solution comes with a guaranteed minimum return, distinguishing it from variable-rate products where yield fluctuates with market conditions. Eligible users may subscribe to a fixed 45-day term with no option for early redemption. A subscription cap of 200 BTC applies. Upon maturity, participants can opt into automatic renewal, allowing both principal and accrued returns to roll seamlessly into the next staking cycle without requiring manual reinvestment. This structure is designed to give BTC holders a straightforward way to generate yield on idle holdings while maintaining predictable, fixed-term commitments.

The partnership with Function, the protocol behind FBTC, extends Bybit’s collaboration with the DeFi and TradFi convergence space, diversifying user access to potential yield opportunities across the digital asset landscape.

The upgraded exclusive BTC vault is now live on Bybit. Terms and conditions apply. Users may visit Bybit On-Chain Earn for details on eligibility requirements and potential restrictions.

#Bybit  / #NewFinancialPlatform

About Bybit

Bybit is The New Financial Platform.

We believe every person should have access to every financial opportunity on earth. That’s why we’re building the first intelligent platform that connects anyone, anywhere to the world’s finance.

Trusted by more than 80 million users worldwide, Bybit brings together investing, trading, payments, and wealth-building in a single secure and intelligent ecosystem. Through the combination of AI-powered technology, deep global liquidity, robust security, and transparent operations, Bybit makes global finance more accessible, efficient, and empowering for everyone.

Built for everyone. Powered by intelligence. Open to the world.

Learn more at Bybit.com

For more details about Bybit, please visit Bybit Press
For media inquiries, please contact: media@bybit.com
For updates, please follow: Bybit’s Communities and Social Media

Discord | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Reddit | Telegram | TikTok | X | Youtube

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bybit-on-chain-earn-raises-btc-staking-yield-by-50-to-1-2-apr-302870204.html

SOURCE Bybit

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