This Week's Tech Stories That Actually Matter

Google Bets $40 Billion on Texas Becoming AI Capital of America

Google announced its largest single-state investment ever on Friday: $40 billion in AI data centers and infrastructure across Texas through 2027. This makes Texas Google's biggest AI hub in the US -- bigger than California, bigger than anywhere else.

The deal includes $2 million for Texas agriculture, $2.6 million for wetland restoration, and a $30 million Energy Impact Fund for local energy efficiency.

Google's not just building data centers. They're buying goodwill, environmental credits, and political capital in one of America's most business-friendly states. Texas just became ground zero for Google's AI empire.

Web Summit Admits AI Bubble is Real (VCs Say "So What?")

71,000 founders, VCs, and tech CEOs descended on Lisbon for Web Summit 2025, where the dominant conversation wasn't if we're in an AI bubble -- it was why that doesn't matter.

Leaders openly discussed the bubble but embraced it, citing transformative change and continued capital inflows. The consensus? Every platform shift looks like a bubble before the value gets proven.

The AI crowd isn't denying the hype. They're doubling down and daring you to bet against them. When everyone admits it's a bubble but keeps writing checks anyway, that's not delusion -- it's conviction.

US AI Startups Raised (Because Why Not?)

Anysphere (Cursor) raised $2.3 billion Series D -- just five months after its last round. Chaos Industries secured $510M. D-Matrix closed $275M Series C. TeraDAR brought in $150M Series B. Alembic received $145M

Government Shutdown Just Torpedoed Federal AI Programs

A 32-day federal shutdown (Oct 11 - Nov 12) caused massive disruptions across AI research, grant funding, procurement, and government IT hiring.

Startups and universities missed key milestones. Public sector modernization projects got delayed by months. The ripple effects will last even longer.

Private sector AI is racing ahead. Government AI just lost a month. The gap between Silicon Valley and Washington DC just got wider.

Cursor Raised $2.3 Billion Just Five Months After Its Last Round

Anysphere (Cursor's parent company) closed a $2.3 billion Series D -- just five months after its previous round. Five months.

Other notable raises: Chaos Industries ($510M), D-Matrix ($275M Series C), TeraDAR ($150M Series B), and Alembic ($145M). All announced around November 13.

When an AI code editor raises more money in five months than most companies raise in a lifetime, you're investing in infrastructure that replaces entire professions. Cursor's the bet that AI will write most code within five years.

TL;DR:  That's your week. Google dropped $40B on Texas data centers. Web Summit admitted the AI bubble is real (nobody cares). US startups raised $3.5B in 14 days. A government shutdown torpedoed federal AI programs. And Cursor raised $2.3B just five months after its last round.

Cheers,
Oleg👊

🚀 I'm proud to support the Houston Founder Institute, a program designed to provide structure, feedback, and supportive networks for the next generation of entrepreneurs. The Houston Spring 2026 program is accepting applications and kicks off in February 2026. You can apply using my referral link for priority access with the global admissions office: https://fi.co/apply/houston/mentor-2511431


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