The AI Daily Brief · Tuesday, August 25, 2026
Nvidia is actively making strategic investments and acquisitions, including licensing technology from Poolside, taking a stake in Merkor, and potentially investing in Perplexity at a $30 billion valuation. Concurrently, Taiwanese prosecutors have charged nine individuals, including an Nvidia manager, for smuggling cutting-edge Blackwell 300 systems into China.
“In fact, with a flurry of recording around Nvidia's deal-making in recent days, some are wondering just what Jensen is building.”
“Over the past week, we've heard that Nvidia signed a deal to license technology and acquire talent from Poolside, by a stake in data labeling company Merkor, and potentially in Perplexity, at a potentially perplexingly $30 billion valuation.”
“On Monday, the Taiwanese announced nine indictments in relation to a scheme to smuggle cutting edge Blackwell 300 systems into China.”
“In addition to the person who has identified as a manager in Nvidia's distribution business, two others worked for Nvidia partner Super Micro.”