Waymo Lands Record $16 Billion AI Funding Boost, Cerebras Secures $1B Amid Venture Surge

Waymo, Alphabet's autonomous driving pioneer, has raised a massive $16 billion in fresh funding at a whopping $126 billion post-money valuation.

Leading the investment are prominent firms like Dragoneer Investment Group, DST Global, and Sequoia Capital, signaling strong confidence in self-driving technology.

Waymo's Decade-Long Journey to Dominance

Spun out from Alphabet nearly a decade ago, Waymo has evolved from experimental projects to a leading robotaxi operator ready for global scale.

The new capital will fuel expansion into 20 additional cities this year, including major markets like Tokyo and London.

AI Hardware Heats Up with Cerebras

In a close second, Cerebras Systems closed a $1 billion Series H round led by Tiger Global, achieving a $23 billion post-money valuation.

Sunnyvale-based Cerebras specializes in massive AI processors designed to accelerate machine learning workloads.

This week's top funding rounds underscore a booming investor appetite for AI innovations, with autonomous tech and hardware leading the pack.

Historically, AI funding has skyrocketed since the generative AI wave, drawing billions into infrastructure and applications alike.

The impact is profound: these mega-rounds enable rapid scaling, talent acquisition, and competitive edges in a cutthroat AI race.

Looking ahead, expect more such investments as companies like Waymo and Cerebras push boundaries in mobility and computing power.

While aviation and space tech saw some activity, AI overwhelmingly dominated the largest financings, pointing to sustained venture enthusiasm.