Welcome to the AI Insider’s The Week Ahead in AI. See the key developments and events we’re watching June 15–21, 2025.
Weekend AI News Briefs
AstraZeneca Signs $5.3 Billion AI Research Deal with China’s CSPC for Chronic Diseases
AstraZeneca has signed a research deal worth up to $5.3 billion with China’s CSPC Pharmaceutical Group to develop AI-led therapies for chronic and immunological diseases, including an upfront payment of $110 million. The agreement expands AstraZeneca’s AI investments and aims to reinvigorate its presence in China, where it has faced recent regulatory and leadership challenges. (Yahoo Finance)
Wandercraft Announces Series D Round, Bringing $75M in Total Funding Secured for AI-powered Robotics
Wandercraft has raised $75 million in Series D funding from major investors including Renault Group and Bpifrance to accelerate the commercialization of Eve, its self-balancing personal exoskeleton, expand adoption of Atalante X, and develop its humanoid robot, Calvin-40.The company is partnering with Renault to scale production and launch Calvin-40, Europe’s first industrial-grade humanoid robot, powered by NVIDIA AI technologies and designed for demanding physical tasks. (AI Insider)
Knowunity raises €27M to Scale its AI Tutor Globally
German EdTech startup Knowunity has raised €27 million in a Series B round led by XAnge to expand its AI-powered learning platform into the U.S. and Asia. The platform, now used by over 20 million students in 15 countries, combines personalized AI tools with peer-generated content to deliver tailored education experiences. (ETIH)
Clay Valuation at $3 Billion After Funding Round
Clay, a sales automation startup focused on AI-powered go-to-market tools, has raised a Series C round at a $3 billion valuation led by CapitalG, just weeks after a $1.5 billion tender offer led by Sequoia, according to TechCrunch. Founded in 2017, Clay’s platform is now used by companies like OpenAI and HubSpot to streamline prospecting and outreach. (TechCrunch)
Plug and Play Closes $50M Fintech & AI Fund
Plug and Play today announced the final close of its $50 million Fintech & AI Fund, the largest industry-themed vehicle in the firm’s history. Raised from nine institutional backers, the fund will invest globally in early-stage companies applying artificial intelligence to financial services. (AI Insider)
AI Conferences & Events
AI World Congress 2025
June 18–19, London, Europe’s largest AI conference, will convene in London to showcase generative AI, machine learning, ethics, and real-world applications through expert keynotes, panels, and hands-on workshops. (AI World Congress)
Chicago AI Week
June 17–19, Kaplan at Illinois Tech, Chicago, brings together leaders from industry, government, and academia for a three-day program focused on responsible AI, innovation, and cross-sector collaboration. Hosted by AI 2030 with partners including 1871 and Banking Exchange, the event features industry and ethics days, workshops, and executive roundtables. (Chicago AI Week)
Super AI Conference 2025
June 18–19, Singapore, Asia’s largest AI event anticipates 7,000+ attendees, including C-level executives, and features 150+ speakers and partners such as WEKA, IQ.net, AWS. It offers extensive networking and covers topics like generative AI, machine learning, and industry applications. (Super AI Conference 2025)
Responsible AI Summit North America
June 17–18, Washington D.C., AI, Data & Analytics Network event convenes business leaders and AI practitioners to explore how ethical, compliant, and transparent AI practices can drive innovation, customer trust, and operational efficiency. The event emphasizes practical strategies for governance, risk management, and sustainability through expert panels, case studies, and executive networking. (Responsible AI Summit North America)
3rd World Congress on Artificial Intelligence in Materials and Manufacturing (AIM 2025)
The 3rd World Congress on Artificial Intelligence in Materials and Manufacturing (AIM 2025), held June 15–19 in Anaheim, will bring together experts from academia, industry, and government to explore AI’s growing role in materials science and engineering. As part of the TMS Specialty Congress, the evAent offers focused technical sessions alongside cross-disciplinary collaboration with co-located conferences on computational materials and 3D materials science. (AIM 2025)
AI Policy & Government Events
AMA Adopts New Policy for AI Tools
The American Medical Association has adopted new policy urging greater transparency and independent oversight of AI tools used in clinical care, calling for explainable systems that physicians can understand and rely on. The policy also emphasizes that intellectual property protections should not override the need for clear, accountable AI outputs in patient decision-making. (AMA)
AI Research
AI-generated Podcasts Open New Doors to Make Science Accessible
A study published in the European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing found that AI-generated podcasts explaining scientific papers were convincing enough that half of the authors believed the hosts were human. Using Google NotebookLM, researchers created the podcasts to evaluate their potential for science communication, finding them engaging and accessible, though not without some errors in tone and terminology. (European Society of Cardiology)
New AI Method Makes Cancer Tracking Faster and Easier Using Blood Tests
Scientists at A*STAR Genome Institute of Singapore have developed an AI-based method called Fragle that tracks cancer more accurately and affordably by analyzing the size patterns of DNA fragments in blood.Published in Nature Biomedical Engineering, Fragle can detect cancer signals from small blood samples without relying on costly DNA sequencing, making it compatible with existing hospital workflows and commercial lab methods.(AI Insider)
Stay tuned for next week’s edition of AI Insider’s The Week Ahead in AI for more updates on the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence.
