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Palantir Warns Against DeepSeek AI, Projects Strong 2025 Revenue

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Palantir has advised its clients, particularly those in the U.S. government, against using AI models developed by Chinese startup DeepSeek, citing security concerns. Chief Revenue Officer Ryan Taylor stated that no U.S. government entity would be able to use DeepSeek’s technology. His comments follow reports that federal agencies, including NASA, have banned the use of DeepSeek’s AI.

Despite these concerns, Palantir reported strong financial projections, forecasting first-quarter and full-year revenue above Wall Street expectations. The company expects 2025 revenue to range between $3.74 billion and $3.76 billion, surpassing analysts’ estimates of $3.52 billion. This optimistic outlook drove Palantir’s stock up 22% in extended trading.

More than 40% of Palantir’s fourth-quarter sales came from the U.S. government, reflecting its deep ties to federal agencies. Analyst Gil Luria noted that Palantir’s strategic vision aligns well with current government priorities. However, the company is actively expanding its commercial sector presence, projecting a 54% increase in U.S. business revenue to over $1.8 billion in 2025.

Palantir’s AI platform, AIP, has gained traction as businesses seek to deploy generative AI for testing, debugging, and scenario analysis. Additionally, Taylor suggested that the expanded tariffs announced by former President Trump could boost demand for Palantir’s supply-chain and logistics analytics.

For the fourth quarter, Palantir reported adjusted earnings of 14 cents per share, beating analysts’ expectations of 11 cents. It also forecast first-quarter revenue between $858 million and $862 million, well above the estimated $799.4 million.

 

Taiwan Bans Government Use of DeepSeek AI Over Security Concerns

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Taiwan’s Ministry of Digital Affairs announced on Friday that government departments are prohibited from using DeepSeek, a Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) service, citing national security risks. The ministry warned that DeepSeek’s operations involve cross-border data transmission, raising concerns about potential information leaks.

Given Beijing’s sovereignty claims over Taiwan and ongoing political and military tensions, Taiwanese authorities remain cautious about Chinese technology. The digital ministry emphasized that it will continue monitoring technological developments and adjust cybersecurity policies as necessary to safeguard national security.

This development follows similar concerns raised internationally. South Korea’s information privacy watchdog has stated plans to question DeepSeek regarding its data handling practices. Meanwhile, regulatory authorities in France, Italy, and Ireland are also examining the company’s use of personal information.

DeepSeek’s rapid rise has sparked global scrutiny. By Monday, its free AI assistant had surpassed OpenAI’s ChatGPT in downloads from Apple’s App Store. The surge in DeepSeek’s popularity coincided with a sharp decline in U.S. tech stocks, leading to a record $593 billion market value loss for Nvidia in a single day.

 

Israeli Cybersecurity Firms Raise $4 Billion in 2024, Driven by Cloud and AI Security Demand

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Israeli cybersecurity companies raised a record $4 billion in 2024, more than double the amount raised in 2023, fueled by increasing demand for cloud protection and artificial intelligence (AI) security solutions. According to YL Ventures’ latest State of the Cyber Nation Report, cybersecurity has rapidly become one of Israel’s fastest-growing sectors, contributing significantly to the nation’s economy, which depends heavily on high-tech industries. The sector now represents 20% of Israel’s economic activity, 16% of jobs, and more than half of its exports.

Despite geopolitical challenges, YL Ventures projects that Israel’s cybersecurity industry will continue to expand globally, with Israeli cybersecurity startups gaining recognition as dominant players on the world stage. The report highlighted that 2024 saw 89 funding rounds in Israel’s cybersecurity sector, with 50 of those rounds in early-stage (seed) funding, totaling $400 million. Global venture capital firms more than doubled their funding rounds compared to the previous year.

In the growth stage, which includes Series C and higher rounds, 16 rounds raised $2.9 billion—an increase of 300% from the $888 million raised in 2023. Overall, Israeli cybersecurity firms raised $1.89 billion in 2023. YL Ventures’ Andy Ellis believes that 2024’s funding activity signals a positive trend for 2025, with greater access to funding in early (A and B) rounds, larger investments in later (C and beyond) rounds, and a continued increase in seed-stage funding.

Ofer Schreiber, senior partner at YL Ventures, attributes Israel’s cybersecurity success to the country’s military intelligence expertise, which fosters a practical, results-driven entrepreneurial culture. However, the outbreak of war in October 2023, following an attack by Hamas militants, forced many tech founders into military service, creating operational challenges. Schreiber noted that cybersecurity founders had to adapt quickly to ensure business continuity amid uncertain economic conditions and a concerned customer base.