tech:

taffy

Netflix buys comic book publishing company Millarworld

Netflix has acquired Millarworld, a comic book publishing company founded by Mark Millar, the  creator of characters and stories as Kick-Ass, Kingsman, and Old Man Logan. Terms of the transaction weren’t disclosed.

Will this mean a new cinematic Netflix universe? The two companies will bring Millarworld’s portfolio of character franchises to life through films, series and kids’ shows available exclusively to Netflix members globally, said Netflix in a statement. Millarworld is also expected to continue to create and publish new stories and character franchises under the Netflix label.

The acquisition, “is a natural progression in the company’s effort to work directly with prolific and skilled creators and to acquire intellectual property and ownership of stories,” says Netflix.

Mr. Millar, who has previously had a eight-year stint at Marvel, runs Millarworld with his wife Lucy Millar. Since Millarworld was started, the company has created eighteen published character worlds, including, Wanted, Kick-Ass and Kingsman; film versions of which have collectively grossed $1 billion in global box office.

[Image courtesy: Millarworld]

Just in

DHS establishes AI safety and security board

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has established an Artificial Intelligence Safety and Security Board (the board). The inaugural members include CEOs and executives from companies like OpenAI, Anthropic, Delta Air Lines, IBM, Nvidia, Microsoft, Adobe, Amazon Web Services, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), and Cisco.

Blaize raises $106M

El Dorado Hills, CA-based AI computing company Blaize has raised $106 million.

Rivos raises $250M

Santa Clara, Calif.-based Rivos, a RISC-V accelerated platform company focusing on data analytics and Generative AI, has raised $250 million in its Series A-3 funding round

IBM, Canada, and Quebec invest $137M to strengthen semiconductor industry

IBM, the Government of Canada, and the Government of Quebec announced agreements to develop the assembly, testing and packaging capabilities for semiconductor modules at IBM Canada's plant in Bromont, Quebec.