Joyce’s picks: musings and readings in AI/ML, March 31, 2025

📌 Musings and Readings

AI Agents Are a Moment of Truth for Tech (WSJ)

3 things haven’t changed in software engineering (Fast Company)

The Rising Demand For Electricity Is About More than AI (Link)

TAO: Using test-time compute to train efficient LLMs without labeled data (Databricks)

Gemini 2.5, Google’s most intelligent AI model (Link)

👏 Deals

Nace.AI, a Palo Alto-based startup creating task-specific AI models with industry-specific intelligence, enabling real-time audit, risk detection, and compliance to minimize operational and regulatory risks, has raised $5m in financing. 

NeuroNOS, a Boston-based biotech company focused on developing therapies for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) by targeting nitric oxide production, has raised $2m in financing. 

Charm Security, a New York-based startup using AI to protect businesses and customers from scams like phishing and fraud by offering real-time detection and mitigation across digital, voice, and in-person interactions, has raised $8m in seed financing.

Sympera AI, a New York-based company applying AI to enhance relationship banking by analyzing client interactions and providing personalized insights and recommendations to improve productivity and client engagement, has raised $10m in seed financing.

Dyna Robotics, a CA-based company developing AI-powered autonomous robots that simplify robotic automation for businesses of all sizes, has raised $23.5m in financing.

Aracor AI, a Miami-based legal tech company leveraging AI to automate legal processes to improve efficiency and accuracy while ensuring compliance and data privacy, has raised $4.5m in pre-seed financing.

SplxAI, a DE-based startup that focuses on automating security testing for conversational AI systems, detecting and addressing vulnerabilities to ensure the security and compliance of AI applications, has raised $7m in seed financing. 

Arlo, a New York-based company providing AI-powered, level-funded health insurance plans that simplify administration, ensure cost predictability and enhance employee benefits while reducing insurance complexities, has raised $4m in seed financing.

GetReal Security, a CA-based company combating AI-driven risks such as deepfakes and impersonation attacks by using advanced digital content verification techniques to ensure the authenticity of images, audio, and video, has raised $17.5m in series A financing.

Hubble Therapeutics, a NH-based biotech startup focusing on developing gene therapies for rare genetic eye disorders, aiming to correct the underlying genetic mutations and potentially restore vision in affected individuals, has raised $7.3m in series A financing. 

Contoro Robotics, a TX-based company specializing in autonomous robotics for unloading trailers and containers by using AI and advanced gripping technology to improve logistics efficiency, safety, and reduce labor dependency, has raised $12m in series A financing.

DeepIP, a New York- and Paris-based company leveraging AI to streamline patent drafting, prosecution, and compliance tasks, helping patent attorneys and agents increase efficiency while reducing manual work, has raised $15m in series A financing.

Taxo, a CA-based startup using AI to automate healthcare data processing to improve data extraction, analysis, and security while streamlining administrative tasks for providers and payers, has raised $5m in seed financing. 

Sohar Health, a New York-based health tech startup focusing on automating insurance verification for healthcare providers by streamlining eligibility checks and network status verification, reducing claim denials and improving operational efficiency, has $3.8m in financing.

Kay.ai, a New York-based company using AI to automate insurance tasks such as submissions, renewals, and policy servicing to improve efficiency, accuracy, and cost-effectiveness for insurance agencies, has raised $3m in financing.