96% of IT Leaders Now Deploy AI—What’s Fueling the Overnight Leap?

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Hello AI enthusiast

The AI and data world is in hyperdrive today: F5’s 2025 report reveals “96% of global IT leaders are now deploying AI models,” marking a seismic shift from last year. From massive funding rounds to new AI agents shaking up logistics and healthcare, here’s your May 13th download. Dive in!

🤖 AI Agent Gold Rush: Freelancer Demand Explodes

Fiverr’s Spring 2025 Business Trends Index shows an 18,347% surge in searches for AI agent specialists as companies scramble to deploy digital colleagues-while also seeking freelancers to “humanize” AI content (up 641%). Fiverr
Takeaway: AI agent adoption is outpacing in-house expertise, fueling a new freelance economy for smarter, more human tech.

🚢 Logistics Gets Smarter: PortPro Deploys AI Agents

PortPro just launched AI agents designed to automate drayage operations at ports, tackling scheduling, compliance, and customer queries. PortPro
Takeaway: AI-driven automation is now mission-critical in logistics, promising faster, more resilient supply chains.

🦾 AI Startup Perplexity Hits $14B Valuation

Perplexity, the AI search challenger, is closing a $500M round, rocketing its valuation to $14B. As Google’s search dominance is challenged, investors are betting big on next-gen AI-powered discovery. Perplexity
Takeaway: AI-native search is the new battleground for tech giants and disruptors alike.

🧑‍⚕️ Pharma Tightens Data Integrity with New Guidelines

The latest MHRA and EMA data integrity guides are now front and center for pharma, with regulators demanding tighter document management and governance to ensure drug safety and compliance. ResearchAndMarkets
Takeaway: Data governance is now a non-negotiable for life sciences-expect more scrutiny and training mandates.

🌍 AI Reshapes Informal Work in the Global South

A new World Economic Forum feature spotlights how AI is helping over 60% of informal workers in the Global South build digital reputations and break language barriers, accelerating inclusion. World Economic Forum
Takeaway: AI is a catalyst for economic mobility and digital inclusion in underserved markets.

💰 Adopt AI Snags $6M for Agentic Automation

Agentic AI startup Adopt AI just landed $6M in funding led by Elevation Capital to scale multi-agent automation for enterprises, signaling VC confidence in agentic workflows. Adopt AI
Takeaway: Investors are doubling down on AI agents as the next wave of enterprise automation.

📈 AI in Cybersecurity to Hit $219B by 2034

A new market report forecasts the AI in cybersecurity market will skyrocket from $31B in 2025 to $219B by 2034, driven by escalating cyber threats and regulatory pressure. AI in Cybersecurity
Takeaway: AI-powered defense is becoming indispensable as cyber risks multiply.

🌐 F5: 96% of IT Leaders Now Deploy AI Models

F5’s 2025 State of Application Strategy report reveals a leap from 25% to 96% of enterprises deploying AI, with AI gateways emerging as the new must-have for model security and control. F5
Takeaway: AI is officially business-critical, and governance tools are racing to keep up.

🪄 Lleverage Raises €3M for No-Code AI Automation

Dutch startup Lleverage secured €3M to expand its no-code AI platform, making process automation accessible to non-developers and accelerating digital transformation for SMEs. Lleverage
Takeaway: No-code AI is democratizing automation, opening the door for business-led innovation.

🧑‍💼 ThriveAI Raises $1.2M for AI Product Manager Agents

ThriveAI, founded by Google alums, raised $1.2M to develop AI agents that act as junior product managers, freeing up senior staff for strategic work and turbocharging product cycles. ThriveAI
Takeaway: AI is moving up the value chain, automating knowledge work and reshaping team dynamics.

That’s your May 13th flash-AI and data are rewriting the rulebook in real time. Which trend will disrupt your roadmap? Reply with your hot take and subscribe for tomorrow’s pulse.